Periodontal Research: Basics and beyond - Part I (Defining the research problem, study design and levels of evidence).

Research in the field of periodontology has witnessed a tremendous upsurge in the last two decades unveiling newer innovations in techniques, methodologies, and material science. The recent focus in periodontal research is an evidence-based approach which offers a bridge from science to clinical practice. This three part review series intends to take a reader through a maze of periodontal research, unraveling and simplifying various issues in the design, conduct and interpretation of various study designs routinely used in the field of periodontal research.

The adjunctive use of systemic antioxidant therapy (lycopene) in nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis: a short-term evaluation.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of systemic lycopene along with routine scaling and root planing in terms of changes in clinical parameters and levels of circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), salivary interleukin 1beta (IL-1ß), and uric acid in chronic periodontitis.

Method And Materials: Forty-two systemically healthy subjects with chronic periodontitis were included in a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design, double-blinded trial. The subjects were randomly distributed between the two treatment groups: test group (n = 21) 8 mg lycopene/day and placebo group (n = 21) along with adjunctive scaling and root planing.

Periodontal findings in patients with oral submucous fibrosis and comet assay of affected gingival epithelial cells.

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) involves large sections of population and is related to certain chewing practices that involve direct exposure of the gingiva to noxious chemicals and additives. The impact of such practices, although studied extensively in relation to the cheek mucosa, is not elucidated as far as gingival tissues are concerned. The possible DNA damage on affected gingiva is also one of the objectives of the present study.

Orofacial myiasis of the gingiva and nasal cavity: a report of two cases and general review.

Background: Infestation of the orofacial region with live maggots is a distressing condition and many clinicians are not aware of the existence of such an entity. Usually the condition affects individuals who are debilitated, mentally challenged, and physically not able to attend to their personal needs because of lack of psychomotor coordination.

Methods: This article describes two cases of orofacial myiasis reported at a rural dental school in India.