Periodontics and Periodontology Commons^™

Activity Of Epithelial Defensin Hbd-3 Against A Periodontal Pathogen, Norman B. Fine

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Defensins are cationic (positive-charged) peptides with broad-spectrum antibiotic activity. In humans, there are two types of defensins, alpha (α) and beta (β). Human neutrophils contain four α-defensins known as Human Neutrophil Peptide (HNP) 1-4. Epithelial cells produce four β-defensins known as Human Beta Defensin (HBD) 1-4. Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria that are associated with periodontal disease are resistant to human α-defensins, but are killed by β-defensins.

HBD-3 is the most active β-defensin. HBD-3 is a longer peptide than HNP 1-4. HBD-3 has additional amino acid residues with hydrophobic side chains near the N-terminus and residues with cationic side chains at the …

Inhibition Of Monocyte Chemotaxis And Chemokine Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1 Alpha, And Interleukin-8 Secretion By Lipopolysaccharide Isolated From Periodontal Pathogens, Andrew Karl Gray

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The vast majority of periodontal pathogens are classified as gram negative bacteria. These bacteria have an outermost membrane consisting of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a molecule that can act as an endotoxin and elicit an immune response. The lipopolysaccharide structure consists of three major regions: oligosaccharide, core, and lipid A. Oligosaccharide is exposed on the cell surface, and lipid A anchors LPS in the outer membrane. LPS has been known to hinder certain defensive mechanisms of the immune system by secreting products that interfere with signals that promote chemotaxis of leukocytes enabling the pathogens to go unrestricted. When LPS binds to the …

The Evolution Of Prophy Paste, Caren M. Barnes

College of Dentistry: Faculty Publications

Dental hygienists have many products to choose from when deciding which prophy paste is best for each patient. To date, the evidence supporting prophy pastes formulated to remineralize enamel or eliminate dentinal hypersensitivity is somewhat unclear. Most of the research has been conducted in vitro among environments that do not accurately simulate clinical conditions. Additional clinical research performed in vivo is needed to provide the evidence base necessary for effective clinical decision making.

Faculty Impressions Of Dental Students’ Performance With And Without Virtual Reality Simulation, Riki Gottlieb, Sharon K. Lanning, John C. Gunsolley, Judith A. Buchanan

Periodontics Publications

This study compared faculty perceptions and expectations of dental students’ abilities using virtual reality simulation (VRS) to those who did not use virtual reality simulation (non-VRS) in an operative dentistry preclinical course. A sixteen-item survey with a ten-point rating scale and three open-ended questions asked about students’ abilities in ergonomics, confidence level, performance, preparation, and self-assessment. The surveys were administered three times to a small group of preclinical faculty members. First, faculty members (n=12, 92 percent response rate) gave their perceptions of non-VRS students’ abilities at the end of their traditional course. Secondly, faculty members (n=13, 100 percent response rate) …

Animal Models For Periodontal Disease, Helieh S. Oz, David A. Puleo

Center for Oral Health Research Faculty Publications

Animal models and cell cultures have contributed new knowledge in biological sciences, including periodontology. Although cultured cells can be used to study physiological processes that occur during the pathogenesis of periodontitis, the complex host response fundamentally responsible for this disease cannot be reproduced in vitro. Among the animal kingdom, rodents, rabbits, pigs, dogs, and nonhuman primates have been used to model human periodontitis, each with advantages and disadvantages. Periodontitis commonly has been induced by placing a bacterial plaque retentive ligature in the gingival sulcus around the molar teeth. In addition, alveolar bone loss has been induced by inoculation or …