Relevance. The search and development of modern non-invasive methods for early periodontal disease detection are of scientific and practical value for a personalized approach to disease course prognosis and explaining the choice of treatment tactics. Morphological immaturity, high intensity of anabolic processes, functional failure of neurohumoral, endocrine and immunological defence systems combined with an imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix components in children with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) significantly increases the risk of developing periodontal diseases. The available data on the activity of salivary matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which play a leading role in regulating connective tissue protein metabolism and bone remodelling mechanisms in children with UCTD of various degrees, are scarce and require further study.
Purpose. The study aimed to explain the clinical, diagnostic and prognostic value of MMPs as markers of inflammatory periodontal diseases in children with UC TD and dysplastic disorders of various se verity.
Material and methods. The study included 67 children with UCTD (main group) and 34 children of health groups I and II (comparison group) aged 12-17. The UCTD severity was established according to the diagnostic criteria by L. N. Abbakumova (2006) and a scale for assessing the significance of phenotypic and visceral signs. The main group was divided into two subgroups: Subgroup 1 (n = 38) – children with mild and moderate UCTD; Subgroup 2 (n=29) – children with severe UCTD. The studied groups had their periodontal status assessed, as well as the concentration of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9 and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) in the oral fluid identified using the enzyme immunoassay, along with calculation done for the MMP ⁄ TIMP coefficients that set a balance between the degradation and synthesis of collagen.
Results. The children with phenotypic signs of UCTD in the oral fluid appeared to show a statistically significant increase in the MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, and MMP-9 levels and an imbalanced ratio in MMP-1⁄TIMP-1, MMP- 2⁄TIMP-2, MMP-8⁄TIMP-1, MMP-9⁄TIMP-1, compared with health groups I, II. An increase in the MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-8 concentrations, along with dominating expression of MMP-9 over TIMP-1 in the oral fluid of children of Subgroup 2, causes an increase in intensity and prevalence of periodontal diseases compared to the patients in Sub-group 1 and comparison group.
Conclusion. Thus, when children with UCTD don’t demonstrate an increase in specific tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in their oral fluid, along with an increase in the levels of the respective matrixins is the key pathogenetic factor in the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, which causes a depressing impact on the proliferative activity in the periodontal set of tissues.

Relevance. Nowadays, in oral surgery, it is still relevant to increase the effectiveness of collagen membranes in the oral cavity in the condition of potential microbial contamination of the wound.
Purpose. The study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the growth of opportunistic oral bacteria on various collagen membranes.
Material and methods. Based on the I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera, the study conducted a comparative analysis of the growth of opportunistic oral bacteria on the surface of resorbable collagen membranes developed by the Institute of Regenerative Medicine of the Sechenov University and an already existing foreign alternative. Microbial growth was assessed for S. aureus, S. mutans and C. albicans as the most significant microorganisms isolated from the oral cavity. The quantitative composition of microorganisms was analyzed in the control group without membranes and in groups with membranes (Group 2 – customized collagen membrane 2, Group 3 – membrane 3 with recombinant human lactoferrin, Group 4 – Mucograft membrane) on days 3, 5, and 7 from the start of membrane surface colonization. In all groups, we also evaluated the pH change in a 10% sucrose solution under the influence of biofilm microorganisms. Statistical data processing included the calculation of mean, standard deviations and medians, and comparison between groups was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis test after assessing the samples' distribution normality. The results were statistically significant at a minimum of 95%.
Results. The performed analysis showed statistically significant differences in the quantitative composition of the microbial biofilm on the surface of all three membranes. The developed collagen membrane with lactoferrin showed the best result at all times, while the customized collagen membrane did not significantly differ from the Mucograft membrane in CFU values and medium pH change. This provision was statistically significant for all three studied microorganisms.
Conclusion. The study showed the potential of using manufactured collagen membranes to eliminate soft tissue defects in the oral cavity under the condition of their surfaces' possible contamination as an alternative to foreign membranes.

Relevance. The activation of lipid peroxidation in ultrastructural damage to the oral cells and tissues and maintaining periodontal inflammation plays a crucial role in periodontitis development. There is also evidence of the positive role of some calcium-phosphorus metabolism correctors on the condition of inflamed periodontal tissues. Thus, studying the impact of activation of lipid peroxidation and calcium-phosphorus metabolism correctors in chronic periodontitis treatment is of undoubted theoretical and practical interest. The study developed an experimental model of chronic periodontitis, which helped to investigate the effectiveness of therapy with teriparatide (parathormone) and ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate (Mexidol).
Purpose. The study aimed to investigate the impact of activation of lipid peroxidation and calcium-phosphorus metabolism correctors on the periodontium condition in an experimental model of chronic periodontitis.
Material and methods. An experimental study included 48 white laborator y male rats weighing 230-280 grams using the author's experimental periodontitis model. Result processing utilized a specialized complex of histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical research methods.
Results. Lipid peroxides proved to play a crucial role in the development and progression of chronic periodontitis. The therapy carried out in the main group of animals is a factor initiating the acceleration of restructuring metabolic processes of periodontium cell membrane structures to activate ion transport and increase the activity of membrane-bound enzymes that block the chain reaction of oxygen molecule transgeneration from precursor cells with the formation of aldehydes, peroxides and ketones.
Conclusion. The study results substantiate the need for additional prescription of antioxidants and calcium-phosphorus metabolism correctors to maintain the balance of antiradical and antiperoxide compounds.

Relevance. Osteoporosis and chronic periodontitis are serious issues of modern life. The hypothesis that these two diseases are associated is still open-ended and doesn’t allow setting the record straight for the lack of sufficient evidence.
Purpose. The study aimed to detect the relationship between periodontal health parameters and mineral bone density characteristics in postmenopausal women.
Material and methods. The study examined 109 female patients with diagnosed moderate chronic generalized periodontitis (К05.31). The participants formed two groups: the main group (76 women) and the control group (33 women). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, FRAХ® and CCI assessed the mineral bone density and patients’ systemic health. Dental status was evaluated using the OHI-S, CAL, PPD, PMA, PI, and PBI. X-ray assessment was based on the Fuchs index for upper and lower jaws, and the mandibular cortical index (MCI) was evaluated by CBCT scans in Galaxis Galileos software (Sirona), Orthophos SL CBCT scanner. The data were statistically analysed using licensed STATISTICA 13.3 software. In descriptive statistics for variables, the median was quartiles corresponding to the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile. The Shapiro-Wilk test and χ2 (chi-square) evaluated the normality of variables.
Results. Periodontal pocket depth (PPD) was 4.44 (4.30:4.20:4.50) in the main group. The cumulative change in the clinical attachment level (CAL) was 5.53 (5.50:5.40:5.80), which was significantly higher than the control group parameters (р < 0.001). Bone mineral density of L1-L4 vertebrae corresponded to osteopenia (g/cm2) -0.83 (-080: -0.78: -0.91), spine (Neck) Т-score was -1.70 (-1.7: -2.2: -2.0). In the patients of the control group, the CBCT did not show any signs of inf lammatory destruction, and the DXA test did not reveal any loss of bone mineral densit y.
Conclusion. There are mean significant (less than 0.05) correlations between right femoral neck Т-scores and periodontal pocket depth parameters (R = -0.39) and between the same parameter and the clinical attachment level (CAL) (R = -0.37). A significantly high degree of negative correlation is between the spine Т-score of L1-L4 and PPD, correlation coefficient (R = -0.72).

Relevance. The subjective evaluation and analysis of clinical manifestations and risk factors for the development of xerostomia in young- and middle-old adults living in Novosibirsk and the Novosibirsk region plays a leading role in choosing the treatment strategy for this category of patients.
Material and methods. A single-stage open study involved 101 people, of whom 48% (n = 49) were male and 52% (n = 52) were female. The average age of the examined was 66.3 [60.0; 88.0] years; 64 subjects were young-old patients (60.0; 75.0), and 37 subjects were middle-old patients (75.0; 88.0). All examined patients underwent an assessment of their dental status and subjective evaluation of xerostomia severity using the validated Russian version of the "The Summated Xerostomia Inventory" (XI). Xerostomia diagnosis in the study patients included the examination according to "The Challacombe Scale of Clinical Oral Dryness" (CSCOD) and sialometry. Taking records of comorbidities, malnutrition syndrome, systemic medications, and bad habits helped to study the risk factors for xerostomia development.
Results. The analysis of the subjective evaluation and signs in older patients most frequently revealed moderate xerostomia. There was a moderate negative correlation between the age of the examined and the salivary secretion rate (ρ = -0.578, p < 0.01). Women more often showed severe xerostomia (p < 0.001). The examination of 87.6% of the subjects revealed xerostomia manifestations, confirmed by clinical signs and laboratory data. In 12.4% of patients with complaints and clinical signs of x erostomia, sialometry did not confirm xerostomia.
Conclusion. The study results showed a decrease in the secretion rate in older patients with age. In women, complaints and clinical and laboratory signs of xerostomia were more pronounced. Patients' subjective assessment of dry mouth manifestations did not always correspond to the xerostomia clinical and laboratory diagnostic data. The prevalence of xerogenic risk factors was established in young-old and middle-old patients.

Relevance. Chronic generalized periodontitis is one of the most common dental diseases in Russia and worldwide. Periodontitis causes changes in the immune system, cytokines, antioxidant protection, hemostasis and other systems, leading to periodontal microcirculatory and blood supply damage. Interleukins are regulatory molecules that play a part in specific immune reactions: inflammation, regeneration, and microcirculation. They are produced by immune system cells in response to an activating stimulus and regulate the strength and duration of immune and inflammatory reactions. Our study revealed an imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with moderate chronic generalized periodontitis of different ages.
Material and Methods. The study involved 130 patients with moderate chronic generalized periodontitis aged 25 to 60. The control group consisted of 15 practically healthy individuals aged 18 to 24 years without acute and chronic periodontal diseases at the time of the study. The concentration of cytokines in blood serum and oral fluid (IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10) was evaluated in all patients before and after the standard comprehensive treatment and with the inclusion of Cortexin.
Results. After the moderate chronic generalized periodontitis treatment, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood decreased in the group of 25-44-year-olds. In standard treatment, IL-1ß level decreased by 30%, IL-4 – by two times, IL-8 – by 1.5 times, and IL-10 – by three times; but with Cortexin, IL-1ß became normal, IL-4 decreased by 3.5 times, IL-8 – by 2.5 times, IL-10 became normal. In the oral fluid of patients aged 25-44 years, IL-1ß decreased by 20% after the standard treatment, IL-4 decreased by six times, IL-8 decreased by two times, and the addition of Cortexin to the comprehensive therapy caused a 70% decrease, IL–4 reduced by ten times, IL-8 – by nine times, the concentration of IL-10 remained the same. IL-22 decreased by 1.5 and 2 times based on the treatment methods. The after-treatment assessment of changes in the interleukin content in blood serum in 45-60-year-old patients with chronic generalized periodontitis revealed the same levels of IL-4 after the standard treatment, a decrease of IL-1ß by 1.5 times, IL-8 - by 1.5 times; and the use of Cortexin in the treatment normalized the concentration of IL-4, led to a decrease in IL-1ß by two times, IL-8 - by three times. After the therapy, in the oral fluid of patients aged 45-60 years, IL-1ß decreased by 1.5 times with standard treatment, IL-4 and IL-8 decreased by two times, and IL-10 did not change, IL-22 - by 1.5 times; and using Cortexin, the concentration of IL-1ß decreased by 70%, IL-4 decreased by three times, IL-8 - by four times, IL-10 and IL-22 - by two times.
Conclusion. Before treatment, the concentration of cytokines was higher in all groups of patients compared to the control values in blood serum and oral fluid. With standard therapy, the content of interleukins decreases in biological fluids, and the effect is more pronounced if standard treatment and Cortexin are combined. The correlation analysis detects that clinical manifestations of gingival inflammation are directly related to the concentration of pro- and anti-inflammatory interleukins in the blood and oral fluid.

Relevance. Oral mucosal diseases are currently a significant problem since patients rarely notice the unusual appearance of the oral mucosa and, therefore, do not consult a dentist at the early stages of the disease.
Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for biting lips and cheeks in athletes.
Material and methods. The study included 170 people (20-40 years old) who underwent a dental examination according to the WHO recommendations, electromyography of the masticatory muscles, Doppler ultrasound and autofluorescence examination of the oral mucosa. Group 1 included athletes involved in sports for up to 1 year (35 people), Group 2 included people with sports experience of 1-5 years (43 people), and Group 3 - with sports experience of 5 to 10 years (42 people). The control group consisted of 50 generally healthy men who did not engage in sports. The patients diagnosed with biting their lips and cheeks (K13.1 according to ICD-10) received comprehensive treatment.
Results. Dental examination revealed biting of lips and cheeks in 46.7% of the examined patients. The prevalence of biting lips and cheeks appeared to grow with increasing length of sports experience; it amounted to 5.7% in the group with sports experience of up to one year and 66.7% – in the group with experience of 5-10 years. The pretreatment examination detected that the blood flow velocity was 2.1 times lower in group 3 than in the control group. The amplitude of the masticatory and temporal muscles at rest was 1.7 times higher in patients of group 3 than in the control group, which indicates an increase in the tone of the masticatory muscles in athletes and a significant difference in the condition of the muscle tissue of the masticator y muscles in athletes.
Conclusion. Athletes, based on the length of their sports-training experience, showed significant differences in dental status, electromyography indicators of the masticatory muscles and Doppler ultrasound of the oral mucosa. Our proposed method for treating cheek and lip biting has sho wn high effectiveness.

Relevance. Type I diabetes mellitus is generally recognized as a socially significant disease which directly affects the nature and severity of clinical symptoms of comorbidities, including in the oral cavit y.
Material and methods. The study, which was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics of the “V.A. Almazov National Medical Research Center” in St. Petersburg, included 54 patients with type I diabetes mellitus. The mean age of the study group was 15.4 ± 1.27 years. Diabetes duration was 71.2 ± 46 months. The average value of glycated hemoglobin is 8.64 ± 1.69. 11% of patients appeared to have uncontrolled hyperglycemia (HbA1c > 7%). The dental examination included a questionnaire, examination and index evaluation using the Green-Vermillion Hygiene Index (OHI), the PMA index modified by Parma, Russell’s periodontal index (PI) and the DMF index. Statistical data was processed using the JAMOVI 2.3.13 software.
Results. The principal component analysis distributed the studied indices by three independent mathematical models-constructs. The binomial regression of the OHI and glycated hemoglobin showed a specificity of 0.903 and a sensitivity of 0.348. Regression analysis of the PI and Hb1Ac showed a specificity of 0.919 and a sensitivity of 0.294.
Conclusion. The binomial regression model of dental indices with the glycated hemoglobin index values helped to formulate the Hb1Ac key-point values, which allows for suspecting a highly likely initial stage of gingivitis. Hb1Ac above 8.6 is this value.

Relevance. There is a scarcity of data regarding the treatment of chronic peri-implantitis in HIV-positive patients. The refinement of available techniques for managing inflammation around dental implants holds significant importance, particularly in individuals infected with HIV. Hence, this study aims to consolidate clinical experiences in managing chronic peri-implantitis in HIV-positive patients.
Materials and methods. The study involved six male patients (treatment group), aged 35 to 54, diagnosed with chronic peri-implantitis, exhibiting inflammation around dental implants and testing HIV positive. These patients, under dynamic observation by their infectious disease specialist, were consistently receiving antiretroviral treatment. The control group consisted of 10 males aged 28 to 55, devoid of HIV or any other condition causing secondary immunodeficiency. Oral cavity microbiota and mucosal immunity were examined, and treatment for chronic peri-implantitis was administered. Both groups had dental implants for 5 to 7 years. The specifics of the implantation systems were not explored.
Results. HIV-positive patients with peri-implantitis exhibited alterations in microbiota and mucosal immunity, correlating with "viral load" indicators. The study presented combined treatment outcomes for periodontitis and the influence of adjusted antiretroviral therapy on mucosal immunity and oral cavity microbiota parameters.
Conclusion. Peri-implantitis onset in HIV-positive patients with adequate oral hygiene might be linked to an underlying factor involving ineffective administration of antiretroviral treatment. Consequently, diagnosing periimplantitis in HIV-positive individuals should not only entail appropriate therapeutic and preventive measures as part of a comprehensive peri-implantitis treatment regimen, along with precise oral hygiene correction performed professionally, but also timely referral to an infectious disease specialist for adjustment of antiretroviral therapy.

Relevance. Despite the high success rate of dental implantation in restoring anatomical occlusion and achieving desired aesthetic effects, complications, often mediated by peri-implantitis, remain an area requiring further study. This study aimed to morphologically assess gingiva biopsy samples from the edentulous alveolar ridge of the jaw, using immunohistochemical markers for immunophenotyping different subpopulations of inflammatory cells, inter alia.
Material and methods. Gingiva biopsy specimens from 25 patients underwent descriptive histological and immunohistochemical analyses, employing markers such as CD3, CD20, TBX21, GATA3, Foxp3, CD68, CD80, CD163, CD1a, and CD83. The study includes clinical-anamnestic data analysis, descriptive histological and immunohistochemical observations, and a quantitative analysis of the abundance of various immunopositive cell subpopulations.
Results. The data indicated that approximately one third of the gum tissues exhibited signs of a chronic inflammatory response, predominantly characterized by the primary T-cell subpopulation of T-helper 1 cells, a minimal presence of regulatory T-cells, and an almost complete absence of T-helper 2 cells. Additionally, an inflammatory cell mix was observed, comprising a significant proportion of B-cells, monocyte-macrophage cells (mainly M2 macrophage subpopulation), and mature CD83+ dendritic cells. These changes reflect a pro-inflammatory local immune response, crucial to consider in future implantation planning.
Conclusion. The analysis of this pilot clinical case series enhances our understanding of the gingiva condition in the edentulous alveolar ridge before dental implantation and opens avenues for further research in this field.

Relevance. The increasing prevalence of mild to moderate chronic generalized periodontitis depends on endogenous and exogenous factors. In most cases, these include factors such as fair oral hygiene, oral microbiota characteristics, increased loads on periodontium, malocclusion, smoking, history of systemic disorders, genetic predisposition, neuroses, etc. Despite the variety of available treatment protocols for mild to moderate chronic generalized periodontitis, the result has a short-term effect. Thus, searching for new treatment algorithms and creating improved medications with the necessary properties to stabilize the process and prolong remission in chronic periodontitis are relevant. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the comprehensive chronic periodontitis treatment with netilmicin ointment and propolis extract combined with diode laser, considering periodontal and immune statuses.
Material and methods. The study involved 70 patients with mild and moderate chronic generalized periodontitis and 30 controls without signs of inflammatory periodontal diseases (IPD). The main group consisted of 50 patients with IPD, who had comprehensive treatment with the ointment based on netilmicin and propolis extract and antiinflammatory therapy using the Doctor Smile diode laser. The comparison group comprised 20 patients whose treatment protocol did not include laser treatment. We conducted a clinical and immunological study of patients before and after the treatment.
Results. The comprehensive treatment evaluation, including clinical and immunological analysis, revealed a significant improvement in the parameters when using a combination of ointment with netilmicin/propolis extract and laser therapy, compared to standard non-surgical treatment.
Conclusion. The clinical and immunological analysis of the comprehensive treatment of patients with chronic periodontitis has established the advantage of the combined use of non-surgical treatment and physiotherapy procedures.

Relevance. Orthodontic treatment may adversely affect the periodontal health. Therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment planning with a periodontist are crucial. Dentoalveolar expansion is one of the ways to provide the space for malocclusion correction. Nevertheless, the stability of the obtained transverse dimensions remains insufficiently studied and requires additional research.
Material and methods. The comparative study included the clinical and paraclinical stages. The inclusion and exclusion criteria determined the study sample formation. Each patient had orthodontic treatment with the same standard arch-changing protocol recommended by the manufacturer; the average treatment duration was 18 ± 4 months. All patients underwent a clinical examination specifically focused on the gingival recession diagnosis. During the paraclinical stage, the study investigated medical records and measured study model parameters using Pont’s (1909) and Linder-Hart (1939) indices. Measurements were made four times during orthodontic treatment: before, immediately after, one and six years after treatment. All obtained data were statistically processed using the significance criteria.
Results. Study models’ analysis during the active stage of treatment revealed expansion in each segment of the dentition. However, the result is prone to relapse within the first year after the bracket system removal. Clinical examination of the oral cavity revealed gingival recessions, which appeared during the active stage of the orthodontic treatment. Thus, every third case showed marginal tissue displacement. The comparison of the initial transverse dimensions in the study and control groups detected a discrepancy between the measured and reference values, which might be a prerequisite for determining new parameters.
Conclusion. A periodontist should monitor orthodontic patients to protect periodontal health. The transverse dimensions appeared to increase to the utmost in the upper and lower premolar regions. However, the achieved result does not always remain stable. Most relapses occur during the first year after the orthodontic treatment; then, the outcome remains stable.

Relevance. The significant spread of dental diseases across the population and the failure to provide timely medical care in a medical facility, including emergency services, for various reasons, calls for other ways of doctor-patient interactions, e.g., virtual communication. Telemedicine is an innovative way of dental care provision using electronic information and telecommunication technologies.
Material and methods. The review includes the results of original publications on teledentistry implementation into dental practice and the results of its use in patients of different age groups. The studies focused on the application and limitations of teledentistry for the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases. Data sources: a search was performed of full-text scientific articles published between 2012 and November 30, 2022, in English, in the electronic databases elibrary, cyberleninka, PubMed and Google Academy.
Results. An initial electronic data search identified 2740 publications. Of these, upon exclusion of duplicates and checking for the title and abstract availability, 1100 studies were selected, while 1640 remaining publications were excluded for nonconformance to the inclusion criteria. Then, after the study of the titles and abstracts, 389 studies were subject to a full-text evaluation. Of these, 295 were excluded due to the lack of the doctor-patient interaction analysis. The systematic review included 91 publications, subject to the study evaluation and could be involved in numerical comparisons.
Conclusion. Teledentistry has a vast application scope, e.g., online consultations, oral disease diagnosis and prevention. Teledentistry offers opportunities for providing higher-quality oral hygiene care to older patients. Teleconsultation allows for decreasing stress associated with a dental visit. It is especially crucial for patients with dementia who refuse face-to-face communication with the doctor.