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ACTA
STOMATOLOGICA

NAISSI

Table of Contents for
Decembre  2016 • Volume 32• Number 74

EFFICACY OF GALLIUM IN TOOTH LOSS PREVENTION

Milena D. Aleksić1,
Aleksandra M. Lukić2


 

 

1CENTER FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE AND STEM CELLS RESEARCH, KRAGUJEVAC, SERBIA
2UNIVERSITY OF KRAGUJEVAC, FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF ENDODONTICS, SERBIA

   
...Abstract


 

Introduction: Over the past three decades, gallium compounds have gained importance in medicine. Radioactive gallium and stable gallium nitrate are used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in cancer and disorders of calcium and bone metabolism. In addition, gallium compounds have displayed anti inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity in animal models of human diseases. More recent studies have shown that gallium compounds may also function as antimicrobial agents.
In the review, the potential application of gallium in the future treatment of periodontitis and prevention of tooth loss will be discussed. Gingival inflammation, bacterial infection, alveolar bone destruction and subsequent tooth loss are characteristic features of periodontal disease. Surgical techniques, mechanical debridement of the denuded root surface, and local or systemic application of antimicrobial agents are currently used treatments for periodontitis. However, the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria has prompted a great need for new and alternative treatment methods for infection.
Conclusion: The potential anti-periodontitis benefits of gallium are related to eradicating infection due to bacterial biofilms, increasing bone deposition and downregulating unwanted immune responses. Adjunctive use of gallium laser therapy with mechanical instrumentation in combination with gallium-containing gingival gels, toothpastes and mouth rinses may represent the final solutions for tooth loss prevention.

 

 Key words:gallium, efficacy, prevention, tooth loss
 

...Authors and Reprint Information

 

Address of correspondence:
Milena Aleksić, DDS, PhD
Žanova S5/16, 35000 Jagodina, Serbia
Mobile: +381637488985
Email: milenavel85@gmail.com




Copyright © 2016 by The Editorial Council of The Acta Stomatologica Naissi