Structure and function of the human periodontium Science meets the clinician

Periodontium is a specialized tissue that keeps teeth in their position and protects roots of teeth against external noxa. In the present thesis, the 3D structure blood vessels in human gingiva has been investigated using 3D histochemistry and microscopical imaging. For that propose, the tissue has to be cleared, stained and imaged microscopically. We report here that the BABB method using a mixture of benzyl alcohol and benzyl benzoate and iDISCO using dibenzylether are the most successful methods for clearing connective tissue-rich gingiva for 3D histochemistry and imaging of fluorescence using light-sheet microscopy. From a clinical point of view, objective measurements of the responses of periodontal tissue to dental treatment are key to determine success or failure of periodontal therapy. The periodontal response to novel dental treatments such as aligner therapy in orthodontics, and to the application of adjunctive tools to support the periodontal health such as photodynamic therapy, herbal tooth paste and a mouth rinses containing aluminium triformate was investigated. It is shown in this thesis that innovations in periodontology benefits from cooperation of clinician and fundamental academic researcher.