Pesquisa odontológica no Brasil: características da produção científica no início do século XXI

Dentistry, as a science and field of knowledge, has presented a substantial development in the last decades in the areas of research and education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Brazilian scientific production in Dentistry, as from their methodological outlining, which characterizes the XXI Century. Five thousand two hundred and three study abstracts were evaluated, comprising works presented in the meetings of the Brazilian Society of Dentistry Research (SBPqO), during the period of 2001 to 2006. The main results identify that, as for the methodology used in the researches, there was a predominance of the studies of an individuate, interventionist and longitudinal nature; of the researches in the areas of Dentistry, Periodontology, Endodontics, Pedodontics and Collective Oral Health and experimental studies about clinical researches or with collective subjects. The inter and multidisciplinarity are pointed out in the outlining of this study, as the triad Education-Health-Research is discussed, so that they transcend in their fields of action, in the direction of the transdisciplinarity. It is concluded that, in the studied period, there was a reasonable and balanced production in Brazilian dental field

Aplicação do processo sol-gel na produção de recobrimentos de hidroxiapatita sobre ligas a base de Ti empregadas em implantes odontológicos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da retençao de coroas de Ytrio-zircônia cimentadas à diferentes substratos, com quatro agentes cimentantes, após termociclagem

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Confiabilidade de diferentes métodos de aquisição de modelos dentários digitais

O uso de modelos de estudo dentários faz parte tanto da prática quanto da pesquisa odontológica e ortodôntica. Com a introdução dos scanners 3D e dos tomógrafos CBCT (cone beam computer tomography) tornou-se possível a obtenção de modelos dentários tridimensionais virtuais das arcadas dentárias. Foram selecionados 56 modelos dentários superiores e escaneados em três tipos diferentes de scanners: Maestro 3D Dental Scanner (AGE Solutions, Potedera, Italia), 3Shape R700 3D Scanner (3Shape, Copenhagen, Dinamarca) e o scanner 3Shape TRIOS (3Shape, Copenhagen, Dinamarca). Doze medidas foram realizadas nos modelos dentários de gesso e comparadas com as mesmas medidas realizadas nos modelos dentários digitais por meio do teste de Análise de Variância (ANOVA). Estatisticamente não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as medições tradicionais nos modelos dentários de gesso e as medidas realizadas nos modelos dentários digitais. Os três tipos de métodos de aquisição de modelos dentários digitais foram considerados confiáveis para as medições horizontais, transversais e verticais. Os modelos dentários virtuais podem ser indicados como substitutos dos modelos dentários de gesso.

Retention of oral microorganisms on conventional and resin-modified glass-ionomer cements

A cárie secundária representa problema de saúde pública e socioeconômico no mundo. A restauração de dentes acometidos por cárie pode criar condições favoráveis à proliferação microbiana na superfície do material restaurador ou na interface dente/restauração, criando ambiente propício para o estabelecimento de cárie secundária. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a capacidade de retenção de placa bacteriana em cimentos de ionômero de vidro convencionais (Chelon-Fil e Vidrion R) e modificados por resina (Vitremer e Fuji II LC) e de resina composta híbrida (Z100), utilizada como controle. Nos testes de retenção de microrganismos, in situ, 12 voluntários utilizaram, por 7 dias, placa de Hawley contendo corpos-de-prova de todos os materiais. A seguir, os corpos-de-prova foram transferidos para tubos contendo 2,0 ml de Ringer-PRAS e os microrganismos presentes em sua superfície foram cultivados em placa com ágar-sangue e ágar Mitis Salivarius Bacitracina, os quais foram incubados, a 37ºC, em anaerobiose (90% N2, 10% CO2), por 10 e 2 dias, respectivamente. Os ionômeros modificados por resina retiveram quantidade de bactérias similar àquela mostrada pela resina testada. Os ionômeros modificados por resina também apresentaram menor número de estreptococos do grupo mutans do que a resina e os cimentos ionoméricos convencionais. Os ionômeros de vidro convencionais apresentaram menor número de estreptococos do grupo mutans que a resina, sendo que essa diferença não foi estatisticamente significativa.

Influência da aplicação de flúor sobre a rugosidade superficial do ionômero de vidro Vitremer e adesão microbiana a este material

Os cimentos ionoméricos representam importante opção de material restaurador em Odontologia e sua adesão à estrutura dental, diminuindo a infiltração marginal, somada à liberação de flúor, inibindo o metabolismo de microrganismos acidogênicos e favorecendo a remineralização dental, podem diminuir a ocorrência de cárie secundária. A aplicação tópica de géis acidulados ou neutros contendo flúor tem sido largamente utilizada em Odontologia. No entanto, este procedimento pode afetar a integridade dos materiais restauradores, aumentando sua rugosidade e a retenção de placa bacteriana. Dessa forma, o presente estudo avaliou o período de tempo no qual o cimento ionomérico Vitremer mantém sua capacidade inibitória sobre Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 e a adesão dos mesmos sobre a superfície do material, bem como a influência da aplicação tópica de flúor acidulado e neutro sobre esses parâmetros microbiológicos e as características superficiais daquele material. Verificou-se que a atividade antimicrobiana do cimento ionomérico Vitremer se mantém por aproximadamente quatro dias e não é recuperada com o uso de flúor gel acidulado ou neutro. Observou-se, também, que Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 adere ao material restaurador testado sendo que a aplicação tópica de flúor não influenciou esta adesão. As características superficiais desses materiais não se alteraram com a aplicação dos géis.

Dentists' level of knowledge of the treatment plans for periodontal ligament injuries after dentoalveolar trauma

This study investigated the level of knowledge held by dentists about the possible treatment plan procedures for periodontal ligament injuries after dentoalveolar trauma. A 5-item self-applied questionnaire was prepared with questions referring to the professional profile of the interviewees and to the treatment plan they would propose for periodontal ligament injuries secondary to dentoalveolar trauma. The questionnaires were filled out by 693 dentists attending the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for Dental Research, and the data obtained were subjected to descriptive analysis. Either the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was applied to assess associations among variables, at a 5% level of significance. The results revealed that dentists experienced difficulty in establishing a treatment plan for subluxation, and for extrusive, lateral and intrusive luxations. In general, holding a dental specialty degree had no influence on the knowledge about treatment plan procedures for the most severe injuries. It could be concluded that the dentists participating in this study, whether specialists or not, did not have sufficient knowledge to treat most of the periodontal ligament injuries resulting from dentoalveolar trauma adequately.

Effect of heat treatment on stainless steel orthodontic wires

This study evaluated the effect of heat treatment on CrNi stainless steel orthodontic archwires. Half of forty archwires of each thickness - 0.014 (0.35 mm), 0.016 (0.40 mm), 0.018 (0.45 mm) and 0.020 (0.50 mm) (totalling 160 archwires) - were subjected to heat treatment while the remainder were not. All of the archwires had their individual thickness measured in the anterior and posterior regions using AutoCad 2000 software before and after compressive and tensile strength testing. The data was statistically analysed utilising multivariance ANOVA at a 5% significance level. All archwires without heat treatment that were subjected to tensile strength testing presented with anterior opening, which was more accentuated in the 0.020 archwires. In the posterior region, the opening produced by the tensile force was more accentuated in the archwires without heat treatment. There was greater stability in the thermally treated archwires, especially those subjected to tensile strength testing, which indicates that the heat treatment of orthodontic archwires establishes a favourable and indispensable condition to preserve the intercanine width.

Effect of occlusal splint thickness on electrical masticatory muscle activity during rest and clenching

The extent of separation between the maxillary and mandibular teeth in the fabrication of interocclusal splints designed to achieve efficiency and muscle relaxation is controversial and undefined in the literature. Based on this premise, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interocclusal splint thicknesses of 3 and 6 millimeters on the electrical activity of the anterior temporal and masseter muscles during rest and dental clenching. Twenty asymptomatic individuals (10 males and 10 females) were selected using the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC). Electromyography (EMG) was performed both with and without the 3- and 6-mm splints using the Bio EMG software package, which recorded values given in microvolts (mu V). The results, which were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to a 5% significance level (p < 0.05), showed increased electrical activity of the masticatory muscles during dental clenching compared with at rest, with greater activity in the masseter muscle. The electrical activity did not differ according to the thickness of the splints or between males and females. We can conclude that both splint thicknesses are effective in treating muscle hyperactivity given their similar clinical behavior for asymptomatic individuals.

Luxation injuries in primary teeth: a retrospective study in children assisted at an emergency service

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

External control of the public water supply in 29 Brazilian cities

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Socio-behavioral factors influence prevalence and severity of dental caries in children with primary dentition

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparação entre os exames radiográficos convencional e digitalizado em relação ao plano de tratamento de superfícies oclusais

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar as decisões de tratamento restaurador de superfícies oclusais, sem cavitação, quando realizadas através dos aspectos clínicos e radiográficos, convencional e digitalizado. Foram examinados, 33 sítios das superfícies oclusais de 30 molares permanentes extraídos, com e sem pigmentação. O plano de tratamento para cada região foi realizado por 5 cirurgiões-dentistas, professores universitários, utilizando dois tipos de exames: exame visual de fotografias e radiografia interproximal convencional (IV + RXC); e exame visual de fotografias e radiografia digitalizada (IV + DIGORA). O padrão de validação para os planos de tratamento foi realizado através do aspecto histológico. A sensibilidade em determinar a não-necessidade de tratamento restaurador foi, em média, tanto para a IV + RXC quanto para a IV + DIGORA, de 0,23. A especificidade foi, em média, de 0,83 e 0,86, para a IV + RXC e IV + DIGORA, respectivamente. Quando comparou-se os planos de tratamento intra-examinadores, não foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significante à nível de 5%. Baseado nestes dados, pode-se concluir que os métodos radiográficos, convencional e digitalizado, não demonstraram diferenças na efetividade da determinação do plano de tratamento de superfícies oclusais sem cavitação.

Effects of age and gender on upper airway, lower airway and upper lip growth

The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of age and gender on upper and lower airway width and upper lip length. In this study, 390 lateral cephalograms were divided into 13 age groups (ranging from 6 to 18 years) and were analyzed. The inter-group differences were analyzed using a MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of the Variance), and the intragroup differences were analyzed using an ANOVA (Analysis of the Variance) and Tukey's test. The results of the present study indicated that although the airway width and the upper lip length increased with age, the lower airway width exhibited variable growth between the ages of six and eighteen years. The airway width was significantly greater in females than males, whereas the upper airway width was similar between these two genders. The lip length was significantly shorter in females than males. The lower airway width and upper lip length were significantly different between males and females, whereas the upper airway width was similar for the genders. The upper airway width and upper lip exhibited incremental growth between the ages of six and eighteen years. The upper lip closely followed the growth pattern of the upper airway width; the growth plateaued between the ages of 6 and 9 years, increased from 9 to 16 years and plateaued from 16 to 18 years.

Rapid palatal expansion: a comparison of two appliances

This study analyzed occlusal radiographs to compare the transverse changes produced in patients treated with rapid maxillary expansion using two types of appliances. The sample consisted of 31 children aged 7 to 10.6 years, of both genders, with posterior cross-bite. Fifteen children were treated with a tooth-borne expander and 16 were treated with a tooth-tissue-borne expander. Occlusal radiographs obtained at treatment onset and at the end of the retention period were digitized. The following variables were measured: intermolar distance (IMD), interapical distance (IApD), interbase distance (IBaD) and interarm distance (IArD). The results revealed increases in all measurements in both groups after rapid maxillary expansion. Comparison between groups revealed that the increases were greater in patients treated with the tooth-borne expander, except for the IArD measurement, which presented the same increase in both groups. Even though the IMD measurements differed between expanders, they were proportional to the activation of the appliances (IBaD). The increase in the IApD measurement was proportionally greater in the group treated with the tooth-borne expander (0.7:1.0) than in that treated with the tooth-tissue-borne expander (0.4:1.0). It was concluded that both appliances had similar effects, although the tooth-tissue-borne expander produced a lesser opening at the apical region of the incisors.