Photodynamic inactivation of biofilm: Taking a lightly colored approach to stubborn infection

Microbial biofilms are responsible for a variety of microbial infections in different parts of the body, such as urinary tract infections, catheter infections, middle-ear infections, gingivitis, caries, periodontitis, orthopedic implants, and so on. The microbial biofilm cells have properties and gene expression patterns distinct from planktonic cells, including phenotypic variations in enzymic activity, cell wall composition and surface structure, which increase the resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments. There is consequently an urgent need for new approaches to attack biofilm-associated microorganisms, and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) may be a promising candidate. aPDT involves the combination of a nontoxic dye and low-intensity visible light which, in the presence of oxygen, produces cytotoxic reactive oxygen species. It has been demonstrated that many biofilms are susceptible to aPDT, particularly in dental disease. This review will focus on aspects of aPDT that are designed to increase efficiency against biofilms modalities to enhance penetration of photosensitizer into biofilm, and a combination of aPDT with biofilm-disrupting agents. © 2013 Informa UK Ltd.

Seven years of external control of fluoride levels in the public water supply in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil

luoridation of the public water supplies is recognized as among the top ten public health achievements of the twentieth century. However, the positive aspects of this measure depend on the maintenance of fluoride concentrations within adequate levels. Objective: To report the results of seven years of external control of the fluoride (F) concentrations in the public water supply in Bauru, SP, Brazil in an attempt to verify, on the basis of risk/ benefit balance, whether the levels are appropriate. Material and Methods: From March 2004 to February 2011, 60 samples were collected every month from the 19 supply sectors of the city, totaling 4,641 samples. F concentrations in water samples were determined in duplicate, using an ion-speciflc electrode (Orion 9609) coupled to a potentiometer after buffering with TISAB II. After the analysis, the samples were classified according to the best risk-benefit adjustment. Results: Means (±standard deviation) of F concentrations ranged between 0.73±0.06 and 0.81±0.10 mg/L for the different sectors during the seven years. The individual values ranged between 0.03 and 2.63 mg/L. The percentages of the samples considered low risk for dental fluorosis development and of maximum benefit for dental caries prevention (0.55-0.84 mg F/L) in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh years of the study were 82.0, 58.5, 37.4, 61.0, 89.9, 77.3, and 72.4%, respectively, and 69.0% for the entire period. Conclusions: Fluctuations of F levels were found in the public water supply in Bauru during the seven years of evaluation. These results suggest that external monitoring of water fluoridation by an independent assessor should be implemented in cities where there is adjusted fluoridation. This measure should be continued in order to verify that fluoride levels are suitable and, if not, to provide support for the appropriate adjustments.

Comparison of methods in oral health education from the perspective of adolescents.

To investigate whether teenagers' knowledge about oral health is influenced by educational methods and to verify the most effective method according to their perception. The study was performed in Araçatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil, with 127 teenagers from a vocational school. It was realised in 3 steps: 1. An evaluation of knowledge about oral health using a self-applied questionnaire. 2. An application of educational methods, where the students were divided into two groups (A and B). Group A participated in three educational activities that involved lectures, individual demonstration, and participatory activity. Group B was divided into three subgroups (B1, B2, B3) and each of them participated in only one of the methods. 3. The acquired knowledge was evaluated. Group A created a focus group to give their opinion about strategies. With regards to knowledge after the application of the different methods in all groups, there was a statistically significant difference concerning periodontitis, gingivitis and herpes. In group A, after the three activities, and in group B2 after the individual demonstration, an association was found between 'healthy teeth' and 'general health' (P = 0.004 and P = 0.022, respectively). After the individual demonstration, an association was shown between variables of acquired knowledge about 'harmful diet' and 'dental caries' (P = 0.002) as well as 'good diet' and 'prevention of oral diseases' (P = 0.032). The favourite method was individual demonstration, due to the contact with educational materials, followed by participatory activity because it encouraged learning in a more dynamic way. Educational methods influenced knowledge about oral health, with individual demonstration proving to be the most effective method for acquiring knowledge. In the adolescents' view, the participatory activity was the preferred method.

In vitro enamel remineralization by low-fluoride toothpaste with calcium citrate and sodium trimetaphosphate

The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of a low fluoride toothpaste (450 μgF/g, NaF) combined with calcium citrate (Cacit) and sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) on enamel remineralization. Bovine enamel blocks had the enamel surface polished sequentially to determine the surface hardness. After production of artificial carious lesions, the blocks selected by their surface hardness were submitted to remineralization pH cycling and daily treatment with dentifrice suspensions (diluted in deionized water or artificial saliva): placebo, 275, 450, 550 and 1,100 μgF/g and commercial dentifrice (positive control, 1,100 μgF/g). Finally, the surface and cross-section hardness was determined for calculating the change of surface hardness (%SH) and mineral content (%ΔZ). Fluoride in enamel was also determined. The data from %SH, %ΔZ and fluoride were subjected to two-way analysis of variance followed by Student-Newman-Keuls's test (p<0.05). The mineral gain (%SH and %ΔZ) was higher for toothpastes diluted in saliva (p<0.05), except for the 450 mgF/g dentifrice with Cacit/TMP (p>0.05). The 450 Cacit/ TMP toothpaste and the positive control showed similar results (p>0.05) when diluted in water. A dose-response was observed between fluoride concentration in toothpastes and fluoride present in enamel, regardless of dilution. It was concluded that it is possible to enhance the remineralization capacity of low F concentration toothpaste by of organic (Cacit) and inorganic (TMP) compounds with affinity to hydroxyapatite.

In vitro evaluation of the effect of mouth rinse with trimetaphosphate on enamel demineralization

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) addition to mouth rinses to inhibit enamel demineralization. Design: Bovine enamel blocks (n = 88) were selected by surface hardness and divided into eight treatment groups (n = 11 per group): placebo, 100 or 225 μg F/ml; the rinses with 100 μg F/ml had differing TMP concentrations (range 0-0.6%). The blocks were subjected to pH cycling for 5 days and treated twice a day with mouth rinses. After that, surface and cross-sectional hardness as well as fluoride in enamel were measured. Results: The groups containing both 100 μg F/ml and 0.4% TMP inhibited demineralization most effectively (p < 0.001). This formulation yielded lower values of lesion areas than the formulations containing 100 or 225 μg F/ml but no TMP. The addition of 0.4% TMP increased the fluoride in enamel. Conclusion: It is possible to improve the effectiveness of a mouth rinse with 100 μg F/ml by addition of TMP, this being superior in inhibiting enamel demineralization compared with mouth rinses containing 225 μg F/ml. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Avaliação do risco de cárie e microbiota fúngica em pacientes pediátricos com anemia falciforme

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hipomineralização molar incisivo em escolares de Botelhos, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hipomineralização molar-incisivo: prevalência, severidade e etiologia em escolares de Araraquara

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desempenho de métodos baseados na indução de fluorescência para a detecção de lesões de cárie em superfícies oclusais e proximais: estudos in vitro

Pós-graduação em Ciências Odontológicas - FOAR

Terapêutica medicamentosa em odontologia: antibióticos

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Avaliações clínica e clínica/fotográfica de restaurações adesivas, realizadas em lesões cervicais não cariosas: efeitos dos materiais restauradores, tipos e tempos de avaliação

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

Influência do tratamento de superfície na adaptação externa de cavidade classe V hígida e afetada por cárie submetidas á ciclagem térmica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da rugosidade e ultra-estrutura superficial do esmalte dental humano submetido a diferentes métodos profiláticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desempenho clínico da flurescência, imagens digitais ampliadas e ICDAS na detecção de cárie em superfícies oclusais

Pós-graduação em Ciências Odontológicas - FOAR

Resistência de união de um sistema adesivo irradiado com laser Nd:YAG em dentina tratada com laser de Er:YAG

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)