Dental caries prevalence in children up to 36 months of age attending daycare centers in municipalities with different water fluoride content

This study determined the prevalence of cavitated caries lesions (CCL) and early childhood caries (ECC), and the contribution of some variables in children up to 36 months of age attending daycare centers in municipalities with different fluoride levels in the water supply: AFC (adequate fluoride content) and LFC (low fluoride content). After approval of the Ethics Committee, the parents were interviewed. The children were clinically examined using the same codes and criteria established by the WHO (World Health Organization) and the ADA (American Dental Association). Fisher's exact test (p<0.05) was applied for statistical analysis of data. The dmft indices calculated in the LFC and AFC municipalities were 0.57 and 0.68, respectively. Considering all children examined, 17.6% presented CCL and 33.8% ECC. The economic classification, mother's education level and duration of breastfeeding were considered statistically significant with regards to CCL prevalence. The age group, duration of the habit of drinking milk before bedtime and age at which oral hygiene started were considered statistically significant with regards to ECC prevalence.

Effect of different concentrations of fluoride in dentifrices on dentin erosion subjected or not to abrasion in situ/ex vivo

This in situ/ex vivo study assessed the effect of different concentrations of fluoride in dentifrices on dentin subjected to erosion or to erosion plus abrasion. Ten volunteers took part in this crossover and double-blind study performed in 3 phases (7 days). They wore acrylic palatal appliances containing 4 bovine dentin blocks divided in two rows: erosion and erosion plus abrasion. The blocks were subjected to erosion by immersion ex vivo in a cola drink (60 s, pH 2.6) 4 times daily. During this step, the volunteers brushed their teeth with one of three dentifrices D (5,000 ppm F, NaF, silica); C (1,100 ppm F, NaF, silica) and placebo (22 ppm F, silica). Then, the respective dentifrice slurry (1: 3) was dripped on dentin surfaces. While no further treatment was performed in one row, the other row was brushed using an electric toothbrush for 30 s ex vivo. The appliances were replaced in the mouth and the volunteers rinsed with water. Dentin loss was determined by profilometry and analyzed by 2-way ANOVA/Bonferroni test (alpha = 0.05). Dentin loss after erosive-abrasive wear was significantly greater than after erosion alone. Wear was significantly higher for the placebo than for the D and C dentifrices, which were not significantly different from each other. It can be concluded that the presence of fluoride concentrations around 1,100 ppm in dentifrices is important to reduce dentin wear by erosion and erosion + abrasion, but the protective effect does not increase with fluoride concentration. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Effect of rinsing with water immediately after neutral gel and foam fluoride topical application on enamel remineralization: An in situ study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Validation of Fingernail Fluoride Concentration as a Predictor of Risk for Dental Fluorosis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Low-Fluoride Acidic Dentifrice: A Randomized Clinical Trial in a Fluoridated Area

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

Evaluation of Different Fluoride Concentrations Supplemented with Trimetaphosphate on Enamel De- and Remineralization in vitro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The Effect of Different Fluoride Concentrations and pH of Dentifrices on Plaque and Nail Fluoride Levels in Young Children

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

Factors Associated with Fluoride Concentrations in Whole and Parotid Ductal Saliva

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

In vitro Evaluation of Dentifrice with Low Fluoride Content Supplemented with Trimetaphosphate

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of Mouth Rinses with Fluoride and Trimetaphosphate on Enamel Erosion: An in vitro Study

The effect of mouth rinses containing fluoride (100 mu g/ml) and sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) on enamel erosion was evaluated in vitro. Bovine enamel blocks were subjected to erosive challenges 4 times per day for 5 min, followed by treatment with placebo, 225 mu g F/ml, 100 mu g F/ml, 100 mu g F/ml and TMP (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) solutions (30 s) and storage in artificial saliva, over a duration of 5 days. TMP groups showed lower enamel wear than fluoride-only and placebo groups (p < 0.05). Addition of TMP at a TMP:NaF molar proportion between 1.24:1 and 3.72:1 to a solution containing 100 mu g F/ml presented a greater protective effect under erosive conditions than a solution containing 225 mu g F/ml, in the absence of TMP. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

Slow-release fluoride devices: a literature review

Although the prevalence of caries has decreased dramatically over the past decades, it has become a polarised disease, with most of subjects presenting low caries levels and few individuals accounting for most of the caries affected surfaces. Thus it become evident for the need of clinical approaches directed at these high-risk patients, in order to overcome problems related to compliance and low attendance at dental care centres. Slow-release fluoride devices were developed based on the inverse relationship existing between intra-oral fluoride levels and dental caries experience. The two main types of slow-release devices - copolymer membrane type and glass bead - are addressed in the present review. A substantial number of studies have demonstrated that these devices are effective in raising intra-oral F concentrations at levels able to reduce enamel solubility, resulting in a caries-protective effect. Studies in animals and humans demonstrated that the use of these devices was able to also protect the occlusal surfaces, not normally protected by conventional fluoride regimens. However, retention rates have been shown to be the main problem related to these devices and still requires further improvements. Although the results of these studies are very promising, further randomised clinical trials are needed in order to validate the use of these devices in clinical practice. The concept of continuously providing low levels of intra-oral fluoride has great potential for caries prevention in high caries-risk groups.

Effect of Nd:YAG Irradiation and Fluoride Application on Dentine Resistance to Erosion in Vitro

Objective: In this paper we evaluated the effect of two fluoridated agents and Nd:YAG irradiation separately and in combination on dentine resistance to erosion. Background Data: The morphological changes in dentin induced by laser treatment may reduce the progression of erosive lesions. Due to the possibility of a synergistic effect of laser with fluoride, this study was conducted. Materials and Methods: Eighty bovine dentine samples (4 x 4 mm) were randomly divided into eight groups, according to the following treatments: G1: untreated (control); G2: acidic phosphate fluoride gel (APF 1.23%) for 4 min; G3: fluoride varnish (NaF 2.26%) for 6 h; G4: 0.5 W Nd: YAG laser (250 mu sec pulse, 10 Hz, 35 J/cm(2), 30 sec); G5: 0.75 W Nd: YAG laser (52.5 J/cm(2)); G6: 1.0 W Nd: YAG laser (70 J/cm(2)); G7: APF + 0.75 W Nd: YAG laser; and G8: NaF + 0.75 W Nd: YAG laser. After the treatments, half of each dentine surface was protected with nail varnish. The samples were stored in artificial saliva (30 mL/sample) for 24 h and submitted to four erosive 1-min cycles. Between the erosive attacks, the blocks were maintained in artificial saliva for 59 min. The erosive wear was evaluated by profilometry. Results: The mean wear (+/- SD, mu m) was: G1: 1.20 +/- 0.20; G2: 0.47 +/- 0.06; G3: 0.81 +/- 0.11; G4: 1.47 +/- 0.32; G5: 1.52 +/- 0.24; G6: 1.49 +/- 0.30; G7: 0.49 +/- 0.11; and G8: 1.06 +/- 0.31 (Tukey's test, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Laser irradiation was not able to reduce dentine erosion. However, fluoride application was able to increase the dentine's resistance to erosion, and APF showed better results than fluoride varnish.

Sealability of MTA and calcium hydroxide-containing sealers

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the apical sealability of Fillapex (R), Endo-CPM-Sealer (R) and Sealapex (R). Material and Methods: Ninety-four freshly extracted single-rooted teeth were selected and decoronated. All teeth were radiographed to confirm the existence of a single and straight root canal, which was prepared using Protaper Universal and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite. The teeth were randomly divided in groups of 10 specimens each according to the sealer, and the canals were filled using the single cone technique and one of the sealers. Four additional teeth were used as controls. The teeth were submitted to dye leakage with Rhodamine B for 24 h but using vacuum on the initial 15 min. Thereafter, they were cut longitudinally and the leakage was measured in a linear fashion from apex to crown. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's tests at 5% significance level. Results: Fillapex (R) and Sealapex (R) showed significantly less dye leakage than Endo-CPM-Sealer (R) (p<0.05). Conclusions: It was concluded that Fillapex (R) and Sealapex (R) were able to prevent apical dye leakage differently from Endo-CPM-Sealer (R).

Evaluation of mineral trioxide aggregate and calcium hydroxide cement as pulp-capping agents in human teeth

This study evaluated the histomorphologic response of human dental pulps capped with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Ca(OH)(2) cement (CH). Pulp exposures were performed on the occlusal floor of 40 human permanent premolars. After that, the pulp was capped either with CH or MTA and restored with composite resin. After 30 and 60 days, teeth were extracted and processed for histologic exam and categorized in a histologic score system. The data were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis and Conover tests (alpha = .05). All groups performed well in terms of hard tissue bridge formation, inflammatory response, and other pulpal findings. However, a lower response of CH30 was observed for the dentin bridge formation, when compared with MTA30 and MTA60 groups. Although the pulp healing with calcium hydroxide was slower than that of MTA, both materials were successful for pulp capping in human teeth.