Investigation of the erosive potential of sour novelty sweets

Provides a background about the link between acidic beverages and dental erosion. Discusses the potential risk of developing dental erosion upon the frequent consumption of novelty sweets. Provides information which could be used by dental personnel in counselling patients who consume novelty sweets or at risk of developing dental erosion. Abstract Background The expansion of the novelty sweets market in the UK has major potential public health implications in children and young adults as they may cause dental erosion. Objective To investigate the erosive potential of the novelty sweets in term of their physiochemical properties and amount of enamel loss. Subjects and methods The pH of a variety of novelty sweets was tested in vitro using a pH meter and the neutralisable acidity was assessed by titrating the sweets against 0.1M NaOH. The viscosity of the novelty sweets was measured using a rotational viscometer. The wettability of enamel by each sweet was measured using dynamic contact angle analyser. Enamel loss was assessed using contact profilometry. Results The pH ranged from 1.8–3.2, the neutralisable acidity ranged from 9–201 ml of 0.1 NaOH. The viscosity of the novelty sweets that come in liquid form ranged from 2–594 mPa s. The surface enamel erosion ranged from 1.95–15.77 μm and from 2.5–17.6 μm with and without immersing in saliva for 1 hour before immersing in acidic solution respectively. The amount of subsurface enamel loss was ranged from 0.75 to 2.3 μm following ultrasonication at 0 min of acidic attack and from 0.23 to 0.85 μm at 60 minutes of acidic attack while immersed in saliva. The contact angle between enamel surface and four sweet was less than the angle formed between the orange juice and the enamel which caused more wettability of enamel. Conclusion The pH is lower than the critical value for enamel erosion (5.5), high neutralisable acidity and high sugar content strongly suggest that these sweets may cause significant amount of dental erosion clinically. In addition, the degree of wettability of enamel by solution is an important factor to consider in determining the enamel loss caused by acidic solution. Immediate tooth brushing would cause further enamel loss as a result of the mechanical removal of softened enamel. However, it has been suggested that postponing brushing after erosive attack should be reconsidered

The availability of novelty sweets within the high school fringe

Background Reducing sugar consumption is a primary focus of current global public health policy. Achieving 5% of total energy from free sugars will be difficult acknowledging the concentration of free sugars in sugar sweetened beverages, confectionery and as hidden sugars in many savoury items. The expansion of the novelty sweet market in the UK has significant implications for children and young adults as they contribute to dental caries, dental erosion and obesity. Objective To identify the most available types of novelty sweets within the high school fringe in Cardiff, UK and to assess their price range and where and how they were displayed in shops. Subjects and methods Shops within a ten minute walking distance around five purposively selected high schools in the Cardiff aea representing different levels of deprivation were visited. Shops in Cardiff city centre and three supermarkets were also visited to identify the most commonly available novelty sweets. Results The ten most popular novelty sweets identified in these scoping visits were (in descending order): Brain Licker, Push Pop, Juicy Drop, Lickedy Lips, Big Baby Pop, Vimto candy spray, Toxic Waste, Tango candy spray, Brain Blasterz Bitz and Mega Mouth candy spray. Novelty sweets were located on low shelves which were accessible to all age-groups in 73% (14 out of 19) of the shops. Novelty sweets were displayed in the checkout area in 37% (seven out of 19) shops. The price of the top ten novelty sweets ranged from 39p to £1. Conclusion A wide range of acidic and sugary novelty sweets were easily accessible and priced within pocket money range. Those personnel involved in delivering dental and wider health education or health promotion need to be aware of recent developments in children's confectionery. The potential effects of these novelty sweets on both general and dental health require further investigation

Mass and Heat Transfer of Thermochemical Fluids in a Fractured Porous Medium

The desire to improve hydraulic fracture complexity has encouraged the use of thermochemical additives with fracturing fluids. These chemicals generate tremendous heat and pressure pulses upon reaction. This study developed a model of thermochemical fluids’ advection-reactive transport in hydraulic fractures to better understand thermochemical fluids’ penetration length and heat propagation distance along the fracture and into the surrounding porous media. These results will help optimize the design of this type of treatment. The model consists of an integrated wellbore, fracture, and reservoir mass and heat transfer models. The wellbore model estimated the fracture fluid temperature at the subsurface injection interval. The integrated model showed that in most cases the thermochemical fluids were consumed within a short distance from the wellbore. However, the heat of reaction propagated a much deeper distance along the hydraulic fracture. In most scenarios, the thermochemical fluids were consumed within 15 ft from the fracture inlet. Among other design parameters, the thermochemical fluid concentration is the most significant in controlling the penetration length, temperature, and pressure response. The model showed that a temperature increase from 280 to 600 °F is possible by increasing the thermochemical concentration. Additionally, acid can be used to trigger the reaction but results in a shorter penetration length and higher temperature response

Applications of chelating agents in the upstream oil and gas industry: A review

Chelating agents show very effective performance in different applications in the upstream oil and gas industry. This study presents a critical review of the application of chelating agents in acidizing, scale removal, filter cake removal, wettability alteration, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and hydraulic fracturing treatments. The advantages and disadvantages of using several types of chelating agents for improving the well/reservoir productivity and enhancing the oil recovery from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs are discussed. Also, detailed comparisons between different chelating agents and their applications in many oil and gas areas are presented. Moreover, the combination of chelating agents with different chemicals to achieve better performance is addressed. Hydroxy amino carboxylic acids [such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA)] have replaced conventional acids, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrofluoric acid (HF), and organic acids, at high temperature and salinity conditions to stimulate carbonate and sandstone reservoirs without any side effects on the formation integrity. Furthermore, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and GLDA are effective in removing different types of scales, such as carbonate, sulfate, and sulfides, without releasing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and using corrosion inhibitors. Also, DTPA, EDTA, and GLDA are very active in dissolving filter cake layers formed by different drilling fluids. Aminopolycarboxylic groups can be injected into sandstone and carbonate reservoirs to adjust the wettability conditions and enhance oil recovery. Chelating agents, such as GLDA, EDTA, and DTPA, optimize the fracture conductivity and, meanwhile, minimize the number of additives in hydraulic fracturing, which significantly cut the cost of the operation. Overall, chelating agents are economically attractive chemicals for various upstream operations since produced, and seawater can be used without further treatment.Scopu

Orthodontic-assisted one step- no prep technique: A straightforward and minimally-invasive approach for localized tooth wear treatment using polymer-infiltrated ceramic network CAD-CAM prostheses

Objectives: To introduce a minimally invasive and simple ortho-pros approach for localized tooth wear treatment. Clinical considerations: Four patients with localized anterior and/or posterior tooth wear were treated. Occlusal analyses were performed, and localized wax-up or digital setup were designed based on estimated tissue loss. No-prep anterior and posterior partial-coverage polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN, Vita Enamic) restorations (eg, palatal and occlusal veneers) were computer-aided designed and manufactured (CAD-CAM), tried in, and bonded in supraocclusion, creating a posterior open bite. Then, brief partial (three patients) or global (one patient, for anterior teeth alignment request) orthodontic treatment was performed to extrude the posterior teeth and re-establish posterior occlusal contacts. The orthodontic treatment duration was ~2 months for extrusion. Direct composites were performed to mask the labial finish line of palatal veneers. Clinical results were successful after a follow-up of 15, 21, 23, and 47 months, with 100% success rate of PICN anterior restorations and some minor chippings of borders of thin (0.2 mm) posterior occlusal veneers. Patient-reported outcomes were positive. Conclusion: Orthodontic-assisted one step-no prep technique is an advantageous and straightforward evolution of the Dahl concept. PICNs exhibit several advantages in this interdisciplinary approach. Clinical significance: New hybrid-ceramic CAD-CAM materials and a collaborative interdisciplinary approach support the evolution of the Dahl concept for conservative treatment of worn dentitions. The orthodontic-assisted one step-no prep technique is predictable, efficient, and well tolerated by patients and conserves tooth structure