Effect of orthodontic treatment on saliva, plaque and the levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify changes in the oral environment with clinical, salivary and bacterial risk markers after placement of fixed orthodontic appliances on permanent dentition. Material and Methods: With ethical approval, we used different techniques to analyzed clinical, salivary and bacterial risk markers in 34 patients (mean age, 16.7 ± 5.2 years), 14 males and 20 females; before starting orthodontic treatment and 1 month after. Clinical risk markers (decayed, missing, and filled surfaces [DMFS], O?Leary´s plaque index, and plaque pH); salivary markers (unstimulated and stimulated saliva flow rate, buffer capacity, pH, and occult blood in saliva) and bacterial counts (Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus). Data were analyzed by paired t-test and ?2 test. Results: This study showed that orthodontic appliances increased the stimulated salivary flow rate (p=0.0001), buffer capacity (p=0.0359), salivary pH (p=0.0246) and occult blood in saliva (p=0.0305). Bacterial levels increased slightly after 1 month of treatment, without statistical significance. Between genders, initially we observed differences in: stimulated saliva (p=0.0019), buffer capacity (p=0.0381) and plaque pH (p=0.0430); after treatment the unstimulated saliva (p=0.0026) showed differences. Conclusions: Orthodontic treatment changes the oral environmental factors, promotes an increase in stimulated flow rate, buffer capacity and salivary pH, which augment the anti caries activity of saliva. In contrast, increased occult blood indicated more gingival inflammation, apparently because augmented the retentive plaque surfaces and the difficult to maintain a good oral hygiene, rinsed the bleeding in saliva by periodontal damage

Evaluation of caries risk factors associated with pregnancy

Tooth decay in pregnant women is frequent; the Cariogram is a useful tool for the identification of risk factors for dental caries. The aim is to determine risk to dental caries in pregnant women. A convenience sample of 55 healthy women between 18 and 40 years old in their last trimester of pregnancy, recruited from public hospitals of the State of Mexico, were studied. According to Cariogram factors 58% of patients can develop new carious lesions, due to their diet and presence of cariogenic bacteria (20%), susceptibility (11%) and circumstances (7%). The Cariogram is an efficient tool to identify caries risk factors in pregnant women. A correlation was observed between the identified factors and the Decayed Missing, Filled, Teeth surfaces Index (DMFT).Debido a que la caries dental es un problema común en mujeres embarazadas, el propósito es determinar el riesgo de padecerla en una muestra por conveniencia de 55 mujeres sanas en su último trimestre de embarazo, de entre 18 y 40 años de edad provenientes de hospitales públicos del Estado de México. Según los factores del cariograma, 58% de las pacientes puede desarrollar nuevas lesiones cariosas debido a su dieta y a la presencia de bacterias cariogénicas (20%), susceptibilidad (11%) y circunstancias (7%). Los resultados muestran que el cariograma es una herramienta útil para identificar factores de riesgo a la caries en mujeres embarazadas. Se observó una correlación entre los factores identificados y el índice de dientes cariados, perdidos y obturados (CPOD)

Evaluation of caries risk factors associated with pregnancy

"Tooth decay in pregnant women is frequent; the Cariogram is a useful tool for the identification of risk factors for dental caries. The aim is to determine risk to dental caries in pregnant women. A convenience sample of 55 healthy women between 18 and