Effect of toothpastes containing different NaF concentrations or a SnF2/NaF combination on root dentine erosive lesions, in vitro

Fluoride toothpastes presumably offer some protection against acid erosion. However, uncertainty exists towards fluoride’s efficacy relatively to the concentration and the type of chemical compound used. This in vitro study evaluated the relative efficacy of toothpastes containing sodium fluoride in different concentrations or a stabilized stannous fluoride/sodium fluoride system on root dentine erosion. Bovine dentin specimens were allocated into four groups (n=10): control (no F), 1450ppm F (as NaF), 5000ppm F (as NaF) and 1450ppm F (1100ppm as stabilized SnF2 and 350ppm as NaF)/sodium hexamethaphosphate. The specimens were submitted to 6 daily cycles of erosion (0.3% v/v citric acid, pH=3.2, 20 min) and remineralization (~22h), interspersed by 2-min immersions in 1:3 w/v of dentifrice/distilled water slurries. Subsequently, they were subjected to a 24-h acid resistance test (0.3% v/v citric acid, pH=3.2) without any further treatments. Surface loss was quantified by contact profilometry. Data were analysed through one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s tests (p≤0.05). In both experiments, all fluoride groups, showed significantly less tissue loss compared to the control (p<0.001-p=0.018). During erosion cycling, no significant differences were found among the fluoride groups. During the acid resistance test, the 5000ppm F toothpaste produced significantly superior effect than both 1450ppm F products (p=0.010, (p<0.001), which performed similarly. Under less aggressive erosive conditions, fluoride toothpastes did not differ in their ability to protect dentine surfaces. However, in severely erosive environment, the 5000ppm F toothpaste performed superiorly to the other tested products

Dental caries in Uruguayan adults and elders: findings from the first Uruguayan National Oral Health Survey

This study aimed to assess dental caries status and associated factors in Uruguayan adults and elders using data from the first Uruguayan National Oral Health Survey. Data were representative of the country as a whole. Socio-demographic information was collected with a closed questionnaire. Dental caries was assessed by clinical examination using the DMFT index. The final sample consisted of 769 participants. Mean DMFT was 15.20 and 24.12 for the 35-44 and 65-74-year age groups, respectively. Mean number of decayed teeth was 1.70 in adults and 0.66 in elders. Multivariate analyses showed higher prevalence of dental caries associated with age 65-74 years, low socioeconomic status, use of public dental services, presence of gingivitis; for decayed teeth, age 35-44 years, low socioeconomic status, use of public dental services, infrequent tooth brushing, need for oral health care, and presence of root caries showed higher severity. Uruguayan adults and elders from disadvantaged backgrounds concentrated a heavier burden of dental caries

Prevalence of sealants in relation to dental caries on the permanent molars of 12 and 15-year-old Greek adolescents. A national pathfinder survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of sealants as an effective measure for the prevention of pit and fissure caries in children has been well documented by several studies; either they are used on an individual or on a public health basis. In order to plan and establish a national preventive program with sealants in a community, it is mandatory to know the epidemiological pattern of caries along with other variables influencing their use and effectiveness. Aims: To assess the utilization and distribution pattern of pit and fissure sealants on the first and second permanent molars of Greek adolescents and to evaluate whether the existing usage of sealants and some socio-demographic factors are correlated to caries prevalence on the population examined</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A stratified cluster sample of 2481 Greek adolescents was selected according to WHO guidelines (1224 twelve and 1,257 fifteen-year-old), living in urban and rural areas in 11 districts within the country. Five calibrated examiners carried out clinical examinations, recording caries experience at the dentine threshold (BASCD criteria) and presence or absence of sealants along with Socio-demographic indicators associated with oral health. Mann Whitney and Pearson's chi-square non parametric tests were utilized for assessing the data. The level of significance was p < 0.05.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sealants utilization varied considerably within the different districts, with 8,3% of the 12 and 8,0% of the 15-year-old adolescents having at least one sealed molar. Sealants reduced DMFS scores by 11% in the 12-year-olds and by 24% in the 15-year-olds, while 15-year-old adolescents from rural areas had a statistically significant (p = 0.002) less chance of having sealants (71%) compared to children from urban areas. Girls had higher chance to receive sealants in both age groups (26% for the 12 and 19% for the 15-year-old) as well as patients that visited the dentist for prevention compared to those visiting the dentist because they thought they needed a restoration or because they were in pain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The finding that sealants reduced DMFS scores despite their very low utilization, along with the high prevalence of dental caries found on the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth of Greek adolescents, is calling for a national preventive program with sealants which could eliminate caries to a larger extent.</p

Tooth wear in the deciduous dentition of 5-7-year-old children: Risk factors

This study was conducted to investigate the distribution and severity of tooth wear in deciduous dentition and its relationship with possible risk factors. A stratified cluster sample of 243 5-7-year-old children was examined using the tooth wear index of Smith and Knight, and their exposure to intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors was retrospectively investigated through a structured questionnaire. The severity of wear was quantitatively estimated by the number of surfaces with affected dentine and by the cumulative score of the sextants, based on the Basic Erosive Wear Examination scoring system. Only 1.6% of the children were tooth wear free, whereas 45.6% had moderate to severe wear involving dentine. Maxillary canines were the most affected teeth (83.2%), and occlusal/incisal the most affected surfaces (52.7%). The likelihood of tooth wear involving dentine was greater in boys than girls (OR = 1.72), in immigrants than in Greeks (OR = 1.93), and in 6- and 7-year olds than in 5-year olds (OR = 2.78 to 2.93). After adjustment for age, gender, and nationality, exposure to several dietary factors and especially to soft drinks was found to significantly affect the prevalence (OR = 1.27) and the severity of tooth wear. Every additional serving/week of consumption of soft drinks increases the number of surfaces with dentine affected by 0.03 per year (p &lt; 0. 05) and the cumulative score of sextants by 0. 04 (p &lt; 0.05). The cluster of children with the higher prevalence and severity of tooth wear had an average exposure to soft drinks of 10 servings/week for a duration of 4 years. The cumulative score of sextants was better predicted by the assessed risk factors, in comparison with the number of surfaces with affected dentine. Tooth wear is a common condition in children, related both to the physiological process of aging of dentition and to the erosive effect of dietary factors. Strategies to reduce the intake of soft drinks in children are expected to have multiple benefits preventing tooth wear in childhood and in later life, as well as many other general and oral health diseases. © 2011 Springer-Verlag

Gender differences in oral health status and behavior of Greek dental students: A meta-analysis of 1981, 2000, and 2010 data

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the oral health status and behavior of Greek dental students over time, and to meta-analyze these findings to test the widely documented hypothesis that women have better oral health behavior, oral hygiene, and periodontal status but higher dental caries rates than men. Materials and Methods: A total sample of 385 students was examined using identical indices to assess oral health and behavioral data initially in 1981 while the years 2000 and 2010 were selected due to significant changes that took place in the dental curriculum in the 1990s and 2000s. Data by gender concerning the outcome variables recorded in every one of the three surveys were analyzed using Mantel - Haenszel and continuous outcomes methods. Results: A significant improvement in the oral health status and behavior of students was observed over time. The meta-analysis of data by gender showed that females brushed their teeth significantly more often than males [summary odds ratio (OR): 1.95 and 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08 - 3.54]. Males and females were found to have a similar risk of developing dental caries. Conclusion: The hypothesis that young women have better oral hygiene habits compared to men was confirmed. However, the hypothesis that women have better oral hygiene and periodontal status but exhibit higher dental caries experience than men was not supported by the findings of the study. © 2016 Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow

Prevalence of sealants in relation to dental caries on the permanent molars of 12 and 15-year-old Greek adolescents. A national pathfinder survey

Background: The use of sealants as an effective measure for the prevention of pit and fissure caries in children has been well documented by several studies; either they are used on an individual or on a public health basis. In order to plan and establish a national preventive program with sealants in a community, it is mandatory to know the epidemiological pattern of caries along with other variables influencing their use and effectiveness. Aims: To assess the utilization and distribution pattern of pit and fissure sealants on the first and second permanent molars of Greek adolescents and to evaluate whether the existing usage of sealants and some socio-demographic factors are correlated to caries prevalence on the population examined. Methods. A stratified cluster sample of 2481 Greek adolescents was selected according to WHO guidelines (1224 twelve and 1,257 fifteen-year-old), living in urban and rural areas in 11 districts within the country. Five calibrated examiners carried out clinical examinations, recording caries experience at the dentine threshold (BASCD criteria) and presence or absence of sealants along with Socio-demographic indicators associated with oral health. Mann Whitney and Pearson&apos;s chi-square non parametric tests were utilized for assessing the data. The level of significance was p &lt; 0.05. Results: Sealants utilization varied considerably within the different districts, with 8,3% of the 12 and 8,0% of the 15-year-old adolescents having at least one sealed molar. Sealants reduced DMFS scores by 11% in the 12-year-olds and by 24% in the 15-year-olds, while 15-year-old adolescents from rural areas had a statistically significant (p = 0.002) less chance of having sealants (71%) compared to children from urban areas. Girls had higher chance to receive sealants in both age groups (26% for the 12 and 19% for the 15-year-old) as well as patients that visited the dentist for prevention compared to those visiting the dentist because they thought they needed a restoration or because they were in pain. Conclusions: The finding that sealants reduced DMFS scores despite their very low utilization, along with the high prevalence of dental caries found on the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth of Greek adolescents, is calling for a national preventive program with sealants which could eliminate caries to a larger extent. © 2011 Oulis et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Novel methods of balancing covariates for the assessment of dental erosion: A contribution to validation of a synthetic scoring system for erosive wear

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to balance several potential erosive covariates, using traditional and novel epidemiological approaches, in order to assess the relative risks of dental erosion more precisely. Methods: Traditional (univariate and logistic regression analysis) and novel techniques (propensity scores and Inverse Probability Weighting - IPW) were applied for evaluating the effect of twenty covariates on dental erosion among 502 adolescents. Results: Different approaches gave different estimates of the relative risks of dental erosion. The increased consumption of carbonated soft drinks had the major erosive effect, when traditional analyses were used (unadjusted: OR = 3.475 and CI: 1.499-8.052, logistic regression: OR = 3.219 and CI: 1.373-7.547). On the other hand, IPW method indicated that the consumption of erosion drinks immediately after intense physical exercise had the highest odds ratio (OR = 1.363 and CI: 0.963-1.929), followed by the increased consumption of citrus fruit juice (OR = 1.326 and CI: 1.004-1.752). This method also demonstrated a marked improvement in balance, with the 95% CIs for each OR being considerably narrower than those reported in the initial analysis. Conclusions: Standardization of the potential aetiological criteria of erosive wear is a considerably difficult process. Nevertheless, novel methods revealed that the increased consumption of carbonated soft drinks and citrus fruit juices could be included as aetiologic factors in a synthetic scoring system for erosion. Parameters which are related to salivary protective mechanisms (e.g. consumption of erosion drinks immediately after intense physical exercise) could also be a part of such an index. Further research is required in order to achieve the maximum validation of the potential erosive risk factors. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved