Quantitative assessment for stimulated saliva flow rate and buffering capacity in relation to different ages

Objectives: To evaluate salivary flow rate and buffering capacity using a quantitative pH measurement among three broad age groups. Methods: The population consisting of 117 patients was classified into three age groups: young, middle-aged, and elderly group. The volume of stimulated saliva after chewing gum was measured. Saliva samples were titrated with 0.1N HCl to evaluate the buffering capacity. Saliva pH change was measured directly using a hand-held pH meter. At the point of 50 μL of titrated HCl, individual salivary buffering capacities were ranked into one of the following three categories; high buffering capacity (above pH 5.5), medium buffering capacity (from pH 5.5 to 4.5), and low buffering capacity (below pH 4.5). Results: χ2-test showed that the proportional distribution of individuals in the three buffering capacity groups was not statistically different among the age groups (p > 0.05). One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test showed the flow rate of stimulated whole saliva in the young group was significantly greater than that of the middle-aged and elderly groups (p < 0.05). Two-way ANOVA showed there was no significant interaction between the independent variables buffering capacity and age group (F = 0.419, p = 0.7950). One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test indicated the flow rate showed significant differences among the three age and buffering capacity groups. Conclusions: Although a limited number of subjects were investigated in this study, the quantitative saliva assessment is useful as a screening method for different ages to identify patients with a low saliva flow rate and/or buffering capacity. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

In situ Effect of Nanohydroxyapatite Paste in Enamel Teeth Bleaching

Federal University of Para. Department of Restorative Dentistry. Belem, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Department of Restorative Dentistry. Belem, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Department of Restorative Dentistry. Belem, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Department of Restorative Dentistry. Belem, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Departamento de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Para. Department of Restorative Dentistry. Belem, PA, Brazil.AIM: Evaluate in situ the effect of nanohydroxyapatite paste (nano-HAP) before bleaching with hydrogen peroxide 35% (HP35%) by ion chromatography (IC) Knoop hardness number (KHN) and tristimulus colorimetry (TC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 fragments were obtained from third molars included (3 mm × 3 mm × 3 mm) and the specimens were divided into three groups (n = 20): Gas chromatography (CG) (negative control group) = no bleaching; HP35% (positive control group) = HP35% whitening (whiteness HP35%); nano-HAP = application for 10 minutes before bleaching treatment + HP35%. The specimens were fixed to the volunteers' molars. The KHN and TC were measured before and after bleaching. For IC, the dentin layer was removed, leaving the enamel that was crushed, and autoclaved for chemical quantification (calcium, fluorine, and phosphorus). The results of KHN and TC were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The HP35% group showed reduction of the Ca, F, and P ions. The initial and final KHN mean of the CG and nano-HAP did not differ statistically; however, the group of HP35% did differ statistically. The mean ΔE of the HP35% and nano-HAP groups did not differ statistically from each other. However, they differed from the CG. CONCLUSION: The nano-HAP paste preserved the KHN, promoted the lower loss of Ca and P ions and an increase of F ions when compared with the CG, but did not influence the effectiveness of the bleaching treatment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Nano-HA is a biomaterial that has shown positive results in the prevention of deleterious effects on the enamel by the action of the office bleaching treatment