Pilot clinical study to assess caries lesion activity using quantitative light-induced fluorescence during dehydration

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) to assess caries lesion activity using visual examination (VE) as the gold standard. Twenty-four visible white spot lesions on buccal surfaces were examined from 23 children, ages 9 to 14 years. At baseline, the surface was hydrated with water, and thereafter, it was dehydrated with continuous compressed air during image acquisition. QLF images were acquired at 0 (baseline), 5, and 15 s. QLF variables [ QLF V : fluorescence loss ( ? F ), lesion size (S), ? Q : ? F × S ] was recorded. Changes-in- QLF V per second ( ? QLF V ) were determined: ? QLF V = ( QLF VN ? QLF V Baseline ) / N , where N indicates dehydration time. One experienced dentist conducted VE independently using a dental unit’s light, compressed air, and explorer

Capability of an ultrasonic system to detect very early caries lesions on human enamel

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if changes in dental enamel with 20 micron depth incipient carious lesion could be detected by an ultrasonic system (US). Natural (unground, unpolished) lesions were produced on human enamel by using a microbial caries model. Specimens with lesions were analyzed using Ultrasonic system (US) as test method, Quantitative-Light Induced Fluorescence (QLF) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) as gold standards. It was found that both ultrasound and QLF could not detect these very early lesions (mean lesion depth: 18.89 μm) created in vitro in the microbial caries model

Formation of Zn- and Fe-sulfides near hydrothermal vents at the Eastern Lau Spreading Center: implications for sulfide bioavailability to chemoautotrophs

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Do ginger extract, natural honey and bitter chocolate remineralize enamel surface as fluoride toothpastes? An in-vitro study

Background: In recent literatures, much attention has been given to natural products for their health benefits. Aims: In this study, the objective was to measure the efficacy of the ginger-honey-chocolate mixture as the remineralization effect has been shown in the literature previously and to evaluate the individual contributions of this mixture; ginger, natural honey, bitter chocolate separately on remineralization of initial enamel caries lesion. Materials and Methods: All specimens were divided into eight groups as: Ginger (Arifoglu®, Turkey) in powder form, (n = 8); Ginger-Honey-Chocolate (n = 8); Natural honey (Balparmak Plateau Blossom Honey®, Turkey) (n = 9); Bitter chocolate (Nestlé®, Switzerland) (n = 8); MI Paste (GC, Japan) (n = 8); Paradontax (Sensodyne, Glaxosmithklein, USA) (n = 9); Pronamel (Sensodyne, Glaxosmithklein, USA) (n = 9); Control (n = 9) groups. Samples were carried out five pH cycles along 7 days at 37°C for each group. During pH cycling, blocks were put in a demineralization (6 h) and a remineralization solution (18 h). The treatment consisted of 1 min. interaction of enamel surfaces with agent/deionized slurries (1:3 w/w) on a daily basis. The surface microhardness (SMH) was determined before and after pH cycling with a Digital Micro-Vickers Hardness Tester (Wilson Wolpert; Europe BV, 401 MVD, Netherlands). Mineral changes were determined by using FluoreCam® and recovery values were calculated as SMHR% and FΔ%, respectively. Results: All groups showed an enhanced remineralization. There was no significant difference in terms of FΔ% (F = 1.223, P = 0.304) and SMHR% (F = 0.709, P = 0.664) between all groups. Conclusion: The herbals (ginger, honey, and bitter chocolate) examined in this study gave promising results with a high remineralization potential

Intranasal Immunization against Dental Caries with a Streptococcus mutans-Enriched Fimbrial Preparation

Streptococcus mutans has been identified as the major etiological agent of human dental caries. The first step in the initiation of infection by this pathogenic bacterium is its attachment (i.e., through bacterial surface proteins such as glucosyltransferases, P1, glucan-binding proteins, and fimbriae) to a suitable receptor. It is hypothesized that a mucosal vaccine against a combination of S. mutans surface proteins would protect against dental caries by inducing specific salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies which may reduce bacterial pathogenesis and adhesion to the tooth surface by affecting several adhesins simultaneously. Conventional Sprague-Dawley rats, infected with S. mutans at 18 to 20 days of age, were intranasally immunized with a mixture of S. mutans surface proteins, enriched for fimbriae and conjugated with cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) plus free cholera toxin (CT) at 13, 15, 22, 29, and 36 days of age (group A). Control rats were either not immunized (group B) or immunized with adjuvant alone (CTB and CT [group C]). At the termination of the study (when rats were 46 days of age), immunized animals (group A) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher salivary IgA and serum IgG antibody responses to the mixture of surface proteins and to whole bacterial cells than did the other two groups (B and C). No significant differences were found in the average numbers of recovered S. mutans cells among groups. However, statistically fewer smooth-surface enamel lesions (buccal and lingual) were detected in the immunized group than in the two other groups. Therefore, a mixture of S. mutans surface proteins, enriched with fimbria components, appears to be a promising immunogen candidate for a mucosal vaccine against dental caries

Effectiveness of some herbals on initial enamel caries lesion

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of herbal medicaments such as ginger, rosemary and honey on remineralization of initial enamel lesion. Methods: Demineralized human enamel specimens were measured for baseline surface microhardness and fluorescence methods. Ten specimens in each of four groups were used in this in vitro recycling study with the following treatments which applied three times a day: 1) sodium fluoride toothpaste (Ipana, Procter & Gamble, Turkey), 2) ginger-honey (Arifoglu Herbals, Anzer Honey, Turkey), 3) ginger-honey-chocolate (Bind Chocolate, Turkey), 4) rosemary oil (Arifoglu Herbals, Turkey). Treatment regimens of demineralization and remineralization cycle were applied for 21 days. The post-treatment data were obtained by measurements of surface microhardness and fluorescence methods. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA test with Tukey's honest significant difference test. Results: Enhanced remineralization was observed with several of the treatment systems including ginger + honey and rosemary. Significant differences between treatments were observed by microhardness and FluoreCam fluorescence assesment, compared to the positive control group (NaF dentifrice). Significantly, greater remineralization was observed with the honey + ginger treatment regimen. No significant differences between groups were observed using the fluorescence assessment method, quantitative light-induced fluorescence. Conclusions: Herbals (ginger, honey and rosemary) have enhanced remineralization of initial enamel lesion