Resin infiltration technique and fluoride varnish on white spot lesions in children: Preliminary findings of a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To clinically assess the efficacy of resin infiltration versus fluoride varnish for arresting white spot lesions (WSLs) on permanent teeth in children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Among the children referred to the our University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, 23 aged between 8-14 with 81 anterior WSLs were included in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to either the resin infiltration group or the fluoride varnish group. WSLs were assessed using a laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent pen, Kavo, Germany) and were characterized at baseline, immediately following resin infiltration application and at a 6-month follow-up. For the statistical analyses, the IBM SPSS Statistics 22 (IBM SPSS, Turkey) program was used to assess the findings of the study. RESULTS: Participant retention was 100% at 6 months. There was no significant difference between the two groups when baseline DIAGNOdent (DD) values were compared (P > 0.05). The reduction in 6-month follow-up DD values were statistically significant in both groups relative to baseline values. The 6-month values of the resin infiltration group were statistically lower than those of the fluoride varnish group (P = 0.028, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Resin infiltration and fluoride varnish are clinically feasible and efficacious methods for the treatment of anterior WSLs. The inhibition of caries progression by resin infiltration should now be considered an alternative to fluoride treatment.

Microhardness evaluation of enamel adjacent to an improved GIC sealant after different enamel pre-treatment procedures.

AIM: This in vitro study was carried out to evaluate the microhardness of enamel adjacent to a glass ionomer cement (GIC) with high fluoride content used as a sealant (Fuji Triage, GC Corp., Japan) after laser, bur or air abrasion treatment procedures. STUDY DESIGN: 200 freshly extracted non-carious human molars were divided into 10 experimental groups according to the enamel pre-treatment method: A air abrasion (Mach 4.1 Kreativ Inc., USA); AP, Air abrasion + conditioning with 20% polyacrylic acid (GC cavity conditioner); L, Er,Cr:YSGG laser application (Waterlase, Biolase Technology, Inc., San Clemente, USA); LP, Er,Cr:YSGG laser application and fissure conditioning; B, ameloplasty carried out with a diamond bur especially designed for preparing fissures (Komet #8833); BP, ameloplasty + fissure conditioning; P, application of 20% polyacrylic acid and all fissures sealed with GIC; C, no fissure treatment, the material was applied directly to the fissures (control); R, application of 37% orthophosphoric acid and fissures sealed with a resin-based sealant (Fissurit; Voco, Germany) (control); N, no treatment (control). Half of each group of teeth were left in artificial saliva for one month and the rest for three months. The teeth were then sectioned and microhardness was measured using a Vickers test apparatus. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U and Dunn's multiple comparison tests were carried out (5% significance). RESULTS: After one month results regarding hardness at the base and lateral walls of fissures were significantly higher in groups A, AP, L, LP, B, BP, P and C than in groups R and N (p<0.01), but no difference was seen between the treatment procedures. The results after three months produced similar findings with evenly increased values for all groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the tested GIC with a higher fluoride content seemed to improve the enamel hardness of the fissure enamel and could be regarded as an alternative material in cases where resin sealant applications are questionable.

Selectin adhesion molecules in Behçet's disease.

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD) is closely related to endothelial cells, leucocyte functions and autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to investigate circulating selectin adhesion molecules, which are known to play a significant part in the immune response especially by regulating interactions of the leucocytes with endothelium, in BD. METHODS: Plasma E-, L-, and P-selectin concentrations were evaluated in 11 patients with widespread BD (group I), 10 cases with merely mucocutaneous involvement (group II) and 15 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. The patients were newly or previously diagnosed cases not taking any drug for BD. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of all selectins were significantly higher in group I compared with group II. E-selectin and P-selectin were significantly increased in each subgroup of patients compared with the healthy controls. L-selectin concentrations were higher than the controls only in group I. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in the selectins in BD may be a direct consequence of the leucocyte, endothelium and platelet activations observed during the disease process. However, abnormal/increased selectin expression to various triggers should also be considered. More prominent increases in patients with extensive disease suggest that circulating selectin concentrations are related to disease severity.