Association between Tooth Loss and Stroke: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aims to evaluate the association between tooth loss and stroke. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The PECO strategy was used to limit the eligibility criteria. The following databases were used on searches: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, LILACS and OpenGrey. We included observational studies performed in adults (Population), in which patients with tooth loss (Exposition) and patients without tooth loss (Comparison) were observed to investigate the association between tooth loss and stroke (Outcome). After searches, the results were submitted to a selection process, followed by data extraction, quality assessment and risk of bias evaluation. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated through GRADE approach. A total of 925 potential studies were retrieved by the searches and 9 were included in this review. Seven of the included articles described an association between tooth loss and stroke. Low risk of bias and a low certainty of the evidence were identified to all studies. The certainty of the evidence may be associated with the observational nature of the included studies. Even though an association between tooth loss and stroke was suggested, the low strength of the current evidence indicated the need for further investigations with a better methodological design to conclude this question.

Choice of toothpaste for the elderly: an in vitro study.

Hyposalivation and dental root exposure in the elderly are problems that require special oral care. In this context, the characteristics of certain toothpastes are of particular importance. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and dentin wear caused by seven different toothpastes. For dentin wear analysis, 40 root dentin specimens were submitted to 20,000 brushing cycles with the different toothpastes and distilled water (control group-CG), using a brushing machine. Dentin surface loss (SL) was measured by contact profilometer. The cytotoxicity of each toothpaste was tested using cultured fibroblasts submitted to a cell-culture-conditioned medium. Fresh medium served as the control. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay after 24 h of contact with the conditioned media. The data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). The SL of the CG was minimal and significantly lower than that of the Oral B Pro Health (OBPH) group (p < 0.05). All other groups presented SL in between that of the CG and the Oral B Pro Health OBPH group, except for the Sensodyne (SEN) group, which presented SL similar to that of CG (p = 0.05). The SEN group presented a percentage of viable cells similar to that of CG: between 60-89%. All the other toothpastes showed high cytotoxicity, with cell viability less than 50% of the CG. Considering study limitations, we concluded that only one of the seven tested toothpastes exhibited the most desirable toothpaste characteristics for the worldwide growing elderly population (e.g. low cytotoxicity and low-abrasive potential).

Wear of depth perception and shade matching outcome in the pre-clinical setting / Percepção da profundidade de desgaste e compatibilidade de cor no ambiente pré-clínico

O presente estudo investigou se a percepção de profundidade de desgaste dental por alunos de graduação tem influência sobre a cor final de restaurações anteriores diretas, realizadas em dentes artificiais. Material e Métodos: Oitenta e um participantes foram divididos em três grupos (n = 27): G1, estudantes do início do curso de odontologia; G2, estudantes de odontologia de nível intermediário; e G3, estudantes de odontologia de nível avançado. Para investigar a percepção de profundidade desgaste dental, cada aluno de graduação recebeu um manequim que continha um incisivo central superior intacto e instruções sobre a técnica de preparação do dente para faceta direta. Todos os grupos foram instruídos a realizar os preparos com 1 mm de profundidade. A profundidade de desgaste dentário foi analisada utilizando um espessímetro. Posteriormente, os dentes foram restaurados com resina composta opaca ou translúcida utilizando-se uma matriz de pré-moldada. A cor foi medida por meio de um espectrofotómetro (L * a * b *). Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo teste KruskalWallis e post hoc de Dunn (α = 5%). Resultados: A profundidade do desgaste dental foi diferente entre todos os grupos (p < 0,05). G1, G2 e G3 obtiveram uma média de 1, 0,5 e 0,8 mm, respectivamente. G3 apresentou maior precisão na profundidade de desgaste dental. Os valores de cor não variaram de acordo com a profundidade de desgaste dental ou para o tipo de resina utilizada na restauração (p > 0,05). Conclusão: A formação técnica e experiência clínica contribuiu para uma melhor percepção de desgaste dental em profundidade por estudantes de graduação em Odontologia. Na configuração pré-clínica, a profundidade de desgaste dental teve pouca ou nenhuma influência sobre a cor final de restaurações anteriores diretas. Além disso, independentemente do tipo de resina composta usada, todas as restaurações realizadas em dentes artificiais tiveram resultado estético similar...

The present study investigated whether the perception of dental wear depth by undergraduate students has influence on the final color of direct anterior restorations performed on artificial teeth. Material and Methods: Eighty-one participants were assigned to one of three groups (n = 27): G1, beginning dental students; G2, intermediate dental students; and G3, advanced dental students. To investigate dental wear depth perception, each undergraduate student received one manikin containing an intact upper central incisor and a flyer instructing the technique of tooth preparation for veneer. All groups were required to prepare 1mm in depth. Dental wear depth was analyzed using a thickness gauge. Subsequently, teeth were restored with opaque or translucent composite resin using a pre-shaped matrix. Color was measured by means of a spectrophotometer (L*a*b* system). Data were statistically analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s post hoc tests (α = 5%). Results: Dental wear depth was different among all groups (p < 0.05). G1, G2 and G3 obtained a median of 1 mm, 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm, respectively. G3 presented more accuracy in the dental wear depth. Color values did not vary according to the dental wear depth or to the type of resin composite used in the restoration (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Technical training and clinical experience contribute to the better dental wear depth perception of undergraduate dental students. In the pre-clinical setting, dental wear depth has little or no influence on the final color of direct anterior restorations. Moreover, regardless to the type of resin composite used, all restorations performed on artificial teeth had similar aesthetic outcome...