Hair Evaluation in Orthodontic Patients with Oligodontia.

Oligodontia can be isolated or syndromic, associated with other ectodermal abnormalities. The aim of the study was to perform hair examination in orthodontic patients diagnosed with oligodontia with a low clinical expression of symptoms of ectodermal origin. All available orthodontic patients diagnosed with oligodontia in the permanent dentition were enrolled. Hair examination included clinical evaluation of the patients' hair, trichoscopy, trichogram and evaluation of the hair shafts under a polarized light microscope. In total, 25 patients, 18 males and 7 females, aged 6 to 24 years were evaluated for the presence of dental and hair abnormalities. The number of congenitally absent teeth ranged from 6 to 24 teeth and diastemas, microdontia, taurodontism and altered tooth shape were found in 23 patients. Hair disorders were found in 68% of the subjects. Hypotrichosis, the heterogeneity of shaft color and loss of pigment, androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, trichoschisis, pili canaliculi, trichorrhexis nodosa and pseudomoniletrix were observed. Trichoscopy and trichogram are valid non-invasive diagnostic tests which could be used to differentiate between isolated and syndromic oligodontia in patients with a low clinical expression of ectodermal symptoms.

Assessment of the Salivary Concentrations of Selected Immunological Components in Adult Patients in the Late Period after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation-A Translational Study.

(1) The aim of the study was to analyze the salivary concentrations of lysozyme, lactoferrin, and sIgA antibodies in adult patients in the late period after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). The relationship between these concentrations and the salivary secretion rate and the time elapsed after alloHSCT was investigated. The relationship between the concentrations of lysozyme, lactoferrin, and sIgA and the titer of the cariogenic bacteria S. mutans and L. acidophilus was assessed. (2) The study included 54 individuals, aged 19 to 67 (SD = 40.06 ± 11.82; Me = 39.5), who were 3 to 96 months after alloHSCT. The concentrations of lysozyme, lactoferrin, and sIgA were assessed in mixed whole resting saliva (WRS) and mixed whole stimulated saliva (WSS). (3) The majority of patients had very low or low concentrations of the studied salivary components (WRS-lysozyme: 52, lactoferrin: 36, sIgA: 49 patients; WSS-lysozyme: 51, lactoferrin: 25, sIgA: 51 patients). The levels of lactoferrin in both WRS and WSS were statistically significantly higher in the alloHSCT group than in the control group (CG) (alloHSCT patients-WRS: M = 40.18 µg/mL; WSS: M = 27.33 µg/mL; CG-WRS: M = 17.58 µg/mL; WSS: 10.69 µg/mL). No statistically significant correlations were observed between lysozyme, lactoferrin, and sIgA concentrations and the time after alloHSCT. In the group of patients after alloHSCT a negative correlation was found between the resting salivary flow rate and the concentration of lactoferrin and sIgA. The stimulated salivary flow rate correlated negatively with lactoferrin and sIgA concentrations. Additionally, the number of S. mutans colonies correlated positively with the concentration of lysozyme and sIgA. (4) The concentrations of non-specific and specific immunological factors in the saliva of patients after alloHSCT may differ when compared to healthy adults; however, the abovementioned differences did not change with the time after transplantation.

Prevalence of Taurodontism in Contemporary and Historical Populations from Radom: A Biometric Analysis of Radiological Data.

Taurodontism is a morphological anomaly of multirooted molars characterized by apical displacement of the pulp chamber, shortened roots, and the absence of constriction at the dentoenamel junction. It can negatively impact the outcome of dental treatment plans. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of taurodontism among contemporary and historical populations from Radom, Poland. Five hundred eighty-two panoramic radiographs of contemporary patients and 600 radiographs of historical individuals were analyzed using the Shifman and Chanannel index. Group differences were determined with Pearson's chi-square tests according to sex, site, tooth group, and historical period. The study also evaluated the degree of severity of taurodontism in relation to dental groups, gender, and the periods from which contemporary patients as well as historical individuals originated. In the contemporary population, taurodontism was observed in 34% of individuals. In the historical data, the highest prevalence of taurodontism (31%) was observed among individuals from the 18th and 19th centuries, while earlier periods exhibited considerably lower prevalence rates. Across contemporary and historical populations, the maxillary molars were the most commonly affected teeth. Hypotaurodontism was the most prevalent form of taurodontism. The prevalence of taurodontism has gradually increased from the 11th century to the current day. The results of the research are of great importance for the clinician in terms of planning comprehensive dental treatment.

Frequency of occurrence of taurodontism in the historical population of Radom (11th-19th centuries).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the work was to trace possible changes in the frequency of taurodontism in individuals who inhabited historical Radom from the early Middle Ages to modern periods. DESIGN: The research was based on the analysis of X-ray images of 640 molars of individuals from the 11th/12th c. (n = 120), 14th/17th c. (n = 76), and 18th/19th c. (n = 444). Radiological images were made with the use of a portable X-ray machine, and the results were biometrically analysed using the Shiffman and Chanannel index. RESULTS: The highest frequency of taurodontism was observed in the 18th/19th c. (31 %, 138/444). In the 11th/12th and 14th/17th centuries, this percentage was significantly lower (22 %, 26/120 vs. 16 %, 12/76). In subsequent chronological periods, no statistically significant differences between sexes in the occurrence of taurodontism were observed. The highest number of taurodontal teeth was observed among the second and first upper molars (73 % and 52 %, respectively), and the lowest number was observed among the first and second lower molars (16 % and 23 %, respectively). In all historical periods, hypotaurodont forms were most often observed. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in the frequency of taurodontism may result from many reasons, for example environmental factors. However, it cannot be ruled out that the observed differences result from the increased migration of people to Radom in the 18th/19th century.

Clinical implications of a diagnosis of taurodontism: A literature review.

Taurodontism is a morphological anomaly involving multirooted teeth that is characterized by a vertical shift of the pulp chamber and shortening of the roots. The literature was analyzed to determine the impact of a diagnosis of taurodontism on dental treatment. A total of 85 full-text publications from the years 2005-2021 were analyzed and 20 publications were included in this research. The endodontic treatment of a taurodont tooth is challenging due to the apical displacement of the pulpal chamber floor and the incorrect configuration of the root canal system, or the presence of additional canals. In terms of prosthetics, the use of taurodont teeth as abutments is not recommended as they lack stability due to shorter roots. The extraction of taurodont teeth can be complicated due to an apical shift of the root furcation. In periodontology, taurodont teeth can have a better prognosis as there is less chance of furcation involvement. From an orthodontic point of view, it is important to note that taurodont teeth are not sufficiently embedded in the alveolus and have a greater tendency for root resorption. With regard to genetic diseases, it has been reported that this anomaly can exist as an isolated feature. However, the majority of authors agree that taurodontism is associated with conditions such as Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, cleft lip and palate, hypodontia, amelogenesis imperfecta, and others. From a clinical standpoint, it is very important to diagnose taurodontism before treatment. A diagnosis of taurodontism can be important in the early diagnosis of malformations that commonly occur with this condition.

Assessing Fluorosis Incidence in Areas with Low Fluoride Content in the Drinking Water, Fluorotic Enamel Architecture, and Composition Alterations.

There is currently no consensus among researchers on the optimal level of fluoride for human growth and health. As drinking water is not the sole source of fluoride for humans, and fluoride can be found in many food sources, this work aimed to determine the incidence and severity of dental fluorosis in Poland, in areas where a low fluoride content characterizes the drinking water, and to assess the impact of fluoride on the enamel composition and microstructure. The dental examination involved 696 patients (aged 15−25 years) who had since birth lived in areas where the fluoride concentration in drinking water did not exceed 0.25 mg/L. The severity of the condition was evaluated using the Dean's Index. Both healthy teeth and teeth with varying degrees of fluorosis underwent laboratory tests designed to assess the total protein and fluoride content of the enamel. Protein amount was assessed spectrophotometrically while the level of fluoride ions was measured by DX-120 ion chromatography. The clinical study revealed 89 cases (12.8%) of dental fluorosis of varying severity. The enamel of teeth with mild and moderate fluorosis contained a significantly higher protein (p-value < 0.001 and 0.002, respectively) and fluoride level (p < 0.001) than those with no clinical signs of fluorosis. SEM images showed irregularities in the structure of the fluorotic enamel. An excessive fluoride level during amelogenesis leads to adverse changes in the chemical composition of tooth enamel and its structure. Moreover, dental fluorosis present in areas where drinking water is low in fluorides indicates a need to monitor the supply of fluoride from other possible sources, regardless of its content in the water.

Comparison of the Effects of Myotherapy in Patients with Myofascial Pain with and without Self-Reported Sleep Bruxism Using The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis I Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare the effects of myotherapy using sublingual relaxation splints and stretching exercises in 110 patients with myofascial pain with and without self-reported sleep bruxism using The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis I Questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved 110 patients with myofascial pain. The diagnosis was based on the RDC/TMD questionnaire. The number of painful muscle sites (PMS) and the range of maximum mouth opening (MMO) were assessed 2 times - at the first visit and after 3 months. Then, the influence of possible bruxism on the treatment was assessed. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 26.8 years (SD 5.4); 89% of the subjects were women; and 60.9% of the patients reported bruxism. Each patient was instructed to perform muscle stretching at the first visit and after 1 week all patients received a sublingual relaxation splint. The number of PMS decreased and the range of MMO increased in both groups after a period of 3 months of treatment (P<0.05). Significant differences were observed in the obtained treatment effects between the patients with and without possible bruxism. CONCLUSIONS This study evaluated the effectiveness of the sublingual relaxation splint and stretching exercises in patients with myofascial pain. Patients at a single center in Poland who reported myofascial pain that was not associated with self-reported sleep bruxism had a significantly better response to myotherapy when compared to patients with self-reported sleep bruxism.

Late Post-Operative Occurrence of Dentin Hypersensitivity in Adult Patients Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation-A Preliminary Report.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is one of the most commonly performed transplantation procedures nowadays. Despite the significant progress made in the treatment, alloHSCT is still associated with numerous complications also affecting the oral cavity. One of them is dentin hypersensitivity (DH)-a sharp, short-term pain that occurs when stimuli act on exposed dentin. Various authors point out that DH may result in a significantly lower quality of life, among other things by impeding the consumption of food as well as causing difficulties in daily oral hygiene. The aim of the study was a preliminary analysis of the incidence rate and severity of DH pain in adult patients during late period after alloHSCT. The impact of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) and time after alloHCT were also considered. A total of 80 patients were examined. cGvHD was identified in 52 participants. The incidence rate and severity of DH pain was assessed on the basis of a questionnaire and a clinical examination. DH pain appeared a serious problem in late period after alloHSCT regardless of post-transplant time. DH primarily affected cGvHD patients. The prevention-treatment protocol for DH should be developed for this group.

Chemical aspect of sodium hypochlorite activation in obtaining favorable outcomes of endodontic treatment: An in-vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Endodontic treatment is one of the most widely performed procedures in a dental office. New techniques for enhancing the effectiveness of irrigants are being introduced into the dental market. It is crucial to choose a proper method to obtain the highest possible long-term success of performed endodontic treatment. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) appears to be one of the most common and profitable solutions for root canal irrigation. The activation of a solution may be analyzed in 2 fields, physical - turbulence of flow, and chemical - disintegration of irrigant molecules into very active radicals that improve its activity. While the physical alternations of irrigant flow with different techniques are widely studied, there are not many attempts to approach the subject in chemical terms. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the chemical effectiveness of 2 methods of NaOCl activation: ultrasonics vs the Self-Adjusting File system (SAF) as an adjunct to increase the efficacy of the irrigant. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The level of activation was evaluated via a reaction of the activated NaOCl samples, with 9-fluorenol as the starting organic material. The model reaction is based on the oxidation of 9-fluorenol to 9-fluorenon. The evaluation was performed using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, comparing the spectra obtained for the examined mixtures. RESULTS: Nuclear magnetic resonance studies show that the use of ultrasonics resulted in increased chemical degradation of NaOCl as compared to the SAF system and non-agitated samples. The prevalence of chemical activation in the ultrasonic group over the SAF group was almost 3 times higher, 3.11 to 1.20, respectively. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test revealed there is a statistically significant difference in distributions between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both SAF and ultrasonics activate NaOCl. Ultrasonic agitation provided higher chemical activation of NaOCl solution than the SAF. The use of ultrasonic agitation of NaOCl in endodontic treatment will allow us to obtain better long-term clinical results.

Preliminary results of screening for pathological lesions in oral mucosa and incidence of oral cancer risk factors in adult population

INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer is a significant problem among global population. In Poland a few thousands of new incidents are reported annually. Prophylaxis and early detection help decreasing the incidence rate. Screening programmes are a tool that enable to achieve that goal. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence of selected risk factors and pathological lesions of oral mucosa in adult population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 253 patients. After undertaking a medical history in a form of a questionnaire, a conventional intraoral soft tissue examination was performed. This was followed by use of cool white light (Microlux DL Addent). RESULTS: Among patients following risk factors were frequently found: tobacco smoking - 20.9% patients, alcohol consumption - 2/3 of patients drink occasionally, 8.7% drink on regular basis. Over 80% patients were sexually active. 3 patients suffered from oral cancer, 21 patients gave a history of cancer in other locations, 54.2% reported a family history of cancer. Screened patients declare quite healthy diet, although level of grilled and fried meat consumption is fairly high. 37.8% patients were alarmed by the condition of the oral mucosa but only half of them reported it to their dentist. Most of the lesions were found on the buccal mucosa (88 patients, 34.8%), retromandibular triangle and palate and most of lesions were white lesions, categorized as traumatic. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study showed, that the incidence of oral cancer risk factors is high in this population. The incidence of pathological lesions of oral mucosa was also high. The study showed low awareness of oral cancer prevention, risk factors and symptoms.

Knowledge of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance amongst final year dental students of Polish medical schools-A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance has been one of the biggest global concerns. Dentists constitute an important group of antibiotic prescribers, and it was shown that their therapeutic decisions are not always rational. In this paper, we present knowledge of antibiotics prescription rules and antimicrobial resistance amongst graduating dentistry students from all dentistry faculties of medical universities in Poland, who will soon join the group of antibiotics prescribers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 28 questions was developed. The survey was conducted in May-June 2015. RESULTS: The study group comprised a total of 752 students. About 54% expressed the opinion that dentists overprescribe antibiotics. One-tenth thought that they can be used for the treatment of flu (7%) and common cold (11%). Respondents pointed to amoxicillin (46%) and clindamycin (44%) as the first-choice treatment of dentoalveolar abscess, if medically indicated. More than half of the students (58%) suggested using doxycycline and metronidazole in aggressive periodontitis in an individual allergic to penicillin. The vast majority of students (97%) indicated that penicillins and cephalosporins were suitable for treatment of dental infections in pregnant women. The majority of participants (82%) said that rheumatic disease, chronic immunosuppression, chronic kidney failure and a history of infective endocarditis required a prophylactic administration of antibiotics before or during endodontic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The research showed variable levels of understanding of antibiotics use amongst dental students in medical universities in Poland. Our results emphasise the need to educate dental students further regarding antibiotics and risks related to antibiotic misuse, especially in dental practice.

Periapical abscess ­ etiology, pathogenesis and epidemiology

Inflammation of the pulp and periapical tissues is the main cause of tooth loss in patients worldwide, therefore endodontics is one of the most rapidly developing specialties in dentistry. Despite proper endodontic treatment, in many cases it is not possible to determine the etiology of infection or the reason for its relapse. Many research studies indicate that infections of the periapical tissues are mainly caused by strictly anaerobic bacteria. At present, more and more often the composition of the microflora within the inflammatory lesions is being evaluated with the use of molecular techniques, which showed that classical culture methods are not able to determine the etiology of infections of the periapical tissues. The results of these studies contributed to the major changes in our understanding of the microbiome composition in the endodontium. Purulent endodontic lesions are particularly important, as they may lead to many severe ­ even life-threatening ­ systemic complications.

Surveys of public knowledge and attitudes with regard to antibiotics in Poland: Did the European Antibiotic Awareness Day campaigns change attitudes?

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health problem. Monitoring the level of knowledge regarding antibiotics is a part of the European Union Community strategy against antimicrobial resistance. OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge by the general public in Poland regarding antibiotics, AMR, and the impact of the European Antibiotic Awareness Day campaigns. METHODS: The repeated cross-sectional study was developed and carried out among the general public in Poland (in 5 waves between 2009 and 2011, embracing a total of 5004 respondents). The survey was based on a self-designed questionnaire, and carried out by Millward Brown SMG/KRC, using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). RESULTS: A high percentage of Polish adults had used antibiotics within the 12 months preceding their participation in the study (38%). Statistically relevant differences were observed regarding the respondents' gender, age, education and employment status. The majority of the antibiotics used were prescribed by physicians (90%). In all five waves, 3% of the respondents purchased an antibiotic without a prescription. Prescriptions were mostly obtained from a general practitioner. The prevailing reasons for taking antibiotics were the common cold, sore throat, cough and flu. Approximately 40% of the respondents expected a prescription for an antibiotic against the flu. The vast majority knew that antibiotics kill bacteria (80%) but at the same time 60% of respondents believed antibiotics kill viruses. Physicians, pharmacists, hospital staff and nurses were mentioned as the most trustworthy sources of information. A third of the respondents declared to have come across information on the prudent use of antibiotics in the preceding 12 months. In the fifth wave, nearly half of the participants (48%), who had come across information about antibiotics in the preceding 12 months declared that the information resulted in a change in their attitude towards antibiotic use. CONCLUSION: The survey generated information about the knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding antibiotics among the general population of Poland. Inappropriate antibiotic use is still highly prevalent in Poland, although a positive trend in behavioral change was observed after the educational campaigns. Additional didactic and systematic education campaigns regarding appropriate antibiotic use are needed and the use of the Internet as an education tool should be enhanced.

Oral health of adult patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation. Pre-transplant assessment and care.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is now one of the frequent procedures used for treatment of malignant and non-malignant blood diseases, autoimmune disorders, and certain solid tumors. Despite improvements of therapeutic protocols, HCT still carries a high risk of non-relapse mortality due to early and late complications. Side effects of the therapy regimen frequently occur in the oral cavity and often significantly decrease the patients' quality of life. The complications may result from or may be exacerbated by improper oral preparation of the patient before transplantation. Therefore, it is mandatory that all patients referred to HCT undergo thorough dental examination and receive appropriate treatment before the procedure. It is also very important to develop an individual post-transplantation oral care protocol with special concerns to oral hygiene before implementation of the conditioning. This paper presents a review of dental management methods intended for patients before HCT proposed in literature as well as recommendations based on the experience of the Department of Comprehensive Dental Care and the Department of Conservative Dentistry of Warsaw Medical University and the Warsaw Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. The article pays special attention to the problem of potential foci of infection and bleeding. It also presents protocol of oral hygiene in post-transplantation period, used by patients of Warsaw Medical University and Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

Prevalence of erosive lesions with respect to risk factors in a young adult population in Poland-a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of erosive lesions and related risk factors in the population of 18-year-old young adults in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Calibrated examiners measured erosive tooth wear according to Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) scoring system in 1869 patients and assessed the impact of risk factors with a questionnaire. RESULTS: Erosion was present in 42.3% of the patients. Early damage to the enamel was the most frequent finding (BEWE 1)-28.9%. More advanced lesions (BEWE 2) were observed in 12% of the patients. Advanced damage to the teeth (BEWE 3) was diagnosed rarely-1.4% of the examined population. Acidic diet, hygienic habits, and medical conditions such as asthma, eating disorders, and esophageal reflux showed statistical significance, as associated with erosion in the examined population. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that dental erosion is a common oral disease in the 18-year-old population with prevalence of frequency and intensity in males. However, on the basis of observations carried out in recent years, it may be assumed that the prevalence of this type of lesion is increasing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Present findings support other longitudinal studies toward evaluation of the BEWE system as a valuable standard for assessing erosive and related risk factors among different populations.

Application of Metagenomic Analyses in Dentistry as a Novel Strategy Enabling Complex Insight into Microbial Diversity of the Oral Cavity.

The composition of the oral microbiome in healthy individuals is complex and dynamic, and depends on many factors, such as anatomical location in the oral cavity, diet, oral hygiene habits or host immune responses. It is estimated at present that worldwide about 2 billion people suffer from diseases of the oral cavity, mainly periodontal disease and dental caries. Importantly, the oral microflora involved in local infections may spread and cause systemic, even life-threatening infections. In search for etiological agents of infections in dentistry, traditional approaches are not sufficient, as about 50% of oral bacteria are not cultivable. Instead, metagenomic analyses are particularly useful for studies of the complex oral microbiome - both in healthy individuals, and in patients with oral and dental diseases. In this paper we review the current and future applications of metagenomic studies in evaluation of both the composition of the oral microbiome as well as its potential pathogenic role in infections in dentistry.

[Epidemiological study of prevalence and risk factors for dental erosions among Polish young adults]. / Badania nad wystepowaniem erozji zebów i czynników ryzyka w populacji mlodych doroslych w Polsce.

UNLABELLED: Dental erosion for many years has been a pathology of secondary interest to dental public health authorities, but this point of view is changing. In recent years the occurrence and severity of erosive tooth wear seems to have increased. Various studies have shown that the prevalence of erosive tooth wear has particularly increased among younger population. AIM: Across-sectional oral health survey of randomly selected sample of 1886, 18-year old adults was carried out in Poland. Tooth wear was diagnosed according to BEWE index. Information about general health, oral hygiene habits, dietary habits, were gathered in a questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Across-sectional oral health survey of randomly selected sample of 1886, 18-year old adults was carried out in Poland. Tooth wear was diagnosed according to BEWE index. Information about general health, oral hygiene habits, dietary habits, were gathered in a questionnaire. RESULTS: Out of 1886 young adults 42% had signs of dental erosion. Early damage to the enamel (BEWE 1) was diagnosed in 28.9% patients. More advanced lesions (BEWE 2) were observed in 12% of patients and the highest score (BEWE 3) was diagnosed in 1.4% of the examined population. About 85,7% of the population answered "I feel healthy", 2,7% had gastroesophageal reflux disease, 8,5% allergy, 2,7% asthma, 2,7% eating disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicate that the dental erosion is common oral disease in 18-year old population in Poland with prevalence of frequency and intensity in males. Acidic diet, hygienic habits and medical conditions such as asthma, eating disorders and esophageal reflux showed statistical significance, as associated with erosive in examined population. In this young adult sample 13,4% had signs of advanced tooth wear which may increase clinical problems in the future.

[Tooth erosion - a multidisciplinary approach]. / Erozje zebów - problem interdyscyplinarny.

During the last decades, an increasingly greater interest in dental erosion has been observed in clinical dental practice, in dental public health and in dental research because prevalence of erosive tooth wear is still increasing especially in young age group of population. Erosive tooth wear is a multifactorial etiology process characterized by progressive loss of hard dental tissue. It is defined as the exogenous and/or endogenous acids dissolution of the dental tissue, without bacterial involvement. In the development of dental erosive wear, interactions are required which include chemical, biological, behavioral, diet, time, socioeconomic, knowledge, education, and general health factors. Examples of risk groups could be patients with eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic alcohol abuse or dependence. Special nutrition habits groups with high consumption of soft or sport drinks, special diets like vegetarian, vegan or raw food diet, the regular intake of drugs, medications and food supplements can also increase the risk for dental erosion. Comprehensive knowledge of the different risk and protective factors is a perquisite for initiating adequate preventive measures.

Assessment of salivary total antioxidant capacity in patients with primary untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with ORAC.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative DNA damage leads to abnormalities in endogenous cellular processes and constitutes a direct link between free radicals, antioxidants and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method is used to measure antioxidant capacity versus oxygen free radicals. There is no report on the application of ORAC to evaluate salivary antioxidant capacity in patients with head and neck SCC. This study investigated the relation between total antioxidant capacity of saliva, measured with ORAC method, and the incidence, location, size and histopathological grading of SCC. METHODS: Salivary antioxidant capacity was assessed in 30 male and female patients with histopathologically confirmed oral and laryngeal SCC. Histopathological grading of SCC was based on WHO classification. RESULTS: Mean ORAC in patients with SCC was higher than the mean value in the control group. Statistically significant difference was observed in the study group versus the control group. No significant differences were observed for ORAC values in relation to histopathological grading, tumour size and spread to lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results can advocate local compensatory mechanism in saliva in response to increased oxidative stress associated with primary tumour. ORAC can become an additional factor in head and neck SCC prognosis, but further investigation is required.

Significance of biofilms in dentistry.

In the past decades significant scientific progress has taken place in the knowledge about biofilms. They constitute multilayer conglomerates of bacteria and fungi, surrounded by carbohydrates which they produce, as well as substances derived from saliva and gingival fluid. Modern techniques showed significant diversity of the biofilm environment and a system of microbial communication (quorum sensing), enhancing their survival. At present it is believed that the majority of infections, particularly chronic with exacerbations, are a result of biofilm formation, particularly in the presence of biomaterials. It should be emphasised that penetration of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents into deeper layers of a biofilm is poor, causing therapeutic problems and necessitating sometimes removal of the implant or prosthesis. Biofilms play an increasing role in dentistry as a result of more and more broad use in dental practice of plastic and implantable materials. Biofilms are produced on the surfaces of teeth as dental plaque, in the para-nasal sinuses, on prostheses, dental implants, as well as in waterlines of a dental unit, constituting a particular risk for severely immunocompromised patients. New methods of therapy and prevention of infections linked to biofilms are under development.