Dental prophylaxis influence in tooth color assessment-Clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate dental prophylaxis influence in tooth color assessment with the use of different methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Volunteers were consecutively recruited and screened according to appropriate inclusion/exclusion criteria. Each participant's upper right central incisive and canine color was measured before and after dental prophylaxis with a one-week interval. Tooth color assessment was performed by calibrated operators and the patient using a VITA Classical shade guide and by spectrophotometric methods with a proper device (SpectroShade). Color was reported as mean with SD of Commission Internationale De l'Eclairage (CIE) L*a*b* values, ΔEab and ΔE00 . One-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc were performed to assess differences between methods and paired t test for assessing differences in tooth color coordinates after dental prophylaxis. Values of P < .05 were taken as significant. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included. Self-assessed dental prophylaxis effects equated to a significantly different mean ΔE00 value of 2.3 ± 1.7 (P < .01), when compared to the calibrated operator reported 0.8 ± 1.1 and the spectrophotometer 1.0 ± 0.5. Half of volunteer's ΔE00 values surpassed the acceptability threshold, when compared to 28% from investigator and 10% from spectrophotometer. CONCLUSION: Performing a dental prophylaxis did have an influence in tooth color perception with a higher self-perceived effect in the patient assessment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study suggest that performing professional dental prophylaxis presented a perceived effect in tooth color regardless of the method used being that patients precepted whiter and less yellowish teeth. Since extrinsic stain is considered as one of the factors that could influence tooth color assessment, performing professional dental prophylaxis prior to composite or ceramic color selection in anterior teeth restorations could consequently increase treatment predictability.

Preferred Reporting Items for Epidemiologic Cross-sectional Studies on Root and Root Canal Anatomy Using Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Technology: A Systematized Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to perform a quality assessment and provide a scientific-based checklist for prevalence studies on root and root canal anatomy by appraising the methodological quality of in vivo studies using cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging as the assessment tool. METHODS: A systematic assessment of the literature was conducted, and 211 studies were selected and submitted to a methodological evaluation. Data were grouped into categories such as journal impact factor, open access availability, language, study origin, journal publisher, sample size, and CBCT settings. Interrater agreement was calculated by applying the Holsti method and Cohen kappa. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson correlation coefficient were undertaken to assess the different variables (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The included studies (N = 211) reported data on 247,616 teeth from 41 countries. The maxillary first molar was the most studied tooth (n = 69) and the second mesiobuccal canal the most investigated anatomic feature. The highest scores were associated with high-impact journals (r = 0.482, P < .05), large sample sizes (r = 0.374, P < .05), non-open access availability (P < .05), and English-based language (P < .05), but geographic region and journal publisher also had an impact on quality scores. The identified methodological gaps were used to formulate a scientific-based checklist for this type of study. CONCLUSIONS: Although a small improvement in the global quality of the studies was observed over the years, only less than half of the studies correctly addressed the participant recruitment and frame and had an adequate sample size or provided sufficient CBCT imaging settings. The proposed checklist highlights the most pertinent points to guide researchers throughout the experimental design and the implementation of epidemiological cross-sectional studies of this nature.

Varicella epidemiology in Latin America and the Caribbean.

INTRODUCTION: The Latin American Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SLIPE), with the support of the Americas Health Foundation (AHF), has developed a position paper on varicella prevention in Latin America and Caribbean countries (LAC). This article summarizes the most relevant aspects of varicella in LAC, and emphasizes the need to include the varicella vaccine in the national immunization programs in the Region and evaluate its impact disease burden. AREAS COVERED: A systematic review was conducted of the medical evidence published and presented at various regional medical conferences on the disease burden in LAC, the advances made by prevention programs, the available vaccines in the Region, and their immunogenicity, efficacy, effectiveness, and safety. The different national varicella-prevention vaccination programs were reviewed, as was available information regarding the impact of these programs on the epidemiology of varicella in those countries implementing a varicella vaccine strategy. Following that initial publication, an update was conducted, including data from additional countries in the Region. EXPERT COMMENTARY: Varicella is a vaccine-preventable infectious disease, considered a 'benign disease' because of lower complication rates when compared with measles, pertussis. The incorporation of a two-dose varicella vaccine in national immunization schedules in all countries throughout LAC would be of great benefit to the health of the children.