RESUMO
The goal of this study was to evaluate the pH and the release of calcium from four calcium-silicate-based cements. METHODS: Four materials were tested (ProClinic MTA; Angelus MTA; ProRoot MTA; Biodentine). The palatal canal root of acrylic upper molars was filled with each cement. Afterwards, they were set in phosphate-buffered saline. Measurements were taken by atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS) at 3, 24, 72, 168, 336, 672, and 1008 h. The pH was measured at the same timepoints. Kruskal-Wallis tests were carried out in each period, as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests showed no parametric results. RESULTS: Significant differences (p < 0.05) in calcium release were found at the 3-, 24-, and 72-hour evaluations. All of the analyzed groups presented a release of calcium ions up to 168 h, and the general tendency was to increase up to 672 h, with a maximum release of 25.45 mg/g in the ProRoot group. We could only observe significant differences (p < 0.05) in pH value over 168 h between the Biodentine (7.93) and Angelus MTA (7.31) groups. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in calcium release. Nevertheless, no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the pH values were found at the studied timepoints, except for the values at 168 h.
RESUMO
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the estimated number of older adults is around 962 million and is projected to increase to 2.1 billion by 2050. The oral frailty concept is associated with gradual oral function loss in relation to aging. There is a need to emphasize the improvement of oral function based on an evaluation of masticatory performance in patients with various oral conditions or systemic diseases and especially in the frail elderly. The present narrative review presents an overview of the current state of the assessment and improvement of masticatory performance in frail older people. To fully encompass oral frailty, oro-facial hypofunction, or oro-facial fitness, dental Patient Reported Outcomes (dPROs) should be included; nevertheless, there are limited evidence-based rehabilitation approaches. The concept of oral frailty, oro-facial hypofunction, or oro-facial fitness should involve dental Patient Reported Outcomes (dPROs), and in this sense, there are only a few evidence-based rehabilitation procedures to improve oro-facial hypofunction besides prosthodontics. It must be considered that reduced neuroplastic capacity in old individuals might preclude a positive outcome of these strategies that might need to be accompanied by functional training and nutritional counseling.