Clinical evaluation of the ability of CaviStat in a mint confection to inhibit the development of dental caries in children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine if a sugarless mint containing CaviStat (an arginine bicarbonate calcium carbonate complex) is capable of preventing the development of dental caries in the primary molars and first permanent molars of 10 1/2- to 11-year-old Venezuelan children. METHODS: Two-hundred children were entered into this one-year study who showed the following: (i) age between 10 1/2 and 11 years; (ii) first and second primary molars still present; (iii) sound primary molars or early caries lesions in any of these teeth; and (iv) at least some caries in the primary or permanent teeth as evidence of caries activity. Out of the 200 children initially selected, 195 finished and provided complete data. Children entered into the study were examined and then randomly divided into two groups (A and B), with distribution performed on the basis of the DMFS levels of the first permanent molars. All subjects were examined visually by a single examiner using good artificial light, mirror, and probe. Group A received a sugarless confection containing CaviStat (BasicMints); Group B received a sugarless mint control that contained all ingredients except for the CaviStat. Packaging and appearance of both types of mints were identical, except for their A and B designations. RESULTS: Mean differences in DMFS, defs, and DMFS + defs scores between Groups A and B were determined. In the first permanent molars and some early erupting premolars and second molars, the data showed 75.6% fewer caries in Group A than in Group B children after six months, and 50.7% fewer after 12 months. Corresponding defs scores showed reduced development of dental caries in deciduous molars of 76.7% after six months and 131.3% after 12 months. Combined DMFS and defs scores showed 76.2 and 74.8% fewer caries lesions at six and 12 months, respectively. As exfoliation of primary molars occurred during the study period (approximately equal in the two groups), a proportion correction was made to allow for caries score reductions due to lesions lost because of such exfoliation. When this was done, the results at the end of the study still showed larger caries reductions in Group A than in the Group B subjects, and statistical analyses showed these differences were still highly significant (p < 0.001). Noncavitated caries lesions in the first permanent molars were also determined. These showed once again less caries development in Group A than in Group B subjects, and did so at both six and twelve months (57.0 and 52.4%, respectively). Levels of statistical significance at these times were p = 0.013 and 0.005. CONCLUSION: It was evident from this clinical trial that mint confections containing CaviStat are able to inhibit both caries onset and caries progression. As a result, one can conclude that CaviStat mint confection technology is a simple and economical means for reducing substantially one of the most prevalent diseases in these children.

Examination of three different methods of dental caries scoring during eruption of the premolar and second molar teeth in 10- to 13-year-old children using cross-sectional data.

OBJECTIVE: Premolars and second permanent molars mainly erupt in children between 10 and 13 years of age. This age range provides a relatively large number of caries-free or near caries-free tooth surfaces at a baseline measurement that can become carious during such trials. Since traditional DMFS scoring does not take the addition of new surfaces into account, the aim of this study was to compare that scoring system to two methods where sound surfaces are included in the scoring. METHODOLOGY: The comparison was done in a cross-sectional caries prevalence study so that caries progression and tooth eruptions (as occurs in a longitudinal investigation) would not confound the methods assessments. A total of 729 children between 10 and 13 years of age were recruited from four public schools in Venezuela and assigned to age groups 10, 11, 12, and 13. Decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS) of their respective premolar and second molar teeth were scored by one calibrated examiner (CM) using a mirror and probe and the criteria reported by Radike, but with one major modification; that was, avoidance of any forceful probing of suspected non-cavitated pits and fissures for caries lesions. In each subject, traditional DMFS were determined in which sound surfaces were not considered. These scores were compared to the scoring of DMFS plus sound surfaces (DMFSS) as described by Katz, et al. and Huntington. RESULTS: Mean traditional DMFS scores (+/- SEM) obtained for the permanent premolars and second molars of 10-, 11-, 12-, and 13-year-old children were 3.06 +/- 0.27, 3.32 +/- 0.27, 3.44 +/- 0.27, and 5.69 +/- 0.37, respectively. A large difference in these scores was observed between the 12- and 13-year-old children, in contrast to smaller differences between the 10- and 11-, and the 11- and 12-year-olds. Eruption of premolar and second molar teeth examined at the same time showed per cent eruptions as follows: 27.2% at age 10; 60.8% at age 11; 84.9% at age 12; and 95.5% by age 13. Most eruption was observed in the 10- to 12-year-olds, in contrast to the largest DMFS differences appearing between children 12 and 13 years of age. Looked at longitudinally, the incongruence of prior eruption and resulting caries reaching detection levels was about one to two years. All three methods of scoring showed the sharp increment in their respective caries scores between ages 12 and 13, whereas smaller and directionally opposite score changes occurred between years 11 and 12. With the Katz, et al. and Huntington DMFSS methods, the scores between 11 and 12 years decreased, whereas traditional DMFS scoring showed an increase. Although these differences were not large, the pattern of traditional DMFS scoring differed significantly from the other two methods (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Traditional DMFS scoring in children between 10 and 13 years of age will not detect the new surfaces, and the resulting extra caries increments that would arise in a clinical trial. With the Katz, et al. or Huntington scoring methods, where these new surfaces are counted, adjustment is made for any such caries rate error. In caries remineralization studies, this could be of significance.

Intra annual seed production and availability of two morphotypes of Brosimum rubescens taubert in forests of the Colombian Amazon / Producción y disponibilidad intra anual de semillas de dos morfotipos de Brosimum rubescens Taubert en bosques de la amazonía colombiana

We assessed the reproductive phenology, production, and availability of seeds for two morphotypes of Brosimum rubescens Taub. (Moraceae), locally known as black palosangre (BP) and white palosangre (WP) during an annual cycle in a 20-ha mega plot located in a primary forest at the El Zafire Biological Station, in the Colombian Amazon. We found that 87% and 41% of potentially reproductive individuals of BP and WP respectively, was fertile and the production of reproductive structures was variable within and between morphotypes. The phenological pattern was seasonal in both morphotypes, characterized by flowering at the end of the dry season and fruiting at the start of the rainy season. BP produced and aborted large amounts of infructescences (approximately 21743), possibly as a response to satiate predators. Relative predation in terms of pre-dispersion of seeds was similar in both morphotypes, with a greater damage generated by a Scolytidae Curculionidae (Coleoptera) and to a lesser degree by frugivorous vertebrates. The number of mature fruits, total seeds, and removed seeds was similar for both morphotypes. Differences in the amount of reproductive structures and in the timing of phenophases between morphotypes decreased the competition and contributed to their coexistence. It seems that in undisturbed forests seed limitation could be more conditioning for WP, while other limitations after fruit and seed production could occur in BP.

Se evaluó la fenología reproductiva, producción y disponibilidad de semillas de dos morfotipos de Brosimum rubescens Taub. (Moraceae), conocidos localmente como palosangre negro (PN) y palosangre blanco (PB), durante un ciclo anual en una megaparcela de 20 ha localizada en bosques primarios de la Estación Biológica El Zafire, Amazonía colombiana. Se encontró que estuvieron fértiles el 87% y 41% de los individuos potencialmente reproductivos de PN y PB, respectivamente. La producción de estructuras reproductivas fue variable dentro y entre morfotipos. El patrón fenológico fue estacional en ambos: florecieron al final de la época seca y fructificaron al inició de la lluviosa. Aunque en PB aparentemente ocurre limitación en la polinización, la maduración de los óvulos fecundados es más eficiente que en PN. Este último produjo y abortó abundante cantidad de infrutescencias, posiblemente para saciar depredadores. En ambos morfotipos la depredación relativa pre-dispersión de las semillas fue similar, siendo mayor el daão generado por un Curculionidae Scolytidae (Coleóptera) y menor por frugívoros vertebrados. El número de frutos maduros, semillas totales y semillas removidas también fue similar entre morfotipos. Diferencias en la cantidad de estructuras reproductivas y en el tiempo de manifestación de las fenofases entre morfotipos, disminuyen la competencia y contribuyen a su coexistencia. Aparentemente, en bosques no disturbados la limitación de semillas podría ser más condicionante para PB, pero otras limitaciones posteriores a la producción de frutos y semillas podrían presentarse en PN.