Microbiota of dental caries in primary teeth of a Costa Rican Child population / Microbiota de la caries dental en piezas primarias de una población infantil costarricense

Abstract The objective of this research was to identify bacteria present in the microbiota of dentinal carious lesions in primary molars of some Costa Rican pediatric patients. Data were collected from 15 children aged between 4 and 8 years old who attended the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at the Faculty of Dentistry from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). The inclusion criteria were: infants between 4 and 8 years old who presented cavitated carious lesions in primary teeth, who were actively attended by students at the Faculty of Dentistry from the UCR, and whose parents or legal guardians signed the informed consent to participate in this research. Samples were taken using a sterile spoon, placed in storage vials, and subjected to various conventional and molecular microbial identification techniques, such as Gram stain identification, catalase tests, oxidase, TSI, API 20E, API STAPH, and VITEK 2. Of the 60 bacterial strains subjected to Gram staining, the following was obtained: 28 Gram-positive bacteria and 32 Gram-negative bacteria. The main isolated organisms were species of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pasteurella pneumotropica/Mannheimia haemolytica, Pantoea spp, and Streptococcus mutans.

Resumen El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar las bacterias presentes en la microbiota de lesiones cariosas dentinales en molares primarias de pacientes pediátricos costarricenses. Las muestras fueron recolectadas de 15 niños entre los 4 y 8 años que fueron atendidos en la Clínica de Odontopediatría en la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR). Los criterios de inclusión fueron: pacientes entre los 4 y los 8 años de edad que presentaran lesiones cariosas cavitadas en dientes primarios, que se encuentraran activos para su atención por estudiantes de la Facultad de Odontología de la UCR, y que los padres o encargados legales firmaran el consentimiento informado para participar en esta investigación. Las muestras se tomaron utilizando una cuchareta estéril, colocándolas en viales de almacenamiento y fueron sometidas a diversas técnicas de identificación microbiana convencionales y moleculares tales como: identificación por Tinción de Gram, pruebas catalasa, oxidasa, TSI, API 20E, API STAPH y VITEK. De las 60 cepas bacterianas sometidas a tinción de Gram se obtuvo: 28 bacterias Gram Positivas y 32 bacterias Gram Negativas. Los principales organismos aislados fueron: especies de Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pasteurella pneumotropica/ Mannheimia haemolytica, Pantoea spp y Streptococcus mutans.

Percepción parental de calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral en niños de 6 a 10 años

Introducción: La caries es una de las enfermedades crónicas que más afecta a la humanidad, los niños son un grupo de alto riesgo de presentarla. La Calidad de Vida Relacionada con Salud Oral (CVRSO) se refiere a la percepción de las condiciones bucales de uno mismo y la manera en que los factores afectados impactan el bienestar y desempeño en las actividades diarias, el desarrollo de indicadores de esta se ve limitado por el nivel cognitivo de los niños, lo que genera el P-CPQ para determinar la percepción parental. Objetivo: determinar la percepción parental de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal de los niños de 6 a 10 años. Materiales y Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo con componente analítico. Se llevó a cabo una encuesta a 98 padres, el P-CPQ modificado que consta de 23 preguntas que abarcan las subescalas de síntomas orales, limitaciones funcionales, bienestar emocional y bienestar social. Resultados: Relacionando los resultados del cuestionario con la presencia de caries en dientes permanentes se reportó el aumento de caries con la edad; el sexo femenino predominó entre los participantes con caries siendo el 63,8%. La puntuación media fue de 13,6 (DE=13,1). Se presentó una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la percepción parental de CVRSO de los niños y la presencia de caries dental en dientes permanentes (p=0,004). Conclusiones: Se concluyó que la presencia de caries en dientes permanentes en niños de 6 a 10 años puede disminuir significativamente la CVRSO en las dimensiones de síntomas orales, limitaciones funcionales y bienestar social.

Introduction: Caries is one of the chronic diseases that most affects humanity; children are a high-risk group for developing it. Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQL) refers to the perception of one's own oral conditions and the way in which the affected factors impact well-being and performance in daily activities. The development of indicators of this is limited by the cognitive level of the children, which led to the P-CPQ to determine parental perception. Objective: to determine the parental perception of the quality of life related to the oral health of children from 6 to 10 years old. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive and observational study with an analytical component. A survey of 98 parents was conducted, using the modified P-CPQ which consists of 23 questions covering the subscales of oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and social well-being. Results: Relating the results of the questionnaire with the presence of cavities in permanent teeth, an increase in cavities with age was reported; the female sex predominated among the participants with cavities, being 63.8%. The mean score was 13.6 (SD=13.1). There was a statistically significant association between parental perception of children's OHRQL and the presence of dental caries in permanent teeth (p=0.004). Conclusions: The presence of caries in permanent teeth in children aged 6 to 10 years can significantly reduce OHRQLin the dimensions of oral symptoms, functional limitations and social well-being.

Effect of lacteal products containing probiotic in the progression of tooth decay around orthodontic brackets

Objective: To evaluate the progression of caries around orthodontic brackets after the enamel has been exposed to lacteal products containing probiotics. Methods: Orthodontic brackets were bonded to the enamel surfaces. The test specimens were randomly divided into six groups: G1-negative control; G2-positive control, exposed to culture environment only (without microorganisms); G3-exposed to the cariogenic environment and the fermented cow's milk without probiotic; G4-exposed to the cariogenic environment and fermented cow's milk with probiotic; G5-exposed to the cariogenic environment and yogurt without probiotic; and G6-exposed to the cariogenic environment and yogurt with probiotic. The groups were placed in brain heart infusion medium, supplemented with 2% sucrose and with 1x106 cells/ml of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus salivarius (ATCC). The Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, Student t, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests were used. Results: all groups exposed to the ATCC strains showed lower final microhardness, compared to the negative control (p0.05). Conclusions: Lacteal products are not able to prevent the progression of caries around orthodontic brackets.

Infiltração resinosa em lesões brancas cariosas e não cariosas: relato de casos / Infiltración resinosa em lesiones blancas cariosas y no cariosas: Reporte de Casos / Resinous infiltration in carious and non-carious white lesions: Case Reports

Introdução: O processo de desmineralização proveniente da cárie leva à formação de manchas brancas que são a primeira manifestação visível da doença. Os infiltrantes resinosos surgem como uma alternativa para o tratamento dessas lesões não cavitadas, pois sãoresinas de baixa viscosidade e faz parte dos procedimentos que visam uma odontologia menos invasiva. Objetivo: Este estudo objetiva relatar a experiência clínica no uso de infiltrante resinoso, Icon, em lesões de mancha branca de etiologias cariosa e não cariosa em dois pacientes distintos, insatisfeitos com a estética do seu sorriso. Descrição do caso: Ao exame clínico foi observado nos pacientes com lesões brancas. No primeiro paciente, de 14 anos, verificou-se a presença da atividade de cárie e micro cavitações. Dessa forma, o plano de tratamento perpassou orientação de higiene oral supervisionada, aplicação de verniz fluoretado, Enamelast, semanal, adequação do meio com restaurações em resina, e só então o uso do infiltrante. A segunda paciente, de 11 anos, já possuía saúde bucal adequada e tinha queixa estética devido à lesão branca não cariosa, hipoplasia, cujo plano de tratamento foi à utilização do Icon apenas. Conclusões: Nos dois casos obteve-se melhoria estética considerável com este procedimento microinvasivo. Melhoria na saúde bucal, aliado à devolução da estética, pode ser observada com o uso de infiltrantes resinosos (AU).

Introduction: The process of demineralization resulting from caries leads to the formation of white spots that are the first visible manifestation of the disease. Resin infiltrants appear as an alternative for the treatment of these non-cavitated lesions, since they are low viscosity resins and are part of the procedures that aim at a less invasive dentistry.Objective:This study aims to report the clinical experience in the use of a resin infiltrant, Icon,in white spot lesions of carious and non-carious etiologies in two different patients who were dissatisfied with the esthetics of their smiles.Methodology: On clinical examination, white lesions were observed in both patients. In the first patient,14 years old,the presence of caries activity and micro cavitations was verified. Thus, the treatment plan included supervised oral hygiene guidance, weekly application of fluoride varnish,Enamelast, adaptation of the environment with resin restorations, and, onlythen, the use of the infiltrant, Icon. The second patient, 11 years old,already had adequate oral health and had an esthetic complaint due to a non-carious white lesion, hypoplasia, whose treatment plan consisted of the use of Icon only.Conclusions:In both cases considerable esthetic improvement was obtained with this microinvasive procedure. Improvement in oral health, combined with the return of esthetics, can be observed with the use of resin infiltrants (AU).

Introducción: El proceso de desmineralización resultante de la caries conduce a la formación de manchas blancas, que son la primera manifestación visible de la enfermedad. Losinfiltrantes de resina aparecen como una alternativa para el tratamiento de estas lesiones no cavitadas, pues se tratan de resinas de baja viscosidad y forman parte de los procedimientos que buscan una odontología menos invasiva. Objetivo:Este estudio tiene como objetivo relatar la experiencia clínica en el uso del infiltrante de resina,Iconen lesiones de mancha blanca de etiologías cariosas y no cariosas en dos pacientes diferentes, insatisfechos con la estética de sus sonrisas.Metodología: En el examen clínico se observaron lesiones blancas en ambos pacientes. En el primer paciente, 14 añosse verificó la presencia de actividad de caries y micro cavitaciones. De ese modo, el plan de tratamiento incluyó la orientación supervisada de la higiene bucal,la aplicación semanal de barniz de flúor (Enamelast), la adaptación del entorno con restauraciones de resina y, sólo después, el uso del infiltrante,Icon. La segunda paciente, 11 años,ya tenía una salud bucal adecuada y presentaba una queja estética debido a una lesión blanca no cariosa, hipoplasia, cuyo plan de tratamiento fue el uso exclusivo de Icon. Conclusiones: En ambos casos, se consiguió una mejora estética considerable con este procedimiento microinvasivo. La mejora de la salud bucal, unida a la recuperación de la estética, puede observarse con el uso de infiltrantes de resina (AU).

Control de la biopelícula con materiales bioactivos en pacientes adolescentes: reporte de caso / Biofilm control with bioactive materials in adolescents' patients: case report

El objetivo del artículo es reportar el desempeño clínico en el control y disminución de la placa bacteriana en pacientes adolescentes mediante un gel y barniz con partículas S-PRG. Se realizaron tratamientos con materiales bioactivos con tecnología GIOMER en 2 pacientes. En el primer caso se realizó una profilaxis con Pro Care Gel (S-PRG) en un paciente de 15 años con problemas neuromotores para eliminar la placa y posteriormente, se aplicó un barniz con partículas de S-PRG para prevenir la formación de biofilm. En el segundo caso, un adolescente de 15 años normoreactivo con inflamación gingival recibió el tratamiento profilaxis con PRG Pro Care Gel.Se observó una disminución de placa bacteriana tras la profilaxis con el gel Pro Care y la aplicación del barniz en el primer caso. Además, existió una baja incidencia de biofilm incluso después de 11 meses de la aplicación del barniz. En el segundo caso, a las 2 horas de aplicación, se observó una disminución total de la placa. Clínicamente se observó el bueno desempeño clínico de los materiales con partículas de S-PRG, como lo demuestra la literatura científica en cuanto a la reducción de la formación de placa bacteriana en las estructuras dentarias, la desinflamación gingival, proporciona bienestar a los pacientes y restaura la salud bucal de forma menos invasiva.

The objective of the article is to report the clinical performance in the control and reduction of bacterial plaque in adolescent patients using a gel and varnish with S-PRG particles. Treatments with bioactive materials with GIOMER technology were performed in two patients. In the first case, prophylaxis was performed with Pro Care Gel (S-PRG) in a 15-year-old patient with neuromotor problems to eliminate plaque and subsequently, a varnish with S-PRG particles was applied to prevent biofilm formation. In the second case, a normal 15-year-old adolescent with gingival inflammation received prophylaxis treatment with PRG Pro Care Gel. A decrease in bacterial plaque was observed after prophylaxis with the Pro Care gel and the application of the varnish in the first case. Furthermore, there was a low incidence of biofilm even after 11 months of varnish application. In the second case, after 2 hours of application, a total decrease in plaque was observed. The good clinical performance of materials with S-PRG particles was clinically perceived, as demonstrated by the scientific literature in terms of reducing the formation of bacterial plaque in dental structures, gingival disinflammation, providing well-being to patients and restoring oral health in a less invasive way.

Study on the role of nano antibacterial materials in orthodontics (a review)

Abstract Nanoparticles (NPs) are insoluble particles with a diameter of fewer than 100 nanometers. Two main methods have been utilized in orthodontic therapy to avoid microbial adherence or enamel demineralization. Certain NPs are included in orthodontic adhesives or acrylic resins (fluorohydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite, SiO2, TiO2, silver, nanofillers), and NPs (i.e., a thin layer of nitrogen-doped TiO2 on the bracket surfaces) are coated on the surfaces of orthodontic equipment. Although using NPs in orthodontics may open up modern facilities, prior research looked at antibacterial or physical characteristics for a limited period of time, ranging from one day to several weeks, and the limits of in vitro studies must be understood. The long-term effectiveness of nanotechnology-based orthodontic materials has not yet been conclusively confirmed and needs further study, as well as potential safety concerns (toxic effects) associated with NP size.

Resumo Nanopartículas (NPs) são partículas insolúveis com diâmetro inferior a 100 nanômetros. Dois métodos principais têm sido utilizados na terapia ortodôntica para evitar a aderência microbiana ou a desmineralização do esmalte: NPs são incluídas em adesivos ortodônticos ou resinas acrílicas (fluoro-hidroxiapatita, fluorapatita, hidroxiapatita, SiO2, TiO2, prata, nanopreenchimentos) e NPs são revestidas nas superfícies de equipamentos ortodônticos, ou seja, uma camada fina de TiO2 dopado com nitrogênio nas superfícies do braquete. Embora o uso de NPs em ortodontia possa tornar acessível modernos recursos, pesquisas anteriores analisaram as características antibacterianas ou físicas por um período limitado de tempo, variando de 24 horas a várias semanas, por isso devem ser compreendidos os limites dos estudos in vitro. A eficácia de longo prazo de materiais ortodônticos com base em nanotecnologia ainda não foi confirmada de forma conclusiva, o que exige mais estudos, bem como potenciais preocupações de segurança (efeitos tóxicos) associadas ao tamanho da NP.

Research progress on direct pulp capping of primary teeth / 口腔疾病防治

@#The timely treatment of dental caries and pulp disease in primary teeth holds significant importance for maintaining children's oral health. Direct pulp capping (DPC) is a vital pulp treatment that involves covering the exposed pulp with bioactive materials to promote dentin bridge formation. DPC is commonly used in primary teeth with vital pulp and mechanical pulp exposure not exceeding 1 mm. DPC offers advantages such as minimal invasiveness, comfort, simplicity of operation and short chair-side time, making it suitable for pediatric dental clinical practice. Early studies suggested negative treatment outcomes for DPC in primary teeth with carious pulp exposure. Over the years, there have been advancements in materials and technology demonstrating positive outcomes in the clinical research of primary teeth with deep caries. However, due to the limited quality of related studies, DPC has not been widely recommended for the treatment of primary teeth with carious pulp exposure, and its widespread use needs further support by more high-quality evidence-based medical research. The success rate of DPC in primary teeth is influenced by factors including pulp status, clinical operations (such as isolation and caries removal), pulp capping material, cavity type, tooth position, coronal sealing, and dental fear. In clinical operation, dentists should accurately assess pulp status and minimize bacterial contamination. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a DPC agent with relatively sufficient evidence and good therapeutic effects, and the crown should be tightly sealed after pulp capping. Additionally, the effects of novel biocompatible materials such as iRoot BP Plus used in DPC of primary teeth, and the influence of other factors like hemostatic methods on the prognosis of affected teeth, need further exploration.

Study on the role of nano antibacterial materials in orthodontics (a review) / Estudo sobre o papel dos materiais nanoantibacterianos na ortodontia

Nanoparticles (NPs) are insoluble particles with a diameter of fewer than 100 nanometers. Two main methods have been utilized in orthodontic therapy to avoid microbial adherence or enamel demineralization. Certain NPs are included in orthodontic adhesives or acrylic resins (fluorohydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite, SiO2, TiO2, silver, nanofillers), and NPs (i.e., a thin layer of nitrogen-doped TiO2 on the bracket surfaces) are coated on the surfaces of orthodontic equipment. Although using NPs in orthodontics may open up modern facilities, prior research looked at antibacterial or physical characteristics for a limited period of time, ranging from one day to several weeks, and the limits of in vitro studies must be understood. The long-term effectiveness of nanotechnology-based orthodontic materials has not yet been conclusively confirmed and needs further study, as well as potential safety concerns (toxic effects) associated with NP size.

Nanopartículas (NPs) são partículas insolúveis com diâmetro inferior a 100 nanômetros. Dois métodos principais têm sido utilizados na terapia ortodôntica para evitar a aderência microbiana ou a desmineralização do esmalte: NPs são incluídas em adesivos ortodônticos ou resinas acrílicas (fluoro-hidroxiapatita, fluorapatita, hidroxiapatita, SiO2, TiO2, prata, nanopreenchimentos) e NPs são revestidas nas superfícies de equipamentos ortodônticos, ou seja, uma camada fina de TiO2 dopado com nitrogênio nas superfícies do braquete. Embora o uso de NPs em ortodontia possa tornar acessível modernos recursos, pesquisas anteriores analisaram as características antibacterianas ou físicas por um período limitado de tempo, variando de 24 horas a várias semanas, por isso devem ser compreendidos os limites dos estudos in vitro. A eficácia de longo prazo de materiais ortodônticos com base em nanotecnologia ainda não foi confirmada de forma conclusiva, o que exige mais estudos, bem como potenciais preocupações de segurança (efeitos tóxicos) associadas ao tamanho da NP.

Research progress on dental materials for preventing root caries / 口腔疾病防治

@#The high incidence and untreated rate of root caries, a common and frequently occurring oral disease with challenging treatment in elderly individuals, is the main cause of tooth loss among elderly people, as rapid development results in pulpitis and periapical periodontitis or residual crown and root, which has been regarded as one of the common chronic oral diseases seriously affecting the quality of life of elderly people. Thus, early intervention and prevention are important. Traditional dental materials for preventing root caries have been widely used in clinical practice; however, they have the disadvantages of tooth coloring, remineralization and low sterilization efficiency. A series of new dental materials for preventing root caries have gradually become a research hotspot recently, which have the advantages of promoting the mineralization of deep dental tissue, prolonging the action time and enhancing adhesion. Future caries prevention materials should be designed according to the characteristics of root surface caries and the application population and should be developed toward simplicity, high efficiency and low toxicity. This review describes current research regarding anti-caries prevention material application, serving as a theoretical underpinning for the research of root caries prevention materials, which is important for both promotion in the effective prevention of root caries and improvement in the status of oral health and the quality of life among old people.

MobileNetV3 network-based diagnosis of caries and periapical periodontitis from periapical films / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To research the effectiveness of deep learning techniques in intelligently diagnosing dental caries and periapical periodontitis and to explore the preliminary application value of deep learning in the diagnosis of oral diseases@*Methods@#A dataset containing 2 298 periapical films, including healthy teeth, dental caries, and periapical periodontitis, was used for the study. The dataset was randomly divided into 1 573 training images, 233 validation images, and 492 test images. By comparing various neural network models, the MobileNetV3 network model with better performance was selected for dental disease diagnosis, and the model was optimized by tuning the network hyperparameters. The accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score were used to evaluate the model's ability to recognize dental caries and periapical periodontitis. Class activation map was used to visualization analyze the performance of the network model@*Results@#The algorithm achieved a relatively ideal intelligent diagnostic effect with precision, recall, and accuracy of 99.42%, 99.73%, and 99.60%, respectively, and the F1 score was 99.57% for classifying healthy teeth, dental caries, and periapical periodontitis. The visualization of the class activation maps also showed that the network model can accurately extract features of dental diseases.@*Conclusion@#The tooth lesion detection algorithm based on the MobileNetV3 network model can eliminate interference from image quality and human factors and has high diagnostic accuracy, which can meet the needs of dental medicine teaching and clinical applications.

Caries prevention mechanism of the Xinjiang Mori Cortex based on network pharmacology and its effect on the main cariogenic bacteria / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To investigate the potential caries prevention mechanism of the Xinjiang Mori cortex and to analyze its effect on the main cariogenic bacteria.@*Methods@#The active components of the Xinjiang Mori cortex and the main targets were predicted and screened using the TCMSP database. The GeneCards, DisGENET and TTD databases were used to obtain caries-related targets. The common targets were derived, and core genes were screened. The enrichment analysis was performed using the DAVID data platform. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock software. In in vitro antibacterial experiments, first, the 50% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the Xinjiang Mori Cortex extract against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus were determined and the growth curves were measured. The effects of the Xinjiang Mori Cortex extract on acid production, polysaccharide production and adhesion ability of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus in the planktonic state were determined. The 50% minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC50) and 50% minimum biofilm reduction concentration (MBRC50) were determined by crystal violet staining, and biofilm morphology was visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).@*Results@#The main active components of the Xinjiang Mori cortex included quercetin, kaempferol, and β-sitosterol. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) could be the most important targets of the Xinjiang Mori cortex for the prevention of dental caries. The enrichment analysis results showed that Mori cortex extract may have effects on the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway. The antibacterial experiment results showed that the MIC50 values of Xinjiang Mori Cortex extract against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus were 0.5, 0.5 and 0.25 mg/mL, respectively, and the MBCs were 4.0, 2.0 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory effect of Xinjiang Mori Cortex extract on the acid production, polysaccharide production and adhesion ability of three major cariogenic bacteria in the planktonic state was stronger than that of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The MBIC50 was 1.0, 1.0, and 0.5 mg/mL, and the MBRC50 was 4.0, 4.0, and 2.0 mg/mL. SEM observation showed that the amount of biofilm formation decreased with the drug concentration compared with the control group.@*Conclusion@#Xinjiang Mori cortex extract can prevent caries through quercetin, kaempferol, and β-sitosterol active ingredients, TNF、IL-6、IL-1β key targets and multiple pathways and inhibit the growth, acid production, polysaccharide production, and adhesion ability of three major cariogenic bacteria in the planktonic state and has some inhibitory effect on corticogenic biofilm formation.

The Prevalence, Severity and Pattern of First Permanent Molars’ Dental Caries in Children Attending A Postgraduate Dental Hospital: A Retrospective Study

@#Introduction: First permanent molars (FPMs) erupt early and their anatomy and location leave them susceptible to dental caries. This study aimed to retrospectively determine the prevalence, severity and pattern of dental caries of FPMs and investigate their relationship if any with demographics and medical health status of the partcipants. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A sample of the digital case notes and radiographs of children aged 5 to 12 years who attended the only postgraduate dental hospital in Dubai were accessed. The recorded data included the children’s demographic variables and the carious status of each FPM as recorded in the notes on the initial assessment. Descriptive and statistical analyses were conducted (P<0.05). Results: A total of 2984 FPMs were obtained from the digital records of 774 children. Their mean age was 8.07 (±2.23) years and only those that met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The prevalence of dental caries and mean Decayed Missing Filled Surfaces of FPMs, were 42% and 0.3 (±0.04), respectively. The most prevalent decayed surface was the occlusal (29.2%), followed by mesial, buccal, palatal/ lingual, distal surfaces (24.2 %; 6.6 %; 3.1 %; 2.3 %) respectively. Children with medical problems and/or special needs had a significantly higher level of caries in the buccal surfaces (12.3%) (P=0.042). Conclusion: Caries of FPMs in a sample of Dubai children studied was prevalent, especially in those with special healthcare needs, thus indicating a necessity for targeted prevention and treatment focused on these keystone teeth.

Population heterogeneity analysis of caries prevention service preferences among children in Anhui Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To determine the heterogeneity for caries prevention service preferences among children in Anhui Province, so as to provide reference for the promotion and popularization of caries prevention services for school age children.@*Methods@#Based on a discrete selection experiment, a face to face questionnaire survey was administered using a multi stage sampling method among 785 parents with children 3-12 years of age who were hospitalized in the stomatology clinics of 7 prefectures and cities in Anhui Province from October 2021 to October 2022. A mixed Logit model was used to evaluate caries prevention service preferences for children.@*Results@#Four discrete choice experiment attributes included in the study were statistically significant for choice preference ( P <0.05). Compared with the control group, parents with a high school education or above preferred caries prevention services with 70%-<80% preventive effectiveness, 2-<5 and <2 km from the service point, and a high service cost ( β =0.38, 1.66, 1.64, 0.00); female parents preferred preventive services with 70%-<80% preventive effectiveness and a high service cost ( β =0.35, 0.01 ); parents of children <7 years of age preferred services with 70%-<80% preventive effectiveness ( β =0.75); parents of children with oral health preferred preventive services during winter and summer vacations ( β =-0.28); parents of children with caries preferred preventive services with a high cost per denticle ( β =0.00)( P <0.05).@*Conclusions@#Parents with different education levels, gender, child age, and oral health status have heterogeneity in dental caries prevention service preferences. The provision of targeted and precise services can improve the participation and coverage of caries prevention services for school age children.

Clinical Findings Arising from the Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride to Prevent or Treat Caries Lesions and Dentinal Hypersensitivity: A Data Mining Analysis

Abstract Objective: To summarize data of clinical trials that used silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to prevent and treat caries lesions and dentinal hypersensitivity. Material and Methods: Six electronic databases were searched in May 2022. The concentration of SDF, type of usage (alone/combined), dentition, anterior/posterior teeth, tooth region, dental tissue, number of the treated surfaces, the intervention environment, participants' age, frequency and duration of SDF application, purpose, and outcome were the extracted variables. The type of study, year of publication, authors, journals, and country were also investigated. Results: From 8860 articles, S3 were selected. Most were randomized (n=38), that applied 38% SDF (n=43), alone (n=44), on multiple surfaces (n=44), only in dentin (n=36), of the crown (n=46) of anterior and posterior (n=36) primary teeth (n=39). The studies were preferably carried out outside the clinic (n=3l), only in children (n=33), with reapplication of SDF (n=30), but did not inform the duration of application (n= 19). SDF was most used to treat (n=46) only caries lesions (n=50). They were published between 2001 and 2022, mainly in the Journal of Dentistry (n=10). China (n=19) and Lo E.GM (n=19) were the countries and authors that published the most, respectively. Conclusion: The silver diamine fluoride 38% alone was most used to treat caries lesions in the dentin of the crown of all primary teeth, preferably applied on multiple surfaces, requiring re application, and outside the clinic.

Profile of Dental Caries in Eastern and Western Parakanã Children at Amazônia Paraense, Brazil

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of dental caries in children from 18 months to 5 years of age in eastern (near urban centers) and western (far from urban centers) Parakanã, verify the influence of proximity to non-indigenous cultures, and compare with other ethnicities and non-indigenous. Material and Methods: The universe of children was examined by one researcher in a cross-sectional study. Descriptive analysis and the Mann-Whitney test (p<0.05) were performed. Results: It was observed that 68.8% (N = 53) of children from 18 to 36 months of age presented dmft = 0 (without caries), while 12.5% (N = 6) of children of five years of age presented this condition. For children between 18 and 36 months, the average dmft values were 0.74 (SD=1.91) for eastern children and 1.25 (SD=1.65) for western children. At five years of age, the average dmft values were 4.35 (SD=3.29) and 3.75 (SD=2.05) for eastern and western, respectively. Mann-Whitney test (p<0.05) showed no difference between East and Western children. When compared with non-indigenous Brazilian children, the values behaved similarly. Conclusion: Knowledge of the epidemiological profile of dental caries in Indigenous Parakanã children is relevant both in planning oral health actions for this population and for aggregating information, which is still scarce for Indigenous.

Early Childhood Caries in a Northeastern Brazilian Capital: Observations of Social Distinct Daycare Centers

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate factors associated with the experience of dental caries in children in early childhood in two socially distinct centers in the city of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two socially distinct daycare centers (private and public). The children were assessed regarding their caries experience, and their parents/guardians were prepared regarding socioeconomic information, parents/guardians' habits, and children's habits. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Association tests and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze independent variables and outcomes (type of daycare center and caries experience) using a p-value of 5%. Results: The sample consisted of 89 children aged up to 5 years of both sexes. The type of daycare center was associated with some socioeconomic data, such as family income (p<0.01) and parents' education (p=0.05). Data on oral hygiene and children's habits, such as breastfeeding, also remained associated with the type of daycare center. There was an association between income and DMFT (PR=8.48 - 95%CI 2.26;31.78). Conclusion: The socioeconomic profile of parents/guardians and breastfeeding were associated with the prevalence of caries in deciduous teeth in children aged 10 to 48 months.

Relationship Between Celiac Disease and Dental Caries in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the relationship between celiac disease and the prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents and also evaluate if dental enamel defects in celiac children predispose to dental caries. Material and Methods: Searches were performed in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences, and OpenGrey. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. DMFT/dmft and DMFS/dmfs data of observational studies that compared the prevalence of caries between children and adolescents with celiac disease and healthy individuals. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. Heterogeneity between studies was estimated using Cochran's Q test, and inconsistency was measured using I2 statistics. Results: Of the 121 studies retrieved, 17 were selected, and 12 were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of caries in the primary dentition (dmft) did not differ between celiac patients and controls [SMD = -0.35; 95% CI (-0.83; 0.13); p = 0,15; I2 = 89%]. There was also no difference in the prevalence of caries in permanent teeth (DMFT) between groups [SMD = -0.44; 95% CI (-1.02; 0.14); p = 0.14; I2 = 95%]. Conclusion: Celiac disease is not a determinant factor in the development of dental caries in children and adolescents compared to the control group.

The action of microbial collagenases in dentinal matrix degradation in root caries and potential strategies for its management: a comprehensive state-of-the-art review

Abstract Conventional views associate microbial biofilm with demineralization in root caries (RC) onset, while research on their collagenases role in the breakdown of collagen matrix has been sporadically developed, primarily in vitro. Recent discoveries, however, reveal proteolytic bacteria enrichment, specially Porphyromonas and other periodontitis-associated bacteria in subgingivally extended lesions, suggesting a potential role in RC by the catabolism of dentin organic matrix. Moreover, genes encoding proteases and bacterial collagenases, including the U32 family collagenases, were found to be overexpressed in both coronal and root dentinal caries. Despite these advancements, to prove microbial collagenolytic proteases' definitive role in RC remains a significant challenge. A more thorough investigation is warranted to explore the potential of anti-collagenolytic agents in modulating biofilm metabolic processes or inhibiting/reducing the size of RC lesions. Prospective treatments targeting collagenases and promoting biomodification through collagen fibril cross-linking show promise for RC prevention and management. However, these studies are currently in the in vitro phase, necessitating additional research to translate findings into clinical applications. This is a comprehensive state-of-the-art review aimed to explore contributing factors to the formation of RC lesions, particularly focusing on collagen degradation in root tissues by microbial collagenases.

Prevalencia y severidad de la caries dental en adolescentes

Introducción: La caries dental es una enfermedad multifactorial que prevalece durante la infancia y adolescencia. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia, severidad y gravedad de la caries dental en los adolescentes. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en adolescentes pertenecientes al municipio Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba, en el período de octubre de 2019 a octubre de 2022. La muestra que se empleó fue de tipo aleatoria estratificada de 969 adolescentes. Para medir la prevalencia de la caries se utilizó el COP-D, para la severidad y gravedad el sistema ICDAS. Los datos primarios se procesaron con los programas informáticos Statistica 6.1. Se realizó prueba de ji al cuadrado por el programa Epidat y los resultados se describieron mediante cifras frecuenciales y porcentuales. Resultados : El índice de COP-D fue de 1,92; en el grupo de 18-19 años el COP-D fue de 1,96. Con relación a la severidad de las caries, el 19,2 % presentó caries código 1; el grupo de 18-19 años mostró un 18,9 % de afectación por caries, relacionadas con la gravedad de las lesiones; los mayores porcentajes se presentaron en las lesiones leves con un 35,2 %. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de la caries dental fue baja. El índice de COP-D ligeramente mayor en el grupo de 18-19 años. En cuanto a la severidad, predominaron las lesiones de caries código 1 y 2; las mayores proporciones fueron leves.

Introduction: Dental cavities is a multifactorial disease prevalent during childhood and adolescence. Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of dental cavities in adolescents. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in adolescents belonging to the Plaza de la Revolución municipality, Havana, Cuba, in the period from October 2019 to October 2022. The sample used was a stratified random sample of 969 adolescents. The COP-D was used to measure the prevalence of cavities, and the ICDAS system was used for severity and severity. The primary data were processed with Statistica 6.1 software. The chi-square test was performed with the Epidat program and the results were described by frequency and percentage figures. Results: The COP-D index was 1.92; in the group aged 18-19 years the COP-D was 1.96. In relation to cavities severity, 19.2% presented code 1 cavities; the 18-19 years age group showed 18.9% cavities involvement, related to the severity of the lesions; the highest percentages were presented in mild lesions with 35.2%. Conclusions: The prevalence of dental cavities was low. The rate of COP-D was slightly higher in the 18-19 years age group. In terms of severity, cavities code 1 and 2 lesions predominated; the highest proportions were mild.

Incidence of Dental Caries and Associated Factors in the School Period in a Municipality in Southern Brazil

Abstract Objective: To estimate the incidence of dental caries and associated factors in the school period from six/seven to ten years of age. Material and Methods: A longitudinal study involving 168 children was followed up between 2015 and 2019 in the municipality of Palhoça, Brazil. The dependent variable was the caries incidence rate in the mixed dentition. The independent variables included information regarding demographic and socioeconomic status. Multivariate analyzes were carried out using Poisson Regression with a robust estimator. Variables with p <0.20 in the bivariate analysis were included in the adjusted model. Relative risks were estimated, as well as 95% confidence intervals. Results: Of 168 followed schoolchildren, 32 developed the disease, providing an incidence rate of 19.0%. Female children had a 10% higher risk [RR = 1.10 (95% CI 1.03; 1.18)] of developing caries than males. Also, children born from fathers with ≤ 8 years of schooling at baseline had a 9% higher risk [RR = 1.09 (95% CI 1.01; 1.16)] of developing dental caries compared to fathers with higher education. Conclusion: The incidence of dental caries in a four-year period was 19.0%. Females and children born from fathers with a lower level of education showed higher incidence rates.