Effect of Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Added to Milk, Chewing Gum, and Candy on Dental Caries: A Systematic Review.

Casein is one of the most studied proteins with activity against dental caries. In particular, casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) has shown promising remineralizing properties. In vivo evidence on the anticaries potential of CPP-ACP added to foodstuffs is elusive, nonetheless. Hence, this systematic review aimed at determining whether the use of CPP-ACP added to foodstuffs has a remineralizing or inhibitory action on dental demineralization either in vivo or in situ. The review protocol followed the PRISMA-P criteria and was registered in PROSPERO. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using predefined criteria, based on the PICO question: Is there an effect on dental caries upon adding CPP-ACP to milk, chewing gums, or candies? No year or language limits were applied. Article selection and data extraction were carried out independently by 2 investigators. Two hundred ten titles were examined, 23 were selected for full-text review, and 16 studies were included (2 in vivo and 14 in situ). CPP-ACP was added to candy in 2 studies, to milk in 2 studies, and to chewing gum in 12 studies. The main outcomes included enamel remineralization and activity against dental biofilm. The overall quality of the evidence was classified as moderate. The available evidence suggests that CPP-ACP added to milk, chewing gum, or candy has a potential remineralizing activity on tooth enamel, with some additional antibacterial activity on the dental biofilm. Further clinical studies are needed to verify if this effect is clinically significant in reducing the caries lesion incidence or to revert the demineralizing process.

Oral health-related quality of life in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis is associated with periodontal inflammation and painful temporomandibular disorders: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) patients and individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to healthy controls, and to explore possible associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty ERA patients, 50 at-risk individuals, and 50 age and gender matched healthy controls were recruited. OHRQoL (Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14)); number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT); denture use; periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA); xerostomia (xerostomia inventory (XI)); and possible TMD (-pain) diagnoses were recorded. The groups were compared on these variables. Subsequently, backward multiple regression analyses were performed for the ERA and at-risk groups, with OHRQoL as the dependent variable and gender, age, DMFT, denture use, PISA, XI, non-painful TMD, and TMD pain as independent variables. RESULTS: At-risk individuals had higher XI scores (U = 789.5, z = -3.181, p = 0.001, r = -0.32) and higher prevalence of TMD pain (p = 0.046, OR = 4.57; 95% CI 0.92-22.73) than healthy controls and higher OHIP-14 scores than the ERA group (U = 894.5, z = -2.418, p = 0.016, r = -0.24), while no difference in OHIP-14 was found between the control group and both other groups. For ERA patients, OHRQoL was associated with PISA and TMD pain (R2 = 0.498, p < 0.001). For at-risk individuals, OHRQoL was associated with XI score (R2 = 0.410, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alertness of health professionals to TMD pain and periodontal inflammation in ERA patients and to xerostomia and TMD pain in at-risk individuals is recommended. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study address orofacial aspects that require attention of health professionals in the timeframe around RA onset. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch National Trial Register (NTR, NTR6362).

Associated factors of primary snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with sleep bruxism: A questionnaire study.

BACKGROUND: By being aware of the associated factors of primary snoring (PS) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in sleep bruxism (SB) patients, dentists may contribute to the screening and early recognition of SB patients with PS or OSA. OBJECTIVE: To identify the associated factors of PS and OSA from questionnaire-based data in SB patients. METHODS: A total of 968 self-reported SB patients (31.6% men; median age 44.5 years) were retrospectively enrolled. Self-reported sleep-related breathing status (viz., no sleep-related breathing condition, PS and OSA) was the dependent variable. Independent variables were questionnaire-based data on demographics, lifestyle, psychological status, pain and sleep. RESULTS: For PS, no statistically significant associated factor was identified in analyses. For OSA, increased age (OR = 1.04 [1.03-1.06]), male gender (OR = 3.33 [2.17-5.00]), daily alcohol consumption (OR = 1.96 [1.18-3.33]), depression (OR = 1.10 [1.06-1.14]), daytime sleepiness (OR = 2.94 [1.85-4.76]) and high risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; OR = 2.63 [1.52-4.76]) were found to be significant risk factors, while high risk of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain (OR = 0.51 [0.30-0.86]) and chronic pain (OR = 0.73 [0.59-0.90]) were significant protective factors. These results were confirmed in the subsequent network analysis. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, no associated factor is identified for PS. For OSA, dentists should keep in mind that increased age, male gender, daily alcohol consumption, depression, daytime sleepiness and high GERD risk are associated with increased OSA risk in SB patients, while high TMD-pain risk and chronic pain are associated with decreased OSA risk in this population.

Infection control in dental health care during and after the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

COVID-19 is an emerging infectious disease caused by the widespread transmission of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Some of those infected become seriously ill. Others do not show any symptoms, but can still contribute to transmission of the virus. SARS-CoV-2 is excreted in the oral cavity and can be spread via aerosols. Aerosol generating procedures in dental health care can increase the risk of transmission of the virus. Due to the risk of infection of both dental healthcare workers and patients, additional infection control measures for all patients are strongly recommended when providing dental health care. Consideration should be given to which infection control measures are necessary when providing care in both the current situation and in the future.

Comparison of red autofluorescing plaque and disclosed plaque-a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the correlation between dental plaque scores determined by the measurement of red autofluorescence or by visualization with a two-tone solution. Clinical photographs were used for this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overnight plaque from the anterior teeth of 48 participants was assessed for red fluorescence on photographs (taken with a QLF-camera) using a modified Quigley & Hein (mQH) index. A two-tone disclosing solution was applied. Total disclosed plaque was clinically assessed using the mQH index. In addition, total and blue disclosed plaque was scored on clinical photographs using the mQH index. RESULTS: A strong correlation was observed between the total disclosed plaque scored on photographs and the clinical scores (r = 0.70 at site level; r = 0.88 at subject level). The correlation between red fluorescent plaque and total plaque, as assessed on the photographs, was moderate to strong and significant (r = 0.50 at the site level; r = 0.70 at the subject level), with the total plaque scores consistently higher than the red fluorescent plaque scores. The correlation between red fluorescent plaque and blue disclosed plaque was weak to moderate and significant (r = 0.30 at the site level; r = 0.50 at the subject level). CONCLUSIONS: Plaque, as scored on white-light photographs, corresponds well with clinically assessed plaque. A weak to moderate correlation between red fluorescing plaque and total disclosed plaque or blue disclosed plaque was found. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: What at present is considered to be matured dental plaque, which appears blue following the application of a two-tone disclosing solution, is not in agreement with red fluorescent dental plaque assessment.

The Prevalence, Dental Complications, and Effects of Infant Oral Mutilation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this scoping review on infant oral mutilation (IOM) was to study the prevalence, dental complications, and immediate and long-term effects of this practice, in addition to providing a systematic overview on existing knowledge and analysis of identified knowledge gaps on IOM. METHODS: Five electronic bibliographic databases (OVID/Medline, Embase.com, Clarivate Analytics/Web of Science Core Collection, SCOPUS, and Global Index Medicus) were searched for relevant studies. Data were entered in a bespoke data-charting form. The risk of bias was assessed by 2 independent reviewers. RESULTS: A total of 478 studies were identified from the search, out of which 42 studies were included in this review. Of the 42 studies, 19 were prevalence studies published between 1969 and 2019 which were additionally assessed for the risk of bias. We found the prevalence of IOM in Uganda was 2% to 30%; Ethiopia, 12% to 86%; Sudan, 10%; Kenya, 61% to 87%; and Tanzania 0% to 24%. Based on the prevalence studies, we observed that the most common factor motivating IOM was diarrhoea. The immediate effects of IOM were found to be infection, bleeding, anaemia, pneumonia, septicaemia, osteomyelitis, meningitis, tetanus, and blood-borne diseases, with some infants dying from these effects. Missing canines, enamel hypoplasia, malformations, abnormal eruption of permanent teeth, occlusal discrepancies, midline shift, chronic periapical infections, rotations, canine transposition, or odontomas were the long-term effects found in relation to IOM. CONCLUSIONS: IOM is a practice with serious immediate and long-term consequences that is mainly performed in East Africa (or by people originated from this region) in children aged 4 to 8 months. Most frequently affected are the deciduous canines and mostly the mandibular teeth. It is important to create professional and public awareness of the procedure in low- and high-income countries. Furthermore, there is a need for more research on the prevalence of IOM in Africa and other areas of the world to determine the long-term consequences of the practice.

The effect of different sweeteners on the oral microbiome: a randomized clinical exploratory pilot study.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the modulating effects of five commonly used sweetener (glucose, inulin, isomaltulose, tagatose, trehalose) containing mouth rinses on the oral microbiome. Methods: A single-centre, double-blind, parallel randomized clinical trial was performed with healthy, 18-55-year-old volunteers (N = 65), who rinsed thrice-daily for two weeks with a 10% solution of one of the allocated sweeteners. Microbiota composition of supragingival dental plaque and the tongue dorsum coating was analysed by 16S RNA gene amplicon sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region (Illumina MiSeq). As secondary outcomes, dental plaque red fluorescence and salivary pH were measured. Results: Dental plaque microbiota changed significantly for two groups: inulin (F = 2.0239, p = 0.0006 PERMANOVA, Aitchison distance) and isomaltulose (F = 0.67, p = 0.0305). For the tongue microbiota, significant changes were observed for isomaltulose (F = 0.8382, p = 0.0452) and trehalose (F = 1.0119, p = 0.0098). In plaque, 13 species changed significantly for the inulin group, while for tongue coating, three species changed for the trehalose group (ALDEx2, p < 0.1). No significant changes were observed for the secondary outcomes. Conclusion: The effects on the oral microbiota were sweetener dependant with the most pronounced effect on plaque microbiota. Inulin exhibited the strongest microbial modulating potential of the sweeteners tested. Further full-scale clinical studies are required.

Effect of metalloporphyrins on red autofluorescence from oral bacteria.

The aim of this study was to assess the red autofluorescence from bacterial species related to dental caries and periodontitis in the presence of different nutrients in the growth medium. Bacteria were grown anaerobically on tryptic soy agar (TSA) supplemented with nutrients, including magnesium-porphyrins from spinach and iron-porphyrins from heme. The autofluorescence was then assessed at 405 nm excitation. On the TSA without additives, no autofluorescence was observed from any of the species tested. On the TSA containing sheep blood, red autofluorescence was observed only from Parvimonas micra. When the TSA was supplemented with blood, hemin, and vitamin K, red autofluorescence was observed from Actinomyces naeslundii, Bifidobacterium dentium, and Streptococcus mutans. Finally, on the TSA supplemented with spinach extract, red autofluorescence was observed from Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, A. naeslundii, Enterococcus faecalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Lactobacillus salivarius, S. mutans, and Veillonella parvula. We conclude that the bacteria related to dental caries and periodontal disease exhibit red autofluorescence. The autofluorescence characteristics of the tested strains depended on the nutrients present, such as metalloporphyrins, suggesting that the metabolic products of the oral biofilm could be responsible for red autofluorescence.

Oral hygiene in patients with motor neuron disease requires attention: A cross-sectional survey study.

AIMS: Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease, which can progressively impair arm-hand function. Needs and barriers of MND patients and their caregivers in performing oral hygiene were studied. METHODS: An online survey was sent to 706 MND patients. The questions of the survey included self-reliance, self-reported oral health, and oral hygiene. The oral health-related quality of life (GOHAI-NL) and the subjective well-being (ALSAQ-5) were also measured. RESULTS: A total of 259 patients responded (36.7%), of which 71.9% stated not to be informed about the importance of maintaining good oral health by their MND treatment team. Moreover, 40.4% would like to receive help concerning oral hygiene from a dental professional. 19.8% were not satisfied about oral care as conducted by themselves or their caregivers. Patients who do not ask for support with their daily oral care had a significantly worse oral health-related quality of life compared to patients who do ask for support. CONCLUSIONS: The support for daily oral hygiene of MND patients and their barriers to requesting support needs more attention from both MND-treatment teams and general dental professionals.

Impact of the Coronavirus on Providing Oral Health Care in the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during oral health care is potentially increased compared to regular social activities. Specific amendments to the Dutch national infection control guidelines were promulgated. This study aimed to map the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on providing oral health care during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 in the Netherlands. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey was sent via email to a representative sample of dental hygienists and dentists in the Netherlands. RESULTS: Of the 1700 oral health care practitioners approached, 440 (25.9%) responded to the survey. Patient access to oral health care was severely restricted during the lockdown in the spring of 2020. A total of 1.6% of the oral health care practitioners had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 during the study period, although this is likely to be an underrepresentation due to limited access to testing at that time. Over half of the participants perceived an increased risk of virus transmission during aerosol-generating treatments in their practices. A large majority (65.0%-87.1%) of the oral health care practitioners followed the COVID-19-specific amendments to the national infection control guidelines. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, additional personal protective equipment and protocols were applied. Factors related with compliance with the additional recommendations were age, employment status, and occupation. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic had a profound impact on both the accessibility and practice of oral health care. This survey study found that most Dutch oral health care practitioners paid extra attention to hygiene and infection control. Also, a low number of COVID-19 infections detected amongst Dutch oral health care practitioners was reported in the Netherlands. These overall outcomes suggest that safe oral health care can be provided when following the current infection control recommendations.

The Evaluation of the Effects of Two Probiotic Strains on the Oral Ecosystem: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: In the current study, we evaluated the effectiveness of two well-defined probiotic strains, Lactobacillus paracasei LPc-G110 (CCTCC M 2013691) and Lactobacillus plantarum GOS42 (DSM 32131), during an experimental gingivitis challenge. The primary objective was to evaluate clinically the effectiveness of lozenges containing one of the two oral probiotic strains, compared with placebo lozenges, on the gingival bleeding (bleeding on marginal probing; BOMP change) after a two-week experimental gingivitis period. The secondary objectives were to assess the effects of the test products on gingival health (Modified Gingival Index; MGI), dental plaque accumulation and fluorescence, and the dynamics of immunological and microbiological aspects after the wash-in phase, followed by a two-week period refraining from oral hygiene and a two-week wash-out phase. Methods: This single-center challenge intervention study was a triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial with three parallel groups. The full study population consisted of 117 healthy 18-55 years old human volunteers. Subjects were instructed to use one lozenge, 3 times daily after each meal, containing either L. plantarum, L. paracasei, or lozenges without probiotics (placebo group). After a 2-week wash-in period, the subjects were requested to refrain from any form of oral hygiene for 2 weeks. Results: There were no differences in the primary outcome (BOMP change) among the groups. However, gingival health (MGI) in individuals from the groups exposed to the test products recovered better from experimental gingivitis than the individuals in the placebo group (p = 0.021, one-way ANOVA). The two test products inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß production, measured in saliva, during the experimental gingivitis period. Both test strains significantly reduced bacterial DNA in tongue samples and L. paracasei strain showed stronger microbiome-modulating potential than the L. plantarum strain. Conclusions: The two tested lozenges with the L. paracasei or L. plantarum strains did show potential for beneficial effects for the oral health of the host during experimental gingivitis to the oral ecosystem.

Temporomandibular disorders in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and at-risk individuals in the Dutch population: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and individuals at-risk of RA. METHODS: 150 participants were recruited in three groups (50 per group): (1) patients with ERA (2010 EULAR criteria) (2) at-risk individuals and (3) healthy controls. All participants were tested for seropositivity of rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibodies. A possible TMD diagnosis was determined according to the standardised and validated diagnostic criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) in five categories: myalgia, arthralgia, articular disc displacement, degenerative joint disease and headache attributed to TMD. Results were tested for the prevalence of TMD (all categories combined) and TMD pain (myalgia and/or arthralgia). To investigate a possible role for bruxism, a probable sleep and/or awake bruxism diagnosis was determined based on self-report and several clinical features. RESULTS: The prevalence of any TMD diagnosis did not differ between the three groups. However, at-risk individuals more often had a TMD-pain diagnosis than healthy controls (p=0.046). No such difference was found between the ERA group and the control group. However, within the ERA group, seronegative patients had a TMD-pain diagnosis more often than seropositive patients (4/12 (33%) vs 3/38 (8%), p=0.048). Participants with a TMD-pain diagnosis were more often diagnosed with probable sleep bruxism than those without a TMD-pain diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of TMD pain is increased in individuals at-risk of RA and seronegative ERA patients, and is associated with bruxism signs and symptoms. These results suggest that health professionals should be alert to TMD pain in these groups.

Differences in the Oral Microbiome in Patients With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis and Individuals at Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis Compared to Healthy Individuals.

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may originate at the oral mucosa. The aim of the present study was to assess the oral microbiome and periodontal condition in patients with early RA and individuals at risk of developing RA compared to healthy controls. METHODS: Three groups were recruited (n = 50 participants per group): 1) patients with early RA (meeting the American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2010 classification criteria), 2) individuals at risk of developing RA (those with arthralgia who were positive for RA-associated autoantibodies), and 3) healthy controls. A periodontal examination was conducted to assess the presence of bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket probing depth (PPD), and periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA). The microbial composition of subgingival dental plaque, saliva, and tongue coating was assessed using 16S ribosomal DNA amplicon sequencing, and findings were compared between groups with permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in any of the 3 periodontal variables between patients with early RA, at-risk individuals, and healthy controls (P = 0.70 for BOP, P = 0.30 for PPD, and P = 0.57 for PISA, by Kruskal-Wallis test). PERMANOVA analyses comparing microbial composition between the groups showed significant differences in the microbial composition of saliva (F = 2.08, P = 0.0002) and tongue coating (F = 2.04, P = 0.008), but not subgingival dental plaque (F = 0.948, P = 0.51). However, in post hoc tests, no significant differences in microbial composition of the saliva or tongue coating were observed between the early RA group and the at-risk group (F = 1.12, P = 0.28 for saliva; F = 0.834, P = 0.59 for tongue coating). In assessing microbial diversity based on the number of zero-radius operational taxonomic units per sample, Prevotella in the saliva and Veillonella in the saliva and tongue coating were each found at a higher relative abundance in samples from patients with early RA and at-risk individuals compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The results show similarities in the oral microbiome between patients with early RA and at-risk individuals, since in both groups, the oral microbiome was characterized by an increased relative abundance of potentially proinflammatory species when compared to that in healthy controls. These findings suggest a possible association between the oral microbiome and the onset of RA.

Chlorine-based DUWL disinfectant leads to a different microbial composition of water derived biofilms compared to H2O2-based chemical disinfectants in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Biofilm formation in dental unit waterlines (DUWL) may lead to health risks for dental staff and patients. Therefore, dental unit waterlines need to be disinfected, for instance by using chemical disinfectants. However, the application of chemical disinfectants may lead to the selection of specific microorganisms. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the microbial composition of water-derived biofilms, after a continuous exposure to maintenance doses of commercially available chemical disinfectants, in vitro. METHODS: The AAA-model was used to grow water derived biofilms. The biofilms were subjected to the maintenance dose of each disinfectant. To determine the microbial composition, the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced. The sequences were clustered in operational taxonomic units (OTUs). RESULTS: The bacterial composition of biofilms in all treatment groups differed significantly (PERMANOVA F = 4.441, p = 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed Anoxyl treated biofilms were significantly different from all groups (p = 0.0001). In the Anoxyl-treated biofilms, the relative abundance of Comamonadaceae and Sphingopyxis was high compared to the Dentosept, Green and Clean and Oxygenal groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that exposure to low doses of the chlorine-based chemical disinfectant Anoxyl led to a substantially different composition of water derived biofilms compared to biofilms exposed to H2O2-based chemical disinfectants.

Red fluorescence of dental plaque in children -A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The relation between the presence of red fluorescent plaque and the caries status in children was studied. In addition, the microbial composition of dental plaque from sites with red fluorescent plaque (RFP) and from sites with no red fluorescent plaque (NFP) was assessed. METHODS: Fluorescence photographs were taken from fifty children (6-14 years old) with overnight plaque. Full-mouth caries scores (ICDAS II) were obtained. The composition of a saliva sample and two plaque samples (RFP and NFP) was assessed using 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS: At the site level, no clinically relevant correlations were found between the presence of RFP and the caries status. At the subject level, a weak correlation was found between RFP and the caries status when non-cavitated lesions were included (rs=0.37, p=0.007). The microbial composition of RFP differed significantly from NFP. RFP had more anaerobes and more Gram-negative bacterial taxa. The most discriminative operational taxonomic units (OTUs) for RFP were Corynebacterium, Leptotrichia, Porphyromonas and Selenomonas, while the most discriminative OTUs for NFP were Neisseria, Actinomyces, Streptococcus and Rothia. CONCLUSIONS: There were no clinical relevant correlations in this cross-sectional study between the presence of RFP and (early) caries lesions. There were differences in the composition of these phenotypically different plaque samples: RFP contained more Gram-negative, anaerobic taxa and was more diverse than NFP. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study outcomes provide more insight in the possibilities to use plaque fluorescence in oral health risk assessments.

Dynamics of red fluorescent dental plaque during experimental gingivitis--A cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The dynamics of red fluorescent plaque (RFP) in comparison to clinical plaque and bleeding scores were studied during an experimental gingivitis protocol in a cohort of healthy participants. METHODS: Forty-one participants were monitored for RFP before (24h plaque), during 14 days plaque accumulation (days 2, 5, 9, 14) and after 7 days recovery (24h plaque). RFP was assessed on fluorescence photographs of the vestibular aspect of the anterior teeth (cuspid to cuspid) in the upper and lower jaw. Clinical plaque and bleeding were assessed at days -14, 0, 14 and 21. RESULTS: RFP of 24h plaque was reproducible (days -14, 0), then increased during 14 days plaque accumulation and returned to baseline after 7 days recovery. Groups of low, moderate and high RFP formers were statistically significantly different at all times even already at baseline. The individual RFP response during 14 days plaque accumulation correlated well with RFP of 24h plaque (days -14, 0). RFP correlated moderate to well with clinical plaque at days -14, 0, 14 and 21. From day 2 of the gingivitis challenge RFP correlated with bleeding at day 14. CONCLUSIONS: RFP provided an objective measure of oral hygiene status. Given the correlation with clinical parameters found, the amount of RFP after 24h plaque accumulation was indicatory for the inflammatory response during a prolonged period of no oral hygiene. This trial was registered at the public trial register ​of the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO) under number NL51111.029.14 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This paper shows the association between RFP after 24h plaque accumulation and inflammatory response after a prolonged period of no oral hygiene. Red plaque fluorescence can be used to identify subjects at risk for developing gingival inflammation.

Red fluorescent biofilm: the thick, the old, and the cariogenic.

BACKGROUND: Some dental plaque fluoresces red. The factors involved in this fluorescence are yet unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess systematically the effect of age, thickness, and cariogenicity on the extent of red fluorescence produced by in vitro microcosm biofilms. DESIGN: The effects of biofilm age and thickness on red fluorescence were tested in a constant depth film fermentor (CDFF) by growing biofilms of variable thicknesses that received a constant supply of defined mucin medium (DMM) and eight pulses of sucrose/day. The influence of cariogenicity on red fluorescence was tested by growing biofilm on dentin disks receiving DMM, supplemented with three or eight pulses of sucrose/day. The biofilms were analyzed at different time points after inoculation, up to 24 days. Emission spectra were measured using a fluorescence spectrophotometer (λexc405 nm) and the biofilms were photographed with a fluorescence camera. The composition of the biofilms was assessed using 454-pyrosequecing of the 16S rDNA gene. RESULTS: From day 7 onward, the biofilms emitted increasing intensities of red fluorescence as evidenced by the combined red fluorescence peaks. The red fluorescence intensity correlated with biofilm thickness but not in a linear way. Biofilm fluorescence also correlated with the imposed cariogenicity, evidenced by the induced dentin mineral loss. Increasing the biofilm age or increasing the sucrose pulsing frequency led to a shift in the microbial composition. These shifts in composition were accompanied by an increase in red fluorescence. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows that a thicker, older, or more cariogenic biofilm results in a higher intensity of red fluorescence.

Red and Green Fluorescence from Oral Biofilms.

Red and green autofluorescence have been observed from dental plaque after excitation by blue light. It has been suggested that this red fluorescence is related to caries and the cariogenic potential of dental plaque. Recently, it was suggested that red fluorescence may be related to gingivitis. Little is known about green fluorescence from biofilms. Therefore, we assessed the dynamics of red and green fluorescence in real-time during biofilm formation. In addition, the fluorescence patterns of biofilm formed from saliva of eight different donors are described under simulated gingivitis and caries conditions. Biofilm formation was analysed for 12 hours under flow conditions in a microfluidic BioFlux flow system with high performance microscopy using a camera to allow live cell imaging. For fluorescence images dedicated excitation and emission filters were used. Both green and red fluorescence were linearly related with the total biomass of the biofilms. All biofilms displayed to some extent green and red fluorescence, with higher red and green fluorescence intensities from biofilms grown in the presence of serum (gingivitis simulation) as compared to the sucrose grown biofilms (cariogenic simulation). Remarkably, cocci with long chain lengths, presumably streptococci, were observed in the biofilms. Green and red fluorescence were not found homogeneously distributed within the biofilms: highly fluorescent spots (both green and red) were visible throughout the biomass. An increase in red fluorescence from the in vitro biofilms appeared to be related to the clinical inflammatory response of the respective saliva donors, which was previously assessed during an in vivo period of performing no-oral hygiene. The BioFlux model proved to be a reliable model to assess biofilm fluorescence. With this model, a prediction can be made whether a patient will be prone to the development of gingivitis or caries.

Low methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage rate among Italian dental students.

We assessed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage rate among dental students from an Italian university. A total of 157 subjects participated (67 preclinical students and 90 clinical students); samples were collected from the nose, mouth, and skin. Five preclinical students and 0 clinical students were MRSA-positive. Carriage rates were 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4%-6.0%) overall, 7.5% (95% CI, 1.2%-13.8%) in preclinical students and 0% in clinical students. There were 2 MRSA clusters among the preclinical students: 3 second-year and 2 first-year students, who sat close to one another in the classroom the day of the sample. MRSA carriage was not associated with dental health care. The pooled carriage rate among dental students was assessed to obtain a reliable figure of carriage rate unaffected by local conditions. The 4 published surveys were pooled, and the fixed-effects method was used. Among the 484 dental students, the pooled carriage rate was 4.1% (95% CI, 2.4%-5.8%).