[Clinical observation of toothpaste containing zanthoxylum nitidum extract on dental plaque and gingivitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of drug toothpaste containing 2% Zanthoxylum Nitidum extract in reducing accumulation of dental plaque and occurrence of gingivitis in adults. METHODS: Adopting double-blind, stratified and parallel design, the status of dental plaque and gingivitis in 200 healthy adults enrolled in the trial (100 in the treated group took the drug toothpaste to clean teeth, and 100 in the control group use common toothpaste instead) were assessed at before experiment, 3 months and 6 months after experiment. RESULTS: At the end of the 3rd month and the 6th month, as compared with the control group, the L e-Silness Gingival Index (GI) in the treated group was decreased by 9.1% (P > 0.05) and 13.9 % (P< 0.5), in the same period, the Quigley-Hein(Turesky Modification) Plaque Index (PlI) decreased by 18.7% and 22.6% (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Toothpaste containing Zanthoxylum Nitidum extract can obviously decrease the incidence of dental plaque and enhance gingival health.

[Remineralization of artificial root caries by fluoride dentifrice of different fluoride concentration in vitro].

PURPOSE: Although the effectiveness of fluoride dentifrice in remineralizing enamel caries has been established, the optimum fluoride concentration for remineralization root caries has not been defined. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the effect of 1.1g/L, 1.45g/L and 5g/L fluoride dentifrices in remineralization of artificial root caries. METHODS: Sound human tooth fragments obtained from the cervical portion of root were stored in a demineralization solution for 96h at 37 degrees centigrade to induce artificial root caries lesions. The fragments were then randomly divided into four treatment groups including 1.1g/L, 1.45g/L, 5g/L fluoride dentifrice group and non-fluoride dentifrice control group. The demineralized samples were pH-cycled through treatment solutions, acidic buffer and neutral buffer for 8 days at 6 cycles per day. The samples were evaluated using electrical caries monitor(ECM), polarized light microscopy (PLM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The data was analyzed using ANOVA with SPSS13.0 software package. RESULTS: Variations of LgECM, total fluorescence and average fluorescence from CLSM after remineralization in fluoride dentifrice groups were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05) Variations of LgECM, total fluorescence and average fluorescence from CLSM after remineralization in the 5g/L fluoride dentifrice group were significantly higher than those in the 1.1g/L and 1.45g/L fluoride dentifrice groups(P<0.05). PLM observation showed that a banding or deposit of mineral appeared within the lesions of specimens in the fluoride dentifrice groups. A wider mineral band was seen in the 5g/L fluoride dentifrice group than in the 1.1g/L and 1.45g/L fluoride dentifrice groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoride dentifrice is effective in remineralizing artificial root caries and 5g/L fluoride dentifrice has better effect than 1.1g/L and 1.45g/L fluoride dentifrices.

[Oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior in adults of Deyang city, PR China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the oral health knowledge, attitudes and behavior of urban, rural and suburban adults in Deyang, PR China, and analyze the influence of several variables on the utilization of dental services. METHODS: 1010 adults with 35-44 years old from urban, rural and suburban areas were interviewed by Questionnaire for Adults, WHO Integrated Package for Basic Oral Care. RESULTS: More than half of the surveyed adults claimed "having pain of mouth during the last 1 year". More urban adults (61.3%) used fluoridate toothpaste than suburban and rural adults (6.9%, 16.8%). 61.0% and 71.5% of rural and suburban adults had never seen a dentist, compared with 32.0% of urban adults. Logistic regression analysis showed that urban adults having pain in mouth during the last year were more likely to visit a dentist in the last 2 years. CONCLUSION: Although the oral health attitude is good among the people in Deyang, the knowledge is poor. Dental service utilization was not enough and the situation was also worse for rural adults.

[Atraumatic restorative treatment restorations placed in school children].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long effect of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) restorations in a school environment. METHODS: Five middle-level dentists placed 294 ART restorations in the permanent teeth of 197 children. Standard instruments and procedures for ART were used. The restorative material used was a high-strength glass-ionomer. The restorations were evaluated annually by the same examiner who was not involved in the placement of the restorations. Occlusal wear of the restoration was assessed using a standard rheinberger scale. At the 5th year examination an independent external examiner evaluated the restorations using USPHS criteria. RESULTS: The cumulative survival rates of small class I restorations in the sixth year it was 75%. The corresponding figures for large class I restorations were 61% (P < 0.05). The net wear rate for both the small and large class I restorations in the first year was about 48 microm, which was significantly higher than those of the later years, which were about 20 - 25 micro m (P < 0.05). In the fifth year 93% of the small restorations were assessed as being satisfactory for marginal integrity, as against 80% for the large ones by using USPHS criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The ART approach for treating tooth decay in school children was appropriate, effective and acceptable. The 6-year survival rates of the restorations are high but are related to the size and type of the restoration.