Enamel permeability and resistance to acid challenges after systemic use of sodium alendronate: a study in rat teeth.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the enamel resistance and permeability of rat teeth to acid challenges after systemic use of sodium alendronate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen Wistar rats (36 teeth), aged 36-42 days (200-230 g), were assigned into two groups: alendronate group (n = 20 teeth), which received two weekly doses of 1 mg/kg of alendronate, via gavage; and a non-alendronate group (n = 16 teeth), which received only distilled water. After 60 days, the animals were killed, the maxillary incisors were extracted and used for the artificial induction of the caries lesion (pH cycling regimen) and erosion area (immersion cycles in cola-type soft drink) and for the enamel permeability test (dye penetration). The teeth were divided into alendronate group (n = 10) or non-alendronate group (n = 8) for each test. The quantitative response variables were the percent longitudinal change in Knoop microhardness (%LMC), the enamel carious/erosion lesion area (CELA) and enamel permeability. RESULTS: Groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05) with regard to the %LMC and enamel permeability (25.58 µm ± 12.73 and 25.40 µm ± 4.6 for the experimental and control groups, respectively). For CELA, it was not observed significant difference (p > 0.05) between the non-alendronate group (24.08 ± 1.36 and 25.22 ± 1.60, for caries and erosion, respectively) and the alendronate group (25.46 ± 1.60 and 25.0 ± 1.26) for caries and erosion, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the methodological conditions and the presented results of this study, sodium alendronate did not affect the longitudinal microhardness, demineralisation lesion area or permeability of the enamel after acid challenge; therefore, alendronate did not become the enamel of rats more resistant. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The systemic alendronate treatment for 60 days did not change the enamel of rats regarding the susceptibility to acids.

Oral findings and dental care in a patient with myelomeningocele: case report of a 3-year-old child.

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a congenital malformation of the neural tube that occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy. This malformation refers to the caudal non-closure of the neural tube and neural tissue exposure, which lead to neurological problems, such as hydrocephalus, motor disability, genitourinary tract and skeletal abnormalities and mental retardation. Patients with MMC have an acknowledged predisposition to latex allergy and are usually at a high caries risk and activity due to poor oral hygiene, fermentable carbon hydrate-rich diet and prolonged use of sugar-containing medications. This paper addresses the common oral findings in pediatric patients with MMC, discusses the strategies and precautions to deal with these individuals and reports the dental care to a young child diagnosed with this condition.

Oral findings and dental care in a patient with myelomeningocele: case report of a 3-year-old child

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a congenital malformation of the neural tube that occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy. This malformation refers to the caudal non-closure of the neural tube and neural tissue exposure, which lead to neurological problems, such as hydrocephalus, motor disability, genitourinary tract and skeletal abnormalities and mental retardation. Patients with MMC have an acknowledged predisposition to latex allergy and are usually at a high caries risk and activity due to poor oral hygiene, fermentable carbon hydrate-rich diet and prolonged use of sugar-containing medications. This paper addresses the common oral findings in pediatric patients with MMC, discusses the strategies and precautions to deal with these individuals and reports the dental care to a young child diagnosed with this condition.

Mielomeningocele (MMC) representa uma malformação congênita do tubo neural que acontece nas primeiras semanas de gestação. Esta malformação refere-se ao não fechamento da coluna vertebral expondo a medula espinhal, que levará a problemas neurológicos, como hidrocefalia, dificuldades motoras, anomalias esqueléticas e do trato genito-urinário, além de retardo mental. Pacientes com MMC apresentam uma reconhecida predisposição à alergia ao latex e geralmente apresentam um alto risco e atividade de cárie dental decorrente de uma higiene oral deficiente, de uma dieta rica em carboidratos e do uso prolongado de medicamentos contendo açúcares. Este trabalho discorre sobre os achados bucais em crianças com MMC, discute as estratégias e precauções no manejo destes pacientes e descreve o tratamento odontológico de uma criança diagnosticada com esta condição.