Effect of manual and electrical brushing on the enamel of sound primary teeth and teeth with induced white spot lesions.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of different electrical brushing systems on the surface roughness and wear profile of the enamel of sound primary teeth and teeth with induced white spot lesions. METHODS: 45 specimens were obtained from sound primary incisors, and the buccal surface was divided into four parts: sound enamel; enamel with white spot lesions; sound enamel with brushing; and enamel with white spot lesions and brushing. Specimens were randomly divided into three groups (n =15), according to the different brushing systems: Group 1 - Electric rotating toothbrush (Kid's Power Toothbrush - Oral B); Group 2 - Sonic electric toothbrush (Baby Sonic Toothbrush); and Group 3 - Manual toothbrush (Curaprox infantil) (control). The specimens were analyzed for surface roughness and wear profile. Data were analyzed by appropriate statistical tests, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Regarding the surface roughness, no significant difference was observed between the groups. However, with respect to the wear profile, Group 1 caused significantly higher wear in the sound tooth enamel and in the presence of white spot lesions, in comparison to the other brushing systems (2 and 3) (P< 0.05), which did not cause wear. Manual and electric brushing (rotational and sonic) did not increase surface roughness in primary tooth enamel. However, the electric rotational brushing caused significant wear of the sound and demineralized enamel surface of primary teeth. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: None of the toothbrushing systems tested caused significant alterations on sound dental enamel. However, rotational toothbrushing on enamel of primary teeth with white spot lesion increased wear.

Gingival crevicular fluid volume and periodontal parameters alterations after use of conventional and self-ligating brackets.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations on plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume after use of three different brackets types for 60 days. Setting Participants: The sample comprised 20 patients of both sexes aged 11-15 years (mean age: 13.3 years), with permanent dentition, adequate oral hygiene, and mild tooth crowding, overjet, and overbite. METHODS: A conventional metallic bracket Gemini™, and two different brands of self-ligating brackets - In-Ovation®R and SmartClip™ - were bonded to the maxillary incisors and canines. PI, GI, GBI scores, and GCF volume were measured before and 30 and 60 days after bonding of the brackets. Data were analysed statistically using non-parametric tests coefficient at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant correlation (P > 0.05) between tooth crowding, overjet, and overbite and the PI, GI, GBI scores, and GCF volume before bonding, indicating no influence of malocclusion on the clinical parameters. Regardless of the bracket design, no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) was found for GI, GBI scores. PI and GCF volume showed a significant difference among the brackets in different periods. In pairwise comparisons a significant difference was observed when compared before with 60 days after bonding, for the teeth bonded with SmartClip™ self-ligating bracket, (PI P = 0.009; GCF volume P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: There was an increase in PI score and GCF volume 60 days after bonding of SmartClip™ self-ligating brackets, indicating the influence of bracket design on these clinical parameters.

Assessing the Association between Dental Caries and Nutritional Status in Children from the Brazilian State of Amazonas.

AIM: To evaluate the association between dental caries and nutritional status in a group of Brazilian schoolchildren, from Manaus. The studied population consisted of 197 students (10-12-year-olds) from public schools at Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical examination was carried out and the decay-missing-filled-teeth index for primary and permanent teeth (dmft and DMFT) was used to evaluate dental caries. Body mass index Z-score was calculated using variables such as individual height, weight, age, and gender. The nutritional status was classified as underweight, eutrophic, overweight, and obese. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's posttests were used for means' comparison between groups. The established alpha was 5%. RESULTS: Eighty-one (41.1%) children were caries-free. Five (2.5%) children were underweight; 127 (64.5%) were eutrophic; 49 (24.9%) were overweight; and 16 (8.1%) were obese. The mean dmft/DMFT index was 1.67 (2.05). Obese children had more caries experience than eutrophic and overweight children (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that dental caries is associated with obesity in school children from Manaus. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Vasconcelos K, Evangelista S, et al. Assessing the Association between Dental Caries and Nutritional Status in Children from the Brazilian State of Amazonas. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(4):293-296.