Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy on teeth with molar incisor hypomineralization-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a change in the formation of dental enamel of systemic origin that affects at least one of the first 4 permanent molars and usually affects incisors. During the eruption, the affected surfaces tend to fracture, exposing the dentin, which causes excessive sensitivity in addition to making the region very susceptible to the appearance of carious lesions. The objective of this research will be to evaluate the clinical effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in permanent teeth with severe and sensitive MIH. METHODS: The methodology will be based on the selection of patients from 6 to 12 years of age with permanent molar teeth, randomly divided in 2 groups. The selected teeth should have MIH on the occlusal surface, indicated for clinical restorative treatment. In Group 1, aPDT will be applied for the treatment of infected dentin. Afterward, the teeth will be restored with high viscosity glass ionomer cement. In Group 2, the removal of the softened dentin around the side walls of the cavity with sharp dentine curettes and posterior restoration with high viscosity glass ionomer cement will be performed. All patients will have clinical and radiographic follow-up with a time interval of 6 and 12 months. The data obtained will be submitted to descriptive statistical analysis to evaluate the association of categorical variables. Chi-square test and Fisher exact test will be applied, to analyze the correlation between the continuous variables, Pearson correlation test will be applied. For the analysis of dentin density in the scanned radiographic images and the microbiological results for colony-forming units, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis will be applied. DISCUSSION: Often in the presence of severe MIH, the presence of dentin sensitivity is also associated with caries lesion, making it even more necessary to respect the principles of minimal intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03904641.

Caries treatment decisions among undergraduate and postgraduate students supported by visual detection systems.

BACKGROUND: The difficulties of caries diagnosis and the level of examiner's experience may influence the treatment decision, resulting excessive and inefficient intervention. AIM: This randomized experimental study evaluated caries treatment decisions made by undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students when examination was performed through conventional visual clinical examination (CVCE) and when supported by ICDAS (IC) or Nyvad's (NY) criteria. DESIGN: Four UG and four PG initially analyzed, by CVCE, 300 primary incisors and molars surfaces of 25 children aged 5-12 years, and choose between no treatment, non-operative, and operative treatment. Students were randomized between IC (2UG; 2PG) and NY (2UG; 2PG) and, after one week of receiving training, repeated evaluations and treatment suggestions. Reference standard was established by two researchers' consensus. Sensitivity, specificity, ROC analysis, and kappa were calculated. Treatment decisions were analyzed by means of contingency tables. RESULTS: Only sensitivity showed statistical difference (P < 0.05). Operative treatment had high percentage for initial lesions at first evaluation for both criteria; second evaluation showed higher percentage of non-operative treatments for the same lesions. CONCLUSIONS: IC and NY present satisfactory performance in primary teeth by UG and PG, and their use may assistance UG to adopt a less interventionist approach for initial enamel lesions.

Are Hypomineralized Primary Molars and Canines Associated with Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of and relationship between hypomineralized second primary molars (HSPM) and hypomineralized primary canines (HPC) with molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in 1,963 schoolchildren. METHODS: The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criterion was used for scoring HSPM/HPC and MIH. Only children with four permanent first molars and eight incisors were considered in calculating MIH prevalence (n equals 858); for HSPM/HPC prevalence, only children with four primary second molars (n equals 1,590) and four primary canines (n equals 1,442) were considered. To evaluate the relationship between MIH/HSPM, only children meeting both criteria cited were considered (n equals 534), as was true of MIH/HPC (n equals 408) and HSPM/HPC (n equals 360; chi-square test and logistic regression). RESULTS: The prevalence of MIH was 14.69 percent (126 of 858 children). For HSPM and HPC, the prevalence was 6.48 percent (103 of 1,592) and 2.22 percent (32 of 1,442), respectively. A significant relationship was observed between MIH and both HSPM/HPC (P<0.001). The odds ratio for MIH based on HSPM was 6.31 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] equals 2.59 to 15.13) and for HPC was 6.02 (95 percent CI equals 1.08 to 33.05). CONCLUSION: The results led to the conclusion that both hypomineralized second primary molars and hypomineralized primary canines are associated with molar-incisor hypomineralization, because children with HSPM/HPC are six times more likely to develop MIH.

Esthetic dental anomalies as motive for bullying in schoolchildren.

Facial esthetics, including oral esthetics, can severely affect children's quality-of-life, causing physical, social and psychological impairment. Children and adolescents with esthetic-related dental malformations are potential targets for bullies. This study was aimed to present and discuss patients who suffered from bullying at school and family environment due to esthetic-related teeth anomalies. Providing an adequate esthetic dental treatment is an important step in their rehabilitation when the lack of esthetic is the main source of bullying. After dental treatment, we noted significant improvement in self-esteem, self-confidence, socialization and academic performance of all patients and improvement in parental satisfaction regarding the appearance of their children. It is imperative that both family and school care providers be constantly alert about bullying in order to prevent or interrupt aggressive and discriminatory practices against children and adolescents. Clearly, dental anomalies may be a motive for bullying.

Comparison of linear measurements and analyses taken from plaster models and three-dimensional images.

Digital models are an alternative for carrying out analyses and devising treatment plans in orthodontics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and the reproducibility of measurements of tooth sizes, interdental distances and analyses of occlusion using plaster models and their digital images. Thirty pairs of plaster models were chosen at random, and the digital images of each plaster model were obtained using a laser scanner (3Shape R-700, 3Shape A/S). With the plaster models, the measurements were taken using a caliper (Mitutoyo Digimatic(®), Mitutoyo (UK) Ltd) and the MicroScribe (MS) 3DX (Immersion, San Jose, Calif). For the digital images, the measurement tools used were those from the O3d software (Widialabs, Brazil). The data obtained were compared statistically using the Dahlberg formula, analysis of variance and the Tukey test (p < 0.05). The majority of the measurements, obtained using the caliper and O3d were identical, and both were significantly different from those obtained using the MS. Intra-examiner agreement was lowest when using the MS. The results demonstrated that the accuracy and reproducibility of the tooth measurements and analyses from the plaster models using the caliper and from the digital models using O3d software were identical.

Comparison of space analysis performed on plaster vs. digital dental casts applying Tanaka and Johnston's equation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare dental size measurements, their reproducibility and the application of Tanaka and Johnston regression equation in predicting the size of canines and premolars on plaster and digital dental casts. METHODS: Thirty plaster casts were scanned and digitized. Mesiodistal measurements of the teeth were then performed with a digital caliper on the plaster and digital casts using O3d software system (Widialabs©).The sum of the sizes of the lower incisors was used to obtain predictive values of the sizes of the premolars and canines using the regression equation, and these values were compared with the actual sizes of the teeth. The data were statistically analyzed by applying to the results Pearson's correlation test, Dahlberg's formula, paired t-test and analysis of variance (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Excellent intraexaminer agreement was observed in the measurements performed on both dental casts. No random error was present in the measurements obtained with the caliper and systematic error (bias) was more frequent in the digital casts. Space prediction obtained by applying the regression equation was greater than the sum of the canines and premolars on the plaster and digital casts. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an adequate reproducibility of the measurements performed on both casts, most measurements on the digital casts were higher than those on the plaster casts. The predicted space was overestimated in both models and significantly higher in the digital casts.