The relationship between tongue brushing and halitosis in children: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the clinical and microbiological effects of tongue brushing on malodour in children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty-one caries-free children were included. After clinical evaluation, halitosis was determined by organoleptic assessment and sulphide monitoring. Then, 69 children with high levels of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) were randomly assigned into two groups (group 1: scaling-polishing + tooth brushing + tongue brushing and group 2: scaling-polishing + tooth brushing), and tongue coating samples were collected for microbiological analysis. After 2 weeks, VSC measurements, organoleptic assessment, clinical evaluations and sample collection were repeated. RESULTS: In both groups, organoleptic scores, VSC levels, gingival index, plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing and Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI) scores decreased after 15 days. However, only the change in WTCI and PI scores showed a statistically significant intergroup difference. The most prevalent anaerobic bacteria were Veillonella spp., Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium spp., and no intergroup difference was observed in terms of colony counts of bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Tongue brushing did not provide an additional benefit to the treatment for malodour. According to the microbiological culture results, a specific bacterium responsible for halitosis in children could not be identified and more sensitive methods might be used for this purpose.

National survey of oral health status of children and adults in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the severity of dental caries and the periodontal status of children and adults in Turkey. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was undertaken between September 2004 and February 2005. The Turkish Statistics Institute (TSI) selected a representative sample using the proportional stratified sampling method. The selected ages/age groups were 5, 12, 15, 35-44 and 65-74. At the end of the study, 7,833 individuals had been reached. Dental students were calibrated and examinations were done according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines during home visits. RESULTS: Only 30.2% of the 5-year-old group was caries-free, and the mean dmft was 3.7. Mean DMFT was 1.9 in 12- year-olds, 2.3 in 15-year-olds, 10.8 in 35-44-year-olds, and 25.8 in 65-74-year-olds. In both adolescents and adults, the prevalence of caries was higher among females than in males. In rural areas, the prevalence of caries was high among 5-year-olds, while DMFT was high in the elderly. The prevalence of dental caries was similar for 12- and 15-year-olds in urban and rural areas. Slightly less than half (48.0%) of 65-74 year-olds were edentulous. Healthy periodontal tissue was noted in 56.2% of fifteen-year-olds. In the 35-44 yr-old age group, calculus problems were high (62.6%), and 1.2% had attachment losses of 6 mm or greater. Rural subjects had more severe periodontal problems than their urban counterparts. CONCLUSION: Community-based oral disease prevention programs are needed urgently for the promotion of oral health in Turkey.

Microleakage of two polyacid-modified resin composites under different conditioning methods in primary teeth.

This study evaluated the effect of different conditioning methods on micro-leakage in primary teeth. Fifty-one cervical cavities were prepared on the twenty-six extracted primary molars and divided randomly into five groups. In Group I and IV phosphoric acid, in group 11 non-rinse conditioner (NRC) was applied. In group III and V no pretreatment was used. Groups I-III were restored with Prime & Bond NT and Dyract AP and Group IV-V restored with Syntac SC and Compoglass F. The restored teeth were stored for 24 hours in distilled water at 37 degrees C, immersed in 0.5 percent basic fuchsin for 24 hours. Dye penetration was determined using a stereomicroscope. The results revealed that although enamel microleakage was not affected by the conditioning method used in both restorative materials, pretreating the cavity with phosphoric acid had a positive effect on reducing the dentin microleakage compared with conditioning by NRC.