El desarrollo de la primera pasta dental con fluoruro. Semblanza histórica: en los 50 años del Oral Health Research Institute (OHRI) / Development of the first fluoridated toothpaste. Historical review:the 50th year of the Oral Health Research Institute (OHRI)

Siempre es importante el poder llevar a cabo algún tipo de reconocimiento a las personas involucradas en haber dejado aun el más mínimo tipo de legado en nuestra profesión. A título muy personal, la utilización de los fluoruros y, muy en especial su incorporación en la formulación de pastas dentales, ha sido el factor más importante y preponderante en la disminución del índice de riesgo de caries dental en las actuales generaciones. El presente artículo pretende hacer una narración histórica sobre los eventos más sobresalientes por los que pasó el trío de científicos en las Escuelas de Química y de Odontología de la Universidad de Indiana en sus respectivos campus de Bloomington e Indianápolis para lograr el desarrollo de la primera pasta dental con fluoruro. Más que un recuento histórico, la intención principal de este escrito es hacer una semblanza y un reconocimiento al trabajo del bioquímico Harry Day, quién trabajaba en su campo especializado sobre el valor nutricional de algunos elementos y que, junto con el trabajo del dentista Joseph C. Muhler y del especialista en Química inorgánica William Nebergall, logró producir un prototipo de pasta dental en el año de 1952 y que después de los excelentes resultados de los estudios clínicos liderados por Muhler tanto en niños como en adultos, llamaron la atención de Procter and Gamble para poder lanzar al mercado la primera pasta dental con Fluoristán, a la que se llamó Crest (AU)

It is always important to express some type of acknowledgement to people that were involved on leaving any form of legacy in our profession. As a personal view, the use of fluorides and specially the implementation of it in the formulation of toothpastes have been the key and preponderant factor in the decrease on the risk of dental caries in the current generations. This article pretends to be a historic narrative of the remarkable events in the group of the three scientists of the School of Chemistry and the School of Dentistry at both campuses of Bloomington and Indianapolis of Indiana University to fulfill the goal on the development of the first fluoridated toothpaste. More than a historical narrative, the main intention of this paper is to make a resemblance and an acknowledgement to the work of Biochemist Harry Day, who worked in his field of expertise on the nutrimental value of certain trace elements and that together with the work by dentist Joseph C. Muhler and the specialist in Inorganic Chemistry William Nebergall, could produced in year 1952 a prototype of a toothpaste that after several clinical studies in children and adults conducted by Muhler showed excellent results on caries prevention, and that took the attention of Procter and Gamble to be able to put on the market the first toothpaste with Fluoristan that was called Crest (AU)

Fluoride toothpastes and fluoride mouthrinses for home use.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a brief commentary review of fluoride-containing toothpastes and mouthrinses with emphasis on their use at home. Toothpastes and mouthrinses are just two of many ways of providing fluoride for the prevention of dental caries. The first investigations into incorporating fluoride into toothpastes and mouthrinses were reported in the middle 1940s. Unlike water fluoridation (which is 'automatic fluoridation'), fluoride-containing toothpastes and fluoridecontaining mouthrinses are, primarily, for home use and need to be purchased by the individual. By the 1960s, research indicated that fluoride could be successfully incorporated into toothpastes and clinical trials demonstrated their effectiveness. By the end of the 1970s, almost all toothpastes contained fluoride. The widespread use of fluoride- containing toothpastes is thought to be the main reason for much improved oral health in many countries. Of the many fluoride compounds investigated, sodium fluoride, with a compatible abrasive, is the most popular, although amine fluorides are used widely in Europe. The situation is similar for mouthrinses. Concentrations of fluoride (F), commonly found, are 1500 ppm (1500 µg F/g) for toothpastes and 225 ppm (225 µg F/ml) for mouthrinse. Several systematic reviews have concluded that fluoride-containing toothpastes and mouthrinses are effective, and that there is added benefit from their use with other fluoride delivery methods such as water fluoridation. Guidelines for the appropriate use of fluoride toothpastes and mouthrinses are available in many countries. CONCLUSION: Fluoride toothpastes and mouthrinses have been developed and extensive testing has demonstrated that they are effective and their use should be encouraged.

An introduction to toothpaste - its purpose, history and ingredients.

Toothpaste is a paste or gel to be used with a toothbrush to maintain and improve oral health and aesthetics. Since their introduction several thousand years ago, toothpaste formulations have evolved considerably - from suspensions of crushed egg shells or ashes to complex formulations with often more than 20 ingredients. Among these can be compounds to combat dental caries, gum disease, malodor, calculus, erosion and dentin hypersensitivity. Furthermore, toothpastes contain abrasives to clean and whiten teeth, flavors for the purpose of breath freshening and dyes for better visual appeal. Effective toothpastes are those that are formulated for maximum bioavailability of their actives. This, however, can be challenging as compromises will have to be made when several different actives are formulated in one phase. Toothpaste development is by no means complete as many challenges and especially the poor oral substantivity of most active ingredients are yet to overcome.

The history and global market of oral home-care products.

This literature review reports the history and the current market of oral home-care products. It provides information extending from the products used by our ancestors to those currently available, as well as on the changes in the supply and consumption of these products. Although the scientific knowledge about oral diseases has improved greatly in recent years, our ancestors had already been concerned with cleaning their teeth. A variety of rudimentary products and devices were used since before recorded history, like chewing sticks, tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones, tooth powder and home-made mouth rinses. Today, due to technological improvements of the cosmetic industry and market competition, home-use oral care products available in the marketplace offer a great variety of options. An increase in the consumption of oral care products has been observed in the last decades. Estimates show that Latin America observed a 12% increase in hygiene and beauty products sales between 2002 and 2003, whereas the observed global rate was approximately 2%. A significant increase in the per capita consumption of toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthrinse and dental floss has been estimated from 1992 to 2002, respectively at rates of 38.3%, 138.3%, 618.8% and 177.2%. Pertaining to this increased supply and consumption of oral care products, some related questions remain unanswered, like the occurrence of changes in disease behavior due to the use of new compounds, their actual efficacy and correct indications, and the extent of the benefits to oral health derived from consuming more products.

The era of whiter teeth: advertising in American dentistry 1910-1950.

It has often been argued that the public image of dentists has been tainted by association with fear and pain into an image of evil 'psychodontists' and that there is an apparent lack of 'role models' in popular film, television, art and literature concerned with dentistry. This paper argues that we get a different picture when looking at different media. Advertisements introduce into a public domain, positive images of dentistry which crucially differ from the images found in other popular media. This paper traces the public image of dentistry in early 20th-century America, as seen through dentifrice advertisements, and suggests three important reasons for studying advertisements: First, advertisements provide a supplement to studies of popular images of dentistry carried out so far. Second, advertisements have played an important part in advancing oral hygiene as a public concern. And third, advertisements provide the historian of dentistry with a unique opportunity for analyzing the complex and interwoven relationship of popular and professional discourses, since ads have acted as catalysts for professional discussions and self-reflection among dentists.

The history and global market of oral home-care products: [review]

This literature review reports the history and the current market of oral home-care products. It provides information extending from the products used by our ancestors to those currently available, as well as on the changes in the supply and consumption of these products. Although the scientific knowledge about oral diseases has improved greatly in recent years, our ancestors had already been concerned with cleaning their teeth. A variety of rudimentary products and devices were used since before recorded history, like chewing sticks, tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones, tooth powder and home-made mouth rinses. Today, due to technological improvements of the cosmetic industry and market competition, home-use oral care products available in the marketplace offer a great variety of options. An increase in the consumption of oral care products has been observed in the last decades. Estimates show that Latin America observed a 12 percent increase in hygiene and beauty products sales between 2002 and 2003, whereas the observed global rate was approximately 2 percent. A significant increase in the per capita consumption of toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthrinse and dental floss has been estimated from 1992 to 2002, respectively at rates of 38.3 percent, 138.3 percent, 618.8 percent and 177.2 percent. Pertaining to this increased supply and consumption of oral care products, some related questions remain unanswered, like the occurrence of changes in disease behavior due to the use of new compounds, their actual efficacy and correct indications, and the extent of the benefits to oral health derived from consuming more products.

Dr. Newell Sill Jenkins: progenitor of cosmetic dentistry.

Dr. Newell Sill Jenkins was one of the pioneer American dentists who took "American dentistry" to Europe. Among his patients were Composer Richard Wagner, and among his friends, Author Mark Twain. He treated some of the crown head of Europe, and yet found time to participate in organized dentistry and conduct research in cosmetic dentistry. He was the father of the porcelain revival in both Europe and America. Unfortunately, Jenkins' Legacy as the chief proponent of cosmetic dentistry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries has been largely ignored by dental historians. In a 20-year period (1896 to 1916), Jenkins published 32 articles in the dental literature on the esthetic advantages of porcelain fillings. It is time to give Jenkins his just recognition.

[Historical investigation of dentifrice in China].

A herbal literature survey was carried out on data concerning historical pharmacognostical changes of "dentifrice" in China and how diseases of the teeth and gums had been treated there in ancient times. It had been considered to be a matter of utmost importance that to prevent teeth from decaying, only the brushing of teeth with a toothbrush was necessary. Over time, various tooth agents have been found to treat oral diseases the teeth and gums. Glycyrrhizae Radix, Ginseng Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Menthae Herbal, and salt were widely used materials. Investigations from all approaches are being carried out to develop remedies for oral diseases, including Kampo medicine and the pharmacological effects of numerous crude drugs. When tracing the pharmacognostical changes of dentifrice in ancient China, we felt wonder at and admiration for the abundance of clinical experiences described in the old herbal and medical literature we researched.