Fluoridated water impact on tooth decay and fluorosis in 17-20-year-olds exposed to fluoride toothpaste.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of water fluoridation on the prevalence and severity of dental caries and fluorosis in individuals aged 17-20 years exposed to fluoride toothpaste. METHODS: The study population consisted of 660 students from public schools, residents of areas supplied with fluoridated water (exposed group) or not (not exposed group). Students from both groups had access to fluoride toothpaste throughout life. A questionnaire about socioeconomic demographic aspects, conditions related to access and exposure to fluoridated water, and habits related to oral health was applied. Dental caries was measured by the DMFT index and dental fluorosis by the TF index. The chi-square test, t test, and subsequently logistic regression were applied for data analysis. RESULTS: Caries experience (DMFT≠0) was significantly higher in students from areas not exposed to fluoridated water, after adjustments to clinical conditions, demographic socioeconomic profile, and hygiene habits. The DMFT mean (±SD) was significantly higher in students from areas not exposed to fluoridated water than exposed (3.83 [±3.28] and 2.48 [±2.71] respectively). The prevalence of very mild/mild and moderate fluorosis was 41.1% and 21% for students either exposed to fluoridated water or not, respectively. CONCLUSION: Exposure to fluoridated water was associated with a lower prevalence and severity of tooth decay, in spite of the use of fluoridated toothpaste. The prevalence of dental fluorosis at all levels was higher in fluoridated areas, however, in both groups, there were few cases with esthetic implications.

Enamel of Premolars whose Predecessors Presented Rupture of the Follicle Bone Crypt from Periapical Infections.

OBJECTIVE: To observe if dental alterations in premolars are associated with the rupture of the follicle bone crypt caused by a periapical lesion in the predecessor molars. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. Data collection consisted of the analysis of medical records, a socioeconomic questionnaire, and dental clinical examination. Records from patients with a history of a radiographically visible periapical lesion in lower primary molars submitted to pulp therapy or extraction from a university dental clinic were selected. Successor premolars were clinically evaluated for the presence of enamel development defects, shape alterations, and eruption deviations. The descriptive analysis of data was performed, and Fisher's exact tests, linear trend chi-square, and the Student's t-test were applied. RESULTS: Forty-eight permanent teeth were from 36 patients were evaluated in this study, and 20 (41.7%) of the 48 examined premolars showed a radiographic image suggestive of the rupture of the bone crypt. Rupture of the follicle bone crypt was not associated with the occurrence of enamel alterations in premolars (p = 0.418). An association between dental alterations and age over six years at the time of intervention was observed (p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The presence of enamel alterations of premolars was not associated with the rupture of the follicle bone crypt caused by a periapical lesion in predecessor molars.

Pre-term birth and asthma is associated with hypomineralized second primary molars in pre-schoolers: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Hypomineralized second primary molar (HSPM) is a developmental enamel defect that represents a caries-risk factor. There are few studies about HSPM epidemiology in representative populations. AIM: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with HSPM in pre-schoolers. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional population-based study of 5-year-old pre-schoolers from Teresina, Brazil. The sample was randomly selected and stratified by geographic region of the city, type of school (public and private), and sex of the pre-schoolers (n = 811). Sociodemographic status and pre-, peri-, and post-natal conditions were collected by structured questionnaires. Two calibrated examiners diagnosed HSPM using the criteria of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry for molar-incisor hypomineralization. Severity, colour, location, and extent of lesions were also evaluated. Descriptive analysis of the data and a Poisson regression analysis were performed (P < .05). RESULTS: The prevalence of HSPM was 14.9. Demarcated opacities (75.6%) and white/cream colour were the most prevalent (71.4%). Pre-term pre-schoolers had 66% (PR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.07-2.58), and those who reported asthma in the first year of life had 69% (PR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.01-2.85) higher prevalence of HSPM. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-term birth and reported asthma in the first year of life were associated with HSPM. The prevalence of HSPM in pre-schoolers aged 5 years old in Teresina was high.

Caries, Toothbrushing Habits, and Fluoride Intake From Toothpaste by Brazilian Children According to Socioeconomic Status.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries, toothbrushing habits, fluoride intake, and factors associated with the use of toothpaste in Brazilian children according to socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 148 three- to four-year-olds of both low and high socioeconomic status. Data collection consisted of administering a questionnaire to guardians, brushing to determine fluoride intake, and examining the children's teeth to evaluate dental caries. RESULTS: In this study, 42 percent of children from high SES and 2.7 percent of children from low SES used toothpaste without fluoride or with a concentration below 1,000 ppm F. Fluoride intake was associated with SES, frequency of brushing, the amount of toothpaste used, and the concentration of fluoride present in toothpastes (P<0.05). Low SES children had a higher fluoride intake during brushing (0.045 mg F/kg body weight/day), compared to high SES children (0.023 mg F/kg body weight/day). Unlike low SES children (68.9 percent), all high SES children were caries free. CONCLUSIONS: A lower socioeconomic status was associated with a higher prevalence of dental caries and a higher intake of fluoride from toothpaste.

Does Leishmaniasis disease alter the parenchyma and protein expression in salivary glands?

Leishmaniasis is considered a serious public health problem in several regions in Brazil and worldwide. This research aimed to perform a histopathological and proteomic study of parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands of BALB/c mice infected by Leishmania (L) infantum chagasi using histological, immunohistochemical and epifluorescence techniques. Twelve isogenic BALB/c male mice, around six- to eight-weeks old, were separated into two groups: the animals of the control group were injected with 0.15 ml of NaCl, while those in the experimental group were inoculated with 5 × 10(6) amastigote forms of Leishmania (L) infantum chagasi by the ip route. After 50 days, animals were euthanized and major salivary glands were collected to perform histological, immunohistochemical and epifluorescence techniques using anti-Caspase-2, anti-Ki-67 and anti-ß-catenin antibodies, respectively. The histological and morphometric evaluation showed clusters of mononuclear inflammatory cells and a higher area and perimeter of the parotid gland. However, none of the salivary glands had morphophysiological impairment. There was no immunoreactivity to the anti-caspase-2 antibody and Ki67 expression in acinar and ductal cells in both groups. According to the immunofluorescence staining, the ß-catenin antibodies did not show nuclear expression, suggesting no uncontrolled proliferation. The data obtained in this study showed population and morphological stability of major salivary glands after 50 days post-infection by Leishmania (L) infantum chagasi.

Restorative management of severely ankylosed primary molars.

Severe dentoalveolar ankylosis is an etiological factor for malocclusion. When infraocclusion occurs early, it progresses with time, leading to severe consequences in young children because of compensatory supra-eruption of the antagonist tooth and mesialization of adjacent teeth. Early diagnosis allows for interception of the problem and may prevent orthodontic treatment. The purpose of this manuscript is to report two cases of infraocclusion of primary mandibular second molars that were diagnosed early and were treated with composite resin crowns. The use of indirect composite restorations for ankylosed teeth is a good option for primary teeth with a moderate/ severe degree of ankylosis.