Fluoride Formed on Enamel by Fluoride Varnish or Gel Application: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Although fluoride varnish (FV) and acidulated phosphate fluoride gel (APF-gel) are considered clinically effective to reduce caries, in vitro studies have shown that FV reacts slowly with enamel because most NaF present in the formulation is not solubilized in the FV. Therefore, we conducted a clinical study to evaluate if the time that FV remains on dental surfaces could overcome its slower chemical reactivity when compared with APF-gel. Sixty-eight volunteers were randomly allocated into 4 groups: negative control (Control, no treatment), APF-gel application (1.23% F applied for 4 min), and FV application (Duraphat®, 2.26% F) for 4 h (FV-4h) or 24 h (FV-24 h). To evaluate fluoride formed and retained on enamel, acid biopsies were made on the buccal surfaces of the maxillary central incisors before, at the end of the application of fluoride products (immediately after gel application, or after 4 or 24 h of varnish application), and after 7 and 28 days. Fluoride concentration in dental biofilm was also analyzed before and up to 28 days after initial application. The data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA, considering treatment and time as factors. The APF-gel and FV-24h groups formed greater fluoride concentration on enamel than the FV-4h and the control group at the end of application (p = 0.0001), with no difference from each other (p = 0.99). The groups did not differ regarding fluoride in biofilm fluid (p = 0.73) and solids (p = 0.40). In conclusion, FV needs to remain in contact with the teeth for prolonged times (>4 h) to reach the same reactivity obtained by a 4-min application of APF-gel.

In vitro tooth whitening effectiveness of whitening mouth rinses

Regardless of the extensive availability of mouth rinses that claim to whiten teeth, evidence of achievement of such effect is still missing. Aim: Therefore, this study assessed in vitro the whitening effectiveness of whitening mouth rinses. Methods: Sixty intact bovine incisors were embedded in acrylic resin and had their buccal surface flattened and polished. Then, the specimens were randomly allocated to three conventional (Colgate Plax, Cepacol and Listerine Cool Mint) and three whitening mouth rinse groups (Colgate Luminous White, Cepacol Whitening and Listerine Whitening Extreme) (n=10). Following, the specimens were immersed twice a day in the mouth rinses for one minute for 28 days. In between each immersion period, the specimens remained in artificial saliva at 37oC. Color was measured at baseline, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days using a portable spectrophotometer (Easyshade, Vita Zahnfabrik, Germany) with a 6 mm of diameter probe. Color change was analyzed considering the parameters of ∆L*, ∆a*, ∆b* and, ultimately, ∆E*. The whitening efficacy of the mouth rinses was analyzed using the Whiteness Index for Dentistry (WID). Data of ∆s was analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Results: The type of mouth rinse affected significantly all the ∆ parameters (p<0.05). A non-whitening (conventional) mouth rinse produced the highest ΔE*, followed by the three whitening mouth rinses. The application time also affected ΔE* (p<0.05), with emphasis on the third week of treatment. Only the hydrogen peroxide-containing mouth rinse (Listerine Whitening Extreme) presented a whitening effect, with an increasing trend over time. Conclusion: Although the overall color change was not different when comparing conventional and whitening mouth rinses, the hydrogen peroxide-containing whitening mouth rinse produces an increasing whitening trend over time. Not every mouth rinse that claims to whiten teeth produces the desired effect

Comparative analysis of coherent light action (laser) versus non-coherent light (light-emitting diode) for tissue repair in diabetic rats.

The already known benefits produced by the interaction of coherent light (laser) with biologic tissues determine its use as an adjuvant in the treatment of several complications associated with diabetes. Non-coherent light, such as that emitted by light emitting diodes (LEDs), becomes a promising alternative, because of its low cost and easy handling in these applications. Thirty-six rats were given surgical dorsum lesions. The lesions for the control group did not receive any supporting therapy. The other groups were irradiated only once, 30 min after the establishment of the lesion, with LED (640 nm with 40 nm full bandwidth at half maximum) or laser (660 nm). The histomorphological and histomorphometrical parameters were quantified. The coherent and non-coherent lights produced similar effects during a period of 168 h after the lesions had been made. For the group composed of diabetic animals, 72 h after creation of the lesion, it was observed that the therapy with LEDs had been more efficient than that with the laser in the reduction of the wounds' diameters.