Efficacy of CO lasers in preventing dental caries in partially erupted first permanent molars: a randomized 18-month clinical trial.

The aim of this controlled randomized double-blinded clinical trial was to evaluate the use of a CO2 laser with or without topical application of acidulated fluorides in the prevention of dental caries in partially erupted first permanent molars. We selected 61 healthy children at high risk of caries, all between 6 and 8 (7.1 ± 0.8) years of age and with 4 partially erupted first permanent molars. A CO2 laser device emitting at 10.6 µm was used (0.5 W, 0.05 mJ per pulse, 10 kHz). Each first molar in an individual was randomly assigned to one treatment: (L) CO2 laser (0.066 J/cm2); (FL) 1.23% acidulated fluoride gel and CO2 laser (0.066 J/cm2); (V) 5% fluoride varnish, or (S) sealant (control). Patients were followed-up at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment, through direct visual examination and by an operator blinded to the treatments (kappa ≥ 0.70). The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-II) index was used to assess the soundness of tooth structure or the presence of white spot lesions, cavitated enamel, and/or dentin lesions. The Yildiz Visual Index was used to evaluate sealant retention. Results were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and the hazard ratio of the treatments was estimated using shared frailty models with a gamma distribution, which considered the patient as a cluster. There were no significant differences among treatments compared to sealants. After 18 months, the use of a CO2 laser with or without acidulated fluorides was shown to be effective in preventing caries on the occlusal surface of partially erupted permanent first molars in children at high risk for caries.

Dental findings and muscular-skeletal features in Schwartz-Jampel syndrome: case report of two affected siblings.

Schwartz-Jampel syndrome (SJS) is a rare, inherited disorder defined by myotonia, skeletal malformations, muscular stiffness, and growth retardation. The clinical signs and symptoms of SJS are seen in the maxillofacial region. The combination of skeletal and muscular abnormalities predisposes affected individuals to a number of primary and secondary orodental manifestations. Although several studies have discussed the clinical features of SJS from a medical perspective, few reports have addressed the oral findings or dental treatment in children and adolescents with the disorder. This article reviews the dental manifestations and impairments of Schwartz-Jampel syndrome. The case histories of two siblings diagnosed with this disorder are described as well as their dental care.

Thermal alteration and morphological changes of sound and demineralized primary dentin after Er:YAG laser ablation.

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of Er:YAG laser pulse repetition rate on the thermal alterations occurring during laser ablation of sound and demineralized primary dentin. The morphological changes at the lased areas were examined by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). To this end, 60 fragments of 30 sound primary molars were selected and randomly assigned to two groups (n = 30); namely A sound dentin (control) and B demineralized dentin. Each group was divided into three subgroups (n = 10) according to the employed laser frequencies: I-4 Hz; II-6 Hz, and III-10 Hz. Specimens in group B were submitted to a pH-cycling regimen for 21 consecutive days. The irradiation was performed with a 250 mJ pulse energy in the noncontact and focused mode, in the presence of a fine water mist at 1.5 mL/min, for 15 s. The measured temperature was recorded by type K thermocouples adapted to the dentin wall relative to the pulp chamber. Three samples of each group were analyzed by SEM. The data were submitted to the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test and to qualitative SEM analysis. The results revealed that the temperature increase did not promote any damage to the dental structure. Data analysis demonstrated that in group A, there was a statistically significant difference among all the subgroups and the temperature rise was directly proportional to the increase in frequency. In group B, there was no difference between subgroup I and II in terms of temperature. The superficial dentin observed by SEM displayed irregularities that augmented with rising frequency, both in sound and demineralized tissues. In conclusion, temperature rise and morphological alterations are directly related to frequency increment in both demineralized and sound dentin.

Aspectos odontológicos en paciente portador del síndrome de Mobius: relato de caso / Dental aspects of a patient with Mobius syndrome: case report

El síndrome de Mobius se caracteriza por la parálisis congénita y no progresiva de los nervios craneanos facial y abducentes cuyas manifestaciones clínicas principales son la apariencia facial estática y poco expresiva, el estrabismo bilateral convergente y la hipoplasia de miembros, entre otras. En la cavidad bucal puede observarse micrognacia, implantación heterotrófica de la lengua, anquiloglosia, úvula bífida, fisura palatina y anomalías dentales. La etiología del síndrome de Mobius es poco conocida y algunos relatos de la literatura señalan, como la hipótesis más probable, una isquemia fetal transitoria, durante el período de formación de los núcleos craneanos. Los posibles factores causales de esta isquemia serian los de orden ambiental, los disturbios fisiopatológicos y genéticos, o el uso ilícito de drogas como el Misoprostol, durante la gestación. El presente trabajo relata el tratamiento odontológico realizado en una paciente portadora de este síndrome enfatizando las particularidades observadas durante la atención, en función de las características propias de esa entidad clínica

Mobius syndrome is characterized by congenital and non-progressive paralysis of the facial and abducent cranial nerves. The principal manifestations of this syndrome are lack of facial expression, convergent bilateral strabismus and hypoplastic members. The oral findings include micrognatia, heterotrophic implantation of the tongue, ankyloglossia, bifid uvula, cleft palate and dental anomalies. The etiology of Mobius syndrome is unknown and some reports relate, as a main cause, the transitory fetal ischemia during the formation of cranial nucleus. The factors that lead to this ischemia are from ambient, physiopathological or genetic disturbs and use of drugs like Misoprostol during the pregnancy. This paper reports the dental treatment of a female patient with Mobius syndrome, emphasizing the peculiarities observed due to the characteristics of this clinical entity