Is obesity associated to dental caries in Brazilian schoolchildren?

Abstract This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between dental caries and weight status, and between dental caries and physical activity in Brazilian schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 years. A multi-stage sample of children enrolled in 20 private and public schools in 2010 in Pelotas, Southern Brazil, were invited to participate in the study. Socioeconomic data were collected from parents, and data regarding children characteristics were collected from children using a questionnaire and anthropometric measures. The Body Mass Index was obtained, and children were classified as overweight/obese considering age and sex. Dental examinations were performed to assess the presence of gingival inflammation, dental caries prevalence (DMFT≥1) and dental caries experience (mean DMFT). Multivariate Poisson Regression was used to assess factors associated with dental caries prevalence and experience. A total of 1,210 children were included in the study. Dental caries prevalence was 32.4% (95% CI 29.7-35.2), while the mean DMFT was 0.64 (± SD 1.00). Children who practiced less than 300 minutes per week of physical activity and overweigh/obese children had lower prevalence of dental caries, while children with obesity or overweight presented lower dental caries experience. Obesity/overweight and physical activity level presented an inverse relationship with dental caries. Longitudinal studies investigating the complexity of this relationship are required.

Preferences on Vital and Nonvital Tooth Bleaching: A Survey Among Dentists from a City of Southern Brazil

This study evaluated the preferences of general dentists regarding vital and nonvital tooth bleaching therapies and investigated whether the time of clinical practice and post-graduate training influence these options. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire with closed questions applied to dentists (n=276) of a mid-sized city of the southern Brazil (Pelotas, RS). Information was collected regarding sociodemographic variables, level of specialization and time since graduation. In addition, options regarding bleaching therapies including the first choice of material, technique and clinical practice for vital and nonvital tooth bleaching therapies were included. Data were submitted to descriptive analysis and the associations were evaluated using chi-square and Fisher exact tests (α=0.05). The response rate was 68% (n=187). At-home bleaching therapy was broadly preferred (78.1%) over in-office (21.9%) bleaching. For at-home bleaching, most dentists answered to use 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) (40.2%) and >30% hydrogen peroxide (HP) (31.7%) for nonvital therapies. The majority of dentists with post-graduation training preferred at-home bleaching techniques (p=0.003). At-home bleaching therapy was also more indicated by younger dentists. No association was found between the choice for nonvital bleaching therapies and time since graduation (p=0.532) or continuous education (p=0.083). In conclusion, at-home bleaching was preferred over in-office therapies; 10% CP and >30% HP were chosen as first option agents to treat discolored vital and nonvital teeth, respectively. The time in clinical practice and the level of specialization affected dentists' choices only for vital tooth bleaching treatment.

Este estudo avaliou as preferências de cirurgiões-dentistas sobre o clareamento de dentes vitais e não-vitais. Também investigou a possível relação entre o grau de formação profissional e as decisões clínicas tomadas por estes profissionais. Para isso, realizamos um estudo transversal. Cirurgiões-dentistas (n=276) de uma cidade de médio porte do sul do Brasil (Pelotas, RS) receberam um questionário contendo perguntas sobre informação sócio-demográfica, nível de especialização e ano de graduação. Adicionalmente, foram realizadas perguntas sobre o material de primeira escolha, técnicas e práticas clínicas relacionadas a clareamento de dentes vitais e não vitais. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise descritiva e as possíveis associações entre variáveis foram avaliadas utilizando o teste Qui-Quadrado e teste Exato de Fisher (p<0,05). A taxa de resposta foi de 68% (187). A técnica de clareamento caseiro supervisionada foi preferida (78,1%) em detrimento da técnica em consultório (21,9%). Os dentistas escolheram preferentemente o peróxido de carbamida (PC) a 10% para clareamento vital caseiro (40,2%) e o peróxido de hidrogênio (PH) >30% para o clareamento de dentes despolpados (31,7%). A maioria dos dentistas que realizaram cursos de pós-graduação preferiram o clareamento caseiro (p=0,003). Além disso, o clareamento caseiro foi mais indicado pelos dentistas mais jovens. Não foi encontrada relação entre as escolhas para clareamento de dentes despolpados e ano de graduação (p=0,532) ou grau de formação (p=0,083). O clareamento vital caseiro foi escolhido em detrimento das técnicas de consultório; CP a 10% e HP > 30% foram os agentes de escolha para o tratamento de dentes vitais e não vitais escurecidos, respectivamente. O tempo de prática clínica e o nível de especialização foram associados com as escolhas dos dentistas somente para clareamento de dentes vitais.

Restabelecendo a estética dos dentes anteriores com clareamento e restaurações em resina composta: relato de caso clínico / Recovering esthetics in anterior teeth with bleaching and composite restorations: case report

A crescente demanda por procedimentos estéticos e tratamentos dentários não-invasivos favoreceu o surgimento de diferentes abordagens para solução de problemas de alteração de cor dentária. Com o desenvolvimento das técnicas de clareamento dental e da odontologia adesiva, é possível oferecer tratamentos conservadores para recuperação de dentes anteriores comprometidos. O presente caso clínico relata a associação de duas técnicas de clareamento para dentes vitais escurecidos e de um compósito restaurador nanoparticulado para restauração de incisivos centrais superiores. Resultados estéticos satisfatórios foram obtidos com a combinação de opções de tratamento minimamente invasivas para restabelecimento da cor e forma dos dentes...

The increasing demand for esthetic, non-invasive dental procedures led to the introduction of a number of approaches to resolve problems from tooth discolorations. The development of tooth bleaching and adhesive techniques made possible to provide conservative treatments to restore compromised anterior teeth. This case report presents the association of two bleaching techniques for vital discolored teeth and the use of a nanofilled composite resin to restore the maxillary central incisors. It was concluded that satisfactory results can be achieved through the association of minimally invasive approaches to reestablish tooth color and shape...

Color stability of a nanofill composite: effect of different immersion media

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the color stability of a nanofill composite resin (Filtek Z350) in different immersion media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve resin-based composite specimens were prepared using a silicon cylindrical mold measuring ≅1mm of thickness and ≅ 10mm of diameter. Specimens were light-cured for 40 s from both sides using a LED Radii at 1400 mW/cm² and were randomized into 4 groups (n= 3) according to immersion media: coffee, yerba mate, grape juice or water (control solution). A digital spectrophotometer was used to evaluate the color changes at baseline and at 1-week after immersion in each solution. Specimens were stored in the different staining media for 4 h/day during 1 week. The color differences (DE) were analyzed by paired t-test and one-way ANOVA with complementary Tukey test (p<0.05). RESULTS: After 1-week of immersion, a perceptive color change for the group stored in the grape juice compared to baseline (p=0.008) was observed. Coffee and yerba mate did not show any color changes visible for the human eyes or significantly different from the control group (p>0.05) CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study suggest that the tested nanofill resin-based composite was susceptible to staining by substances present in the grape juice.