Comparison of the effect of recaldent and xylitol on the amounts of salivary Streptococcus mutans

Dental caries is associated with oral pathogenes and Streptococcus mutans [S. mutans]is one of the primary cariogenic organisms. The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effect of sugar free chewing gum containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate [CPP-ACP] and Xylitol on salivary Streptococcus mutan. 60 dental students, who volunteered after signing an informed consent, were randomly allocated to receive one of the following interventions: [A] Chewing gum containing CPP-ACP, [B] Chewing gum containing Xylitol. Subjects within the experimental groups chewed gum for 20 minutes, three times a day after meals for 3 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention unstimulated saliva samples were quantified for Streptococcus mutans count. A statistically significant reduction [p<0.05] of salivary S. mutans was displayed in both groups A and B after the intervention. When results compared with baseline, and group A shows more statistically significant reduction of salivary S. mutans than group B. In conclusion, daily chewing gum containing CPP-ACP and xylitol reduce the level of salivary S. mutans in a significant way, but chewing gum containing CPP-ACP can reduce the level of salivary S. mutans in a significant way than Xylitol chewing gum

Effect of composite color and thickness on correction of tooth discoloration

Objective: Selection of an appropriate shade of composite is critical in achieving an esthetic restoration. Different systems are used to assess and describe color parameters. This study aimed to assess the effect of color and thickness of Filtek Supreme [FS] and Premise [P] composite resins on correction of tooth discoloration

Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 10 anterior teeth with Vita A2 color shade were selected. Composite specimens were fabricated in 0.5 and 0.75 mm thicknesses of FS and P composites. Intact teeth, prepared teeth, prepared teeth with enamel and dentin composite discs on their buccal surfaces, stained teeth and stained teeth with composite discs were photographed using a digital camera under standard conditions and color change [[Delta]E] at different phases was calculated

Results: The L[asteristk], a[asteristk] and b[asteristk] color parameters in prepared and unstained teeth were not significantly different from those of intact teeth. In stained teeth, the L[asteristk] parameter only in prepared and stained teeth with 0.75mm P composite was not significantly different from the L[asteristk] parameter in intact teeth. Significant differences were seen in other stained teeth. The a[asteristk] and b[asteristk] parameters only in prepared and stained teeth with 0.5 mm FS composite were significantly different from those in intact teeth. By increasing the thickness of composite, the color change in comparison with intact teeth decreased in both groups

Conclusion: The results showed that the effect of type of composite, its thickness and their interaction on the color change was significant when using FS and P composites in 0.5 and 0.75mm thicknesses in comparison to intact teeth and the lowest color difference with intact teeth was achieved using 0.75mm thickness of P composite [enamel and dentin]