Assessment of adherence to preventive treatment of plaque-induced oral diseases using sugar-free gums: a controlled clinical trial / Evaluación de la adhesión al tratamiento preventivo de enfermedades bucales inducidas por placa bacteriana mediante el uso de gomas de mascar sin azúcar: ensayo clínico controlado

Abstract Introduction: the aim of this study was to assess the adherence to a preventive treatment of plaque-induced oral diseases using two sugar-free gums, establishing their effect on cariogenic bacteria counts as a biological marker of treatment response. Methods: a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, controlled intervention study was conducted in 96 young adult university students in an experimental period of 30 days. Participants were distributed into two groups and given a chewing gum with either pentitol or hexitol + CPP-ACP complex to be taken three times a day for 20 minutes after conventional oral hygiene. Saliva samples were collected at baseline to evaluate counts of Streptococcus mutans (SM) and Lactobacillus spp. A survey was conducted at the end of the experimental period to assess the levels of adherence to treatment, remeasuring bacterial counts. Results: SM counts showed statistically significant differences between the study groups at the end of the experimental period, with a decreasing tendency in both groups. Intragroup difference was observed in patients who took pentitol gum with a marked reduction in SM counts. Conclusion: the final estimate of adherence to treatment showed that the type of chewing gum patients were given had no influence and therefore such gums can be used, considering the therapeutic agents that most contribute to patient's particular case and preferences.

Resumen Introducción: el objetivo consistió en evaluar la adherencia a un tratamiento preventivo de enfermedades bucales inducidas por placa bacteriana, utilizando dos gomas de mascar sin azúcar y establecer su efecto sobre recuentos de bacterias cariogénicas como indicador biológico de los efectos del tratamiento. Métodos: se realizó un estudio de intervención, doble ciego, de grupos paralelos, aleatorizado controlado, en 96 adultos jóvenes universitarios, en un período experimental de 30 días. Los participantes fueron distribuidos en dos grupos con asignación de una goma de mascar con pentitol o con hexitol + complejo CPP-ACP que debían ser consumidas 20 minutos/tres veces al día después de la higiene oral convencional. Al inicio del studio fueron recolectadas muestras de saliva para evaluar recuentos de Estreptococos del grupo mutans (SM) y Lactobacillus spp. Al finalizar el período experimental, se realizó una encuesta para evaluar los niveles deadherencia al tratamiento y los recuentos bacterianos fueron medidos nuevamente. Resultados: Los recuentos de SM mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos de estudio al final del período experimental, con tendencia hacia la disminución en ambos grupos. Se observó diferencia intragrupo en los pacientes que consumieron la goma de mascar con pentitol, con marcada reducción de los recuentos de SM. Conclusión: la estimación final de la adherencia al tratamiento mostró que el tipo de goma de mascar asignada al paciente no tuvo influencia y, por lo tanto, estas pueden ser utilizadas teniendo en cuenta los agentes terapéuticos que más aporten al caso particular del paciente y las preferencias del mismo.

Patrón de liberación de flúor in vitro en sellantes fluorados de resina / In vitro fluoride-release profile of fluoridated resin-based sealants

Objetivo: Comparar in vitro la cantidad de fluoruros liberados por los principales sellantes de puntos y fisuras basados en resina comercialmente disponibles en Latinoamérica. Material y Métodos: Se evaluó la liberación de fluoruros in vitro en tres sellantes fluorados de puntos y fisuras: Helioseal F (HF), Fissurit F (FF), Clinpro (CF) y Delton (D), sin flúor como control. Se utilizaron 28 discos de 12 mm de diámetro y 2 mm de espesor (n=7 por grupo). Las muestras fueron almacenadas en 5 ml de agua ultra de-ionizada con pH neutro a 37º C por 93 días. La liberación de fluoruros fue medida mediante un electrodo iónico selectivo a los 1, 2, 3, 8, 15, 28 y 93 días. Los datos fueron analizados con el test ANOVA y Tukey (p<0.05). Resultados: El patrón de liberación de flúor fue similar para los tres sellantes fluorados: una alta liberación durante las primeras 24 horas, que disminuyó bruscamente hacia el segundo día. Luego continuó con una disminución progresiva hasta el día 93. El primer día, FF liberó significativamente más fluoruros que HF. Entre los días 2 y 15 FF y HF liberaron significativamente más fluoruros que CF. Desde el día 28 en adelante, las diferencias de liberación de flúor no fueron significativas. Conclusión: El patrón de liberación de flúor in vitro es similar para los sellantes fluorados, con una elevada liberación durante los primeros dos días y luego, una marcada disminución en todos ellos. Este resultado podría explicar la falta de diferencias en la tasa de caries en pacientes tratados con sellantes de resina fluorados y no-fluorados observada en estudios clínicos.

Aim: To compare in vitro the amount of fluoride released from the main pit and fissure sealant resin-based on commercially available in Latin America. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight samples of 12 x 2 mm were made from three commercial fluoridated resin-based sealants: Helioseal F (HF), Fissurit F (FF), Clinpro (CF) and without fluoride Delton (D), as a control. Samples were stored in 5 ml of deionized water at 37° C and neutral pH. Fluoride releases were measured at 1, 2, 3, 8, 15, 28 and 93 days with an ion-selective electrode. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and one-way and Tukey (p<0.05). Results: Fluoride-release profiles were similar for the three fluoridated sealants: a high release rates during the first 24 hrs and then a drastic drop. Afterward, they continued with a progressive decrease until day 93. The first day, FF release significantly more fluoride than HF. Between days 2 and 15, CF release significantly less fluoride than FF and HF, and later, there was no significant differences between sealants (p>0.05). Conclusion: The fluoride-release profile is similar for the fluoridated resin-based sealants under study: a high release during the first two days and afterwards, a very slow release. These results can explain the lack of differences in caries rate between fluoridated and non-fluoridated resin-based sealants observed in clinical trials.

Efeito de soluçöes fluorestadas contendo xilitol e sorbitol no número de estreptococos do grupo mutans na saliva de seres humanos / Effect of mouth rinses containing xyliotol and sorbitol on the number of streptococcus mutans in the human mouth

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito de soluções de fluoreto de sódio a 0,05% contendo 2,5% ou 12,5% de xilitol no número de estreptococos do grupo mutans presentes na saliva. Participaram do estudo duplo cego, do tipo cruzado, 50 meninos entre 8 e 16 anos, distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos. Destes, 33 finalizaram o estudo. As soluções utilizadas foram: solução placebo; solução de fluoreto de sódio a 0,05%; solução de fluoreto de sódio a 0,05% + 2,5% xilitol + 2% sorbitol; solução de fluoreto de sódio a 0,05% + 12,5% xilitol + 2% sorbitol. Os indivíduos utilizaram 20 mL de uma das soluções, duas vezes ao dia. Cada solução foi utilizada por um período experimental de 28 dias. Os períodos experimentais foram intercalados por períodos de descanso de 10 dias. As soluções contendo xilitol a 2,5% e 12,5% não apresentaram diferença significativa (P = 0,32) em termos do logaritmo do número de estreptococos do grupo mutans. No entanto, a diferença foi significativa quando essas soluções foram comparadas às soluções de fluoreto de sódio e placebo (P < 0,001). Os resultados sugerem que a solução de fluoreto de sódio a 0,05% com adição de xilitol a 2,5% ou 12,5% reduziu significativamente o número de estreptococos do grupo mutans.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of 0.05% sodium fluoride solutions containing 2.5% or 12.5% xylitol on the number of Streptococcus mutans in the human mouth. Fifty boys between 8 and 16 years of age participated in this double-blind crossover study. Of the original 50 boys, 33 finished the study. Participants were randomly divided into four groups. The following solutions were employed: placebo solution; 0.05% sodium fluoride solution; 0.05% sodium fluoride + 2.5% xylitol + 2% sorbitol; 0.05% sodium fluoride + 12.5% xylitol + 2% sorbitol. Each solution was used for a 28-day period (20 mL/day, twice a day), with a 10-day washout period between solutions. There were no significant differences (P = 0.32) between the two xylitolcontaining solutions (2.5% vs. 12.5%) concerning the number of Streptococcus mutans. However, there was a significant difference between these two xylitol-containing solutions and the sodium fluoride and placebo solutions (P < 0.001). Our results suggest that the 0.05% sodium fluoride solutions containing either 2.5% or 12.5% xylitol caused a significant reduction in the number of Streptococcus mutans