In vitro effect of different concentrations of iron on the initiation of dental caries: pilot study

Previous animal studies have shown that iron reduced the incidence of dental caries. The purpose of this in vitro study was to examine the effect of different concentrations of iron-supplement on the initiation of dental caries on human teeth. Sixty extracted human premolar teeth were randomly distributed into five groups [12/group]. Positive control group [Group 1] did not receive any iron. Experimental groups consisted of adding iron in 100%, 50%, 25% and 12.5% concentrations as Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. Mutans Streptococci [MS] bacteria [6715] grown in Todd Hewitt Broth were used. The teeth were placed in 24-well ELISA plates [two groups / plate]. On each well, a media consisting of iron [for experimental groups], bacteria and 10% sucrose was added and changed daily for 29 days. Daily assessment of any decalcification and cavitation was done. All groups receiving iron developed significantly fewer decalcification and carious lesions compared with the positive control. In addition, no cavitation was seen in all the experimental groups during the study period. It is concluded that iron may have some protective action against the development of dental caries in human teeth

success rate of formocresol pulpotomy performed by postgraduate students in King Saud University College of Dentistry

OBJECTIVE: To determine the success rate of formocresol pulpotomy in primary molars performed by pediatric dentistry postgraduate students in the King Saud University College of Dentistry, Riyadh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty two children with 44 pulpotomized primary molars attended for the study. The pulpotomized primary molars were evaluated both clinically and radiographically. Eleven [50%] children were male and 11 [50%] female with a mean age of 6.3 [S.D 1.9] years. The mean time elapsed since the pulpotomy procedure was 26.5 [S.D 10.41] months with a range of 12 to 60 months. None of the patients complained of any pain associated with the pulpotomized teeth. There was no soft tissue swelling or fistula formation. Abnormal mobility was noticed in six [13.6%] teeth. The major radiographic finding was furcation radiolucency [21.4%] followed by internal root resorption [19.0%] and periapical radiolucency [14.3%]. The clinical and radiographic success rates were 81.8% and 65.9% respectively. The overall success rate of the formocresol pulpotomy was 61.4%. The success rate of the formocresol pulpotomy in primary teeth performed by the pediatric dentistry postgraduate students was low