Biocompatibility of a HA/ß-TCP/C Scaffold as a Pulp-Capping Agent for Vital Pulp Treatment: An In Vivo Study in Rat Molars.

Bioceramic materials possess desirable biological properties, highlighting their non-reactivity and osteoconductivity. Their use has been extended in vital pulp treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP), hydroxyapatite (HA), and collagen (C) scaffold with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) on the vital pulp of rat molars. Thirty-two molars of Sprague-Dawley rats underwent direct pulp capping with ß-TCP/HA/C (n = 16) and MTA (n = 16). After 30 days, the following parameters were evaluated in the tested samples: the degree of pulp inflammation and pulp vitality, the presence of reparative dentin, the homogeneity of the odontoblastic layer, and the presence of pulp fibrosis. No statistically significant differences were observed between HA/ß-TCP/C and MTA in terms of the degree of inflammation (p = 0.124). Significant differences were found in reparative dentin formation between the treatment groups (p = 0.0005). Dentin bridge formation was observed in the MTA-treated group. The local action of HA/ß-TCP/C is similar to that of MTA when used as an agent for pulp vital treatment in terms of absence of inflammation and maintenance of pulp vitality, although there are significant differences between both materials regarding the formation of dentin bridges.

Salud oral: influencia de los estilos de vida en adolescentes / Adolescent lifestyle and its influence on oral health

INTRODUCCIÓN: la alta prevalencia de patología bucodental en adolescentes, junto con la relación directa o indirecta entre patología y hábitos, hacen necesaria la prevención y promoción oral a nivel escolar, sanitario y familiar. Nuestro objetivo principal fue mediante un cuestionario sobre hábitos de estilo de vida en adolescentes, conocer la prevalencia de estos y su relación con la salud bucodental. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio observacional de corte transversal en 39 escolares, preadolescentes y adolescentes de 12 a 17 años. Se realizó un cuestionario de 42 preguntas que fue entregado a los participantes. Los resultados obtenidos se analizaron mediante tablas de contingencia y con un valor de significación p <0,05. RESULTADOS: la prevalencia de escolares con correcta frecuencia de cepillado es del 54% y solo el 48,7% visita al odontólogo una vez al año. Existe relación significativa entre la nacionalidad y las visitas al dentista (p = 0,02) o entre la frecuencia de cepillado con el desayuno (p = 0,005), consumo de bollería industrial o bocadillos (p = 0,02), o refrescos (p = 0,011), utilización de ordenador, televisión y videoconsola (p = 0,049); y el sedentarismo (p = 0,00). CONCLUSIÓN: se obtuvieron resultados estadísticamente significativos al relacionar hábitos de estilo de vida y salud oral. En la adolescencia es fundamental la creación de estrategias de prevención y promoción en salud dental, para instaurar rutinas correctas que no afecten a la salud general del adolescente

INTRODUCTION: the high prevalence of oral disease in adolescents, together with the direct or indirect association between disease and lifestyle habits, call for the implementation of oral health prevention and promotion strategies at the school, household and public health levels. Our main objective was to design a questionnaire on lifestyle habits in adolescents to determine their prevalence and assess their association with oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional observational study in 39 preadolescent and adolescent students aged 12 to 17 years. We developed a 42-item questionnaire and administered it to participating students. We analysed the obtained responses using contingency tables, defining statistical significance as a p-value of <0.05. RESULTS: we found that the frequency of brushing was correct in 54% of participating students, while only 48.7% visit the dentist every year. We found a significant association between nationality and visits to the dentist (p = 0.02) and between the frequency of brushing with: eating breakfast (p = 0.005), consumption of industrial baked goods or snacks (p = 0.02) and consumption of sugary drinks (p = 0.011), the use of computer, television and gaming consoles (p = 0.049), and a sedentary lifestyle (p = 0.00). CONCLUSION: we found statistically significant associations between lifestyle habits and oral health. The development and implementation of oral health prevention and promotion strategies targeting the adolescent population is essential in order to establish adequate habits that will not have a detrimental effect on the general health of the adolescent

Melatonin as an Agent for Direct Pulp-Capping Treatment.

Melatonin plays an essential role in the regulation of bone growth. The actions that melatonin exerts on odontoblasts may be similar to its action on osteoblasts. This research aimed to evaluate the pulp response to melatonin used for direct pulp capping to evaluate the antioxidant effect of melatonin administered orally and its influence on dental pulp. Direct pulp capping was performed on the upper molars of Sprague Dawley rats using melatonin or Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA). The study groups were: MTA; Melatonin; MTA + Melatonin administered orally; and Melatonin + Melatonin administered orally. In the latter two groups, the animals drank water dosed with melatonin ad libitum (10 mg/100 mL). After 30 days, the animals were sacrificed, and 5 ml of blood, the kidneys, and the liver were extracted in order to evaluate oxidative stress using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances testing (TBARS). Fragments of the maxilla containing the study molars were prepared for histological evaluation. The degree of pulp inflammation and pulp necrosis, the presence of reparative dentin and dentin bridging the pulp chamber, the presence and regularity of the odontoblastic layer, and the presence of pulp fibrosis were evaluated. No significant differences were found between the four study groups for any of the studied histological variables. The oral administration of melatonin did not modify the local effects of MTA or melatonin on dental pulp, or reduce basal-level oxidative stress. The effect of melatonin on pulp is similar to that of MTA and may be used as an agent for direct pulp capping.