Household smoking impact on the oral health of 5- to 7-years-old children.

BACKGROUND: Children's exposure to secondhand smoke, particularly by their parents, could adversely affect their oral health. Thereby, this study aimed to assess the oral health status of children subjected to household smoking and the impact of smoking patterns on the severity of oral health deterioration. METHODS: A total of 210 healthy children were enrolled in this case-control study and allocated into children subjected to household smoking (HS) and control groups. Participants' guardians were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic characteristics and parental smoking habits. All participants were subjected to clinical dental examination to assess dental caries (ICDAS), hypomineralized primary molars (HSPM), and gingival status (GI). Stimulated saliva samples were collected to assess saliva composition and characteristics. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for cotinine concentration. Data were analyzed using SPSS (v.25) software at a test value of p ≤ 0.05. The t-student test was used to find significant differences between participants' age, gingival index score, saliva pH, flow rate, sIgA, and cotinine level. The Chi-square test was used to test for the significance of parental employment, number of rooms, gender, sweets consumption, brushing frequency, and HMPM. The correspondence analysis was used to test for significance of parents' levels of education, type of house ventilation, ICDAS score, smoking form, frequency, and smoking pattern. The correlation between cotinine level and sIgA was tested for association using Bivariate correlation test. RESULTS: The HS group showed a significantly increased risk for dental caries (p < 0.000), HSPM lesions (p = 0.007), and GI score (p < 0.000). A significant reduction in salivary flow rate, saliva pH, and sIgA were evident in HS group (p < 0.000). Parental consumption of more than 20 cigarettes/day was accompanied by increased dental caries activity (p < 0.000) and higher risk for increased severity of gingival inflammation (p < 0.000) of children in the HS group. Children of parents who smoke cigarettes and use the hubble/bubble anywhere in the house found to have greater distribution of HSPM (p < 0.000). Reduced sIgA values were found to be significantly associated with increased cotinine concentrations in HS children (p < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Frequent exposure to household smoking could be associated with an increased risk of dental caries progression, enamel hypomineralization, gingival inflammation, and saliva characteristics changes in children.

The motivational effect of multicolored dental restoration on dental behavior of first preliminary school children.

Objectives: To assess the motivational effect of multi-colored restoration on the anxiety level of pediatric patients at thedental clinic and its motivational effect on their oral hygiene status. Material and methods: A total of 30 participants. Results: Both groups revealed reduction in the anxiety level and improvement in their behavior at the dental office but did not reach significance. Plaque index showed a significant reduction per group and a near significance as compared between test groups. Conclusions: The use of the multicolored restoration could provide a potential advantage to improve the oral health status of children and might aid in enhancing their behavior at dental clinic particularly younger age groups.

Impact of Secretory Immunoglobulin A Level on Dental Caries Experience in Asthmatic Children.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between different factors in saliva and dental caries experience in children with bronchial asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 asthmatic children and 60 healthy controls of both genders with age ranging from 4- to 12-year-old. The asthmatics were grouped according to disease severity into mild, moderate, or severe asthma. All the children were clinically examined to assess their dental caries experience (deft/DMFT), and stimulated saliva samples were collected to measure the saliva pH, flow rate, ά-amylase, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA)-level changes. The data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS program (v. 23) to test for significance at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Asthmatic children presented significantly higher deft mean value (6.77 ± 1.69), as well as significantly reduced stimulated saliva flow (0.82 ± 0.2) and sIgA (29.42 ± 6.31) when compared to healthy control. The sIgA of asthmatics showed statistically significant negative correlation with deft and DMFT. Severe asthmatics presented significantly the lowest sIgA mean level (23.61 ± 5.33) and the most reduced saliva flow rate (0.64 ± 0.20). CONCLUSION: The reduction in saliva flow rate and secretory immunoglobulin A render asthmatic children more prone to increased dental caries progression mainly of primary dentition. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Arafa A, AlDahlawi S, Hussien A, et al. Impact of Secretory Immunoglobulin A Level on Dental Caries Experience in Asthmatic Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(5):414-418.

Assessment of the oral health status of asthmatic children.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the oral health status and salivary composition in a group of children suffering from bronchial asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of sixty asthmatic children, sixty healthy negative controls, and sixty healthy positive controls of both sexes with age ranging from 4 to 12 years old. The asthmatics were grouped according to disease severity into mild, moderate, or severe asthmatic. All the children were clinically examined to assess their dental caries experience (decayed, indicated for extraction, and filled primary tooth [def] and decayed-missing-filled permanent tooth [DMF]), dental erosion condition (tooth wear index), and gingival health condition (gingival index [GI]). Salivary samples were collected and assessed for salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and the level of calcium, sodium, and potassium. RESULTS: The results of this study revealed that asthmatic children presented significantly higher def, DMF score, and GI mean values compared to the control groups. Severe asthmatics significantly presented the highest def and GI score. Salivary analysis revealed reduced stimulated salivary flow rate and altered salivary pH. In addition, significantly elevated mean salivary calcium level found to be associated with higher GI mean score. CONCLUSIONS: Children suffering from bronchial asthma should receive special dental preventive attention as presented with greater risk for oral and dental diseases as compared to the healthy controls.

The innovative applications of therapeutic nanostructures in dentistry.

Nanotechnology has paved multiple ways in preventing, reversing or restoring dental caries which is one of the major health care problems. Nanotechnology aided in processing variety of nanomaterials with innovative dental applications. Some showed antimicrobial effect helping in the preventive stage. Others have remineralizing potential intercepting early lesion progression as nanosized calcium phosphate, carbonate hydroxyapatite nanocrystals, nanoamorphous calcium phosphate and nanoparticulate bioactive glass particularly with provision of self-assembles protein that furnish essential role in biomimetic repair. The unique size of nanomaterials makes them fascinating carriers for dental products. Thus, it is recentlyclaimedthat fortifying the adhesives with nanomaterials that possess biological meritsdoes not only enhance the mechanical and physical properties of the adhesives, but also help to attain and maintain a durable adhesive joint and enhanced longevity. Accordingly, this review will focus on the current status and the future implications of nanotechnology in preventive and adhesive dentistry.

Assessment of post-contamination treatments affecting different bonding stages to dentin.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of cleansing treatments following saliva and blood contamination at different bonding stages to dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Labial surfaces of 168 permanent maxillary central incisors were ground flat exposing superficial dentin. Specimens were divided into: uncontaminated control (A), contamination after etching (B), contamination after adhesive application (C), contamination after adhesive polymerization (D). Groups were further subdivided according to cleansing treatments into: rinsing (B1, C1, D1), re-etching (B2, D3), sodium hypochlorite application (B3), ethyl alcohol application (C2), acetone application (C3), rinsing and rebonding (D2), re-etching and rebonding (D4). Composite microcylinders were bonded to treated substrates and shear loaded micro-shear bond strength (µSBS) until failure and treated surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscope. Debonded surfaces were classified as adhesive, cohesive or mixed failure. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: The µSBS values were ranked as follow; Group B: A > B3 > B2 > B1 > B, Group C: A > C3 > C2 > C1 > C, Group D: A > D4 > D1 = D2 ≥ D3. Debonded surfaces showed adhesive failure in Group B while cohesive failure in Groups C and D. CONCLUSIONS: Cleansing treatments differ according to bonding step; re-etching then rebonding suggested if etched substrate or polymerized adhesive were contaminated while acetone application decontaminated affected unpolymerized adhesive.

Remineralizing efficacy of different calcium-phosphate and fluoride based delivery vehicles on artificial caries like enamel lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To assess enamel remineralization of different calcium-phosphate and fluoride delivery systems. METHODS: Artificial caries lesions were created on 115 extracted human molars. Specimens were assigned according to remineralizing agent into five groups: G1: Control (artificial saliva), G2: Clinpro™ white varnish, G3: Relief, G4: Tooth Mousse Plus, G5: Vanish™XT. Surface micro-hardness (SMH), surface roughness (Ra) and surface topography by scanning electron microscope (SEM) were evaluated at baseline, after demineralization, after 2 and 4 weeks remineralization and after acid challenge. RESULTS: Demineralized enamel showed the lowest SMH. By 2 weeks remineralization, SMH were ranked as follows: G2 (282.14±6.82)>G3 (269.37±7.25)>G5 (263.00±6.49)=G4 (251.83±8.26)>G1 (226.5±9.34). However, 4 weeks remineralization showed the following: G2 (304.09±6.65)>G3 (293.1±5.24)=G4 (285±7.29)>G5 (272.43±4.89)>G1 (233.33±9.12). By exposure to acid challenge, groups presented order of: G2 (279.71±5.99)=G3 (275.51±5.59)>G4 (262.29±6.65)>G5 (245.43±6.43)>G1 (190.27±8). Surface roughness showed the following mattress after 2 weeks remineralization: G1 (0.2488±0.0016)=G2 (0.2487±0.0007)=G3 (0.2476±0.0006)>G4 (0.2442±0.0004)>G5 (0.2396±0.0009). After 4 weeks remineralization: G1 (0.2469±0.0017)>G4 (0.244±0.0004)>G5 (0.2413±0.0008)=G3 (0.2405±0.0007)=G2 (0.2399±0.0006). After acid challenge; G1 (0.2582±0.0027)>G5 (0.2556±0.0007)>G4 (0.2484±0.0009)>G3 (0.2463±0.0007)>G2 (0.2443±0.0004). SEM revealed mineralized coating on the surfaces which resists dissolution by acid challenge at variable degrees according to remineralization regimen applied. CONCLUSIONS: Remineralizing agents containing different calcium-phosphate formulas and fluoride have increased remineralization potential compared to artificial saliva. Clinpro™ varnish presented the highest remineralization tendency with greatest resistance for acid challenge. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This in vitro study imitated the application of different calcium phosphorous and fluoride based delivery vehicles to enamel tooth surfaces in the mouth. The new therapeutic techniques based on different calcium phosphate formulas containing fluoride provide a new avenue for remineralization of non-cavitated and early carious lesions.