Release Kinetics of Monomers from Dental Composites Containing Fluoride-Doped Calcium Phosphates.

This study analyse the type of release kinetic of specific monomers from dental resin composites containing various fluoride-doped calcium phosphates. The release behavior of urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), ethoxylated bisphenol-A dimethacrylate (bis-EMA) and 1.6-hexanediol ethoxylate diacrylate (HEDA) was evaluated over a period of 35 days. Two tailored calcium phosphates doped with different concentrations of fluoride salts (VS10% and VS20%) were prepared and incorporated in the dimethacrylate matrix at various concentrations to generate a range of experimental composites. The release kinetics were characterized using mathematical models such as zero-order, first-order, Peppas and Higuchi models. The results showed that the first-order model best described the release kinetics. UDMA and HEDA exhibited significant differences in release compared to bis-EMA from day 1, while no significant differences were observed between UDMA and HEDA, except on day 35, when UDMA exhibited a higher release rate than HEDA. When comparing the release of each monomer, VS20-R20% had the highest total release percentage, with 3.10 ± 0.25%, whereas the composite VS10-R5% showed the lowest release percentage, with a total of 1.66 ± 0.08%. The release kinetics were influenced by the composition of the resin composites and the presence of calcium fluoride and sodium fluoride in the calcium phosphate played a role in the maximum amounts of monomer released. In conclusion, the release of monomers from the tested resin composites followed a first-order kinetic behaviour, with an initial rapid release that decreased over time. The composition of the resin monomers and the presence of fluoride salts influenced the release kinetics. The VS10-R5% and VS10-R10% resin composites exhibited the lowest total monomer release, suggesting its potential favourable composition with reduced monomer elution. These findings contribute to understanding the release behavior of dental resin composites and provide insights for the development of resin-based bioactive dental materials.

Risk factors for the presence of dental black plaque.

In order to evaluate risk factors related to the presence of extrinsic dental black stain, a total of 94 orally healthy volunteers (47 individuals with dental black stain and 47 individuals without dental black stain) were recruited from ten different dental clinics in Valencia and Castellón (Spain). Data regarding their oral hygiene, dietary habits, and oral health status were gathered by questionnaire. Samples of dental plaque, saliva and drinking water were collected for chemical analysis. Three factors were found to be statistically significantly associated with dental black stain, (i) consuming water with high iron content, (ii) consuming water with high pH, and (iii) having a high salivary pH. Other factors such as smoking, taking iron supplements or consuming caffeinated drinks were not found to be risk factors for the presence of black stain. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that drinking tap or osmosis-purified water and lower levels of salivary iron increase the risk of having dental black stain. Overall, several risk factors for the presence of dental black stain have been identified. The main modifiable risk factor identified in this study was the consumption of tap or osmosis drinking water.

Modulation of salivary cytokines in response to alcohol, tobacco and caffeine consumption: a pilot study.

It has been shown that long-term stimulant consumption alters the biological and microbiological status of the oral cavity. We present a pilot study describing stimulant-specific oral immunomodulation in the oral cavity. Changes in salivary cytokine levels in response to long-term alcohol, tobacco and caffeine were identified. Volunteers were recruited from amongst the patients visiting University Dental Clinic of CEU Cardenal Herrera University (Alfara del Patriarca, Spain). Participants were grouped according to their self-reported levels of consumption of either caffeine, alcohol or tobacco (control group volunteers were non-consumers of all three). Informed consent was provided and stimulated saliva samples were obtained and assayed for interleukin-1α IL-1α), Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) and Interferon γ IFN-γ). Long-term, high-level consumers of alcohol or tobacco exhibited elevated salivary concentrations of the three inflammatory cytokines with respect to control values. Specifically, IL-1α was found to be elevated in alcohol users whilst IFN-γ concentration higher in tobacco users versus controls. Long-term caffeine consumers displayed elevated levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α, whereas IL-1α levels were reduced with respect to control volunteers. This pilot study demonstrates that salivary cytokines can be modulated in response to quantity and duration of alcohol, caffeine or tobacco consumption.

Falha de revascularização de um dente imaturo com cisto inflamatório / Revascularization failure of an immature tooth with inflammatory cyst

Objetivo: analisar as possíveis causas do insucesso de um tratamento de revascularização, incluindo as complicações derivadas da técnica e a adequada seleção do caso. Métodos: o seguinte relato de caso descreve o insucesso da revascularização de um segundo pré-molar inferior com ápice imaturo apresentando fístula e lesão periapical. A irrigação foi realizada com NaOCl, solução salina estéril e clorexidina, e uma pasta antibiótica composta por ciprofloxacina, metronidazol e cefaclor foi utilizada como medicamento intracanal. Uma vez que a fístula desapareceu, a hemorragia foi induzida pelo periápice. Como havia um sangramento residual, uma esponja de colágeno banhada de sangue foi colocada no canal e o acesso à cavidade foi selado com MTA. Resultados: após uma semana, a fístula reapareceu e uma cirurgia periapical foi realizada, com excisão da lesão. O diagnóstico final foi de uma lesão cística inflamatória. Após 12 meses, a regeneração óssea estava completa. Conclusões: o insucesso desse tratamento de revascularização pode ter sido devido à presença de uma lesão cística inflamatória. Ao se propor esse tipo de tratamento, o tamanho e o tempo de duração da lesão devem ser levados em consideração, informando ao paciente que a cirurgia periapical pode ser necessária.

Does Psychological Profile Influence Third Molar Extraction and Postoperative Pain?

PURPOSE: Our purposes were to determine the influence of psychological profile on hemodynamic changes in patients who undergo surgical removal of the third molars under intravenous sedation and to evaluate the effect on patients' anxiety and postoperative recovery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 100 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists classes I and II; aged ≥18 years) seen in the CIMIVClinic (Department of Oral Surgery, Casa de Salud University Hospital, Valencia, Spain) who underwent extractions of all third molars under intravenous sedation. All patients were administered the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R). The following parameters were monitored at different times during the surgical interventions: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate. Position and depth of impaction of the tooth (Pell and Gregory classification and Winter classification), surgery duration, and surgical technique also were recorded. Finally, the degree of pain experienced the week after the surgical intervention was measured using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: Patients' anxiety levels preoperatively were significantly higher in patients with psychological distress (P = .023). Postoperative pain significantly decreased from the first day to the seventh day in healthy patients but not in patients with altered psychological conditions (P < .05). Nevertheless, the hemodynamic changes were not correlated with the psychological impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous sedation enables the control of hemodynamic changes in all patients independently of their psychological profile. Patients with psychological distress present with higher levels of dental anxiety and postoperative pain. Future studies are needed to further clarify this interaction.

Is revascularization of immature permanent teeth an effective and reproducible technique?

BACKGROUND: Revascularization has been proposed as an improved alternative treatment for irreversibly damaged pulp of immature teeth as it has been shown to preserve the potential for continued root growth in treated teeth. AIM: To review clinical cases of revascularization in humans to evaluate their utility and reproducibility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A structured electronic search of scientific articles published between 2001 and 2014 was carried out using the following keywords: 'pulp revascularization', 'pulp revitalization' and/or 'immature tooth'. Clinical revascularization cases conducted on human subjects were selected, reviewed and organized into two charts including patient information, diagnostic information, treatment and results in follow-up visits. RESULTS: Ninety-seven of 101 teeth (96.0%) were successfully treated with the revascularization technique. The range of technique variations available for irrigation, disinfection and blood clot induction have a negligible impact on the clinical outcome variables tested in our analysis. During the follow-up visits, apical closure was detected in fewer cases (55.4%) as compared to the other apexogenesis phenomena (increased root length, 76.2%; increased root width, 79.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The review shows that the revascularization technique showed marked increase in the root length, width and apical closure in the cases that were reported independently of clinical variables such as operator and material selection and individual differences in protocols.