Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Remineralizing Effect of Prophylactic Toothpaste Promoting Brushite Formation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Currently various studies are conducted to improve the effect of existing and developing new remineralizing agents. One of the trends in remineralizing therapy is the development of toothpaste allowing brushite crystals formation in the demineralized lesions of hard tooth tissues. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of toothpaste, forming a brushite, on the functional acid resistance of enamel and the speed of its remineralization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled double-blind clinical study. Sixty consent patients aged 20-25 years were enrolled in the three groups: test group (n = 20), positive control group (n = 20), and negative control group (n = 20), which used brushite-forming toothpaste, toothpaste with hydroxyapatite (HAP), and toothpaste without remineralizing agents, respectively. The hygiene indices, the rate of enamel remineralization, the dynamics of acid resistance of enamel, and the level of enamel sensitivity were determined at baseline, after 2 and 4 weeks to assess the effectiveness of toothpastes. Friedman rank sum test (for related variables) and the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test (for independent variables) with Nemenyi post hoc test were used for statistical comparisons. RESULTS: The study test and positive control groups showed significantly greater acid resistance of enamel (P > 0.05) and rate of its remineralization at the study endpoints as compared with negative control group.In the test and positive control groups, Schiff index values significantly decreased after 4 weeks, whereas in the negative control group no significant differences were observed at the study time points. The oral hygiene level improved significantly after 2 and 4 weeks in all groups. CONCLUSION: The 30-day use of paste that promotes brushite formation and paste with hydroxyapatite resulted in faster enamel remineralization and higher enamel resistance. Brushite-containing toothpaste may be used as an alternative to HAP containing for remineralizing and desensitizing treatment.

The influence of centrifugation and inoculation time on the number, distribution, and viability of intratubular bacteria and surface biofilm in deciduous and permanent bovine dentin.

The present study aimed to assess the influence of centrifugation and inoculation time on the number, distribution, and viability of intratubular bacteria and surface monospecies E. faecalis biofilm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four semicylindrical specimens cut from primary (n = 22) and permanent (n = 22) bovine teeth were randomly assigned to the experimental groups. Teeth of each type were inoculated with E. faecalis with and without centrifugation for 1 and 14 days. The number, localization, viability of bacteria and depth of their penetration were assessed with bacterial culturing of dentin shavings, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser electron microscopy (CLSM). Three-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey test were used to assess the influence of different experimental setups on dentin infection. RESULTS: Severe dentin infection was observed in permanent and deciduous teeth after centrifugation and 1-day incubation: bacteria reached the full length of dentinal tubules and colony-forming units were too numerous to count. The volume of green fluorescence didn't differ significantly in permanent teeth compared with deciduous (p = 1.0). After 1-day stationary inoculation, small number of cultivable bacteria and few viable bacteria in dentinal tubules were found in both groups. After 14-day stationary inoculation, the dentin infection according to CLSM was deeper in deciduous teeth compared with permanent (p = 0.006 and p = 0.019 for centrifugation and stationary inoculation, respectively). CONCLUSION: The most even and dense dentin infection was observed in primary and permanent bovine teeth after centrifugation and 1-day inoculation, and in deciduous teeth after 14-day stationary inoculation.

Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of the Efficiency of the Application of Foams with False Xerostomia.

AIMS: Xerostomia syndrome is a significant medical and social problem. It is manifested by objective and subjective symptoms of a "dry mouth" and a decrease in sialometry. The aim of the study was to determine the dental status of students of different nationalities, to identify xerostomia induced on a background of stress, and to assess the effectiveness of the use of moisturizing foams in alleviating xerostomia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study survey (Fox test) of 100 students of the dental faculty was conducted to detect false xerostomia. The study involved 60 people with false xerostomia, divided into four groups of 15 each according to the nationality. The level of oral hygiene was determined using the Simplified Oral Hygiene and Silness-Loe indices and the rate of salivation was assessed with sialometry method by Pozharitskaya. Oral hygiene instructions were given to the participants. They were to apply moisturizing foams with lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, and aloe vera, two-three times during the day for 3 weeks. A set of statistical programs was used (Microsoft Excel [2007] and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [SPSS], version 23) to perform Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, and Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement in oral hygiene was observed in all study participants. A significant increase was detected in the rate of salivation in students from Russia (P = 0.005), Transcaucasian countries (P = 0.006), and Arab countries (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: It has been established that the use of moisturizing foam has a positive effect on the rate of salivation and improves the level of oral hygiene, thereby improving the quality of life for patients.

The detection of vertical root fractures in post-core restored teeth with cone-beam CT: in vivo and ex vivo.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the accuracy of cone-beam CT ex vivo and in vivo for the detection of artificially created large and small vertical root fractures in extracted teeth restored with post-core. METHODS: Individual metal cast post-cores were fixed in the root canals of 50 extracted single-rooted human teeth. In 30 teeth fractures were created by tapping posts with a hammer. The teeth were sterilised in autoclave and embedded into bite-plates made of silicon impression material. Cone-beam CT scanning was performed ex vivo and in vivo . For the in vivo scanning, teeth in sterile plastic bags were inserted into the mouths of volunteers. Then the teeth were sectioned with low-speed saw and the widths of the VRFs were measured microscopically. The teeth were distributed into 2 groups in accordance with the measured fractures' widths: large (wider than 180-250 µm) and small (80-150 µm). Five observers assessed the presence of vertical root fractures on axial CBCT slices. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and inter examiner agreement were calculated. RESULTS: The accuracy of cone-beam CT in vitro for large and small vertical root fractures detection was 0.56 and 0.40 respectively (p = 0.043). The sensitivity values were 0.53 and 0.27 for large and small vertical root fractures, respectively (p = 0.043). The visualisation of fracture lines in vivo was impossible in 90 % of cases, because of low image quality. Inter examiner reliability analysis showed κ values ranging from 0.02 to 0.54. CONCLUSIONS: Fracture width affected the in vitro detectability of vertical root fractures by cone-beam CT in teeth with metal cast post-cores. The detectability of root fractures in vivo was decreased because of low image quality, making the assessment of sound tooth tissue impossible.