Dentin Optical Density in Molars Subjected to Partial Carious Dentin Removal.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate changes in the optical density of dentin in primary molars with deep caries three to six months after they were subjected to partial carious dentin removal. STUDY DESIGN: This was a blind controlled, clinical therapy study. Standardized digitalized bitewing radiographs of 42 teeth were analyzed using Adobe Photoshop(®) to quantitatively determine the gray scale of the affected dentin beneath the restoration, in comparison with healthy dentin. A mixed-effects model was used for statistical analysis. The gray tone level was considered a dependent variable; the tooth region and the time, in addition to the interaction between them, were the independent variables. Values of p < 0.05 were significant. RESULTS: During the interval between time zero and three months, the gray tone levels of affected dentin varied from 80.99 ± 3.17 to 98.57 ± 3.17; i.e., an estimated increase of 18 (p < 0.0001). The values for healthy dentin ranged from 118.22 ± 3.17 to 122.02 ± 3.17; i.e., a mean increase of four in the gray tone levels (p = 0.0003). During the interval between three and six months, both healthy and affected dentin showed similar behavior (98.57 ± 3.17 to 103.32 ± 3.20 and 122.02 ± 3.7 to 126.56 ± 3.20, respectively) (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Significant increments were observed in the optical density of the affected dentin after three months compared to that of healthy dentin in primary molars treated using the partial carious dentin removal technique.

Enamel defects in the primary dentition of preterm and full-term children.

AIM: This study compared enamel defects in children born prematurely and at term. METHOD: 96 children born at term (G1), and with 96 children born prematurely (G2) were studied. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of enamel defects was found in the premature group, with a predominance of hypoplasia. In G1, 64 teeth displayed enamel defects (51 opacities and 13 hypoplasias). In G2, 110 defective teeth were found, (29 opacities and 81 hypoplasias). A significant correlation was found between very low birth weight (VLBW) and the presence of these defects (p < or = 0.001). The teeth most affected were the incisors, canines and molars. CONCLUSION: Prematurity, in conjunction with other factors, can predispose children to enamel defects.

Clinical analysis of molar fissures by Cone-beam tomography.

This study aimed to validate clinical analysis of 20 pediatric dentists on occlusal groove-fossa-system of molar depth comparing to Cone-beam tomography. The 48 sound third molars were visually classified from the shallowest to the deepest. Images were taken from the Accuitomo 3DX. There was a fair correlation between clinical analysis and the tomographic scorings (rs = 0.238; P = 0.103). It was concluded that pediatric dentists were not able to classify the fissures depth by visual analysis correctly.

Phenotypic aspects of oral strains of Candida albicans in children with Down's syndrome.

The aim of this article is to characterize the biological aspects of oral strains of C. albicans in children with Down's syndrome. These yeasts were analyzed as to their macromorphological and enzymatic aspects and were tested as to their in vitro susceptibility to antifungal drugs using broth microdilution to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The morphotyping revealed that all oral C. albicans isolates from children with Down's syndrome promoted the formation of fringes regardless of size, while the control group presented smaller fringes. All oral C. albicans strains produced proteinase, but those with phospholipolytic activity showed greater enzyme capacity in the test group. In vitro susceptibility showed that all oral C. albicans isolates were sensitive to the drugs used.

Phenotypic aspects of oral strains of Candida albicans in children with down's syndrome / Aspectos fenotípicos de cepas de Candida albicans orais em crianças com síndrome de down

The aim of this article is to characterize the biological aspects of oral strains of C. albicans in children with Down's syndrome. These yeasts were analyzed as to their macromorphological and enzymatic aspects and were tested as to their in vitro susceptibility to antifungal drugs using broth microdilution to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The morphotyping revealed that all oral C. albicans isolates from children with Down's syndrome promoted the formation of fringes regardless of size, while the control group presented smaller fringes. All oral C. albicans strains produced proteinase, but those with phospholipolytic activity showed greater enzyme capacity in the test group. In vitro susceptibility showed that all oral C. albicans isolates were sensitive to the drugs used.

O objetivo deste artigo foi caracterizar os aspectos biológicos de cepas de C. albicans orais em crianças com síndrome de Down. Estas leveduras foram analisadas quanto aos seus aspectos macromorfológicos e enzimáticos e foram testadas quanto a sua suscetibilidade in vitro a drogas antifúngicas, usando a microdiluição em caldo para a determinação da concentração inibitória mínima (CIM). A morfotipagem revelou que todos os isolados de C. albicans orais de crianças com síndrome de Down induziram à formação de franjas independente do tamanho, enquanto o grupo controle teve franjas menores. Todas as cepas de C. albicans orais produziram proteinase, mas aquelas com atividade fosfolipidolítica mostraram maior capacidade enzimática no grupo teste. A suscetibilidade in vitro mostrou que todos os isolados de C. albicans orais foram sensíveis a drogas empregadas.

Odontomas--report of 3 cases.

Three clinical cases of odontoma were detected in 2 children and 1 adolescent. The tumors were surgically removed. Clinical suspicion was based on facial deformity in one of the cases and on the absence of permanent tooth eruption in the other two. Radiographic evidence of odontoma was confirmed through histological study.