In vitro effects of fluoride-based and desensitizing toothpastes on dentine permeability.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness in reducing dentine permeability of three different toothpastes comparing with a sodium fluoride one. Dentine permeability was measured by a fluid filtration system. Dentin discs were randomized in four experimental groups and treated with different commercial toothpastes, as it follows. Group A: Sensodyne® Rapid, with strontium acetate; group B: Elmex Sensitive ProfessionalTM, with arginine and 450 ppm monofluoro-phosphate; group C: Colgate Total Advanced®, with 1450 ppm NaF; group D: AZ Pro-Expert®, with 1100 ppm SnF2. After brushing specimens of each groups were assigned to two subgroups and: 1) stored in artificial saliva (2 h) and treated with 6% citric acid for 1 min; 2) stored in artificial saliva for 24 h. SEM analysis was performed to investigate dentinal tubules occlusion of acid treated and stored in artificial saliva samples. Dentin permeability proved affected by dentifrice treatments. The toothpastes specifically formulated for hypersensitivity showed significant effects concerning decrease of dentine permeability. SEM observations demonstrated the presence of dentifrice particles on dentin surface and inside dentin tubules. Stannous fluoride treated samples exhibited the greater tubules occlusion.

The association between minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), children's poor oral condition, and underlying negative psychosocial habits and attitudes towards oral hygiene.

BACKGROUND: Minor Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) represents a disease which is very difficult to prevent. This case-control study focused on possible associations between minor Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis in children, their oral health, and underlying behavioral indexes of children's attitudes and habits pertaining to (home) oral hygiene, with the further goal of enabling the dentist to prevent these specific kind of lesions, both from a clinical and a broader psychosocial perspective. METHODS: Four hundred one school-children (5-10 years old) in Milan (Italy) were submitted to an intra-oral examination, and interviewed with the aid of a brief psychosocial questionnaire. RESULTS: At the clinical level, statistically significant associations were observed between the presence of decayed teeth and minor Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (Odds Ratio: 3.15; 95% CI: lower limit 1.06; upper limit: 9.36; Z-test: 2.07, p = 0.039; Chi-square = 4.71, p = 0.030), and between the Decayed Missing or Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and minor aphthous stomatitis (Odds Ratio: 3.30; 95% CI: lower limit 1.13; upper limit: 9.67; Z-test = 2.18, p = 0.029; Chi-square = 5.27; p = 0.022), both results pointing to a significant increase-by circa 3 times-in the risk of developing minor Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis in children exposed to the two above-identified factors (i.e., the presence of decayed teeth and a clearly compromised oral condition, as signaled by the DMFT index), if compared with the risk run by their non-exposed counterparts. At the psychosocial level of analysis, statistically significant associations were observed (1) between children's practice of spontaneously brushing teeth when not at home and a comparatively lower (i.e. better) Decayed Missing or Filled Teeth index (Chi-square: 8.95; p = 0.011), and (2) between receiving parental aid (e.g., proper brushing instructions) while practicing home oral hygiene and a significantly reduced presence of decayed teeth (Chi-square = 5.40; p = .067; Spearman's Rho, p = .038). Further, significant associations were also observed between children's reported severity of dental pain and both (a) the presence of decayed teeth (Chi-square = 10.80; p = 0.011), and (b) children's (poor) oral health condition as expressed by the Decayed Missing or Filled Teeth index (Chi-square = 6.29; p = 0.043). Interestingly, specific lifestyles and social status, showed no systematic association to other clinical or psychological/psychosocial indices. CONCLUSIONS: These systematic relations suggest that, in the presence of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis in pediatric patients, the dentist should carefully monitor children for potential carious lesions, implement protocols of prevention to control Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis disease in children affected by caries, and also be particularly aware of the right or wrong habits children may acquire in the course of continued social exchange with their caregivers and peers.

Parietaria pollinosis: clinical and epidemiological aspects.

The aim of our study was the evaluation of clinical and epidemiological aspects of P pollen allergy, which is a very frequent cause of respiratory allergy in the Mediterranean area, in a homogeneous group of 442 monosensitive subjects (235 females and 207 males, mean age about 30 years) living in Naples. All patients underwent the following diagnostic procedures: anamnestic evaluation with an internal questionnaire, physical examination, SPT with commercially available allergenic extracts (DHS-Bayropharm Milan Italy); sNPT, NsBPT, and serum specific IgE determinations were also carried out in three groups of 50 different subjects. The results of our study show a highly relevant intensity of SPT positivity (4+ and 3+ in about 95% of patients). The age of onset of clinical symptoms ranged between 20-25 years, and the majority of P monosensitized patients were born in the spring months, with an early exposure to P allergens. Rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma, alone or association, represent the most common clinical manifestation of this allergy. The season in which patients experience clinical symptoms is prevalently spring (75, 12%). However, many people show a multiseasonal pattern (18, 55%). The frequency of SPT positivity to P allergens is increasing in the last 15 years, probably due to increased urban air pollution. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate the high frequency and severity of this pollinosis and seem to confirm some epidemiological aspects connected with other allergenic pollens (birth during the seasonal period of pollination and association with a high urban air pollution).