Effect of ozone to remineralize initial enamel caries: in situ study.

OBJECTIVES: Effect of ozonated water in remineralizing artificially created initial enamel caries was investigated using laser fluorescence and polarized light microscopy in an in situ study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Teeth specimens (buccal sections) were immersed in 5-ml solution of 2 mM CaCl2, 2 mM NaH2P04, and 50 mM CH3COOH at pH of 4.55 for 5 h in an incubator at 37° to create subsurface demineralization. After which, they were randomly allocated into one of the following remineralization regimens: ozone (ozonated water 0.1 mg/l and 10 % nano-hydroxyapatite paste, Aclaim(TM)), without ozone (only 10 % nano-hydroxyapatite paste, Aclaim(TM)), and control (subjects' saliva alone). Specimens were embedded in acrylic retainers worn by orthodontic patients throughout the 21-day study duration and constantly exposed to their saliva. Laser fluorescence was recorded for all the specimens at baseline, after demineralization, and remineralization using DIAGNOdent, and the results were validated using polarized microscopic examination. The results were analyzed using repeated measures, one-way ANOVA with post hoc multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Reduced DIAGNOdent scores and greater depth of remineralization following application of ozonated water and nano-hydroxyapatite were found compared to those of the without ozone and control groups (P < 0.001), and the ozone-treated group exhibited maximum remineralization under the polarized light microscopy. CONCLUSION: Ozonated water can be considered an effective agent in reversing the initial enamel caries alongside with nano-hydroxyapatite compared to nano-hydroxyapatite alone and saliva. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ozone water can be used to remineralize incipient carious lesions, and it enhances the remineralizing potential of nano-hydroxyapatite thereby preventing the tooth from entering into the repetitive restorative cycle.

Evaluation of instant desensitization after a single topical application over 30 days: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ProArgin(™) (8% arginine), Gluma(®) and NovaMin(®) (5% calcium phosphosilicate) in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity immediately and over 30 days following a single topical application. METHODS: A three-cell, parallel group randomized trial was conducted among 56 patients exhibiting dentinal hypersensitivity with tooth as the unit of study. ProArgin(™) paste, Gluma(®) Desensitizer and NovaMin(®) paste were applied on randomly assigned teeth in each participant. Three stimuli were tested: tactile stimulated by running an explorer and measured using VAS (1-10 scale); air blast and cold water stimulated hypersensitivity measured using the Schiff Sensitivity Scale at baseline, immediately, 15 days and 30 days after application. Friedman test and Wilcoxon test were used for within group comparisons. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for between group comparisons. RESULTS: All three groups showed significant reductions in hypersensitivity from baseline at all time points (p < 0.05). ProArgin(™) paste elicited a significantly higher reduction in hypersensitivity (p < 0.016) compared to Gluma(®) and NovaMin(®) for all stimuli at the end of 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: A single topical application of ProArgin(™) paste is significantly more effective than both a single topical application of Gluma(®) and NovaMin(®) paste in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity immediately and over 30 days.

Mothers' sense of coherence and oral health related quality of life of preschool children in Udupi Taluk.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between mothers' Sense of Coherence (SOC) and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of 3-5 year old preschool children in Udupi Taluk. PARTICIPANTS: 388 mothers aged 24-48 years old and their preschool children. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross sectional study of mother-child pairs, randomly selected from 8 preschools. METHOD: Information was obtained about mothers' sociodemographic factors along with the short version (SOC 13) of Antonovsky's sense of coherence scale and children's OHRQoL using the early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mothers' SOC and children's OHRQoL. RESULTS: Mothers' SOC and fathers' education were significantly associated with children's OHRQoL in multivariate analysis. Children of mothers with high SOC were 12.9 times as likely to have high OHRQoL as mothers with low SOC (p < 0.01). Children of fathers with college/university education were twice as likely to have high OHRQoL as those with primary education (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that mother's SOC could be a psychosocial determinant of the OHRQoL of their preschool children. Family environment should be considered when designing interventions to promote or improve the oral health as well as OHRQoL of preschool children.