Students' and general population's knowledge about the use and commerce of human teeth / Conhecimento de discentes e da população em relação à utilização e ao comércio de órgãos dentários

Objective: This study investigated undergraduates? and general population?s knowledge about the methods used for tooth procurement and donation and their destination. Methods: The sample consisted of all undergraduates from a public institution (n=200) and 500 residents from the city of Bauru, São Paulo. They were asked to answer a self-explanatory questionnaire. Results: A total of 56.5% and 71.6% of undergraduates and Bauru residents, respectively, answered the questionnaire. Statistical analysis was based on absolute and relative frequencies. The results showed that 88.5% of the undergraduates had already used human teeth in laboratory activities and at least 8% of them had also used human teeth in research. Most (80.5%) teeth came from donations. Some (59.3%) study participants kept the unused teeth and some (29.2%) donated them. Bauru residents reported that dental surgeons hardly ever asked them to donate their teeth and demonstrated little knowledge about the existence of tooth banks, although most had already extracted at least one tooth. Conclusion: The results suggest that undergraduates have difficulty implementing measures for tooth use and procurement. Activities of human tooth banks need to be disclosed not only to undergraduates but also to the general population.

Objetivo: Analisar o conhecimento dos acadêmicos de graduação de uma instituição pública e da população em geral, sobre os métodos adotados para a aquisição, doação e destinação de órgãos dentários. Métodos: A amostra foi composta de todo o universo de graduandos (n=200) e por 500 indivíduos residentes em Bauru, São Paulo, os quais receberam umquestionário auto-explicativo. Resultados: Houve devolução de 56,5% dos questionários respondidos por graduandos e 71,6% dos respondidos pela população. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio de frequências absolutas e relativas. Os resultados demonstraram que 88,5% dos acadêmicos já utilizaram dentes humanos em atividades laboratoriais e pelo menos 8,0% deles utilizaram também em pesquisa. Quanto à aquisição de órgãos dentários, verificou-se que 80,5%, ocorrem por meio de doações. Os participantes da pesquisa afirmaram que 59,3% guardavam e 29,2% doavam os dentes não utilizados. A população relatou que o profissional quase nunca solicitou a doação do órgão dentário e demonstrou ter baixo conhecimento em relação à existência de banco de dentes, embora a maioria já tivesse extraído algum dente.Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que os acadêmicos têm dificuldades na adoção de medidas para o uso e a aquisição de órgãos dentários. Há anecessidade de divulgação das atividades dos bancos de dentes humanos não só no meio acadêmico, mas para toda a população.

Preventive effect of an iron varnish on bovine enamel erosion in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the effect of an experimental varnish containing iron on the dissolution of bovine enamel by carbonated beverage. METHODS: Eighty specimens were randomly allocated to four groups (n=20 per group), according to the following treatments: Fe varnish (FeV, 10 mmol/L Fe), F varnish (FV, 2.71% F), placebo varnish (PV) and control (not treated, NT). The varnishes were applied in a thin layer and removed after 6h. Then, the samples were submitted to six cycles, alternating re- and demineralisation (only 1 day). Demineralisation was performed with the beverage Coca-Cola (10 min, 30 mL/block) and remineralisation with artificial saliva for 1h. In order to determine the amount of enamel dissolved, the wear was analysed by profilometry. Data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The mean wear (+/-S.E.) was significantly lesser for the FeV (0.451+/-0.018 microm) when compared to the other treatments. The FV caused significantly less wear (0.554+/-0.022 microm) when compared to PV (0.991+/-0.039 microm) and NT (1.014+/-0.033), which did not significantly differ from each other. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the iron varnish can interfere with the dissolution of dental enamel in the presence of acidic beverages.