Simplified basic periodontal examination in adolescents before and after a tailored treatment dental program.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored treatment dental program in adolescents in combination with a professional oral hygiene. METHODS: Ninety-three adolescents (43 males and 50 females; mean age: 14±1.1 years) were included in this study and Plaque Index (PI) and simplified basic periodontal examination (BPE) were measured for each patient at T0 (screening) and at T1 (after 30 days). At T0 a professional dental hygiene treatment was performed and a tailored oral hygiene instruction protocol was adopted. All data were statistically analyzed using Student's t-test and the level of significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease of PI was found from T0 (2.3±0.6) to T1 (0.9±0.3) (P<0.05). Moreover, also a significant decrease (P<0.05) of BPE was observed after 30 days. Girls exhibited a higher significant BPE index improvement (0.47±0.2) in comparison to boys (0.3±0.1) at the end of the follow-up (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A tailored oral hygiene instruction protocol has resulted in a decreased plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation.

Clinical association between dental malocclusion and strabismus in adolescents: a retrospective dental cast analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the occlusion in adolescents with strabismus in comparison with healthy subjects without vision problems. METHODS: The test group included 50 subjects (23 males and 27 females) with a diagnosis of strabismus and the control group included 50 healthy patients (23 males and 27 females) without any past or present disturbance of vision. Dental cast analysis was performed to evaluate antero-posterior, transversal and vertical malocclusion and dental crowding. Furthermore, oral habits (mouth breathing, atypical swallowing, finger sucking) were recorded. Mann-Whitney test was performed in order to evaluate significant differences between the groups regarding overbite, overjet and dental crowding; Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test was adopted to compare the samples. Chi square test and Fisher test were adopted for the analysis of cross-bite, Angle Class, and oral habits. RESULTS: No significant difference was found regarding the malocclusion and the unhealthy oral habits between the groups (P>0.05). The test group showed a slightly higher prevalence of cross-bite but the difference between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A possible relationship between the stomatognathic system and strabismus was not confirmed by the results of this study.

Molar incisor hypomineralization treatment with casein phosphopeptide and amorphous calcium phosphate in children.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of teeth with MIH in children before and after the use of a tooth mousse containing casein phosphopeptide and amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP). METHODS: Forty patients, both males and females, aged from 8 to 13 years old that had a molar with MIH hypersensitivity were included in this study. In the test group (20 subjects), a tooth mousse with CPP-ACP was used while fluoride toothpaste was used in the control group. Dental sensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli was evaluated before (T0) and 120 days after the beginning of the treatment (T1). RESULTS: In the test group, the thermal sensitivity decreased significantly (P<0.05) from T0 to T1 (2.4±0.6 to 1.1±0.4) while in the control group resulted very similar (from 2.3±0.5 to 2.2±0.4). Similarly, mechanical sensitivity decreased significantly (P<0.05) from 7.8±1 to 3.8±0.6 while in the control group decreased not significantly (from 7.5±1.3 to 7.2±0.8). No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed by comparing males with females. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the remineralizing agent containing CPP-ACP resulted in a significant improvement in dental sensitivity in patients with MIH.