Preventive potential of nano silver fluoride versus sodium fluoride varnish on enamel caries like lesions in primary teeth: in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Professionally applied topical fluoride preparations have been commonly used and have proven to prevent dental decay. Alternative preparations that provide further benefits may be of interest to investigate. This study aimed to investigate the effect of experimental nano silver fluoride (NSF) formulation compared to commercial sodium fluoride varnish (FV) on prevention of in vitro demineralization of initially sound enamel in primary teeth. METHODS: Forty-eight extracted/exfoliated sound molars were sectioned buccolingually into 96 specimens then assigned randomly into two equal groups. Each group was further subdivided into two equal subgroups (Ia: NSF, IIa: FV, Ib and IIb as negative controls). The test materials were applied, then all the specimens were subjected to a demineralization pH cycling model for 7 days. Specimens were examined for surface microhardness using Vickers microhardness device and lesion depth was evaluated by polarized light microscope using image J 1.46r software. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, independent t-test, and Mann Whitney U test. RESULTS: The test materials were significantly superior to their negative controls, (P < 0.001) and comparable to each other, (P > 0.05) regarding microhardness and lesion depth. In comparison to FV, NSF showed lower yet statistically insignificant percent increase in microhardness and decrease in lesion depth, (P = 0.81, 0.86, respectively). Qualitative evaluation revealed that both agents reduced the lesion depth formation. CONCLUSION: NSF showed similar effect to that of FV in limiting in vitro enamel demineralization caused by acidic challenge. Hence, it could be regarded as a promising alternative preventive agent in primary teeth.

Early prevention of childhood caries with maternal xylitol consumption.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of maternal xylitol consumption on children's salivary mutans streptococci (MS) level, caries activity, and plaque accumulation in contrast with maternal fluoride varnish in a group of mother-child pairs. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, the study subjects were 60 mother-child pairs recruited from the pediatric dentistry clinic and the hospital well baby clinic at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The sample was recruited on the basis of maternal high salivary MS levels, and a child aged 10-36 months. The subjects were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Mothers in the experimental group chewed xylitol gum, 1.8 gram (66% xylitol by weight), 3 times/day for 3 months. Mothers in the control group received fluoride varnish. Both groups received oral hygiene instructions, dietary counseling, and restorative treatment. Children were examined after 6, 12, and 24 months from the initiation of the study to evaluate salivary MS levels, caries, and plaque accumulation. RESULTS: There was an increase in MS levels in the experimental and control children at 24 months, which was non-significant in the experimental group, and significantly higher in the control group when compared with the baseline (p=0.008). The decayed, missing, filled scores of the children in the experimental group showed no change after 24 months, contrary to the controls that showed a significant increase (p=0.001). Plaque scores revealed no differences over time or between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with fluoride varnish, maternal xylitol consumption provided preventive outcomes on salivary MS and caries levels in children.

Effects of xylitol on salivary mutans streptococcus, plaque level, and caries activity in a group of Saudi mother-child pairs. An 18-month clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of xylitol on salivary mutans streptococcus (MS), plaque level, and caries activity in a group of Saudi mother-child pairs. METHODS: A clinical trial of 60 mother-child pairs with high MS levels attending at King Abdulaziz University clinics were randomly grouped into experimental (received xylitol) and control (received fluoride varnish) groups (30 pairs each). The study was conducted from February 2009 to July 2010 for 18 months period. At 18 months, the sample dropped to 21 (experimental) and 13 pairs (control). Xylitol gum were given to mother and chewable tablets were given to children 3 times a day for a period of 3 months. Both groups received oral hygiene instructions, dietary counseling, and restorative treatment and examined to assess caries, plaque and MS levels at 6, 12, and 18 months. RESULTS: The number of mother-child pairs with high MS level in the experimental group decreased significantly at 18 months compared to baseline (p=0.001, p=0.000). A statistically significant difference in plaque level was found between the experimental and control groups at 6 and 12 month in children (p=0.000, p=0.006), while in mother, a significant decrease was recorded in the experimental group only at 18 month compared to baseline. Control group showed statistical significant increase in caries throughout the study period (p=0.040, p=0.040). CONCLUSION: The use of xylitol chewing gum by mother and chewable tablets by children, showed significant reduction of MS count, plaque score as well as caries experience.

Impact of maternal xylitol consumption on mutans streptococci, plaque and caries levels in children.

AIM: The present study was designed to determine whether maternal xylitol consumption through regular chewing of xylitol gums can affect the salivary mutans streptococci (MS), dental caries, and dental plaque levels of their children. METHOD: Study sample included 60 mother and child pairs with high salivary mutans streptococcus (MS) levels. Samples were randomly divided into experimental group (30 pairs) and control group (30 pairs). Mothers in the experimental group received xylitol chewing gum treatment three times/day for three months, whereas the controls received fluoride varnish. Both groups received oral hygiene instructions, dietary counseling and restorative treatment. All children were examined after 6, 12 and 18 months from the initiation of the study to assess caries, plaque and salivary mutans streptococcus (MS) levels. RESULTS: Showed that at 18 month the percent of children with high streptococcus levels in the control significantly increased when compared to the increase in the experimental group. Throughout the study, dmft scores of experimental children showed marginal non significant increase compared to controls that showed higher scores. Plaque scores revealed statistically non significant decrease among both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal xylitol consumption provided better preventive outcomes on salivary (MS) levels compared to fluoride varnish treatments.

Assessment of pediatricians dental knowledge, attitude and behavior in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

UNLABELLED: Early assessment of the oral health status of children has the potential to reduce or even eliminate oral diseases. Parents rarely take their children to dentist early enough to control dental diseases. However, parents contact pediatricians several times even before the child is born and during the child's early life. Accordingly, pediatricians are considered a perfect and reliable source for oral health control and prevention. AIM: To measure the dental knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) of pediatricians in the City of Jeddah regarding oral health status and methods for prevention of dental diseases in children. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Questionnaires consisting of 40 demographic and KAB's questions were distributed to all pediatricians in Jeddah city (605 pediatricians). The KABs' questions consisted of general dental knowledge, preventive dental measures, timing for referral, diet counseling, parafunctional habits and handling of traumatized teeth. A score was given for each question. Percentages of total scores of KABs were compared. RESULTS: The response rate of pediatricians in Jeddah city (363) was 60%. Their mean age was 39.57 years. Pediatricians' KABs were found to be unsatisfactory. The most important observation was that the concept of oral health prevention was deficient. Pediatricians' awareness of fissure sealants, fluoride, dietary counseling, time of first dental visits and thumb sucking were quite limited Pediatricians' knowledge was significantly lower than their attitude and behavior's scores. CONCLUSION: In general, pediatricians' knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding oral health were not satisfactory.

Effect of xylitol on dental caries and salivary Streptococcus mutans levels among a group of mother-child pairs.

UNLABELLED: Recent researches have focused on xylitol as convenient and effective method to inhibit cariogenic bacteria. The purpose of the present study is to assess the effect of xylitol on plaque accumulation, caries activity and salivary Streptococcus Mutans in a group of Saudi mother-child pairs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample included 60 mother and child pairs selected on the basis of having high salivary streptococcus mutans levels. The study sample was randomly divided into experimental group (30 pairs) and control group (30 pairs). The experimental group was given xylitol treatment and the controls received fluoride varnish. Both groups were examined to assess caries, plaque and salivary streptococcus mutans levels. Xylitol treatment in the form of chewing gum for mothers and tablets for children was consumed three times/day for three months. All subjects received oral hygiene instructions, dietary counseling and restorative treatment. The results showed that the number of mothers and children with high streptococcus levels in the experimental group decreased to a statistically significant level at the end of the three month period, similarly, the control mothers showed the same trend. A statistically significant decrease in plaque scores was evident only among the children S experimental group. The caries level of children and mothers showed no statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups. The factors which significantly affected the streptococcus mutans count in children after three months were the child' dmft at baseline the preventive method used and the mother'salivary streptococcus mutans level.

A comparative study of children's pain reactions and perceptions to AMSA injection using CCLAD versus traditional injections.

UNLABELLED: Pain control is an important part of dentistry, particularly in pediatric dentistry. Recently, a computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system (CCLAD) has been developed to reduce pain related to the local anesthetic injection. In conjunction with this technology, a new approach to the anterior and middle superior alveolar nerves (AMSA) has been induced. Studies evaluating the CCLAD in pediatric dentistry showed variable results regarding its use in pediatric dentistry. Further evaluation of this technique is needed to provide sound scientific evidence on the use of the CCLAD at this specific injection site in children. AIM: To assess children's pain reactions and pain perceptions of the AMSA injection using the CCLAD compared to the traditional buccal/palatal injections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children's pain reactions and perceptions to both techniques were measured in a group of 40 children who received both anesthetic techniques alternatively on two visits. The pain reactions were scored using the SEM scale, whereas the pain perception was evaluated by the Eland color scale. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 10.0. RESULTS: The AMSA injection delivered with the CCLAD had significantly lower mean pain reaction scores compared to traditional buccal and palatal injections. The prolonged injection time required for delivering the CCLAD injection had no negative impact on the children. The children's pain perception scores when using the CCLAD were also significantly lower compared to the traditional injection. CONCLUSION: The AMSA injection delivered with the CCLAD was found to be a promising device, and had significantly lower pain reaction and perception scores compared to the traditional buccal and palatal injections.

Assessment of the anesthetic effectiveness of anterior and middle superior alveolar injection using a computerized device versus traditional technique in children.

UNLABELLED: The study aims to evaluate the anesthetic effectiveness of the Anterior and Middle Superior Alveolar (AMSA) injection administered through a computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system (CCLAD), and compare it with the traditional buccal and palatal injections used to anesthetize maxillary primary molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample included 80 primary maxillary molars, divided into 2 equal groups: Pulpotomy and extraction groups. Each group was divided equally into 4 subgroups: A. First molars anesthetized with the traditional technique, B. first molars anesthetized with the CCLAD, C. second molars anesthetized with the traditional technique, and D. second molars anesthetized with the CCLAD. The evaluation was done single blind using SEM scale. RESULTS: The AMSA injection with the CCLAD was found to be effective in anesthetizing maxillary primary molars in pulpotomy and extraction procedures. There was no significant difference between the two anesthetic techniques except in the step of gingival retraction buccally in, which the traditional injections were more effective than the CCLAD during extractions. No significant difference was found between first and second primary molars in the effectiveness of both techniques. CONCLUSION: The AMSA injection using CCLAD was found to be effective in children.

A comparative study of the secretory IgA immunoglobulins (s.IgA) in mothers and children with SECC versus a caries free group children and their mothers.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is recognized as an infectious disease. The first step in its development is primary infection by the bacterium S. mutans which has been identified as the primary etiologic factors in dental caries. Lactobacilli were also found to play a role in the progression of disease. However the underlying mechanism of immune response to caries is unclear. The association between secretory IgA (s.IgA) and cariogenic microorganisms is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of salivary IgA in caries free children, and children with SECC and their corresponding mothers. The study also aims at correlating the children's levels to their mothers'. Sixty children and their mothers attending the dental clinic in King Abdulaziz University participated in our study. Their age ranged from 3 - 5 years. The study groups consisted of thirty children with SECC and a control group consisting of thirty caries free children. Children together with their mothers were examined and their caries level was recorded. Stimulated saliva was collected from each participant for immunological assessment. The secretory IgA (s. IgA) level was assessed by ELISA test. Our study has shown that children with SECC and their mothers had higher levels of s. IgA than the caries free children and their mothers. A positive high correlation was found between secretory IgA of mothers and children in both groups.