Demineralization of teeth in mouth-breathing patients undergoing maxillary expansion.

UNLABELLED: Mouth breathing may cause deformities on the dental arch and be a risk factor for caries and periodontal disease; fixed orthodontic appliances compound the problem. AIM: to evaluate mineralization of tooth enamel and the oral cariogenic microbiota of mouth breathers that are using maxillary expanders. MATERIAL AND METHOD: a prospective study of 20 mouth-breathing patients with maxillary atresia, aged from 09 to 13 years. Enamel mineralization was measured using a fluorescence technique, before installing the expander and after its removal. The cariogenic microbiota was evaluated by the No Caries®. The t test (p<0.05) was applied for the statistical analysis, and the oral microbiota was analyzed by incidence. RESULTS: there was a statistically significant difference in the enamel mineralization level after maxillary expansion; the mean value was 3.08. The colorimetric test showed that the caries development potential was reduced in 45%, increased in 15%, and unaltered in 40% after maxillary expander use. CONCLUSION: there was a statistically significant difference in enamel mineralization after maxillary expansion; this difference was within the clinically normal range; the cariogenic potential increased in a small number of patients during orthodontic treatment.

Desmineralização dentária de pacientes respiradores orais submetidos à expansão maxilar / Demineralization of teeth in mouth-breathing patients undergoing maxillary expansion

A respiração oral pode causar deformações na arcada dentária e representar risco a cáries e doenças periodontais, podendo ser agravado pela utilização de aparelhos fixos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o grau de mineralização do esmalte dentário e a microbiota cariogênica bucal de respiradores orais que utilizaram disjuntores maxilares. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo com 20 pacientes respiradores orais com atresia maxilar, idades entre 9 e 13 anos. A mineralização do esmalte dentário foi medida pela técnica de fluorescência, antes da instalação do disjuntor maxilar e após sua remoção. A microbiota cariogênica foi avaliada pelo No Caries®. Na análise estatística utilizamos o teste "t" (p<0,05), e a microbiota oral analisada por incidência. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença estatisticamente significante no grau de mineralização do esmalte dentário após a disjunção maxilar, com valor médio de 3,08. O teste colorimétrico demonstrou que 45 por cento diminuiu e 15 por cento aumentou o potencial à cárie dentária, sendo que 40 por cento permaneceu inalterado após o uso do disjuntor maxilar. CONCLUSÃO: Houve diferença estatisticamente significante no grau de mineralização do esmalte dentário nos pacientes respiradores orais após a utilização de disjuntor, porém dentro da faixa de normalidade clínica, e um número pequeno de pacientes aumentou o potencial cariogênico durante o tratamento ortodôntico.

Mouth breathing may cause deformities on the dental arch and be a risk factor for caries and periodontal disease; fixed orthodontic appliances compound the problem. AIM: to evaluate mineralization of tooth enamel and the oral cariogenic microbiota of mouth breathers that are using maxillary expanders. MATERIAL AND METHOD: a prospective study of 20 mouth-breathing patients with maxillary atresia, aged from 09 to 13 years. Enamel mineralization was measured using a fluorescence technique, before installing the expander and after its removal. The cariogenic microbiota was evaluated by the No Caries®. The t test (p<0.05) was applied for the statistical analysis, and the oral microbiota was analyzed by incidence. RESULTS: there was a statistically significant difference in the enamel mineralization level after maxillary expansion; the mean value was 3.08. The colorimetric test showed that the caries development potential was reduced in 45 percent, increased in 15 percent, and unaltered in 40 percent after maxillary expander use. CONCLUSION: there was a statistically significant difference in enamel mineralization after maxillary expansion; this difference was within the clinically normal range; the cariogenic potential increased in a small number of patients during orthodontic treatment.

Laser therapy in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity.

Cervical dentine hypersensitivity is the most frequent complaint among reported odontalgias. Thus, this study evaluated the effectiveness of two types of lasers (660 nm wavelength red, and 830 nm wavelength infrared) as dentine desensitizers, as well as both the immediate and late therapeutic effects in individuals 25 to 45 years of age. A total of 40 teeth with cervical exposure were treated in 4 sessions. They were divided into 2 groups according to treatment. A 660 nm wavelength red diode laser and an 830 nm wavelength infrared diode laser were used. Dentine sensitivity to cold nociceptive stimulus was evaluated by means of a pain numeric scale from zero to 10 before each treatment session, at 15 and 30 min after irradiation, and in a follow-up period of 15, 30 and 60 days after the end of treatment. Significant levels of dentinal desensitization were only found in patients ranging in age from 25 to 35 years. The 660 nm red diode laser was more effective than the 830 nm infrared laser and a higher level of desensitization was observed at the 15 and 30 minute post-irradiation examinations. The immediate and late therapeutic effects of the 660 nm red diode laser were more evident in 25-35-year-old patients compared with those of the 830 nm infrared diode laser, in terms of the different age groups.

Laser therapy in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity

A hipersensibilidade dentinária cervical é a queixa mais frequente entre os relatos de odontalgia. Este estudo avaliou a eficácia de dois tipos de lasers, vermelho com 660nm e infravermelho com 830nm de comprimento de onda, como dessensibilizadores dentinários, como também os efeitos terapêuticos imediato e tardio em indivíduos de 25 a 45 anos de idade. Um total de 40 dentes com exposição cervical foram tratados em 4 sessões, divididos em 2 grupos - laser vermelho e infravermelho. A sensibilidade dentinária ao estímulo nociceptivo frio foi avaliada por meio de uma escala numérica de dor, de 0 a 10, antes de cada sessão de tratamento, aos 15 e 30 minutos após a irradiação e num período de seguimento de 15, 30 e 60 dias após o término do tratamento. Níveis significantes de dessensibilização dentinária foram apenas encontrados em pacientes com idade entre 25 a 35 anos. O laser díodo vermelho de 660nm foi mais eficaz comparado com laser infravermelho de 830nm e foi observado um nível mais alto de dessensibilização nas mensurações realizadas aos 15 e 30 minutos após irradiação. O efeito terapêutico imediato e tardio do laser díodo vermelho de 660nm é maior quando comparado com o infravermelho de 830nm em ambas faixas etárias.