Dental status of Portuguese HIV+ patients and related variables: a multivariate analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the dental status of 101 Portuguese HIV+ subjects aged 22-71 years (mean = 39) and its association with clinical, socioeconomic, and behavioral variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A calibrated dentist performed clinical examination and collected data on dental caries, periodontal status, dental plaque levels, prosthetic conditions, and need. The volunteers completed questionnaires on socioeconomic and behavioral variables as well as the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Univariate and multiple logistic regression (MLR) analyses were performed. RESULTS: The mean number of decayed, missing or filled teeth index (DMFT index) was 16.44, standard deviation (s.d.) = 8.42. MLR demonstrated that salaried employee and those with OHIP-14 median (=17). As regards prosthetic status, 28.8% of the examined individuals used dental prosthesis. MLR demonstrated that HIV+ with DMFT >17 or those who knew they were HIV-positive for longer than 5 years were more prone to need dental prostheses. The mean OHIP-14 index was 5.83 (s.d. = 7.79). CONCLUSIONS: The dental health status of HIV-infected Portuguese patients was unsatisfactory and related to clinical, socioeconomic, and behavioral variables.

Distribution and prevalence of dental caries in Bauru, Brazil, 1976-2006.

AIMS: To compare caries prevalence and severity, as well as the disease distribution in the permanent dentition of 12-year-old schoolchildren in Bauru, Brazil, from 1976 to 2006. METHODS: Probabilistic samples were obtained in six surveys, from 1976 to 2006, which were conducted by calibrated examiners, following the same protocol. For data analysis, the DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth), Significant Caries Index (SiC Index), percentage of caries-free children, Gini Coefficient and Care Index were determined. RESULTS: The means (SD) for DMFT were 9.89 (3.96), 6.98 (3.80), 4.30 (3.11), 4.29(3.44), 1.53(2.07), and 0.90(1.53) in 1976, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2006, respectively. Except for years 1990 and 1995 and also for 2001 and 2006, there were statistically significant differences in mean DMFT among the surveys (p < 0.05). The number of caries-free children (DMFT=0), which has significantly increased over the years (p < 0.001), ranged from 0.4% in 1976 to 63.8% in 2006. The SiC Indexes were 14.34, 11.42, 7.74, 8.06, 3.89, and 2.63; the Care Index were 31.9%, 57.4%, 68.7%, 50.5%, 66.4%, and 56.3%; and the Gini Coefficients were 0.23, 0.30, 0.39, 0.43, 0.66, and 0.76 in the surveys. CONCLUSION: Dental caries experience and prevalence in 12-year-old schoolchildren have declined significantly during the last 30 years in Bauru.

Combined effects of carbon dioxide laser and fluoride on demineralized primary enamel: an in vitro study.

This in vitro study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a CO(2) laser (10.6 microm) alone or combined with acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) on the inhibition of lesion progression in primary enamel. The specimens were treated with/without CO(2) laser and/or APF and submitted to pH cycling. Microhardness analysis was performed and the enamel mineral loss values were obtained. The groups treated with laser and/or APF presented lower mineral loss when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Laser irradiation alone or combined with APF decreased lesion progression in primary enamel. However, the combined treatment did not show any significant additional effect.