Dental caries and Cariostat test in preschool children

The aim of this study was to investigate the caries status and susceptibility of children in preschool age. Sixty one children ages between 3 to 5 years (mean age 4.38 +/- 0.71) participated in this study. Caries status was assessed according to WHO criteria, and caries susceptibility by using the Cariostat test. The mean df-t was found to be 2.28 +/- 0.71 (df-s 6.26 +/- 11.92) and 31 children were caries-free. Cariostat scores were 1.75, 2.00, 2.16 in the 3, 4, and 5 year age groups respectively. There were no significant differences in caries status or Cariostat scores between boys and girls. The df-t for the 5 year age group was significantly higher than that for the 3 year age groups (p < 0.05). The test found 77% of the children to have a high caries risk (Cariostat score > 2.0).     

Caries extreme groups among adolescents, leaving organised dental care in G?teborg, Sweden

The aim was--in a longitudinal respect--to study whether 15-year-old children, in caries-free groups, and groups with high frequency of carious lesions, had a stable caries development from 15 to 19 years of age, when they left the organised Public Dental Care. Caries index values were analysed for the period 1986/7-1990/1 for patients born 1971-72 and residing in G?teborg. The groups of caries-free children seemed to be stable in their dental health in about 60-70% according to the prevalence indices used; and about 80% according to the incidence index DS-a. The caries prevalence index mean values of the 15-year-old patient groups with high frequencies of lesions showed between 1.5 to 3.5 percentile units higher mean values when the individuals were 19 years of age. However, the corresponding caries incidence index values were as low as half the size, indicating a possible treatment effect of the caries prevention programme used. Related to the DFS-a index, the 20% groups with the highest caries index values were registered for about 80% of all approximal lesions, of special interest for dental care costs.     

The diabetic heart is more sensitive to ischemic injury

A review of the literature on the impact of dental care on the incidence of dental caries in children and adults suggests that the effect is small. Dental services were relatively unimportant in explaining the recent decline in caries in 5- and 12-year-olds. An important contribution of the dental services to the decline in caries was a change in the diagnostic and treatment criteria. The role of dentistry in reducing dental caries may lie mainly in the non-personal health services. Knowledge of the life history and patterns of caries attack rates within populations and individuals could be used as a benchmark against which interventions can be assessed. Different teeth and tooth sites are affected differentially at different levels of dental caries. This truism may appear obvious but it is not used to evaluate the effectiveness and quality of dental treatment. A working rule is that "As caries prevalence falls, the least susceptible sites (proximal and smooth surfaces) reduce by the greatest proportion, while the most susceptible sites (occlusal) reduce by the smallest proportion." There is a specific relationship between the mean DMFT and mean DMFS, and the percentage of caries-free subjects and the frequency distribution of subjects with different levels of caries. Further more, the best predictor of caries at older ages is DMFT at a younger age. Caries levels follow trend lines for each level of caries. As the mean DMFT declines so post-eruptive time increases for initiation of caries and the progression rates of caries through enamel decreases. This is true regardless of the presence of fluoride.     

Nursing caries and lactose intolerance

Caries is associated with fermentable carbohydrates in the diet. Dietary content can be related to personal and cultural preferences, availability of food, or physiologic tolerances. Twenty-seven percent of black children ages 12 to 24 months, in the Baltimore area were reported with symptoms of lactose intolerance. The incidence of lactose intolerance increased to 33 percent by age six years. At the same time, clinical observations of this same population suggested a high prevalence of nursing caries. One purpose of this study was to determine whether parents of black children with nursing caries perceived in their children more severe symptoms of lactose intolerance, which they related to milk products, than did parents of caries-free black children. A second purpose was to determine whether there were differences in feeding habits and types of fluids given children with nursing caries compared with caries-free children. A questionnaire concerning symptoms consistent with lactose intolerance, feeding habits, and fluid-selection was administered to the following groups: parents of 30 black children, ages 18 to 54 months, who were caries-free and parents of 30 black children, ages 18 to 54 months, diagnosed with nursing caries. Chi-square analysis or t-test analysis were performed on results accepting p < 0.05 as significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Oral health profile of schoolchildren, mothers and schoolteachers in Zanzibar

The piped water of Kuopio, Finland, was fluoridated in 1959. Owing to strong opposition by different civic groups, water fluoridation was stopped at the end of 1992. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the consequences of the discontinuation on dental health. METHODS: In 1992 and 1995, independent random samples of all children aged 6, 9, 12 and 15 years were drawn from Kuopio and Jyv?skyl?, a nearby low fluoride town whose distribution of demographic and socio-economic characteristics was fairly similar to Kuopio's. The total number of subjects examined was 550 in 1992 and 1198 in 1995. Caries was registered clinically and radiographically by the same two calibrated dentists in both towns. RESULTS: In 1992, the mean DMFS values were lower in the fluoridated town for the two older age groups, the percentage differences for 12- and 15-year-olds being 37% and 29%, respectively. For the two younger age groups no meaningful differences could be found. In 1995, the only difference with possible clinical significance was found in the 15-year-olds in favor of the fluoridated town (18%). In 1995, a decline in caries was seen in the two older age groups in the nonfluoridated town. In spite of discontinued water fluoridation, no indication of an increasing trend of caries could be found in Kuopio. The mean numbers of fluoride varnish and sealant applications decreased sharply in both towns between 1992 and 1995. In spite of that caries declined. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the decline of caries has little to do with professional preventive measures performed in dental clinics.     

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A controlled, double-blind trial on 42 children showed that a dentrifrice containing 0,25% fluorine clearly prevented caries when used continuously for 2 years. This effects was greater than that of a similar toothpaste containing fluorine. Tolerance was excellent.     

Night-to-night variability in CPAP use over the first three months of treatment

Caries of the pits and fissures of permanent teeth continues to be a problem for children, newly erupted permanent molars being particularly at risk. Oral hygiene measures have been shown to be able to reduce the incidence of caries. The aim of this study was to compare the caries-preventive effects on newly erupted first permanent molars of a professional tooth cleaning and oral health education program (test) with a standard preventive program (control), comprising selective fissure sealing and application of topical fluorides. School Dental Service clinics of the Health Department of Western Australia, in Perth, were assigned to four test or four control clinics. Schoolchildren, mean age 6.3 +/- 0.3 (s) years with sound, newly erupted first permanent molars were included in the study (207 test, 197 control). After 12 months, 186 test and 163 control children were examined by an examiner who was 'blind' to the test or control status of the children. Caries of the first permanent molars developed in 34 test and 35 control children; the estimated risk ratio was 0.86 (95% CI 0.56, 1.30). Children in the test group had an average DFT score of 0.26 +/- 0.62 compared with 0.29 +/- 0.64 DFT in the control group (t-test, P = 0.67). The 12-month results suggest that there was no statistically significant difference between the caries-preventive effects of a professional tooth cleaning and oral health education program and a program based on selective fissure sealing and application of topical fluorides.     

Therapeutic effects of the blood-activating and stasis-reducing method in 80 cases of coronary heart disease

Caries risk assessment is a relatively simple, yet cost effective method to evaluate the oral condition likely to produce carious lesions in both children and adults. This procedure can also indicate current caries activity in a patient. The assessment can provide the foundation for a scientifically-based preventive dental practice. The cost and contents of two different caries risk assessment kits are discussed.     

What physicians should currently observe in the area of dental health

Several factors govern the development of human dental caries. The actual caries incidence in children depends greatly on fluoride consumption, reduction of fermentable sugar intake (in favour of the use of sugar substitutes), dental health habits and regular dental check-ups. A significant reduction of dental caries in children and young adults is achieved in many countries following these principles. However, there remains a group, about 25%, with a particularly high incidence of caries. Today, efforts are directed at detecting these risk subjects. Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli are the main causative bacteria of human dental caries. The initiation of dental caries is preceded by colonisation of the dentition by S. mutans, usually in early childhood. The early establishment of these bacteria in the mouth of human infants is dependent on intrafamilial--mainly maternal--transmission of saliva. The higher the level of S. mutans in the maternal saliva, the more likely is the colonisation of primary dentition by cariogenic bacteria. The earlier the colonisation, the higher the incidence of caries. Today we have new diagnostic aids: Simple microbiological tests to detect the individuals with high salivary levels of these cariogenic bacteria, so called SM-millionaires. The tests are also a good educational aid for motivating patients to individual prophylaxis. What could a paediatrician or gynaecologist do to help the dentist? He could inform the parents early enough to avoid saliva contacts. For example, the mother should not take the child's spoon or pacifier in her mouth. The dentist meets the children much later, at an age where they already have caries. The older methods, mentioned at the begin, are also still valuable.     

Enhanced anticaries efficacy of a 0.243% sodium fluoride/10% xylitol/silica dentifrice: 3-year clinical results

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a sodium fluoride (NaF)/silica/xylitol dentifrice compared with that of a positive control NaF/silica dentifrice on caries increments in school children over a 3-year period in an area without an optimal level of fluoride in the drinking water (mean level <0.1 ppm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 3-year, double-blind clinical caries study was conducted in 2,630 children initially aged 8-10 years at 17 schools in the San Jose, Costa Rica metropolitan area. Clinical dental examinations were performed at participating schools utilizing portable dental equipment. Caries evaluations employed conventional tactile/visual methodology consisting of artificial light, dental mirrors and single-edge #23 explorers. Children accepted into the study were stratified by age and sex into two balanced groups within each school, and randomly assigned to use either a positive control dentifrice containing 0.243% NaF/silica or a test dentifrice containing 0.234% NaF/silica/10% xylitol. Children were instructed to brush with the assigned dentifrice twice daily. Caries evaluations were conducted at baseline, 2 years, and 3 years. RESULTS: After 3 years, subjects using the 0.234% NaF/silica/10% xylitol dentifrice had statistically significantly reduced decayed/filled surfaces (DFS; -12.3% reduction; P < or = 0.001) and decayed/filled buccal and lingual surfaces (DFS-BL; -10.5% reduction; P < or = 0/01).     

Dental caries in nineteenth century upper Canada

This study examines the presence of dental caries in a large sample of adult skeletons from the 19th century cemetery of St. Thomas' Anglican Church in Belleville, Ontario. The cemetery was used from 1821 to 1874. Caries prevalence and frequencies of diseased and missing teeth were calculated both by observing summary statistics of individual rates and by the total sample of teeth. Postmortem tooth loss is low in this sample and antemortem tooth loss is highest in first mandibular molars, all other molars and then premolars. Age at death, but not sex, was found to be significantly related to the overall Caries Rate while both age and sex were significantly associated with the Diseased-Missing Index. The increase in diseased and missing teeth in older individuals is expected while the sex difference is not explained by simple dietary factors. When compared to reports on British and American samples, caries and antemortem tooth loss in the St. Thomas' sample is most similar to a pre-1850 British group and higher than American samples. Although there is undoubtedly a complex of factors contributing to caries prevalence in this sample, more data are required from large historic samples, particularly from the American northeast and late 19th century Britain, to have a clearer understanding of the influence of diet, cultural, and environmental factors affecting caries rates in historic populations.     

Effects of eleutherococcus, elton, leuzea, and leveton on the blood coagulation system during training in athletes

Three hermetics are assessed: chemically hardened Delton, light-hardened Estiseal, and composite Evikrol. The study was carried out in 126 children aged 6 years. The decrease of the increment of dental caries depends on the retention of hermetics on the occlusion surface of the teeth, and the efficacy of caries prevention in permanent teeth is much higher if hermetic sealing of fissures and fossae is combined with local fluorine prophylaxis and oral hygiene. All types of hermetics can be used to prevent permanent teeth caries, but chemically hardened ones should be preferred.     

Estimation of the caries-related risk associated with infant formulas

PURPOSE: Baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) affects 6% of children under three years of age and is associated with inappropriate bottle use. The objective of this study was to estimate the caries-related risk associated with 26 infant formulas and whole milk. METHODS: First, the plaque pH of adult volunteers was monitored before and after an oral rinse with infant formula to determine the minimum pH obtained in response to each formula. Second, Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 was cultured in each infant formula, and the increase in the number of colony forming units was measured. Third, each infant formula was incubated with powdered enamel and the solubility of enamel mineral was calculated in the absence of bacteria. Fourth, each formula was mixed with standardized concentrations of acid to determine the buffering capabilities. Finally, enamel windows were created on extracted permanent molars and exfoliated primary incisor crowns that were then colonized with mutans streptococci and incubated with infant formula. Caries was assessed visually and radiographically for 18 weeks. The length of time required for the development of enamel caries, dentinal caries and pulpal involvement was recorded. RESULTS: One-way or two-way ANOVA of these five assays demonstrated that 1. Plaque pH varied in response to oral rinsing with infant formula and most formulas did have the ability to reduce the pH significantly below the pH obtained after rinsing with water 2. Some infant formulas supported significant bacterial growth 3. Enamel mineral was dissolved by incubation with certain infant formula 4. The buffer capacity varied among the infant formulas tested 5. The length of time required for caries to reach dentin or pulp differed for the formulas, with some formulas causing dentinal caries by 3.4 weeks and pulpal involvement by 7.2 weeks.     

The effectiveness of a school-based fluoride mouth rinse programme

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of unsupervised weekly fluoride mouth rinsing (FMR) with 10 mls of 0.2 per cent sodium fluoride on the caries increment of permanent teeth in schoolchildren aged 6-12 years over a 3 year period. Caries was assessed using DMFT and DMFS indices (WHO, 1987). Over 2000 children from 4 schools in the Johannesburg area were selected at baseline. For analysis purposes pupils were pooled into 2 groups, those who received and those who did not receive the FMR. There were significant differences in mean decayed scores after 3 years. The percentage caries reduction achieved with the FMR was approximately 15 per cent. Reductions of up to 30 per cent have been recorded in previous studies of this nature. The overall caries reduction for this study period can be considered low.     

RNA editing, introns and evolution

Caries activity tests are an essential part of any programme concerned with the study or treatment of dental caries. Most of the caries activity tests require expensive kits or specially prepared media or facilities for incubation which limits their use in clinical practice. The present study sample consisted of twenty five children with dental caries and twenty five controls, free of caries, gingivitis and other oral ailments. The test is simple and consists of rinsing the mouth with 10 ml of sterile milk, 3 ml of which is mixed with 0.12 ml of 0.1% methylene blue dye and observed for colour change. The present study demonstrated the potential uses of this test in a pediatric dental clinic setup.     

The efficacy and safety of dorzolamide as adjunctive therapy to timolol maleate gellan solution in patients with elevated intraocular pressure. Additivity Study Group

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of rehardening of caries lesions in children in Southern China taking part in a preventive programme. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SAMPLE AND METHODS: A prevention programme was established for 168 3-6-year-old children in a kindergarten (KG1), which included regular oral health education sessions and a daily toothbrushing exercise using fluoridated toothpaste (1000 ppm F). A group of 121 children studying in two other kindergartens without a preventive programme formed the controls. Due to lack of resources and dental personnel, restorative and other curative treatments were not provided. RESULTS: Rehardening of dentine caries (arrested caries) was found in children in both test and control groups. At the third annual examination, 45% of the caries lesions on the proximal surfaces of primary anterior teeth in KG1 children found at the baseline and previous annual examinations had become arrested. A multiple linear regression analysis indicated that baseline ds score and its interactions with the prevention programme, gender and the child's oral hygiene all had significant effect on the number of tooth surfaces with arrested caries at the third annual examination. CONCLUSION: Results from this study support the use of simple prevention programmes to stabilize the caries situation in communities where intensive use of trained dental personnel is not feasible.     

A comparison of the effects of different concentrations of fluoride in the drinking water in different parts of Port Elizabeth and Despatch: a first report

Since April 1993 a part of Port Elizabeth and the surrounding areas have been receiving water from the Orange river, containing on average 0.62 ppm fluoride, while the rest is still receiving water which contains < 0.1 ppm. During August 1994 a survey was done to determine whether the increased levels of fluoride in the Orange river water influenced the caries experience of school children using it. Schools in high, middle and low socio-economic areas in both areas were randomly identified and a random sample of 6-, 12- and 15-year-old children from these schools were examined for caries experience, using the 1987 WHO methodology and criteria for the diagnosis. Results of the survey show that the caries experience in the permanent dentition of 12- and 15-year-old children respectively are 14.0 per cent and 7.8 per cent less in the areas receiving Orange river water, while in the primary dentition at age 6 it is 17.2 per cent higher. This study shows that after only 16 months the use of fluoride containing water may have benefitted the permanent dentition of 12- and 15-year-old children. However the primary dentition of 6-year-old children showed a negative effect.     

Salivary lactobacilli explain dental caries better than salivary mutants streptococci in 4-5-year-old children

The present comparative study was undertaken to determine which of the bacteria, lactobacilli (lbc) and mutans streptococci (ms), in saliva better explains the variation of caries in 2728 South African 4-5-yr-old children. Caries was diagnosed according to WHO criteria. For lbc, the Dentocult system was used. The number of ms in stimulated saliva was counted on MSB agar plates. For correction of confounding factors, data on the frequency of intake of sweets were derived from extensive interviews. Oral hygiene was determined according to the simplified debris index of Greene & Vermillion. Simple correlation analyses between dmfs and bacterial counts were done for the total material and for three caries intervals by calculating Spearman's and Pearson's coefficients of correlation. Multivariate regression analyses were done on all intervals to correct for the confounding effects of regular intake of sweets, presence of salivary ms or lbc, and oral hygiene. Of the children, 68% had detectable lbc in the saliva, and 74% had ms. Except for children with more than 6 dmfs, the explanatory values, i.e., percentage of variation in dmfs explained, were higher for the lbc than for ms. Before correction, the values for the total material were 15 vs 6%; for children with caries, 7 vs 5%; for those with 1-6 dmfs, 5 vs 0.4%; and for those with more than 6 dmfs, 0.3 vs 2%. All r-values were reduced after correction, indicating that the confounders explain some of the correlation between dmfs and bacterial count.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cancer of the larynx: correlation of clinical characteristics, site of origin, stage, histology and diagnostic delay

Fluoride mouthrinses have generally proved to be effective in controlling caries in clinical studies. Caries reductions in North American studies have averaged about 30%. Large-scale school-based mouthrinse programs conducted during the 1970s, however, used historical controls at a time when caries rates were now known to be declining. Post-hoc analysis of the absolute (not relative) caries reductions in these studies showed that school-based fluoride mouthrinse programs were of questionable benefit from a cost standpoint. Fluoride mouthrinses have been shown to reduce demineralization and enhance remineralization of enamel adjacent to orthodontic bands and brackets. Benefits in adults have been less well documented. Use of fluoride mouthrinses by young children is discouraged until they have mastery of their swallowing reflexes. This paper recommends the use of fluoride mouthrinses for patients at increased or high risk for dental caries, but cautions that school-based programs be undertaken only in communities with a high population caries rate.     

Fluorine intake of a Tibetan population

Measurements of food consumption of randomly selected families and fluorine levels in food and beverages were used to calculate the fluorine intake of Tibetan people living in nomadic or semi-nomadic areas of the region and regularly consuming brick tea both as a beverage and in food. The fluorine intake of these groups (children 5.49-7.62 mg day; adults 10.43-14.48 mg/day) was much higher than that of members of a Han population living in the region (children 1.44 mg/day; adults 2.54 mg/day). The amounts of fluorine consumed by the Tibetan inhabitants are at least twice the WHO suggested limit (2 mg/day). Tea plants are rich in fluorine, and the highest levels are found in older leaves which are used to make brick tea. We conclude that brick tea is the major source of fluorine intake by the Tibetan population studied.