Evaluation of fluoride varnish treatment of postorthodontic white spot lesions by visual inspection and laser fluorescence-A randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVES

White spot lesions (WSLs), as a side effect of orthodontic therapy, can be treated with fluoride varnish, with the difference in efficiency reported.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with buccal WSLs were consecutively included in a randomized controlled double-blind study. At first inspection and at three follow-ups over 6 months, 0.1% fluoride varnish and placebo (water) were applied in the test group (N = 21) and control group (N = 21), respectively. The maximum laser fluorescence value (LFV) of WSLs was recorded using DIAGNOdent. Between the groups, differences in the mean numbers of WSLs and the mean LFV of WSLs per patient at different time points were analyzed with mixed-design analysis of variance. Orthodontic therapy duration (OTD) was included in the model as a covariate.

RESULTS

A decrease in the mean WSLs number and LFV was observed; however, there were no significant differences between study groups at any time point. OTD was in interaction only with LFV. Analysis showed a different pattern of mean LFV changes for patients with OTD of >48 months compared to patients with OTD of ≤24.

CONCLUSION

The changes in numbers of WSLs and LFV over the study period indicated regression of WSLs, but an additional effect of FV was not confirmed.

Peri-implant soft tissue contour after stepwise replacement of missing and ankylotic central maxillary incisors in young adult: A clinical case report

Replantation and retention of ankylosed tooth after pubertal growth spurt enables stepwise replacement of both central incisors with implants. Partial extraction contributes to natural gingival contour.

Occurrence of Dental Injuries and Periodontal Complications in Tongue-piercing Jewellery Users

PURPOSE

Tongue piercing (TP) has been gaining in popularity, mainly among adolescents and young adults, and there has been a corresponding increase in reports of dental injury and adverse effects on periodontal tissue due to TP jewellery. The purpose of this study was to assess the type and prevalence of dental injury and periodontal complications in a group of Slovenian adolescents and young adults with TP in comparison with a control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This case-control study included 17 subjects with TP (study group) and 28 subjects without TP (control group). Subjects were clinically examined for dental injuries, as classified according to Andreasen. Periodontal complications were evaluated using an estimation of clinical attachment loss (CAL) and gingival recession (GR). Differences in categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-squared or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Differences between the groups in numerical variables were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. A multiple logistic regression model was built to test the association between dental injuries and TP when controlling for cofounders, namely age and gender of study participants. The significance level was set at α = 0.05 (two-tailed).

RESULTS

Subjects with TP had 12.2 higher odds of dental injury (CI = 2.2-67.7, p = 0.004) compared with subjects without TP. Enamel fractures were more prevalent in the study group (p = 0.002). Frequencies of other dental injuries in the two groups were similar. GR was significantly associated with TP (p = 0.008), while differences in CAL between the groups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Subjects with tongue piercing had more dental injuries and gingival recession.

The history of public health use of fluorides in caries prevention

AIM

The aim of our study was to chronologically analyse various public health measures of fluoride use in caries prevention.

METHODS

We systematically searched the PubMed database on the preventive role of fluorides in public health, published from 1984 to 2014. The search process was divided into four steps, where inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. Qualitative methodology was used for the article analysis. In the research process, the described forms of F use, diversity of the described F agents, and the observed population group were analysed.

RESULTS

In our systematic review, 40 relevant reviews were revealed. Fluorides have been used in many different forms, but only a few studies showed their significant role in public health. Water fluoridation was the most important public health measure. In the recent decades, the number of studies on topical fluorides is constantly rising. The most extensively described topical forms of fluorides are professionally applied fluoride agents and fluoride toothpaste for home-use. The use of fluoride containing toothpaste in caries prevention is a safe and successful public health measure (PHM) if their use is widespread, and it is recommended for all. The results on other topical forms of fluorides are insufficient to be suggested as an important PHM.

CONCLUSIONS

The role of fluorides in public health prevention has changed in accordance with the knowledge about the fluoride cariostatic mechanism. Previously the most important pre-eruptive effect of fluorides was supplemented by the post eruptive effect. Abundant evidence exists to show the effectiveness of systemic and topical fluorides.