Antimicrobial activity of various brands of children's toothpastes formulated with Triclosan, Fluoride and Xylitol

Objective: Evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of four different commercially available children’s toothpastes on bacteria growth inhibition from oral microbiota of young children. Material and Method: The toothpastes tested contained: 1100 ppm sodium fluoride, xylitol and 750 ppm sodium fluoride, xylitol and 500 ppm sodium fluoride, and  xylitol and triclosan. Twenty 18 to 30 month-old children were selected. Nonstimulated saliva samples were collected and inoculated on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar. Toothpaste dilutions were applied into the agar wells and incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours in microaerophilic conditions. Saline and 0.12% chlorhexidine were used as controls. Antimicrobial activity was determined in duplicate by agar-well diffusion technique. Bacterial growth inhibition zones were recorded in mm. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). Results: All toothpastes showed antimicrobial activity when compared to negative control (p<0.05). Toothpaste containing triclosan presented the highest antimicrobial activity followed, in this order, by xylitol and 750 ppm sodium fluoride, chlorhexidine, 1100 ppm sodium fluoride, xylitol and 500 ppm sodium fluoride and saline. Conclusions: Toothpaste containing triclosan and xylitol presented excellent antimicrobial activity, and may be considered a good option for young children.Key words: Toothpastes. Oral hygiene. Pediatric Dentistry.    

Pulpotomy of human primary molars with MTA and Portland cement: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This study compared the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Portland cement (PC) as pulp dressing agents in carious primary teeth.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty carious primary mandibular molars of children aged 5-9 years old were randomly assigned to MTA or PC groups, and treated by a conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth were restored with resin modified glass ionomer cement. Clinical and radiographic successes and failures were recorded at 6, 12, 18 and 24-month follow-up.

RESULTS

All pulpotomised teeth were clinically and radiographically successful at all follow-up appointments. Six out of 15 teeth in the PC group and five out of 14 teeth in the MTA group exfoliated throughout the follow-up period. No statistically significant difference regarding dentine bridge formation was found between both groups throughout the follow-up period. As far as pulp canal obliteration is concerned, a statistically significant difference was detected at 6-month follow-up (p <0.05), since the beginning of mineralised material deposition could be radiographically detected in 100% and 57.14% of the teeth treated with PC and MTA, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PC may serve as an effective and less expensive MTA substitute in primary molar pulpotomies. Further studies and longer follow-up assessments are needed.

Knowledge and attitude of parents or caretakers regarding transmissibility of caries disease

Dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease in which mutans streptococci are generally considered to be the main etiological agents. Although the transmissibility of dental caries is relatively well established in the literature, little is known whether information regarding this issue is correctly provided to the population. The present study aimed at evaluating, by means of a questionnaire, the knowledge and usual attitude of 640 parents and caretakers regarding the transmissibility of caries disease. Most interviewed adults did not know the concept of dental caries being an infectious and transmissible disease, and reported the habit of blowing and tasting food, sharing utensils and kissing the children on their mouth. 372 (58.1%) adults reported that their children had already been seen by a dentist, 264 (41.3%) answered that their children had never gone to a dentist, and 4 (0.6%) did not know. When the adults were asked whether their children had already had dental caries, 107 (16.7%) answered yes, 489 (76.4%) answered no, and 44 (6.9%) did not know. Taken together, these data reinforce the need to provide the population with some important information regarding the transmission of dental caries in order to facilitate a more comprehensive approach towards the prevention of the disease.

The effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate, calcium hydroxide and formocresol for pulpotomies in primary teeth

AIM

To compare the effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), calcium hydroxide (CH) and formocresol (FC) as pulp dressing agents in carious primary teeth.

METHODOLOGY

Forty-five primary mandibular molars with dental caries in 23 children [AUTHOR QUERY: How many children?] between 5 and 9 years old were treated by a conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth were randomly assigned to the experimental (CH or MTA) or control (FC) groups. After coronal pulp removal and haemostasis, remaining pulp tissue was covered with MTA paste or CH powder in the experimental groups. In the control group, diluted FC was placed with a cotton pellet over the pulp tissue for 5 min and removed; the pulp tissue was then covered with zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) paste. All teeth were restored with reinforced ZOE base and resin modified glass-ionomer cement. Clinical and radiographic successes and failures were recorded at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 month follow-up.

RESULTS

Forty-three teeth were available for follow-up. In the FC and MTA groups, 100% of the available teeth were clinically and radiographically successful at all follow-up appointments; dentine bridge formation could be detected in 29% of the teeth treated with MTA. In the CH group, 64% of the teeth presented clinical and radiographic failures detected throughout the follow-up period, and internal resorption was a frequent radiographic finding.

CONCLUSIONS

Mineral trioxide aggregate was superior to CH and equally as effective as FC as a pulpotomy dressing in primary mandibular molars. Internal resorption was the most common radiographic finding up to 24 month after pulpotomies performed with CH.

Knowledge and attitude of mothers with regards to emergency management of dental avulsion

Traumatic injuries to the teeth and their supporting structures are frequent in children. Among the traumatic injuries, dental avulsion results in the major functional and esthetic disturbances for patients.

PURPOSE

The present study's aim was to assess the mothers' level of knowledge and attitude concerning dental avulsion.

METHODS

A questionnaire contained 6 objective questions for the assessment of the mothers' knowledge and attitude regarding the management of dental avulsion and emergency procedures.

RESULTS

A total of 242 mothers participated in the study. A lack of technical information was observed among the mothers.

CONCLUSION

This study showed the need of a more effective communication between dental professionals and mothers to better handle dental emergencies. Educational campaigns and preventive programs on dental trauma must be organized to improve the emergency management of dental avulsion.

Mineral trioxide aggregate pulpotomy of a primary second molar in a patient with agenesis of the permanent successor

AIM

To describe a pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate in a primary second molar with no permanent successor.

SUMMARY

Coronal pulpotomy was performed on a carious primary molar with no permanent successor in a 7-year-old child. Follow-up examinations 24 months later revealed that the treatment was successful in preserving the tooth and the vitality of its pulp.

KEY LEARNING POINT

Mineral trioxide aggregate might be considered as an alternative wound dressing for pulpotomy in primary molars, preserving pulp vitality and prolonging the useful life of the tooth.

Complete spontaneous regression of congenital epulis in a baby by 8 months of age

BACKGROUND

This paper describes the case of a 7-day-old girl who was referred to a paediatric dentistry clinic because of the presence of a pedunculated mass protruding from the front of her mouth.

CASE REPORT

The mass was attached to the maxillary alveolus to the right of the midline, and was clinically diagnosed as a congenital epulis. The baby had no airway obstruction and was able to feed well. A conservative treatment was proposed, with monthly follow-up appointments to monitor the lesion.

CONCLUSION

After 8 months, the lesion had completely regressed, meaning that the girl did not have to be exposed to unnecessary surgical procedures in her first few days of life. The eruption of the upper anterior teeth was not affected.