Dental Calculus Research Articles

Dental Floss, Calculus, and Jail: Solutions for Fermi Questions, October 2023

Dental Floss, Calculus, and Jail: Solutions for Fermi Questions, October 2023

Dental Floss, Calculus, and Jail

Dental Floss, Calculus, and Jail

Optical Diagnostics in Periodontology

In terms of clinical performance, the conventional methods for diagnosing periodontitis fall short of ideal. By adding optical techniques to ocular inspection and periodontal probing, these procedures can be made better. The minor changes in periodontal tissues that cannot be visually inspected can be identified and measured constantly over a period of time with the help of optical diagnostic techniques. The removal of subgingival microbial biofilms and dental calculus deposits during debridement of teeth and dental implants can be made more efficient by using magnifying loupes, operating microscopes, and cutting-edge methods based on how light interacts with bacterial deposits, such as differential reflectometry and light-induced fluorescence. The absence of ionizing radiation from optical devices, which enables frequent usage on the same patient in clinical practice, is one of the greatest reasons in favor of their use as diagnostic adjuncts. The periodontium’s soft tissues can be examined using three-dimensional scanning, fluorescence spectroscopy, and optical coherence tomography to see how they relate to natural teeth and dental implants. By limiting the under- and overuse of treatment alternatives, an accurate prognosis-determining system would enable a more targeted deployment of finances, enhancing the appropriateness and quality of dental care. The clinical management of people with periodontal disease may be enhanced by a novel approach to periodontal diagnostics.

A water additive with pomegranate can reduce dental plaque and calculus accumulation in dogs.

Oral homecare plays a major part in dental disease prevention but it can be difficult to perform and time-consuming. Furthermore, the product used can be of limited efficiency. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of a water additive to limit the accumulation of plaque and calculus in dogs. Forty dogs were selected and randomly allocated to one of the two groups after scaling and polishing on day 0. The control group received no oral hygiene while the second group received the water additive (Vet Aquadent® FR3SH™, Virbac) every day. After 30 days, plaque and calculus accumulations were evaluated under anesthesia. The Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) was assessed on days 0 and 30. On day 30, the plaque and calculus indices were significantly smaller (p < 0.05) in the Aquadent group compared to the control group with median (Q1-Q3) scores of 1.22 (0.99-1.44) vs. 2.31 (1.65-3.86), respectively for plaque and 0.25 (0.15-0.42) vs. 0.33 (0.32-0.69) for calculus. Between day 0 and day 30, the GBI significantly decreased in the control group [from 0.39 (0.21-0.56) to 0.19 (0.08-0.29)] and in the Aquadent group [from 0.33 (0.18-0.47) to 0.00 (0.00-0.00)] but the decrease was significantly greater in the Aquadent group. These results show for the first time that the water additive tested can reduce dental deposit accumulation in dogs and improve gingival health. It can be recommended after a dental cleaning, especially to owners who are reluctant to provide dental care at home due to a lack of time or convenience.

AKmerBroom: Ancient oral DNA decontamination using Bloom filters on k-mer sets

Dental calculus samples are modeled as a mixture of DNA coming from dental plaque and contaminants. Current computational decontamination methods such as Recentrifuge and DeconSeq require either a reference database or sequenced negative controls, and therefore have limited use cases. We present a reference-free decontamination tool tailored for the removal of contaminant DNA of ancient oral sample called aKmerBroom. Our tool builds a Bloom filter of known ancient and modern oral k-mers, then scans an input set of ancient metagenomic reads using multiple passes to iteratively retain reads likely to be of oral origin. On synthetic data, aKmerBroom achieves over sensitivity and specificity. On real datasets, aKmerBroom shows higher read retainment ( on average) than other methods. We anticipate aKmerBroom will be a valuable tool for the processing of ancient oral samples as it will prevent contaminated datasets from being completely discarded in downstream analyses.

Preclinical in vitro study of streptococcus mutans accumulation in three fixed retainer designs: Microbiological assay.

The use of fixed retainers in the lower arch is frequent; however, its presence increases the accumulation of biofilm and dental calculus. The objective of this research was to evaluate, in vitro, the accumulation of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in 3 designs of fixed retainers. Nine models were reproduced in heat-cured acrylic resin and divided into groups: straight retainer (SR), retainer with vertical strap (RVS), retainer with horizontal strap (RHS). The accumulation of S. mutans was assessed using the MTT assay (3-4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and then measured using an automated reader. The RHS group showed less biofilm accumulation compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The distance between the tooth surface and the retainer showed a strong negative correlation with biofilm accumulation (rs=-0.79, p=0.00037). The RHS showed significantly less accumulation of S. mutans due to the distance between the retainer and the tooth surface. This research provides relevant data for a future randomized clinical trial.

Oral Health Status of Disabled Children and Adolescents in China.

To investigate the dental caries status and periodontal status of disabled children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years in China and provide suggestions for future policies. The cross-sectional survey included disabled children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years in welfare institutions across 10 provinces in eastern, central and western regions in China, between November 2013 and May 2015. Oral health examination included dental caries status and periodontal status. The mean score for decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft/ DMFT) due to caries in primary/permanent dentition, gingival bleeding rate and calculus rate were recorded and statistically evaluated. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA), and the level of statistical significance was P < 0.05. The mean dmft/DMFT values of for groups aged 0 to 5, 6 to 12 and 13 to 18 years were 1.48 ± 3.00, 2.19 ± 2.94 and 1.78 ± 2.93, respectively. The mean scores for the groups aged 0 to 5 (P < 0.05) and 13 to 18 years (P < 0.01) showed a significant difference among different disability types. A significant difference between sexes was found only in the group aged 0 to 5 years (P < 0.05). Gingival bleeding rates were 13.70% for the group aged 0 to 5 years, 24.81% for the group aged 6 to 12 years and 42.06% for the group aged 13 to 18 years, and calculus rates were 5.48%, 22.41% and 47.62% for the three age groups, respectively. The gingival bleeding rate for all three age groups showed a significant difference between different disability types (P < 0.01), whereas calculus rates a showed significant difference only in the groups aged 6 to 12 and 13 to 18 years (P < 0.01). The prevalence of dental caries, gingival bleeding and calculus in disabled children and adolescents in China is high. Disability type was strongly associated with oral health status. Specially designed oral health education and training are necessary for clinical professionals and caregivers.

Co-occurrence of periodontal lesions and dental wear in incisor and masticatory teeth in two sheep flocks in Brazil.

Periodontitis and tooth wear are multifactorial diseases with distinct etiopathogenesis that affect the health, feed efficiency and welfare of sheep. This study evaluated the co-occurrence of tooth wear and periodontal lesions in 129 ewes from two Brazilian flocks, clinically classified the lesions and presence of dental calculus, and identified potential pathogens in the dental biofilm of 63 ewes by polymerase chain reaction. Of the 129 ewes included in the study, 75 presented periodontal lesions, while all animals presented tooth wear and dental calculus. Of the animals with periodontal lesions, 16.2% had lesions in incisor teeth and 52.7% in masticatory teeth. Regarding excessive tooth wear, 38.6% had severe wear on the incisor teeth and 89.1% on the masticatory teeth. Ewes older than 36 months had a higher frequency of periodontal lesions in incisor teeth (p<0.001) and a greater amount of dental calculus (p < 0.001), but there was no association between tooth wear and animal age. Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia and Fusobacterium necrophorum predominated in periodontal lesions. This study is limited by the small sample size and lackof diagnostic imaging to assess periodontal disease. The co-occurrence of periodontal lesions and excessive dental wear involving both the incisor and masticatory teeth suggests that although the two diseases have different aetiologies, they likely have common risk factors.

Extraction Protocol for Parallel Analysis of Proteins and DNA from Ancient Teeth and Dental Calculus.

Dental calculus is becoming a crucial material in the study of past populations with increasing interest in its proteomic and genomic content. Here, we suggest further development of a protocol for analysis of ancient proteins and a combined approach for subsequent ancient DNA extraction. We tested the protocol on recent teeth, and the optimized protocol was applied to ancient tooth to limit the destruction of calculus as it is a precious and irreplaceable source of dietary, microbiological, and ecological information in the archeological context. Finally, the applicability of the protocol was demonstrated on samples of the ancient calculus.

Viability of Anaerobic Bacteria in Dental Sub-Gingival Calculus and Its Minerlization – An Observational Microbiological Study

Background: Dental calculus, a mineralized product of plaque, remains ignored and is considered as a fossilized remnant of minor significance. Dental plaque is still considered as the main culprit in etiopathogenesis of periodontal disease. Several studies suggest that calculus has a porous and spongy nature because of which it may act as a reservoir for endotoxins and bacterial antibodies. However, the viability of bacteria in sub gingival calculus and its role in the pathogenesis and disease progression still remains a mystery. The present study aims to investigate the viability of bacteria within sub-gingival calculus and to assess the degree of mineralization of dental calculus and the variation of viable micro flora corresponding to the extent of mineralization. Materials and Methods: Eighteen samples of sub gingival calculus were harvested from patients with chronic inflammatory periodontal disease. The samples were divided into two groups, Group 1 (non-irradiated) and Group 2 (samples exposed to UV radiation) and Group 3 (samples assessed for mineralization). Group 1 and 2 samples were utilized for anaerobic culture to detect the presence of anaerobic bacteria. Group 3 samples were crushed in a Universal testing machine and mineralization was assessed according to the force required for crushing. Results: All study specimens showed positive bacterial growth under anaerobic conditions. The bacterial cultures revealed decrease in the bacterial count in Group 2 i.e. Irradiated group (I) when compared with Group 1 i.e. Non-irradiated group (NI). The results obtained from computerized Universal Testing Machine showcased varying values required to crush the sub-gingival calculus samples suggesting variation in mineralization of each sample. The correlation between mineralization and viable anaerobic bacterial count revealed an inverse relation. Conclusion: Sub-gingival calculus plays a key role in harbouring pathogenic anaerobic bacteria, owing to its porous ....

Factors associated with oral health care behaviors of pregnant women in a northeastern province in Thailand: A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Oral healthcare behavior leads to oral health status. Factors associated with oral healthcare behavior might affect oral hygiene in pregnant women, who are at high risk for gingivitis and dental caries. This study aimed to explore factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors during pregnancy among pregnant women in a northeastern province of Thailand. A total of 405 pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinics at one of the government hospitals in the province were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Dentists in the hospitals measured pregnant women's gingivitis and dental calculus status using mouth mirrors and explorers. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain variables of interest. Linear regression analysis, Beta and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied. The majority were 20-24 years old (33.6%). Most of the participants had received upper secondary education (37.6%). Majority had gingivitis (88.1%) and dental calculus (88.6%). The findings revealed that age (Beta = -0.129, 95%CI = -0.269, -0.016), educational level (Beta = 0.118, 95% CI = 0.110, 0.183), and oral health literacy (Beta = 0.283, 95% CI = 0.156, 0.319) were statistically significant factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors. Younger pregnant women had better oral healthcare behaviors than older pregnant women and pregnant women had better oral healthcare behaviors due to higher educational levels and oral health literacy. Oral health promotion should be improved through oral health literacy, and interventions should be added to improve oral care skills particularly in older pregnant women as they are at a greater risk for poor oral healthcare behaviors.

Analysis of starch grains trapped in human dental calculus in Áspero, Peru during the Initial Formative Period (3000–1800 BCE)

The objective of this research is to identify the plants consumed and to determine their dietary importance in Áspero, an urban center on the coast of the Supe Valley, Peru. Consequently, starch grains trapped in the human dental calculus of nine individuals were recovered, while the results from one individual from the Sacred City of Caral, located in the interior of Supe Valley, are presented. Eight species of food plants were identified, among them C3 plants: sweet potato, squash, potato, chili pepper, algarrobo, manioc and bean and C4 plant: maize. Previous isotopic analysis indicates that C3 plants formed the foundation of the diet at Áspero and Caral. Our results indicate a high ubiquity of C3 plants like sweet potato (100%) and squash (90%) suggesting, with caution, that these taxa were an important C3 source in the menu. Maize, C4 plant, showed a similar ubiquity (100%) to sweet potato and squash, however, previous isotopic analysis indicate that maize was a marginal food in Áspero and Caral. These results support that the absence and abundance of starch grains cannot be employed to directly infer the frequency of intake of C3 and C4 plants within a small population, as suggested by previous studies.

Oral Health of Rural Cameroonian Children: A Pilot Study in Bamendou.

Access to dental care in Cameroon is a public health issue, particularly for children living in rural areas. Given the lack of recent data, the investigation of children's oral health along with their oral hygiene behavior, needs in terms of care, and access to oral hygiene materials were investigated. This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in Bamendou, Western Region of Cameroon. The study population included 265 children aged 3-18 years who completed a questionnaire about their oral hygiene practices. A clinical examination assessed dental caries, calculus, gingivitis, and oral hygiene. The Chi-squared test was used to identify potential factors influencing caries prevalence rates (significance threshold: p < 0.05). Among the 265 children (females: 41.5%, mean age 9.3 years), caries prevalence (ICDAS ≥ 2) was 78.5% and significantly increased with age: 62.2% (3-6 years), 80.9% (7-11 years) and 84.1% (12-18 years, p = 0.01). Virtually no children (95.1%) had ever visited a dentist. While only 23.4% of children brushed their teeth at least twice a day, 14% worryingly reported the use of products other than toothpaste (ash, soap, salt, or bicarbonate) and 13.6% no brushing product. The present study revealed a high prevalence of dental caries in this population and inadequate toothbrushing habits, which highlights the need for preventive oral health education and intervention to address these issues.

The Impact of the Socioeconomic Status(SES) on the Oral Health Status Among 15 Year-Old School Adolescents In Kerbala City/Iraq

Dental caries, plaque, calculus and gingivitis are the most common and widely spread oral health conditions affecting humans at different ages. Socioeconomic status was reported to be one of the factors affecting the severity of oral diseases. The aim of the study included studying the impact of socioeconomic status on oral health variables and investigating the prevalence and severity of dental caries, gingivitis, dental plaque, and dental calculus and an excellent data baseline for planning future preventive programs. The total sample was composed of 500 male students at 15 years old selected randomly from the secondary schools in Karbala city. Assessment of the socioeconomic status using a questionnaire; information about the student's socioeconomic status (SES) was obtained from the student's guardians. Diagnosis and recording of dental caries were according to the criteria described by WHO (2013). gingival index of Loe and Silness (1963) was followed for recording gingival health condition, the Plaque index of Silness and Loe (1964) was used for plaque assessment, and the assessment of calculus was done by applying the Ramfjord index (1959). A high prevalence of dental caries (95.60%) was found, and the caries-free students represented (4.40%); the caries prevalence and severity represented by (DMFT)(DMFS) respectively and the (FS) component of the DMF were significantly affected by the socioeconomic status (SES), Dental plaque and calculus are more in low SES group than other groups, with no significant differences, The mean of gingivitis of the total sample was(1.908), also finding gingivitis is more in low SES group than other groups with a Significant difference(0.011), and regarding the Gingival severity, all subjects have the moderate type of gingivitis (1.1-2). There is a clear and significant increase in the prevalence of dental caries and gingivitis concerning the socioeconomic status of this adolescent group of students. This requires good dental school health programs and improvement in the education level about the importance of oral health and more regular dental visits. Keywords: Dental caries, oral health, gingivitis, socioeconomic

Starch grains on human teeth as evidence for 4000 BCE potato consumption at the Cruz Verde site, northern coast of Peru

Cruz Verde, located on the north coast of Peru in the Chicama River Basin, is an artificial mound formed by the continuous disposal of food residues between 4200 and 3800 cal. BC. It is a vital archaeological site for understanding the early maritime community that was established in the coastal areas of Peru during the middle Holocene period. Previous studies focusing on animal remains have shown that a wide range of marine resource uses were flexibly maintained in a changing environment. However, the use of plants by coastal fishermen, which has been reported in recent years at other sites in the same region, was not evident at Cruz Verde. This paper reports on an examination of starch grains preserved in the dental calculus of human teeth excavated from the mound at Cruz Verde, which provides direct evidence of the early consumption of cultivated food plants, such as maize (Zea mays), manioc (Manihot esculenta), squash (Cucurbita sp.), and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). Not only did the results indicate early use of maize indicated in previous studies, but they also confirmed that the use of potatoes at the site dates back to at least 4000 cal. BC—the oldest example from the coastal region of Peru. The micro-botanical data from Cruz Verde suggest that fishing and plant cultivation were combined in the development process of early settlement. Furthermore, the data on this earliest potato use in the coastal area are significant because they contribute to the empirical foundation of understanding the early relationship with maritime and highland communities during this period.

High frequency of dental caries and calculus in dentitions from a British medieval town

ObjectiveDental pathology and tooth wear data can offer valuable insights into the diet and behaviour of past populations. This study aimed to investigate the presence of dietary continuity by examining different types of dental pathology and tooth wear in a medieval sample from the United Kingdom, comparing them to earlier and later samples from the same location. DesignA comprehensive examination was conducted on 41 individuals (comprising 914 permanent teeth) retrieved from the medieval cemetery of St. Owens Church in Southgate Street, Gloucester, UK. The research focused on documenting and analysing various types of dental pathology and tooth wear, such as dental caries, calculus, and tooth chipping. The frequency of these specific pathologies and wear patterns was then compared to existing literature. Additionally, non-masticatory tooth wear was also evaluated as part of the study. ResultsThe sample exhibits high levels of carious lesions and calculus (24 % and 74 % of teeth respectively). Anterior teeth also show an elevated chipping frequency, and along with occlusal notches on the maxillary central incisors suggest teeth were regularly used for non-masticatory purposes. ConclusionsCaries frequency is similar to sites from later periods and may relate to the early adoption of consuming refined carbohydrates. However, remains from the same area, but the earlier Roman period, also shows high rates of caries and calculus, suggesting a continuation of consuming certain cariogenic foods, or certain behavioural/environmental factors, may instead be responsible for these pathology and wear patterns.

Bioarchaeological and paleogenomic profiling of the unusual Neolithic burial from Grotta di Pietra Sant’Angelo (Calabria, Italy)

The Neolithic burial of Grotta di Pietra Sant’Angelo (CS) represents a unique archaeological finding for the prehistory of Southern Italy. The unusual placement of the inhumation at a rather high altitude and far from inhabited areas, the lack of funerary equipment and the prone deposition of the body find limited similarities in coeval Italian sites. These elements have prompted wider questions on mortuary customs during the prehistory of Southern Italy. This atypical case requires an interdisciplinary approach aimed to build an integrated bioarchaeological profile of the individual. The paleopathological investigation of the skeletal remains revealed the presence of numerous markers that could be associated with craft activities, suggesting possible interpretations of the individual’s lifestyle. CT analyses, carried out on the maxillary bones, showed the presence of a peculiar type of dental wear, but also a good density of the bone matrix. Biomolecular and micromorphological analyses of dental calculus highlight the presence of a rich Neolithic-like oral microbiome, the composition of which is consistent with the presence pathologies. Finally, paleogenomic data obtained from the individual were compared with ancient and modern Mediterranean populations, including unpublished high-resolution genome-wide data for 20 modern inhabitants of the nearby village of San Lorenzo Bellizzi, which provided interesting insights into the biodemographic landscape of the Neolithic in Southern Italy.

"The Terrors of Kingly Power": The Unusual Dental Pathology of King Pyrrhus of Epirus.

Pyrrhus of Epirus, widely respected and feared by his contemporaries, was a legendary figure in the ancient world. In this paper, we investigate Plutarch's description of the king's unique dental pathology. There are several possibilities to explain the ancient king's presentation, including several different types of developmental dysplasia.However, our conclusion is that it was likely due to a significant dental calculus overgrowth, often seen in the ancient Greek diet of the time. Whatever the underlying cause, Pyrrhus' intimidating visage helped secure the king a legacy that lasts to this day.

Dental disease and dietary patterns in coastal Phoenicia during the Roman period

AbstractThe current paper presents one of the first bioarchaeological studies on dental disease and dietary patterns in coastal Phoenicia during the Roman period, focusing on the dentition of 145 adults from the contemporary and geographically proximal sites of Byblos, Beirut, and Tyre. Pathological conditions of the oral cavity and dental wear were used to assess intra‐assemblage and inter‐assemblage differences. Byblos in almost all instances exhibited higher levels of dental diseases and wear than Beirut and Tyre, suggesting a greater consumption of carbohydrates but also poorer oral hygiene and greater mechanical stress (dental wear) in this community. This difference between Beirut/Tyre and Byblos may be explained by the politico‐economic status of these cities as textual sources highlight the economic and political prowess of Beirut and Tyre due to their status as colonia. In addition, within each assemblage females generally exhibited higher caries (and associated periapical cavities and ante‐mortem tooth loss) than males. Although dental caries may be linked to nondietary factors, these patterns may support a more cariogenic diet for females in agreement with literary accounts reciting gender‐based divisions in Roman society, at least to the extent that these would manifest in dietary patterns. The findings from this study offer important insights into major and understudied communities along the Phoenician coast. Yet, further research is required, employing complementary methods (e.g., isotopic analysis and dental calculus microdebris) and including larger datasets of Roman Phoenician assemblages.

Diagnosis of Epidermoid Carcinoma of the Tongue after Treatment of Epidermoid Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Abstract In the present case report, a patient with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) developed a second primary tumor in the tongue at the same time. Stage III middle esophageal SCC was discovered in a 60-year-old Caucasian male patient who was institutionalized, a smoker, and had previously struggled with alcoholism. Following treatment, the patient was admitted to the hospital for 15 days due to dysphagia and malnutrition. According to him, he had mouth pain while in the hospital. An intraoral examination revealed tooth mobility, bacterial plaque, dental calculus, and a 1.3-cm ulcerated lesion on the right lateral edge of the tongue. During the extraoral examination, no palpable lymph nodes were found in the submandibular or cervical regions. The tongue lesion was excisionally biopsied, and the histological evaluation agreed. The patient was advised to seek treatment for tongue SCC. Given that patients with esophageal SCC have a 9.3%–11.4% risk of developing head-and-neck SCC, multiprofessional follow-up of patients with esophageal SCC is critical for early detection of this cancer.