Filled Surfaces Index Research Articles

Selected Salivary Constituents , Physical Properties and Nutritional Status in Relation to Dental Caries among 4 - 5 Year's Old Children : Comparative Study

Background: Tooth decay is still one of most common diseases of childhood, child’s primary teeth are important even though they aretemporary. This study was conducted to assess the physiochemical characteristic of saliva among caries experience preschool children and compared them with caries free matching in age and gender. Then an evaluation was done about these salivary characteristics to dental caries and evaluated the relation of body mass index to dental caries and to salivary variables. Materials and method: After examination 360 children aged 4-5 years of both gender. Caries-experiences was recorded according to dmfs index by (World Health Organization criteria 1987) during pilot study children with caries experience was divided in to three groups according to decay fraction of decay missing filled surfaces index .Mild with decay surfaces 13 and select thirty children with moderate caries experience and compared with thirty caries free children decay missing filled surfaces=0 match in age and gender. Nutritional status of each child was assessed by measuring weight and height to calculate body mass index. Unstimulated saliva collected from sixty child under standardized condition and potential hydrogen and flow rate were measured. Total antioxidant concentration, total protein, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, zinc and copper were measured. Results: Statistically highly significant differences were found in concentration of salivary calcium and inorganic phosphorus between caries-experience and caries free children with higher mean value among caries free group. Statistically significant differences were found in concentration of salivary zinc between groups. Statistically non-significant differences were found in concentration of salivary total antioxidant, total protein, copper and body mass index between caries experience and caries free groups.Salivary flow rate and PH showed statistical non-significant differences between groups. Positive non-significant correlation was found between dmfs index, (ds) fraction of dmfs index and salivary flow rate, total antioxidant and negative correlation with salivary PH, total protein, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and copper. Positive a non-significant correlation was found between BMI, salivary flow rate, PH, total antioxidant, zinc and copper while a negative weak correlation found with dmfs, ds fraction of index and salivary total protein, calcium and inorganic phosphorus in caries experience group. Furthermore a non-significant positive correlation was found between BMI, salivary flow rate, PH, total antioxidant inaddition to that negative weak correlation was found with salivary total protein, calcium inorganic phosphorus, zinc and copper among caries free group. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that inorganic components of saliva play an important role in reminerlization of incipient caries and there is an inverse association between body mass index and dental caries.

Problematic eating and its association with early childhood caries among 46-71-month-old children using Children′s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ): A cross sectional study

Problematic eating behavior in children presents a wide spectrum from anorexia, selective eating, and fussy eating to neophobia. Pouching of food and slow eating represents eating behavioral problems that may be relevant to pediatric dentist as far as early childhood caries (ECC) is concerned. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of problematic eating and its association with ECC among 46-71-month-old children in Bengaluru city, India. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 250 children aged 46-71 months old in various schools of Bengaluru city. All the selected children were clinically examined for dental caries using decayed, missing, filled surfaces index. Children's eating behavior was assessed using Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) which was filled by the parents. Both descriptive statistics as well as Chi-square test was used with SPSS 16.00. The prevalence of dental caries was found to be 34%. It was observed that 81.6% of the children did not have a tendency to keep food in their mouth all the time and ECC was found to be significantly less. Furthermore, approximately 90% of the children did not have a tendency to eat too much and in those, 68% of them were caries free which was statistically significant. Prevalence of ECC was highest (52.6%) in children who ate more when they had nothing else to do. Problematic eating behavior is prevalent in the preschooler group and needs to be considered by the pediatric dentist.

Oral Health Status In Relation To Salivary IgA And Antioxidants Among A Group Of Gasoline Stations Workers

Ba ckground: Workers of gasoline stations have the potential to be exposed to hazardous substances that are present in the occu- pational environment like gasoline vapors which is carcinogenic to the humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary IgA and salivary antioxidants and the relationship of these variables to oral health status among workers in gasoline stations. Mate rials and methods: 44 males aged (33-39 year) were enrolled in this study, 23 of them were workers in gasoline station for at least five years and 21 healthy males were control group matching the workers in age. Stimulated saliva was collected and sub- jected to biochemical analysis for detection of salivary IgA and antioxidants (uric acid, magnesium and zinc ions). Oral health status was evaluated by using decayed, missing and filled surface index (DMFS), plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI), calculus index (CalI) and periodontal pocket depth (PPD). Results: Salivary IgA was lower for the study group compared to the control group with highly significant difference(P 0.05).In contrast the level of salivary zinc was higher for the control group than the study group with no significant difference. Regarding oral health status, DMFS, PlI, GI, CalI and PPD index were higher for study group compared with control group although the differences were not significant except for CalI which was highly significant (P<0.01). In general, not significant correlation were found between salivary variables and the other oral parameters for the two groups. Con clusions: Gasoline workers stations were associated with decrease salivary IgA and increase salivary antioxidant (except zinc ) this may explain the increase in caries experience and periodontal diseases among those workers.

Dental caries and salivary Interleukin-6 among preterm postpartum women in relation to baby birth weight (Comparative study)

The physiologic, biochemical and anatomic changes that occur during pregnancy are extensive and may be systemic or local. However, most of these changes return to pre pregnancy status six weeks postpartum. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of dental caries among preterm postpartum women and it's relation to baby birth weight and salivary interleukin-6 (IL-6). Materials and methods: 66 postpartum women were examined, 33 preterm postpartum women (study group) and 33 full term postpartum women (control group). Dental caries was recorded using, decayed, missing and filled surfaces index, also assess the decayed lesion by severity. Salivary samples were taken from all subjects to estimate salivary IL- 6 levels. Babies' birth weight also was measured. Results: Data of the present study showed a higher caries severity among study group compared to control group, with no statistically significant difference (P> 0.05). For both groups, the initial decayed surface D 2 was the lightest value for both groups. While the deep frank cavitations D 4 was the lowest in study group with no data recording among control group. The result revealed highly significant difference in baby birth weight between the two groups. The correlation between DS and salivary IL-6 was highly significant, and a significant correlation noticed between D3 and salivary IL-6 in study group. In control group, a highly significant positive correlation was detected between baby birth weight and DMFS, and a significant correlation was obscured between baby birth weight with decayed surface, also a significant correlation was found between salivary IL-6 and decayed surface in the same group. Conclusion: During pregnancy, a woman may be particularly amenable to disease prevention and health promotion interventions that could enhance her oral health on that of her infant's, due to the potential associations between oral health and preterm delivery and baby birth weight. Keywords; Dental caries, salivary IL-6, preterm postpartum women, baby birth weight. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2013;

Comparison of different caries diagnostic thresholds under epidemiological and clinical settings among 7-15 year old school children from Bangalore city.

Aim:The aim of this study is to compare the different caries diagnostic thresholds under epidemiological and clinical settings among 7-15 year old school children.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 7-15 years old school children of Bangalore city. Total 738 children were enrolled in the study. General information was collected regarding oral hygiene practice and personal habits of the schoolchildren. Subsequently, examination was done under both the settings to record Decayed, missing and filled surfaces index for permanent teeth (DMFS) and Decayed, missing and filled surfaces index for deciduous teeth (dmfs) using the World Health Organization (WHO) and WHO + IL criteria.Results:The present study showed that both the settings (clinical and epidemiological) and diagnostic thresholds (WHO and WHO + IL), could influence the detection of carious lesions. Mean Ds under WHO + Initial lesions (IL) criteria (3.92 + 3.49) was nearly double of WHO criteria (1.88 + 2.73,) and the influence observed was more in 14 years of age, where mean Ds under WHO + IL criteria (5.43 + 2.5) which was more than double of WHO criteria (2.02 + 1.9).Conclusion:The choice of a diagnostic threshold (WHO and WHO + IL) and the conditions of examination (epidemiological and clinical) are important for the detection of caries.

The effect of two different bracket types on the salivary levels of S mutans and S sobrinus in the early phase of orthodontic treatment

To determine the difference in the levels of Streptococcus mutans and S sobrinus in stimulated saliva in orthodontic patients with different bracket types (stainless steel and esthetic brackets) using polymerase chain reaction and cultivation method. Thirty-two patients, aged 13 to 30 years, were selected following these criteria: 1) orthodontic treatment indication, 2) systemic health, and 3) no tobacco and antibiotic consummation for three months prior to the commencement of the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the bracket type; 16 patients formed the conventional bracket group (stainless steel brackets), and 16 patients formed the esthetic bracket group (plastic brackets). The levels of S mutans and S sobrinus in stimulated whole saliva samples were collected prior to fixed orthodontic appliance placement (T1) and 12 weeks after placement (T2), as were the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surface Index (DMFS) and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S). Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Statistical analysis (chi-square test) showed no difference in S mutans and S sobrinus counts among patients with different brackets at either T1 or T2. There was no difference in total bacteria counts after fixed orthodontic appliance placement. The number of colony-forming units of S mutans and S sobrinus in stimulated saliva samples does not seem to be significantly different between patients with stainless steel brackets and patients with plastic brackets.

Effectiveness of chlorhexidine varnish for preventing caries uncertain

Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and reference lists of reviews. Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials with blind outcome assessment and a minimum duration of 1 year comparing chlorhexidine varnish to placebo, no treatment or fluoride varnish were included. Split-mouth trials were included but analysed separately. The primary outcome measure was the caries increment determined using the decayed missing and filled surface (DMFS/dmfs) index. Only trials where caries were assessed by visual/visual-tactile or radiographic methods were included. Data were extracted by one author and verified by a second. It was planned to present the results graphically in a forest plot and formally assess statistical heterogeneity. However, due to missing data and variation in the reporting of outcomes, this was not possible. Consequently a narrative summary of the results is presented with parallel-group and split-mouth trials considered separately. Heterogeneity was assessed informally. 12 trials were included (eight parallel group, four split-mouth trials) There was considerable variation between trials in the concentration and frequency of application of the chlorhexidine varnish, in baseline caries levels and in background exposure to fluoride. Six parallel group trials reported no statistically significant difference in caries increment in permanent teeth with the application of chlorhexidine varnish compared to placebo or no treatment. The results of 4 split-mouth trials were conflicting: 2 trials found no significant difference in caries increment and 2 reported statistically significant results in favour of chlorhexidine varnish. One trial of the effect of chlorhexidine varnish in primary teeth demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in caries increment. The results of 1 trial comparing chlorhexidine varnish with fluoride varnish for preventing caries in adolescents were equivocal. Evidence regarding the effectiveness of chlorhexidine varnish for preventing caries is inconclusive. Further well-conducted randomised trials are required before chlorhexidine varnish can be recommended for caries prevention.

A Health Education Program for Brazilian Public Schoolchildren: The Effects on Dental Health Practice and Oral Health Awareness

Determine the impact of an oral health education program on oral hygiene and the awareness level of elementary schoolchildren. A total sample of 247 schoolchildren between the ages of 7 and 15 years from the public school system of Parnamirim, Brazil, were selected and randomly allocated to a control (n=115) and experimental (n=132) group. Sociodemographic data were recorded and a clinical examination was given to establish the decayed, missing and filled surfaces index (DMFS) and the dmfs index. The visible plaque index (VPI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) were collected before and after the intervention. A closed-question questionnaire was applied to the schoolchildren before and after intervention to determine their knowledge of oral health. The experimental group took part in oral health education activities over a 4-month period. The VPI (P = 0.014; CI 0.24-0.86) and GBI (P = 0.013; CI 0.28-0.87) of the experimental group were significantly lower after educational activities. Similarly, the experimental group also obtained a higher number of correct answers on the questionnaire (P < 0.0001; CI 3.73-26.81). However, there was no association between oral hygiene indicators, VPI (P = 0.311; CI 0.23-1.60), and GBI (P = 0.927; CI 0.43-2.16), and the information level of the schoolchildren. Contextualized educational activities in the school routine had positive effects on oral hygiene and the level of information about oral health, although the more informed individuals did not always practice better oral hygiene.

Caries Risk Profiles in Orthodontic Patients at Follow-Up Using Cariogram

To analyze caries-related factors shortly after orthodontic treatment and to use the Cariogram computer program to describe caries risk profiles at follow-up in these patients. One hundred orthodontic patients age 12-29 years, with a mean age of 17.5 years, were included in the study. They were divided into two groups (50 in each) based on their prebonding decayed, filled surfaces index (DFS). High (5 > or = DFS) and low (2 < or = DFS) groups were created. All patients were examined after debonding in the following order: interview, plaque score, caries examination, saliva samples, bitewing radiographs, panoramic radiographs, and intra-oral digital photos. All types of carious lesions in both the enamel and dentine were diagnosed clinically and radiographically and included in the DFS index. A paraffin-stimulated whole saliva sample was collected for estimations of secretion rate, buffer capacity, and number of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. The low caries group (2 < or = DFS) displayed a statistically significant difference and low values for the following factors, DFS (P < .001), lactobacilli (P < .001), mutans streptococci (P < .001), and high Cariogram percent (P < .001). The plaque index displayed very close significance (P = .051). Patients with high (5 > or = DFS) numbers before orthodontic treatment ran a higher risk of developing caries. They had significantly higher numbers of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli and had less chance of avoiding new cavities according to the Cariogram.

Prevalence of Dental Anxiety in 7- to 11-Year-Old Children and Its Relationship to Dental Caries

Objectives: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to evaluate the level of fear of dental procedures among schoolchildren and assess the relationship between caries experience and fear of dental procedures. Subjects and Methods: 275 children aged 7–11 years were recruited for the study. Before conducting a dental examination, each subject was asked to independently complete a Children’s Fear Survey Schedule – Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) questionnaire. Children having a score of ≥38 were included in the group ‘with dental fear’ while those scoring <38 were placed in the ‘without dental fear’ group. All dental examinations were performed on the school premises according to WHO criteria. Results: Mean CFSS-DS value was 28.1, and the number of children who experienced dental fear was 40 (14.5%). It was found that Decayed, Missing and Filled Surface Index (DMFS-dfs) increased significantly with increasing CFSS-DS values. Fear scores were highest for ‘Choking’ (3.3), ‘Injections’ (2.6) and ‘Having somebody put instruments in their mouth’ (2.6). No significant differences in fear scores between boys and girls were found in this study. Conclusions: The data showed prevalence of dental fear in the 7–11-year-old children of this study. Dental fear scores decreased with increasing age.

An in vivo investigation of associations between saliva properties, caries prevalence and potential lesion activity in an adult UK population

Objective To investigate associations between prevalence and activity of intra-oral incipient, carious lesions and salivary properties tested using the Saliva Check kit (GC Corp., Belgium). Methods With ethical approval, 58 subjects with >16 teeth underwent clinical/radiographic examination. Conventional decayed, missing, filled teeth/decayed, missing, filled surfaces (DMFT/DMFS) indices and a more recently developed visual index described by International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) were used to ascertain caries prevalence. Potential lesion activity was scored using an Ekstrand visual index. Saliva properties tested included hydration, resting pH, stimulated flow and buffering capacity. Spearman's rank correlation was used to analyse data. Results No saliva parameters correlated significantly with DMFT/DMFS caries prevalence scores (D3 threshold). The resting pH correlated negatively and significantly with the total number of lesions ( r = −0.267, p = 0.043), with ICDAS scores >1 ( r = −0.333, p = 0.011) and with mild lesions ( r = −0.263, p = 0.046). A negative correlation was found between saliva buffering capacity and the potential activity of moderate lesions (ICDAS 3 and 4; r = −0.227, p = 0.035). Conclusions There appeared to be a correlation between the resting pH of saliva and the prevalence of early lesions as well as the saliva buffering capacity and the potential lesion activity of moderate lesions. A difference was shown between lesion prevalence calculated using traditional DMFT(S) D3 versus the ICDAS D1 thresholding.

Risk factors for dental caries in children with cerebral palsy.

This study was conducted to examine the oral condition and the salivary and microbiological parameters associated with dental caries in 62 children with cerebral palsy, who came from households of low socioeconomic status (Study Group). This group had mixed (6 to 11 years old) and permanent (11 to 16 years old) dentition. Dental examinations were performed to measure dental caries, plaque index, salivary levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, salivary flow rate, pH of stimulated saliva, and buffer capacity of saliva. A group of 67 non-handicapped children from similar socioeconomic backgrounds also were examined using these parameters (Control Group). Data were analyzed statistically by non-parametric tests and by correlation. The results showed that children with cerebral palsy who had permanent dentitions had a higher mean decayed, missing and filled surfaces index, as well as a higher plaque index for both sexes. Microbiological examination revealed higher levels of mutans streptococci among Study Group subjects with mixed dentition than in the Control Group. Also, lactobacillus counts were higher in the Study Group, regardless of sex or dentition. With respect to salivary flow rate, pH and buffering capacity, lower mean values were obtained for the Study Group.

An empirical test of the validity of the Oral Health Status Index (OHSI) on a minority population.

Disease varies in different populations based on sociodemographic variables, and there is limited understanding of this interaction. The purpose of this methodological study was to determine the validity of the Oral Health Status Index, a disease-based index, on a Hispanic population by comparing it with the NIDCR epidemiological measures of disease, with the addition of demographic and behavioral variables. The epidemiologic data were collected according to the criteria defined by the NIDCR, including: a modified Decayed Missing Filled Surfaces Index, gingival inflammation, calculus, and destructive periodontal disease measures. The demographic and behavioral variables were gathered from 240 interviews with Hispanic adults in two community clinics. Bivariate analysis was used to determine relationships between the descriptive epidemiologic, demographic, and behavioral variables and the Oral Health Status Index (OHSI). There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in mean OHSI scores among the demographic variables age, education, income, and place of birth; and the behavioral variables alcohol consumption, flossing, and acculturation. Multiple regression analysis with the OHSI as the dependent variable showed that the statistically significant (p < 0.001) epidemiologic predictors were: percentage of Decayed Teeth/Decayed, Filled Teeth; Number of Replaced Teeth/Missing Teeth; and millimeters of mesial attachment loss. These collectively explained 47.49% of the variance in the regression. The addition of demographic variables to the epidemiologic regression identified age (p < 0.05), gender (p < 0.01), and place of birth (p < 0.01) as significant predictors that explained an additional 4.12% of the variance, collectively bringing the total explained variance to 51.61%. The behavioral variables did not contribute significantly to predicting the OHSI regression score. The Oral Health Status Index in this study is validated by its correlation with both the epidemiologic measures and the demographic variables. This combination of variables separated the Hispanics into Mexicans and Central/South Americans.

The Association of Basic Proline-rich Peptides from Human Parotid Gland Secretions with Caries Experience

To address whether there are associations between the peptide composition of human parotid saliva and dental decay (caries) experience, we have characterized the peptides from parotid ductal saliva collected from nine adults who have remained free from dental caries (mean age = 59.2; Decayed Missing Filled Surfaces index [DMFS] = 0) and nine individuals who have experienced caries (mean age = 51.2; mean DMFS = 38.4). Ethanol-soluble peptides were size-fractionated on columns of Bio-Gel P-2; the salivary peptides derived from caries-susceptible subjects appeared larger than those found in the saliva of caries-free subjects. Peptides were then resolved into 19 species by cation exchange HPLC. Sequence analysis identified 18 peptides that appear to be proteolytic cleavage products of the basic proline-rich proteins IB-4, IB-5, IB-7, IB-8b, and P-B. The peptides that were more abundant in saliva obtained from the caries-free group differed from those isolated from the caries-susceptible group. The median peptide concentration of one possible precursor protein, IB-7, was found to be higher in saliva collected from caries-free individuals than in that from caries-susceptible individuals. Although differences were found in the phenotypes of proline-rich proteins expressed by these groups of caries-free and caries-susceptible subjects, no statistically significant associations were observed among proline-rich phenotypes and the level of any peptide. Collectively, our results indicate that proteolytic processing of parotid salivary proteins differs among individuals who have remained caries-free and those who have experienced dental decay.