Prevalence Of Caries Research Articles

Altered Surrogate Markers of Inflammation in Perinatal HIV-Exposed Children with Caries.

Dental caries is associated with immunologic response, yet its association with hematologic parameters and inflammatory markers is unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between some surrogate markers of inflammation and dental caries in the context of perinatal exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This cross-sectional study involved 2 groups of children aged 4 to 11 y who were (1) HIV exposed but uninfected (HEU) and (2) HIV unexposed/uninfected (HUU) and recruited from HIV pediatric and child outpatient clinics, respectively, at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Medical records were reviewed, and trained dentists conducted oral and dental examinations. Five milliliters of EDTA blood was obtained and used for CD4 and CD8 and complete blood analysis, from which other inflammatory markers such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), CD4/CD8 ratio were calculated using referenced formulas. In total, 245 (125 HEU and 120 HUU) children with a mean (standard deviation) age of 7 (2) y were included in this study. No differences in caries experience were observed in both groups of children (38 children [16%] were caries affected; 19 [16%] and 19 [15%] from the HEU and HUU groups, respectively). Examining the relationship between studied inflammatory markers and caries showed that leucocyte counts were slightly lower in caries-affected children compared with their caries-free counterparts (P = 0.05). Lower levels of neutrophils (P = 0.04) and higher levels of lymphocytes (P = 0.02) were associated with caries prevalence. Although not significant, NLR, PLR, and SII were lower in caries-affected children. Caries is associated with leucocytes and some of its subsets in both groups of children and independent of perinatal HIV exposure, highlighting the potential of evaluating inflammatory markers in caries prevention, treatment, and research. This study provides evidence that a relationship exists between dental caries, HIV exposure, and inflammation using affordable methods and advocates the inclusion of these markers in caries care in resource-limited settings.

Awareness, Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Professionals Regarding the Role of CPP-ACP in Caries Prevention – A Questionnaire study

Background The goal of modern dentistry is to manage non- cavitated caries lesions non-invasively through remineralization in an attempt to prevent disease progression and improve aesthetics, strength, and function. CPP-ACP provides a new direction to preventive dentistry.  Aim To assess the knowledge and attitude among the dentists regarding CPP-ACP as a preventive paradigm.  Material and methods 250 dentists were included in the questionnaire survey. The questionnaire contained 21 close-ended questions. Validated questionnaire on google forms was circulated among the participants via social media. Data from Google forms was entered into excel sheets and SPSS 23 software was used for inferential analysis.  Results Among the 250 dentists, 123 were postgraduates, 83 were general practitioners and 44 were interns. The Postgraduate practitioners (49%) had better knowledge about the basics of CPP-ACP followed by general practitioners (33%) and interns (18%).  Conclusion Most of the dentists are aware about CPP-ACP as a remineralizing agent, but its use is limited in their practice.CPP-ACP should be integrated in the dental practice and newer protocols should be formulated to include CPP-ACP as a preventive strategy in caries prevention.

Preventive oral healthcare for children: towards appropriate care

In recent decades, oral healthcare has shifted from curation to prevention. Preventive oral healthcare for children consists mainly of oral health education to improve health behaviors and clinical prevention such as fissure sealants, application of fluoride varnish, removal of supragingival plaque and dental polishing. In addition, the periodic clinical examination is an important preventive instrument. These 5 preventive interventions for children up to 12 years of age can be discussed using the principles of 'appropriate care'. Appropriate care is an approach of the Dutch government to ensure the accessibility, quality and affordability of care in the Netherlands. Central to the approach are the effectiveness, efficiency and patient-centeredness of care. This article describes to what extent preventive oral healthcare meets these principles based on literature, care consumption data and recommendations from the clinical guidelines 'Oral care for children: prevention and treatment of dental caries' and the 'Advice on Caries Prevention' by the Ivory Cross, a Dutch scientific association for oral health. Appropriate oral healthcare is best served by care that is tailored to both the individual oral disease burden of the patient and their risk of disease as well as to the wishes of the patient.

Is fluoride the best we've got? The most common toothpaste active ingredients and their influence on caries and oral health: A brief review of the literature

Aim of the study Toothpaste is a paste or gel to be used with a toothbrush to maintain and improve oral health and aesthetics. Nowadays there is a great variety of ingredients that might have different effects on caries development or oral health in general. Society continues to seek ways to replace fluoride or include more natural ingredients in everyday hygiene products. The aim of our study is to present current knowledge of various ingredients in toothpastes regarding their influence on teeth and intraoral soft tissues and the possibility of replacing fluoride with other substances. Material and methods Our review is based on the analysis of materials collected in„Pubmed”, „Google Scholar” and other scientific articles using keywords: „toothpaste”, „fluoride”, „ingredients”, “hydroxyapatite”, „chlorhexidine”, “triclosan”, “propolis”, “aloe vera”, “charcoal”, “oleanolic acid”, “SLS”, “xylitol” Conclusions Despite numerous studies, there is space for further research in finding substances that might improve toothpastes with or without extracting fluoride from them. Fluoride has the most proven effectiveness in caries prevention, with fluorosis as its most damaging side effect, while hydroxyapatite shows promising results. Although, there are many substances that might be useful in oral health care products.

Dental caries among over 1.5 million records of schoolchildren in Singapore, 2007 - 2019: age-period-cohort effect analyses.

This study aimed to examine the effects of age, period (historical events), and cohort (generational impact) - APC on caries prevalence and mean DMFT among Singapore schoolchildren from 2007 to 2019. Anonymized records of all 6-year-old Primary 1 (P1), 11-year-old Primary 6 (P6), and 14-year-old Secondary 3 (S3) students before the start of each school year between 2007 and 2019 were extracted from the Integrated Dental Electronic Assessment System (IDEAS), categorised by school level, ethnicity, and sex. Poisson regression and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regressions were applied to estimate APC effects. In total, 502339 P1, 535579 P6, and 496725 S3 records were included from 2007 to 2019, with 1058589 (69.0%) Chinese, 187948 (12.2%) Malay, and 152618 (9.9%) Indian students; 245447 (48.8%) P1, 259389 (48.4%) P6, and 243941 (49.1%) S3 students were girls. Overall, the APC effects on caries prevalence and mean DMFT showed a strong age effect, with the lowest prevalence in the youngest P1 group and the highest in the oldest S3 group. Period and cohort effects were identified, with the prevalence decreasing among those born after 1995 and the lowest prevalence rate in 2013. Similarly, period and cohort effects on mean DMFT were also detected, with decreased mean DMFT after period 2009 and the highest mean DMFT (0.72 in P6 and 1.13 in S3) in cohort 1995. Caries prevalence and DMFT increased with age. While both decreased in individuals born after 1995, mean DMFT began to rise again in those born after 2003.

Oral health status and factors associated with oral health of primary school children in Gulu district, northern Uganda

BackgroundGlobally, oral diseases remain a major public health problem. However, there is limited information about the oral health status and factors associated with oral disease among children in Uganda. The aim of this study was to examine the oral health status and factors associated with oral health of primary school children in urban and rural areas of the Gulu district of northern Uganda.MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 356 school children aged 11–13 years attending six schools located in urban and rural areas. The children received a clinical oral examination and participated in a questionnaire survey that collected information on sociodemographic and oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices. All data were entered and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp statistical software. Logistic regression analyses examined factors associated with dental caries and gingival bleeding.ResultsOf the 356 children (11–13 years) included, the mean age was 12.2 years, 140 (39.3%) were male and 176 (49.4%) were from urban areas. The proportion of school children with dental caries was 33.6% (n = 119), with the mean decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of 0.81 (25th percentile = 0; 75th percentile = 1.00). There was no significant difference in caries prevalence between rural and urban children (31.6% versus 35.6%, p = 0.33). Of the children involved in the study, 141(39.8%) had gum bleeding. The mean oral knowledge score was 2.85 ± 1.53 (range, 0–7), while the mean attitude, hygiene practice, frequency of sweets consumption, and oral health related impact scores were 4.25 ± 1.23 (range, 1–6), 5.40 ± 1.81 (range, 0–9), 25.66 ± 4.29 (range 9–54) and 2.1 ± 1.65 (range, 0–6), respectively. Using logistic regression analyses, as oral health knowledge score increased the odds of not having dental caries increased (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.02–1.39).ConclusionThe prevalence of dental caries and gum bleeding of primary school children in Gulu district is high. Children lacked knowledge on causes of oral disease, and behaviour towards oral disease prevention. In addition, oral health knowledge scores were significantly associated with dental caries. Oral health education programs in schools should emphasise providing skills-based education.

Content analysis of fluoride-related posts on Instagram

BackgroundThe Internet and social media have become many people’s primary sources of health information. Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, and users spend a significant amount of time daily on the platform. Therefore, analyzing oral health-related information shared online can help to identify the requirements of specific groups, assisting in the planning and execution of educational public health actions. As a result, this study was carried out to conduct a qualitative evaluation of fluoride-related content on Instagram in 2022–2023.MethodsUsing hashtags associated with fluoride, a search was conducted on the Instagram application in the Persian language. All fluoride-containing posts were saved, and data was collected thrice at two-month intervals. MAXQDA software version 2020 was used to categorize the collected data content based on type, quality, and quantity.ResultsThe qualitative analysis included 1565 (9.45%) posts with fluoride-related content out of 16,475 total posts. After removing the duplicates, 400 posts remained, among which 282 posts (70.5%) and 118 posts (29.5%) were pro- and anti-fluoride, respectively. After qualitative analysis, 270 codes were examined and categorized into three main themes and eight subthemes: “fluoride sources,” “The advantages and disadvantages of fluoride,” and “Invalid beliefs about fluoride.”ConclusionThe frequency of pro-fluoride use was higher than anti-fluoride posts. However, due to the high prevalence of posts containing false information on fluoride toxicity for health, ineffectiveness on caries prevention, and conspiracy theories, there is a need to improve the quality of information on fluoride by providing scientific and unbiased explanations by professionals online or during dental visits and supervising social media content.

Why Is Caries Prevention in Children So Difficult? A Narrative Opinion.

Caries is among the most common non-communicable diseases worldwide, yet it is commonly described as preventable. Caries prevention is, however, difficult and complex, since the disease has strong social, parental, behavioral, political, medical/genetic, and psychological elements, and the payment models are targeted at traditional conservative care. The aim of this paper is to discuss some key issues that make caries prevention in children be perceived as "difficult": i) the communication gap between researchers and clinicians, creating unrealistic expectations of intervention efficacy; ii) the skewed distribution of caries and the problem of reaching children with the highest need; iii) limited access to care, which is a threat to oral health, in particular in low-socioeconomic-status, underserviced, and remote communities; and iv) the need to adopt behavior change models to affect the modifiable risk factors that are shared with other non-communicable diseases. Dentists cannot simply rely on fluoride exposure; proper education and training in caries risk assessment, behavior change models targeted at oral hygiene and sugar intake, and collaboration with primary healthcare and local school authorities are avenues that aid in caries prevention and reduce the uneven burden of the disease. Online education and mobile apps may help to promote oral health in areas with shortages of dental work force.

Unequal smiles: consequences of untreated dental caries in citizens living in vulnerable circumstances in the Netherlands: an exploratory pilot study.

The often poor oral health status of socioeconomically vulnerable adults is widely recognised. Nevertheless, research on it is scarce. To address this gap, this exploratory pilot study aimed to report on the prevalence of untreated caries and its clinical odontogenic consequences, as well as the associated Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in a marginalised adult Dutch population. The Dutch department of Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) included socioeconomically vulnerable (low socioeconomic position [SEP]) adults in the Netherlands through community organisations. The validated Deprivation in Primary Care Questionnaire (DiPCare-Q) was translated in Dutch and used to characterise the SEP of the population. To document untreated caries and severe odontogenic consequences, the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Permanent Teeth) and PUFA (Pulpal, Fistula, Ulceration, Abscess) index were used. The validated Dutch Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14) was used to document the impact of these issues on OHRQoL. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS® (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) statistics (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney-U-test) and STATA software. Data from 59 adult participants were analysed. The prevalence of untreated caries (DT ≥ 1) was 65.5%, 57.9% of which experienced severe odontogenic consequences (DT+PUFA). The prevalence of severe odontogenic consequences (PUFA ≥ 1) was 45.5%. The mean OHIP-14 score of 17.7 ± 13.4 (25th-75th percentile: 6-26) illustrated that untreated caries may have impact on OHRQoL. Individuals who experienced any severe odontogenic consequences from untreated caries reported significantly higher OHIP-14 scores (mean ± s.d.: 21.8 ± 14.8 vs.11.1 ± 7.2). The untreated caries and severe odontogenic consequences seen in a large number of the socioeconomically vulnerable adult participants seemed to have an impact on OHRQoL. These findings emphasise the urgency of including these adults in the professional oral health system for treatment and prevention, and may emphasise the necessity of improving the socioeconomic circumstances of this population. Further exploration of the exact barriers and facilitators to oral healthcare access for socioeconomically vulnerable adults is necessary.

Study Of Association Between Dental Caries And Nutritional Status Among Children Attending OPD Of A Tertiary Care Center - A Retrospective Study

Aim: The purpose is to study the association between nutritional status and dental carries in children attending outpatient department of a tertiary care centre. Materials and methods: A total of 342 children aged up to 16 years attending the department of District Early Intervention and Care (DEIC) of a Government Medical College and Hospital were selected for this study. The nutritional status was evaluated using BMI for age and converted into Z score by plotting into age and gender specific WHO growth charts. Dental caries status was recorded according to WHO criteria. The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of underweight was 49.2% and prevalence of dental caries was 61.7%. Significant association between Caries and undernutrition was noted in ages between 2 to 10 years. Conclusion: Undernutrition is a risk factor for dental caries. It is important to identify and determine all the factors leading to undernutrition in children especially aged 2 to 10 and execute action plans for timely diagnosis and intervention.

The Impact of School-Based Caries Prevention Programs on DMFT Scores and Oral Health Behaviors in School Children

Oral health promotion is recognized as one of the fundamental components of health-promoting schools. However, few studies have demonstrated the efficacy of supportive school environments for school children’s Oral health. This systematic review evaluates the impact of school-based caries prevention programs on DMFT scores and Oral health behaviours in school children. Objective: To evaluate the impact of school-based caries prevention programs on DMFT Scores and Oral Health Behaviors in school children. Methods: Databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Springer, and Science Direct were searched from January 2009 to February 2024. Prisma guidelines were followed; 1, 950 studies were identified on the first search, titles, and abstracts of 500 papers were screened, 500 full-text papers were screened for eligibility, and 25 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were evaluated, relevant information was extracted, and a systematic review was conducted. Twenty-five studies were included in the systematic review. Results: These results indicate the significant role of SCPP among school-going children. Children with school-based caries prevention programs compared to those with no school-based caries prevention programs showed improved DMFT scores, reduced caries increment, healthy oral health behaviours, consistent Oral health hygienic habits, frequent use of flossing, fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinsing, and increased caries prevention knowledge. Conclusions: It was concluded that based on the pooled results, school-based caries prevention programs provide better, easily accessible, and sustainable caries prevention activities to school children to improve DMFT scores and Oral health behaviours.

ОЦЕНКА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ НЕИНВАЗИВНЫХ МЕТОДОВ ЛЕЧЕНИЯ НАЧАЛЬНОГО КАРИЕСА ЗУБОВ

The issue of treatment and prevention of dental caries doesn’t lose its relevance in the modern world since its prevalence reaches almost 100%. Basically treatment of dental caries is carried out by removal of affected tissues with further filling of the formed cavity with filling material. However, initial caries can be cured using non-invasive methods such as remineralization therapy, dental fluoridation and infiltration method. The purpose of the study is to compare the effectiveness of treating initial caries. Materials and methods: there were 46 patients 18-24 years old with a diagnosis K02.0 Caries limited to enamel (initial caries) under our supervision. The subjects were divided into 3 groups depending on the chosen non-invasive treatment method. Patients of group 1 (16 people) were prescribed a course of remineralizing therapy, group 2 (18 people) – application of fluoride-containing gel to demineralized areas of the teeth, and patients of group 3 (12 people) were treated with the infiltration method for initial caries. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed by the presence of external changes in the surface of the teeth, probing and duration of treatment. Results and discussion: after patients of group 1 completed the course of remineralizing therapy with gel “GC Tooth Mousse” there were no visual changes in the demineralized areas of the teeth; in some subjects roughness during probing disappeared. Patients of group 2 underwent fluoridation of enamel – no therapeutic effect was noted. Subjects of group 3 were treated with the infiltration method for initial caries; high efficiency was demonstrated. Conclusion: the most effective non-invasive method of treating initial caries is the infiltration method; remineralization therapy and fluoridation are recommended for the prevention of dental caries but not for its treatment.

SmilesUp text message intervention for early childhood dental caries prevention: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Despite improvements in health outcomes for children, early childhood dental caries (ECC) remains a chronic lifestyle-mediated disease that affects an estimated 600 million children worldwide. Parental influence on oral health-promoting behaviours is pivotal in preventing ECC. The latest WHO publications Ending Early Childhood Dental Caries and Mobile Technologies for Oral Health highlights the opportunity for mobile Health programs (including text message programs) to improve oral health behaviours and oral health self-efficacy. In response, our team of parents, oral health professionals (academics and health promotion experts), and IT specialists co-designed a 12-week, behavioural theory-informed text message program (called SmilesUp) to address behavioural risk factors specific to ECC. This randomised trial aims to assess whether the SmilesUp program improves parents' oral health promoting behaviours (like tooth brushing twice a day with toothpaste) and oral health self-efficacy for their children compared to usual care. A randomised controlled trial with a 1:1 parallel design will be conducted among 150 parents with children diagnosed with ECC and accessing public dental care in NSW, Australia. Patients will be stratified by hospital site, and modality of care (Dental General Anaesthetic (DGA) or not) and then randomly assigned to either immediately receive the SMILESup text messaging intervention or receive the program at the end of the study period. The primary outcome at 12 weeks is twice daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Secondary outcomes include changes in the intake frequency of sugared drinks and foods, oral health promoting bedtime routines and oral health self-efficacy. The primary analysis will follow an intention-to-treat principle. In addition, a process evaluation will examine barriers, enablers, and opportunities to scale the program. Ethics approval has been obtained from the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee 2022/ETH01920. Study results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. Trial registration number: This clinical trial has been prospectively registered on the ANZCTR from the 27th of March 2023. Registration number: ACTRN12623000325606.

EvoraPlus Oral Probiotic Tablet: New paradigm for Caries Prevention in Children

EvoraPlus Oral Probiotic Tablet: New paradigm for Caries Prevention in Children

Eruption and caries status of first permanent molars in children aged 6–7 years in Shijingshan District, Beijing, China

BackgroundDental caries is still a major disease that affect the oral health of people in China. First permanent molars (FPMs) are the most caries-susceptible teeth among school-aged children. The aim of this study was to investigate the eruption and caries status of first permanent molars in children aged 6–7 years in Shijingshan District, Beijing, China, to provide information for oral health promotion.Methods The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 6-7-year-old first grade children from public elementary schools in Shijingshan District, Beijing. Participants were invited to receive a clinical oral examination. The eruption status and caries experience of FPMs were recorded. Questionnaires assessing children’s sociodemographic information and oral health-related behaviors were completed by the children’s parents or guardians.ResultsA total of 3,176 children, including 1,644 boys (51.8%) and 1,532 girls (48.2%) were included in the oral examination and questionnaire. Eruption status of FPMs was as follows: 37.5% fully erupted, 28.3% partially erupted, 34.2% not erupted. Girls had more erupted FPMs than boys (70.1% VS 61.8%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of dental caries in FPMs was 5.5% (174/3,176) in studied children. The mean decayed missing filled teeth score of FPMs was 0.11 and the mean decayed missing filled surface score of FPMs was 0.19. Binary Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that girls had more tooth decay than boys and father’s educational background also associated with the caries experience of the studied children (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAround two-thirds of FPMs were fully erupted or partially erupted among children aged 6–7 years old in Shijingshan District, Beijing. Approximately 5% of the newly erupted FPM established dental caries. Effective intervention should be applied in this age group for oral health promotion.

The strategic role of biotics in dental caries prevention: A scoping review

The strategic role of biotics in dental caries prevention: A scoping review

Assessment of Refractive Errors, Dental Caries, and Scoliosis in School Children Aged 6-14 Years: A Study in Durrës Schools

This study aims to assess the prevalence of refractive errors, dental caries, and scoliosis in children aged 6-14 years across several primary and secondary schools in the city of Durrës. The sample includes 370 students from "Vincenc Prendushi", "Nënë Tereza", "Vasil Ziu", "Abedin Dino", and "Bajram Curri" schools. Each school was selected randomly. From each school we have selected different classes and students for further evaluation. Each student underwent a clinical examination to evaluate vision, oral health, and postural status. Refractive errors were assessed using Snellen chart table placed in 6 meters. Dental caries was evaluated through clinical inspection of the teeth, using the DMFT index (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth). Scoliosis was diagnosed through physical examination and the Adams forward bend test, done in physiotherapy lab of Aleksander Moisiu University. The results provide insight into the risk factors and the need for early interventions to improve the overall health of children in this age group. Out of the 370 students, 28% (104 students) were found to have refractive errors, with myopia being the most common condition, affecting 17% (63 students), followed by hyperopia in 9% (33 students), and astigmatism in 2% (8 students). A total of 42% (155 students) exhibited signs of dental caries, with an average DMFT score of 2.8, indicating a moderate level of oral health concerns. Additionally, 12% (45 students) were diagnosed with scoliosis, with mild curvature observed in 8% (30 students) and moderate to severe curvature in 4% (15 students). These findings suggest a significant need for vision correction, oral health education, and orthopedic monitoring in the student population. Early detection and preventive measures in schools are crucial to addressing these health issues effectively and ensuring the well-being of children during their developmental years.

Introducing the Index of Caries Risk (ICR): A Comparative Study on a Novel Tool for Caries Risk Assessment in Pediatric Patients.

Background: The prevalence of dental caries presents a global public challenge, particularly in children. Traditional caries risk assessment tools like Cariogram are effective but often complex and resource intensive. The aim of the present study was to introduce, for the first time, a newly designed caries risk assessment (CRA) tool named Index of Caries Risk (ICR) and to evaluate its efficacy for pediatric patients. Methods: This observational study was conducted at the University Hospital of Siena (Italy), involving 55 children aged 6 to 12 years. Participants were assessed using both the newly developed ICR and the well-known Cariogram tool. The data were collected by two calibrated operators. The ICR was compared with the Cariogram tool, and a descriptive analysis and a Pearson correlation coefficient were performed. Results: Results indicated a strong positive correlation (R = 0.88, p < 0.01) between the two methods, with ICR simplifying the assessment process while maintaining efficacy. Conclusions: This study highlights the ICR's potential to provide a practical, cost-effective alternative for routine caries risk assessment in pediatric dentistry. Despite its limitations, this research marks a preliminary investigation of a promising new CRA tool. Further research should focus on validating the ICR in the larger and more diverse pediatric population, as well as exploring its long-term effectiveness and its application in different clinical settings.

Application of MICMAC and Regnier’s Abacus Techniques to Assess the Association between High Sugar Diet and the Prevalence of Dental Caries in Young Adults

This study aimed to identify and assess the association between a high-sugar diet and the prevalence of dental caries in young adults. In addition, these variables were prioritized based on their relevance and dependence using the complementary methodologies MICMAC and Regnier’s abacus. A literature review was conducted to identify the related variables. A group of 10 dentistry and nutrition experts assesses the importance of these variables using a structured questionnaire. As a result, both methodologies agreed on the importance of dental hygiene and the frequency of sugar consumption in the prevalence of dental caries. Access to dental health services was also identified as a significant factor. These findings are relevant because they have implications for the formulation of public health policies and the design of strategies that can reduce the impact of dental caries to improve the dental health of the population.

A Supramolecular Nanoformulation with Adaptive Photothermal/Photodynamic Transformation for Preventing Dental Caries.

In the context of an increasingly escalating antibiotics crisis, phototherapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach due to its inherent advantages, including high selectivity, noninvasiveness, and low drug resistance. Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are two complementary and promising phototherapies albeit with inherent limitations, noted as the challenges in achieving precise heat confinement and the associated risk of off-target damage for PTT, while the constraints due to the hypoxic microenvironment are prevalent in biofilms faced by PDT. Herein, we have designed a supramolecular nanoformulation that leverages the complexation-induced quenching of guanidinium-modified calix[5]arene grafted with fluorocarbon chains (GC5AF5), the efficient recognition of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the oxygen-carrying capacity of the fluorocarbon chain. This intelligent nanoformulation enables the adaptive enhancement of both photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), allowing for on-demand switching between the two modalities. Our nanoformulation utilizes ATP released by dead bacteria to accelerate the elimination of biofilms, rendering bacteria unable to resist while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. This research highlights the particular recognition and assembly capabilities of macrocycles, offering a promising strategy for creating potent, combined antibiofilm therapies.