In vitro evaluation of dentin permeability of fluorotic primary teeth with a new electronic hydraulic conductance measurement system with photosensors

A Bibliometric Study of Trends, Indicators, and Characteristics in the Global Scientific Production on Fluorosis

AIM

To perform an analysis of the trends, indicators, and characteristics of the world scientific production on fluorosis, and to evaluate its impact on scientific research in this field.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with a bibliometric approach of the worldwide scientific production on fluorosis published during the years 2018-2023. All metadata were extracted from the Scopus database. The articles were exported in .csv format to SciVal (Elsevier). Of the collected articles, 69 were original, 17 were reviews, 2 were conference papers, 6 were book chapters, among others.

RESULTS

It was found that among the journals with the highest number of articles were Biological Trace Element, Caries Research, Children, Fluoride, and Indian Journal of Forensics. In addition, the highest percentage of authors have published between 1 and 2 articles, with a smaller proportion having 3-4 publications. Among the journals with the highest number of articles are Biological Trace Element, Caries Research, Children, Fluoride, and Indian Journal of Forensics. The Universidade de São Paulo has the most publications, although it is also one of those with the lowest citation-weighted impact in relation to the global average (FWCI: 0.9).

CONCLUSION

The collaboration map shows a wide international cooperation network, with an active participation of Brazil among Latin American countries. Scientific production in fluorosis has a negative trend from 2018 to 2023 and is mainly concentrated in high-impact scientific journals.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The study shows a wide network of international cooperation on fluorosis, so the results provide important information to guide future clinically focused research on fluorosis and its impact on public health.

Minimal Invasive Technique for the Esthetic Management of Dental Fluorosis

Dental fluorosis is a severe dental extremity due to excess fluoride intake during enamel formation, resulting in color abnormalities and severe tooth defects on its surface. This dental condition leads to abnormal appearance ranging from mild white to dark brown, affecting the esthetic characteristics and personality of the patient that eventually lowers their self-confidence. Restoration procedures and tooth-whitening procedures are the well-appreciated treatment methods for treating this anomaly. The current clinical report illustrates the minimally invasive technique for esthetic management of dental fluorosis in a 27-year-old male affected by dental fluorosis. Clinical examination revealed dental fluorosis of class II spots according to Dean's classification of fluorosis severity. The treatment plan involves minimally invasive micro-abrasion, vital teeth bleaching, and resin infiltration technique for blending different microporous lesions, mild-to-moderate fluorosis, and hypoplasia stains.

The level of two trace elements in carious, non-carious, primary, and permanent teeth

Purpose

The boron and fluoride mainly accumulate in the bones and teeth of the human body. The purpose of this study is to determine boron or fluoride levels in the whole tooth, to evaluate the correlation between their levels and to compare these levels in primary/permanent, carious, and non-carious groups.

Materials and methods

The boron and fluoride levels of thirty-six teeth, separated such as primary carious (n=9) and non-carious (n=9), permanent carious (n=9) and non-carious (n=9), were determined by ICP-MS and ion-selective electrode, respectively.

Results

While boron levels were between 0.001 and 5.88 ppm, the fluoride levels were between 21.24 and 449.22 ppm. The boron level of non-carious teeth was higher than those of carious teeth in primary and permanent tooth groups. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The fluoride level of non-carious teeth was higher than those of carious teeth in primary (p=0.062) and permanent teeth groups (p=0.046). Negative correlation, found between boron and fluoride in all groups, was significant only in non-carious teeth group (r=-0.488, p=0.040).

Conclusion

The results of our study proved the importance of fluoride as a protective factor for dental caries once more. The boron levels in non-carious teeth were also higher than carious teeth. However, it was not significant. Moreover, there was negative correlation between teeth boron and fluoride levels. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more detailed studies on the tooth boron level and its relation with caries formation and with fluoride levels.

Evaluation of dentin permeability of fluorotic permanent teeth

OBJECTIVE

The in vitro permeability characteristics of dentin have been studied extensively and used to evaluate the efficacy of various preventative and restorative procedures. The aim of this in vitro study was to precisely determine the dentin permeability of fluorotic premolar teeth using an electronic hydraulic conductance measurement system with photosensors and to compare the data with healthy premolars.

METHODS

In total, 40 fluorotic and healthy premolar teeth with complete root formation that were extracted for orthodontic purposes and had no caries, restoration, fractures, or cracks were selected for this study. Teeth were classified according to a modified form of the dental fluorosis index of Thylstrup and Fejerskov. The dentin discs were placed in an electronic hydraulic conductance measurement system equipped with photosensors, which was designed for measurements of dentin permeability. The amount of distilled water passed through each dentin disc (μL/min) under a constant pressure was determined. Dentin permeability data of the fluorotic and healthy teeth were recorded and analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

The present study showed that fluorosis influenced the volume of fluid that passed through the dentin and the dentin permeability was decreased, whereas dental fluorosis severity was increased in permanent teeth.

CONCLUSION

The number of teeth with fluorosis is increasing, depending on fluorine sources, so more appropriate treatments will need to be evaluated by standardizing the methods employed in related studies.

Effect of indomethacin-loaded nanocapsules incorporation in a dentin adhesive resin

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to produce indomethacin-loaded nanocapsules (IndOH-NCs) and evaluate the influence of their incorporation into an adhesive resin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Indomethacin was encapsulated by the deposition of preformed polymer. IndOH-NCs were characterized by laser diffractometry, Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and MTT assay. Nanocapsules (NCs) were incorporated into an adhesive in concentrations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 %. The addition was visualized by TEM and drug release was evaluated by HPLC until 120 h of immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Drug diffusion through dentin was tested using a Franz diffusion cell apparatus and quantified by HPLC. The degree of conversion (DC), softening in ethanol, and microtensile bond strength (μTBS) were evaluated to determine whether the nanocapsules influenced the adhesive. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test for DC, softening in ethanol, μTBS, and cytotoxicity, and paired t test for comparison between the initial and final Knoop microhardness.

RESULTS

IndOH-NCs, with a spherical shape and a mean diameter of 165 nm, were incorporated into an adhesive. Indomethacin content was 7 mg drug/g powder. IndOH-NCs maintained high cell viability. At 120 h, an amount of 13.83 % of indomethacin was released, and after 7 days, 7.07 % of this drug was diffused through dentin for an adhesive containing 10 % of nanocapsules. No alteration in the DC, softening in ethanol, and μTBS resulted from NC addition.

CONCLUSIONS

IndOH-NCs may be incorporated into adhesive systems, without compromising properties, to add an anti-inflammatory drug controlled release for restorative procedures in deep cavities.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Here is the first step toward the goal of providing agents to act at an inflammatory process of pulp tissue through dental adhesives via encapsulation of drug.

Evaluation of mandibular bone mineral density using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry technique in edentulous subjects living in an endemic fluorosis region

OBJECTIVES

Fluoride is one of the biological trace elements with a strong affinity for osseous, cartilaginous and dental tissue. The dental and skeletal effects of high fluoride intake have already been studied in the literature, but little is known about the effects of high fluoride intake on edentulous mandibles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of high fluoride intake on mandibular bone mineral density (BMD) measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technique in edentulous individuals with systemic fluorosis.

METHODS

32 people who were living in an endemic fluorosis area since birth and 31 people who were living in a non-endemic fluorosis area since birth (control group) participated in this study. Systemic fluorosis was diagnosed in the patients using the sialic acid (NANA)/glycosaminoglycan (GAG) ratio. The BMDs of the mandibles were determined by the DXA technique.

RESULTS

The serum NANA/GAG ratios in the fluorosis group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.001). There was also a statistically significant difference in mandibular BMD measurements (p < 0.05) between the systemic fluorosis and control groups, as measured by the DXA technique. Mandibular body BMD measurements were higher in the fluorosis group (1.25 ± 0.24 g cm(-2)) than in the control group (1.01 ± 0.31 g cm(-2)).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study showed that fluoride intake higher than the optimum level causes increased mandibular BMD in edentulous individuals. Further dose-related studies are needed to determine the effects of high fluoride intake on bony structures of the stomatognathic system.