Surveillance of salivary properties of pre-orthodontic patients in relation to age and sex

Maxillofacial Morphology as a Predictive Factor for Caries Risk in Orthodontic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the correlation between maxillofacial morphology and caries risk, assessed using salivary tests, in orthodontic patients. Despite enhancing the oral health-related quality of life, orthodontic treatment may adversely affect oral hygiene and increase caries risk. This study included 1071 patients all of whom underwent orthodontic examinations and salivary tests before starting orthodontic treatment at a hospital. Salivary tests were performed to assess the secretion rate, pH, buffering capacity, and counts of cariogenic bacteria. The maxillofacial morphology was evaluated using cephalometric X-rays and dental models. Statistical analyses revealed significant correlations among salivary characteristics, bacterial scores, and maxillofacial morphology. Notably, the facial angle and Y-axis values were associated with salivary secretion (p < 0.001), pH (p < 0.001), buffering capacity (p < 0.05), and cariogenic bacterial scores (p < 0.01), respectably. In conclusion, assessing the maxillofacial morphology before orthodontic treatment may aid in predicting the risk of bacterial oral diseases, offering valuable insights into personalized preventive measures. These findings underscore the potential for comprehensive evaluations to enhance caries risk assessment in orthodontic patients.

Changes in the pH and the Flow Rate of Saliva During Orthodontic Treatment with Fixed Orthodontic Appliances: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aimed to assess salivary flow and pH changes at various stages of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. A comprehensive searches in electronic databases, including Medline, ResearchGate, Web of Science, SAGE Journals, Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, and ScienceDirect, without any publication date restrictions until January 2022 was conducted. The Pre-ferred Reporting Items for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA 2020 version) protocol was adopted and the risk of bias assessments were performed using the Cochrane ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. Out of 4902 articles, 25 were fully evaluated, and seven studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review. The results showed that orthodontic treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances increased the stimulated salivary flow rate during various stages of treatment. However, the unstimulated salivary flow rate showed different changes. Furthermore, stimulated salivary pH increased, whereas unstimulated salivary pH significantly decreased, depending on the specific period of orthodontic treatment. Overall, fixed orthodontic appliances have an impact on salivary flow rate and pH during different stages of treatment. Nevertheless, the current literature is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions. More well-designedrandomized studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm these findings.

Antigingivitis, Desensitizing, and Antiplaque Effects of Alkaline Toothpastes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Gingivitis is a widespread disease commonly associated with dentin hypersensitivity, that, in turn, may complicate routine dental care, leading to plaque accumulation. We aimed to assess the antigingivitis, desensitizing, and antiplaque effects of a fluoride-containing (TWF) alkaline toothpaste and a fluoride-free (TW) alkaline toothpaste. Eighty-four consenting patients aged 20-25 years with diagnosed gingivitis and dentin hypersensitivity (DH) were recruited in this double-blind, parallel-group study and randomly divided into two groups (each n = 42). Eighty-two patients completed the entire study protocol. The outcomes were assessed after 4 weeks of intervention. A significant improvement in gingival condition was found according to the modified gingival index, with effect sizes of 0.99 [CI95%: 0.52-1.46] and 1.71 [CI95%: 1.18-2.24], and the gingival bleeding index, with effect sizes of 3.17 [CI95%: 2.39-3.94] and 2.64 [CI95%: 1.96-3.32] in the TW and TWF groups, respectively. DH also decreased in both groups, with a significantly greater reduction in the TWF group (effect sizes of 3.28 [CI95%: 2.51-4.04] and 3.10 [CI95%: 2.40-3.80] according to the visual analog scale and Schiff scale, respectively). No side effects were registered. In conclusion, the use of alkaline toothpaste provided a significant reduction in gingival inflammation and bleeding, DH, and oral hygiene after 4 weeks of daily use in young adults. Trial Registration: NCT0562376. Funding: none.