Caries affected by calcium and fluoride in drinking water and family income

Web of Science-Based Scientometric Assessment of the Importance of Filtered Water in Dentistry: Spatiotemporal Dynamics, Emerging Patterns, and Collaboration

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of scientific production related to the use of filtered water in the field of dentistry. Material and Methods. A quantitative and descriptive observational study was carried out with a scientometric approach. Data were collected from the Web of Science (WOS) database during the period January 1991 to December 2023. A search strategy incorporating a combination of MeSH terms, including terms and thesauri related to "filtered water" and "dentistry", was used. R Studio version 4.3.2 and CiteSpace 6.2.R7 were used for data analysis.

Results

Over the 32-year study period, 227 scholarly papers from 134 different sources were reviewed. The literature in this field has shown an annual growth rate of 10.44%. During the year 2010, a steady movement in the number of publications and authors was observed, with considerable collaborative interaction. In the year 2020, a large interaction between publications and their citations was found. The "Citation Burst" graph identified three references that have experienced the largest "burst" of citations in an evaluated period. Lotka's law described the productivity of authors, finding that most authors have published only one paper, while a smaller number of authors have published two papers. Most authors contributed a small number of articles, while a few authors contributed a large amount of the existing literature.

Conclusion

A comprehensive overview of the scientific production related to the use of filtered water in dentistry over a span of 32 years is provided. The results highlight the growing interdisciplinarity and international collaboration in this field. Finally, the importance of filtered water in dentistry and its growing relevance in the scientific literature are emphasized.

The demineralization resistance and mechanical assessments of different bioactive restorative materials for primary and permanent teeth: an in vitro study

OBJECTIVES

This article examines the efficacy of two bioactive dental composites in preventing demineralization while preserving their mechanical and physical properties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study compares Beautifil Kids and Predicta® Bioactive Bulk-Fill (Predicta) composites with conventional dental composite. Flexural strength and elastic modulus were evaluated using a universal testing machine. A pH-cycling model assessed the composites' ability to prevent dentin demineralization. Color stability and surface roughness were measured using a spectrophotometer and non-contact profilometer, respectively, before and after pH-cycling, brushing simulation, and thermocycling aging.

RESULTS

Beautifil Kids exhibited the highest flexural strength and elastic modulus among the materials (p < 0.05). Predicta demonstrated the highest increase in dentin surface microhardness following the pH-cycling model (p < 0.05). All groups showed clinically significant color changes after pH-cycling, with no significant differences between them (p > 0.05). Predicta exhibited greater color change after brushing and increased surface roughness after thermocycling aging (p < 0.05). While Beautifil Kids had higher surface roughness after pH-cycling (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Bioactive restorative materials with ion-releasing properties demonstrate excellent resistance to demineralization while maintaining mechanical and physical properties comparable to the control group.

Risk factors for dental caries: A case study in peatlands and non-peatlands of West Kalimantan, Indonesia

The prevalence of dental caries in peatlands and non-peatlands in West Kalimantan require preventive acts based on its natural conditions and the behavior of local communities. The objective was to analyse risk factors for dental caries in communities living in peatlands and non-peatlands in West Kalimantan. The research is a causal comparative study with cross-sectional approach. The samples were chosen by purposive sampling technique among adolescents aged 17-27 years, who were domiciled in Pontianak City (peatland) and Bengkayang (non-peatland) all their lives. The results showed that dental caries is significantly correlated with debris in peatlands (rs = 0.289). On non-peatlands, dental caries is correlated with drinking water phosphate (rs = 0.313) and calculus (rs = 0.034). In West Kalimantan, dental caries is significantly correlated with drinking water minerals (fluoride rs = -0.243; phosphate rs = 0.260), drinking water pH (rs = 0.235), behavior (rs = -0.327), and debris (rs = 0.240). The risk factors for dental caries in peatlands and non-peatlands in West Kalimantan are pH and drinking water minerals (fluoride and calcium), debris, calculus, and behavior.

The Role of Low Mineral Water Consumption in Reducing the Mineral Density of Bones and Teeth: A Narrative Review

Low mineral water has gained increasing attention due to its potential health implications concerning bone mineral density (BMD) and dental health. Reverse osmosis (RO) systems to purify water are in use extensively, and these systems, in addition to removing impurities from water, also remove 92-99% of beneficial minerals like calcium, lead, fluoride, magnesium, and iron. These minerals are essential for maintaining optimal mineral density of teeth and bones, thereby preserving bone and teeth health. Most of these mineral components are physically larger than water molecules and are trapped by the semi-permeable membrane of RO filters when drinking water is filtered through it. The resultant water is of very poor mineral content, and studies have shown that this water, when consumed, can absorb minerals from the body and eliminate the same through urine. The combined synergistic effect of consumption of low mineral water along with minerals being excreted has been shown to cause demineralization of bones and teeth, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and dental caries. This review tries to address the ill effects of consuming low mineral water along with preventive strategies to overcome its much-concealed adverse effects.

Interconnections between urolithiasis and oral health: a cross-sectional and bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Introduction

Urolithiasis is one of the most common diseases for urologists and it is a heavy burden for stone formers and society. The theory of the oral-genitourinary axis casts novel light on the pathological process of genitourinary system diseases. Hence, we performed this study to characterize the crosstalk between oral health conditions and urolithiasis to provide evidence for prevention measures and mechanisms of stone formation.

Materials and methods

This population-based cross-sectional study included 86,548 Chinese individuals who had undergone a comprehensive examination in 2017. Urolithiasis was diagnosed depending on the results of ultrasonographic imaging. Logistic models were utilized to characterize the association between oral health conditions and urolithiasis. We further applied bidirectional Mendelian randomization to explore the causality between oral health conditions and urolithiasis.

Results

We observed that presenting caries indicated a negative correlation with the risk for urolithiasis while presenting gingivitis [OR (95% CI), 2.021 (1.866-2.187)] and impacted tooth [OR (95% CI), 1.312 (1.219-1.411)] shown to be positively associated with urolithiasis. Furthermore, we discovered that genetically predicted gingivitis was associated with a higher risk of urolithiasis [OR (95% CI), 1.174 (1.009-1.366)] and causality from urolithiasis to impacted teeth [OR(95% CI), 1.207 (1.027-1.418)] through bidirectional Mendelian randomization.

Conclusion

The results cast new light on the risk factor and pathogenesis of kidney stone formation and could provide novel evidence for the oral-genitourinary axis and the systematic inflammatory network. Our findings could also offer suggestions for tailored clinical prevention strategies against stone diseases.

Flexural Strength, Elastic Modulus and Remineralizing Abilities of Bioactive Resin-Based Dental Sealants

Objective: To assess the remineralizing abilities and compare the flexural strength and elastic modulus of different bioactive pit and fissure sealants. Materials and Methods: Human enamel samples were randomly and blindly sealed with one of the following bioactive materials: BioCoat (Bc), ACTIVA KIDS (Av) and BeautiSealant (Bu). Seal-it (Si) was used as a non-bioactive sealant beside a control blank (B) group with no sealant. The sealed samples were subjected to a pH-cycling model (7 days of demineralization–remineralization cycles). The enamel surface hardness change (SHC), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and polarized light microscopy were used to assess the remineralizing abilities of the studied sealants. Flexural strength and elastic modulus were also assessed following the ISO 4049 protocols. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the results. Results: Bc sealant showed the highest FS and EM (p < 0.05). The contact with Bc and Bu sealants showed significantly lower %SHL (p < 0.05) in comparison to the other. These findings were supported by the results of SEM-EDX and polarized imaging by showing higher percentages of calcium and phosphate ions with the former sealants and thinner demineralized enamel bands. Conclusion: In this study, Bc showed the highest flexural strength. Bc and Bu sealants outperformed the other studied sealants in terms of their remineralization abilities.

Evaluation and comparison of centralized drinking water softening technologies: Effects on water quality indicators

Drinking water softening is often implemented to increase consumer convenience e.g. by reducing lime scaling and soap use. Softening reduces hardness, but changes also the overall mineral composition of the water, depending on the technology. A broad spectrum of effects from softening has to be considered in relation to e.g. health and corrosion when selecting softening technology and design, otherwise adverse effects may be overlooked in the attempt to increase consumer convenience. We here provided a framework for evaluating softening technologies using water quality indicators for lime scaling, soap use, corrosion, human health, taste and removal of contaminants. None of the evaluated softening technologies scored positive on all the included water quality indicators. Precipitation technologies (lime/soda-ash softening and pellet softening) reduce the predicted copper and lead release, but negatively affect stainless steel corrosion expressed by the Larson Ratio. Pellet softening does not remove magnesium, which may limit the achievable softening depth, but maintains a protective effect against cardio-vascular diseases. Strong-acid cation exchange is not expected to affect the included corrosion indicators, whereas the effects from membrane separation (nanofiltration and reverse osmosis) and weak-acid cation exchange depend on the specific source water and process design. All the evaluated technologies reduce hardness, calcium carbonate precipitation potential (CCPP) and atopic eczema, but have potential adverse effects on dental carries (expressed by DMF-S). Our framework provides a better understanding of softening and can prepare water utility planners and managers for better decisions that balance the positive and adverse effects from drinking water softening.

The correlation between the mineral drinking water composition and the relevance of dentine in health - A pilot study

Objective:

This study estimated the concentration of Ca, Mg and F in drinking water from five counties in Transylvania, Romania and correlated these with mineral values found in the dentine of permanent carious teeth. The role of these minerals on the re-mineralization of teeth is broadly analyzed.

Methods:

The study consists of two parts: the first part is a pilot study aimed at determining the concentration of Ca, Mg and F in the dentine of permanent carious teeth of 75 male adults with residence in five counties in Transylvania. The second part is an evaluation of the levels of mineral composition in the drinking water from these counties. Mineral concentrations in dentine and drinking water samples, were determined in the laboratories of the public health institute and the research and analysis institute in Cluj Napoca, Romania.

Results:

Statistically we found a direct and significant correlation between the Ca, Mg and F contain from the water samples and Ca, Mg and F contain from the dentine samples and an inverse correlation was statistically highlighted between Ca found in water samples and the F concentration in dentine samples. Improperly water mineralization associated with a general lack of fluoride reveals a potential negative impact on consumer health, including the oral-jaw system.

Conclusions:

The results of this study indicate the need for improving the prevention of dental caries which is a priority in promoting orthodontic health for children. The variability in dentine minerals indicates the fact that permanent molar dentin represents an important biomarker for exposure. The future research will have to take into consideration the community residency status and the fact that these studies require a large sample to separate individual and community level contributions to dentin fluoride. Considering these notifications, we conclude that minerals are highly associated with caries.

Analysis of Calcium Levels in Groundwater and Dental Caries in the Coastal Population of an Archipelago Country

BACKGROUND:

The coastal region is the largest region in Indonesia as a country of the archipelago. Characteristics of groundwater content in coastal areas are very influential on dental health, especially dental caries. The main elements contained in 1-1000 mg/litre groundwater are calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine, bicarbonate, and sulfate groups. Calcium is an essential ingredient for living organisms that play a role in the formation of bone and tooth along with permeability of cell walls.

AIM:

This study aimed to analyse the relationship between calcium in groundwater with dental caries.

METHOD:

Analytical observational study with cross-sectional approach was implemented was coastal communities in Watu Ulo Jember Regency in February 2018 (3,686 inhabitants), with sample criteria of the minimum age of 12 years and consumed groundwater as drinking water at least 2 years by purposive side. The variables in this study were calcium levels as the independent variable and dental caries as the dependent variable. Calcium was measured using the spectrophotometric method. Caries measurements were performed using the DMF-T index. Data were presented descriptively in the table and analysed by Spearman Correlation test to analyze the relationship between groundwater calcium with dental caries.

RESULTS:

Average groundwater calcium content was 126.75 mg/litre (high category), and average dental caries was 2.2 (low category). Spearman correlation analysis showed p = 0.029 (p < 0.000), which means there was a correlation between groundwater calcium level with dental caries.

CONCLUSION:

There is a positive relationship between the calcium content of groundwater with dental caries.