Clinical assessment of various imaging systems for dental plaque scoring after the use of 3 different toothpastes

Purpose

This study was conducted to compare dental plaque scores obtained through clinical examinations and various imaging techniques, as well as to assess the effectiveness of herbal and conventional toothpastes for plaque removal.

Material and Methods

Thirty volunteers were divided into 3 groups. Each group was given a different toothpaste (from 2 herbal toothpastes and a conventional toothpaste) with which to brush their teeth for 21 days. Both initially and after brushing, dental plaque samples were collected, and plaque on the buccal surfaces of anterior teeth was scored using several imaging systems after staining with a disclosing agent. Specifically, digital dental photography, intraoral digital scanning, and FluoreCam imaging were employed to capture intraoral images. The Turesky Modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index was used for clinical examination and image analysis. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses and correlational assessments between clinical examination and imaging scores were conducted before and after toothpaste use. The Shapiro-Wilk test and Pearson correlations were utilized.

Results

The lowest mean value was observed in the clinical examination without staining, while the highest was obtained using the FluoreCam method. No significant change was found in the level of any microorganism assessed following toothpaste use (P<0.05), with the exception of a decrease in S. mutans levels after using conventional toothpaste (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Herbal toothpaste demonstrated plaque-removal effectiveness comparable to that of conventional toothpaste. The use of imaging methods for measuring plaque index has been suggested as a means to educate patients about plaque control and promote ongoing oral care.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity and the Remineralizing Potentiality of Two Natural Extracts and Their Mixture (In Vitro Study)

AIM: This study aimed to assess the antibacterial activity against the cariogenic Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175) and the commensal Actinomyces viscous (1300 EMCCN) oral bacteria and to determine the remineralizing effect of the previously demineralized bovine enamel lesion of ginger extract, eggshell extract as well as their mixture. METHODS: The two different extracts; eggshell extract and ginger extract were prepared as well as their mixture in an equal volume. Their antibacterial activity against S. mutans and A. viscous was assessed by well diffusion test and clear zones diameters measurement (mm). Chlorhexidine and Dimethyl sulfoxide solution were utilized as positive and negative control, respectively. Thirty-six anterior bovine teeth were subjected to artificial caries pH cycling regimen including alternate demineralization and remineralization for 5 days. Then they were randomly divided into three groups (G) (n = 12): G1: Ginger, G2: Eggshell, and G3: Mixture. Specimens of each group were separately immersed in 50 ml of the tested extract for 12 h seven successive days. Vickers Microhardness and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Analysis were assessed at baseline, after demineralization and remineralization. RESULTS: Both extracts had antibacterial effect against the profile growth of S. mutants. However, the mixture showed the highest statistically significant mean inhibition zone diameters (mm), followed by ginger and eggshell extracts with no statistically significant difference between them. Regarding the remineralizing efficacy; G1:(Ginger) group showed the highest statistically significant mean microhardness followed by G3:(Mixture) group, then eggshell treated specimens; which showed the least statistically significant mean microhardness values. Regarding EDIX analysis results, a statistically significant increase in F (wt%) after remineralization in both eggshell and ginger treated specimens. CONCLUSION: Ginger as well as mixture extracts not only have antibacterial effect against cariogenic bacteria but also have a strong remineralizing ability of demineralized enamel.