Efficacy of Nano Crystallised Calcium Phosphate (NCCP) and Casein Phosphopeptide – Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (CPP-ACP) for Controlling Postoperative Sensitivity After Power Bleaching-A Comparative In-Vivo Study

Tooth bleaching is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures opted by the patients who desire pleasing smile. It is the simplest, least invasive means available to lighten discolored vital teeth. A number of desensitizing agents have been tried in an attempt to counteract bleaching-related sensitivity. This study was done to compare the effect of two different desensitizing agents for controlling post operative sensitivity after power bleach procedure. Sixty volunteers with mild to moderate dental fluorosis in maxillary anterior teeth, who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were randomly selected for this study. After the bleaching procedurea demo was given to the patient while application of desensitising gel and was instructed to use the gel for 14 days.All the patients were recalled at an interval of 1st day, 3rdday, 5th day, 7th day, and on 14th day to record the post operative sensitivity after power bleach procedure. The observations were analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukeys post hoc test. On the basis of VAS results, all the groups showed post operative sensitivity of varied intensity at different intervals. NCCP showed less sensitivity followed by CPP-ACP and Control group. Keywords: Power Bleaching, Post operative sensitivity, Nano Crystallized Calcium Phosphate, Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate

Awareness and Knowledge of the Adult Population in Saudi Arabia on Teeth Discoloration and Treatment Options: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Tooth discoloration is a common condition. Discoloration can be a major aesthetic concern for some people and it can indicate pathology, so it needs to be addressed. The success of treatment of tooth discoloration is largely dependent on the knowledge and attitude of people towards it. Hence the aim of this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was to evaluate knowledge and awareness of the adult Saudi population about the causes of tooth discoloration and its treatment options. Materials and Methods: An online close-ended questionnaire consisting of 21 questions about tooth discoloration causes and treatment options were uploaded in Google Forms and was sent to 2000 adults in Saudi Arabia via email and social media websites. The questions were designed to evaluate patients’ knowledge about the various causes of tooth discoloration. Results: A total of 1041 participants responded to our questionnaire. The study included 560 females (53.79%), and 448 participants aged between 18 and 24 years (43.04%), 192 (18.44%) between 25 and 35 years, 246 (23.63%) between 36 and 51 years, and 155 (14.89%) above 51 years. Most of the participants (n= 649; 62.34%) had a bachelor's degree. The most common answer to the type of teeth discoloration was internal and surface discoloration (n= 511; 49%). There was a positive response to the effect of diet, smoking, aging, and bacteria on tooth discoloration. 79% of the participants did not know what dental fluorosis is. The response to the effect of drugs on teeth discoloration split between "Yes" and "I don't know," and 688 of the participants (66.09%) did not know which drugs cause teeth discoloration. The personal effort was the most common way to obtain information about teeth discoloration (n= 678; 65.13%). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the level of knowledge about tooth discoloration was more concentrated on extrinsic factors, and the majority of the participants demonstrated poor knowledge about the intrinsic causes of tooth discoloration. The preferred treatment option of teeth discoloration was in office bleaching.

Dental fluorosis among people and livestock living on Gihaya Island in Lake Kivu, Rwanda

Background Dental fluorosis is caused by prolonged exposure to excessive fluoride during the period of permanent tooth formation and is characterized by tooth discoloration, pitting, and loss of shape. Communities living near Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda exhibit a high prevalence of dental fluorosis; however, data on prevalence and risk factors are scarce. Methods This cross sectional, quantitative study used a One Health approach to investigate dental fluorosis prevalence among people and livestock and to measure fluoride content in the environment. In 2018, oral health examinations were conducted to assess the prevalence of fluorosis in children (aged 9 to 15 years), cattle and goats residing on Gihaya Island (Rwanda, East Africa). All children and cattle/goats meeting basic eligibility criteria (e.g., island residence) were invited to participate. Presence and severity of dental fluorosis was categorized according to the Dean’s Fluorosis Index. Samples of local foods, water, soil and grass were collected from communal sources and individual households and analyzed for fluoride content using standard laboratory techniques. Descriptive and binomial analyses (Fisher Exact Test) were used to assess this dataset. Results Overall, 186 children and 85 livestock owners (providing data of 125 livestock -23 cattle and 102 goats) participated. Dental fluorosis was recorded in 90.7% of children and 76% of livestock. Moderate to severe fluorosis was observed in 77% children while goats and cattle most often exhibited mild or absent/questionable severity, respectively. Water from Lake Kivu (used primarily for human cooking water and livestock drinking water) contained fluoride levels that were consistently higher than the maximum threshold (1.5 mg/L) recommended by the World Health Organization. Other sources (borehole and rainwater) were within safe limits. All food, soil and grass samples contained fluoride. The highest levels were observed in porridge (0.5 mg/g) and small fishes (1.05 mg/g). Conclusions Altogether, dental fluorosis was highly prevalent among children and goats on Gihaya Island with various food and water sources contributing a cumulative exposure to fluoride. An immediate and coordinated response across human, animal and water professionals is needed to reduce fluoride exposure within safe limits for island residents.

Trend on dental caries status and its risk indicators in children aged 12 years in China: a multilevel analysis based on the repeated national cross-sectional surveys in 2005 and 2015

Background This study aimed to explore the trend and risk indicators for dental caries of children aged 12 years in China based on national oral health survey data in 2005 and 2015. Methods Research data were from the two latest national oral health surveys conducted in mainland China, including 30 and 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in 2005 and 2015, respectively. Children aged 12 years were clinically examined for dental caries and dental fluorosis according to the World Health Organization criteria. Sociodemographic characteristics and oral health-related behaviours were collected using questionnaires. Multilevel zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was used to investigate the association between dental caries severity and dental fluorosis, sociodemographic characteristics, and oral health-related behaviours. Results The final analyses included 12,350 and 27,818 children surveyed in 2005 and 2015, respectively. The standardized prevalence of dental caries increased from 27.05% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.25-28.85) in 2005 to 37.92% (95% CI, 34.94-40.90) in 2015, and the respective standardized mean decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index scores increased from 0.50 (standard deviation [SD], 1.04) to 0.83 (SD, 1.45) (P < 0.001). Fujian province had the highest increase in dental caries, followed by Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Hainan, and Yunnan. Results revealed that children who were girls, more frequently experienced dental pain, and had more recent dental visits, had significantly higher DMFT scores after adjusting for the survey year and other variables (all P < 0.05). Conclusions Dental caries of 12-year-old children in China deteriorated from 2005 to 2015, particularly in the northeast and southwest regions. Dental caries was associated with sex, dental pain, and dental service utilization.

Bioaccumulation of Fluoride in Plants and Its Microbially Assisted Remediation: A Review of Biological Processes and Technological Performance

Fluoride is widely found in soil–water systems due to anthropogenic and geogenic activities that affect millions worldwide. Fluoride ingestion results in chronic and acute toxicity, including skeletal and dental fluorosis, neurological damage, and bone softening in humans. Therefore, this review paper summarizes biological processes for fluoride remediation, i.e., bioaccumulation in plants and microbially assisted systems. Bioremediation approaches for fluoride removal have recently gained prominence in removing fluoride ions. Plants are vulnerable to fluoride accumulation in soil, and their growth and development can be negatively affected, even with low fluoride content in the soil. The microbial bioremediation processes involve bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and biosorption. Bacterial, fungal, and algal biomass are ecologically efficient bioremediators. Most bioremediation techniques are laboratory-scale based on contaminated solutions; however, treatment of fluoride-contaminated wastewater at an industrial scale is yet to be investigated. Therefore, this review recommends the practical applicability and sustainability of microbial bioremediation of fluoride in different environments.