Are pit and fissure sealants needed in children with a higher caries risk?

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the preventive need of pit and fissure sealants (PFS) in a German population with a relatively high caries risk. The study involved 311 8- to 12-year-old children from the Ennepe-Ruhr District in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Caries experience was scored according to WHO (1997) and ICDAS II criteria.

In vivo detection of non-cavitated caries lesions on occlusal surfaces by visual inspection and quantitative light-induced fluorescence.

Objective: The aim of this clinical caries detection study was to compare the outcome of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) and meticulous visual inspection (VI) in detecting non-cavitated caries lesions on occlusal surfaces in young adolescents. It was hypothesized that the respective diagnostic performances of meticulous VI and QLF are similar.

Material And Methods: The subjects were 34 fifteen-year-old students.

[Dental health in German and Turkish school children--a 10-year comparison].

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the changes in dental health in 12- and 15-year-old Turkish immigrants and German students who were included in a school-based caries-preventive programme for ten years (1993-2003). In 1993 352 and 402 12- and 15-year-olds and in 2003 352 and 402 12- and 15-year-olds were investigated, respectively. 23.

Establishing quantitative light-induced fluorescence cut-offs for the detection of occlusal dentine lesions.

The aims of this in vitro study were, first, to define suitable cut-off values for the detection of occlusal dentine lesions by means of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF), and, second, to compare the validity of light microscopy (LM) and microradiography (MR) as reference standards. Fifty-four third molar occlusal fissures with sound sites or non-cavitated lesions were examined. Standard QLF equipment was used to capture, display, store, and analyze fluorescence images.

Effects of dental probing on occlusal surfaces--a scanning electron microscopy evaluation.

The aim of this clinical-morphological study was to investigate the effects of dental probing on occlusal surfaces by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Twenty sound occlusal surfaces of third molars and 20 teeth with initial carious lesions of 17- to 26-year-old patients (n = 18) were involved. Ten molars of each group were probed with a sharp dental probe (No.

An in vitro comparison between two methods of electrical resistance measurement for occlusal caries detection.

Because of different measurement techniques and the easier design of the CRM prototype, this in vitro study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance and reproducibility of two electrical methods (Electronic Caries Monitor III, ECM and Cariometer 800, CRM) for occlusal caries detection, and to evaluate the effect of staining/discoloration of fissures on diagnostic performance. Hundred and seventeen third molars with no apparent occlusal cavitation were selected. Six examiners inspected all specimens independently, using the CRM, and a subgroup of 4 using the ECM.

Comparison of the efficacies of disinfectants to control microbial contamination in dental unit water systems in general dental practices across the European Union.

Water delivered by dental unit water systems (DUWS) in general dental practices can harbor high numbers of bacteria, including opportunistic pathogens. Biofilms on tubing within DUWS provide a reservoir for microorganisms and should be controlled. This study compared disinfection products for their ability to meet the American Dental Association's guideline of <200 CFU x ml(-1) for DUWS water.

Does irradiation affect the protein composition of saliva?

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative amount of low molecular weight salivary proteins in patients with head and neck tumours treated with radiotherapy and healthy subjects. Reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography was used for protein separation. Nine protein fractions (including acidic and basic proline-rich proteins (PRPs), cystatins, histatins and statherin) were identified in saliva from irradiated patients as well as healthy subjects.

Detection of initial caries lesions on smooth surfaces by quantitative light-induced fluorescence and visual examination: an in vivo comparison.

The aim of this clinical study was to compare the outcome of quantitative laser/light-induced fluorescence (QLF) and visual inspection (VI) for the detection of initial caries lesions on all maxillary and mandibular smooth surfaces in caries-risk adolescents. The subjects were 34 students, mean age 15 yr. A total of 879 buccal and 882 lingual surfaces were air-dried and visually examined at a magnification of x3.

Assessment of enamel erosion and protective effect of salivary pellicle by surface roughness analysis and scanning electron microscopy.

Purpose: To assess dental erosion caused by 0.1% and 1.0% citric acid in vitro and to estimate the protective influence of experimentally formed salivary pellicle.

Microbiological evaluation of dental unit water systems in general dental practice in Europe.

A range of opportunistic pathogens have been associated with dental unit water systems (DUWS), particularly in the biofilms that can line the tubing. This study therefore aimed to assess the microbiology of DUWS and biofilms in general dental practices across seven European countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland (IRL), Greece (GR), Spain (ES), Germany (D), Denmark (DK) and the Netherlands (NL). Water supplied by 51% of 237 dental unit water lines exceeded current American Dental Association recommendations of < or = 200 colony-forming units (CFU) ml(-1).

Comparison of different DIAGNOdent cut-off limits for in vivo detection of occlusal caries.

This study tested recently recommended cut-off limits for the laser fluorescence based device DIAGNOdent (KaVo) for detection of occlusal caries. Two hundred and forty-eight permanent molars from 94 patients (mean age 19.2 years) of a general dental practice were included.

Protective influence of experimentally formed salivary pellicle on enamel erosion. An in vitro study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental erosion in 0.1 and 1.0% citric acid in vitro by several different methods and to assess the protective potential of experimentally formed salivary pellicle (24 h in vitro).

Quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF)--a potential method for the dental practitioner.

The quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) method is based on the natural fluorescence of teeth. Currently, the method is predominantly used in vitro and in clinical studies for early detection of carious lesions and for monitoring of de- and remineralization of white spots by quantifying the mineral loss and the size of smooth surface lesions. The objective of this paper was to demonstrate the potential of QLF for application in routine dental care.

Clinical evaluation of visual, radiographic, and laser fluorescence methods for detection of occlusal caries.

The aim of this clinical study was to test cut-offs for occlusal caries detection by the laser fluorescence device DIAGNOdent (DD) in comparison to visual-ranked inspection (VI) and bitewing radiographs (BW) under condition of a general dental practice. 281 occlusal surfaces of permanent molars from 97 patients were examined with VI, DD and BW. Caries extent was verified by bioptical intervention (gold standard) of 248 molars.

Peroxidase reaction as a parameter for discrimination of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus.

425 strains of mutans streptococci and 12 reference strains were investigated by membrane fatty acid spectra (MFAS) and peroxidase reaction (PR) after aerobic and anaerobic incubation. 423 strains were identified as Streptococcus mutans. The remaining 2 strains were identified as Streptococcus sobrinus.

Differences in acidogenicity of S. sobrinus and S. rattus are linked to the catalytic efficiency of the glycolytic key enzyme phosphofructokinase.

This contribution describes the biochemical properties of two catalytically different phosphofructokinases (PFKs) purified from Streptococcus rattus LB 2 (PFK-rat) and Streptococcus sobrinus OMZ 65 (PFK-sob), respectively. Steady-state kinetics revealed K(M) = 0. 8 mM for PFK-rat and K(M) = 0.

Fluoride concentrations and distribution in premolars of children from low and optimal fluoride areas.

We have compared the fluoride (F) concentrations from the enamel surface to the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ), and through dentine to the dentino-pulpal junction (DPJ) in premolars extracted from school children in Chemnitz (former Karl-Marx-Stadt), Germany (F: 1.0 ppm in the water supply), Erfurt, Germany (F: 0.2 ppm in the water supply) and Nagoya, Japan (F: 0.

The effects of non-fluoridated and fluoridated milk on experimental caries in rats.

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the caries-protective potential of non-fluoridated and fluoridated milk and to compare the efficacy of different compounds of fluoride as additives to milk. OM rats were maintained in three experiments in a frequency-controlled feeding machine of König et al. (1968) or, during one study, in metabolic cages with diet MIT 200 for three weeks.

[Caries protective effectiveness of fluoride varnish in animal experiments and clinical research].

Fluoride containing varnishes represent clinically proved means for individual caries prevention by topical application due to their prolonged contact time between fluoride and enamel. The fluoride accumulation in vitro and in vivo, the inhibition of demineralization, the experimentally and clinically proved reduction of caries and the toxicological safety during varnish application are reviewed. A reduction of caries between 20-50 per cent may be registered after semiannual application of such varnishes due to their high caries protective properties.

[Caries protective effect of a NaF containing toothpaste with and without calcium carbonate polishing agent].

A caries preventive effect depending on the free fluoride concentration was registrated on rats using dentifrices with NaF or MFP (alone or in combination) despite the presence of CaCO3 as abrasive material because the composition of these dentifrices was changed. The free fluoride concentration of dentifrices had induced the accumulation of fluoride into enamel. The ionized fluoride content of NaF-dentifrices was unchanged for 3 years.

[Plaque and gingivitis reduction by an amine fluoride/stannous fluoride combination].

A clinical study on children has demonstrated that the accumulation of plaque and the development of experimental gingivitis can be reduced by a daily mouthrinse with AmF/SnF2. Low, reversible yellowish tooth staining can almost be prevented by mechanical oral hygiene. The efficacy of AmF/SnF2 was nearly the same as chlorhexidine and the F combination can be recommended for preventive plaque control, especially on high-risk patients.

[The establishment efficiency of S. sobrinus OMZ 176 in a model caries experiment on the Osborne-Mendel rat].

S. sobrinus OMZ 176 was inoculated in young OM rats during tooth eruption in two experiments and the microbial composition of dental plaque as well as the caries decay was estimated after 25 days on cariogenic sucrose rich diet. Germs were reproducibly established in the oral cavity by such way.

[Intraoral pH measurement by determination of acidogenic potentials of dietary materials].

The intra-oral production of acid by plaque bacteria from sucrose, glucose and sorbitol and test products with sugar substitutes as well was estimated by pH-telemetry which permits the digital registering and collection of data. A pH-drop was not observed when sorbitol or xylitol were offered as a substrate to the dental plaque. The small differences of intensity and duration of the telemetric estimated acid production by dental plaque due to the test products (with sucrose or sorbitol/glucose) exhibited different cariogenic challenge in the animal experiment and in the intra-oral cariogenicity test, but with high probability they have not any practical significance for the preventive dietetic recommendations.