Overexpression of ameloblastin in secretory ameloblasts results in demarcated, hypomineralized opacities in enamel.

Developmental defects of the enamel manifest before tooth eruption and include amelogenesis imperfecta, a rare disease of underlying gene mutations, and molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH), a prevalent disease in children originating from environmental and epigenetic factors. MIH enamel presents as the abnormal enamel marked by loss of translucency, demarcation between the healthy and affected enamel, and reduced mineral content. The pathophysiology of opaque, demarcated enamel lesions is not understood; however, the retention of enamel proteins in the matrix has been suggested.

Inclusion of postdoctoral trainees in a translational science training TL1 program was associated with greater diversification of research across the translational science continuum: a bibliometric analysis of TL1 trainee publications.

The NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) was established to support translational research that spans the entire TS Continuum, with the goal of bridging the gap between preclinical biomedical research and real-world applications to advance treatments to patients more quickly. In 2018, the Translational Science Training (TST) TL1 Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio implemented new strategies to better include and encourage research more broadly across the TS Continuum, including the addition of postdoctoral scientists and a clinically trained Program Co-Director, expansion of team science and community engagement programming, and targeted trainee recruitment from schools of nursing, dentistry, and allied health, in addition to medicine. The objective of this bibliometric analysis was to determine if the program exhibited a more diverse mix of T-types after the adjustments made in 2018.

Comparison of bibliometrics for predoctoral Translational Science Training (TST) TL1 Program participants and nonparticipants, male and female participants, and participants from underrepresented and well-represented backgrounds.

Research education and training in Translational Science develops and sustains a workforce to efficiently advance studies designed to improve human health. We evaluated the effectiveness of a Translational Science Training (TST) TL1 Program. Participants had significantly better publications/year, citations/year, , and than nonparticipants.

Mapping and Identification of Native Proteins of Developing Teeth in Mouse Mandibles.

Mass spectrometry imaging is a powerful tool of increasing utility due to its ability to spatially resolve molecular biomarkers directly from sectioned tissues. One hindrance to its universality is that no single protocol is sufficient for every tissue type, fixation, and pretreatment. Mineralized tissues are uniquely challenging as extensive decalcification protocols are necessary to achieve thin sections.

Should dental school faculty be measured and compensated using academic productivity models? Two viewpoints.

Operationalizing faculty contributions in ways that align with organizational mission can be difficult, particularly when monetizing effort. Conventional compensation methods may result in faculty effort going undefined, resulting in more subjectivity in recognition and compensation. Inequities lead to faculty marginalization, fragmentation, decreased motivation, and attrition.

Impact of Er:YAG laser on wound healing following nonsurgical therapy: A pilot study.

The purpose is to examine early wound healing through histological analysis by characterizing connective tissue distribution and organization in the treated periodontium following nonsurgical therapy. Periodontal disease is a multifactorial pathological process that leads to the loss of the surrounding periodontium. Traditional periodontal therapies have proven beneficial in halting the progression of disease.

Endocytosis and Enamel Formation.

Enamel formation requires consecutive stages of development to achieve its characteristic extreme mineral hardness. Mineralization depends on the initial presence then removal of degraded enamel proteins from the matrix via endocytosis. The ameloblast membrane resides at the interface between matrix and cell.

Toothbrush abrasivity in a long-term simulation on human dentin depends on brushing mode and bristle arrangement.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of dentin to brushing abrasion using four different toothbrushes (rotating-oscillating, sonic and two types of manual toothbrushes) with the same brushing forces.

Methods: Dentin samples (n = 72) were selected from 72 impacted third molars. Half of the surface of dentin samples was covered with an adhesive tape, creating a protected and a freely exposed area in the same specimen.

Maturation stage enamel malformations in Amtn and Klk4 null mice.

Amelotin (AMTN) and kallikrein-4 (KLK4) are secreted proteins specialized for enamel biomineralization. We characterized enamel from wild-type, Amtn(-/-), Klk4(-/-), Amtn(+/-)Klk4(+/-) and Amtn(-/-)Klk4(-/-) mice to gain insights into AMTN and KLK4 functions during amelogenesis. All of the null mice were healthy and fertile.

Correlation of ameloblastin with enamel mineral content.

In enamel formation, the deposition of minerals as crystallites starts when the mineralization front first forms at the start of the secretory stage. During maturation, the enamel layer accumulates significant amounts of new mineral as the crystallites grow in volume. Inversely related to mineral gain is loss of protein and water from the forming enamel.

Restoring strength of incisors with veneers and full ceramic crowns.

Purpose: The aim was to determine the in vitro fracture resistance of incisors restored with veneers and full ceramic crowns compared to unrestored teeth.

Materials And Methods: Seventy intact, extracted human maxillary central incisors were randomized and assigned to 7 groups (n = 10). The teeth in group 1 remained intact (control).

Comparative clinical study of the effectiveness of three different bleaching methods.

Objective: The current study assessed the efficacy of three current bleaching methods.

Methods: Seventy-five healthy subjects (45 female; 30 male) with anterior teeth, having a Vita Shade score of A2 or darker, participated in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Group A: home-bleaching (illumine Home, 10% carbamide peroxide, trays, overnight, for two weeks), Group B: in-office bleaching (Illumine Office, 15% hydrogen peroxide, trays for 45 minutes, three times over three weeks), Group C: Whitestrips (strips, twice a day, 30 minutes each for two weeks).

Effect of a 5000 ppm fluoride toothpaste and a 250 ppm fluoride mouth rinse on the demineralisation of dentin surfaces.

Background: The purpose of this study was to test the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the effect of (1) a 5000 ppm fluoride toothpaste, and (2) a 250 ppm fluoride mouth rinse on demineralized human dentin surfaces, against the alternative hypothesis of a difference.

Findings: Dentin specimens were obtained from the cervical regions of 45 extracted human third molars. Half the surface of each specimen was sealed with a self-etching adhesive system and served as the reference surface.

Role of Bcl2 in osteoclastogenesis and PTH anabolic actions in bone.

Introduction: B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) is a proto-oncogene best known for its ability to suppress cell death. However, the role of Bcl2 in the skeletal system is unknown. Bcl2 has been hypothesized to play an important anti-apoptotic role in osteoblasts during anabolic actions of PTH.

Effect of a 40% chlorhexidine varnish on demineralization of dentin surfaces in situ.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of varnish with different chlorhexidine concentrations on the demineralization of dentin surfaces in situ.

Methods: An intraoral model was used to study the ability of chlorhexidine to prevent demineralization. Dentin specimens from extracted human teeth were treated with chlorhexidine varnish and exposed to the oral environment of 47 subjects.

Microbiota of exposed root surfaces after fluoride, chlorhexidine, and periodontal maintenance therapy: a 3-year evaluation.

Background: Fluoride and chlorhexidine (CHX) are state-of-the-art preventive measures for remineralizing teeth and for preventing plaque accumulation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of fluoride and CHX varnishes on root caries and microbiota located on root surfaces.

Methods: Thirty-three patients from a periodontal maintenance program, having at least one tooth with gingival recession in each quadrant, participated in this study.

Enamel formation and amelogenesis imperfecta.

Dental enamel is the epithelial-derived hard tissue covering the crowns of teeth. It is the most highly mineralized and hardest tissue in the body. Dental enamel is acellular and has no physiological means of repair outside of the protective and remineralization potential provided by saliva.

Porcine SPARC: isolation from dentin, cDNA sequence, and computer model.

Genes encoding the major enamel matrix proteins and non-collagenous proteins of bone and dentin are members of the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (SCPP) family, which originated from ancestral SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine; BM-40/osteonectin). To better understand the role of SPARC in mineralizing systems, we isolated SPARC from developing pig teeth, deduced its primary structure from the cDNA sequence, and determined its quaternary structure by homology modelling with reference to human SPARC crystal structures. The guanidine/EDTA extract from porcine dentin was fractionated by anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography.

Bisphosphonate modulates cementoblast behavior in vitro.

Background: Cementum formation is deemed to be instrumental for the successful regeneration of periodontal tissues, and thus events and modifiers of cementum formation and mineralization need to be determined. This study aimed to determine whether the bisphosphonate 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (HEBP) altered the behavior of immortalized cementoblasts (osteocalcin-cementoblasts [OCCM]).

Methods: OCCM from transgenic mice were exposed to HEBP at concentrations ranging from 0.

Biological foundation for periodontitis as a potential risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Objectives: Links between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases have been well documented by epidemiological studies. Recently, research has shifted to elucidating the biologic mechanism for a causal relationship. One focus of interest is atherosclerosis, the underlying event of cardiovascular diseases due to its serious health impact.