Radiographic evaluation of enamel thickness of permanent teeth: relevance and applicability.

Objective: This descriptive observational study aimed to determine clinically relevant and applicable data of enamel thickness (ETH), considering the mesio-distal differences of anterior and posterior permanent teeth and their relationships.

Material And Methods: The sample consisted of right-sided standardized radiographs of 34 individuals (21 females and 13 males), aged between 13 and 24 (average 16) years, with all permanent teeth intact and without crowding. Four periapical and four interproximal radiographs were obtained and digitized.

Chemotherapy drugs and inflammatory cytokines enhance matrix metalloproteinases expression by oral mucosa cells.

Objective: Oral mucositis (OM), the most common side effect of cancer therapy, is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) increased expression. Although there are approaches for OM management, none is infallible, thus, elucidation of molecular events related to OM etiopathogenesis may improve current therapeutic strategies. This study assessed the influence of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemotherapy drugs on MMPs expression and synthesis by oral mucosa cells.

Cyclosporine A impairs bone repair in critical defects filled with different osteoconductive bone substitutes.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of cyclosporine administration on the repair of critical-sized calvaria defects (CSDs) in rat calvaria filled with diverse biomaterials. Sixty animals were divided into two groups: the control (CTR) group (saline solution) and the cyclosporine (CCP) group (cyclosporine, 10 mg/kg/day). These medications were administered daily by gavage, beginning 15 days before the surgical procedure and lasting until the day the animals were euthanized.

Hypericin-glucamine antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the progression of experimentally induced periodontal disease in rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) using the photosensitizer hypericin-glucamine in the progression of experimentally induced periodontal disease (PD) in rats.

Material And Methods: Subgingival ligatures were inserted around the upper second molars of 30 rats. After 7 days (Baseline), the animals were randomly distributed into 3 experimental (n = 5) groups: Hypericin-glucamine; LED (amber LED, 700 mA, 590 nm, 90 mW, 34.

Terpinen-4-ol and alpha-terpineol (tea tree oil components) inhibit the production of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 on human macrophages.

Objective: Tea tree oil (TTO) is an essential oil with anti-inflammatory properties, steam distilled from the plant Melaleuca alternifolia. We investigated the immunomodulatory properties of TTO and its components (terpinen-4-ol and alpha-terpineol) using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages.

Methods: The ability of TTO, terpinen-4-ol and alpha-terpineol to modulate the macrophage response to bacterial LPS stimulation was assessed by ELISA for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 cytokine production and by western blotting for the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, which are associated with the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Effect of thermal cycling on denture base and autopolymerizing reline resins.

Objective: This study evaluated the fracture toughness (FT) of denture base and autopolymerizing reline resins, with and without thermocycling (T).

Material And Methods: Specimens of each material (denture base acrylic resin - Lucitone 550 - L; autopolymerizing reline resins - Ufi Gel Hard-UH, Tokuyama Rebase II-TR, New Truliner-NT and Kooliner-K), were produced, notched and divided into two groups (n=10): CG (control group of autopolymerizing reline resins and L): FT tests were performed after polymerization; TG (thermocycled group): FT tests were performed after T (5°C and 55°C for 5,000 cycles).

Results: Results (MPa.

Referral letters in oral medicine: an approach for the general dental practitioner.

The aim of this study was to analyze the contents of referral letters related to clinical history and reason for consultation. A total of 236 consecutive referral letters were evaluated. Analysis of the referral letters was based on key items concerning patient identification, chief complaint, previous consultation, laboratory investigation and use of drugs for the chief complaint.

Reliability of toluidine blue application in the detection of oral epithelial dysplasia and in situ and invasive squamous cell carcinomas.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of in vivo staining with toluidine blue in the detection of oral epithelial dysplasia, in situ carcinoma, and invasive squamous cell carcinomas in potentially malignant epithelial lesions (PMELs) and superficial oral ulcerations suggesting malignancy.

Study Design: Fifty patients with PMELs and superficial oral ulcerations suggestive of malignancy were selected from those treated at the Oral Medicine Service, Faculty of Dentistry, Araraquara, Brazil. All lesions were submitted to staining with an aqueous solution of 1% toluidine blue, followed by biopsy and histologic analysis.