Experimental evaluation of the chemical composition of dental cement in adults

BACKGROUND: Information about the chemical composition of tooth root cement is limited, although it can contribute to clarifying the mechanisms of tooth root surface caries development and in improving methods of its treatment and prevention. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of cement in intact teeth and in teeth with root caries in adults of different age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The average Ca, P, and Ca/P-coefficient in the cement of the intact teeth and in the caries of the root was obtained, and a tendency toward a decrease in the total mineralization of the cement in the caries of the root was also found. RESULTS: In adults experiencing hyperesthesia of hard dental tissues, regardless of age and sex, the morphological picture is similar and is determined by pathological changes of carious and non-carious origin in tooth tissues that cause hyperesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate and severe hyperesthesia of the hard tissues of the adult teeth results in a decrease in the level of mineralization in the enamel, dentin, as well as in cement relative to the intact teeth.

Association of Root Surface Caries with Periodontal Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

The authors have withdrawn this preprint due to author disagreement.

Association of Root Surface Caries with Periodontal Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Background: Mounting evidence has demonstrated a reciprocal association between diabetes mellitus and periodontal diseases, characterized by loss of alveolar bone, gingival recession and root exposure. Recently, studies showed that type 2 diabetes patients were at high risk to development root caries. This essay aims to clarify the relationship between root surface caries (RC) and periodontal parameters in diabetes patients, as well as evaluate relevant risk factors in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: A total of 132 qualified adult patients with T2DM and periodontitis were recruited to this study. Radiographic data were collected to calculate alveolar bone loss (ABL). Subjects were assigned to three groups according to tertiles of ABL to make a comparison. Decayed and/or filled teeth (DFT) were calculated for both coronal and root surface as the caries indices of the remaining teeth. The plaque index (PLI), gingival recession (GR), probing depth (PD) at six sites per tooth, number of missing teeth, number of retained root remnants, and number of teeth with furcal lesions were recorded during clinical examinations. Blood analyses were carried out for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting glucose. Correlation analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results: By analyzing covariance, the research found that subjects with increased ABL have significantly higher numbers of missing teeth, root surface caries DFT, teeth with furcal lesions ( P <0.05). There is a significant positive correlation between root surface caries DFT and ABL, GR, coronal caries DFT ( P <0.05), respectively. ABL, coronal caries and age became significant predictor variables for Root Surface DFT (≥3)) ( P <0.05). Conclusion: Root surface caries were associated with ABL, GR and coronal caries in periodontitis with T2DM as well as ABL, coronal caries and age became risk factors for predicting the occurence of RC. Key Words: Association, Root Caries, Diabetes mellitus, Periodontitis

Randomized Clinical Trial on Preventing Root Caries among Community-Dwelling Elders

Dental root caries is a common disease among elders. More efforts on preventing this disease are needed. Silver diammine fluoride (SDF) is known to prevent dental caries in primary teeth. However, clinical evidence of its efficacy in preventing root surface caries is limited. This clinical trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of SDF in preventing root caries among elders in a water fluoridated area. A total of 323 elders who had at least 5 teeth with exposed root surfaces and who had self-care ability were randomly allocated into 3 intervention groups: group 1 (placebo control), annual application of tonic water; group 2, annual application of SDF solution; group 3, annual application of SDF solution, immediately followed by potassium iodide (KI) solution. Oral hygiene instructions and fluoride toothpaste were provided to all subjects. Status of dental root surface was assessed every 6 mo by the same independent examiner. After 30 mo, 257 (79.6%) elders were reviewed. The mean numbers of root surface with new caries experience in the control, SDF, and SDF/KI groups were 1.1, 0.4, and 0.5, respectively (analysis of variance, P < 0.001). Scheffe’s multiple comparison showed that elders who received placebo developed more new root caries lesions ( P < 0.05), while the difference between the SDF and SDF/KI groups was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Moreover, elders who had higher visible plaque index scores at 30-mo examination (analysis of covariance, P < 0.001) and those who had higher baseline DMFT scores (analysis of covariance, P = 0.005) developed more new root caries. It is concluded that annual application of SDF or SDF/KI solution is effective in preventing root caries among community-dwelling elders in a fluoridated area ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02360124). Knowledge Transfer Statement: Annual topical application of silver diammine fluoride or silver diammine fluoride / potassium iodide solution is effective in preventing dental root surface caries among community-dwelling elders in a fluoridated area.