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Purpose: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of dental erosion among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil; and determine if gender, dietary habit, and salivary characteristics (salivary flow rate, buffer capacity, and pH) influence the erosion., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 389 children. Data on dietary habits, oral hygiene practices, and medical backgrounds were obtained by a survey. The erosion index proposed by O'Sullivan was used. Whole-fresh-saliva was collected and data was submitted to statistical analysis., Results: The prevalence of dental erosion was 26 percent. There was no significant difference in prevalence between boys and girls (P=.19). Labial surfaces were the most affected (58 percent) and enamel loss was the most prevalent type of dental erosion (65 percent). Overall, no significant difference was found among salivary characteristics and prevalence of erosion (salivary flow rate: P=.98; buffer capacity: P=.75; pH: P=.80). Most children presented good salivary characteristics. Results indicate that the main risk factors for erosion were usage of acidic drugs, consumption of soft drinks, and temperature of acid fruits., Conclusions: The prevalence of erosion in 12-year-old schoolchildren living in Piracicaba, SF, Brazil could be considered high. Extrinsic factors were related to erosion, while salivary characteristics seemed to have no influence on erosion.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the abrasive effect of different toothbrushes-soft-cross bristles (CB), extra-soft-parallel bristles (ES), and soft-parallel bristles (S)-on the surface roughness of conventional (C) and resin-modified (V) glass ionomer cements in vitro. Eight specimens of each material were prepared for each group: (1) V and CB; (2) V and ES; (3) V and S; (4) C and CB; (5) C and ES; and (6) C and S. Specimens were stored at 37 degrees C/24 hours and 100% humidity, polished, and initially analyzed with a surface roughness-measuring device. Next, they were fixed to the tooth-brushing device and abraded via toothbrushes, using a dentifrice slurry, performed at 250 cycles/minute with a 200 g load. The specimens were washed, dried, and analyzed identically with the same device. There was no significant interaction between material and toothbrush types. After tooth-brushing, V showed significantly higher surface roughness than C and CB and created higher surface roughness than S. No difference was observed between these toothbrushes and ES. Regardless of the toothbrush type used, resin-modified glass ionomer cement showed the highest roughness values.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to correlate the dye permeability to the morphological aspect (presence or absence of a smear layer) of the primary root dentin wall, using scanning electron microscopy, regarding the endodontic preparation and irrigation methods. The hypothesis evaluated was that there was a correlation between the dye permeability and the morphological aspect of the primary root dentin., Methods: A total of 112 extracted primary roots were distributed into the following groups: Dakin's liquid, Dakin+hydrogen peroxide; 2% chlorhexidine gel; and saline solution. Manual (MI) or Ultrasonic irrigation (UI) was performed. The roots were made impermeable, filled with dye (2% methylene blue), and longitudinally sectioned. The halves were divided in cervical, middle, and apical thirds for dye penetration measurement. The samples were observed under a scanning electron microscope. The data were submitted to linear regression analysis with a dummy variable (P<.05)., Results: The data revealed a relationship between decreasing permeability and the presence of a smear layer on root canal dentin walls for MI in the middle third (P=.0147). Regarding UI, no statistically significant relation was observed (P>.05)., Conclusions: The presence of a smear layer on root canal dentin walls was not a limiting factor to dye penetration in all groups except the middle third for manual irrigation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cleansers and irrigation methods on the permeability index (PI) in primary root dentin., Methods: One hundred twelve teeth were extracted and sectioned transversely, discarding their crowns. Then, the roots were distributed according to the cleansers: (1) Dakin (D); (2) Dakin+hydrogen peroxide (DHP); (3) 2% chlorhexidine gel (C); and (4) saline (S). The canals were manually instrumented. Irrigation was performed manually (MI) or ultrasonically (UI). The roots were: (1) made impermeable; (2) filled with 2% methylene blue solution; and (3) longitudinally sectioned. The halves were marked in thirds (cervical, middle, and apical), and the areas of dye penetration were measured. PI data were submitted to factorial analysis of variance and Tukey tests (P<.05)., Results: A significant effect of MI/UI, in association with cleansers, was seen on PI. For all thirds, the PI of MI was superior to UI. In the cervical third, MI achieved a high PI when associated with D, DHP, and S. UI associated with S and C produced the highest PI. In the middle third, MI associated with D and DHP produced the highest PI. In the apical third, MI associated with D demonstrated the highest PI. None of the UI and cleanser associations induced differences in PI for the middle and apical thirds., Conclusion: MI produced better results than the UI. The D, DHP, and S cleansers demonstrated the highest PIs, suggesting that the combination of MI and these cleansers is recommended for primary teeth to maintain dentin permeability.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and retention of occlusal sealing using FluroShield or Compoglass., Methods: The sample consisted of 57 children aged 7 to 9 years who had 4 sound, fully erupted, first permanent molars (total=228 teeth). Both materials were applied on contralateral teeth in a split-mouth design in 2 groups: (1) FluroShield--left upper molar and right lower molar; (2) Compoglass--right upper molar and left lower molar. The materials were applied under cotton roll isolation by the same operator according to the manufacturers' instructions. The evaluations were carried out at 6, 12, and 24 months. The data were subjected to the G2 (likelihood ratio chi-square test; P<.05)., Results: At the 6-month evaluation, Compoglass showed 60% total retention, 23% partial retention, and 17% total loss. FluroShield showed 53% total retention, 31% partial retention, and 16% total loss. At the 12-month recall, Compoglass and FluroShield, respectively, showed 39% and 43% total retention, 38% and 33% partial retention, and 24% and 25% total loss. At the 24-month evaluation, there was a reduction of 56% of the initial sample numbers (32/57), with 22% and 20% having total retention, 52% and 48% partial retention, and 26% and 32% total loss, respectively, for Compoglass and FluroShield. There was no significant statistical difference between the retention of both materials studied. There was no new caries formation during the evaluation period., Conclusion: It could be concluded that both materials effectively prevented caries in occlusal surfaces during the follow-up period, although both showed a low retention rates.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to verify the prevalence of nutritive (breast-feeding and bottle-feeding) and non-nutritive (pacifier) sucking habits, the methods used to eliminate them, and success of these methods., Methods: To collect the data, 502 questionnaires were distributed to parents of 0- to 6-year-old children., Results: Bottle-feeding was used by 83% and pacifier by 63% of children. The professional's explanation, the use of substances on the pacifier, the abrupt interruption of the habit, and parents' explanations were efficient in 90%, 80%, 64%, and 38% of the cases, respectively., Conclusions: Sucking habits had a high prevalence in this sample. An indirect linear relationship between breast-feeding and pacifier use demonstrated that the more the child was breast-fed, the less the pacifier was used. The most efficient method to end the pacifier-sucking habit was professional explanation; however, it was used less often.