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Background. Fluoride-releasing capacity has been added to fissure sealants to benefit from the positive anticariogenic effects of both sealants and fluoride. This comparative research investigated the inhibitory effects of conventional and fluoridereleasing fissure sealants on initial lesions with or without exposure to fluoride toothpaste. Methods. Cavities were prepared on buccal surfaces of 24 premolar teeth which were randomly divided into three groups. In the cavities of the first group, a fluoride-releasing fissure sealant and in the second group, a conventional fissure sealant were placed; the third group was left intact. Incipient lesions were produced around the cavities. Each group was divided into two subgroups, which were exposed to fluoride-containing toothpaste or artificial saliva. Lesion depths were measured under a polarized light microscope before and after treatment. Changes in lesion depths in the samples were analyzed by SPSS 17. Results. Initial and final caries depths were significantly lower in the fluoride-releasing fissure sealant group compared to the other groups (P

Background. Diode lasers (DLs) have demonstrated equal or better desensitizing effects than fluoride varnish, 10% potassium nitrate (NK) gel and Gluma. The current study evaluated the desensitizing effect of combined application of DLs with two different output powers and compared it with single DL therapy. Methods. Sixty-two hypersensitive teeth were allocated randomly into two groups: the single group was treated with 3-W DL beam once and in the combined group, the teeth were irradiated three times (the first time with 0.2-W and then with 3-W and the second and third times, 48 and 96 hours after the baseline visit, with 0.2-W DL beams). The amount of dentin hypersensitivity (DH) was evaluated, immediately before and after each visit, and 1 week and 1 and 3 months after the first visit. Data analysis was performed using chi-squared test, repeated measurement of ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test. P

Background and aims. Lysozyme and lactoferrin are salivary proteins which play an important role in innate defense mechanisms against bacteria. This study investigated the association of salivary lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations with early childhood caries (ECC). Materials and methods. This study was carried out on 42 healthy children (age range, 36 to 71 months), of whom 21 were caries free (CF) and 21 had ECC. Disposable needle-less syringes were used to collect unstimulated saliva from buccal and labial vestibules. Fifteen children who had ECC were treated completely and their saliva was collected in the same way for the second time, three months after treatment. Lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations were measured and recorded by the ELISA method. The intergroup comparisons were carried out using chi-square, Student’s t-test and Wilcoxon signed ranked test. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results. The mean concentration of lysozyme was significantly higher in CF group compared with that of ECC group (P = 0.04). Although the mean concentration of lactoferrin in ECC group was higher in comparison with ECC group, the differ-ence was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). After dental treatment, the mean concentrations of lysozyme and lactoferrin did not change in comparison with their concentrations before treatment. Conclusion. ECC may have a relationship with lower concentrations of unstimulated salivary lactoferrin and lysozyme and reduced amounts of these two salivary proteins may be a risk factor for dental caries in children.

Aim and Background. Recently, new restorative materials such as self-adhesive flowable composites, because of their simple use and no need to bonding and etching, are considered important, particularly in pediatric dentistry. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser on microshear bond strength of self-adhesive flowable composite on permanent teeth dentin in vitro. Material and Methods. In this experimental study, 40 dentin sections were prepared from healthy third molars and divided into two groups according to their surface preparation by Er,Cr:YSGG laser or without laser, only with silicon carbide paper. In each group, two groups of 10 teeth were treated with self-adhesive flowable composite (Dyad) and conventional flowable composite (acid etch and bonding). Samples were stored in normal saline and after 48 hours their bond strength was measured. The failure mode of samples was observed on stereomicroscope. In order to analyse the results, the one way ANOVA and Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons were used. Result. The maximum bond strength was related to conventional flowable composite with laser preparation group (24/21 Mpa). The lowest one was seen in Dyad composite without laser emitting (9/89 Mpa). The statistical difference between this two groups was significant (P value = 0/0038). The microshear bond strength differences between Dyad composite groups with laser preparation (mean = 16/427±1/79) and without laser preparation (mean = 12/85±1/90) were statistically significant too (P value = 0/01). Conclusion. Self-adhesive flowable composite has lower microshear bond strength than conventional flowable composite. Moreover, the laser irradiation as a surface treatment can improve this bond strength.