The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Dental Erosion
This review discusses the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the development of dentin erosion and the protective effects of MMP inhibitors, based on recent evidence from in vitro and in situ studies. MMPs are present in both dentin and saliva and play an important role in dentin erosion progression. Enzymatic removal of the organic matrix by MMPs increases the demineralization process, since the demineralized organic matrix has been shown to hamper ionic diffusion after an acidic challenge. Recent evidence from in vitro and in situ studies has shown a protective role of MMP inhibitors against dentin erosion and e...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Buzalaf, M. A. R., Kato, M. T., Hannas, A. R. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Is Dental Erosion Really a Problem?
Dental erosion is the non-carious dental substance loss induced by direct impact of exogenous or endogenous acids. It results in a loss of dental hard tissue, which can be serious in some groups, such as those with eating disorders, in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, and also in persons consuming high amounts of acidic drinks and foodstuffs. For these persons, erosion can impair their well-being, due to changes in appearance and/or loss of function of the teeth, e.g., the occurrence of hypersensitivity of teeth if the dentin is exposed. If erosion reaches an advanced stage, time- and money-consuming therapie...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Schlueter, N., Jaeggi, T., Lussi, A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Remineralization Agents - New and Effective or Just Marketing Hype?
This is a review of the need for better remineralization and of the status of calcium-based remineralizing agents for use in anti-caries toothpastes. Use of fluoride toothpastes has markedly reduced caries. However, the decline may be over or in reverse. There is a limit to what fluoride alone can do; complementary agents are needed. Using plaque as a reservoir for calcium-based agents holds promise. Plaque fluid is already supersaturated with respect to relevant calcium phosphates at neutral pH; extra calcium may lead to surface-blocking and sub-optimal lesion consolidation. However, at cariogenic pH, lesions may be more ...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Lynch, R. J. M., Smith, S. R. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Delivery of Active Agents from Chewing Gum for Improved Remineralization
Most surrogate measures of caries were developed to test products containing fluoride, typically at relatively high and closely controlled oral concentrations. However, since the primary mechanism for the remineralization of early enamel caries lesions by chewing gum is through stimulation of saliva, delivering Ca and Pi to the demineralized enamel lesion, established methods may lack the sensitivity to detect the additional benefit of an active agent without the strong remineralizing potential of fluoride. Issues related to the release of active agents from the gum matrix, dilution in the saliva, and limited oral retentio...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Dodds, M. W. J., Chidichimo, D., Haas, M. S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Nanotechnology and Its Role in Caries Therapy
The purpose of this review is to highlight recent nanotechnological developments for remineralization of incipient caries lesions as well as biomimetic strategies for enamel synthesis based on the application of nanotechnology. Analysis of in vitro data indicates that apatite nanoparticles might be effective in reversing lesion progression in the outer but not in the deeper part of early caries lesions. To control caries-induced demineralization, investigators have developed calcium and phosphate or fluoride ion-releasing nanofillers, enabling resin composites to release ions, if the pH decreases under in vitro conditions....
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Hannig, M., Hannig, C. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Fluoride Plus Functionalized {beta}-TCP: A Promising Combination for Robust Remineralization
With more than 50 years of clinical success, fluoride serves as the gold standard agent for preventing tooth decay. In particular, the action of fluoride facilitates saliva-driven remineralization of demineralized enamel and alters solubility beneficially. Still, tooth decay remains problematic, and one way to address it may be through the development of new mineralizing agents. Laboratory and clinical studies have demonstrated that the combination of fluoride and functionalized β-tricalcium phosphate (fTCP) produces stronger, more acid-resistant mineral relative to fluoride, native β-TCP, or fTCP alone. In contr...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Karlinsey, R. L., Pfarrer, A. M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Calcium Phosphopeptides -- Mechanisms of Action and Evidence for Clinical Efficacy
Phosphoproteins/phosphopeptides with clusters of acidic residues are found throughout nature, where they aid in the prevention of unwanted precipitation of solid calcium phosphates. The acidic residues, particularly phosphoserine, interact with calcium and stabilize clusters of calcium and phosphate. Saliva and milk are two examples of biological fluids that contain such phosphoprotein/phosphopeptide-stabilized calcium phosphates, and both share a similar evolutionary pathway. Saliva has been shown to have remineralization potential and is of critical importance in maintaining the mineral content of teeth in the oral envir...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Cochrane, N. J., Reynolds, E. C. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Approaches to Caries Prevention and Therapy in the Elderly
The population of the world is aging. A greater proportion of older people are retaining increasing numbers of natural teeth. Aging is associated with changes in oral architecture and muscle weakness, making personal oral hygiene more difficult, particularly for the oldest and most frail individuals. Furthermore, there is exposure of root dentin with its higher pH for demineralization in addition to enamel as a substrate for caries. Aging is also associated, for many in the developed world, with taking multiple medications, with the associated risk of dry mouth. These variables combine to increase caries risk in older vuln...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Walls, A. W. G., Meurman, J. H. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Caries Clinical Trial Methods for the Assessment of Oral Care Products in the 21st Century
Traditionally, caries clinical trials of oral care products have focused on the prevention of caries in children and adolescents at the "cavitation" level. Because of a general reduction in caries incidence and the use of positive control comparators, studies have grown both in size and duration to improve statistical power. Currently, they tend to be of 2 to 3 years’ duration, with up to 2,000 high-risk individuals per group. During the past decade, there has been a shift in emphasis from a restorative approach to the treatment of dental caries to a therapeutic approach focused on the remineralization of early carie...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Ellwood, R. P., Gomez, J., Pretty, I. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The Role of Remineralizing and Anticaries Agents in Caries Management
The first ICNARA conference (International Conference on Novel Anticaries and Remineralizing Agents) was held in Chile in January, 2008, and the proceedings were published in Advances in Dental Research (Volume 21, 2009). That issue of Advances summarized the state of the science and set a research agenda for the future for two key components of caries management, namely, antibacterial agents and remineralizing agents. The second conference (ICNARA 2, January 2012) provided an update on science and new directions for research and clinical practice. Over the past decade, renewed efforts have been made across the world to es...
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Featherstone, J. D., Domejean, S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
New Agents for Caries Prevention: Introduction to ICNARA 2
(Source: Advances in dental research)
Source: Advances in dental research - August 16, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: ten Cate, J. M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Effective Use of Self-care Fluoride Administration in Asia
The caries-preventive benefits of fluoride are generally accepted by dental researchers and practicing professionals worldwide. The benefits of fluoride toothpastes and mouthrinses have been supported by several high-quality systematic reviews. The formulation of a fluoride toothpaste and biological (salivary flow rate) and behavioral factors (brushing frequency, brushing time, post-brushing rinsing practices, timing of brushing, and amount of toothpaste applied) can influence anticaries efficacy. Fluoride mouthrinses have simpler formulations and can have better oral fluoride retention profiles than fluoride toothpastes, ...
Source: Advances in dental research - January 18, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Zero, D. T., Marinho, V. C. C., Phantumvanit, P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Use of Professionally Administered Topical Fluorides in Asia
Professionally applied topical fluoride varnish, gel, and solution have been shown to be effective in preventing and in arresting dental caries. Their use in different countries in Asia varies greatly and may not correlate with the dental caries situation of the populations in the countries. In the higher-income countries, use of fluoride varnish and gel is common among dental professionals. In contrast, the use of professionally administered topical fluorides is not common in the lower-income countries. Fluoride varnish, being easy to apply and safe, has been the preferred agent for the prevention of early childhood carie...
Source: Advances in dental research - January 18, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Lo, E. C. M., Tenuta, L. M. A., Fox, C. H. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Community-oriented Administration of Fluoride for the Prevention of Dental Caries: A Summary of the Current Situation in Asia
Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting human populations around the world. It is recognized that fluoride plays a significant role in dental caries reduction. Meanwhile, several low- and middle-income countries of Asia have not yet implemented systematic fluoride programs; contributing factors relate to misconceptions about the mechanisms of fluoride, low priority given to oral health in national health policy and strategic plans, and lack of interest among public health administrators. A workshop on the effective use of fluoride in Asia took place in Phang-Nga, Thailand, in 2011. A series of country...
Source: Advances in dental research - January 18, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Petersen, P. E., Baez, R. J., Lennon, M. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Toward Effective Use of Fluoride in Asia
(Source: Advances in dental research)
Source: Advances in dental research - January 18, 2012 Category: Dentistry Authors: Petersen, P. E., Phantumvanit, P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
