Andressa Feitosa Bezerra de Oliveira

Association between socioeconomic factors and dental erosion in Brazilian schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate if a higher socioeconomic status is a potential risk factor for dental erosion in 6- to 12-year-old Brazilian schoolchildren. METHODS A sample of 983 children was drawn from 36 schools. A questionnaire was applied to determine socioeconomic background. Clinical exams for dental erosion were carried out by one trained and calibrated examiner considering location, severity, and surface area affected. Chi-square tests and multivariate analysis were carried out. RESULTS Dental erosion was detected in 196 children (19.9 percent). From this total, 61.8 percent of the lesions were found in the primary dentition and 38.2 percent in the permanent dentition. The palatal surface was the most affected. Higher prevalence was observed in males (P = 0.005). Dental erosion was more prevalent in private school children than in public school children (P = 0.029). Also, dental erosion was prevalent in children from families with higher income (21.3 percent) than in children from low-income families (13.5 percent) without significant difference (P > 0.05). A higher prevalence of erosion was observed in those children whose parents had a high education level (22.7 percent, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The data suggest a high prevalence of dental erosion across this age span. Dental erosion seems to occur most often in primary dentition of boys who attended private schools and whose mothers have a high educational status.

Cárie precoce na infância: prevalência e fatores de risco em pré-escolares, aos 48 meses, na cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC), in a cohort of children of low socioeconomic status at 48 months of age in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, in relation to feeding practices, oral health behaviors, fluoride exposure, and enamel defects. 224 children were clinically examined in the Knee-Knee position at the childrens home under natural light. Teeth were dried and cleaned with gauze, and caries (WHO index) and defect (DDE Index) were determined. Questionnaires on childrens oral hygiene and dietary history were completed by parents or guardians. The SAS statistical program was used with the Mantel-Haenszel tests. The results showed a prevalence of 10.7% and 33.0% for ECC and SECC, respectively. Of all the children examined, 79.9% had at least one tooth with enamel defects, which was the only statistically significant factor (p < 0.001) for ECC. The association between enamel defects and ECC indicates that alterations in the enamel surface may cause progression of dental caries.

Fatores sócio-econômicos relacionados ao risco nutricional e sua associação com a freqüência de defeitos do esmalte em crianças da cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil

This study focused on factors related to nutritional risk in children over one year of age from low-income families in João Pessoa, Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil, and the frequency of related enamel defects. The study included 117 children, 56 at nutritional risk and 61 with normal growth. Nutritional evaluation, clinical dental examination, and interviews with mothers were conducted at the homes. Gestational and birth records were examined in the maternity hospital. Data were analyzed using the chi-square, Fishers exact tests, and logistic regression. Enamel defects were associated with nutritional risk after the first year of life. Nutritional risk was associated with per capita family income, birth weight, and intrauterine growth index. These are relevant factors for individual nutritional planning and formation of dental enamel.

Erosive Potential of Industrialized Teas: An in vitro study

Objective: To evaluate the erosive potential of manufactured teas according to pH, titratable acidity and buffering capacity. Material and Methods: Eight types of manufactured teas of different brands and flavors acquired in supermarkets of Joao Pessoa, Brazil, were investigated. Indaia ® mineral water and Coca-Cola ® were controls. The pH measurement and titratable acidity for pH 5.5 and 7.0 were performed in triplicate in 50 ml of each beverage. The buffering capacity was calculated based on pH and titratable acidity for pH 7.0. ANOVA, Tukey, and Pearson correlation, with p <0.05, were used for data analysis. Results: Data showed normal distribution by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for all variables. There was a statistically significant relationship between groups analyzed in all variables (ANOVA, p <0.001). The pH of teas ranged from 2.70 (Black Tea with lemon-Leao Fuze ® ) to 4.03 (Natural Mate Tea - Matte Leao ® ). The following significant correlations (p <0.01) were observed: pH and titratable acidity; buffering capacity and pH; buffering capacity and titratable acidity. Conclusion: All teas analyzed were potentially erosive; however, Black Tea with lemon (Leao Fuze ® ) had the lowest pH, the highest titratable acidity and buffering capacity, demonstrating that the saliva will have greater difficulty in buffering this tea in the oral environment.

Allium sativum Compared to Cilostazol as an Inhibitor of Myointimal Hyperplasia

Objective Intimal hyperplasia is associated with graft failure and vascular sutures in the first year after surgery and in postangioplasty restenosis. Allium sativum (common garlic) lowers cholesterol and has antioxidant effects; it also has antiplatelet and antitumor properties and, therefore, has great potential to reduce or inhibit intimal hyperplasia of the arteries. Our objective is to determine if the garlic has an efficacy to inhibit myointimal hyperplasia compared to cilostazol. Methods Female New Zealand rabbits were divided into the following groups (n=10 each) according to treatment: group A, garlic, 800 µg×kg-1×day-1, orally; group C, cilostazol, 50 mg.day-1, orally; group PS, 10 ml of 0.9% physiological saline solution, orally. Our primary is the difference of the mean of myointimal hyperplasia. Statistical analysis was performed by using ANOVA and Tukey tests, as well as the Chi-square test. We calculated the 95% confidence interval for each point estimate, and the P value was set as < 0.05. Results Group PS had a mean hyperplasia rate of 35.74% (95% CI, 31.76–39.71%); group C, 16.21% (95% CI, 13.36–19.05%); and group A, 21.12% (95% CI, 17.26–25.01%); P<0.0001. Conclusion We conclude that Allium sativum had the same efficacy in inhibiting myointimal hyperplasia when compared to the positive control, cilostazol.