Eun-Joo Jun

Salivary bisphenol-A levels due to dental sealant/resin: a case-control study in Korean children.

Dental sealants and composite filling materials containing bisphenol-A (BPA) derivatives are increasingly used in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between salivary BPA and the number of tooth surfaces filled with dental sealant, and to determine a cutoff BPA level. Salivary BPA concentration and the number of tooth surfaces filled with dental sealant/resin were determined in 124 age and gender matched children: 62 controls had no dental sealant/resin on their tooth surfaces and 62 cases had more than 4 tooth surfaces with dental sealant/resin. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and conditional logistic regression were performed after controlling for age, gender, salivary flow rate, salivary buffer capacity, frequency of snacking, and frequency of tooth brushing. Salivary BPA levels were 0.002 to 8.305 µg/L. The BPA level of control (0.40 µg/L) was significantly lower than that of case (0.92 µg/L) after controlling for confounders (P = 0.026). Although the 90th BPA percentile had an adjusted OR of 4.58 (95% CI 1.04-20.26, P = 0.045), the significance disappeared in the conditional logistic model. There may be a relationship between salivary BPA level and dental sealant/resin.

The role of glutathione metabolism in cariogenic bacterial growth and caries in Korean children.

AIM The involvement of antioxidants in oral diseases suggests that salivary glutathione level may be associated with cariogenic bacteria and dental caries. The aim of this study was to determine the association of salivary glutathione with dental caries and cariogenic bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional oral health survey of 257 children aged 6-14 years. Total glutathione, reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG) levels were measured. Salivary mutans streptococci (MS) and Lactobacilli (LB) were measured using Dentocult MS and Dentocult LB kits. The dental caries status was examined. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and a linear regression model were used to evaluate the association among glutathione metabolites, cariogenic bacteria and dental caries status. RESULTS The salivary GSH level of the children was found to be significantly increased according to the salivary LB level and DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) (p=0.034 for salivary LB level; p=0.018 for DMFT). The glutathione metabolite levels were significantly higher in the decayed tooth (DT) group (p<0.001 for total glutathione and GSH; p=0.012 for GSSG). The GSH level showed a significant linear relationship with the salivary LB level (p=0.016), DMFT score (p=0.005) and DT score (p=0.010). Total glutathione and GSSG levels exhibited a significant linear relationship with DT (p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS This result indicates that the GSH level in saliva increased significantly in children according to the salivary LB level and the presence of dental caries. GSH may be a biomarker for cariogenic bacteria and dental caries.

Association of Self-Perceived Oral Health and Function with Clinically Determined Oral Health Status among Adults Aged 35–54 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to analyse the association of self-perceived oral health status (OHS) and functions with clinical OHS in Korean adults aged 35–54 years. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study using data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2009). A total of 6605 subjects aged 35–54 years who completed the oral examination and questionnaires were included. An association of self-perceived OHS and functions with clinically determined OHS was confirmed by a complex-samples general linear model. Data on socioeconomic variables, i.e., household income and education level, self-perceived OHS and functions, such as chewing and speaking, were collected by trained interviewers. The clinical OHS was determined by trained dentists and included the number of untreated decayed teeth (DT); decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT); prosthetic and periodontal status. The combined score was estimated as the sum of self-perceived OHS and functions. Based on the estimation coefficient, the clinical variables that were most strongly associated with self-perceived OHS and functions were, in order, periodontal status, prosthetic status, DT, and DMFT. In addition, the combined score for self-perceived OHS and functions was associated with household income, education, and clinically determined OHS.

Nitric oxide modulates levels of salivary Lactobacilli.

Abstract Objective. Nitric Oxide (NO) is one of the most powerful antibacterial compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the association between salivary NO, dental caries and cariogenic bacteria. Materials and methods. The salivary NO concentration of 257 Korean children was analyzed by the Griess colorimetric reaction method. Salivary mutans streptococci (MS) and Lactobacilli (LB) were counted using the Dentocult MS and Dentocult LB kit, respectively. Dental caries status was examined using the WHO criteria. Confounders were age, gender, salivary flow rate and salivary buffer capacity. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the association among NO, salivary MS level, salivary LB level and dental caries status after adjusting for the effects of confounders. Results. A significant decrease was found in salivary NO levels as the salivary LB count increased after controlling for confounders (p = 0.049). However, the MS level, caries experience and active caries status showed no significant association. Conclusion. This result indicates that NO production might be a host defense mechanism against the growth of cariogenic bacteria.