Liangyue Pang

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of resin infiltration (RI), casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), fluo

Children in the mixed dentition stage are susceptible to dental caries, necessitating frequent examination and preventive measures. In this study, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were used to develop a model for detecting oral health status in mixed dentition. Intraoral images of dentition spanning 2467 occlusal surfaces were collected from 7–9-year-old children for training and testing. The health status of all teeth, including caries, fillings, intraoral devices, pigments, and black stains, was tested. For the first permanent molar, indicator testing was conducted to determine the eruption conditions, fissure morphology, and sealing conditions. ResNet50 was trained for segmentation tasks, and TResNet was trained for detection tasks. The statistical analysis included calculations of the F1 score (F1) and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). The model was able to correctly detect caries (F1, 0.777; AUC, 0.964), fillings (F1, 0.746; AUC, 0.893), pigmentation (F1, 0.836; AUC, 0.870), intraoral devices (F1, 0.800; AUC, 1.00) and black stains (F1, 0.867; AUC, 0.988). The model demonstrated good capabilities for detecting deep fissures (F1, 0.927; AUC, 0.951), completely erupted teeth (F1, 0.882; AUC, 0.944), and sealed teeth (F1, 0.947; AUC, 0.986), but it demonstrated a weak ability to detect incompletely erupted teeth (F1, 0.727; AUC, 0.871) and shallow fissures (F1, 0.632; AUC, 0.934). The performance of the model was verified in detecting tooth status and screening teeth suitable for fissure sealants, but the scale of rare labels was also inadequate and requires optimization.

Objective The study aimed to evaluate the whitening efficacy and removal of extrinsic tooth stain of sodium phytate-containing whitening toothpaste, as well as to evaluate participant satisfaction. Methods A total of eighty participants were recruited for this randomized, triple-blind controlled trial and were randomly assigned to either the test group (toothpaste containing 0.875% sodium phytate, ST) or the control group (toothpaste without sodium phytate, CT). Tooth color was assessed using a VITA spectrophotometer and changes in exogenous tooth stains were evaluated using the Lobene Index, which were conducted at baseline, as well as at 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Additionally, participants’ self-assessment of tooth color were evaluated through an aesthetic numerical analogue scale. Statistical tests were conducted appropriately, and the significance level was established at α = 0.05. Results This study demonstrates that the b-value of the index teeth in the ST group was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the CT group, while the △WI_D values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) at both the 3-week and 4-week time points. Additionally, the a-value of the index teeth in the ST group was significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared to the CT group, and the L-value of the index teeth in the ST group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the CT group after 4 weeks. The differences in color between the two treatments, as analyzed by the CIELAB (ΔE), were not statistically significant. Similarly, no significant differences were observed in the changes of the Lobene Index or in participant satisfaction regarding tooth color between the two groups. A comparative analysis of the subjects in the ST group at the 3-week and 4-week marks revealed that the L-value of the index tooth at 4 weeks was significantly higher than that at 3 weeks (p < 0.001), while the b-value was significantly lower at 4 weeks compared to 3 weeks (p < 0.001). Conclusion Brushing teeth with sodium phytate-containing whitening toothpaste for a duration of three weeks demonstrates notable whitening effects, which significantly increase over time. However, after four weeks, the sodium phytate-containing toothpaste shows minimal efficacy in removing extrinsic tooth stains. Clinical significance Sodium phytate may be incorporated into toothpaste as a whitening agent.

Dental caries arise from intricate interactions among oral microorganisms, impacting ecological stability and disease progression. This study delves into the bacterial-fungal dynamics in severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) among 61 children aged 3-4 years with complete deciduous dentition. We evaluated environmental factors such as saliva pH, buffering capacity, and trace elements (iron, fluoride). We examined the performance of 16S rRNA V1-V9 regions gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) primers for bacteria and fungi from plaque and saliva to characterize community compositions and diversity. Saliva pH and buffering capacity were also measured. Findings revealed significant shifts in bacterial diversity in S-ECC saliva samples, marked by decreased diversity and elevated abundance of cariogenic species, particularly Streptococcus mutans . Candida albicans was notably more prevalent in the S-ECC group, implicating its potential role in pathogenesis. Iron and fluoride concentrations showed no significant correlation with microbial community structure. Network analyses uncovered complex intra- and inter-kingdom interactions, underscoring cooperative and competitive dynamics. S-ECC children exhibited higher abundances of bacteria ( Streptococcus mutans , Granulicatella , Actinomyces ) and fungi ( Candida albicans ), with specific microbial taxa associated with reduced saliva pH. Importance: This study illuminates the intricate relationship between bacteria and fungi within the oral microbial community of children, specifically highlighting differences between those with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and those without caries. Through an extensive analysis of the microbial composition in both saliva and dental plaque, we identified a significant increase in the abundance of specific bacterial taxa (e.g., S. mutans, Granulicatella, Actinomyces) and fungal species (e.g., C. albicans) in the oral cavities of children with S-ECC. This finding underscores the potential role of these microorganisms in the development of caries. Contrary to previous studies that emphasize the importance of iron and fluoride in oral health, our research found no significant correlation between the concentrations of these elements and the composition of oral microbial communities. This result challenges conventional understanding and opens new avenues for future research. Additionally, we discovered an association between certain microbial species and reduced salivary pH, offering fresh insights into the relationship between the oral microenvironment and caries development. The implications of our findings are substantial for the development of prevention and intervention strategies targeting childhood caries. They also underscore the critical need for a deeper exploration of oral microbial interactions and their environmental influences.

Parents may influence children’s intake of sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages through their feeding styles. This study prospectively assessed the association between parental feeding styles and caries risk in preschool children. In November and December 2021, we recruited 1181 preschool children aged 3–4 years in Guangzhou, China, and then conducted a follow-up visit after 15 months. The children were examined for dental caries, and their parents answered the Chinese version of the Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. At baseline, ‘control over eating’ was found to be negatively associated with early childhood caries (OR = 0.60, 95%CI = 0.44, 0.83). After 15 months, no significant association between baseline parental feeding styles and the risk of a new carious lesion was found. When considering changes in parental feeding styles between the baseline and the follow-up visit, we found children with increasing scores on ‘instrumental feeding’ during the 15 months had a higher risk of a new carious lesion (OR = 1.91, 95%CI = 1.18, 3.12). However, children with always-intermediate scores (OR = 0.51, 95%CI = 0.30, 0.86), always-high scores (OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.23, 0.77), or increasing scores (OR = 0.50, 95%CI = 0.31, 0.83) on ‘control over eating’ had a lower risk of a new carious lesion. Our study highlighted the influence of parental feeding styles on caries risk in preschool children.

Background: The excessive and frequent intake of refined sugar leads to caries. However, the relationship between the amount of sugar intake and the risk of caries is not always consistent. Oral microbial profile and function may impact the link between them. This study aims to identify the plaque microbiota characteristics of caries subjects with low (CL) and high (CH) sugar consumption, and of caries-free subjects with low (FL) and high sugar (FH) consumption. Methods: A total of 40 adolescents were enrolled in the study, and supragingival plaque samples were collected and subjected to metagenomic analyses. The caries status, sugar consumption, and oral-health behaviors of the subjects were recorded. Results: The results indicate that the CL group showed a higher abundance of several cariogenic microorganisms Lactobacillus, A. gerencseriae, A. dentails, S. mutans, C. albicans, S. wiggsiae and P. acidifaciens. C. gingivalis, and P. gingivalis, which were enriched in the FH group. In terms of gene function, the phosphotransferase sugar uptake system, phosphotransferase system, and several two-component responses–regulator pairs were enriched in the CL group. Conclusion: Overall, our data suggest the existence of an increased cariogenic microbial community and sugar catabolism potential in the CL group, and a healthy microbial community in the FH group, which had self-stabilizing functional potential.