Publications (48) View all
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Article: Adjunctive chemotherapeutic suppression of mutans streptococci in the setting of severe early childhood caries: an exploratory study.
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ABSTRACT: This investigational study assessed the suppressive effect of 10 percent povidone iodine (PI) coupled with elimination of active carious lesions on salivary mutans streptococci (MS) populations in children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). 77 children (38 females, 39 males) were treated for S- ECC in one session; a 0.2 ml PI solution was applied to the dentition after dental surgery was completed and immediately wiped off. The subjects aged from 2 to 5 years (mean = 3.78 years) at baseline. Whole nonstimulated saliva samples were obtained at baseline, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days post dental surgery. Samples were placed on ice and processed within 2 hours. The MS level in each sample was expressed as colony forming units (CFUs) per ml of saliva. Approximately 50 percent of subjects had a >95 percent reduction in CFU/ml of saliva at each time point after baseline. The percentages of subjects with a >50 percent reduction in MS level were 85 percent at 30 days, 83 percent at 60 days, 84 percent at 90 days. The median (25th, 75th percentiles) CFUs/ml of saliva counts were 8.40 x 10(5) (1.49 x 10(5), 5.00 x 10(6)) at baseline (n= 77), 4.12 x 10(4) (8.40 x 10(3), 1.89 x 10(5)) at 30 days (n = 74), 4.62 x 10(4) (7.00 x 10(3), 1.36 x 10(5)) at 60 days (n = 70), and 5.09 x 10(4) (1.16 x 10(4), 1.00 x 10(5)) at 90 days (n = 70). The changes from baseline to 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days were statistically significant (P < 0.0001). PI coupled with dental surgery has a significant suppressive effect on salivary MS levels in the setting of S-ECC for at least 90 days. These data strongly suggest that treatment with PI may be an important adjunct to dental surgery for S-ECC.Journal of Public Health Dentistry 03/2009; 69(3):163-7. · 1.19 Impact Factor -
Article: Clinical Outcomes for Severe Early Childhood Caries
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ABSTRACT: Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) is a public health care problem affecting toddlers and preschool children worldwide. S-ECC is an infectious disease most frequently characterized by an overwhelming mutans streptococci infection. The current community standard of care for S-ECC calls for the removal and restoration of carious teeth, application of topical fluoride agents, oral hygiene instruction, and counseling regarding decay-promoting feeding behaviors. Dental surgery alone has minimal impact on oral mutans streptococci reservoirs in the setting of S-ECC and counseling regarding feeding behaviors by dental professionals has largely been unsuccessful. Not surprisingly, clinical outcomes for S-ECC treated under sedation or general anesthesia are poor. Improved clinical outcomes for S-ECC may be realized through treatment strategies that focus on the infectious basis of this disease. Suppression of oral mutans streptococci reservoirs to non-pathogenic levels with a topical anti-microbial agent shows promise as the approach of choice. Preliminary studies using a one time intra-operative application of 10% povidone iodine solution to the dentition in the setting of S-ECC has produced persistent suppression of salivary mutans streptococci reservoirs for 3 months post dental surgery. This paper reviews the relevant literature focusing on this important pediatric health care issue.Current Pediatric Reviews 07/2008; 4(3):169-173. -
Article: Antibacterial Treatment Needed for Severe Early Childhood Caries
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ABSTRACT: Objectives: To assess the effects of a single 10% povidone iodine application as an adjunct to extensive surgical procedures in the clinical treatment of children with early childhood caries. Methods: Twenty-two children scheduled for dental treatment under general anesthesia were randomized into either an intervention group (10% povidone iodine), or a control group (phosphate buffered saline). Either povidone iodine or phosphate buffered saline was applied to teeth and soft tissues after prophylaxis and all operative dental procedures, followed by 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel. Saliva samples taken at baseline, and after I hour, 3 weeks and 3 months were assayed for mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and total viable bacteria. Caries lesions were recorded at baseline and at one year. Results: Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels in the povidone iodine group were significantly reduced relative to baseline at I hour, 3 weeks and 3 months. At one year at least 60% of subjects had new caries lesions in each group, and there was no significant difference in caries increment between the two groups. Conclusions: Even prophylaxis, fluoride gel application and complete surgical treatment of caries at baseline were insufficient to prevent new caries in over 60% of the patients in these high caries risk infants. Although the one-time treatment with povidone iodine reduced mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels for up to 3 months this therapy failed to additionally reduce future caries formation over one year, indicating that repeated antibacterial treatments will be needed to control high levels of cariogenic bacteria.Journal of Public Health Dentistry 08/2006; 66(3):174 - 179. · 1.19 Impact Factor -
Article: Antibacterial treatment needed for severe early childhood caries.
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ABSTRACT: To assess the effects of a single 10% povidone iodine application as an adjunct to extensive surgical procedures in the clinical treatment of children with early childhood caries. Twenty-two children scheduled for dental treatment under general anesthesia were randomized into either an intervention group (10% povidone iodine), or a control group (phosphate buffered saline). Either povidone iodine or phosphate buffered saline was applied to teeth and soft tissues after prophylaxis and all operative dental procedures, followed by 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel. Saliva samples taken at baseline, and after 1 hour, 3 weeks and 3 months were assayed for mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and total viable bacteria. Caries lesions were recorded at baseline and at one year. Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels in the povidone iodine group were significantly reduced relative to baseline at 1 hour, 3 weeks and 3 months. At one year at least 60% of subjects had new caries lesions in each group, and there was no significant difference in caries increment between the two groups. Even prophylaxis, fluoride gel application and complete surgical treatment of caries at baseline were insufficient to prevent new caries in over 60% of the patients in these high caries risk infants. Although the one-time treatment with povidone iodine reduced mutans streptococci and lactobacilli levels for up to 3 months this therapy failed to additionally reduce future caries formation over one year, indicating that repeated antibacterial treatments will be needed to control high levels of cariogenic bacteria.Journal of Public Health Dentistry 02/2006; 66(3):174-9. · 1.19 Impact Factor -
Article: Teeth.
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ABSTRACT: Common environmental chemicals, drugs, or physical agents can adversely affect human teeth during their embryonic development and after their eruption into the oral cavity. One of the more common elemental toxicants is lead. Teeth are known to accumulate lead during their development. Both animal and human studies have shown that teeth with high lead levels are generally more susceptible to dental caries. Similarly, although inorganic fluorides have long been recognized for their potential to prevent dental caries, exposure to excessive amounts of fluoride when enamel is forming often leads to a type of enamel hypoplasia referred to as dental fluorosis or mottled enamel. Teratogenic agents, such as tetracyclines, a class of antibiotic drugs commonly administered to infants and children, will often result in the discoloration of tooth enamel when prescribed during tooth development. It has recently been suggested that childhood exposure to passive smoking increases the risk for dental caries. Environmental tobacco smoke has previously been linked to periodontal disease in adults. However, this is the first report of an association between passive tobacco smoke and increased susceptibility to dental caries. Last, an often-overlooked source of damage to teeth among all age groups after their eruption into the oral cavity is physical trauma from a variety of sources, especially sports-related injuries. Epidemiologic data suggest that up to one third of all dental injuries are sports related.PEDIATRICS 05/2004; 113(4 Suppl):1120-7. · 4.47 Impact Factor
