Active clinical trials for "Dental Caries"

Aim: To assess in vivo if the intake of yogurt containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis DN- 1173010 probiotic for a period of 2 weeks affects the salivary levels or biofilms of mutans streptococci and the lactobacilli of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Methods: A crossover, double-blind, randomized and placebo controlled clinical trial will be performed with 26 volunteers during 4 periods. During periods 2 and 4 (2 weeks each) the volunteers will have a daily ingestion of yogurt containing probiotic or of control yogurt which did not contain probiotic. Periods 1 and 3 were run-in and wash-out periods of 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. Experimental samples of saliva and biofilm will be collected from each participant at the end of each phase. Mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, total aciduric microorganisms, Candida spp. and total cultivable microorganisms will be counted. The values before and after the treatment will be compared with Wilcoxon's test (p<0.05).

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of two new family-based oral health promotion programs with the routine program in use earlier in Vantaa public dental service. The children born in 2008 were followed from their first visit to public dental service at the age of 6-12 months to their dental examination at the age of 2-2½ years. The outcome measures are the colonization of mutans streptococci in dental plaque, dental caries, and the oral health habits of two-year-olds.

The study is a multi-site, multi-level, and multi-component cluster randomized clinical trial (RCT) to address poor dental utilization (attendance) and untreated caries among 3-6 year old Medicaid-enrolled children attending well-child visits (WCV) in primary care settings. The focus is on addressing factors (determinants) at the socio-ecological levels of the child's environment: provider (pediatrician and nurse practitioner), practice/organization level, and parent/caregiver level. Eighteen practices will be randomized to 2 arms: A) bundled multi-level intervention consisting of: 1. training medical providers in the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation theory-based education so that the provider delivers to the parent/caregiver the following: i) Core oral health facts about dental caries, and ii) prescription to visit the dentist and a list of dentists accepting Medicaid; 2. Integration of oral health assessments into EMR for the provider to document in the child's medical record; versus B) Control arm of medical providers receiving the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) based oral health education and providing usual AAP-based care for oral health. Each arm will consist of 9 practices. Children will be followed for 24 months to determine dental utilization and changes in oral health status. The primary aim is to examine the effectiveness of theory-based behavioral (provider-level) and implementation (practice-level) bundled interventions versus enhanced usual care (AAP based oral health education) delivered by providers at WCVs in increasing dental attendance among 3-6 year old Medicaid-enrolled children. The secondary aims are to 1) assess the effectiveness of interventions on secondary outcomes (e.g. development of new caries, changes in oral hygiene, oral health quality of life, frequency of sweet snacks and beverages, cost), 2) assess potential mediators and moderators to investigate the pathways through which the multi-level interventions affect child primary and secondary outcomes, and 3) assess the adoption, reach, fidelity, and maintenance of providers and practices that affect child primary and secondary outcomes. The hypothesis is that theory-based behavioral (provider-level) and implementation (practice-level) bundled interventions delivered by providers at WCVs will increase dental attendance among 3-6 year old Medicaid-enrolled children versus enhanced usual care (AAP based oral health education) delivered by providers at WCVs.

The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of a two-step mouth rinsing procedure on reducing the germs (mutans Streptococci) that cause tooth decay. We hope that the two-step mouth rinse (0.3% NaOCl followed by 10% Povidone Iodine) decreases the tooth causing germs better than the one-step mouth rinse (10% Povidone Iodine). The mouth rinse for both treatment groups is done only once at the beginning of the study after the initial saliva samples are taken, and before a detailed examination of the teeth and gums. It is hypothesized that the treatment group receiving the NaOCl and Povidone iodine will have significantly lower microbial counts than the control group (Povidone iodine) because the NaOCl will disrupt the microbial biofilm and make the Povidone iodine more effective in decreasing the microbes in the biofilm. Microbial counts are made from Salivary samples taken from participants at baseline, one week, one month, two months and three months. The samples are tested by two commercial methods for determining microbial counts. The CariScreen Test is a rapid bioluminescence assay that quantitates the total number of all of the organisms present. The CRT test requires a culture media that is specific for the two germs (S. mutans and Lactobacillus) strongly associated with tooth decay. The results of the CRT Test are read after three days of incubation.

The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of Advantage Anti-Caries Varnish. Single-center, double-blind, controlled Phase 2 study with parallel groups of children. Subjects will be stratified by early childhood education center and then randomized to receive either test varnish or control varnish topically to the teeth. Treatment will be administered quarterly for up to 24 months. The primary outcome is surface-level primary molar caries increment (d2-4mfs) at 24- months post baseline.

Comparison of the salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans in pediatric patients with Early Childhood Caries after the application of Silver Diamine Fluoride or 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish

A prospective, analyst-blinded, randomized control trial to assess the incidence of intravenous (IV) fluid over-administration in the setting of pediatric dental surgeries. Anesthetists will be randomized to either administer their IV fluid through an infusion pump or a gravity drip device.

This study will evaluate effectiveness of a urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA)-quaternary ammonium methacrylate (K18) resin (UDMA-K18) smooth surface sealant to prevent biofilm attachment to tooth surfaces thereby eliminating the possibility for the tooth to be demineralized. The hypothesis is that UDMA-K18 containing smooth surface sealant will be more effective at reducing enamel demineralization than the UDMA control or no treatment.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a global health problem that causes pain and infection to the children affected. It is a common disease among preschool children in Hong Kong. There is a great need to improve at-home ECC preventive measures through oral health promotional activities as early as possible to parents. The investigators will propose a 4-year randomized controlled trial of family-centered oral health promotion for new parents which aims to increase the proportion of parents brushing their infants' teeth at 1 year, establishing proper feeding and dietary habits, reducing the transfer of MS from the parents to their infants and then reducing the risk of ECC of the children at 3 years. The investigators also aim to improve the oral hygiene status of the new parents and prevention of oral diseases among themselves. First-time expectant mothers and their husbands will be recruited. The recruited families will be randomly allocated to the test and control groups. In the test group, personal hygiene instruction (OHI) for the expectant mothers and their husbands together with oral health education materials on infant's tooth development and eruption, establishment of proper feeding, dietary and toothbrushing habits will be given before the delivery of the new born babies. Reinforcement of OHI and demonstrations on how to clean the infant's oral cavities and perform toothbrushing will be delivered after the babies are born. Comprehensive data will be collected from the mothers, fathers and the infants in both the test and control groups at different time points through dental examination, biological testing and questionnaire survey. The CONSORT statement will be strictly followed when conducting the clinical trial, analyzing the data and reporting the results. It is anticipated that the effectiveness of oral health promotion starting at the pregnancy period and for both expecting mothers and their husbands will be greater in preventing the infants from developing ECC. Furthermore, establishing good oral health care habits will have long term benefits, helping safeguard the oral health of the children as they grow and the family as a whole. This study will also provide much needed evidence for the further development of oral health policies and oral health promotion programmes in Hong Kong; specifically how these can be integrated into family health education so as to achieve a higher effectiveness. This will contribute significantly to the improvement of oral health in the population of Hong Kong.

This randomized double-blind two arm controlled clinical trials evaluates the hypothesis that the regular use of a tooth paste containing microcrystalline hydroxylapatite provides a caries preventive effect in caries-susceptible individuals undergoing orthodontic therapy with fixed appliances which is comparable to the caries preventive effect provided by the regular use of a fluoridated tooth paste.