ABSTRACT Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess clinical dental status in military firefighters of Rio de Janeiro State and compare data with Brazilian National and Regional oral health surveys. Material and Methods: A sample of 926 military firefighters was examined using the visible biofilm index, the DMFT index and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Clinical exams were performed by 15 trained dentists. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test with Bonferroni correction were used. Results: Higher biofilm accumulation was associated with increased age. The mean DMFT index for the whole sample of this study was 12.74 (±7.03), and the ‘filled’ component was the most prevalent (69.9%), whereas the ‘decayed’ and ‘missing’ components were, respectively, 8.4% and 21.7%. There was a higher prevalence of periodontal diseases with increasing age, ranging from 57.1% in firefighters of 34 years or less to 70.5% in the ones between 35 and 44 years old and 75.4% in participants at age 45 years or older. Clinical dental status of the military firefighters who belonged to the age group 35-44 was better than the one observed for the Brazilian population at the same age range. However, pathological conditions that can be solved with health promotion strategies associated with dental procedures of low complexity still persist. Conclusion: These results suggest that the availability of dental health care services itself does not represent the most effective approach to the oral health problems found in the studied population.

O papel dos antibióticos contendo sacarose na formação de cárie dentária é ainda controverso. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o efeito de dois antibióticos (amoxicilina / clavulanato de potássio suspensão oral), com e sem sacarose, na dureza do esmalte dental humano e na contagem de Streptococcus mutans no biofilme dental. Fragmentos de dentes decíduos (n = 72) foram revestidos com verniz deixando uma janela de exposição de 2,25mm de diâmetro. Os espécimes foram fixados em placas de poliestireno de 24 poços, contendo meio de cultura BHI. S. mutans (estirpes clínicas) representaram o inoculo para formar biofilmes sobre os fragmentos por 24 h. Doze fragmentos foram separados para a contagem inicial de microrganismos (baseline). Os restantes dos fragmentos foram divididos em 4 grupos (n = 12) de tratamento: G1 (Clavulin(r)), G2 (Betamox(r)), G3 (clorexidina 0,12%), G4 (sacarose a 10%). Todas as amostras tiveram sua área de controle (área coberta). A microdureza transversal (CSMH) foi avaliada para cada espécime. Todos os grupos tratados tiveram uma perda de dureza quando comparados com os seus respectivos controles (p <0,05). Ambos os fármacos inibiram o crescimento de S. mutans e não promoveram diferença da CSMH entre eles. Ambos os antibióticos eliminaram todo o biofilme formado, não promovendo assim, perda mineral do esmalte, independente da presença de sacarose na sua formulação.

The role of antibiotics containing sucrose on the formation of dental caries is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effect of two antibiotics (amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate suspension), with and without sucrose, on human dental hardness and Streptococcus mutans counts in dental biofilm. Primary tooth fragments (n=72) were coated with nail varnish leaving a window of 2.25 mm diameter. Specimens were fixed in 24-well polystyrene plates, containing BHI medium. S. mutans (clinical strains) represented the inoculum to form biofilm on the fragments for 24 h. Twelve fragments were separated for the initial count of microorganisms (baseline). The other fragments were divided into 4 groups (n=12) of treatment: G1 (Clavulin(r)), G2 (Betamox(r)), G3 (chlorhexidine 0.12%), G4 (sucrose 10%). All specimens had their self-control area (covered area). The cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH) was evaluated for each specimen. All the treated groups had a loss of hardness compared to their self-controls (p<0.05). Both drugs inhibited the S. mutans growth and promoted no CSMH difference among them. Both antibiotics eliminated all formed biofilm and did not cause mineral loss from the enamel, regardless the presence of sucrose in its formulation.

Este estudo avaliou as percepções e atitudes de responsáveis por crianças sobre os potenciais cariogênico e erosivo de medicamentos infantis. Foram realizadas entrevistas sobre a associação do uso de medicamentos infantis com cárie e erosão dentária, bem como os cuidados com a higiene bucal após sua ingestão. Do total de responsáveis com entrevista completa (n=86), 24 (27,9%) consideraram os medicamentos infantis ácidos, 51 (59,3%) amargos e 56 (65,1%) doces; porém, apenas 16 (28,6%) destes últimos realizavam higiene bucal das crianças após utilização (Exato de Fisher; p>0,05). Além disso, apenas 18 (20,9%) responsáveis realizavam esta prática, dos quais 8 (44,4%) haviam recebido orientação prévia sobre higiene bucal (Exato de Fisher; p<0,05). A associação entre uso de medicamentos e cárie dental ou defeitos na estrutura dos dentes foi apontada por 61 (70,9%) entrevistados, dos quais 24 (39,3%) justificaram tal associação em função da presença de açúcar nas formulações. Apesar dos responsáveis considerarem os medicamentos doces e relacionarem seu uso à presença de cárie e defeitos na estrutura dental, grande parte destes não realiza higiene bucal em seus filhos após o uso desses fármacos e não consegue estabelecer claramente a relação de causa e efeito existente em tal associação.

The study assesses the perceptions of parents/guardians on the use of pediatric medicines and their cariogenic/erosive potential, interviewing them on the relationship between the use of pediatric medicines and cavities/dental erosion, as well as oral hygiene procedures after the medication. Among the interviewed parents/guardians (n=86), 24 (27.9%) mentioned the sour taste of pediatric medication, 51 (59.3%) the bitter taste, and 56 (65.1%) considered them sweet, although only 16 (28.6%) of these parents/guardians brushed their children's teeth after the medication (Fisher's Exact; p>0.05). Moreover, only 18 (20.9%) of the parents/guardians performed oral hygiene practices after the medication, of whom 8 (44.4%) received previous instructions (Fisher's Exact; p<0.05). The association between taking medications and dental caries or structural dental defects was mentioned by 61 (70.9%) of the parents/guardians, with 24 (39.3%) of them justifying this association through the presence of sugar in the formulations. Although parents/guardians consider medicines to be sweet substances and relate their use to dental caries and tooth structure flaws, most of them do not brush their children's teeth after taking medications and are unable to establish a clear cause/effect relationship for this association.

Este estudo avaliou as percepções e atitudes de responsáveis por crianças sobre os potenciais cariogênico e erosivo de medicamentos infantis. Foram realizadas entrevistas sobre a associação do uso de medicamentos infantis com cárie e erosão dentária, bem como os cuidados com a higiene bucal após sua ingestão. Do total de responsáveis com entrevista completa (n=86), 24 (27,9%) consideraram os medicamentos infantis ácidos, 51 (59,3%) amargos e 56 (65,1%) doces; porém, apenas 16 (28,6%) destes últimos realizavam higiene bucal das crianças após utilização (Exato de Fisher; p>0,05). Além disso, apenas 18 (20,9%) responsáveis realizavam esta prática, dos quais 8 (44,4%) haviam recebido orientação prévia sobre higiene bucal (Exato de Fisher; p<0,05). A associação entre uso de medicamentos e cárie dental ou defeitos na estrutura dos dentes foi apontada por 61 (70,9%) entrevistados, dos quais 24 (39,3%) justificaram tal associação em função da presença de açúcar nas formulações. Apesar dos responsáveis considerarem os medicamentos doces e relacionarem seu uso à presença de cárie e defeitos na estrutura dental, grande parte destes não realiza higiene bucal em seus filhos após o uso desses fármacos e não consegue estabelecer claramente a relação de causa e efeito existente em tal associação.

The study assesses the perceptions of parents/guardians on the use of pediatric medicines and their cariogenic/erosive potential, interviewing them on the relationship between the use of pediatric medicines and cavities/dental erosion, as well as oral hygiene procedures after the medication. Among the interviewed parents/guardians (n=86), 24 (27.9%) mentioned the sour taste of pediatric medication, 51 (59.3%) the bitter taste, and 56 (65.1%) considered them sweet, although only 16 (28.6%) of these parents/guardians brushed their children's teeth after the medication (Fisher's Exact; p>0.05). Moreover, only 18 (20.9%) of the parents/guardians performed oral hygiene practices after the medication, of whom 8 (44.4%) received previous instructions (Fisher's Exact; p<0.05). The association between taking medications and dental caries or structural dental defects was mentioned by 61 (70.9%) of the parents/guardians, with 24 (39.3%) of them justifying this association through the presence of sugar in the formulations. Although parents/guardians consider medicines to be sweet substances and relate their use to dental caries and tooth structure flaws, most of them do not brush their children's teeth after taking medications and are unable to establish a clear cause/effect relationship for this association.