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Paint on a bright new smile with Vivastyle Paint On Plus!

Vivastyle® Paint On Plus is a unique varnish system for whitening teeth without having to use a tray. The preparation contains 6% hydrogen peroxide and the provitamin D-panthenol for the gentle lightening of teeth. The precise application of the varnish with a brush allows individual or crowded teeth to be effectively whitened. The varnish does not dissolve in saliva and it takes effect within 10 minutes. Customised trays and expensive, bulky accessories are unnecessary. Vivastyle Paint On Plus satisfies the desire for natural-looking white teeth by offering effective, professional teeth whitening for in-office and at-home use. To apply, thoroughly clean your teeth, dry with a paper towel, apply Vivastyle Paint On Plus with the brush supplied, wait 30 seconds for it to dry and 10 minutes for it to take effect and then remove the varnish film with a toothbrush. Use once daily for 2 weeks with results visible after 7 days. Available from Ivoclar on 1300-486-252 or visit www.ivoclar.com

Dental Unit Waterline treatment agents reduce the dispersion of viruses in dental aerosols

Oral microbes are dispersed during dental treatment and reduction methods have been proposed. Methods to mitigate dispersion or microbial load, such as dental suction, dental dam and antimicrobial mouthrinses, have been studied, but few authors have examined the effect of dental unit waterline (DUWL) disinfectants on microbes contained within dental bioaerosols and their effect on viruses has not been studied. Products are available for periodic DUWL disinfection, including those intended for continuous use at concentrations safe for patients This study investigated the effect of the DUWL disinfectant product ICX on viral dispersion in dental bioaerosols. It also established a dual-tracer system using live bacteriophage and fluorescein supported by optical particle measurement. Bacteriophage MS2 was used as a viral tracer and fluorescein as a fluorescent tracer. Validation experiments were conducted to exclude interference of one tracer with the other or of DUWL disinfectants on detection methods. Simulated “saliva” containing the tracers was infused into the mouth of a dental mannequin during 10 minute dental procedures with an air turbine handpiece (n = 3 replicates). Aerosols and droplets were sampled in an enclosed dental operatory using air samplers and settlement onto sterile filter papers. Bacteriophage was quantified using plaque assays and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Fluorescein was quantified fluorometrically. The effect of DUWL disinfectants on total aerosol concentration was assessed in separate experiments using an optical particle counter. DUWL disinfectants reduced bacteriophage viability and interference between tracers was not observed. In simulated clinical procedures, the disinfectant ICX reduced bacteriophage detection substantially (P < 0.001; 2-way analysis of variance). MS2 RNA was detected in all experimental samples but not negative controls. Samples positive on RT-qPCR but not plaque assays may indicate that virions at distant sites are nonviable. Fluorescein tracer showed good agreement with the bacteriophage tracer. DUWL disinfectants designed for continuous presence in irrigants reduce the dispersion of viable virus in dental bioaerosols during simulated procedures. Their use may therefore be important for routine infection control and as a mitigation factor during infectious disease outbreaks. Future studies should explore this using a range of viruses and other microbes.

Allison JR et al. Waterline disinfectants reduce dental bioaerosols: a multitracer validation. J Dent Res. 2022. 1010(10):1198-1204.y. A study at the University of Michigan found that people who receive periodontal care have better outcomes after heart attack. Researchers studied patients receiving periodontal care, dental cleanings or no dental care during 2016-2018 and who had acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) in 2017. They found that patients who had heart attacks and received periodontal maintenance care had the shortest length of stay in the hospital and more follow-up visits. The longest length of stay was experienced by the no-dental-care group. The study, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, did not establish a causal relationship between periodontal disease and heart disease, but research like this adds weight to the understanding that there is an association between oral health and overall health.

Romesh P. Nalliah, Tanima Basu, Chiang-Hua Chang. Association between periodontal care and hospitalization with acute myocardial infarction. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 2022; 153 (8): 776 DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2022.02.003

Blocking function of a blood-clotting protein, called fibrin, prevented bone loss from periodontal (gum) disease in mice, according to new research. The study suggests that suppressing abnormal fibrin activity could hold promise for preventing or treating periodontal disease, as well as other inflammatory disorders marked by fibrin buildup, including arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Lakmali M. Silva, Andrew D. Doyle, Teresa Greenwell-Wild, Nicolas Dutzan, Collin L. Tran, Loreto Abusleme, Lih Jiin Juang, Jerry Leung, Elizabeth M. Chun, Andrew G. Lum, Cary S. Agler, Carlos E. Zuazo, Megan Sibree, Priyam Jani, Vardit Kram, Daniel Martin, Kevin Moss, Michail S. Lionakis, Francis J. Castellino, Christian J. Kastrup, Matthew J. Flick, Kimon Divaris, Thomas H. Bugge, Niki M. Moutsopoulos. Fibrin is a critical regulator of neutrophil effector function at the oral mucosal barrier. Science, 2021; 374 (6575) DOI: 10.1126/science.abl5450