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Tooth decay is a prevalent disease that initiates when the oral pH becomes acidic. Fluoride and/or bioactive glass (NovaMin) were used to regenerate/repair teeth that had been decalcified. In this present study, we investigated the effect of fluoride and/or bioactive glass (NovaMin) on remineralization of hydroxyapatite (HA) discs, which mimic the enamel surface of natural teeth. HA discs were etched with phosphoric acid and treated with one of the following toothpastes: (1) Sensodyne toothpaste with fluoride; (2) Sensodyne toothpaste with fluoride and bioactive glass (NovaMin); (3) Tom's toothpaste without fluoride or bioactive glass (NovaMin); and (4) Tom's toothpaste with bioactive glass (NovaMin). The toothpastes were applied on the etched discs for two minutes, once a day for 15 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze surface morphologies and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze surface compositions. Tom's toothpaste with only NovaMin demonstrated the most remineralization potential compared with the other groups. In conclusion, incorporating bioactive glass (NovaMin) into toothpastes could benefit the repair and remineralization of teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium (Ti) corrodes clinically in the presence of bacteria. We investigated this phenomenon as a function of Ti particles found in biopsied tissues around peri-implantitis sites and surface roughness of failed Ti implants. Tissue biopsies were surgically collected from peri-implantitis sites, processed, and embedded in resin. The resin-embedded samples were hand trimmed to the region of interest and semi-thick (500 nm) sections were collected onto coverslips. One section was toluidine blue post-stained as a reference. The remainder sections were left unstained for energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Processed samples were examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDX. Corresponding failed implants were also removed and examined under SEM and EDX. Five out of eight biopsied samples demonstrated the presence of Ti particles in the soft tissue, suggesting the true rate among all failures was between 24.5% and 91.5% (the lower bound of a 95% confidence interval for the true rate of Ti presence). SEM analysis of failed implant bodies also indicated changes in surface morphology and appeared less detailed with decreased weight percent of Ti on the surface of the failed implants. In conclusion, Ti particles were noted in 5/8 biopsied samples. Surface morphologies were smoother in failed implants compared with the reference implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]