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Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of dental erosion among college students in Guangzhou and to provide necessary information for the prevention., Methods: A total of 1704 16-24-year-old students from six colleges or universities were assessed for dental erosion. Data on the social economical status, eating habits, oral hygiene habits, and other related factors were obtained through questionnaire. The influencing factors were analyzed by chi(2)-test and logistic regression analysis., Results: Five hundreds and one of the 1704 subjects suffered from dental erosion (29.4%). The teeth most frequently affected were the upper and lower incisors and first mandibular molar. For tooth surfaces were incisal/occlusal surfaces [66.1% (5491/8311)] and labial/buccal surfaces [31.0% (2574/8311)]. Logistic regression analysis showed that female, those who were not the only child in the family, and students who consumed carbonated drinks more than once per week or drank 500 ml or more of acidic beverages per week were more likely to have dental erosion., Conclusions: Control of the consuming of acidic beverages is an important measure for the prevention of dental erosion.

Objective: To explore the relationship between the concentrations of lactoferrin and lysozyme in saliva and dental caries in primary dentition among Chinese children., Methods: Forty children with high dmft score (dmft > or = 5) and 40 caries-free children (dmft = 0) were sampled and assigned into two groups. Total salivary proteins was measured by means of bicinchoninic acid. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was performed to analyze the images of target straps. Lactoferrin and lysozyme were detected using Western blotting method., Results: The total salivary protein in high dmft group [(852.02 +/- 206.14) mg/L] was lower than that of caries-free group [(1032.44 +/- 221.99) mg/L, P < 0.001]. The ratio of 77,000 protein in high dmft group [(12.50 +/- 7.73) IA/microg] was significantly higher than that of the caries-free children [(8.71 +/- 4.28) IA/microg, P = 0.009], while there was no significant difference for 14,500 protein between them (P = 0.137). The ratio of lactoferrin was higher in high dmft group [(229.04 +/- 197.14) IA/microg] than that in caries-free children [(144.07 +/- 99.91) IA/microg, P = 0.018], while no significant difference for lysozyme between the two groups (P = 0.091)., Conclusions: Saliva protein is closely related to caries in primary dentition. Lactoferrin may be one of the important components.

Objective: To explore the risk factors of children with high dmft., Methods: In suburban of Guangzhou, oral health of 401 3 - 4-year-old children were examined and structured questionnaire were completed by their parents. 120 children with highest number of dmft (dmft > or = 5) and 118 caries-free children were chosen for case-control analysis., Results: The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with high dmft were developmental defect of enamel, visible plaque index, frequency of toothbrushing, frequency of sugar consumption, and income., Conclusions: Advocating brushing teeth at least twice daily, controlling the frequency of sugar consuming, reducing the developmental defect of enamel and paying more attention to the oral health of lower income population may effectively reduce dental caries of the children.

Objective: To isolate and identify Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Streptococcus sobrinus (Ss) in dental plaque of children with high dmft and no caries by selective medium, biochemical methods and arbitrarily primed-polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR)., Methods: A total of 401 3-4-year-old children from seven kindergartens were recruited using cluster sampling and their dental caries status were examined. From 30% of children with the highest dmft score (dmft >/= 5), 20 children were chosen randomly as test group and 20 age and gender-matched caries-free children were selected as control. Plaque samples were collected from buccal surfaces of the molars and plated onto TYCSB plate. Sm and Ss were primarily identified by colony morphology and biochemical characteristics. Then chromosomal DNA of the strains was isolated and Sm or Ss were confirmed by AP-PCR., Results: The proportion positive for Sm and Ss in children with high dmft was 100% and 40% respectively while that in caries-free children was 75% and 5% by AP-PCR analysis. The differences were statistically significant between the two groups., Conclusions: The proportions positive for Sm and Ss detected by AP-PCR method were significantly higher in children with high dmft than in caries-free children and it is a risk factor for high dmft in deciduous teeth harboring Sm and Ss.

Objective: To explore the attitude of the public to the psychosocial effects of fluorosis through investigating the public in different areas., Methods: Twenty typical fluorosis photos were selected and evaluated by the public in Xingtai, Beijing and Guangzhou, which included 101 dentists, 118 dental students, 103 college students in non-dental schools, 102 clerks and 92 leaders. Each evaluator was required to answer seven five-point questions according to each photo., Results: The mean of the public evaluation was going up with the increase of Dean's Index (DI) score, ranging from 2.21 to 4.74, meanwhile, the prevalence of reporting that fluorosis would affect their psychosocial status also ascended. Less than 25% people reported that very mild fluorosis (DI < or = 1) would affect the psychosocial status of patients, and mild fluorosis (DI = 2) would affect 25% - 56%, while the prevalence would increase to 48% - 97% in severe fluorosis group (DI > or = 3). "Bivariate Correlation Analysis" showed that significant correlation existed in the evaluation of the public and the degree of fluorosis. The scores of dentists were significantly lower than those of dental students, college students in non-dental schools and clerks. The evaluation scores of the public in Xingtai were generally higher than those in Beijing and Guangzhou., Conclusions: Mild or less fluorosis could lead to little psychosocial effects.