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Purpose: This study investigated the influence of professional mechanical tooth cleaning (PMTC) pastes on the surface texture of different subject materials.Methods: Two one-step PMTC pastes, Clinpro Cleaning Paste for PMTC (CP) and PRG Pro-Care Gel (PG), and multiple-step PMTC pastes, Merssage Regular (MR), Merssagge Fine (MF), and Merssage Plus (MP), were used. For comparison, PMTC was performed using distilled water without paste (DW). The subjected materials used were bovine enamel (ENA) and dentin (DEN), a resin composite (FSU), and lithium disilicate (IEC). The prepared specimens were polished using a #2000-grit silicon carbide paper. PMTC was performed using a brush at 1,000 rpm for 15 s.Results: The surface roughness (Ra) values of the specimens before and after PMTC were measured by laser scanning microscopy. The Knoop hardness number (KHN) of the subjected material was obtained. The types of PMTC pastes and subject materials had a significant influence on the Ra values and KHN. For the majority of subject materials, the descending order of Ra values after PMTC was MR > MF > CP > PG > MP > DW. The descending order of KHN of the materials was IEC > ENA > FSU > DEN.Conclusion: Although one-step PMTC pastes appeared to be effective, it is important to consider the subject material during PMTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age estimation of unidentified bodies is important in forensic medicine and crime scenes. There is accumulating evidence that DNA methylation in the human genome isolated from body fluids changes with age. Most of the data have been obtained by pyrosequencing. In the forensic field, a simple, quick, and economical method is required to evaluate the age of various types of samples. In this study, an age estimation method based on methylation levels of DNA extracted from teeth using real-time methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was developed. The CpG island in the upstream region of ELOVL2, which is known as a validated biomarker in blood samples, was selected as a target site. The CpG methylation levels highly correlated with age (r = 0.843, n = 29). Age-related increase in DNA methylation levels was not affected by sex differences. In addition, the simple regression model based on methylation status of the CpG island exhibited moderate accuracy with a mean absolute deviation between chronological age and predicted age of 8.94 years. The results imply that real-time MSP can be a new tool to perform age prediction of unidentified bodies in forensic scenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study evaluates the effect of self-assembling peptide P11-4 (Curodont Repair, CDR) on bovine enamel remineralization by measuring changes in ultrasonic propagation velocity.Methods: Six specimens per group were prepared by sectioning bovine teeth into enamel blocks. These blocks were then immersed in lactic acid buffer solution (pH = 4.75) for 10 min twice a day and stored in artificial saliva. Other specimens were first treated with CDR, followed by a 10-min immersion in the lactic acid buffer solution twice a day, before storage in artificial saliva. The propagation time of longitudinal ultrasonic waves was measured using a pulser/receiver. Six specimens were used for each treatment protocol. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's honestly significant difference tests (α = 0.05). Specimens were observed using laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.Results: Sonic velocity was found to decrease with time for specimens stored in the demineralizing solution. On the other hand, increases in sonic velocity were found for specimens treated with CDR. These specimens also exhibited signs of mineral deposition.Conclusions: By measuring the ultrasonic propagation velocity, it can be concluded that CDR application has an ability to promote bovine enamel remineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age estimation of unidentified bodies is important in forensic medicine and crime scenes. There is accumulating evidence that DNA methylation in the human genome isolated from body fluids changes with age. Most of the data have been obtained by pyrosequencing. In the forensic field, a simple, quick, and economical method is required to evaluate the age of various types of samples. In this study, an age estimation method based on methylation levels of DNA extracted from teeth using real-time methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was developed. The CpG island in the upstream region of ELOVL2, which is known as a validated biomarker in blood samples, was selected as a target site. The CpG methylation levels highly correlated with age (r = 0.843, n = 29). Age-related increase in DNA methylation levels was not affected by sex differences. In addition, the simple regression model based on methylation status of the CpG island exhibited moderate accuracy with a mean absolute deviation between chronological age and predicted age of 8.94 years. The results imply that real-time MSP can be a new tool to perform age prediction of unidentified bodies in forensic scenes.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of a pencil-type transducer connected to a pulser-receiver to measure remaining dentin thickness (RDT)., Methods: A total of 24 freshly extracted bovine incisors were used to prepare dentin disks with certain thicknesses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm). The thicknesses of the specimens were measured with an ultrasonic technique using a pencil-type transducer, and the data obtained were compared with the direct measurement obtained using a micrometer. The Bland-Altman comparison method and paired t-test were performed at a 0.05 significance level., Results: The agreement between different measurement methods was analyzed to evaluate the inter-methodology variation. The Bland-Altman comparison method revealed a mean difference of 0.0098 ± 0.724 mm between the ultrasonic technique and the direct measurement, with the 95% Bland-Altman limits of agreement ranging from 0.1322 to 0.1517 mm., Clinical Significance: Ultrasonic measurement using the pencil-type transducer may be a promising method to evaluate remaining dentin thickness., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflict of interest. This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, 19K10158 and 19K10159, from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. This project was also supported in part by the Sato Fund and by a grant from the Dental Research Center of the Nihon University School of Dentistry, Japan., (Copyright©American Journal of Dentistry.)