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Tooth sensitivity is a common clinical problem. This multi-center randomized clinical trial assessed the effectiveness and safety of topical diammine silver fluoride. From two sites (Lima and Cusco, Peru), 126 adults with at least one tooth sensitive to compressed air were randomly assigned to either the experimental treatment or sterile water, and pain was assessed by means of a 100-mm visual analogue scale at 24 hours and 7 days. The diammine silver fluoride reduced pain at 7 days at both sites. At the Lima site, the average change in pain scores between baseline and day 7 for the silver fluoride group was -35.8 (SD = 27.7) mm vs. 0.4 (SD = 16.2) mm for the control group (P< 0.001). In Cusco, the average change in pain scores for the silver fluoride group was -23.4 (SD = 21.0) mm and -5.5 (18.1) mm for the control group (P = 0.002). No tissue ulceration, white changes, or argyria was observed. A small number of participants in the silver fluoride group experienced a mild but transient increase in erythema in the gingiva near the tooth. No changes were observed in the Gingival Index. We concluded that diammine silver fluoride is a clinically effective and safe tooth desensitizer.

Beta-defensins are cationic antimicrobial peptides expressed by epithelial cells and exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The defensins are part of the innate host defense network and may have a significant protective role in the oral cavity and other mucosa. Defects or alteration in expression of the beta-defensins may be associated with susceptibility to infection and mucosal disorders. We examined the occurrence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human beta-defensin genes DEFB1 and DEFB2 encoding human beta-defensin-1 and -2 (hBD-1, hBD-2), respectively, in five ethnic populations and defined haplotypes in these populations. Fifteen SNPs were identified in both DEFB1 and DEFB2. Coding region SNPs were found in very low frequency in both genes. One nonsynonymous DEFB1 SNP, G1654A (Val --> Ile), and one nonsynonymous DEFB2 SNP, T2312A (Leu --> His), were identified. Seven sites in each gene exhibited statistically significant differences in frequency between ethnic groups, with the greatest variation in the promoter and in the 5'-untranslated region of DEFB1. DEFB1 displayed 10 common haplotypes, including one cosmopolitan haplotype. Eight common haplotypes were found in DEFB2, including one cosmopolitan haplotype shared among all five ethnic groups. Our results show that genotypic variability among ethnic groups will need to be addressed when performing associative genetic studies of innate defense mechanisms and susceptibility to disease.

The aim of this study was to characterize the normality of menstrual cycles on the basis of progesterone and estradiol levels in self-collected saliva samples. Twenty-two women, ages 19-40 years, self-collected whole unstimulated saliva specimens each morning for two consecutive menstrual cycles. On the basis of presence/timing of hormone peaks, two investigators classified 24 cycles as normal, 10 as likely normal, and 10 as clearly not normal with respect to expected profiles. Our results show that whole saliva samples collected at home on a daily basis provide a noninvasive, feasible method of determining menstrual cycle profiles.

BackgroundThere is growing interest in the use of diammine silver fluoride (DSF) as a topical agent to treat dentin hypersensitivity and dental caries as gauged by increasing published research from many parts of the world. While DSF has been available in various formulations for many years, most of its pharmacokinetic aspects within the therapeutic concentration range have never been fully characterized.MethodsThis preliminary study determined the applied doses (3 teeth treated), maximum serum concentrations, and time to maximum serum concentration for fluoride and silver in 6 adults over 4 h. Fluoride was determined using the indirect diffusion method with a fluoride selective electrode, and silver was determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The mean amount of DSF solution applied to the 3 teeth was 7.57 mg (6.04 μL).ResultsOver the 4 hour observation period, the mean maximum serum concentrations were 1.86 μmol/L for fluoride and 206 nmol/L for silver. These maximums were reached 3.0 h and 2.5 h for fluoride and silver, respectively.ConclusionsFluoride exposure was below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oral reference dose. Silver exposure exceeded the EPA oral reference dose for cumulative daily exposure over a lifetime, but for occasional use was well below concentrations associated with toxicity. This preliminary study suggests that serum concentrations of fluoride and silver after topical application of DSF should pose little toxicity risk when used in adults.Clinical trials registrationNCT01664871.