Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: Studies show that sucrose containing chewing gums are cariogenic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two commercial chewing gums with and without sucrose on dental plaque accumulation compared with the control group.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical study, plaque accumulation during three 7-day periods (with two weeks interval) was recorded (Sillness & Loe Index) in a group of 23 volunteer male dental students who chewed in the first two periods sugar-free or sugar-containing chewing gums (Olips and Orbit, respectively) and in the last period did not chew any gum. Participants were asked to chew daily five gum sticks after meals for about twenty minutes. The data were statistically analyzed using Repeated Measure ANOVA and paired-T test.

Results: The results showed that chewing any gum even sucrose-containing gum decreased the level of dental plaque accumulation (P<0.001). However, the decreasing effect of sugar-free gums was significantly higher (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Although sugar free gum was more effective than sugar containing gum on reducing dental plaque accumulation, chewing even sugar containing gums could decrease the level of dental plaque.

Background and Aims: Disc displacement is the most common temporomandibular joint disorder and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard in its diagnosis. This disorder can lead to changes in signal intensity of magnetic resonance (MR). The purpose of this study was evaluation of correlation between relative signal intensity of MR images of retrodiscal tissue, superior and inferior head of lateral ptrygoid muscle with type of anterior disk displacement and condylar head flattening in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 31 MR images of patients who had anterior disc displacement were evaluated. After relative signal intensity measurement for retrodiscal tissue, superior and inferior head of lateral ptrygoid muscle, the correlation between relative signal intensity and type of anterior disc displacement was evaluated with repeated measure ANOVA test. In each of these 3 areas, t-test was used to compare the groups with and without condylar head flattening.

Results: The correlation between relative signal intensity of MR images and type of anterior disc displacement in retrodiscal tissue, superior and inferior head of lateral ptrygoid muscle was not significant. There was also no statistically significant correlation between relative signal intensity of MR images and flattening of condylar head in retrodiscal tissue, superior and inferior head of lateral ptrygoid muscle (P>0.05).

Conclusion: According to findings of this study, relative signal intensity of MR images in retrodiscal tissue, superior and inferior head of ptrygoid muscle is not a good predictor for type of anterior disc displacement and flattening of condylar head. It seems that this cannot be used as a diagnostic marker for TMD progression.