The methods of caries removal have been the subject of many studies over the last years. At present, methods involving the least tissue invasion have been outstanding in the field of surgical-restorative treatment. In this context, the Carisolv™ system has appeared as a less traumatic and less invasive approach, particularly in pedodontics. Thus, the objective of the present study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the dentinal structure of primary molars before and after the removal of carious tissue by mechanical (low speed drills and conventional dentinal curettes) and chemomechanical (Carisolv™ kit) procedures based on quantitative culture for cariogenic bacteria to determine the number of bacteria present in the carious dentine after both treatments. Sixty primary molars from children ranging in age from 4 to 8 years, with active occlusal caries in dentine, were divided into two groups (A and B) of 30 teeth each, with group A having been treated by the chemomechanical technique and group B by the mechanical technique. Dentin samples were placed in glass vials containing 1 mL thioglycolate broth and submitted to culture to determine the number of S. mutans and Lactobacillus per mg of decayed dentine. The results did not reveal significant differences between the two methods of caries removal; however, the chemomechanical method was more efficient in completely eliminating S. mutans (p=0.02). In summary, the present results confirm previous studies showing that the two methods are comparable in reducing Lactobacillus, but Carisolv™ is more effective in the elimination of S. mutans.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in the permanent dentition and assess the factors associated with these change in schoolchildren of São Luís, Brazil. Material and Methods: Overall, 1179 students aged 7-14 years of both sexes were included, all with permanent first molars and incisors erupted in the oral cavity. Oral clinical examination to assess the prevalence of HMI was held at school, under natural light. In the second stage, to assess factors associated with HMI, a case-control study was conducted, in which cases were children diagnosed with HMI (n = 14) and as controls, the schoolchild's brother (family control, n = 10 ) and another schoolchild in the same age group born in the same locality (community control, n = 14). A semistructured questionnaire was completed by mothers to identify possible factors associated with HMI, such as maternal education, family income, data from pregnancy and child's medical history in the first three years of life. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (Odds Ratio -OR) and their confidence intervals at 95% (CI 95%) to assess crude and adjusted associations for confounders. Results: A prevalence of 2.5% of HMI was estimated. No association was found for the etiologic factors surveyed. Conclusion: The prevalence of HMI was lower than that reported in other cities in Brazil, but similar to data from other countries. At the difficulty and complexity in establishing the etiologic factors of HMI, cohort studies are required to clarify this change.

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Objetivo: Avaliar a percepção e conduta do médico obstetra sobre saúde bucal no acompanhamento das gestantes, durante as consultas pré-natais na cidade de São Luís, Maranhão. Material e métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 41 médicos obstetras que prestam atendimento no Hospital/Maternidade de Alta Complexibiliadade de São Luís-MA. Os médicos responderam a um questionário estruturado contendo 20 perguntas relacionadas a saúde bucal no período gestacional. Resultados: Desta amostra, 58,5% médicos são do sexo masculino e 41,5% do sexo feminino; 56,1% tinham entre 29 e 49 anos; 41,5% entre 28 e 38 anos e 2,4% mais de 60 anos; 22% sempre aconselham as gestantes sobre saúde bucal e 51,2% a partir do 3º mês de gestação; todos os médicos receberam informações sobre saúde bucal. Conclusão: A relação entre médico obstetra e cirurgião dentista deve ser estreitada, contribuindo para um efetivo atendimento multidisciplinar das gestantes e dos bebês. Faz-se necessária uma maior atuação interdisciplinar, entre cirurgiões-dentistas e médicos dedicados ao acompanhamento da gestante, e que o cirurgião-dentista se integre, efetivamente, à equipe de atendimento pré-natal.