Papers by Author: Hae Sun Kim

Abstract: This study evaluated the combined inhibitory effects of a Curcuma xanthorrhiza extract (CXE) and Xylitol on S. mutans and A. viscosus in vitro. Three series of experiments on S. mutans and A. viscosus were carried out. In the first series, the Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CXE, Xylitol, and CXE mixed with Xylitol (CXE+Xylitol) against S. mutans and A. viscosus were determined. Second, the antibacterial effect and the rapid effectiveness of CXE, Xylitol, and CXE+Xylitol against those bacteria was evaluated as contacting for 1, 2, 5, and 10 minutes. Finally, The saccharolytic capability of S. mutans was examined using bovine teeth that had been pretreated with CXE (1%), Xylitol (1%), CXE+Xylitol (1%), chlorhexidine (1%) and distilled water, and rinsed with distilled water. The pretreated bovine teeth were layered with soft agar containing sucrose (5%), S. mutans and phenol red, as a pH indicator, and incubated. The MICs of CXE were 5 ppm on both bacterial species. Xylitol did not inhibit either species. The MICs of CXE+Xylitol were 10 and 5 ppm against S. mutans, A. viscosus, respectively. According to the rapid effectiveness, CXE completely inhibited the growth of bacteria but Xylitol did not. CXE+Xylitol could completely inhibit the growth of bacteria. An evaluation of the saccharolytic capability of S. mutans on bovine teeth revealed that distilled water and Xylitol could not inhibit bacterial fermentation. However, the bovine teeth containing CXE, CXE+Xylitol and chlorhexidine inhibited the fermentation of bacteria. These results show that CXE and CXE+Xylitol have a strong antibacterial effect on S. mutans and A. viscosus in vitro.

Abstract: Exposed dentine with patent tubules allows the movement of tubule fluid leading to dentine sensitivity. Occlusion of patent dentinal tubules effectively reduces the state of dentine hypersensitivity. Strontium chloride (SrCl2) has been well known as a component of desensitizing dentifrice. Recently, new dentifrice containing sodium metasilicate was on the market for desensitizing dentifrice. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the occlusion effect of dentinal tubule between the sodium metasilicate and the existing desensitizing dentifrices. Sixtyfour human dentine specimens were embedded into a Teflon mold and were grinded with the use of silicone carbide papers to expose the surface of dentin. The dentin surface was etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 60 seconds and was treated with ultrasonic washing for 1 hour. The dentifrices used in the study are classified into four groups: G1-dentifrice containing Sodium metasilicate, G2- dentifrice containing Strontium chloride, G3-dentifrice containing Hydroxyapatite and G4-BSI reference dentifrice (control group). Toothpaste slurries were prepared as 20 gram of toothpaste in 80 ml of distilled water. Thirty-two specimens were brushed with the toothpaste slurries using V8 Cross Brushing Machine. Tooth-brushing was performed 5,000 times using a back-and–forth stroke. The pictures of the sizes of dentinal tubules were taken by scanning electron microscopy (×3000) and changes of tubule sizes were analyzed by digital analysis. The results showed that the difference of tubule size in descending order: G1-3.30±1.80, G2-2.82±1.73, G3-1.49±1.14, G4- 1.04±0.94. The dentifrice containing Sodium metasilicate (22.5%) showed the highest dentinal tubule occlusion. Moreover, the dentifrice containing Sodium metasilicate statistically significantly increased occlusion of dentinal tubule as compared to BSI reference dentifrice (p<0.05). Thus, new desensitizing dentifrice containing sodium metasilicate was more effective than existing desensitizing dentifrice on occlusion of dentin tubules.

Abstract: This in vitro study compared the abrasivity of commercial desensitizing dentifrices with a sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) dentifrice using a Surface Profile Method. Dentin specimens were made from the root of extracted human molars. The cervical part of the teeth was sectioned with a diamond wheel disk. The teeth were embedded into an epoxy resin mold and the surface was gradually polished by silicone carbide paper. After grinding, the degree of surface roughness was tested within the range of 2 mm with tapping. The British Standard Institution reference dentifrice (BSI: CaCO3 40%) and experimental dentifrices (group 1: Na2SiO3 25%, CaCO3 10% and SiO2 10%, group 2: CaCO3 10% and SiO2 10%, group 3: CaCO3 10% and SrCl2 10%, group 4: Colloidal Silica 2-3% and Hydroxyapatite 10-20%) were evaluated. The dentifrice slurries were prepared by mixing 24 grams of the dentifrice in 12 ml distilled water. Each tooth specimen was brushed with the dentifrice slurries 1,000 times. The relative abrasivity of each dentifrice was evaluated from the ratio of the BSI standard dentifrice to each experiment. The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons using Window SPSS (Statistical analysis system) 12.0. Groups 1 (71), 2 (74.2), 3 (38) and 4 (7.8) showed a lower abrasivity than the BSI dentifrice (100) (p<0.05). The relative abrasivity of groups 3 (38) and 4 (7.8) was the lowest compared with the BSI dentifrice (100). However, group 1 (71) containing Na2SiO3 showed a similar abrasivity to group 2 (74.2), which did not contain Na2SiO3 (p>0.05). Therefore, Na2SiO3 had no influence on the abrasivity of the dentifrice. In conclusion, the dentifrice containing Na2SiO3 had a lower abrasivity than the BSI reference dentifrice, but showed a significantly higher abrasivity than the existing commercial desensitizing dentifrices. Overall, the relatively high abrasivity of Na2SiO3 dentifrice is believed to be the result of other components in the abrasive system.