Author: Dr. Raad Salih Al-Ani

Abstract Saliva is a complex non-invasive biological fluid that possesses a large number of important properties and functions; it plays an important role in the protection of the oral, dental, and general health through its several protecting systems. The flow rate of saliva is defined as “the amount of saliva produced by salivary glands in the time unit, expressed in mL/min or g/min”, which is considered an important salivary factor that has an impact on different oral and systemic diseases. Unstimulated whole salivary flow rate is considered a more dependent clinically reliable parameter and during collection, is considered as the basal flow rate, whereas stimulated salivary flow rate reflects saliva secretion during food intake. Secretion of saliva is affected by several factors resulting in increases or decreases in the levels of its flow rate, this alteration will share in the initiation of different abnormal systemic or local oral and general conditions and disturbances demonstrated by hyposalivation causing a feeling of dry mouth. Some of these factors affect the unstimulated and stimulated flow rates. An increase or decrease in salivary flow rate will play a role in determining the nature of some diseases as a diagnostic tool. This review aimed to determine the impact of some of the different factors that cause an alteration in the salivary flow rate and the effect of this alteration in the initiation of oral and systemic diseases and other disturbances that then affect oral and general health. Keywords Saliva Salivary Flow rate Salivary Factors Alteration in salivary flow rate DOI: https://doi.org/10.57238/fdr.2024.151327.1006

Abstract: Introduction: Molybdenum is an essential trace element with several biological functions and therapeutic uses, and reported to have a cariostatic effect and is suggested as one of the agents that could be used as an alternative to fluoride as one the effective ways of preventing dental caries. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of molybdenum compounds on the microhardness of dental enamel. Materials and Methods: This in vitro experimental study was performed on 50 extracted sound premolar teeth. These teeth were extracted for an orthodontic cause. Enamel blocks were divided randomly into five groups. Micro-hardness of tooth enamel was measured by the Vickers microhardness test before and after the use of different concentrations of molybdenum solutions. ANOVA and a Dunnett t-test (2-sided) were used under P < 0.05. Results: The comparison of means change in microhardness before and after the use of molybdenum compound showed an increase in microhardness number for all concentrations of molybdenum solutions with a significant difference when compared to the control group (p<0.000), and that between sodium fluoride and sodium molybdate with highly significant difference between the initial and final measurements (P<0.000). The difference in sodium molybdate was higher in the concentration 0.2% than in 0.05% concentration. Conclusion: Results indicated that the molybdenum compound significantly increased the microhardness of dental enamel rendering it to be more resistant to acid attack, and its effect will approximate that of fluoride that could use in the prevention of dental caries. DOI: Effect of Different Concentrations of Molybdenum on Dental Enamel Microhardness, an in vitro study

ABSTRACT Background: Periodontitis is a pathological inflammatory condition of the periodontal tissues surrounding the teeth. It is a multiple-factor disease caused by genetic factors, environmental factors, and periodontal bacteria. Human leukocyte antigen is the most polymorphic genetic system in man. Genes of this region influence susceptibility to certain diseases including periodontitis. Objectives: This study was established to shed light on the possible association of HLA class II (HLA-DQB1) alleles with chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: The study involved 40 Iraqi patients with chronic periodontitis and 40 healthy controls. Periodontal parameters used in this study were plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level. DNA was extracted from a blood sample taken from each subject, then HLA-DQB1 gene was amplified using sequence specific oligonucleotide primed PCR (PCR-SSO). Genotyping of HLA-DQB1 alleles were performed using a reverse a hybridization automatic line probe assay (Auto-LiPA). Results: There was an increased frequency of HLA-DQB1*05:02 allele in patients as compared to controls group (25% and 7.5% respectively) with P=0.04 and odds ratio=4.11. In contrast, the frequency of DQB1*03:01 allele was higher among controls group as compared to periodontitis patients ((P=0.04, odds ratio=4·11). Conclusion: Our data show a correlation between the HLA-DQB1 locus and the occurrence of periodontitis in Iraq, supporting DQB1*05:02 as a predisposing allele for this disease. Keywords: Periodontal diseases, Human leukocyte antigen-DQ, Alleles, Polymorphism DOI: Analysis of HLA-DQB1 Alleles Frequency in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis