The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) of the University of the Philippines has recognized two UP Ortho Faculty Members, Dr Malou Torres García and Program Chairman Dr Lotus Llavore, with the International Publication Award given last March 2020. The UP Postgraduate Masters Degree Program in Orthodontics prides itself in producing world class orthodontists who continue to excel in the field of research.
https://www.ajodo.org/article/S0889-5406(18)30825-4/fulltext
http://ovpaa.up.edu.ph
https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/ipa-recipients-for-march-2020/
Maria Lourdes A. Torres-Garcia1 ,
Lotus D. Llavore1,
Alice Alma C. Bungay2,
Jesus N. Sarol Jr.3,
Riza Rae A. Pineda4 and
Kristofer E. delas Peñas4
1Graduate Program in Orthdontics, College of Dentistry (UP Manila)
2Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Public Health (UP Manila)
3National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions (UP Manila)
4Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering (UP Diliman)
Benzalkonium Chloride in an Orthodontic Adhesive: Its Effect on Rat Enamel Demineralization Using Color-based Image Analysis, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 155(1): 88-97, 2019
Enamel demineralization, which can become dental caries, occurs more often among orthodontically treated patients than in those who never had braces. Oral hygiene maintenance, such as toothbrushing, for patients with braces has been found to be ineffective in preventing enamel demineralization, and there is a need to discover and investigate other methods to reduce this common problem.. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an orthodontic bracket adhesive containing an antibacterial agent, benzalkonium chloride (BAC), on enamel demineralization. Eighteen female rats were infected with Streptococcus sobrinus, a bacteria known to cause cavities, and divided into the control, non-BAC, and BAC groups. Results showed that the demineralization in the group where BAC was incorporated was less compared with the non-BAC group. This study showed that the addition of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) to an orthodontic adhesive has the potential to reduce demineralization in rats. Aside from being an antibacterial agent, BAC may also prevent dental caries.
Significance:
Oral hygiene maintenance for orthodontic patients has been found to be ineffective in preventing enamel demineralization, and there is a need to discover and investigate other intervention and preventive strategies to reduce this common problem in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. This study substantiates that the addition of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) to an orthodontic adhesive has the potential to reduce the amount and percentage of enamel demineralization in rats. Aside from being an antibacterial agent, BAC may also have anti-cariogenic effects.
Link to the article: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2018.03.016
Impact factor: (2018/2019) 1.911
