Keynote Presentation 

Professor Tetsuo Nakamoto,

LSU Health Sciences Center, USA

Title: Theobromine: Safe alternative for fluoride in dentifrice; How theobromine was discovered?

Statement of the Problem: Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethyxanthine) and theobromine (3,7-dimethyxanthine) both are members of the xanthine family. Coffee and many soft drinks contain caffeine. Theobromine is the main ingredient in cacao and chocolate is made from.  Over 35 years ago, simple experiment in which the diet fed to lactating dams had caffeine added. The mineral contents of the tooth from the pups which sucked the caffeine-containing dam’s milk were decreased. The experiments were started to determine if caffeine would affect either enamel or dentin or both.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Dams were fed with caffeine diet and their pups were sacrificed at postnatal day 22 and 1^st molars were extracted and enamel surface were exposed to weak acid solution. Ca, P, and Mg of the dissolve solution from the caffeine group were more than the control. Enamel and dentin were separated. The crystallite size of the enamel of the pup’s tooth from caffeine group was smaller. By feeding a cariogenic diet, caffeine group showed the higher incidence of caries score in the separate study. We conducted an experiment to grow apatite crystals in vitro by adding various member of the xanthine group. Theobromine produced larger crystal sizes compared to caffeine. We conducted the exactly the same procedure as caffeine, but adding theobromine in the maternal diet. The dissolved minerals on this group were far less compared to control. Because the chemical which affects the enamel structure is only fluoride, theobromine might play a similar role like fluoride, but much safer because chocolate has been eaten over centuries without any adverse effects in the human health. The comparative studies of the various parameters between theobromine and fluoride were done. Recently fluoride was designated as one of the developmental neurotoxicants as more adverse effects of fluoride are revealed.

Findings: The comparative studies have shown theobromine based dentifrice are superior to each parameter studied.

Conclusion & Significance: In the first time, non-fluoride dentifrice based upon theobromine was developed and this is safe and effective compared to that of the fluoride-based dentifrice.

About Professor Tetsuo Nakamoto,

Tetsuo Nakamoto: Education,  Nihon University, School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan, DDS, 1964, Dentistry. University of Michigan,  Ann Arbor, Michigan, Graduate Dentistry, MS, 1966, Prosthodontics. University of North Dakota, Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Grand Forks, North Dakota, MS, 1969, Physiology. University of Michigan, Dept. of Physiology, Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, MS, 1971, Physiology. Massachusetts Institute of Technology  (MIT), Dept. of Nutrition and Food Science,  Cambridge, Ma., PhD, 1978, Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism. The founding members of Theodent  (New Orleans) and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Chairman of the board, 2007- Present.  The BioInnovation Center,  New Orleans. La. The founding members of Theocorp Holding Company (New Orleans) and CSO and Chairman of the board, 2007- Present. The BioInnovation Center, New Orleans, La. Professor of Emeritus,  LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, La., 2006- Present. Professor of Pediatrics, Dept. of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, LSU Health Sciences  Center, New Orleans, La, 2000 – 2006. Professor of Physiology, School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, and Graduate School, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, La, 1991 – 2006, he was an assistant and associate professor before the  promotion to a professor.

Join us for the session at the 28th Euro Dentistry Congress at Edinburgh, Scotland:

Date: March 02-03, 2020

Venue: Holiday Inn Edinburgh 132 Corstorphine Rd, Edinburgh EH12 6UA Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Oral Presentation on Pediatric Dentistry by Dr. Samia Al-Khuwaitem

Title: Children's Oral Care, Luxury or Urgent Necessity 

Oral Presentation Session | March 02-03, 2020.

Abstract:

Global Overview:

Statistics of oral diseases, caries specifically, in children and adolescents are as high as 90% in some countries. Taking in consideration its consequences as infections, pain, premature tooth loss and malocclusions. At the end, it affects the child and his family's quality of life negatively. 

Parents Perception:

High percentage of people think that dental care for a child is a luxury treatment for those who are wealthy. Parents do not give their children oral care a priority as long as the child has no serious complains. For some it’s the high cost of dental treatments, for others its hesitation to expose the young child to unpleasant dental experience. Not to forget the misperception that primary teeth will fall down and be replaced eventually and requires no treatment.

Health Care Providers Perception:

Health care providers in pediatric departments and Obstetrics should have an effective rule in parental education and referral of patients who require any dental care. Unfortunately, even some general dentists refuse to see a very young child in their clinic for many reasons.

Decision Makers/ Governments:

Decision-makers in many countries underestimate the effectiveness and efficiency of dental preventive measures. The strict application of it will lower the oral disease prevalence in their population. Treatment of advanced oral diseases, that could have been prevented in the first place makes a huge financial burden on governments.

Time to Take an Action:

a. Dentists play an important role in parents' education with regard to children's oral care.

b. Strict preventive programs to be legislated in maternity and children hospitals as well as in schools.

c. Insurance companies can be very selective in covering dental treatments.

About Dr. Samia Al-Khuwaitem and her achievements: Dr. Samia Al-Khuwaitem Pediatric dentist from Saudi Arabia, Dammam city. Holds a bachelor’s degree in dental surgery (BDS) & Master degree in pediatric dentistry from King Saud University, College of Dentistry, Riyadh City. She also, holds a certificate in dental practice management from the University of Toronto, Canada. Worked as a part-time faculty in Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University, College of Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry department. Dr. Samia Al-Khuwaitem also has clinical experience in pediatric dental practice for over 8 years. She is a Member of the Saudi Dental Society (SDS). Member of the Saudi Society of Pediatric Dentistry (SSPD). Member of the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Dr. Samia Al-Khuwaitem is the founder of the first specialized pediatric dentistry private center in Saudi Arabia. Interested in public education about oral care for children through social media and public events.

To know more about the speakers and the Sessions kindly visit: https://dentistry.cmesociety.com/scientific-program