Iowa Section of AADR - The University of Iowa College of Dentistry

16. Assessment of Convenience of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Lollipops for Caries Prevention
H.V. Guenther 1 , J.J. Warren 1 , D.R. Drake 1 , F. Qian 1
1 University of Iowa
Objectives: Lollipops containing licorice root extract, Glycyrrhizol A, have been developed to reduce salivary levels
of S. mutans, thus providing parents with another mode of caries prevention for their children. This pilot study
sought to evaluate compliance and attitudes toward the “Lollipop Regimen.”
Methods: 35 Head Start children were instructed to use lollipops twice per day for ten days (20 lollipops). Subjects
were randomly assigned to either a control sugar-free lollipop group or to an herbal lollipop group (Dr. John’s
Candies). Plaque samples were acquired from their teeth with a sterile cotton swab on Day 1 and Day 14, and were
spiral-plated onto Mitis-Salivarius-Kanamycin-Bacitracin agar plates. On Day 14, parents were asked to complete a
survey which assessed actual compliance, the children’s opinions on taste, and their attitudes on convenience of the
“Lollipop Regimen” (scale of 1-5). Written responses elaborated reasons for these ratings.
Results: 18 children (51%) completed the study. Of those, 5 consumed all 20 lollipops (28%), and 9 (50%)
completed as many as 15 of 20. A slight majority (53%) who completed the survey rated the convenience as average
or worse (score of 3 or less). Almost 75% of the children rated the taste highly, as either a 4 or 5. Compliance
and ratings for both convenience and taste did not differ between the sugar-free or herbal group. There were no
differences in bacterial counts between groups at either Day 1 or Day 14.
Conclusion: While children may approve of the taste of the herbal lollipops, actual compliance of the complete 10
day “Lollipop Regimen” was low. Due to inconvenience, parents may not accept the herbal lollipops as an effective
vehicle to use as a caries-preventive regimen. Further research, using larger samples sizes, should be conducted to
further assess compliance and effectiveness of these lollipops.
Supported by: NIDCR Training Grant, T32 DE014678-09
17. Cephalometric Measurements in Mixed Dentitions with Class I Normal Occlusion
J. Grabouski1 , J.J. Grabouski1 , R.N. Staley1 , C.M. Kummet1 1 University of Iowa
Objective: Using cephalometric (C) radiographs of mixed dentition (MD) subjects who had Class I normal
occlusion in adolescence, (1) describe C norms for 8 year old children, (2) test hypothesis that C variables are
similar in genders, and (3) test hypothesis that 8 and 12 year old C measurements taken by JJG are similar.
Method: Longitudinal radiographs from 19 males (M) and 19 females (F) in the Iowa Growth Study [IRB
permission] with Class I normal occlusion in permanent dentition (PD) were measured in MD at 8 years (Jessica)
and 12 years in PD (Jeremy). C variables (11 angular, 3 linear) were measured with protractor and ruler. Intrarater
reliability correlations (r = .9700-.9978, p< 0.0001) and inter-rater reliability correlations (r=.9548-.9986, p<
0.0001) were acceptable. Student’s t-tests/Wilcoxon compared genders and ages. Histograms of MD variables
were generated.
Results: One variable, N-Me mm, differed between MD genders (M > F) (p=0.0152). Comparison of MD and
p=0.0085), SNPog∞ (F: p=0.0000; M: p=0.0005), N-Me mm (F: p=0.0000; M: p=0.0000), MP : SN∞ (F: p=0.0053;
M: p=0.0003), - : - ∞ (F: p=0.0052; M: p=0.0012), - : FH∞ (F: p=0.0221; M: p=0.0406), and - : NB mm (F: p=0.0023;
M: p=0.0040). Other MD-PD differences were males, - : SN∞ (p=0.0080) and females, SNA∞ (p=0.0209), - : MP∞
(p=0.0434), and - : APog mm (p=0.0098).
Conclusions: The null hypothesis for differences between MD genders was accepted for all variables except N-Me
mm. The null hypothesis for differences between MD and PD variables was rejected for 10 F variables and 8 M
variables. Norms for age 8 are recommended.
Supported by: University of Iowa, College of Dentistry, Dows Research Award
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