Pediatric dentistry最新文献

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate changes in toothbrushing behaviors associated with a mobile game app. Methods: Thirty-four five- to six-year-olds were taught to use the Brush Up^TM game app and played it once per day at home for seven days. The primary outcome was toothbrushing quality measured as duration and distribution. The paired t test was used to assess pre/post changes and Holm's method adjusted for multiple testing (α equals 0.05). Results: The mean age was 73.7±6.6 months; 29.4 percent were female, and 47.1 percent were Caucasian. After seven days, toothbrushing duration increased significantly (P<0.001). Toothbrushing distribution improved with increased brushing of the lingual, maxillary occlusal, and posterior buccal surfaces. For 15 children who played the game for 14 days, even greater improvements in quality and distribution were observed. Improvements in toothbrushing did not persist one year later without further app use but there were noted changes that could be clinically meaningful. Conclusions: Mobile health game apps can potentially improve toothbrushing quality in children. Additional trials are needed to assess mobile toothbrushing game apps.

Purpose: To validate oral health knowledge and behavior measures from the Basic Research Factors Questionnaire, developed to capture specific themes contributing to children's oral health outcomes and the influence of caregivers.

Methods: Data were collected as part of a randomized clinical trial (n equals 992) aimed at reducing dental caries in young children. Participants were American Indian/Alaska Native caregivers with a three- to five-year-old child enrolled in a Navajo Nation Head Start Center. Caregivers completed the questionnaire at enrollment with concomitant evaluation of children for decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces (dmfs). Oral health knowledge and behavior outcomes were compared with convergent measures (participant sociodemographic characteristics, oral health attitudes, and indicators of oral health status).

Results: Caregiver oral health knowledge was significantly associated with education, income, oral health behavior, and all but one of the oral health attitude measures. Behavior was significantly associated with several measures of oral health attitudes and all but one measure of oral health status. As the behavior score improved, dmfs scores declined, child/caregiver overall oral health status improved, and pediatric oral health quality of life improved.

Conclusions: Questionnaire measures were valid for predicting specific caregiver factors potentially contributing to children's oral health status.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand transitions from pediatric dental care to adult dental care for adolescents with special health care needs (ASHCNs) from parental and adolescent perspectives.

Methods: Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 59 parents and 13 adolescent-parent dyads to identify factors associated with transitions to adult-centered dental care for ASHCNs.

Results: Most parents believed ASHCNs were at risk for caries, but ASHCNs were not concerned about tooth decay. Parents of adolescents with complex SHCN believed it would be acceptable to continue seeing a pediatric dentist. Parents of Medicaid-enrolled ASHCNs reported lower efficacy in transitioning. ASHCNs desired personalized, adolescent-centered care and were motivated to transition when they felt out of place at the pediatric dentist office. Parents believed pediatric dentists play an important role in initiating and facilitating transitions.

Conclusions: Pediatric dentists are well positioned to implement family and adolescent-centered policies to ensure dental transitions for adolescents with special health care needs and their families.