European journal of paediatric dentistry最新文献

Aim: To assess the reliability and validity of an AI-based, innovative digital scale for the assessment of dental anxiety in children.

Background: Dental anxiety still persists as a potential problem in managing the child in the dental office. There is a need to develop a gold standard scale to measure anxiety in children incorporating newer technology. An innovative self-reported scale known as RMSDigital Anxiety Scale (RMS-DAS) incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) was developed.

Methods: Seventy-six children (aged 4-12 years) were included in the reliability group. The RMS-DAS test score was recorded on Day 1 where the child was asked to click on the expression produced by AI that matches his/her anxiety level the most at that moment. RMS-DAS retest score was recorded after 7 days. The validity group included 140 children. The anxiety scores were recorded using three scales; RMS-DAS, RMS-Pictorial Scale (RMS-PS) and Facial Image Scale (FIS) during the same visit where the child was asked to click on the expression that matches his/her anxiety level the most at that moment. Reliability was assessed by the internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and the test-retest was assessed using paired t-test, scatterplot, and coefficient correlation. The validity of RMS-DAS was assessed by correlating it with RMS-PS and FIS using Spearman's correlation coefficient.

Conclusion: RMS-DAS is a reliable and valid scale that can be used as a new digital tool to assess children's dental anxiety.

Aim: The aim of this research is examining the effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) in the reduction of dental anxiety in children with novel methods.

Methods: The three arm parallel-group randomised clinical study was conducted in children aged 6-10 years. Pulpotomy procedure was performed on randomised 90 selected children (n=30 in each group; AG: group applied active distraction using VR glasses, PG: group applied passive distraction, i.e., watching cartoons on a screen mounted onto a dental unit, CG: control group). Before and after the procedure, children were administered Facial Pain Scale (FIS), Children's Fear Rating Scale (CFSS-DS) and Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale (FBRS). The pulse rate was measured to check the anxiety levels of all treated children at five different time points. Statistical significance was determined as p<0.05.

Conclusion: VR has been found to positively contribute to the performance of children in adapting to dental treatment. The VR application aims to create positive attitude in children by providing them a safe atmosphere and becoming a useful tool in the dental profession.

Background: Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma (PGCG) is a rare benign lesion of the oral cavity originating from periosteum and gingival connective tissue, associated to local irritant and/or traumatic factors. Clinically PGCG appears as a painless swelling lesion with a smooth surface, brown red or purple in colour, ranging from few millimeters to 3-4 centimeters. The aim of this case report is to demonstrate the complete periodontal and bone regeneration after elimination of traumatic factors and surgical therapy.

Case report: A 12-year-old female patient complained a gingival swelling in region 2.1, following an orthodontic therapy. Following a careful evaluation of data collected by anamnesis and clinical and radiograph exams, the surgical excision of the lesion was scheduled. PGCG was confirmed by histological analysis. Finally, a series of follow up at one-, two-, three-, and eight-year were scheduled.

Conclusion: The long-term follow-ups seem to demonstrate that the surgical removal of a PGCG associated with bone resorption and deep periodontal pockets caused by development of the lesion may lead to the regeneration of new periodontal attachment for both the infrabony and the suprabony component of the periodontal pocket.

Aim: Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a major public health concern, especially for children, who are particularly vulnerable to its harmful effects. Although alternative smoking devices like IQOS and e-cigarettes are marketed as harm reduction tools, their impact on paediatric oral health remains underexplored. This study evaluates the effects of SHS from conventional cigarettes, IQOS, and e-cigarettes on cotinine levels in gingival crevicular fluid and the risk of dental caries in children.

Materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 160 children aged 3 to 14 years, categorised into four groups based on exposure: SHS from conventional cigarettes, SHA (secondhand aerosol) from IQOS, e-cigarettes, and a no-smoking control group. Each group included 40 participants, ensuring an equal distribution across exposure conditions. Children in the SHS/SHA groups were exclusively exposed to emissions from a single product type (cigarettes, IQOS, or e-cigarettes) to isolate product-specific effects. Cotinine levels were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and dental caries were assessed via the Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Parental smoking habits, oral health behaviours, and environmental factors were recorded through a questionnaire. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Spearman's correlation.

Conclusion: SHS exposure from all sources negatively impacts children's oral health, with conventional cigarettes posing the greatest risk. While IQOS and e-cigarettes reduce SHS exposure compared to conventional cigarettes, they still result in measurable nicotine absorption and increased caries risk. Public health strategies and clinical interventions should prioritise creating smoke-free environments and raising awareness about the risks of SHS/SHA from all nicotine-containing products on paediatric health.

Aim: Nitrous oxide sedation is an effective and safe pharmacological behaviour management technique that has been used in dentistry for many decades. The aim of this study was to assess the patients', accompanying adults' and dentists' satisfaction with dental treatment under nitrous oxide sedation.

Materials: This questionnaire-based study was conducted at the Department of Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Greifswald in Germany. A questionnaire was distributed to eligible patients (n=51), accompanying adults and treating dentists. The opinions of accompanying adults and dentists were assessed by means of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Conclusion: Most patients, accompanying adults, and dentists expressed high satisfaction with dental treatment under nitrous oxide, as it effectively enhanced the cooperation making the treatment in the majority of cases possible and more acceptable.

Background: This study investigates the impact of increased dental visits on children's dental health outcomes over a seven-year period. It assesses whether services such as consultations, X-rays, treatments for stomatitis, fillings, and extractions lead to better dental health, specifically focusing on the condition of the first permanent molars following comprehensive dental remediation.

Materials: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the Vienna Public Health Insurance (ÖGK-W). The cohort included all children born in 2008 and 2009 who underwent extensive deciduous tooth rehabilitation in 2013. Inclusion criteria required each child to have received at least five dental procedures - including fillings and extractions - within a single quarter. The study comprised 465 patients, 196 females and 269 males. A score of 1 was assigned if restorative treatment was needed on any of the four molars, and a score of 0 if no treatment was required. This outcome was correlated with the frequency of dental visits over the seven-year period.

Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of regular dental check-ups and comprehensive preventive care in maintaining children's oral health. The findings demonstrate that proactive and frequent dental consultations, combined with proper oral hygiene education, can significantly delay or prevent the need for tooth remediation. This emphasises the critical role of preventive dental care and the need for continued emphasis on regular dental visits to improve long-term oral health in children.

Aim: This study examined maternity ward indicators associated with exclusive breastfeeding prevalence (EBFP) for six months, including diagnosis and treatment of ankyloglossia and indicators associated with the evaluation of the latter.

Methods: An online survey assessed mothers' breastfeeding experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study enlisted 2,540 mothers in Portugal who had given birth at least once between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022. An online survey was circulated via social media during August 2023 with closed questions regarding mothers' breastfeeding experiences and questions on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of ankyloglossia. Poisson regressions were performed.

Conclusion: Positive measures in the maternity ward, such as breastfeeding support, skin-on-skin contact, along with early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, contribute to EBFP for up to six months and evaluation of the lingual frenulum. These findings underscore the importance of consistent breastfeeding support and highlight an increased emphasis on ankyloglossia assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: This paper aims to evaluate parental awareness regarding early orthodontic consultation and treatment. Additionally, it seeks to explore the correlation between this awareness and factors such as the number of children per family, their ages, and parental perception of dental issues including overjet, overbite, and malocclusions.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based approach was conducted. The questionnaire, adapted from a previous study, underwent pilot testing before distribution among parents at the Universidad Católica de Valencia, Spain. A sample size of 216 participants was determined. Criteria included children aged 6-17 attending UCV clinics, with exclusion of those with craniofacial anomalies. Primary variables included parental perception of early orthodontics, with secondary variables such as gender, age, and perceived dental misalignment. Analysis involved Microsoft Excel and Pearson's chi-squared test.

Conclusion: Although parent's awareness regarding their children's orthodontic treatment is important, other factors, such as age of the child, the severity of the malocclusion, the perceived overjet and overbite and the consulted dentist, play a role in initiating orthodontic treatment.

Case report: This case report presents a comprehensive postural evaluation of a 9-year-old paediatric patient with unilateral right crossbite and an associated visual defect. Postural assessments were performed using a vertical laser line (VLL) and a baropodometric-stabilometric platform, revealing significant postural alterations, including cervical extension, increased dorsal kyphosis, pelvic rotation, and an asymmetrical distribution of plantar load. The Romberg test indicated a visual system dysfunction, confirmed by ophthalmologic and orthoptic examinations, which identified mild myopic astigmatism and convergence insufficiency. The patient underwent two years of treatment with the Mouth Slow Balance (MSB) functional appliance, combined with corrective lenses and orthoptic exercises. Post-treatment evaluations demonstrated substantial improvements, including correction of the crossbite, normalization of visual function, improved head and body posture, and balanced plantar load distribution. The Romberg Index returned to physiological values, confirming restored visual influence on postural control. This case underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving dental, postural, and ophthalmologic evaluations in addressing occlusal and visual dysfunctions. Early identification and intervention can prevent compensatory postural adaptations, optimise craniofacial growth, and enhance the overall quality of life in paediatric patients.