Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry最新文献

The aim of the present study was to record the oral health status of children from different socioeconomic backgrounds and correlate these findings with parent-associated factors. It comprised a cross-sectional study of healthy children, aged 6-12 years, attending either the Reception and Solidarity Center of the Municipality of Athens or the Postgraduate Paediatric Dentistry Department (NKUA) for dental care. Data regarding the demographics of both parents-guardians, as well as the children, and oral hygiene and dietary habits were collected through a structured questionnaire. This was followed by a thorough clinical examination evaluating oral hygiene status, gingival inflammation and caries experience. Analysis was based on the socioeconomic status (SES) of the parents which was according to the family income. Families with a monthly income of <1400 euros were considered as being of a low SES and families with incomes of >1400 euros as medium. Data were presented in frequency tables and significance of calculated differences was tested using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate regression analysis was used to detect possible risk factors for development of poor dental health. The sample consisted of 216 children (146 from a low and 70 from a medium SES) with a mean chronological age of 9.19 years. Parents from low SES were younger, of lower education, had lived abroad most of their lives and were unemployed or worked in the private sector. Children from low SES backgrounds reported infrequent dental visits, consumed more meals and had more sugary snacks. This was reflected in their worse dental health with significantly higher values for oral hygiene and caries indices. Despite the above differences, none of the parent-associated factors were significantly correlated to worse dental health. In conclusion, SES of parents is reflected in the oral health of children, although it is not a significant predictor of dental health.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are frequently afflicted with sensory processing difficulties, which often impact their ability to cooperate with dental treatment. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the effects of green light exposure on behavior, pain, distress and anxiety in pediatric patients with ASD undergoing a dental prophylaxis. Twelve children diagnosed with ASD, aged 6-17 years, requiring a dental prophylaxis participated in this study. Participants completed two dental prophylaxes, three months apart, one in a standard white light-exposed dental operatory and one in a green light-exposed dental operatory. Behavioral cooperation, pain intensity, physiological stress and anxiety were assessed in all patients. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test was used to estimate differences in measured outcomes according to the experimental condition. There was a trend towards reduced uncooperative behavior when children received a dental prophylaxis in the green light-exposed operatory (p = 0.06). Similar levels of heart rate variability (p = 0.41), salivary alpha amylase (p = 0.19), and salivary cortisol (p = 0.67) were observed at the start and end of each visit in both conditions. Green light exposure had no significant effect on pain intensity (p = 0.17) or behavioral anxiety (p = 0.31). These findings suggest a preliminary positive benefit of green light exposure on behavioral outcomes in pediatric patients with ASD and warrants a further, large-scale clinical trial.

This study was designed to evaluate and compare the usefulness of clear aligners and conventional appliances on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in pediatric population. Emphasis was placed on the relative benefits and implications of employing clear aligners owing to their escalating prevalence and acceptability. The study participants were divided into four groups: Clear Aligner Group (CAG), Conventional Appliance Group (ConAG), Malocclusion Control Group (MCG), and Normal Control Group (NCG). Parameters including sociodemographic indicators and daily routines were assessed. OHRQoL was evaluated via the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ). Psychological conditions were assessed through the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Statistical differences were found between the four groups regarding CPQ subscales and total scores (p < 0.05). CAG was better than ConAG (p < 0.05) regarding the scores of functional limitations, emotional and social well-being, and total score, however no significant difference was discovered in the oral symptoms scores (p = 0.62). Moreover, all the treatment groups had worse OHRQoL compared to NCG (p < 0.05). Malocclusions and their treatments did not increase the psychological distress as per the DASS results. A novel correlation between the excessive tooth brushing and reduced OHRQoL was also observed (p < 0.05). The study herein emphasized the benefits of clear aligners in children and adolescents with OHRQoL. It was highlighted that the clear aligners had potential and were preferred for the adolescent orthodontic treatment.

Childhood caries is a public health problem with a significant burden on the community. The specialist dental workforce cannot adequately manage all treatment needs in children. Therefore, the general dental community remains critical in delivering care to children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-rated confidence of general practitioners in treating children. A cross-sectional survey was designed that involved general dentists in various primary care centers in Jordan. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their experience and self-perceived level of confidence in performing various procedures in children using the Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. A total of 150 general dentists completed the questionnaire. The overall confidence score was high (3/4). Most respondents (86.7%) reported high confidence in providing prophylaxis and preventive treatment. The lowest level of confidence was reported for dental trauma and interceptive orthodontics. No statistically significant gender disparity was found except for the management of dental trauma in which males were significantly more confident than females. Regarding years of experience, confidence levels in dental trauma management were significantly higher among dentists with 5-10 years of experience compared to the recently graduated and the longest qualified dentists (p = 0.008). Similarly, for interceptive orthodontics, participants with 5-10 years of practice were significantly more confident compared to dentists in the other groups (p = 0.021). One-third of participants (30.1%) were not willing to treat children and considered them disruptive to their practice. Overall, This study revealed low levels of confidence in dental trauma management and interceptive orthodontics in children. Modification of dental curricula to increase clinical exposure should positively reflect on future levels of confidence. Strategies should be implemented to encourage general dentists to treat children to ensure equitable access for all.

Fluoride-releasing adhesive tapes have been developed as a new fluoride delivery agent. However, application as caries prevention agents remains underexplored. This study aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of two fluoride-releasing adhesive tapes against S. mutans biofilm. Two polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) tapes were investigated: (i) a fluoride-PVA (F-PVA) tape, (ii) a pullulan incorporated F-PVA (PF-PVA) tape. S. mutan strains were cultured and treated with the tapes. Antimicrobial effects were evaluated using the agar diffusion test, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). F-PVA tapes showed higher inhibition-zone diameters than PF-PVA at 48 h and 72 h. However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the effects of F-PVA and PF-PVA. The bio-volume of S. mutans and extracellular polymeric substances significantly decreased in the F-PVA tapes than in the PF-PVA tapes (p < 0.05). FE-SEM micrographs revealed less S. mutans colonization in F-PVA. F-PVA exhibited better antimicrobial activity against S. mutans than PF-PVA.

This study identified the dental treatment modalities administered to patients undergoing dental procedures under deep sedation and examined potential relations among treatment types, age, gender and tooth types. This study protocol included data from 502 patients, including a total of 5141 teeth, who underwent dental procedures under deep sedation between October 2022 and October 2023. The dental treatments were categorized based on primary types and subtypes. Subsequently, this study examined the associations between treatment types and age, gender and tooth type. Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test, with the significance level set at 5%. Most patients (76.9%) were aged 0-6 years, and 93.4% of the treated teeth were primary teeth. The predominant treatment was restorative therapy (61.6%), followed by extraction (27.2%), endodontic treatment (6.1%), and preventive treatment (5.1%). Among restorative materials, compomer was the most frequently applied (49.8%). Significant differences between the treatment types were observed in terms of age group and tooth type (p < 0.001 for both) but not gender (p = 0.920). Based on our findings, restorative treatments and tooth extraction are the most frequently performed procedures, whereas endodontic treatments are performed less frequently under deep sedation.

Black stain (BS) and caries are common oral issues in children worldwide. This study aimed to reveal the prevalence of BS and caries in primary dentition of children in Qingdao, China and evaluate the potential association between them. A total of 672 preschool children aged 3-5 years old from 12 kindergartens in Qingdao, northern China were enrolled in the study. The prevalences of BS and caries were counted, and their distributions across different ages and genders were analyzed. The potential protective role of BS (independent variable) on caries (dependent variable) was analyzed via binary logistic regression analysis. BS was observed in 103 children (15.33%), including 3 severe- (0.45%), 28 moderate- (4.17%), and 72 mild (10.71%) forms. Caries was observed in 374 children (55.65%) and it was positively associated with age. Notably, the prevalence of caries was lower in children with BS than in those without BS (42.72% vs. 58.00%, respectively). Children with BS were less likely to suffer from caries than those without BS. BS in mild or moderate/severe forms was associated with a low risk of caries. In summary, the prevalence of BS in primary dentition in Qingdao, China is at a relatively high level worldwide. BS is a protective factor for caries in primary dentition.

This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of general pediatricians (GPs) and pediatric subspecialists (PSs) practicing in Turkey toward oral health in children. A national sample of 642 pediatricians who attended the Turkish National Pediatrics Congress completed a survey consisting of 36 questions. The results are segmented based on sex, years of experience, and whether the pediatrician was a general pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist. Relationships between dependent categorical variables were tested using the Chi-square test. Four hundred eighty-seven questionnaires were completed, resulting in a 75.8% response rate; 69.8% of general pediatricians and 74.1% of pediatric subspecialists recommended the first dental visit before the first year or eruption of the first teeth; 62.6% agreed that pediatricians have a role in inculcating oral hygiene habits in patients; 98.2% of the respondents indicated they had performed oral examinations on their patients since birth; 72.8% of PSs suggested bottle-feeding to their patients, whereas only 33.5% of GPs did; 65.4% of PSs, 78.2% of GPs (p = 0.003), and 76.8% of the physicians with <5 years experience recommended fluoridated toothpaste under 2 years of age. There were statistically significant differences between the knowledge and attitudes of GPs and PSs. Female respondents were more knowledgeable than male respondents about oral health in children. Additionally, years of experience did not correlate with increased knowledge and proper attitudes toward oral health in children.

Mid-root fractures are rare injuries in young permanent teeth and tend to have poor prognoses. This study presents a case of oblique root fracture of both maxillary immature central incisors in the middle third accompanied by delayed dental visit and severe caries of all primary teeth. After restoring all the primary and permanent teeth that needed stabilization, the coronal fragments were repositioned and stabilized with a flexible splint consisting of orthodontic wire and composite resin. A comprehensive and sequential dental treatment for other oral diseases and oral hygiene instructions were provided. A 16-month follow-up revealed that the two injured young permanent incisors were healed, surrounded by hard tissues and continued to grow both in length of the root and thickness of the root canal wall, with significant improvement in oral hygiene. Based on the outcome of this case, initial stabilization without endodontic therapy could be considered a successful treatment modality for young permanent teeth with oblique root fracture due to the growth of fractured teeth with vital pulp and the maintenance of natural dentition.