Serum levels of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin D in severe early childhood caries / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @#The serum levels of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin D in severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) patients were investigated and analyzed to provide reference for primary prevention and diagnosis of S-ECC children.@*Methods @#A total of 184 children were enrolled in the Children Health Department of Xinjiang Medical University Health Management Center from June 2018 to June 2019. They were divided into the caries-free (CF) group (n=89) and S-ECC group (n=95). The contents of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin D were detected.@* Results@# The serum iron content of the CF group and S-ECC group was (8.36 ± 0.42) mmol/L and (8.13 ± 0.44) mmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.50, P < 0.001); the serum content of zinc was (83.18 ± 7.28) μmol/L and (79.23 ± 6.38) μmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.92, P < 0.001); the serum content of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was (86.72 ± 15.83) nmol/L and (77.75 ± 11.38) nmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.42, P < 0.001). The serum copper content of CF group and S-ECC group was (20.18 ± 4.84) μmol/L and (19.49 ± 4.62) μmol/L, but the difference was not statistically significant (t=0.97, P=0.33).@*Conclusion@#The contents of iron, zinc and vitamin D in the serum of S-ECC patients are low, suggesting that iron, zinc and vitamin D supplementation should be emphasized in the prevention and treatment of S-ECC.

Conduct of pediatricians in relation to the oral health of children / Conduta de pediatras em relação à saúde bucal de crianças

Objective: Pediatricians are health professionals who treat the child during the first years of their life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the conduct adopted by pediatricians regarding the oral health of children. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional observational study with a sample of 100 physicians specialized in pediatrics, working in the public and private sectors. A questionnaire was used for data collection, and the pediatricians were approached in their workplaces. Result: Most pediatricians (69%) belong to the female gender, with an average age of 48 years, and work in both the public and private sectors of health and have over 20 years of professional experience. Regarding their level of knowledge on oral health, 59% consider it to be good and 59% said that they had not been approached about this issue during their training in pediatrics. Ninety-two percent routinely examine the oral cavity of the baby; 64% recommend the use of fluoridated toothpaste, and 66.7% direct patients to a dental appointment in the first year of life. Regarding breastfeeding at night, 55.6% do not make the association between breastfeeding and the onset of early childhood caries. Furthermore, 74.7% do not justify the associations between the eruption of the first primary teeth and systemic manifestations, and 93% contraindicate the use of a dummy. Conclusion: It was concluded that pediatricians have proactive attitudes with regards to oral health. However, they need more information on the importance of fluoride for the control of dental caries.

Objetivo: Os médicos pediatras são os profissionais de saúde que acompanham a criança ao longo dos primeiros anos de vida. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar condutas adotadas por pediatras em relação à saúde bucal de crianças. Método: Trata-se de um estudo observacional transversal descritivo, com amostra constituída por 100 médicos especialistas em pediatria, atuantes em serviços público e privado. Foi utilizado questionário como instrumento de coleta de dados e os pediatras foram abordados em seus locais de trabalho. Resultado: A maioria dos pediatras (69%) pertence ao gênero feminino, com idade média de 48 anos, trabalham simultaneamente nos serviços de saúde público e privado, com mais de 20 anos de experiência profissional. Com relação ao nível de conhecimento em relação à saúde bucal, 59% consideraram como bom e 59% afirmaram não ter sido abordado o tema sobre saúde bucal durante a formação em pediatria. Noventa e dois por cento realizam exame da cavidade bucal do bebê como procedimento de rotina; 64% recomendam o uso de dentifrício fluoretado; 66,7% encaminham os pacientes à consulta odontológica no primeiro ano de vida. Com relação à amamentação noturna, 55,6% não fazem associação entre aleitamento materno e a instalação de cárie precoce na infância. Além disso, 74,7% não justificam associações entre irrompimento dos primeiros dentes decíduos e manifestações sistêmicas e 93% contraindicam uso de chupetas. Conclusão: Conclui-se que os pediatras apresentam atitudes pró-ativas em relação à saúde bucal, apesar de necessitarem de maiores esclarecimentos quanto à importância dos fluoretos no controle da cárie dentária.

Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático. Uma técnica que podemos confiar? / Atraumatic Restorative Treatment. Can we trust in this technique?

O tratamento restaurador atraumático (TRA) surgiu com a intenção de restaurar dentes cariados em locais onde o tratamento convencional não era possível. No Brasil, a técnica é sugerida nos cadernos do SUS para escolares e em locais de difícil acesso. Este artigo objetiva explicitar as vantagens da técnica, as indicações e o passo a passo da técnica. Conclui-se que o TRA é uma técnica de amplo alcance social, reduzindo tempo de cadeira, endodontias e exodontias, de fácil aplicação tanto em consultório como em locais sem equipamentos. Suas limitações são o tamanho e retenção da cavidade, qualidade do material restaurador e, principalmente, a baixa aceitação da técnica por parte do profissional e comunidade.

The Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) was developed with the intention of restoring decayed teeth in locations where conventional treatment was not possible. In Brazil, this technique has been suggested on the rolls of SUS to students and in places where access is precarious. This article aims to explain: the advantages of the technique; the indications; and the technique step by step. It can be concluded that: the ART is a technique of broad social impact, reducing dental chair time, endodontics and extractions, being easy to apply both in the dental chair as in locations without equipment. Its limitations relate to size and retention of the cavity, quality of the restorative material and especially the low acceptance on the part of the dentist and the community.

Primary tooth caries in Vietnamese children

84,4% of children aged 6-8 years old sulfered from caries of milk tooth. In average, each subject of thin aged had got 5,07 milk teeth experienced by caries and 12,98 tooth surfaces were destroyed by caries. The incidence of this dental condition was different from geographic areas. In south coast area in Central Viet Nam and MeKong delta, the incidence was higher than other areas and higher than 90% and a very low percentage was treated, almost no significance, especially in North mountain area, north coast and south coast of Central Viet Nam central Highland.