Prevalence and Risk Factors of Bruxism in a Selected Population of Iranian Children

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the prevalence of bruxism in Iranian children aged 6 to 12 years. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years. The questionnaire consisted of two sections: the first section included demographic information, while the second evaluated the occurrence of bruxism. Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-Square, Fisher and Multinomial logistic regression were used. A level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 698 questionnaires were distributed, of which 600 participants were returned. According to Multinomial logistic regression, awake bruxism was associated significantly with the following variables: age, sequence of birth, recurrent headache, gastrointestinal disease, nasal obstruction, neurological disorder, easy child crying, sleep disorders, talking in a dream and snoring and jaw disorder. Sleep bruxism was associated significantly with age, premature birth, allergy, gastrointestinal disease, drooling, mouth breathing, nasal obstruction, oral habit, nail biting, sleep disorder, jaw disorders, and family history. Conclusion: Pre-birth and post-birth factors play an important role in the prevalence of bruxism in society. It is possible to prevent complications of bruxism by informing parents and making a timely diagnosis. Parents should be aware of this occurrence to reduce possible related factors to teeth and the masticatory system.

Clinical and Radiographic Success Rates of Pulpotomies in Primary Molars Treated with Formocresol, BiodentineTM, and Endo Repair: A Randomized Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the clinical and radiographic success rates of formocresol, BiodentineTM, and Endo Repair agents in primary molars after 12 months. Material and Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on healthy children referred to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kerman, Iran, in 2018. One hundred twenty children (human primary molar teeth) aged 3-9 years were selected and randomly divided into three interventions (with pulpotomy medicament agents), including formocresol, BiodentineTM, and Endo Repair. All pulpotomized teeth were restored using stainless steel crowns and evaluated clinically and radiographically during a 12-month follow-up. Fisher exact test was used to determine the association of categorical variables and the data were analysed with SPSS 25. Results: All the available teeth in formocresol and BiodentineTM groups obtained clinical success, whereas 62.5% of the Endo Repair group was successful in this regard. Radiographic success rates of the formocresol, BiodentineTM, and Endo Repair groups were 94.7%, 70%, and 28.1% after a 12-month follow-up, respectively. Moreover, pulp canal obliteration was observed in 26.3%, 25%, and 12.5% of the formocresol, BiodentineTM, and Endo Repair groups. Conclusion: This study reported a high rate of clinical success using both BiodentineTM and formocresol pulpotomy techniques. However, the radiographic success rate of formocresol was higher than that of BiodentineTM, and Endo Repair was not considered a suitable pulpotomy medicament agent.

Impact of Laughter Therapy on Anxiety and Pain in Pediatric Dentistry: A Double-Blinded Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of laughter therapy on reducing anxiety and pain during dental procedures in children 5-7 years of age. Material and Methods: 48 children aged 5-7 years were included in this cross-over double-blinded clinical trial after the parents completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorder questionnaire (SCARED). After allocation into two groups: laughter intervention (A) and neutral intervention (B), the anxiety as well as pain were determined by Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale Faces questionnaire (MCDASF) and the Wong-Baker Faces Scale, respectively. Also, the child's behavior during the treatment was recorded using the Sound, Eye, Motor scale (SEM). Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 using Paired t-test, Independent t-test, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon's test. Results: The mean score of anxiety in the laughter intervention group (17.42±2.74) was significantly less than (22.06±2.16) in the neutral intervention group (p=0.000) and lower in boys in both groups (p=0.000, p=0.047). The mean pain severity reported by the children in the neutral intervention group (5.33±1.81) was higher than in the laughter intervention group (2.38±1.87; p=0.00) and higher in girls in both groups (p=0.02; p=0.03). Conclusion: The laughter intervention before dental procedures had a significant effect on reducing anxiety and pain during dental treatment (AU).

Baby-Risk of malocclusion assessment index An assessment tool for preventive orthodontic treatment needs in a selected population of children in southeast of Iran

Context: Preventive orthodontic treatments are performed in the primary or mixed dentition period and provide a proper development of occlusion to avoid dentofacial anomalies. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the Baby-Risk of Malocclusion Assessment Index (ROMA) index regarding ease of use, reproducibility, and the epidemiological assessment of major orthodontic problems in children aged 4–6-year-old in Kerman (Iran) kindergartens. Setting and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1000 children aged 4–6 in Kerman (Iran) kindergartens, selected by cluster sampling, and data were collected using the Baby-ROMA index. Methods: After recording a demographic data collection form, the clinical examination of the teeth was carried out by a dental student. The data were analyzed with SPSS 18 using t-test, analysis of variance, Chi-squared test, and Mann–Whitney test at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: In this study, the most common cause of malocclusion was dental caries (7.5%), followed by crossbite (6.1%). Furthermore, 31.6% of the subjects had one type of malocclusion, and 20.5% needed monitoring the occlusion before the growth spurt, while 11.1% needed immediate orthodontic treatment (mostly 6-year-old children). Moreover, 15.3% of the subjects had systemic problems; 3.4% had craniofacial, 22% had dental, and 2% had functional problems. The prevalence of class I canine relationship in the right canines was 82.32%, with 82.5% on the left side. The prevalence of open bite was higher in females with thumb-sucking habit. Conclusion: The Baby-ROMA index presented good reliability and ease of use for evaluating early orthodontic treatment needs in primary and mixed dentition periods.