Are Premature Birth and Low Birth Weight Associated with Delay on the Eruption of Deciduous Teeth? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate whether children with premature birth (PB) and/or with low birth weight (LBW) have different tooth eruption patterns than those born at term or with normal weight. Material and Methods: Searches were performed in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Sc1opus, Web of Science, LILACS, and BBO databases as well as the grey literature. Three independent reviewers were involved in study selection, data extraction, and bias assessment. The risk of bias was assessed using the Modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis was conducted to compute the mean difference (MD) in mean chronological or adjusted age at the eruption of the first deciduous tooth between preterm children and those born at full term. The GRADE approach was used. Results: Among a total of 316 articles identified, 21 were eligible for inclusion and three were included in the meta-analysis. PB was associated with the delay in the first tooth deciduous eruption when chronological age was considered (MD: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.02-1.69) but not when considering adjusted age (MD: -0.30; 95%CI: -0.67-0.07). The evidence was graded as having very low quality. Conclusion: Based on a low certainty of evidence the PB is associated with the delayed eruption of the first deciduous tooth when considering chronological age but not when adjusted age is considered.

Is oral health literacy associated with conceptions of care and behavior related to the prevention of COVID-19?

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of oral health literacy (OHL) on conceptions of care and behaviors related to COVID-19. The sample came from two preliminary cross-sectional studies that determined the level of OHL of parents/guardians of six-to-12-year-old children in two major Brazilian cities (Curitiba and Belo Horizonte). Functional OHL was measured using the Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD-30) and the Health Literacy Dental Scale (HeLD-14) for the evaluation of interactive OHL. Participants were recruited through e-mail, social media, and telephone contact. The questionnaire on conceptions of care and behaviors related to COVID-19 was created based on the guidelines of the World Health Organization. Two hundred nineteen individuals participated in the study. There was no significant difference in socioeconomic and demographic variables and in the medians of BREALD and HeLD-14 between the two cities (P>0.05). Higher levels of functional OHL were associated with an appropriate conception that individual care affects collective care (P=0.038), but with an inappropriate conception of seeking medical assistance in cases of mild symptoms (P=0.030). Higher levels of interactive OHL were related to social distancing behavior in the city of Curitiba (P=0.049) and in the overall sample (P=0.040). It is concluded that functional OHL was associated with two of the investigated conceptions about COVID-19, while interactive OHL was associated with social distancing behavior. These data may suggest that different dimensions of the OHL can have an impact on different aspects of coping with the pandemic.

Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization and Associated Factors: A Case- Control Study

Objective: To evaluate systemic factors those are related to molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH), its association with dental caries, and the impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Brazilian children. Material and Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic, Federal University of Parana, Brazil. Patients with MIH who were assisted from 2014 to 2015 were included in the study, for a total of 31 children, 6-13 years of age. The control group consisted of 62 children who were matched by sex and age. European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry criteria were used for MIH diagnosis. The children's mothers answered a questionnaire regarding the children's history of health intercurrences in the pre-, peri-, and postnatal periods. The Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth indices for permanent and primary teeth (dmft index and DMFT index, respectively) were used for dental caries examination by two calibrated examiners. Child Perceptions Questionnaires for 8- to 10-year-old children and 11- to 14-year-old children (CPQ8-10 and CPQ11-14) were used to assess OHRQoL. Results: Prematurity and prolonged delivery were significantly associated with the occurrence of MIH. In the postnatal period, recurrent fevers in the first 3 years of life were associated with MIH. Of the 339 incisors and first permanent molars that were examined, 178 presented MIH, of which 116 (65%) were demarcated opacities. A significant difference was found in the mean DMFT index between groups. No impact of MIH on OHRQoL was observed. Conclusion: The present results suggest higher intercurrences during the perinatal period and a higher incidence of caries among children with MIH.