Gingivitis influences oral health-related quality of life in adolescents: findings from a cohort study / A gengivite influencia a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal de adolescentes: achados de um estudo de coorte

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is affected by different clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of gingivitis on OHRQoL in adolescents. Methodology: This cohort study consisted of a random sample of 1,134 schoolchildren enrolled during 2012, in Santa Maria, Brazil. After two years, 743 adolescents were follow-up (response rate: 65.5%). Clinical, socioeconomic and OHRQoL data were collected. OHRQoL was assessed by the short Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ11-14), and gingival bleeding through Community Periodontal Index. Gingivitis was considered with the presence of 15% or more bleeding sites. Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the association between gingivitis and overall and domain-specific CPQ11-14 scores. Prevalence of gingivitis at baseline was considered the main predictor for the OHRQoL at follow-up. Results: Gingivitis at baseline was associated with higher overall CPQ 11-14 score (RR = 1.07; 95%CI 1.01 - 1.14), and emotional well-being (RR = 1.17; 95%CI 1.04 - 1.31), independently of other oral conditions and socioeconomic variables. Conclusions: The findings indicate that gingivitis negatively impacts the adolescents' OHRQoL. Moreover, gender, maternal schooling and household income were also associated with OHRQoL.

RESUMO: Introdução: Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal (QVRSB) é afetada por diferentes condições clínicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o impacto da gengivite na QVRSB de adolescentes. Metodologia: Este estudo de coorte consistiu em uma amostra aleatória de 1.134 escolares iniciado em 2012, na cidade de Santa Maria, Brasil. Após dois anos, 743 adolescentes foram acompanhados (taxa de resposta: 65,5%). Dados clínicos, socioeconômicos e de QVRSB foram coletados. A QVRSB foi avaliada pela versão brasileira curta do Child Perceptions Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ11-14) e o sangramento gengival foi coletado através do Índice Periodontal Comunitário. Gengivite foi considerada com o indivíduo apresentando 15% ou mais locais de sangramento. Os modelos de regressão de Poisson foram utilizados para avaliar a associação entre gengivite e os escores total e específico do domínio do CPQ11-14. A prevalência de gengivite na primeira avaliação foi considerada o preditor principal para a QVRSB no acompanhamento. Resultados: A gengivite no baseline foi associada à maior pontuação geral do CPQ 11-14 (RR = 1,07; IC95% 1,01 - 1,14) e ao domínio de bem-estar emocional (RR = 1,17; IC95% 1,04 - 1,31), independentemente das outras condições orais e variáveis socioeconômicas. Conclusão: Os achados indicam que a gengivite impacta negativamente a QVRSB de adolescentes. Além disso, sexo, escolaridade materna e renda familiar mensal também foram associados à QVRSB.

Edema and gingival bleeding in anterior region have a negative influence on quality of life of adolescents

Abstract The aim of the present study was to verify if clinical signs of gingivitis such as color changes, edema, and bleeding in the anterior region influence the OHRQoL of adolescents. We followed a cross-sectional convenience sample of 67 adolescents aged 11 to 16 years receiving dental treatment at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), in southern Brazil. The participants were evaluated for the following clinical variables: edema, gingival color alteration, and marginal bleeding of the gingival tissues, collected at 6 sites per tooth in the anterior region of the mouth. Socioeconomic variables were collected through questionnaires and OHRQoL was evaluated through the Brazilian version of the Children Perception Questionnaire (CPQ 11-14) short form. A Poisson regression model was used to verify associations between clinical variables and general CPQ11-14 scores. In the unadjusted analysis, edema, color alterations, and marginal bleeding in the anterior region were associated with worse scores of OHRQoL. Edema and marginal bleeding remained associated after adjusting for clinical and sociodemographic variables. Adolescents with higher levels of marginal bleeding and edema in the anterior region had higher mean CPQ11-14 scores. Therefore, the presence of bleeding and gingival edema in the anterior region can be considered clinical signs of gingivitis that are associated with a worse OHRQoL in adolescents.

Evaluation of the Family Impact Scale for use in Brazil

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess the validity and reliability of the Family Impact Scale (FIS) applied in Brazilian parents after translations and cultural adaptations to Brazilian Portuguese language and to evaluate the nature and extent to which the family functioning is compromised by the child oral conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Parents were recruited from general populations for pre-testing (n=20), validity (n=210) and test-retest reliability (n=20) studies. The children were examined for dental caries, gingivitis, fluorosis and malocclusion. RESULTS: The FIS discriminated among the categories of malocclusion and showed good construct validity. The Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.87 and 0.90, respectively. Almost 20 percent of the informants reported some family impact `sometimes' or `often/everyday' from the child's oral condition. Impact on FIS domains of this frequency ranged from 13.8 percent for financial difficulties to 24.4 percent for parental or family activities. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian Portuguese version of FIS is valid and reliable. The results suggest that child oral conditions have a negative impact on the family. Further research is required, as these findings were based on cross-sectional study and convenience samples.

Conocimientos y prácticas en prevención de caries y gingivitis en educadores de párvulos, JUNJI, Santiago / Knowledge and preventive practices regarding cavities and gingivitis among Kindergarten teachers fron the National Board of Kindergartens of Santiago

Objetivos: La caries dental y la gingivitis son prevalentes en la población infantil. El propósito de este estudio fue describir los conocimientos que poseen los educadores de párvulos de la provincia de Santiago, en la prevención de caries y gingivitis de los preescolares, así como las prácticas declaradas que realizan durante la jornada escolar, que pudiesen favorecer el control de éstas. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, y cuantitativo, con un muestreo probabilístico estratificado proporcional, por conglomerados, bietápico para seleccionar unamuestra de 209 profesionales, de la Junta Nacional de Jardines Infantiles de Santiago, quiénes respondieron un cuestionario auto-administrado, previamente validado. (Confiabilidad 0.78, alphade Cronbach). Resultados: El nivel de conocimientos fue catalogado como bueno (0.69, intervalo de confianza0.67-0.70). En cuanto a las prácticas preventivas, en el 98 por ciento de los establecimientos se realiza cepillado dental. En relación al tipo de alimentos consumidos, priman las frutas y leche, con un 52.3 por ciento y un 58.3 por ciento respectivamente. Los tópicos con menor porcentaje de respuestas correctas correspondieron a uso de fluorurostópicos, edad de inicio y frecuencia de cepillado. Conclusión: Existe un nivel adecuado de conocimientos en los docentes, lo que constituye una herramienta valiosa para generar y mantener cambios conductuales favorables a la salud bucal. En el ámbito de las prácticas declaradas, prácticamente la totalidad de los educadores consultados reporta que sus pupilos realizan el cepillado dentario, con una frecuencia de dos veces al día, siendo concordante con lo recomendado como efectivo en la literatura especializada.

Purposes: Dental cavities and gingivitis are prevalent among the pediatric population. The purpose of the present work was to describe the knowledge in cavity and gingivitis prevention among kindergarten teachers in the province of Santiago and to assess their declared practices during the full school day which might prevent such conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study was conducted with proportional stratified probabilistic cluster two-stage to select a sample of 209 professionals from the National Board of Kindergartens of the province of Santiago, who answered a previously validated self administered survey (Cronbach’s alpha reliability of 0.78). Results: The degree of knowledge was rated as good (0.69, Confidence Interval 0.67-0.70). As for preventive practices, tooth brushing was carried out in 98 percent of the facilities. With regard to the kind of food consumed, fruits and milk prevailed, with 52.3 percent and 58.3 percent respectively. The topics with the lowest correct answer rates were those regarding the use of topical fluoride, the onset of tooth brushing habits and tooth brushing frequency. Conclusions: There is an adequate degree of knowledge among teachers. Such knowledge constitutes a valuable tool to generate and sustain behavioral changes favoring oral health. In the field of declared practices, practically all the teachers surveyed reported that their pupils toothbrush on a twice a week basis, thus being in accordance with the recommended effective tooth brushing practice in the specialized literature.