Publication Trends Studies Involving Disabled Persons with Dental Care Needs: A 20-Year Bibliometric Analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate scientific production on disabled persons with dental care needs over a 20-year period. Material and Methods: The search was conducted in the PubMed database using the MeSH terms "Disabled Persons" AND "Dentistry". Three researchers selected articles based on readings of the title, abstract and full text. The articles were categorized according to periodical, country, study design, subject and classification of comorbidities and associated disorders. Three hundred ninety-seven articles published in 140 periodicals were included. Results: The periodicals Special Care in Dentistry (54), Dental Clinics of North America (14) and British Dental Journal (14) accounted for 21% of the publications. The studies were conducted in 50 countries, with the United States accounting for 33%. More than half (52%) of the studies had a cross-sectional design. The main subject addressed was oral diagnosis and most of the comorbidities were generalized disabilities. Conclusion: Although a large number of the periodicals have contributed to knowledge building on disabled persons with dental care needs, the number of articles is small compared to other fields of dentistry. Moreover, important gaps in knowledge persist and projects with better methodological designs are needed to offer a more substantial contribution to clinical practice.

Socioeconomic and intraoral polarization of untreated caries and tooth loss among male adolescents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the intraoral distribution of untreated caries and tooth loss and estimate the impact of different socioeconomic factors on the occurrence of these outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 652 18-year-old male adolescents from the city of Sapucaia do Sul, Brazil, who conscripted for military service. The participants answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic variables. Two trained and calibrated examiners performed the clinical examinations for the diagnosis of dental caries using the criteria of the World Health Organization. Tooth group and adolescent were the units of analysis for the primary outcomes of the study. Poisson regression analysis with robust variance was performed, with the calculation of crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The prevalence of caries experience and untreated caries was 70.2% and 39.3%, respectively, and 9.4% of the adolescents had missing teeth. Sixty-seven percent of the untreated caries and 98.8% of missing teeth were in first molars. The probability of dental caries and tooth loss was significantly higher among adolescents with less schooling (PR = 2.56; 95%CI: 1.97-3.32 and PR = 3.28; 95%CI: 1.61-6.65, respectively) and those whose mothers had less schooling (PR = 1.31; 95%CI: 1.03-1.67 and PR = 2.30; 95%CI: 1.18-4.50, respectively). In conclusion, the occurrence of untreated dental caries and tooth loss was concentrated in the first molars of adolescents. Moreover, the prevalence of both conditions was higher among adolescents with low schooling and whose mothers had low schooling, reflecting the strong intraoral and socioeconomic polarization of these outcomes.

Socioeconomic and intraoral polarization of untreated caries and tooth loss among male adolescents

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the intraoral distribution of untreated caries and tooth loss and estimate the impact of different socioeconomic factors on the occurrence of these outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 652 18-year-old male adolescents from the city of Sapucaia do Sul, Brazil, who conscripted for military service. The participants answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic variables. Two trained and calibrated examiners performed the clinical examinations for the diagnosis of dental caries using the criteria of the World Health Organization. Tooth group and adolescent were the units of analysis for the primary outcomes of the study. Poisson regression analysis with robust variance was performed, with the calculation of crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The prevalence of caries experience and untreated caries was 70.2% and 39.3%, respectively, and 9.4% of the adolescents had missing teeth. Sixty-seven percent of the untreated caries and 98.8% of missing teeth were in first molars. The probability of dental caries and tooth loss was significantly higher among adolescents with less schooling (PR = 2.56; 95%CI: 1.97-3.32 and PR = 3.28; 95%CI: 1.61-6.65, respectively) and those whose mothers had less schooling (PR = 1.31; 95%CI: 1.03-1.67 and PR = 2.30; 95%CI: 1.18-4.50, respectively). In conclusion, the occurrence of untreated dental caries and tooth loss was concentrated in the first molars of adolescents. Moreover, the prevalence of both conditions was higher among adolescents with low schooling and whose mothers had low schooling, reflecting the strong intraoral and socioeconomic polarization of these outcomes.

Avaliação da produção científica de um programa de pós-graduação stricto sensu em Odontologiacomo ferramenta de gestão / Evaluation of the scientific production of a stricto sensu post-graduation program in Dentistry as a management tool

Na universidade, o ambiente de produção, disseminação e socialização do conhecimento se consolida pela realização da pesquisa e publicação de seus resultados. O presente estudo transversal objetivou identificar o perfil das dissertações, teses e publicações em periódicos do Programa de Pós-graduação Stricto Sensu em Odontologia da Universidade Luterana do Brasil (PPGOdonto/ULBRA). Realizou- se uma análise bibliométrica quantitativa e descritiva no período de 1997-2016. Os dados, coletados por meio de formulário específico, consistiram em ano de defesa, especialidade e delineamento do estudo. Realizou-se uma busca na Plataforma Lattes e base de dados PubMed a fim de verificar as publicações em periódicos decorrentes dos trabalhos defendidos; e as publicações foram classificadas de acordo com os critérios Qualis. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva. Foram identificadas 284 dissertações de mestrado e 50 teses de doutorado defendidas no referido período. As áreas de Endodontia, Dentística e Prótese Dentária foram as especialidades com o maior número de defesas. Do total de dissertações e teses analisadas, 62% geraram publicações científicas, sendo 41% em periódicos de estratos Qualis A1 e A2, especialmente nas áreas de Endodontia, Periodontia e Odontopediatria. Em relação à metodologia utilizada nos estudos, 43,7% utilizaram delineamento experimental in vitro, seguido de estudos transversais (23,4%) e de estudos em modelo animal (11,1%). A autoavaliação dos programas de pós-graduação com foco na postura crítica em relação ao que está produzindo tem permitido a reorientação de linhas de pesquisa e da dinâmica de geração de conhecimento e inovações (AU).

At a university, the production, dissemination and socialization of knowledge are consolidated through research and the publication of results. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to identify the characteristics of dissertations, theses of the Stricto Sensu postgraduate program in dentistry of the Lutheran University of Brazil and subsequent publication in journals. For such, a descriptive, quantitative, bibliometric analysis was performed of the period from 1997 to 2016. The data were collected using a specific form addressing year of defense, specialty and study design. Searches were performed in the Lattes Platform and PubMed database to verify publications in journals of the articles stemming from the work defended. The publications were classified using the Qualis criteria and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 284 master's dissertations and 50 theses were defended in the period analyzed. The specialties with the largest number of defenses were endodontics, restorative dentistry and dental prosthetics. Among the total number of dissertations and theses analyzed, 62% generated scientific publications and 41% were published in journals with Qualis A1 and A2 ratings, especially those in the fields of endodontics, periodontics and pediatric dentistry. Regarding the methods, the largest portion used an in vitro experimental design (43.7%), followed by the cross-sectional design (23.4%) and studies involving animal models (11.1%). The self- evaluation of postgraduate programs with a focus on a critical stance with regards to what is being produced enables the reorientation of lines of research as well as the dynamics of knowledge generation and innovation (AU).

New Post-COVID-19 Biosafety Protocols in Pediatric Dentistry

Abstract The most recent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - COVID-19 - caused by coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2) has high-virulence transmission and direct human contagiousness by proximity. Thus, the considerable occupational risk in pediatric dentistry is evident, given the nature and form of procedures performed in an outpatient setting. Thus, the aim of this paper was to identify and contextualize technical and scientific information available to date aimed at preventing and minimizing risks for patients, caregivers and professionals. The results indicate that protective measures are being developed considering procedures according to risks and benefits, and five points stand out: 1. Regulation of resumption of elective procedures, screening and scheduling patients; 2. Restructuring clinical environment and infection control; 3. Improvement of personal protective equipment and biosafety recommendations; 4. Maximization of the use of non-invasive techniques, use of high-powered dental suction, and absolute isolation of the operative field; and 5. Minimization of the use of air-water syringe, dental spittoon and high-speed handpiece. The measures to be taken require reflection for the restart of a "new clinical practice", especially aiming at behavioral and structural changes regarding operational biosafety.