Association of masticatory efficiency with deep carious lesions in children.

PURPOSE: Masticatory efficiency is defined as an individual ability to grind and pulverize food material, and can be influenced by many factors. This research aimed to investigate the association between masticatory efficiency and deep carious lesion. METHODS: The research included 48 children (24 male, 24 female) aged from 3 to 14 years. Participants were allocated to two groups; children with no or with only incipient carious lesions were included in the first group (ICDAS levels 0, 1, or 2), and children with bilateral deep carious lesions that are ICDAS levels 4, 5, and 6 were included in the second group. Information on dental parameters (dental status, ICDAS level of each carious lesion), and level of pain (Wong-Baker scale) were collected from each participant. Participants chewed Optosil® test food for 20 masticatory cycles, and chewed particles were analyzed by the optical scanning method. RESULTS: There is a significant difference in masticatory efficiency variables (number of chewed particles, minimal and maximal Feret diameter, Sauter mean diameter, a mean and total surface of particles) between groups. A positive significant correlation is observed between WBS level and time needed for masticatory performance in a group of children with deep carious lesions. CONCLUSION: Deep carious lesions in children are associated with a decrease in masticatory efficiency. Moreover, children with carious lesions that provoke a higher level of pain take more time for masticatory cycles.

Masticatory efficiency in children with cerebral palsy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to compare quality of chewing in children with CP to the healthy controls, and determine whether the functional capacity of chewing units and overall dental health affect the quality of chewing. METHODS: A total of 86 were included in the investigation: 43 children with CP and 43 controls (13 girls aged 7-16 years and 30 boys aged 9-16 years) residents of the institutions for the children with special needs. Control group included the same number of children matched by age and gender for every child from the test group according to the pairing principle. The number of functional masticatory units was expressed through the number of healthy teeth and teeth with cavities which the patients could use for chewing. Masticatory efficiency assessment was determined by the method of chewed almond transparency after ten chewing cycles. The particles were passed through 12 sieves with diameter range from 0.6 to 7.2 mm. The masticatory efficiency was expressed with the number of sieves needed to pass 50% of the total almond mass. RESULTS: Healthy children had significantly more teeth in occlusal contact, while the DMF index did not differ significantly. Both groups had the same number of functional masticatory units. Children with CP had significantly poorer quality of chewing. CONCLUSION: Children with CP had significantly poorer quality of chewing which is not affected by tooth functionality, but rather the primary condition.

Knowledge about emergency procedure in case of dental trauma among paediatricians in Croatia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate paediatricians' actual attitudes towards emergency management of dental injuries, need for potential improvement in their knowledge and motivation for further education. MATERIALS METHODS: This study was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey on a sample of 84 respondents from four Croatian counties. A questionnaire of 24 questions was divided into four parts: personal and professional profile; self-assessed perceived knowledge and experience with dental injuries; specific questions on the management of dental injuries and specific questions regarding education about dental injuries. The questionnaires were collected during a 2-month period. RESULTS: A larger percentage (95%) of surveyed paediatricians have at least once encountered trauma in the practice and in this case 90% of them contacted the dentist. Three quarters of participants (76%) would correctly hold completely extruded tooth. In case of tooth or fragment preservation 60% of the subjects would place the tooth in the saline solution, and only 12% of the respondents would use milk as a transport medium. The 19% of the paediatricians considered that the permanent tooth should not be replanted. Two tirds (62%) of participants did not get any information regarding dental trauma during their past education, but most of them (90%) consider that education about traumatic dental injuries is important, and 86% of the respondents are willing to be educated on the subject in the future. There is no difference in procedures (recommended vs. non-recommended) undertaken during management of detal injuries, according to the participants working place, experience in emergency department or their personal experience of dental trauma. CONCLUSION: The results revealed insufficient paediatricians' knowledge about emergency procedures in case of dental trauma, but they also point out high awareness of the importance of dental trauma, and willingness for further education.

What general medicine students of University of Rijeka know about dental avulsion?

INTRODUCTION: Injuries of decidouos and premanent teeth can be rather hard, esspecially in combinatin if they involve adjacent supportive tissue. Among all injuries, the loss of the teeth is considered the most stressful for both a child and its parents. Tooth injury usually involves soft tissue damage, which means severe bleeding. As parents often look for help from their family general practitioners, it is very important that general practitioner is acquainted with the first aid in order to preserve the tooth and enable further skeletal development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in the form of a questionnaire, which was distributed among general medical students at the Medical studies of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rijeka, Croatia. The study included 86 pre-doctoral students of the 3rd, 4th and 5th years of studies. The questionnaire consisted of 23 questions, which were related to demographics, personal experience in treating dental injuries, theoretical knowledge about dental injuries and their interest in additional training on the subject. RESULTS: The results showed that only 32.6% of the students heard of 'tooth avulsion'. Replacement of the avulsed tooth in its original position in the jaw was considered by 77.6% of the students. In their entire education, 84.9% students didn't acquire any knowledge about dental injuries. CONCLUSION: The study showed that medical students have very poor knowledge about dental injuries. Also, the vast majority of the students were neither informed nor educated about it during their studies.

[Analysis of certain oral health parameters in children with disabilities].

The first permanent molars which show the presence of congenital malocclusions, orthodontic treatment need and habits were studied in children with disabilities and healthy children. The examination covered 80 disabled children and 80 healthy ones (control group) of the age from 3 to 17 (mean age 10) years. Caries of the first permanent molars, bad habits and malocclusions were more common in children with disabilities than in healthy children. It was established that higher orthodontic treatment need was in children with disabilities who were less covered with orthodontic care.