The Impact of Socio-Environmental, Individual, and Biological Factors on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Preschool Children: A Cohort Study with 3-Year Follow-Up.

This study assessed impact of socio-environmental, individual, and biological factors on the worsening and severe worsening of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among preschoolers and their families. A cohort study was conducted in Diamantina, Brazil, with 151 children between 1 and 3 years of age and their mothers, who were evaluated at baseline (2014) and re-evaluated after 3 years (2017). The children were clinically examined to assess the presence of dental caries, malocclusion, dental trauma, and enamel defects. The mothers answered the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS) and a questionnaire addressing individual characteristics of the child and socio-environmental factors. Extensive caries found in the follow-up (relative risk [RR] = 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26-2.91) and failure to undergo the dental treatment recommended at baseline (RR = 2.49; 95% CI = 1.62-3.81) were associated with worsening of OHRQoL over 3 years. An increase in the number of children in the household (RR = 2.95; 95% CI = 1.06-8.25), occurrence of extensive caries in the follow-up (RR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.05-4.07), and failure to undergo the dental treatment recommended at baseline (RR = 3.68; 95% CI = 1.96-6.89) were associated with a severe worsening of OHRQoL. In conclusion, the risk of worsening and severe worsening of OHRQoL was higher in preschoolers with extensive caries at follow-up and among those who did not undergo dental treatment. Furthermore, severe worsening of OHRQoL was also impacted by an increase in the number of children in the household.

Association between child's behaviour during first dental appointment and effectiveness of dental plaque removal by caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between the behaviour of children aged 1 to 4 years during their dental appointment and the effectiveness of dental plaque removal by caregivers. METHODS: This longitudinal study with intervention had the participation of 146 children (mean age = 34.89 months), 75 of whom (51.4%) showed positive behaviour (+ and ++) and 71 (48.6%), negative behaviour (- and - -). The children were evaluated at the first dental appointment, according to the Frankl scale. They were subjected to an assessment of oral conditions, and their plaque level was recorded (Quigley-Hein Index modified by Turesky) using the Evince® device. Caregivers received oral hygiene guidance. The dental plaque assessment was performed before giving the oral hygiene guidance and 14 days later. The statistical analysis included a descriptive assessment and the Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Mean dental plaque levels dropped significantly from the first to the second assessment (p < 0.001). The sample was divided according to the child's behaviour, observing that only the group of children with positive behaviour showed significantly less dental plaque in the second assessment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The positive behaviour of children aged 1 to 4 years during the first dental appointments is associated with more effective dental plaque removal by caregivers.

Association between different stages of dental caries in preschoolers and familial socioeconomic factors.

This study evaluated the association between socioeconomic factors and stages of dental caries in children one to five years of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 759 children enrolled in preschools in Diamantina, Brazil. The parents/caregivers filled out a form addressing socioeconomic factors. Add to the end of this sentence: and categorized in caries free (code 0 and 1), no obvious decay (code 2 and 3) and obvious decay (code 4, 5 and 6). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test and multinomial regression. The prevalence of "no obvious decay" was higher among children from families with a larger number of income-dependent individuals (OR: 2.47; 95%CI: 1.41-4.31). The higher prevalence of "obvious decay" was associated with the child's age (OR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.16-1.58), attending a public preschool (OR: 2.38; 95%CI: 1.31-4.34), a larger number of income-dependent individuals (four to five individuals: OR: 1.71; 95%CI: 1.09-2.74; more than five individuals: OR: 3.41; 95%CI: 1.95-5.94), no access to a dentist (OR: 2.14; 95%CI: 1.48-3.09), and lower income (OR: 1.72; 95%CI: 1.19--2.49). It was concluded that the variable of a larger number of income-dependent individuals was associated with both no obvious decay and obvious decay. Child's age, type of preschool, access to a dentist, and income were associated with obvious decay.

Association between different stages of dental caries in preschoolers and familial socioeconomic factors

Abstract: This study evaluated the association between socioeconomic factors and stages of dental caries in children one to five years of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 759 children enrolled in preschools in Diamantina, Brazil. The parents/caregivers filled out a form addressing socioeconomic factors. Add to the end of this sentence: and categorized in caries free (code 0 and 1), no obvious decay (code 2 and 3) and obvious decay (code 4, 5 and 6). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test and multinomial regression. The prevalence of "no obvious decay" was higher among children from families with a larger number of income-dependent individuals (OR: 2.47; 95%CI: 1.41-4.31). The higher prevalence of "obvious decay" was associated with the child's age (OR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.16-1.58), attending a public preschool (OR: 2.38; 95%CI: 1.31-4.34), a larger number of income-dependent individuals (four to five individuals: OR: 1.71; 95%CI: 1.09-2.74; more than five individuals: OR: 3.41; 95%CI: 1.95-5.94), no access to a dentist (OR: 2.14; 95%CI: 1.48-3.09), and lower income (OR: 1.72; 95%CI: 1.19--2.49). It was concluded that the variable of a larger number of income-dependent individuals was associated with both no obvious decay and obvious decay. Child's age, type of preschool, access to a dentist, and income were associated with obvious decay.

Hemodynamic Behavior in Third Molar Surgeries Using Lidocaine or Articaine / Comportamiento Hemodinámico en Cirugías de los Terceros Molares Utilizando Lidocaína vs Articaina

SUMMARY: The aim of this research was to assess the hemodynamic variations during the extraction of impacted lower third molars using lidocaine 2 % or articaine 4 %, as local anesthetics. Fourteen patients with a mean age of 22.4 (SD=3.25), were submitted to the bilateral extraction of lower third molars, with an interval of three to four weeks between the two extractions. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation in the blood were assessed at seven specific time points: baseline; anesthetic puncture; two minutes after anesthesia; osteotomy; suture and five minutes after the procedure had been completed. The statistical analysis involved descriptive analysis, the Shapiro-Wilk test, the Mann-Whitney test, the t-test and the repeated measurements test. No significant differences were found for any of the hemodynamic behavior variables when comparing lidocaine 2 % and articaine 4 %. Significant differences were found between the time points assessed within each group, particularly in relation to the variable heart rate. In the articaine group, systolic blood pressure exhibited a significant decrease five minutes after the procedure. There were no significant variations in hemodynamic behavior between the two different anesthetic groups (articaine 4 % and lidocaine 2 %).

RESUMEN: El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar las variaciones hemodinámicas durante la extracción de terceros molares inferiores impactados utilizando lidocaína al 2 % o articaína al 4 %, como anestésicos locales. Catorce pacientes con una edad promedio de 22,4 (SD = 3,25), fueron sometidos a la extracción bilateral de terceros molares inferiores, con un intervalo de tres a cuatro semanas entre las dos extracciones. Se evaluaron la presión arterial sistólica, la presión arterial diastólica, la presión arterial media, la frecuencia cardíaca y la saturación de oxígeno en la sangre, en siete momentos específicos: línea base; punción anestésica; dos minutos después de la anestesia; osteotomía; sutura y cinco minutos después de que el procedimiento fue completado. El análisis estadístico involucró el análisis descriptivo, la prueba de Shapiro-Wilk, la prueba de Mann-Whitney, la prueba t y la prueba de mediciones repetidas. No se encontraron diferencias significativas para ninguna de las variables de comportamiento hemodinámico al comparar lidocaína 2 % y articaína 4 %. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los puntos de tiempo evaluados dentro de cada grupo, particularmente en relación con la frecuencia cardíaca variable. En el grupo de articaína, la presión arterial sistólica exhibió una disminución significativa cinco minutos después del procedimiento. No se observaron variaciones significativas en el comportamiento hemodinámico entre los dos grupos anestésicos diferentes (articaína 4 % y lidocaína 2 %).

Association and comparison between visual inspection and bitewing radiography for the detection of recurrent dental caries under restorations.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate, in posterior teeth, the association between the characteristics of the margins of a restoration visually inspected and the presence, under restorations, of recurrent or residual dental caries detected by radiographic examination. Furthermore, the agreement between visual inspection and radiographs to detect dental caries was assessed. METHODS: Eighty-five permanent molars and premolars with resin restorations on the interproximal and/or occlusal faces, from 18 patients, were submitted for visual inspection and radiographic examination. The visual inspection involved the criteria of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Bitewing radiographs were used for the radiographic examination. Logistic regression was used to analyse the association between the characteristics of the margins of a restoration assessed by visual inspection (absence of dental caries, or early, established, inactive and active lesions) and the presence of recurrent caries detected by radiographs. Kappa coefficients were calculated for determining agreement between the two methods. RESULTS: The Kappa coefficient for agreement between visual inspection and radiographic examination was 0.19. Established lesions [odds ratio (OR) = 9.89; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.94-33.25; P < 0.05] and lesion activity (OR = 2.57; 95% CI: 0.91-7.27; P < 0.05) detected by visual inspection, were associated with recurrent or residual dental caries detected by radiographs. Restorations with established and active lesions at the margins had a greater chance of exhibiting recurrent or residual lesions in the radiographic examination. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The present findings demonstrate that restorations with established and active lesions at the margins when visually inspected often require removal and retreatment.