Evaluating pain, fear, anxiety or stress/distress using children's drawings in paediatric dentistry: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to answer the question: Can children's drawings represent a helping tool so the dentist can better understand the children's pain, fear, anxiety or stress/distress and their perception concerning the dentist and/or dental treatment? METHODS: A scoping review was done. Cochrane Library, EMBASE, LILACS, LIVIVO, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Grey literature was searched. Cross-sectional, quasi-experimental and qualitative studies in which patients were children and adolescents were included. Two authors independently selected studies to extract data and evaluate methodological quality by using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Data collected included: characteristics of the studies, drawing evaluation/scales, main results and conclusion. RESULTS: Out of 1037 papers were identified in search, 25 studies verified the emotional state and the children's perceptions regarding dental environment and the dentist and were included in the narrative synthesis. The spontaneous drawings were useful to identify the children's emotions. Drawings might be considered a helping tool to identify children and adolescents' perception in relation to dental treatment. Few studies used validated instruments. There were methodological disparities among studies. CONCLUSIONS: The drawings can be considered a useful tool in identifying children's pain, fear, anxiety or stress/distress and perceptions about the dentist and/or dental treatment. Future studies with standardized analysis of the drawings are recommended. Code https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/U5BJH . "Retrospectively registered".

Malocclusion prevention through the usage of an orthodontic pacifier compared to a conventional pacifier: a systematic review.

AIM: This was to investigate the occurrence of malocclusion traits among children who were users of orthodontic or conventional pacifier by means of a systematic review. METHODS: Search for articles involved five electronic databases: Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS), PsycINFO, PubMed (including MedLine), Scopus and Web of Science. Grey literature was partially assessed. Observational studies with children aged 6-60 months who had used orthodontic or conventional pacifier were included. The risk of bias among included studies was assessed through the Joanna Briggs Institute Tool. RESULTS: From the 607 initially-identified papers only three were included after the selection process. All presented moderate risk of bias. Although an anterior open bite and accentuated overjet were identified among conventional users of pacifier in one study no differences were identified in the other two selected studies. Posterior crossbite frequency was not different in any of the included studies. There was also no difference regarding frequency and duration of use, except in the study that showed higher occurrence of open bite malocclusion in conventional pacifier users. CONCLUSIONS: The currently available evidence is insufficient to support the concept that the usage of orthodontic pacifiers is able to prevent malocclusion traits when compared to the usage of conventional pacifiers.

Prevalence of enamel defects and association with dental caries in preschool children.

AIM: This was to evaluate the prevalence of the developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in primary teeth and its association with dental caries. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a randomised representative sample was carried out with 1101 children aged 2-5 years enrolled in public preschools (50% prevalence of DDE in primary teeth, a standard error of 3%, and a confidence level of 95%). Three calibrated dentists (K > 0.62) performed clinical examination. Data collected were: sex, age, DDE (Modified DDE Index) and dental caries (WHO). Descriptive analysis, Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression were applied for data analysis. RESULTS: Among children, 565 (51.3%) were boys; mean age was 3.7 (±0.9 years). The prevalence of enamel defect was 39.1%; the prevalence of diffuse opacities, demarcated opacities and enamel hypoplasia was 25.3, 19.1 and 6.1%, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries was 31.0%, with mean def-t 1.14 (±2.44). Primary teeth with enamel hypoplasia had three times the odds of having dental caries than those with absence of enamel defects (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.91, 5.01). CONCLUSION: The presence of enamel defects was moderate and associated with dental caries.

Relationship between dietary restraint, binge eating, and leptin in obese women.

OBJECTIVE: To describe some biological, behavioural and psychological correlates of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and to determine the relationship between dietary restraint, binge eating, and leptin among obese women seeking treatment. DESIGN: Consecutive series of obese women enrolled in a clinical program for weight reduction treatment. SUBJECTS: Forty-two obese women. Eight participants met the criteria for 'severe binge eating' as measured by the Binge Eating Scale. MEASUREMENTS: Energy intake, resting energy expenditure, body composition, leptin, restraint, disinhibition, hunger and binge eating were assessed before starting the treatment. RESULTS: In this sample both higher disinhibition and hunger scores were associated with greater binge eating severity. Obese women with severe binge eating had lower restraint, higher disinhibition and hunger scores, as well as higher daily fat intake, when compared with obese non-binge-eaters. Interestingly, restraint scores were negatively associated with leptin levels among subjects with severe binge eating. CONCLUSION: In obese women with severe binge eating, the negative relationship between dietary restraint and serum leptin concentrations seems mediated by a greater fat intake. These findings need to be verified in further human studies.

[Dens invaginatus. Review of the literature and presentation of two clinical cases]. / Dens invaginatus: revisione della letteratura e presentazione di due casi clinici.

Authors present two cases of dens invaginatus, radicular variety in lateral incisors teeth. They suggest a revision of literature, underlining epidemiological, classifying, clinical and terapeutical aspects of this pathology.