Atopic dermatitis and dental manifestations.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease associated with epidermal dysfunction commonly seen in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible correlation between atopic dermatitis and dental diseases in paediatric patients. METHODS: An observational study was conducted by the Department of Paediatric Dentistry of the Policlinico Tor Vergata among a group of 300 children, between 2 and 17 years of age and of both genders, for a period of 6 months from January 2013 to June 2013. Socio-demographic data including race, gender, and age were collected. Clinical and dermatological examinations were performed in all patients; family and medical history of atopy was recorded for each patient and relatives. RESULTS: Three hundred patients, aged between 2 and 17 years, with mean age of 8.9 (±2.12), were enrolled; 90/300 (30%) were affected by atopic dermatitis. Of those, 69/90 (76.6%) had a medical history of spoil habit, 49/90 (54%) had caries, 58/90 (64.4%) had malocclusion disease, 13/90 (14.4%) had anatomical dental abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, in the current investigation we found a higher prevalence of atopic dermatitis in pediatric dentistry patients compared to the general population suggesting that dental diseases could be involved in the pathogenesis of AD.

Aphthous, celiac disease and other dental disorders in childhood.

BACKGROUND: Oral conditions and dental disorders are frequent in childhood. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common inflammatory condition characterized by painful recurrent, single or multiple ulcerations of the oral mucosa induced by genetic and environmental factors. Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic small intestinal immunemediated enteropathy precipitated by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals pathogenetically related to oral condition. The aim of the study was to evaluate the different prevalence of oral conditions in CD patients compared to a control group. METHODS: From January 2013 to June 2013, 166 patients, between 2 and 17 years of age and of both genders, were examined in order to evaluate the presence and the medical history of oral conditions. Clinical features of patients affected by CD were compared with those of a control group with similar socio-demographic features. RESULTS: We found that the more common lesions in both groups were RAS (69% in CD patients vs. 43% in the control group), followed by dental disorders (76% in CD patients vs. 65% in the control group). Prevalence of RAS between the two groups was significantly different (P<0.0006). Prevalences of caries and dental abnormalities were the same in the two groups (45% vs. 45% and 16% vs. 16% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In celiac patients there was a significant higher prevalence of RAS compared to a control group. These findings could be possibly associated with common pathogenetic mechanisms.

Association between Oro-Facial Defects and Systemic Alterations in Children Affected by Marfan Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: It is important to establish an early diagnosis of the Marfan Syndrome (MFS) for providing an adequate pharmacological or surgical therapy. Nevertheless, this diagnosis may be complex, given the multi-organic involvement of this disease. AIMS: In this work, we evaluated the oral phenotype in a group of paediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of MFS, to quantify the association of the oro-facial defects with other systemic alterations. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Paediatric subjects who were aged, with a clinical diagnosis of MFS, were selected from our regional Marfan monitoring unit. METHODS AND MATERIAL: All the patients were subjected to Paediatric Dentistry examinations and a radiological screening with Panoramic and Cephalometric X-Rays. The aortic dilation (Aortic Z-score value), the hyperlaxity of the ligaments and scoliosis were evaluated by cardio-surgical and orthopaedics specialists. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The correlations between the oral and systemic alterations were analyzed by using the chi square test for the nominal variables. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant correlation of the Aortic Z - score with multiple oral defects which included retrognathia, malar hypoplasia, cross bite, oral respiration and an ogival palate. An association of the oral defects with hyperlaxity of the ligaments and scoliosis was also found. Thus, the data suggested that dentists should be more involved in a multidisciplinary approach, to provide an early MFS diagnosis in paediatric patients.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of three commercially available toothpastes on dentin hypersensitivity reduction: an eight-week clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this eight-week, single-center, three-cell, double-blind, and randomized clinical study was to evaluate the dentin hypersensitivity reduction efficacy of three commercially available toothpastes: 1) Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste (also marketed as elmex Sensitive Professional); 2) Sensodyne Rapid Relief Toothpaste; and (3) Crest Cavity Protection Toothpaste. METHODS: 150 subjects, having two teeth with tactile and air blast hypersensitivity, were assigned to one of the three study groups (50/group). Subjects were then asked to brush their teeth for one minute, twice daily, with the given toothpaste. The dentin hypersensitivity and oral tissues were evaluated at baseline, two weeks, four weeks, and eight weeks. Comparison of the treatment groups with respect to gender was conducted using a chi-square analysis, and with respect to age and baseline hypersensitivity scores was performed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Within-treatment effects were analyzed using the paired t-test, while the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine between-treatment effects. The post hoc Tukey test was performed for pair-wise comparisons. All statistical tests were two-sided using a significance level of alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: After two, four, and eight weeks of daily use of the products, all three groups showed a statistically significant reduction from baseline in tactile and air blast dentin hypersensitivity (p < 0.05). Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste produced a significant improvement in mean tactile and air blast dentin hypersensitivity scores, and was more effective than Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste and Crest Cavity Protection toothpastes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Colgate Sensitive Pro-ReliefToothpaste, used twice daily, significantly reduces dentin hypersensitivity, and is significantly more effective in reducing dentin hypersensitivity than Sensodyne Rapid Relief Toothpaste and Crest Cavity Protection Toothpaste.