Dental pain in Brazilian preschool children: association with the severity of dental caries and impact on oral health-related quality of life.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to verify the association between dental pain and severity of dental caries (caries morbidity stages) and the impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 199 children (2-5 years old) enrolled at preschools in Capão do Leão-RS, Brazil. The self-report of mothers of children with a history of dental pain in the last 6 months and perception of their child's OHRQoL (ECOHIS) were obtained through a structured questionnaire. This questionnaire also collected independent variables. Children's oral examination was performed using the CAST instrument to determine caries morbidity stage. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental pain was 14.57%. The chance of the occurrence of dental pain was higher among children diagnosed in morbidity [Prevalence ratio-PR: 5.29 (95% confidence interval-95% CI 1.91-14.61); p = 0.001] and severe morbidity [RP = 6.12 (95 CI% 2.25-16.64); p < 0.001] stages. Children with dental pain presented higher scores in the total ECOHIS [rate ratio = 7.11 (95% CI 4.55-11.09); p < 0.001] and in all of the domains of this instrument. Furthermore, children with a history of dental trauma [PR = 2.41 (95% CI 1.15-5.04); p < 0.001] and those whose reason for last visit to the dental office was for restorative/endodontic/extraction treatment [PR = 1.29 (95% CI 1.01-6.19); p = 0.049] had a higher prevalence of dental pain. CONCLUSION: A substantial prevalence of dental pain in the last 6 months and negative impact on children's OHRQoL was identified in this sample. Children diagnosed with carious dentin lesions and abscess and fistula were more likely to have dental pain.

The influence of clinical and psychosocial characteristics on children behaviour during sequential dental visits: a longitudinal prospective assessment.

PURPOSE: This is the first study to adopt a multilevel approach to assess the impact of the order of dental visits on child's behaviour. The aim was to investigate which factors directly interfere with child's behaviour regardless of the order of sequential dental visits. METHODS: In this prospective longitudinal study, children aged 7-12 years were invited to participate. Child behaviour was assessed using the Frankl Scale during four sequential dental visits. Chi-square test was used to analyse the effect of dental fear on children's non-cooperative behaviour according to the presence of dental fear. Multilevel mixed logistic regression model was used to assess the association between predictor variables and the outcome (child behaviour) during the sequential dental visits. RESULTS: Overall, 111 children participated in this study. Maternal dental anxiety, dental pain and complexity of the treatment were associated with the non-cooperative behaviour in children aged 7-12 years. When stratified by dental fear, the complexity of the treatment remained associated with non-cooperative behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide evidence that, even with the familiarization of child with the dental environment, maternal dental anxiety, dental pain in the last month, and the complexity of dental treatment negatively affect the children's behaviour aged 7-12 years.

Traumatic dental injuries in primary teeth: severity and related factors observed at a specialist treatment centre in Brazil.

AIM: This retrospective study aimed to analyse demographic data and the severity of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) to the primary dentition based on children's dental records at a university clinic. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional retrospective study. METHODS: The records of all patients were analysed according to gender, age, aetiology, teeth involved, number of affected teeth, place of occurrence, witness to the trauma, time elapsed between trauma occurrence and care-seeking, type of trauma and severity of injury. RESULTS: A total of 576 children aged 8-89 months suffered injuries to 1,043 teeth. Severe injuries were the most prevalent (45.5%). These occurred at all ages, but their frequency was higher in children aged between 13 and 24 months. The prevalence of mild injury was higher when the cause was a fall from one's own height. No differences were detected in severity according to the place of occurrence and witnesses of the accident. The prevalence of severe injury was higher in cases where three or more teeth were involved. CONCLUSIONS: In this specialist treatment centre, severe injuries were the most common TDIs, which occurred in children aged 13-24 months, mainly due to falls and most occurred at home. Professionals must be prepared to deliver the best and most efficient care to this population.