Recommendations from Pediatric and Pediatric Dentistry Associations of the Americas Regarding Pacifier Use

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify online recommendations from pediatric and pediatric dentistry associations of the Americas regarding the pacifier habit. Material and Methods: A search was conducted on the associations' website (November/2021 to March/2023) to the questions: (1) Recommend using a pacifier?, (2) What care?, (3) Advantages and (4) disadvantages, (5) Ideal age, and (6) methods for habit removal. Results: Among the 36 American countries, 21 were represented on websites, social media, and official guides. The most significant portion of pediatric dentistry associations (23.81%) does not recommend the use of a pacifier if the infant is exclusively breastfeeding, and recommends avoiding the offer of a pacifier in the first days of life to facilitate the establishment of breastfeeding. Some pediatric (29.63%) associations suggested that use reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Most pediatric dentistry associations (85.71%) and some pediatric associations (22.22%) linked pacifier use to breastfeeding difficulties and the occurrence of orthodontics. Most of the 20 pediatric dentistry associations stated that the habit should be removed by a maximum of three years of age (90.48%). The most reported recommendations were behavior modification techniques and positive reinforcement. Conclusion: Most pediatric dentistry associations recommend the care and disadvantages of pacifiers and the ideal age to remove them. The few pediatric associations that provide information address indications, care, advantages and disadvantages of pacifiers, age, and methods for removing them.

Effect of tribocorrosion on surface-treated titanium alloy implants: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the results of tribocorrosion in titanium alloys of dental implants submitted to surface treatment with those whose treatment was not performed. An electronic search was carried out on the MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Virtual Health Library and Scopus databases. The search strategy used was PECO: Participants (P): titanium alloys; Exposure (E): surface treatment; Comparison (C): absence of surface treatment; and Result/Outcome (O): tribocorrosion. The search found a total of 336 articles, where 27 was selected by title or abstract, resulted to 10 after reading in full. The treatments that formed the rutile layer had better tribological results and therefore better protected the material from mechanical and chemical degradation, contrary to the technique with the addition of nanotubes. It was concluded that the surface treatment proves to be efficient to protect metals from mechanical and chemical wear.

Prevalence of unsatisfactory dental restorations in posterior primary teeth and associated factors.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of unsatisfactory dental restorations on posterior primary teeth and associated factors in school children aged six to ten years. A cross-sectional study was conducted with children randomly selected from public schools in a small Brazilian town. Questionnaires were sent to the guardians addressing socioeconomic and behavioral aspects of the child. Oral examinations were performed at the schools to determine the quality of dental restorations, visible biofilm, and presence of moderate/extensive untreated caries (scores 3-6 ICDAS). This examination was performed by two previously trained and calibrated examiners. Associations were tested using multilevel logistic regression. Among the 400 children evaluated, 98 had restorations (217 teeth). The prevalence of unsatisfactory restorations was 34.6%. Restorations in amalgam were less likely to fail compared to those in glass ionomer cement (OR = 0.11; 95%CI: 0.02-0.49; p = 0.005). Children with moderate/extensive untreated caries were more likely to have unsatisfactory restorations (OR = 6.79; 95%CI: 2.20-20.93; p = 0.001). Children with a visible plaque index ≥ 20% were also more likely to have unsatisfactory restorations (OR = 2.28 95%CI: 1.05-4.92; p = 0.036). The prevalence of unsatisfactory restorations was high. The occurrence of this outcome was associated with restorative material, presence of caries, and visible plaque.

Children who have more toothache-related behaviors have worse masticatory performance.

Inadequate masticatory function can be linked to oral problems and result in functional limitation. In children, this function is extremely important for their development, and therefore efforts are made to keep it adequate. To evaluate whether dental pain-related behaviors are associated with masticatory performance (MP). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 123 children from 3 to 5 years old. Toothache was evaluated using the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire. Anthropometric data, predominant type of breathing, presence of malocclusion, number of posterior teeth cavitated by dental caries, and masticatory units were collected. MP was measured by the median size of the crushed particles (X50 ) after 20 cycles of chewing the Optocal test material and was calculated with the Rosin-Rammler equation. Data analysis involved a description of variable frequencies, as well as simple and multiple linear regression, and a confidence level set at 95%. The mean scores of dental pain-related behaviors were 1.14 (±1.90) points, and the mean X50 value was 3.96 mm (±1.34). In the multiple linear regression, a larger median size of the particles remained associated with a higher score of dental pain-related behaviors (ß = +.81, p = .01); mouth breathing (ß = +.22, p = .01); and a smaller number of masticatory units (ß = -.22, p = .02). Greater dental pain-related behavior scores are associated with worse MP, regardless of the presence of associations with predominantly oral breathing and fewer chewing units.

Reabilitação Oral com Prótese Obturadora em Comunicação Buconasal após Ocorrência de Carcinoma de Células Escamosas: Relato de Caso / Oral Rehabilitation with Filling Prosthesis in Bucconasal Communication after the Occurrence of Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Case Report / Rehabilitación Oral con Prótesis Obturatriz en Comunicación Oral tras la Aparición de Carcinoma Epidermoide: Reporte de Caso

Introdução: O tratamento de neoplasia maligna pode consistir em ampla excisão cirúrgica. Em alguns casos, em razão do tratamento agressivo na remoção do tumor, há grande comprometimento das estruturas intrabucais. Assim, próteses são utilizadas para a obturação da cavidade maxilar, possibilitando a reconstrução da região afetada, juntamente com a reabilitação oral. Relato do caso: Paciente de 53 anos de idade, sexo feminino, ex-tabagista e ex-etilista, apresentou diagnóstico de carcinoma de células escamosas na região de palato mole, sendo necessária cirurgia de ressecção transoral associada à radioterapia. Após aproximadamente um ano, a paciente retornou com nova lesão em palato, que novamente evidenciou carcinoma de células escamosas, sendo necessária nova cirurgia de ressecção transoral. Após dois anos, a paciente retornou ao Departamento de Odontologia a fim de receber o tratamento reabilitador, pois a prótese parcial removível superior era provisória, não substituía todos os dentes ausentes e não obtinha adaptação adequada à comunicação buconasal. Foi realizado tratamento reabilitador definitivo com prótese parcial removível superior e com prótese total no rebordo residual inferior. Conclusão: A necessidade do acompanhamento odontológico nos casos de ocorrência de carcinoma de células escamosas oral bem como a importância do tratamento reabilitador e suas técnicas contribuem para a autoestima e a qualidade de vida do paciente

Introduction: The treatment of malignant neoplasm may consist in extensive surgical excision. In some cases, due to aggressive treatment in the removal of the tumor, intraoral structures are strongly compromised. Thus, prostheses are used to fill the maxillary cavity, allowing reconstruction of the affected region, together with oral rehabilitation. Case report: A 53-year-old female patient, ex-smoker and ex-alcoholic was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the soft palate region, requiring transoral resection surgery associated with radiotherapy. After approximately one year, the patient returned with a new palatal lesion, also diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma, requiring further transoral resection surgery. After two years, the patient returned to the Dentistry Department to receive the rehabilitative treatment, as she had only a temporary removable upper partial denture, where all the missing teeth were not replaced and there was poor adaptation to bucconasal communication. A final rehabilitative treatment was performed with upper partial removable denture and total prosthesis in the inferior residual ridge. Conclusion: The need for dental follow-up in cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma as well as the importance of rehabilitation treatment and its techniques contribute for the patient's self-esteem and quality of life

Introducción: El tratamiento de las neoplasias malignas puede consistir en una exéresis quirúrgica extensa. En algunos casos, debido a un tratamiento agresivo para extirpar el tumor, existe un gran compromiso de las estructuras intraorales. Así, las prótesis se utilizan para rellenar la cavidad maxilar, permitiendo la reconstrucción de la región afectada, junto con la rehabilitación oral. Relato del caso: Paciente femenina de 53 años, exfumadora y exalcohólica, que presentó el diagnóstico de carcinoma epidermoide en la región del paladar blando, que requirió cirugía de resección transoral asociada a radioterapia. Después de aproximadamente un año, la paciente regresó con una nueva lesión en el paladar, en la que también se le diagnosticó un carcinoma epidermoide, requiriendo una nueva cirugía de resección transoral. A los dos años, la paciente volvió al Departamento de Odontología para recibir tratamiento rehabilitador, ya que la prótesis parcial superior removible era temporal, no reponía todos los dientes faltantes y no obtenía una adecuada adaptación a la comunicación bucconasal. El tratamiento de rehabilitación definitivo se realizó con una dentadura postiza parcial removible superior y una dentadura total en el reborde residual inferior. Conclusión: La necesidad de seguimiento odontológico en los casos de carcinoma epidermoide oral así como la importancia del tratamiento rehabilitador y sus técnicas contribuyen a la autoestima y calidad de vida del paciente

Prevalence of unsatisfactory dental restorations in posterior primary teeth and associated factors

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of unsatisfactory dental restorations on posterior primary teeth and associated factors in school children aged six to ten years. A cross-sectional study was conducted with children randomly selected from public schools in a small Brazilian town. Questionnaires were sent to the guardians addressing socioeconomic and behavioral aspects of the child. Oral examinations were performed at the schools to determine the quality of dental restorations, visible biofilm, and presence of moderate/extensive untreated caries (scores 3-6 ICDAS). This examination was performed by two previously trained and calibrated examiners. Associations were tested using multilevel logistic regression. Among the 400 children evaluated, 98 had restorations (217 teeth). The prevalence of unsatisfactory restorations was 34.6%. Restorations in amalgam were less likely to fail compared to those in glass ionomer cement (OR = 0.11; 95%CI: 0.02-0.49; p = 0.005). Children with moderate/extensive untreated caries were more likely to have unsatisfactory restorations (OR = 6.79; 95%CI: 2.20-20.93; p = 0.001). Children with a visible plaque index ≥ 20% were also more likely to have unsatisfactory restorations (OR = 2.28 95%CI: 1.05-4.92; p = 0.036). The prevalence of unsatisfactory restorations was high. The occurrence of this outcome was associated with restorative material, presence of caries, and visible plaque.

Impact of dental caries on quality of life among preschool children: emphasis on the type of tooth and stages of progression.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the impact of dental caries on the quality of life of preschool children and their parents/caretakers, with an emphasis on the type of tooth and stage of progression. A randomly selected sample of preschool children, 3-5 yrs of age, underwent an oral examination for the assessment of dental caries using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System II (ICDAS II) criteria. Parents/caretakers answered two questionnaires, one on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of the child [the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS)], and the other on the socio-economic characteristics of the family. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Poisson regression. A total of 451 preschool children participated in the study. The majority of carious lesions exhibited severe decay (60.6%) and were found in both anterior (incisors/canines) and posterior (molars) teeth. The final Poisson model revealed negative impacts on quality of life from more advanced stages of dental caries, both in incisors/canines and molars. Child's age and household income were also associated with impact on quality of life. Carious lesions in more advanced stages of progression in anterior and posterior teeth were associated with a negative impact on the quality of life of preschool children.