Physiological and Behavioral Manifestations of Children and Teenagers with Down Syndrome During the Dental Appointment: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Objective: To measure the heart rate (HR) and the behavior of children and teenagers with Down Syndrome (DS) during the dental appointment. Material and Methods: Two groups (n = 52), of both genders, aged 2-14 years, matched by age group were formed: study group (SG) - individuals with DS and control group (CG) - normotypical school children. The participants were submitted to clinical examination and prophylaxis. An oximeter was used to measure the HR at five moments of the dental consultation: before entering the practice room (T0), when sitting in the dental chair (T1), during the clinical examination (T2), during prophylaxis (T3) and immediately after prophylaxis (T4). Behavior, classified according to the Frankl Scale, was observed at T3. Mann Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn and Pearson's Chi-square tests were used to analyze and compare variables (significance level at 5%). Results: In SG, a significant difference in HR was observed according to the moment of dental appointment (p<0.001 SG; 0.3385 CG). The highest HR value in SG was observed at T3 (median 110.00; IIQ 96.00-124.00), the only moment significantly different (p<0.001) from HR values for CG. A difference in behavior between groups (p<0.001) was also observed. Conclusion: HR of individuals with DS varied throughout the dental appointment, and they also had a higher prevalence of uncooperative behavior.

Reconhecimento e avaliação da ansiedade em indivíduos com paralisia cerebral durante consultas odontológicas / Recognition and evaluation of anxiety in individuals with cerebral palsy during dental appointments

Objetivo: o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a correlação entre a avaliação da ansiedade realizada por meio de medidas fisiológicas e pela observação do comportamento de pacientes com paralisia cerebral realizado pelo dentista durante a primeira consulta odontológica. Métodos: quarenta pacientes com idade variando de 7 a 26 anos, com paralisia cerebral foram submetidos a exames odontológicos. A pressão arterial e a frequência cardíaca foram aferidas no início e no final da primeira consulta odontológica. O dentista avaliou o comportamento antes e após o exame clínico dentário através da observação do comportamento do paciente (inquietação / agitação / tiques nervosos, palidez, transpiração excessiva, resistência e mudança aparente na frequência respiratória). Foi utilizado o teste de correlação de Spearman para determinar a correlação entre as medidas fisiológicas e a classificação comportamental da ansiedade feita pelo cirurgião dentista a um nível de significância de 95%. Resultados: os sinais comportamentais mais frequentes foram inquietação / agitação / tiques nervosos (50,0%) e resistência (27,5%). Foi encontrada uma correlação positiva significativa entre os dois métodos de avaliação de ansiedade utilizados (p <0,05). Os pacientes considerados ansiosos pelo dentista apresentaram medidas fisiológicas mais elevadas do que aqueles considerados calmos (p <0,05). Conclusão: a observação contínua do comportamento de pacientes com paralisia cerebral durante o exame odontológico é uma ferramenta valiosa para o reconhecimento e avaliação da ansiedade por parte da equipe odontológica. Estudos adicionais são necessários para validar um código de expressões faciais e corporais ou reações de ansiedade em pacientes com paralisia cerebral.(AU)

Aim: The present study aimed to verify the correlation between the evaluation of anxiety performed through physiological measures and the observation of the behavior of patients with cerebral palsy performed by the dentist during the first dental visit. Methods: Forty patients with cerebral palsy, varying from seven to 26 years of age, were submitted to dental examinations. The blood pressure and heart rate were measured at the beginning and end of the first dental appointment. The dentist evaluated the behavior before and after the dental exam by observing the patient's behavior (restlessness / agitation / nervous tics, pallor, excessive perspiration, resistance, and apparent change in breathing rate). The Spearman correlation test was used to determine the correlation between the physiological measures and the behavioral classification of anxiety made by the dentist at a significance level of 95%. Results: The most frequent behavioral signs were restlessness / agitation / nervous tics (50.0%), and resistance (27.5%). Through the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation, a significant positive correlation was found between the two anxiety assessment methods used in this study (p<0.05). The patients considered anxious by the dentist presented higher physiological measurements than did those considered calm (p<0.05). Conclusion: It can therefore be concluded that the continuous observation of the behavior of patients with cerebral palsy during the dental examination is a valuable tool for the recognition and evaluation of anxiety on the part of the dental team. Further studies are warranted to validate a code of facial and body expressions or anxiety reactions in patients with cerebral palsy.(AU)

The effects of frenotomy on breastfeeding

Although the interference of tongue-tie with breastfeeding is a controversial subject, The use of lingual frenotomy has been widely indicated by health professionals. Objective : To observe changes in breastfeeding patterns after lingual frenotomy concerning the number of sucks, pause length between groups of sucking and mother's complaints. Material and Methods : Oral yes/no questions about breastfeeding symptoms and sucking/swallowing/breathing coordination were answered by the mothers of 109, 30 day old infants. On the same day the infants had their lingual frenulum assessed by administering a lingual frenulum protocol. After the assessment, all tongue-tied infants were referred for frenotomy; nevertheless, only 14 underwent the surgery. Of the 109 infants, 14 infants who did not have frenulum alterations were included as controls. Birth order and gender were the criteria for recruiting the control group. The tongue-tied infants underwent lingual frenotomy at 45 days of age. At the conclusion of the frenotomy, the infants were breastfed. At 75 days old, both groups – control and post-frenotomy – were reassessed. Before the reassessment the same oral yes/no questions were answered by the mothers of the 14 infants who underwent frenotomy. The mothers of the control group answered the questionnaire only at the time of the first assessment. Data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results : After frenotomy, the number of sucks increased and the pause length between sucking decreased during breastfeeding. The controls maintained the same patterns observed in the first assessment. From the questionnaire answered by the mothers of the 14 tongue-tied infants, at 30 days and 75 days, we observed that the symptoms concerning breastfeeding and sucking/swallowing/breathing coordination were improved after lingual frenotomy Conclusions : after lingual frenotomy, changes were observed in the breastfeeding patterns of the the tongue-tied ...

Extração de terceiros molares retidos sob anestesia local. Avaliação de ansiedade, dor, alterações hemodinâmicas e respiratórias / Extraction of retained third molar teeth under local anesthesia. Evaluation of anxiety, pain, hemodynamic and respiratory alterations

Trata-se de estudo corte transversal, descritivo com componente analítico, com o objetivo de avaliar a ansiedade dos pacientes no período que precede o procedimento, as alterações hemodinâmicas, respiratórias e dor no intra-operatório em pacientes submetidos à extração de terceiros molares retidos sob anestesia local. Foram incluídos no estudo 42 sujeitos do sexo masculino, hígidos, com idade compreendida entre 18 e 34 anos. A anestesia foi feita com cloridrato de lidocaína a 2% com adrenalina 1:50.000, na dose que variou de 72 a 144mg. Com auxilio de monitor multiparamétrico não-invasivo avaliaram-se os parâmetros: pressão arterial média, freqüência cardíaca, saturação periférica de O2 e frequência respiratória; o grau de ansiedade (escala de ansiedade para cirurgia odontológica) e dor (escala analógica visual). A análise estatística foi realizada por meio dos testes t de Student e Wilcoxon pareado. O nível de significância foi fixado em 5%. O tempo médio máximo de cirurgia foi 60 minutos, período considerado para análise dos resultados. Neste estudo, vinte pacientes apresentavam algum grau de ansiedade. Dor intensa foi referida por sete pacientes nos momentos da osteotomia, odontosecção e luxação que necessitaram de complementação com anestésico local. A análise individual dos parâmetros hemodinâmicos e respiratórios mostrou alterações consideradas clinicamente significativas. Os resultados deste estudo permitem concluir que alterações hemodinâmicas e respiratórias podem ocorrer durante extrações de terceiros molares retidos, especialmente em pacientes ansiosos e com dor. A monitorização é importante na detecção e conseqüentemente prevenção dessas intercorrências, sendo particularmente útil em pacientes em que essas repercussões devam ser evitadas.

A transversal, descriptive study with an analytical component was conducted, aimed at evaluating anxiety during the period preceding the procedure, as well as hemodynamic and respiratory alterations and pain during the intraoperative period in patients undergoing the extraction of retained third molars under local anesthesia. Forty-two healthy male subjects, ranging in age from 18 to 34 years were included in the study. Anesthesia was performed with lidocaine hydrochloride 2% with epinephrine 1:50.000, at a dose ranging from 72 to 144mg. A non-invasive multiparametric monitor was used to monitor the following parameters: mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, peripheral O2 saturation, respiratory rate; level of anxiety (anxiety scale for dental surgery) and pain (visual analog scale). Statistical analysis was performed with a paired Student’s t and Wilcoxon’s test. The significance level was set at 5%. In this study, twenty patients had some level of anxiety. Severe pain was reported in seven patients who required supplementation with local anesthesia during osteotomy, tooth sectioning and luxation. Individual analysis of hemodynamic and respiratory parameters showed alterations that were considered significant. The results of this study enabled us to conclude that hemodynamic and respiratory alterations may occur during the extraction of retained third molars. Monitoring is important for the detection and thus prevention of these complications. Furthermore, it is particularly useful in patients in whom these repercussions must be avoided.