Timing for extraction of permanent first molars in school aged children: a pilot study.

Extraction of permanent first molars (P1Ms) could create gaps, tipping and/or rotating of neighboring teeth, which depend on the extraction timing. This study evaluated the outcomes of P1Ms extraction in children who were classified based on their permanent second molar's (P2Ms) dental calcification at the time of extraction. In this retrospective study, the evaluations were made for 406 panoramic radiographs (PRs) of children aged 7-14 years who had single P1M extracted. Twenty-nine children having pre- and post-treatment PRs were selected based on the inclusion criteria. First, 2 groups were formed based on the extraction time by using the pre-treatment PRs; Early extraction group (EE) (n = 15) including Nolla Grades 5-6-7, and late extraction group (LE) (n = 14) including Nolla Grades 8-9-10 for P2Ms. Then, the inclination degrees of neighbouring teeth on extraction side and contralateral quadrant (non-extraction) side were measured by using the post-extraction PRs. Mann-Whitney U test was employed, and the statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The mesial tipping tendency of P2M was significant towards the extraction side both at EE or LE calcification grades of P2Ms (p > 0.05). The mesial inclination degrees of maxillary P2Ms showed no statistically significant difference between the two sides of LE group. The ideal extraction time should be determined according to the dental age to plan an appropriate occlusal maintenance.

Evaluation of the relationship between pain inflammation due to dental caries and growth parameters in preschool children.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between pain inflammation due to dental caries and growth parameters, sleep disturbances, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children before/after dental treatment and compare the results with the control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study (pain inflammation due to caries) and control groups were included in this prospective clinical trial. The Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) assessing sleep disturbances and the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) assessing OHRQoL were applied in the corresponding time intervals to the study and control groups, respectively: baseline (T0study), 7 days after treatment (T1study), and following 6 months (T2study); baseline (T0control), and the following 6 months (T2control). Biochemical growth parameters (insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3) and anthropometric measurements (standard deviation score of height, weight, and body mass index) were obtained at T0study, T2study, and T0control. Mann-Whitney U and the Student t-tests were used for statistical analyses. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Data on 45 children (mean age: 55.6 ± 10.37 months) were analyzed. T2study was statistically higher than T0study for the anthropometric measurements and biochemical growth parameters (p < 0.05). T0study was statistically higher than T0control for biochemical growth parameters (p < 0.05). CSHQ and ECOHIS scores were found statistically significant at T0study than T0control (p < 0.05). Statistical scores of CSHQ and ECOHIS in T2study were significantly reduced compared to T0study (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Children's growth parameters, sleep disturbances, and OHRQoL improved after the elimination of pain and inflammation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study's novelty is the observation of drastically increased growth parameters and reduced sleep disturbances following dental treatment.

Temporomandibular dysfunction assessment in children treated with the Hall Technique: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The Hall technique (HT) involves the placement of stainless steel crowns for treating asymptomatic carious primary teeth without tooth preparation or caries excavation. AIM: To investigate whether temporomandibular dysfunction (TM-D) manifests in children after HT. DESIGN: Healthy children (age: 5-9 years) with dentin caries were treated with HT in a university clinic, and TM-D signs and symptoms were monitored in this cohort clinical trial. The primary outcome was TM-D signs recorded using the clinical dysfunction index (Di) at pre-treatment: 0-, 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up visits. The secondary outcome was TM-D symptoms recorded using a questionnaire. The Di and symptoms were compared over time using McNemar's tests. RESULTS: Thirty-nine children were followed for 12 months after HT treatment. Four children were detected as having dysfunction signs throughout the study: muscle pain on palpation and clicking. The symptoms 'hearing a sound within the jaw joint' or 'bite felt uncomfortable or unusual' were reported by another four children. The Di and TM-D symptoms were not significantly different between pre-treatment and follow-up visits (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The HT does not seem to be connected to TM-D. Alternative TM-D assessment tools for studying non-persistent symptoms more comprehensively might be useful for future studies.

A Comparison of Periodontal Health in Primary Molars Restored with Prefabricated Stainless Steel and Zirconia Crowns.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the periodontal health and clinical success of restoring primary molars with a prefabricated stainless steel crown (SSC) or zirconia crown (ZC). Methods: Six- to nine-year-olds with at least two decayed primary molars were included. Teeth were restored with SSCs and ZCs. Intact contralateral primary molars were evaluated as controls. A simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and clinical success criteria for the crowns were evaluated during follow-up. Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Fifty-two teeth were evaluated in 13 children for 12 months. The OHI-S levels were not different at the follow-ups. Teeth restored with ZCs showed lower GI and PI scores than those restored with SSCs, even among controls. All SSCs were retained after 12 months, while two of the ZCs decemented. Minor staining in one ZC and a fracture on the surface of another ZC were observed. Conclusions: The gingival health and plaque accumulation performance of zirconia crowns were better than those of stainless steel crowns and controls. SSCs are highly retentive and viable restorative option, although they were associated with a decline in gingival health.

The Effect of Parenting Styles on Behavior Management Technique Preferences in a Turkish Population.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between parenting style and parental preferences for behavior management techniques in a Turkish population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for a three-month period among the parents and children who applied for treatment in a university clinic. Parenting style was determined using the parenting style dimension questionnaire, and parental dental anxiety (PDA) was rated with the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale. Behavior management technique (BMT) preferences were rated by the parents after a videotape presentation. Chi-square tests and likelihood ratios were used for statistical analysis, and the significance level was set at P<0.05. Results: A total of 142 three- to 12-year-olds (mean age equals 6.83±2.71 years old) and their parents participated in the study. Most parents had an authoritative parenting style and preferred positive reinforcement. Parenting style and PDA were significantly associated with preferences for BMTs (P<0.05). Although the children with high-anxiety parents showed more negative behaviors and the children with low-anxiety parents behaved more positively, this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). In addition, PDA was not associated with parenting styles (P>0.05). Conclusions: Parenting style and parental dental anxiety should be considered in the selection of behavior guidance techniques.

Structural and mechanical properties of a giomer-based bulk fill restorative in different curing conditions.

The main goal of this study was to compare the polymerization degree of bulk-fill giomer resin cured with three different light-curing units (LCUs): a polywave third-generation (Valo); a monowave (DemiUltra: DU); and a second-generation LED (Optima 10: Opt) LCUs by using structural and mechanical properties. Giomer samples of 2 and 4 mm cured with three LCUs were employed in vitro analysis. The degree of curing (DC%) was determined with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Microstructural features were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Flexural strength (FS), compression strength (CS), elastic modulus and fracturing strain were determined for mechanical properties. Surface microhardness (SMH) values were also measured. Oneway ANOVA, two-way analysis of variance and Tukey multiple comparison tests were used for statistically analyzing the FS and SMH. DC% values were 58.2, 47.6, and 39.7 for the 2 mm samples cured with DU, Opt., and Valo LCUs, respectively. DC% values of the 4 mm samples were 50.4, 44.6, and 38.2 for DU, Opt, and Valo, respectively. SMH values were Valo, Opt

Structural and mechanical properties of a giomer-based bulk fill restorative in different curing conditions

ABSTRACT Objective: The main goal of this study was to compare the polymerization degree of bulk-fill giomer resin cured with three different light-curing units (LCUs): a polywave third-generation (Valo); a monowave (DemiUltra: DU); and a second-generation LED (Optima 10: Opt) LCUs by using structural and mechanical properties. Material and methods: Giomer samples of 2 and 4 mm cured with three LCUs were employed in vitro analysis. The degree of curing (DC%) was determined with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Microstructural features were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Flexural strength (FS), compression strength (CS), elastic modulus and fracturing strain were determined for mechanical properties. Surface microhardness (SMH) values were also measured. Oneway ANOVA, two-way analysis of variance and Tukey multiple comparison tests were used for statistically analyzing the FS and SMH. Results: DC% values were 58.2, 47.6, and 39.7 for the 2 mm samples cured with DU, Opt., and Valo LCUs, respectively. DC% values of the 4 mm samples were 50.4, 44.6, and 38.2 for DU, Opt, and Valo, respectively. SMH values were Valo, Opt<DU at top of the samples; Valo<DU, Opt at 2 mm, and DU, Valo<Opt at 4 mm depth. Giomer samples cured with Opt and DU exhibited higher FS values than Valo. CS values were similar but compressive modulus and fracturing strain (%) varied depending on the curing protocol. Conclusions: Based on the results, it can be concluded that curing device and protocol strongly affect crosslinking reactions and thus DC%, SMH, compressive modulus and strain at break values. Consequently, it can be deduced that curing protocol is possibly the most important parameter for microstructure formation of highly-filled composite restoratives because it may bring some structural defects and physical frailties on restorations due to lower degree of polymerization.