Sexual dimorphism of primary dentition in Spanish children.

AIM: To analyse differences in the eruption of primary teeth between both sexes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in a sample of 1250 children aged between 3 and 42 months. The clinical emergence of teeth was taken to estimate average ages for primary teeth eruption. The t-test was used to analyse gender and arch differences. RESULTS: Eruption of primary teeth began at the same time in girls as in boys; although the eruptive process was longer in girls. It was observed that almost all deciduous teeth emerged earlier in boys, except for the first molar (upper and lower) and the maxillary central incisors. The differences were statistically significant for almost all the primary teeth except for the central incisors, both upper and lower. CONCLUSIONS: By comparing the timing of the eruption of primary teeth in both sexes, it was found that eruption of almost all primary teeth took place earlier in boys than in girls and that the eruption process was shorter for boys than for girls. Most of the deciduous teeth erupted earlier in the right side in both sexes. No differences were found in the sequence of eruption of primary teeth between genders.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Sleep Disorders in Children Aged 7-17: Insights from Parental Observations at the Dental Office.

Sleep disorders (SD) in children is a topic of great relevance due to their impact on a child's general health. This has led us to study their prevalence and the factors that disturb them in the developing population. Using a validated Likert-type questionnaire, different behaviors observed by the parents during the different phases of their children's sleep were evaluated during the last 6 months. A total of 206 children between the ages of 7 and 17 who attended a dental office participated in the study. The prevalence of SD was 47.6%. There were no significant differences regarding the SD in relation to sex (p = 0.796). The mean total score for children aged 7 to 11 years old was 42.3 (±14.25) compared to 45.44 (±15.51) for the group consisting of children aged 12 to 17 years old, reporting a statistically significant difference among both age groups (p = 0.01). The most frequent disorder was related to initiating and maintaining sleep (64.9%) while the least prevalent were the respiratory sleep disorders (27.2%). Given the high prevalence of these disorders, it is necessary to intercept them during childhood and establish educational guidelines in this regard throughout primary care.

Influence of the Severity of Osteogenesis Imperfecta on Cranial Measurements.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a disease that causes bone fragility and deformities, affecting both the cranial base and the craniocervical junction, and may lead to other neurological disorders. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out based on cephalometric analysis of the cranial base in a sample of patients with OI, in lateral skull radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), comparing them with a sample of age-matched controls. When the different variables of the craniocervical junction were analyzed, significance was found in comparisons with the different age groups. All measurements of the variables studied stabilized as growth progressed. For most of the variables, the severity of the disease influences the measurements of the skull base, with statistically significant differences. Both age and severity of the disease are factors that directly influence the anatomy of the craniocervical junction in these patients and may serve as indicators in the early detection and prevention of other derived alterations.

Relevance of Sociocultural Inequalities and Parents' Origins in Relation to the Oral Health of Preschoolers in Lanzarote, Spain.

Approaching inequalities to achieve health equity requires joint action. Early childhood caries affects disadvantaged population groups. The objective of this study was to determine the relevance of sociocultural inequalities and parental origin with respect to oral health in preschool children in Lanzarote. A transversal epidemiological study was carried out. Sociocultural data and information about parental origin were collected via a questionnaire. The decayed and filled teeth (dft), decayed teeth (dt), filled teeth (ft), restorative index (RI), plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were obtained via an investigator's examination. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that children of semi-skilled manual workers (28.15%) had the highest prevalence of caries (46.9%). Additionally 43.7 of the mothers had second grade and first cycle studies. When relating the medium and high level of education, there were statistically significant differences in relation to the cod index (p = 0.046). When the origin was foreign (48.4%), preschoolers presented 10.7% more active or untreated caries than Spaniards (p = 0.038). Low socioeconomic cultural level and foreign origin is associated with a more deficient state of oral health in preschoolers. Oral health programs are needed to minimize social inequalities.

Influence of occlusion and mandibular position on foot support and head posture in adult patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study postural changes, taking into account different mandibular positions and the cephalic and plantar body segments. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, clinical, and observational study was carried out on 76 patients, (mean age 28.79 years), in whom body posture and plantar support were evaluated in the maximum mandibular intercuspal position and the mandibular rest position without dental contact. RESULTS: When the mandibular position was altered, 71.01% of the patients showed changes in the bipupillary line (p = 0.008), while those who did not show such changes did, however, show changes in plantar support. More than 85% of the sample experienced alterations in the plantar plane when the mandibular position was changed, with statistically significant results (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is a positive relationship between the different segments in body posture. In the sample, changes in plantar support with respect to the different mandibular positions were noticeable.

Evaluation of the Severity of Malocclusion in Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Occlusion is the way in which the dental arches are related to each other and depends on craniofacial growth and development. It is affected in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) who present altered craniofacial development. The malocclusion present in 49 patients diagnosed with different types of OI aged between 4 and 18 was studied. The control group of healthy people was matched for age, sex, and molar class. To study the mixed and permanent dentition, the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) discrepancy Index was applied. The primary dentition was evaluated with a Temporary Dentition Occlusion Analysis proposed for this study. The OI group obtained higher scores in the Discrepancy Index than the control group, indicating a high difficulty of treatment. The most significant differences were found in types III and IV of the disease. Regarding the variables studied, the greatest differences were found in the presence of lateral open bite in patients with OI, and in the variable "others" (agenesis and ectopic eruption). The analysis of primary dentition did not show significant differences between the OI and control groups. Patients with OI have more severe malocclusions than their healthy peers. Malocclusion is related to the severity of the disease and may progress with age.

Influence of the mandibular position on various postural anatomical segments.

OBJECTIVE: To determine postural changes in relation to mandibular position in maximum intercuspation and at rest in adult patients of both sexes. METHODS: : A descriptive observational clinical study was carried out in 76 patients. Using an analyzer and the Meersseman test, the necessary dermal points for postural analysis were located. RESULTS: : The authors found significant differences in the posture adopted by the patient between maximum intercuspation and mandibular rest in the frontal, sagittal, and dorsal planes. Foot support in the right foot went from cavus to normal in 6% of the sample, and from flat to normal in 2.5% of the sample in the jaw rest position. CONCLUSION: Postural changes were observed in various segments, with clinical and statistical significance at cervical level in the frontal plane, in the biscapular variable in the dorsal plane, and at the level of the lower limbs in the bipopliteal and bimalleolar variables.