Integrated oral care contributes positively to the course of treatment of oncopediatric patients.

The purpose of this study was to implement a model of permanent oral health care for oncopediatric patients and to observe its effects on severe oral mucositis and subsequent treatment interruptions. We performed a quasi-experimental study in the Pediatric Department of Napoleão Laureano Hospital, in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil. A integrated oral care was implemented by a dentistry team for prevention of comorbidities, such as infections, oral pain, oral function maintenance, oral mucositis, and interventions for lesions due to severe oral mucositis. The oral comorbidities were compared before and after the implementation. The duration of severe oral mucositis (SOM) before and after the interventions and the interruptions in treatment due to SOM were the main outcome measures. Permanent oral health care reduced the duration of SOM and reduced pediatric chemotherapy interruptions due to SOM by 81.8%.Conclusion: The permanent oral health care to offer to oncopediatric patients increased surveillance regarding oral comorbidities and reduced chemotherapy interruptions due to severe oral mucositis. This care plan could be adopted anywhere around the world. What is Known: • Several studies on oral care for pediatric oncology patients, especially regarding both prevention of and treatment for oral mucositis during antineoplastic therapy, have been published. What is New: • This study describes the benefits of permanent oral care with daily oral surveillance for pediatric patients, which reduced the duration of severe oral mucositis, increased surveillance and the efficiency in diagnostic for signs of oral mucositis, enabling early intervention, and decreased chemotherapy interruptions, contributing positively to the course of treatment.

The effect of atraumatic restorative treatment on adhesive restorations for dental caries in deciduous molars.

BACKGROUND: Minimal invasive approaches to managing caries, such as partial caries removal techniques and atraumatic restorative treatment (ART), are showing increasing evidence of improved outcomes over the conventional complete caries removal. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinically and radiographically the effect of ART on restorations using restorative cement and glass ionomer cement (GIC) for dental caries in the deciduous molars of children aged between 4 and 8 years. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study design was a split-mouth, randomized, blind clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-six patients had 108 restorations placed with GIC (Ketac Molar Easy Mix - 3M ESPE) and 108 restorations placed with composite resin (CR) (Filtek Z250 - 3M ESPE). The restorations were assessed by means of images obtained with a digital camera and periapical radiographs at baseline and after 12 months of follow-up. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Student's t-test, Pearson Chi-squared test, and Bonferroni paired comparison test were used to evaluate the differences in proportions and correlations between the variables. RESULTS: After 12 months of follow-up, the restorations were considered clinically successful in 89.3% of cases and radiographically successful in 80.5% of cases. There was statistical difference neither between the two restorative materials used nor between the numbers of restored surfaces. CONCLUSIONS: GIC and CR can be used successfully for restorations of one or two dental surfaces after ART.