Parents' Preferences and Perceptions of Their Children's Consumption of Sugar and Non-nutritive Sugar Substitutes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate opinions and preferences of parents from various sociodemographics regarding sugar and both natural and artificial non-nutritive sugar substitutes (NNS). Methods: Oral interview surveys were conducted in dental practice settings. Parents were asked about demographics, their consumption of and feelings about sugar and NNS for themselves and their children, and their concerns regarding NNS. Parents were asked about natural and artificial labels and were asked to select snacks/beverages they would purchase for their children. Results: Parents (N equals 100) preferred sugar-sweetened drinks for their children (76 percent), and 78 percent expressed concern about the potential health effects of NNS, especially cancer. Parents felt sugar was safer than NNS and were more positive about natural NNS than artificial ones. More highly educated parents (P = 0.02) were more likely to avoid NNS for their children, and parents of the lowest income level were likely to express ambivalence regarding naturally labeled NNS. Conclusions: Parents are concerned about giving their children NNS and cite cancer as the primary reason. Parents from higher sociodemographic backgrounds are more likely to limit their children's consumption of NNS and have negative feelings about them. Most parents, especially those of higher sociodemographics, are more accepting of natural NNS.

A Questionnaire of Parental Perceptions of Conscious Sedation in Pediatric Dentistry.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the opinions of parents about oral sedation in pediatric dentistry. METHODS: A 21-question questionnaire, administered to parents of children presenting for care in four pediatric dental practices, collected demographic information, media exposure to sedation, and parental knowledge/opinions regarding sedation procedures, such as NPO (nothing by mouth) guidelines, need for restraint, parental presence, and parental acceptance of treatment scenarios. RESULTS: Among 256 questionnaires completed, 235 were usable. Fifty-eight percent of respondents reported using public insurance. Parents agreed/strongly agreed (75 percent) that protective stabilization should not be necessary during sedation, and 87 percent preferred to stay with their child during the appointment. No parents perceived sedation as unsafe. Seventy-three percent of parents were unaware of media coverage of sedation; 82 percent reported it was acceptable for their child to sleep through a sedation appointment, while only 18 percent found it acceptable for the child to be highly reactive. CONCLUSIONS: Parents prefer to remain with their child, believe that sedation is safe and restraint should not be necessary, and are more accepting of the child sleeping during treatment. Most parents are unaware of media coverage of dental sedation for children.

Seeking to Understand the Reader of Interest-Your Patient-Health Literacy and Adherence Concerns for the Dentist and the Dental/Medical Team.

The overall health of the United States' (U.S.) population has been surveyed and reported for several decades in a quest by healthcare professionals to understand the etiology for healthcare disparities and seek to lessen its effects on individuals and, ultimately, eliminate them. Many of these surveys and reports have illuminated disparities, of access to healthcare by focusing on measures to address health literacy deficiencies. A plethora of information concerning patients' health literacy skills and printed information has been made available for dentists and their staff. The printed information is in the format of published patient- centered educational guidelines and readable dental and medical limited reach media (LRM), such as information sheets and prescription drug leaflets. LRM has great potential to enhance access to healthcare information for the reader of interest--your patient--at a readable and comprehensible level. Printed materials are an effective means to enhance health promotion and education for the lay populace. Tailored LRM protocol and the Patient Introduction Form (PIF) are excellent educational instruments for dentists and the dental/medical team (The Team). These instruments are valuable assets for The Team to assist its patients in monitoring and maintaining dental and medical adherence protocols in their daily lives.

Third molar development in the estimation of chronologic age in american blacks as compared with whites.

Third molar (M3) development determined from dental radiographs in American blacks (African Americans; n=637) aged 14-24 years was contrasted against American whites (n=563) from a previous study using the method of Demirjian et al. Differences were assessed using descriptive statistics and the parametric proportional hazards model. For each developmental stage, the probability of an individual being at least 18 years old was evaluated. As in other M3 studies, there were highly significant modal differences, but the age ranges at each stage overlapped considerably. Black-white differences were highly significant with developmental stages occurring in blacks a year or so earlier. Gender differences also varied significantly, both with increasing age and between races. The empirical likelihood that an African American male with fully developed M3's is at least 18 years old is 93% and that for African American female is 84%. Corresponding risks for whites are 90% and 93%.