Relationship between cervical vertebral maturation and dental development in a sample of yemeni children and adolescents / Relación entre la maduración vertebral cervical y el desarrollo dental en una muestra de niños y adolescentes yemeníes

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between dental development and cervical vertebral maturation stages in a group of Yemeni children and adolescents. Materials an Methods: The study included digital panoramic radiographs and lateral skull cephalograms obtained from 207 Yemeni subjects­122 females and 85 males aged between 8 to 18 years. Dental maturity was evaluated according to the method of Demirijian et al., calcification stages of the left mandibular canines, first and second premolars and second molars were assessed. Skeletal maturity was assessed by the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stages according to the method of Baccetti et al. Correlation between CVM and dental maturation was evaluated by Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient (SROCC). Results: CVM and dental calcification stages were highly correlated (p<0.001) in both genders, ranging from 0.686 to 0.873 for females and 0.787 to 0.871 for males. Calcification stages of the second molars showed the strongest correlation with CVM. Conclusion: Calcification stages of the second molar may be used as a reliable maturation indicator. Dental maturation may be applied to determine the skeletal maturity status of Yemeni children and adolescents.

Objetivo: Este estudio se realizó para investigar la relación entre el desarrollo dental y las etapas de maduración vertebral cervical en un grupo de niños y adolescentes yemeníes. Material y Métodos: El estudio incluyó radiografías panorámicas digitales y cefalogramas laterales del cráneo obtenidos de 207 sujetos yemeníes: 122 mujeres y 85 hombres de entre 8 y 18 años. La madurez dental se evaluó de acuerdo con el método de Demirijian et al. Se evaluaron las etapas de calcificación de los caninos mandibulares izquierdos, primer y segundo premolares y segundos molares. La madurez esquelética se evaluó mediante las etapas de maduración vertebral cervical (CVM) de acuerdo con el método de Baccetti et al. La correlación entre la CVM y la maduración dental se evaluó mediante el coeficiente de correlación de orden de rango de Spearman (SROCC). Resultado: Las etapas de CVM y calcificación dental estuvieron altamente correlacionadas (p<0.001) en ambos sexos, con un rango de 0.686 a 0.873 para las mujeres y 0.787 a 0.871 para los hombres. Las etapas de calcificación de los segundos molares mostraron la correlación más fuerte con CVM. Conclusión: las etapas de calcificación del segundo molar pueden usarse como un indicador de maduración confiable. La maduración dental puede aplicarse para determinar el estado de madurez esquelética de los niños y adolescentes yemeníes.

Dental erosion in groups of Yemeni children and adolescents and the modification of an erosion partial recording system.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dental erosion is rising especially among children and adolescents and its grading needs further investigation. AIMS: To determine the prevalence and severity of dental erosion in groups of Yemeni children and adolescents, and to clinically compare an erosion partial recording system (EPRS) with a proposed modified-simplified version (EPRS-M). DESIGN: Of 6163 individuals aged 5-6, 13-14 and 18-19 years, 911 were randomly selected, of which 668 participated in the study. Dental erosion was graded using EPRS. EPRS-M was proposed, and its sensitivity and specificity was calculated in relation to EPRS. RESULTS: Prevalence of erosion extending into dentine on at least one tooth was 6.8% among 5- to 6-year-olds, 3.0% among 13- to 14-year-olds and 14.6% among 18- to 19-year olds. The highest prevalence was 19.2% among girls aged 18-19 years which was significantly higher than boys (10.4%) in the same age group (P = 0.044). Sensitivity and specificity for EPRS-M in relation to EPRS were 85.7% and 100% for primary teeth, and 84.1% and 100% for permanent teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Dental erosion was common among children and older teenagers and highest among older girls but less common among younger teenagers. The tested accuracy of EPRS-M qualifies it to be used as an initial quick detection tool in future dental erosion research.

Awareness and knowledge of dental erosion among Yemeni dental professionals and students.

BACKGROUND: This study explored Yemeni dentists' and dental students' knowledge about the associated factors, approaches to diagnosis and preventive methods of dental erosion (DE), as well as any associations between DE awareness and some potentially related variables. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to general dental practitioners (n = 323) in Sanaa and to fifth year dental students (n = 97) at the University of Science and Technology, Sanaa, Yemen during the period from July to November 2013. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 79 %. Results indicated that 61 % of respondents learned about DE from dental school, 27 % from their own studies and the rest from continuing education courses and the media. DE was reportedly most frequently seen on incisors by 46 % of respondents and on premolars and molars by 24 %. While 48 % reported DE to be more common in male patients, no gender differences were reported by 20 % of respondents. Acidic drinks were believed to be causative factors for DE by 41 % of dentists and 52 % of students, while 90 % of respondents believed that patients' dietary history is important during DE diagnosis. As preventive measures for DE, reduction of acidic drink consumption was advised by 51 % of respondents while only 37 % advised their patients to use fluoridated toothpastes. Younger respondents (≤35 years) were more likely to identify the commonly-known causative factors for DE (P = 0.024). Twenty-seven percent of the respondents reportedly used an index to grade DE. Dental students were more likely than dentists to use such an index (P <0.001) and to more frequently advise their patients to reduce intake of acidic drinks (P = 0.02) compared to dentists. CONCLUSIONS: In-depth knowledge about causative factors, diagnosis and preventive methods of DE was apparent among only half the respondents and approaches to early diagnosis were insufficient. There would appear to be an urgent need for enhancing awareness and knowledge about DE within the Yemeni dental community.