Accuracy of Parent-Reported Allergies and Medications in Pediatric Dentistry.

Purpose: To measure the accuracy of parent-reported allergies and medication usage by comparing parental reports during dental con- sultations to medical reports from their child's primary care physician. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for 862 eligible patients 17 years and younger seen in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Franciscan Children's, Boston, Mass., USA, and who were required to obtain medical clearance prior to initiating dental treatment with sedation or general anesthesia. Allergies were categorized into three groups: food, environmental, and drug allergies. Allergies in each category reported by the parents were compared to the physician-reported allergies to assess for accuracy. Medications reported by the parents were also compared to the total number of medications reported by the physician and categorized as a full, partial, or non-match. Results: The sensitivity of parental identification for drug, food, and environmental allergies was 50.9 percent, 48.1 percent, and 18.8 percent, respectively. Of the 245 patients taking prescription medications, 53.1 percent of parents were unable to identify any of their child's medications, 22.9 percent of parents were partially able to identify their child's medications, and only 24.1 percent of parents were able to identify their child's medications fully. Among parents of children who take one or more medications as reported by their physician, the average reporting accuracy was 34.7 percent. Conclusion: Utilizing interprofessional collaboration is warranted in identifying accurate reports of patient allergies and medication usage in the pediatric population to prevent adverse reactions and improve the overall quality of dental care.

Guía diagnóstica de hábitos lesivos orales para pediatras / Diagnostic guide of oral injurious habits for pediatricians / Guia de diagnóstico para pediatras sobre hábitos lesivos orais

Introducción: la etiología de las maloclusiones se encuentra relacionada a factores genéticos y ambientales, siendo relevantes los hábitos lesivos orales en ella; por lo que en un concepto de Salud Integral de los niños, debemos contar no solo con el rol activo preventivo del odontólogo sino también de pediatra. Método: crear guía clínico práctica para médicos pediatras, que permitan identificar sistemáticamente hábitos no fisiológicos vinculados a maloclusiones. Resultado: el pediatra con los conocimientos básicos podrá elaborar revisiones preventivas durante los controles periódicos de rutina. Discusión: considerar la atención en equipo multidisciplinario, con énfasis en la prevención, punto donde todo el equipo de salud debe contribuir. Conclusiones: consideramos que los efectos sobre el crecimiento y desarrollo provocados por hábitos lesivos orales/funciones no fisiológicas tendrán mayor o menor repercusión según la edad en que se inicia el hábito. Si actuamos de manera temprana tendremos más posibilidades de modificar el patrón de crecimiento de los maxilares y el desarrollo de los arcos dentarios. Se impone entonces un interrogatorio y examen funcional precoz y sistemático para la detección de desviaciones y trastornos funcionales en niños, así como enfocar los tratamientos desde equipos multidisciplinarios (odontólogo, pediatra, fonoaudiólogo, otorrinolaringólogo, psicólogo) y alcanzar resultados de excelencia.

Introduction: the etiology of malocclusions is related to genetic and environmental factors, and oral injurious habits are relevant in it; therefore, in a concept of integral health of children, we should count not only on the active preventive role of the dentist but also of the pediatrician. Method: to create a practical clinical guide for pediatricians that will allow the systematic identification of non-physiological habits linked to malocclusions. Result: the pediatrician with basic knowledge will be able to elaborate preventive check-ups during routine periodic check-ups. Discussion: consider multidisciplinary team care, with emphasis on prevention, a point to which the entire health team should contribute. Conclusions: we consider that the effects on growth and development caused by harmful oral habits/non-physiological functions will have greater or lesser repercussions depending on the age at which the habit begins. If we act early we will have more possibilities of modifying the growth pattern of the jaws and the development of the dental arches. Therefore, an early and systematic interrogation and functional examination is necessary to detect deviations and functional disorders in children, as well as to focus the treatments from multidisciplinary teams (dentist, pediatrician, speech therapist, otorhinolaryngologist, psychologist) and achieve excellent results.

Introdução: a etiologia das más oclusões está relacionada a fatores genéticos e ambientais, e hábitos orais nocivos são relevantes para ela; portanto, em um conceito de saúde integral das crianças, devemos confiar não apenas no papel ativo preventivo do dentista, mas também no do pediatra. Método: criar um guia clínico prático para que os pediatras identifiquem sistematicamente os hábitos não fisiológicos ligados às más oclusões. Resultado: o pediatra com conhecimentos básicos será capaz de desenvolver check-ups preventivos durante check-ups periódicos de rotina. Discussão: considerar os cuidados de equipe multidisciplinar, com ênfase na prevenção, um ponto para o qual toda a equipe de saúde deve contribuir. Conclusões: consideramos que os efeitos no crescimento e desenvolvimento causados por hábitos orais nocivos/ funções não-fisiológicas terão maiores ou menores repercussões dependendo da idade em que o hábito começa. Se agirmos cedo, teremos mais chances de modificar o padrão de crescimento das mandíbulas e o desenvolvimento dos arcos dentários. O questionamento precoce e sistemático e o exame funcional são, portanto, necessários para a detecção de desvios e distúrbios funcionais em crianças, assim como a aproximação de tratamento de equipes multidisciplinares (dentista, pediatra, fonoaudiólogo, otorrinolaringologista, psicólogo) e a obtenção de excelentes resultados.

Strategies for Success: A Qualitative Study of Caregiver and Dentist Approaches to Improving Oral Care for Children with Autism.

Purpose: Oral health is important to physical and psychological health. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience significant oral care challenges, but little research exists that examines efficacious interventions to improve care. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore parental and dentist reports of successful strategies implemented during dental care with children with ASD. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with parents of children with ASD (N = two groups) and dentists treating children with ASD (N = two groups). Focus group transcripts were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Three key themes were identified from the parent focus groups: (1) what makes a good dentist; (2) flexibility and techniques-strategies used by the dentist; and (3) preparation-strategies for parents and caregivers of children with ASD. Four themes emerged from the dentist groups: (1) parents know best; (2) practice; (3) flexibility; and (4) a network of colleagues. Areas of overlap between the parents and dental providers included the importance of preparation, necessity of flexibility and creativity, and value of collaboration. Conclusions: Our findings provide insight into techniques perceived by parents and dental providers to facilitate successful dental encounters for children with ASD.

Dentists' knowledge of the guidelines of traumatic dental injuries in the United Arab Emirates.

AIM: This study aimed to assess general dental practitioners' (GDPs) knowledge within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding the management of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), and to compare their level of knowledge with that of paediatric dentists (PDs). METHODS: Dentists were asked to complete a two-part questionnaire (seven questions covering demographic data and 13 questions about trauma cases scenarios) in electronic and paper format. A total of 296 returned questionnaires were analysed to identify GDPs' knowledge in managing TDIs, and to compare the score of GDPs' knowledge with that of PDs'. RESULTS: Out of a total score of 13, the mean knowledge score (MKnS) for GDPs was 4.87±1.82 (only 37.5% of the 13 questions were answered correctly) while the MKnS of paediatric dentists was 5.56±1.47 (with 42.8% correct answers); both scores indicated poor knowledge and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: There was poor knowledge of TDIs among the surveyed UAE GDPs as well as the PDs, although PDs scored higher, indicating the need for further training.

What factors are associated with dental general anaesthetics for Australian children and what are the policy implications? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Dental general anaesthetics undertaken on young children are amongst the most common of all potentially preventable hospitalisations of children in Australia. They are costly for families and the community and entail some risk. The aim of the study was to explore the views of stakeholders about factors associated with children's dental general anaesthetics in Victoria, Australia and to identify policy implications. METHODS: Interviews with stakeholders were used to develop a framework of factors. Interview data were subject to qualitative analysis, informed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. RESULTS: Eight themes that encompassed 30 main factors were identified through focused discussions with 16 stakeholders. While the safety of dental general anaesthetics has improved and mortality rates are low, side effects are common. Push factors for children's dental general anaesthetics include a perceived greater 'child-focus'; preferred models of care; low oral health literacy; parent guilt; convenience; and some dentists reluctance to treat high needs children in the clinic. Factors that may decrease the prevalence of dental general anaesthetics include: prevention of dental caries; using alternative approaches; an appropriate workforce mix; enhancing oral health literacy; and development of guidelines. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hospitalisation of children to treat dental caries is increasing. Many factors influence the prevalence of paediatric dental general anaesthetics - relating to the child, parent, oral health professional, financial impact, health risk, and accessibility to facilities. There are quality of care and convenience benefits but also high costs and possible health risks. Family, workforce and health system factors have been identified that could decrease the prevalence of paediatric dental general anaesthetics.

A protocol for early childhood caries diagnosis and risk assessment.

The global Early Childhood Caries (ECC) burden is of concern to the World Health Organisation (WHO), but the quantification of this burden and risk is unclear, partly due to difficulties in accessing young children for population surveys and partly due to diagnostic criteria for ECC experience. The WHO criterion for caries diagnosis is the late stage event of dentine cavitation. Earlier stages of the caries lesion are clinically detectable and should be registered earlier in the life of children and arrested/remineralized before lesions progress to the cavitation stage. A protocol for ECC diagnosis is proposed to guide those engaged in clinical dentistry in their characterization of the ECC lesion. As management of early lesions is a critical step to reduce risk of their progression to later stage lesions, a practical method for assessing ECC risk is proposed also. Risk assessment is very important because it determines (a) urgency for interventions aimed to arrest lesion progression; (b) the frequency of such interventions and (c) the need to enhance the primary prevention of ECC. The guidelines are set out separately for ECC diagnosis for ongoing clinical care and for epidemiologic purposes. Similarly, guidelines are set out for ECC risk assessment and ongoing monitoring.

[Series: Caries prevention in historical perspective. Early treatment of carious lesions]. / Serie: Cariëspreventie in historisch perspectief. Vroegtijdige behandeling cariëslaesies.

In the Dutch Journal of Dentistry the opinion is often expressed that treatment of carious deciduous teeth is necessary to reduce the risk of dental caries in the permanent teeth. It is clear that early restorative treatment of caries lesions can contribute to the preservation of teeth. The question is whether such a treatment also has a primary preventive impact on other not yet affected teeth. Results of epidemiological research carried out in the period 1960-1980 do not support the view that it does. To combat the 'disease' caries in children restoration of carious teeth alone will not suffice. Professional oral care in young children should be focused primarily on removing the causes of dental caries by insisting on improvements in hygiene and diet.

Are U.S. Dentists Adequately Trained to Care for Children?

For decades, dental educators have noted changes in predoctoral dental education in pediatric dentistry, beginning with shifts in patients' characteristics and their availability for dental schools. During the same period, national data exposed a lingering dental caries epidemic in U.S. children yet reported more treatment of young poor children. The professional literature suggests a reluctance of the general dental community to care for children, particularly the very young who would most benefit from a dental home. The purpose of this commentary was to weigh evidence of several decades of studies on this seeming contradiction and provide the perspectives of dental students in training, those seeking advanced pediatric dentistry education or providing it, and end-users of our educational system who employ U.S. dental graduates to care for children. The usefulness of dental education establishment indicators is also reviewed, and recommendations for improvement are proposed.

Adherence to Infective Endocarditis Prevention Guidelines by Israeli Dentists Who Treat Children.

PURPOSE: To examine the rate of adherence of Israeli dentists who treat children and their rate of adherence, in 2010-2011 and in 2016, to changes made to the 2008 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for endocarditis prevention. METHODS: A questionnaire on adherence to AHA guidelines was handed out in two consecutive continuing education courses in 2010-2011 and again in 2016. Data were analyzed using student's t test, chi-square, and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Response rates were 62 percent in 2010 -2011 and 73 percent in 2016. Residents and pediatric dentists adhered more to the guidelines than general dentists (P=.036 and P=0.034 in 2011 and 2016, respectively). Knowledge of guidelines for dental procedures that required antibiotic prophylaxis was better than for medical conditions (52.8 percent and 79.6 percent, respectively, in 2011; 64 percent and 80 percent, respectively, in 2016). Lowest adherence was scored for prophylaxis in moderate-risk patients (32.8 percent in 2010 to 2011, 26 percent in 2016; P=.151), which was a pivotal change in the updated guidelines. Participants chose to consult with either a pediatrician or a cardiologist in 77.4 percent and 62.2 percent of the listed medical conditions in 2010 to 2011 and in 2016, respectively (P=.055). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately a third of dentists who treat children in Israel did not follow the AHA guidelines' fundamental changes. Most dentists tended to consult physicians prior to prophylaxis administration for moderate- and high-risk groups.

The possibility of modification and improvement of dental services in Poland for children and adolescents with special emphasis on orthodontic service.

AIM: World Dental Federation reveals that dental caries is one of the most common diseases in the world, and as much as 90% of the population is facing oral cavity problems. About 28% of teenagers aged 10 and 15 absolutely needs orthodontic treatment and about another third of this age group represents very serious cases. The aim of this study is to verify the authorial model which modifies and facilitates the system of dental services in Poland with a special emphasis on orthodontic service. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was carried out with the method of diagnostic survey through a survey questionnaire. For this study, 1159 people were questioned for the research. In order to check the reliance between the variables Pearson chi-square test and the test of the Highest Reliability were used. Average market prices and the "prices expected" by the Greater Poland Voivodship Department of National Healthcare System were used to price dental services. RESULTS: The research revealed that the highest percentage of people who used only private dental services is between 19 and 64 years of age and the lowest percentage is represented by the elderly, i.e. subjects over 65 years of age. As for the dental services offered by the National Health Fund, the highest percentage of patients are children and adolescents under 18 and the lowest percentage of patients is represented by people in the working age. The tendency towards private healthcare is in direct proportion to parents' increase in the level of education. The main reason why parents take their children to a private dentist is the long waiting time for the visit offered by the National Health Fund as well as better materials and equipment offered by private dentists. The costs connected with extending the basket of guaranteed services for children and youngsters are combined with the increase in National Health Fund expenditure reaching EUR 7,014,151. The lack of refunding dental services for patients aged 19-64 will generate savings reaching about EUR 34,756,765. CONCLUSION: The reduction of public funds allocated for dental treatment of patients aged 19-64 will generate savings which will satisfy the needs connected with the increase in the range of refunded orthodontic treatment with the use of orthodontic permanent braces for patients under 18 years of age. The solution suggested will only slightly affect people in the working age as they reveal a strong tendency for treatment financed with their private funds.

Dental caries prevention in children and adolescents: a systematic quality assessment of clinical practice guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for dental caries prevention in children and adolescents MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic search of CPGs on caries preventive measures between 2005 and 2016. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, TripDatabase, websites of CPG developers, compilers of CPGs, scientific societies and ministries of health. We included CPGs with recommendations on sealants, fluorides and oral hygiene. Three reviewers independently assessed the included CPGs using the AGREE II instrument. We calculated the standardised scores for the six domains and made a final recommendation about each CPG. Also, we calculated the overall agreement among calibrated reviewers with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: Twenty-two CPGs published were selected from a total of 637 references. Thirteen were in English and nine in Spanish. The overall agreement between reviewers was very good (ICC = 0.90; 95%CI 0.89-0.92). The mean score for each domain was the following: Scope and purpose 89.6 ± 12%; Stakeholder involvement 55.0 ± 15.6%; Rigour of development 64.9 ± 21.2%; Clarity of presentation 84.8 ± 14.1%; Applicability 30.6 ± 31.5% and Editorial independence 59.3 ± 25.5%. Thirteen CPGs (59.1%) were assessed as "recommended", eight (36.4%) "recommended with modifications" and one (4.5%) "not recommended". CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality of CPGs in caries prevention was moderate. The domains with greater deficiencies were Applicability, Stakeholder involvement and Editorial independence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should use the best available CPGs in dental caries prevention to provide optimal oral health care to patients.

Barriers to sealant guideline implementation within a multi-site managed care dental practice.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify barriers frequently endorsed by dentists in a large, multi-site dental practice to implementing the American Dental Association's recommendation for sealing noncavitated occlusal carious lesions as established in their 2016 pit-and-fissure sealant clinical practice guideline. Although previous research has identified barriers to using sealants perceived by dentists in private practice, barriers frequently endorsed by dentists in large, multi-site dental practices have yet to be identified. Identifying barriers for these dentists is important, because it is expected that in the future, the multi-site group practice configuration will comprise more dental practices. METHODS: We anonymously surveyed the 110 general and pediatric dentists at a multi-site dental practice in the U.S. The survey assessed potential barriers in three domains: practice environment, prevailing opinion, and knowledge and attitudes. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The response rate to the survey was 62%. The principal barrier characterizing the practice environment was concern regarding liability; endorsed by 33% of the dentists. Many barriers of prevailing opinion were frequently endorsed. These included misunderstanding the standard of practice (59%), being unaware of the expectations of opinion leaders (56%) including being unaware of the guideline itself (67%), and being unaware of what is currently being taught in dental schools (58%). Finally, barriers of knowledge and attitudes were frequently endorsed. These included having suboptimal skill in applying sealants (23% - 47%) and lacking knowledge regarding the relative efficacy of the different ways to manage noncavitated occlusal carious lesions (50%). CONCLUSIONS: We identified barriers frequently endorsed by dentists in a large, multi-site dental practice relating to the practice environment, prevailing opinion, and knowledge and attitudes. All the barriers we identified have the potential to be addressed by implementation strategies. Future studies should devise and test implementation strategies to target these barriers.