Evaluation of the neuromotor ability of the tongue in pediatric patients using a stereognostic examination.

BACKGROUND: The term "stereognosis" comes from neurology and describes the capacity to distinguish objects solely by touch. AIM: The aim of this research study was to compare the neuromotor ability of the tongue in patients with malocclusion and tongue dysfunction with and without superficial anesthesia on the tip of the tongue and hard palate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 132 patients aged 6-13 years. Using a spatula for speech therapy and a visual evaluation while swallowing saliva, all individuals were identified as having swallowing dysfunctions and divided into three groups: study group (children with malocclusions and tongue dysfunctions) - 44 patients, comparator group (children with malocclusions and without tongue dysfunctions) - 44 patients, and control group (children without malocclusions or tongue dysfunctions) - 44 patients. The Koczorowski methods were used for the stereognostic tests. RESULTS: Age, sex, and malocclusion were taken into account during the differential analysis. The study and comparison groups, study and control groups, and the comparator and control groups all showed statistically significant differences from one another. According to the results, tongue dysfunction affects patients' ability to coordinate their movements with their senses at a developing stage. CONCLUSION: Patients with malocclusions that are made worse by tongue dysfunctions have poorer oral stereognostic sensibility. Speech therapy and interdisciplinary specialist orthodontic treatment are required for individuals with impaired oral perception who are still in the developmental stage and have abnormal tongue position and function.

Assessment of parental attitude toward different behavior management techniques used in pediatric dentistry.

BACKGROUND: The goal of any good dental treatment is to provide a quality dental care to the patient. This may not be possible if the patient is unwilling to cooperate or unable to do so due to their age or related factors. In such children, behavior management techniques are very helpful. With changing times, there have been changes in the law and the outlook of parents and society toward dental treatment. This influences the various behavior management methods used by pediatric dentists. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the attitudes of parents of children of different pediatric age groups towards: Behavior management techniques used by pediatric dentists The effect of maternal anxiety on the child's behavior in clinic Pharmacological behavior management techniques The effect of parental presence in the operatory on the child's behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred parents were evaluated and divided into three groups comprising 100 each on the basis of their children's age, Group A: 2-5 years, Group B: 6-9 years, and Group C: 10-13 years, which were further divided into two subgroups, on the basis of the child's gender, with each subgroup having parents of 50 male and 50 female children each. For example, Group A1: 50 parents of 2-5-year-old boys, Group A2: 50 parents of 2-5-year-old girls. RESULTS: ANOVA test showed different hierarchies of acceptance for the techniques in all the groups. In all the three groups, tell show do, positive reinforcement, and live modeling were the most accepted techniques. However, statistically significant difference between the groups was not observed for the three techniques. The least accepted techniques for all the groups were hand over mouth technique and voice control technique. CONCLUSION: Parents were more receptive of those techniques which were visually more acceptable involving a communicative management, such as tell show do, positive reinforcement, and live modeling.