The willingness to attend the first dental visit within 1 year of age: An analysis applying Andersen's behavioral model of health service utilization.

BACKGROUND: The first dental visit (FDV) within 1 year of age is important for establishing good oral health behaviors for young children, but delayed FDVs are common. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the predisposing, enabling, and need factors of maternal willingness to attend the FDV for infants. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among mothers of infants aged 11-14 months. A questionnaire was developed based on Andersen's behavioral model of health service utilization. Data regarding the FDV, FDV willingness, and reasons for not attending the FDV were collected. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the associated factors. RESULTS: Of 658 infants, only 2.7% (18) had a Thirty percent (191/640) of mothers reported their willingness to attend the FDV in the next 3 months. Nearly two-thirds of mothers reported not attending the FDV since their children's teeth were healthy. Maternal perceptions of their infants' oral health status were negatively associated with willingness to undergo the FDV, whereas family social support was positively associated with willingness to undergo the FDV. CONCLUSIONS: Need factors play a key role in the utilization of FDV. Improving parental awareness of FDV might help parents voluntarily attend the FDV, and offering support from the family and healthcare system levels enables access to paediatric dental care.

[Quantitative analysis of the palatal features affected by digit-sucking habit using a laser scanning system].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of digit-sucking habit on palatal features in pre-school children by using a laser scanning system. METHODS: Forty pre-school children were chosen according to the results of questionnaires, among which 20 with digit-sucking habit(digit-sucking group) and 20 without any oral habits(control group). Impression of the upper jaw was taken from each child. After laser scanning the plaster casts, and three-dimensional reconstruction by the computer, parameters of anterior and posterior palatal length, width and height were measured, ratios of height/width, length/width and width ratio of anterior and posterior palatal were analyzed. The differences of palatal features between two groups were analyzed by t test. RESULTS: There was statistical significance between digit-sucking group and control group in posterior palatal width, anterior palatal length and anterior palatal height. The ratios of height/width and length/width in both posterior and anterior areas were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the results indicated that palatal features were relatively deeper, narrower and more protrusive in digit-sucking group. CONCLUSION: The digit-sucking habit may have some deleterious impacts on the palatal features in pre-school children with primary dentition. And it is practical to measure the spacial palatal features by using laser scanning system to some extent.

[Association between preterm low birth weight and maternal cytokine levels of saliva and gingival crevicular fluid].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that periodontitis was one of the sources of inflammation in preterm low birth weight (PLBW) mothers and investigate the relationship between PLBW and inflammatory factors. METHODS: The samples of saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were collected from 83 PLBW mothers (PLBW group) and 44 normal birth weight (NBW) mothers (NBW group). The levels of IL-1beta and IL-6 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrations of cytokines in saliva and GCF were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: IL-1beta level in saliva of PLBW group was higher than which of NBW group significantly [(78.32+/-11.81) ng/L vs. (39.66+/-11.89) ng/L, P<0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference on IL-6 level in saliva [(17.45+/-3.13) ng/L vs. (16.28+/-0.66) ng/L], IL-1beta level in GCF [(93.58+/-13.22) ng/L vs. (81.38+/-9.28) ng/L] and IL-6 level in GCF [(15.35+/-0.28) ng/L vs. (14.87+/-0.37) ng/L) between two groups, but those of PLBW group were higher than NBW group. Significant negative correlations existed between gestational age at delivery and probing depth. It was also found significant negative correlations between gestational age at delivery and IL-6 (r=-0.274, P<0.01), between the weight of the new born infants and IL-6 levels in saliva (r=-0.424, P<0.01), IL-1beta level in GCF (r=-0.231, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was a tendency presenting the higher inflammatory cytokine in GCF and saliva, the shorter gestation period and the lower birth weight. The levels of cytokine in saliva and GCF were higher in PLBW mothers. The correlation may be exist between maternal periodontitis and PLBW.