Oral hygiene habits, dental home, and toothbrushing among immigrant and native low socioeconomic class populations.

UNLABELLED: About 45,000 people immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia over the last 30 years. The purpose of this study was to compare oral hygiene habits in preschool children from low socioeconomic neighborhoods offspring of immigrants from Ethiopia to offspring of native Israelis. METHOD: Parents of children attending 21 nursery schools were asked to respond anonymously to 7 questions about their children's visits to a dentist and toothbrushing habits. RESULTS: Parents of 719 children (382 Ethiopian and 337 native Israeli) responded. Of children aged 49-82 months, 15% offspring of Ethiopian and 25% of native Israelis were reported to have visited a dentist; and 45% and 65%, respectively, to brush their teeth at least once daily. More than 90% of children of both populations were reported to have toothbrushes. Of children aged 18-48 months, 28% of Ethiopian and 65% of native Israelis were reported to brush their teeth at least once daily. CONCLUSION: After more than 20 years residence in a new country, the dental home of an immigrant population was significantly different from that of the native population, of the same low socioeconomic neighborhoods. Discrepancies in parental responses highlight the importance of addressing information bias.

[Esthetic restorations of primary anterior teeth].

Esthetic treatment of primary teeth is one of the greatest challenges to pediatric dentists. A variety of restorative options using full coverage are available for anterior primary teeth. In the last half century the emphasis on treatment of severely decayed primary teeth shifted from extraction to restoration. In the past, restorations consisted of placement of stainless steel crowns on severely decayed teeth. However, they are esthetically unacceptable today. Over the last decade parents expect a higher esthetic standard for their children's primary teeth. Thus, the restoration should provide esthetic appearance and durability in addition to restoring function. The purpose of this review is to describe the types of full coverage options for anterior primary teeth currently available.

Premedication intake behavior--does it predict behavior during dental treatment?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether behavior during hydroxyzine administration predicts children's behavior during dental treatment and whether behavior during treatment is affected by the complexity of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 118 children aged 2 to 6.5 years old were treated under conscious sedation with oral premedication (3.7 mg/kg of hydroxyzine in a concentration of 50 mg/5 cc. hydroxyzine) and 50% nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation. Children were divided in two age groups: aged 2 to < or = 4 years old, and aged 4 > to 6 years old. Behavior during first examination; cooperation during premedication administration, cooperation during nitrous oxide nose-mask placement, behavior during dental treatment, treatment duration and complexity of treatment were recorded. RESULTS: More children in the older group took the premedication willingly (p = 0.026). Significant correlation (p = 0.002) between behavior during examination and nitrous oxide mask acceptance was found in the older age group. No correlation was found regarding the cooperation during premedication intake and behavior during treatment within and between age groups. No statistical differences within the groups and between the groups were found between complexity of treatment and behavior during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Premedication intake is not a reliable predictive tool for behavior during treatment in children aged 2-6.5 years. Complexity of treatment does not influence behavior during treatment in children aged 2-6.5 years.

Mandibular block or maxillary infiltration: does it influence children's opposition to a subsequent dental visit?

PURPOSE: Local anesthesia by mandibular block or maxillary infiltration is commonly administered to children receiving dental treatment of primary molars. Discomfort, when presenting, most often involves the lower lip. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether children would be more opposed to attending a dental treatment following anesthesia by mandibular block than by maxillary infiltration. METHODS: Each of 102 children in two age groups: 3 to 5 years, and 6 to 9 years, received the two types of local anesthesia at dental appointments one week apart. Their opposition to attending a subsequent appointment was assessed by parent report. RESULTS: More adverse reactions were observed during and following anesthesia with mandibular block than with maxillary infiltration. Few of the children in either age group expressed opposition to attend a dental visit after receiving mandibular block or maxillary infiltration in the previous visit. CONCLUSIONS: Though more adverse reactions were observed in children following mandibular block than maxillary infiltration, this did not result in increased opposition to attend a subsequent dental appointment.

A percutaneous injury by a contaminated instrument is a human bite equivalent.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous exposure incidents represent an important occupational health issue. CASE REPORT: A paediatric dentist was cut by a small round bur in a handpiece. A few hours later the elbow became swollen and painful. Since the bur had been contaminated with saliva and oral flora, the injury was treated as a human bite equivalent. An X-ray revealed the broken piece of the bur in the soft tissue of the dentist's elbow. CONCLUSION: Care should be taken to prevent and treat injuries by sharp items, during and also following dental treatment.

Esthetic restorative options for pulpotomized primary molars: a review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this manuscript was to review the existing literature in regards to esthetic options to restore pulpotomized primary molars. STUDY DESIGN: A pubmed literature search has been performed and all relevant studies were assessed. RESULTS: Two laboratory, 3 restrospective and 4 prospective clinical studies were found, reviewed and analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the limited information available, we concluded that tooth colored and bonded restorations showed promising results as alternative materials to replace stainless steel crowns after pulpotomies in primary molars. Hybrid composites tend to perform better than compomers. Resin modified glass ionomer cements demonstrated excellent marginal seal and retention. More long-term follow up studies are necessary until more definitive recommendations can be made.

Salivary biochemical variables in liver transplanted children and young adults.

PURPOSE: To investigate associations between levels of blood parameters used to monitor liver-transplanted children with their salivary levels, and compare the salivary parameters of transplant recipients with those of healthy controls. METHODS: Saliva and blood samples from 30 liver transplanted recipients, mean age 11.7 years and saliva from age and sex matched 27 healthy patients were analyzed using a standard complete blood count test. RESULTS: Uric acid and alkaline phosphatase levels correlated significantly between saliva and blood samples in the transplanted subjects. Median salivary sodium level was significantly lower and the median salivary potassium level significantly higher in transplant recipients compared with healthy subjects. No differences were found between the groups in salivary glucose, urea, chloride, total protein, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), triglycerides, cholesterol, iron, transferrin, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT). CONCLUSION: Specific correlations of serum and salivary chemistry were found in liver transplant patients. Such information may lead to the development of noninvasive monitoring tools for this population.

Age-dependent deficiency in saliva and salivary antibodies secretion in Down's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Down's syndrome (DS) individuals suffer from an increased susceptibility to infections. Here, we assessed age-related changes in the salivary-specific humoral immunity of DS subjects. DESIGN: Parotid and whole saliva were collected from a young group of DS (YDS, n=30, 23.3+/-4 years), an older group of DS individuals (ODS, n=10, 51.9+/-8 years) and compared to two age-matched groups of healthy volunteers--a young group (YC, n=29, 22.8+/-5 years) and an older group (OC, n=10, 48.4+/-9 years). The levels of total IgA, and specific antibodies to three common oral pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus (Aggregatibacter) actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus mutans) were analysed. RESULTS: The limited increases in IgA concentrations could not compensate the dramatic reduction in the salivary flow rate observed in DS individuals. Therefore, the median secretion rates of the specific antibodies in whole and parotid saliva were 70-77% and 34-60% (respectively) lower in YDS individuals as compared to YC and farther 77-100% and 75-88% (respectively) lower in ODS compared to YDS. In contrast, the antibody secretion rates were similar for parotid saliva, or even increased for whole saliva of OC, compared with YC. Consequently, a dramatic cumulative extreme reduction (>92%) in the bacterial specific salivary antibodies differentiated the adult DS individuals from to their age-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate a severe immunodeficiency in the secretion rate of the specific salivary IgA response of in DS individuals which intensifies with age.

Salivary LL-37 secretion in individuals with Down syndrome is normal.

Antimicrobial peptides play an important role in the innate immune response. Deficiency in salivary LL-37 antimicrobial peptide has been implicated in periodontitis in patients with morbus Kostman syndrome. Down syndrome is associated with periodontitis, diminished salivary flow, and salivary immunoglobulin deficiency. In the present study, levels of LL-37 and its hCAP18 precursor were measured in saliva samples from young individuals with Down syndrome and compared with levels in those from age-matched healthy controls. LL-37 and human cathelicidin antimicrobial protein (hCAP18) were detected in whole but not in parotid saliva. hCAP18 was more abundant than LL-37. The concentrations of salivary hCAP18 and LL-37 were found to be higher in individuals with Down syndrome than in healthy controls, but their secretion rates were similar. We concluded that, while the adaptive immunity of individuals with Down syndrome is impaired at the oral mucosa, the secretion rate of the LL-37 component of the innate immune system is normal.

Severe impairment of secretory Ig production in parotid saliva of Down Syndrome individuals.

Infections associated with Down Syndrome (DS) are prevalent in the mucosal-gastrointestinal and respiratory systems, for reasons that are uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to assess the levels of parotid salivary immunoglobulins (Ig) in a group of DS individuals as a possible factor in the susceptibility of mucosal surfaces to infections. Twenty-nine DS and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. Salivary flow rate and IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations were recorded. The secretion rates of IgA and IgG were diminished by 83% (p < 0.001) and 75% (p = 0.05), respectively, whereas the secretion rate of IgM was not statistically significantly lower. Analysis of the data suggests that DS individuals are immunodeficient in the humoral mucosal immune response. This may explain, in part, the high incidence of recurrent infections in target organs of the secretory immune system in DS subjects.

Autopolymerized versus light-polymerized fissure sealant.

This study found that 31 months after placement of a sealant, no significant difference was seen in the clinical performance and retention between the visible light-polymerized and autopolymerized materials. Practitioners can use either material without compromising efficacy.

Occlusal composite restorations: 4-year results.

A study was performed to determine the success of a conservative cavity preparation using the principle of sealing for prevention rather than cavity extension for prevention. A total of 332 restorations were placed in 240 teeth of 110 subjects, aged 6 to 14, with a mean age of 8 years. After 4 years, 205 restorations were examined. Caries appeared in 13 teeth and sealant wear occurred in 14 restorations. Complete sealant loss was observed in eight restorations and partial loss in 38, leaving 156 restorations with complete retention of the sealant. These preliminary results show that conservative cavity preparation with sealing for prevention is a successful technique that conserves valuable tooth structure.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta: an early treatment strategy.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI) type 2 is a disease inherited in a simple autosomal dominant mode. As soon as the teeth erupt the parents may notice the problem and look for a pediatric dentist's advice and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment of DI is recommended, as it may prevent or intercept deterioration of the teeth and occlusion and improve esthetics. The purpose of this article is to present the objectives, treatment options, and problems encountered in the treatment of DI in the early primary dentition. A two-stage treatment of a toddler under general anesthesia is described and discussed. This paper recommends for severe cases of DI two treatment stages performed under general anesthesia. Stage 1 is early (around age 18-20 months) and is directed to covering the incisors with composite restorations and the first primary molars with preformed crowns. Stage 2 (around age 28-30 months) seeks to protect the second primary molars with preformed crowns and cover the canines with composite restorations.

Intranasal midazolam better at effecting amnesia after sedation than oral hydroxyzine: a pilot study.

Providing amnesia about a surgery is a desired side effect of a medication. This study compares anterograde amnesic effects of midazolam with hydroxyzine in children undergoing dental treatment with those drugs plus nitrous oxide, using a recall test. Thirty ASAI children 24-28 months, were shown a Standard-Binet intelligence scale-memory for objects subtest before entering treatment room. Twenty-lone randomly determined children received 3.7 mg/kg hydroxyzine 45 min before treatment or 0.2 mg/kg intranasal midazolam in two succeeding appointments, alternatively. Recall in the 30-subject treatment group was 90%. Recall in the 21-subject treatment group was 71% for hydroxyzine and 29% for midazolam. Midazolam was more effective in creating amnesia than hydroxyzine in this study.

Evaluation of the effect of nitrous oxide and hydroxyzine in controlling the behavior of the pediatric dental patient.

This study evaluated and compared the effect of three different sedation combinations on the young dental patient: hydroxyzine alone, hydroxyzine with nitrous oxide, and nitrous oxide alone. Nineteen uncooperative children with mean age of 37 months needing at least three restorative visits were selected for this study. Crying, alertness, and general behavior were evaluated during the dental procedure. The combination of hydroxyzine and nitrous oxide was more effective than the others for the majority of the sessions in terms of controlling crying and alertness. The results in the present study indicate that the sedative effect of hydroxyzine on children's behavior is enhanced by the addition of nitrous oxide.

Assessment of two doses of intranasal midazolam for sedation of young pediatric dental patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of two doses of intranasal midazolam on sedation of young children for dental treatment. Thirty uncooperative children, mean age of 32 months, who needed at least two restorative visits, participated in this study. The patients were assigned randomly to receive either 0.2 mg/kg or 0.3 mg/kg of midazolam intranasally, with the alternate regimen administered at the second appointment. All the children received 50% nitrous oxide, and were restrained in a Papoose Board (Olympic Medical Group, Seattle, WA) with a head holder. Degree of alertness, crying, and movement were evaluated at baseline and at 5-min intervals throughout the procedure. Evaluation of overall behavior at each session was performed by one investigator, blind to the dose, using a separate rating scale. The reliability of ratings was assessed by two investigators from videotapes of the procedures. Statistical analysis showed no differences (P > 0.05) in the behavior of the children receiving the two doses. Successful sedation, as assessed by lack of or minimal crying and/or movement that interrupted treatment, was observed in all the treatment visits with both doses (mean score 4.66 +/- 1.09 for 0.3 mg and 4.40 +/- 1.04 for 0.2 mg). No adverse effects were observed, and all the treatments were completed successfully.

Comparative clinical study of autopolymerized and light-polymerized fissure sealants: five-year results.

The retention of autopolymerized and light-polymerized Delton fissure sealants was compared. Sealants were applied to 207 first permanent molars with 304 separate sites in 73 children 6-8 years old (mean age 6.3 years). After five years, there was complete retention in 59% of the autopolymerized and 48% of the light-polymerized sealants. The resulting 11% difference in retention rates was not statistically significant at P less than 0.05.

Prevalence of tooth transposition, third molar agenesis, and maxillary canine impaction in individuals with Down syndrome.

Alterations in the size, morphology and number of teeth are among the many inherited disorders that have been reported in individuals with Down syndrome. By contrast, third molar agenesis and tooth transposition have been largely ignored and the prevalence of canine impaction has not been reported. The intention of this study was to quantify the occurrence of these anomalies in a group of individuals with Down syndrome, using standardized records, which included a clinical examination, dental casts, and a panoramic radiograph. The results show a notably high prevalence of third molar agenesis (74% of individuals older than 14 years), canine impaction (15%), and maxillary canine/first premolar transposition (15%), compared to published figures from random population samples. These anomalies should not be seen as separate, independent entities, but as associated phenomena. The slow rate of cell growth and a consequent reduced cell number that characterize this syndrome may be responsible for the underdevelopment of the upper jaw, the delayed dental development, the reduction in teeth number and size, and the altered path of canine eruption. No explanation, other than genetics, is immediately available to explain why the maxillary canine/first premolar transposition should represent another phenotypic expression of this trisomy.

A comprehensive 30-month preventive dental health program in a pre-adolescent population with Down's syndrome: a longitudinal study.

A comprehensive systematic preventive dental health program was implemented in a young population with Down's Syndrome during a 30-month period. Twenty children (nine boys and 11 girls), ages 8-13 (mean age, 11), participated in the study, which took place in three hostel-like apartments. The main goals of this program were to achieve good plaque control and subsequently prevent periodontal disease as well as to apply fissure sealants and fluorides in an attempt to prevent dental caries. The mean plaque and gingival indices as well as the percentage of bleeding sites decreased significantly (P < 0.01) following the administration of our oral health program. Caries experience, as indicated by DMFS, decreased from 1-35 to 1-05 surfaces per child, and the use of fissure sealants to prevent occlusal caries was proved to be 100% effective. It is concluded that if the children's efforts are integrated with those of a motivated dentist, dental hygienist, and staff, a well-planned preventive dental health program can lead to a high degree of success in the prevention of dental diseases in young populations with Down's Syndrome.