Effects of different interventions on bruxism: an overview of systematic reviews.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate, qualify, and summarize evidence presented in systematic reviews (SR) on treatments for bruxism. METHODS: The overview was conducted using the PICO strategy: children, adolescents, and adults with bruxism (P) were submitted to different treatments (I) compared to other treatments, placebo, or no treatment (C) in order to evaluate incidence, prevalence, and number of episodes of bruxism (O). The search was carried out in six databases and gray literature up to July 2023. Data were extracted, and the ROBS tool was used, followed by a descriptive synthesis of the results. RESULTS: A total of 31 SR were included. Sixteen showed a positive effect on episodes of bruxism (BE), while two had negative, one had neutral, and nine had inconclusive effects. Using the risk of bias in systematic reviews tool (ROBIS), risk of bias varied from low (n = 23) to high (n = 5) among the SR. Pharmacological treatment, oral rehabilitation, and other therapeutic approaches presented inconclusive or negative effects on BE, while oral appliances showed controversial effects. Biofeedback, physical therapy, laser therapy, and botulinum toxin showed positive effects on the reduction of BE. CONCLUSION: Biofeedback, physical therapy, laser therapy, and botulinum toxin showed positive effects on the reduction of BE; there is still a lack of studies to support the safe and long-term use of these therapies. REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42021273905.

Perception Regarding Pediatric Dentist's Appearance and Factors Influencing the Child's Responses.

OBJECTIVE: To develop, validate, and apply an instrument for assessing the children's perception regarding pediatric dentist's appearance, based upon the influence of age, gender, previous dental experience, and anxiety. STUDY DESIGN: Images and a nine-item questionnaire were developed. The acceptability, convergent-construct validity, and reliability based on reproducibility and internal consistency were evaluated. The validated instrument was applied in a cross-sectional study, with children (n=120) aged 7-12 years asked to evaluate images of pediatric dentists wearing different dental attire (A:all-white (control); B:printed coat and cap, colorful face mask; C:printed coat, cap and face mask; and D:white coat and cap, printed face mask). Children's age, gender, and previous dental experiences were collected with the guardians. The Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale assessed children's anxiety. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out (p<0.05). RESULTS: The instrument showed excellent acceptability, construct validity with moderate and strong correlations (>0.40), satisfactory reproducibility (ICC >0.70), and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient >0.70). Considering only the attire, the children's perceptions were more positive with the use of attire C and D (p<0.05). Intergroup analysis of all the variables did not identify a statistically significant difference (p>0.05). In the intragroup analysis, compared to attire A: younger children have higher perception scores to attire D; girls, children with previous experience and without anxiety favored attire C and D; and children without previous experience showed no difference in comparison to A but did between B and C (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The C and D attires promoted a more positive perception of the appearance of a pediatric dentist when compared to A; however, age, gender, previous dental experience, and anxiety did not influence the perception scores.

Frequency of crown and root dilaceration of permanent incisors after dental trauma to their predecessor teeth.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dental trauma to the predecessor teeth can cause crown and root dilacerations to the successor teeth, which can interfere with the normal development of permanent teeth. The aims of this study were to verify the types of trauma more frequent to the predecessor teeth that cause dilaceration to their successor teeth, to determine the frequency of crown and root dilacerations in permanent incisors, taking into account the child's age at the time of trauma, and to describe the types of treatment performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Details of 815 anterior primary teeth with dental injury were obtained from 483 dental records of children aged 0-9 years at the time of trauma. RESULTS: Of 815 traumatized primary teeth, 161 successor teeth were clinically and radiographically reviewed until complete eruption and had some type of sequel. Avulsion and intrusive luxation were the most frequent types of trauma to the predecessor teeth that caused dilaceration to their successor teeth. Enamel discoloration (30.4%), hypoplasia (23.6%), root (14.3%) and crown (9.9%) dilacerations were the most common sequelae observed in the successor teeth. Root and crown dilacerations were more frequent in children aged more than and up to 3 years, respectively. Tooth extraction and orthodontic treatment were the most common treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists must be aware of the relationship between the child's age at the time of trauma to the predecessor tooth and the type of sequel to the successor tooth in order to diagnose, monitor, and treat the sequel properly.