[Dental treatment under general anesthesia among pediatric patients in 120 consecutive cases: a retrospective study].

PURPOSE： To investigate the clinical features of children who received treatment under dental general anesthesia (DGA). METHODS: The clinical records of dental patients below 18 years old who were treated under DGA at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Affiliated Dental Hospital of Kunming Medical University during June 2017 to November 2019 were obtained, including the baseline information, causes for DGA, anesthesia methods, intubation methods, treatment items, treatment time and follow-up visits. SPSS 26.0 software package was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were included, 58.3% were males, and children aged 3 to 6 years showed the highest demand for DGA (85.0%). Fear of dental treatment, ineffective non-drug behavior management was the main causes for DGA in young children, while the most common causes for children over 6 years old to choose DGA were mental retardation (38.9%) and patients' needs(38.9%). The average number of teeth treated was (15.16±3.42) for each child, and the average time for treating one tooth was 12.26 min. Restoration, root canal treatment and primary teeth pre-forming crown(including anterior preformed resin transparent crown and posterior preformed metal crown) were the main treatment items. At 1-week follow-up visits, 98.3% of children had no discomfort. During 2017 to 2019, there was an increasing tendency in the number of patients who chose DGA in the authors' institute. CONCLUSIONS： The dental issues of children with fear of dental treatment, ineffectiveor non-drug behavior management or mental retardation can be treated under DGA conveniently, safely and efficiently. The acceptance rate of DGA among pediatric patients is on the rise. DGA training programs and related support projects are needed to meet the treatment demands among patients in less developed areas.

Multilevel Interventions and Dental Attendance in Pediatric Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Untreated tooth decay is disproportionately present among low-income young children. While American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines require pediatric clinicians to implement oral health care, the effectiveness of these oral health interventions has been inconclusive. Objective: To test the effectiveness of multilevel interventions in increasing dental attendance and reducing untreated decay among young children attending well-child visits (WCVs). Design, Setting, and Participants: The Pediatric Providers Against Cavities in Children's Teeth study is a cluster randomized clinical trial that was conducted at 18 pediatric primary care practices in northeast Ohio. The trial data were collected between November 2017 and July 2022, with data analyses conducted from August 2022 to March 2023. Eligible participants included Medicaid-enrolled preschoolers aged 3 to 6 years attending WCVs at participating practices who were enrolled at baseline (WCV 1) and followed-up for 2 consecutive examinations (WCV 2 and WCV 3). Interventions: Clinicians in the intervention group received both the practice-level (electronic medical record changes to document oral health) and clinician-level (common-sense model of self-regulation theory-based oral health education and skills training) interventions. Control group clinicians received AAP-based standard oral health education alone. Main Outcomes and Measures: Dental attendance was determined through clinical dental examinations conducted by hygienists utilizing International Caries Detection and Assessment System criteria and also from Medicaid claims data. Untreated decay was determined through clinical examinations. A generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach was used for both clinical examinations and Medicaid claims data. Results: Eighteen practices were randomized to either intervention or control. Participants included 63 clinicians (mean [SD] age, 47.0 [11.3] years; 48 female [76.2%] and 15 male [23.8%]; 28 in the intervention group [44.4%]; 35 in the control group [55.6%]) and 1023 parent-child dyads (mean [SD] child age, 56.1 [14.0] months; 555 male children [54.4%] and 466 female children [45.6%]; 517 in the intervention group [50.5%]; 506 in the control group [49.5%]). Dental attendance from clinical examinations was significantly higher in the intervention group (170 children [52.0%]) vs control group (150 children [43.1%]) with a difference of 8.9% (95% CI, 1.4% to 16.4%; P = .02). The GEE model using clinical examinations showed a significant increase in dental attendance in the intervention group vs control group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.69). From Medicaid claims, the control group had significantly higher dental attendance than the intervention group at 2 years (332 children [79.6%] vs 330 children [73.7%]; P = .04) but not at 3 years. A clinically but not statistically significant reduction in mean number of untreated decay was found in the intervention group compared with controls (B = -0.27; 95% CI, -0.56 to 0.02). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cluster randomized clinical trial, children in the intervention group had better dental outcomes as was evidenced by increased dental attendance and lower untreated decay. These findings suggest that intervention group clinicians comprehensively integrated oral health services into WCVs. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03385629.

Comparative evaluation of intranasal dexmedetomidine, intranasal midazolam, and nitrous oxide for conscious sedation of anxious children undergoing dental treatment: A randomized cross-over trial.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacological methods, specifically sedatives, have gained popularity in managing the behavior of children during dental appointments. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare 1 m/kg intranasal dexmedetomidine, 0.3 mg/kg intranasal midazolam, and nitrous oxide in evaluating the level of sedation, behavior of the child, onset of sedation, physiologic signs, and adverse effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-over trial, 15 children aged 6-8 years were randomized to receive intranasal atomized dexmedetomidine, intranasal atomized midazolam, and inhalation nitrous oxide at three separate visits. After administering the sedative agent, a single pulpectomy was performed during each appointment, and the outcomes were recorded. The washout period between each visit was 1 week. RESULTS: All three sedative agents were equally effective in controlling overall behavior. Dexmedetomidine showed lower sedation level scores (agitated; score 9) than the other groups. There was a statistically significant difference in the onset of sedation, with dexmedetomidine having the longest onset of 36.2 ± 9.47 min. Coughing and sneezing were predominantly observed after administration of intranasal midazolam. Oxygen saturation levels were statistically lower in the intranasal midazolam group during local anesthesia administration and post-treatment. CONCLUSION: 0.3 mg/kg intranasal midazolam is as effective as nitrous oxide sedation for controlling behavior and providing adequate sedation in pediatric dental patients. However, 1 m/kg dexmedetomidine did not provide the same level of sedation and had a significantly longer onset. 0.3 mg/kg intranasal midazolam is an effective alternative to nitrous oxide sedation in anxious children.

[Oral sedation in pediatric outpatient dentistry]. / Primenenie peroral'noi sedatsii pri ambulatornom stomatologicheskom vmeshatel'stve u detei.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Was to improve the quality of treatment in pediatric outpatient dentistry with the effective use of oral sedation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 60 children aged 3-12 years who were undergoing therapeutic/surgical dental treatment. All children's somatic state was assessed as ASAI-II. All children met a number of psychological, anamnestic and procedural criteria. Midazolam and chloropyramine in a dose calculated for the patient's body weight were used as components of oral sedation. The estimated sedation depth was Ramsay II-III. The study included an analysis of objective (the time of comfortable treatment, the amount of treated or removed teeth per visit, the possibility of treatment without anesthesia during further visits) and subjective (the possibility of contact with the child during treatment, behavioral reactions at home and on further visits) criteria. Negative behavioral reactions and dental effects were also assessed. RESULTS: The treatment features correlated with the age category and gender of the patient. In the older age group of 7-12 years, the amount of comfortable treatment time was higher, the possibility of contact with the child reached 100% (which is twice as much as in the younger one), and also a larger number of patients were treated during further visits without an anesthetic aid. At the same time, in the younger age group of 3-6 years, the volume of treatment per visit was higher, since it takes less time to treat a primary tooth than for a permanent one. Side effects (visual hallucinations, diplopia, hyperactivity, tearfulness and aggressiveness) were more often recorded in the younger age group, but emotional instability was equally manifested in both groups. CONCLUSION: In order to maximize the effectiveness of using oral sedation as a method, it is necessary to take into account the duration and traumatism of the proposed procedure, the peculiarities of age psychology and the peculiarities of the psychological development of boys and girls.

Acceptability of dental students and professionals concerning child behaviour management techniques: Systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: During child dental treatment, different behavior management techniques (BMTs) are applied and it is important to understand the possible discomfort in the operator. OBJECTIVE: The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the acceptability of dental students and professionals concerning BMTs applied with paediatric dentistry patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted, following the PEOS strategy: Population (P) - dental students/professionals (S); Exposure (E) - BMTs preconized by the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, Outcome (O) - proportion of BMT acceptance; and Study design (S) - observational studies based on data from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, BVS (Lilacs/BBO), Cochrane, and Open Grey databases up to September 2021. The eligible studies were submitted to data extraction and to the evaluation of methodological quality, using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. The certainty of evidence was evaluated by GRADE. RESULTS: The search retrieved 710 articles; a total of 21 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were used for qualitative analysis. Among the undergraduate students and dentists, the most accepted techniques were tell-show-do and positive reinforcement, while paediatric dentists preferred the tell-show-do technique and dental professionals with graduate degrees preferred sedation using nitrous oxide and positive reinforcement. The least accepted technique was protective stabilization. Seven students presented a low risk for bias, while 14 presented a high risk. The certainty of evidence was classified as very low. CONCLUSION: Although the basis of available certainty of evidence is scarce and with a considerable risk for bias, it is still possible to conclude that the more accepted techniques were based on communication.

Dental treatment outcomes in Thai children treated for severe early-childhood caries under general anaesthesia and non-pharmacological behaviour management: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare dental-treatment outcomes, oral-hygiene improvement, and patient co-operation during follow-up visits between children treated under general anaesthesia (GA) and non-pharmacological behaviour management (NP). METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the dental chart records of healthy patients less than 71-month-old with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) from 2008 to 2020 with at least a 6-month follow-up. The demographical data, dental-treatment outcomes, oral-hygiene status, and patient behaviour at the follow-up visits were analysed by the Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Friedman test, and Wilcoxon test with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: This study included 210 GA cases and 210 age-matched control NP cases. The GA group had a significantly higher caries experience, lower patient co-operation, poorer oral hygiene, and higher number of complex dental treatment than the NP group at baseline (p < 0.001). The number of children who had incomplete dental treatment under non-pharmacological behaviour management was higher than the GA group. After treatment, the number of new carious teeth in the NP group was significantly higher than in the GA group only at the 6-month follow-up. However, there was no significant difference in treatment failure, oral-hygiene improvement, and patient behaviour between groups. CONCLUSION: Although patients in the GA group had higher dental and behaviour problems than the NP group, the overall dental-treatment outcomes, including oral hygiene and behaviour improvement, were not significantly different between groups Therefore, regular follow-up and preventive treatment in the maintenance phase are essential for children with severe early-childhood caries.

Assessing modalities used to alleviate postoperative pain in children receiving dental treatment under general anaesthesia: a systematic review.

Postoperative pain is generally a novel experience among paediatric patients. Topical anaesthetics, distraction procedures, and buffering of anaesthetic solutions have been used in reducing the postoperative pain. In this review, the authors assessed various modalities used to alleviate postoperative pain in children's dental treatment under general anaesthesia. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol were strictly adhered to in this systematic review. Specific keywords including postoperative pain, general anaesthesia, children, and dental extraction were used in the search for relevant randomized control trial studies in Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed, and included articles published until June 2021. From a total of 191 abstracts, 21 were reviewed. From the six studies with the usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone or in combination with paracetamol, four observed that the preoperative use of NSAIDs alone or in combination was better than paracetamol alone, one discovered preoperative intravenous paracetamol was better than postoperative intravenous paracetamol, and the remaining study found no difference among various groups. Of two studies comparing the usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with opioid analgesics, one stated intravenous fentanyl in combination was better, while the other study found no difference among groups. The results obtained in this review can be utilized by physicians to control postoperative pain in children undergoing dental treatment under general anaesthesia.

Role of artificial intelligence in behavior management of pediatric dental patients-a mini review.

The influence of behavioral science on various organizations has been experiencing remarkable growth worldwide. With the integration of recent technological advancements, behavioral science's impact has expanded into diverse fields such as finance and policy. The term "artificial intelligence" (AI) has become increasingly prevalent, but it is essential to provide clarity before proceeding. AI pertains to the theory and creation of systems capable of executing tasks that typically necessitate human intelligence. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in pediatric dentistry has emerged as a promising avenue to enhance patient care, improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline treatment planning, and augment patient engagement. AI-driven tools such as image analysis, natural language processing, and machine learning algorithms assist in early caries detection, orthodontic treatment planning, behavior management, and personalized oral hygiene education for pediatric patients. This paper presents an overview of AI's applications in pediatric dentistry, particularly behavior management, highlighting its potential to revolutionize traditional pediatric dental practices.

Alternative Augmentative Communication in paediatric dentistry: a mighty tool to amplify mother tongue's power.

AIM: The role of a child's mother tongue in shaping his/her identity and emotional development is crucial. In the context of paediatric dentistry, this principle should always be reminded. The child's right to effective communication, even when a language barrier exists, is a fundamental principle, as recently stated in the 'Rights from the Start' rights fact sheet. Preserving a child's native language in the dental setting, especially in the context of an increasingly diverse society with a significant number of refugee children, is essential. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies can assist in bridging language gaps and improving treatment outcomes, blending with the traditional approaches used in paediatric dentistry. The article promotes flexibility, innovation, and empathy in paediatric dentistry to provide optimal care and ensure that every child's rights are respected. CONCLUSION: • The relationship with one's mother language plays a central role in children's growth and in the relationship they can develop with the world, "motherised" by the words of the caregiver. • The interaction between immigrant children from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds and dentists providing their care requires the integration of traditional paediatric dental techniques with AAC strategies that can compensate for deficient oral communication. • Dentists treating immigrant children should follow the suggestions proposed in this article to establish the best and most tailored paediatric setting for the child's specific needs.

Parental use and acceptance of an accessible, commercially available intraoral camera for teledentistry in their children.

PURPOSE: The potential of combining teledentistry and engaging parents as underutilised resources to monitor paediatric dental health was emphasised during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains underexplored. This study aims to assess parental acceptance and use of a commercially available intraoral camera (IOC) for effective remote monitoring. METHODS: 47 child-parent dyads, where the parent was the main caregiver and the child was treated under general anaesthesia for early childhood caries, were recruited. Caregivers were trained to image their child's teeth on a commercially available IOC. Subsequently, submitted images were reviewed asynchronously by dentists for image quality, presence of dislodged fillings, abscesses, cavitation, and oral hygiene. Post-surgery monitoring was performed using teledentistry at 1 and 2 months and in-person at 4 months. A modified Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) was used to record caregiver acceptance for study procedures. RESULTS: A mean TUQ of 6.09 out of 7 was scored by caregivers. Caregiver-reported issues were limited to problems with technique and child uncooperativeness. The number of clear images during the second teledentistry review was improved compared to the first (p = 0.007). 68% of children liked having images of their teeth taken. CONCLUSION: This study supports the feasibility of using an IOC as a clinically appropriate avenue for teledentistry with a high level of caregiver-child acceptance.

The Effect of Temperament on Outcomes of Opioid and Non-Opioid Pediatric Dental Sedation.

Purpose: To assess oral sedation success using midazolam and hydroxyzine with and without meperidine, and to assess the relationship between child temperament and sedation outcomes. Methods: This study recruited children between the ages of 36 and 95 months who were randomly assigned to receive dental treatment with an oral sedation regimen of midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) and hydroxyzine (1.0 mg/kg) with or without meperidine (1.5 mg/kg). Data were collected from the treatment log and electronic health records. Parents completed the Child Behavior Questionnaire Short Form (CBQ-SF) to assess temperament. Results: The study included 37 participants. The overall treatment success rate was 54 percent. There were no significant differences in sedation outcome with age, sex, insurance status, sedation regimen, isolation method or duration of procedure. Children with high pre-operative Frankl behavioral ratings were more likely to have a successful sedation outcome (P <0.01). Children who displayed high soothability experienced higher rates of success (P =0.04), which was more pronounced in the non-opioid group (P <0.01). Conclusion: The study showed low rates of success for a relatively small sample size. There was no difference in sedation success between the opioid group and non-opioid group. However, pre-procedure behavior and temperament characteristic of sooth- ability may warrant more exploration as predictors of sedation success.

Undergraduate dental students' perceptions of dental pain in children - A grounded theory study.

INTRODUCTION: There is an underuse of pain management strategies in dental care for children, possibly owing to perceived stress and discomfort when treating children, which has also been reported by dental students. The aim of this study was to explore how undergraduate dental students experience and understand pain related to dental treatment in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Interviews were held with 21 Swedish dental students, from 3 dental schools, all in their final 2 years of education. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to Grounded Theory. RESULTS: A core category, seeking guidance to avoid pain, was identified and related to 6 conceptual categories. The students used different strategies to manage pain prevention in child dentistry and to become skilled dentists. They described high levels of stress, as well as having high expectations on themselves when treating children. The stress led to a surface learning approach, something the students were not fully aware of. CONCLUSION: All children should have the right to be ensured optimal pain prevention in dental care. The basis for this is laid during undergraduate education. Thus, pain management in child dentistry is an area in need of special attention in this respect. The academic staff has an important role in supporting their students in their process to gain an identity as professional dentists. To ensure that students incorporate an understanding of the importance of pain prevention when treating children there is a need to create more integration between theory and clinical training in undergraduate education.

Dog-Assisted Therapy (DAT) for the management of anxiety during paediatric dental care. A scoping review.

AIM: Distraction techniques in paediatric dentistry can be effective in decreasing the child's attention span from an unpleasant or stressful procedure. Distraction is achieved through imagination, audio, and/or visual stimuli. It has been shown that the accompaniment and participation of animals or pets, specifically dogs (Dog-Assisted Therapy or DAT), during medical, oral, and therapeutic activities can improve the physical and mental health of patients, especially children. However, there is limited information available regarding the impact of incorporating a certified therapy dog into the paediatric dental environment as a distraction strategy to alleviate anxiety levels during dental procedures. METHODS: This scoping review aimed to identify and review published articles concerning the use of DAT in paediatric dentistry. The article discusses indications, benefits, and potential risks to human health and safety in clinical settings. Eligible sources encompass clinical trials, observational studies, and narrative reviews written in either English or Spanish and published over the last two decades, sourced from four electronic databases. Ultimately, seven pertinent studies were included in the review. CONCLUSION: DAT presents itself as a promising alternative in managing anxiety and stress among children during dental visits. The integration of a therapy dog and its handler into the paediatric oral care team should be thoughtfully considered by clinicians as a means to enhance the comfort and compliance of apprehensive patients.

Violencia contra niños, niñas y adolescentes: actuación del odontólogo y nivel de conocimiento para la detección y atención de casos / Violence against children and adolescents: dentist´s performance and knowledge levels for case detection and care

Objetivo: Analizar el nivel de conocimiento del pro-fesional odontólogo sobre la violencia ejercida en niños, niñas y adolescentes, poniendo énfasis en la importancia de su actuación para la detección, aten-ción y derivación de potenciales casos que posibi-liten, dentro de un contexto multidisciplinario, una intervención oportuna y efectiva. Materiales y méto-dos: Se realizó una encuesta a 132 odontólogos, 123 mujeres y 9 hombres, con experiencia profesional de 2 a 43 años, profesores universitarios especialistas en odontopediatría, cursantes de carreras de espe-cialización y posgrados afines o aquellos que desa-rrollan sus actividades laborales en 2 hospitales pú-blicos de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires aten-diendo a menores de edad. La encuesta totalizó 15 preguntas distribuidas en 3 categorías cuyos ejes te-máticos ahondaron respecto al conocimiento sobre violencia ejercida contra menores (Categoría 1), sos-pecha de un presunto maltrato infantil en la consulta (Categoría 2) y factores que condicionan la eventual derivación del caso (Categoría 3). Cada pregunta in-cluida en las 3 categorías se direccionó conforme a si el ámbito profesional del sujeto encuestado era es-pecialista/cursante de posgrado (Grupo 1) u hospi-talario (Grupo 2). Resultados: En la primera categoría se observó una significativa carencia de formación específica en la etapa de grado con un 89% para el grupo 1 y 93,75% para el grupo 2, aunque éstos úl-timos han accedido a cursos de perfeccionamiento y actividades tendientes a incrementar destrezas y aptitudes en un 71,87%, contrastando con el 24% del otro grupo. Asimismo, el 29% del grupo 1 y un 50% del grupo 2 conocían los protocolos establecidos en sus entornos profesionales. Ambos consideraron que el odontólogo no está capacitado para detectar conductas orientativas hacia posibles casos (89%, grupo 1; 87,5%, grupo 2). Para la segunda categoría, el grupo 1 respondió positivamente en un 73%, en tanto que el grupo 2 lo hizo en un 84,38%. En la ter-cera categoría se destacó para el grupo 1 un elevado porcentaje en las preguntas relacionadas al temor por parte del odontólogo de agravar las acciones Objetivo: Analizar el nivel de conocimiento del pro-fesional odontólogo sobre la violencia ejercida en niños, niñas y adolescentes, poniendo énfasis en la importancia de su actuación para la detección, aten-ción y derivación de potenciales casos que posibi-liten, dentro de un contexto multidisciplinario, una intervención oportuna y efectiva. Materiales y méto-dos: Se realizó una encuesta a 132 odontólogos, 123 mujeres y 9 hombres, con experiencia profesional de 2 a 43 años, profesores universitarios especialistas en odontopediatría, cursantes de carreras de espe-cialización y posgrados afines o aquellos que desa-rrollan sus actividades laborales en 2 hospitales pú-blicos de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires aten-diendo a menores de edad. La encuesta totalizó 15 preguntas distribuidas en 3 categorías cuyos ejes te-máticos ahondaron respecto al conocimiento sobre violencia ejercida contra menores (Categoría 1), sos-pecha de un presunto maltrato infantil en la consulta (Categoría 2) y factores que condicionan la eventual derivación del caso (Categoría 3). Cada pregunta in-cluida en las 3 categorías se direccionó conforme a si el ámbito profesional del sujeto encuestado era es-pecialista/cursante de posgrado (Grupo 1) u hospi-talario (Grupo 2). Resultados: En la primera categoría se observó una significativa carencia de formación específica en la etapa de grado con un 89% para el grupo 1 y 93,75% para el grupo 2, aunque éstos úl-timos han accedido a cursos de perfeccionamiento y actividades tendientes a incrementar destrezas y aptitudes en un 71,87%, contrastando con el 24% del otro grupo. Asimismo, el 29% del grupo 1 y un 50% del grupo 2 conocían los protocolos establecidos en sus entornos profesionales. Ambos consideraron que el odontólogo no está capacitado para detectar conductas orientativas hacia posibles casos (89%, grupo 1; 87,5%, grupo 2). Para la segunda categoría, el grupo 1 respondió positivamente en un 73%, en tanto que el grupo 2 lo hizo en un 84,38%. En la ter-cera categoría se destacó para el grupo 1 un elevado porcentaje en las preguntas relacionadas al temor por parte del odontólogo de agravar las acciones de violencia familiar (64%) o represalias (55%) contra el niño si efectuaran la derivación. En los mismos ítems, el grupo 2 respondió con porcentajes disímiles (28,13% y 31,25%, respectivamente). Finalmente, se diferenciaron claramente los resultados en cuanto al desconocimiento de los procedimientos a seguir si amerita derivar un caso, con un 71% para el grupo 1 y un 34,38% para el grupo 2. Conclusión: Se hace imperioso instruir y capacitar al profesional odontólogo, concientizándolo sobre la necesidad de conocer la legislación vigente y los mecanismos de detección y ulterior derivación. Si bien aquellos que desempeñan su labor a nivel hospitalario aparecen como mejor preparados para actuar, existe un evidente desconocimiento general que conlleva el riesgo de no advertir o proceder inadecuadamente en casos de violencia que atenta contra la seguridad de niños, niñas y adolescentes (AU)

Objective: To analyze the level of knowledge of the dental professional about violence committed in children and adolescents, emphasizing the importance of their actions for the detection, care and referral of potential cases that allow, within a multidisciplinary context, an intervention timely and effective. Materials and methods: A survey was carried out with 132 dentists, 123 women and 9 men, with professional experience of 2 to 43 years, university professors in the specialty of pediatric dentistry, students of specialization course and related postgraduate courses or those who carry out their work activities in 2 public hospitals in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires that care for minors. The survey included 15 questions distributed in 3 categories whose thematic axes delved into knowledge about violence committed against minors (Category 1), suspicion of alleged child abuses in the consultation (Category 2) and factors that condition the eventual referral of the case (Category 3). Each question included in the 3 categories is addressed according to whether the professional field of the surveyed subject was a specialist/graduate student (Group 1) or a hospitalist (Group 2). Results: In the first category, a significant lack of specific training is observed in the undergraduate stage with 89% for group 1 and 93.75% for group 2, although the latter have accessed courses and improvement activities aimed at to increase skills and abilities by 71.87%, in contrast to 24% in the other group. Likewise, 29% of group 1 and 50% of group 2 knew the protocols established in their professional environments. Both considered that the dentist is not trained to detect guiding behaviors towards possible cases (89%, group 1; 87.5%, group 2). For the second category, group 1 responded positively by 73%, while group 2 did so by 84.38%. In the third category, a high percentage stood out for group 1 in the questions related to the dentist's fear of aggravating the actions of family violence (64%) or retaliation (55%) against the child if he made the referral. In the same items, group 2 responded with dissimilar percentages (28.13% and 31.25%, respectively). Finally, the results were clearly differentiated in terms of lack of knowledge of the procedures to follow if a case warrants referral, with 71% for group 1 and 34.38% for group 2. Conclusion: It is imperative to instruct and train the professional dentist, raising awareness about the need to know current legislation and the detection and subsequent referral mechanisms. Although those who carry out their work at the hospital level seem to be better prepared to act, there is an evident widespread lack of knowledge that entails the risk of not announcing or acting inappropriately in cases of violence that threaten the safety of children and adolescents (AU)

Intervención interdisciplinaria para la prevención primaria de la caries en lactantes de 0 a 18 meses / Interdisciplinary intervention for the primary prevention of dental caries in children under 18 months

Introducción: la caries es la enfermedad crónica más frecuente en la infancia. La presencia de caries en la dentición temporal es el principal factor de riesgo para desarrollar caries en la dentición definitiva. La mayoría de los factores de riesgo de la caries son modificables y pueden convertirse en elementos para la prevención y control de la enfermedad. Con el objetivo de reducir la incidencia de caries a la edad de 18 meses se diseña una intervención interdisciplinaria de prevención primaria dirigida a familias con niños que se visitan siguiendo el Protocol d’activitats preventives i de promoció de la salut a l’edat pediátrica (PAPPS). Material y métodos: ensayo clínico no aleatorizado, realizado en dos centros de asistencia primaria de Catalunya desde enero de 2019 hasta junio de 2022. En uno de los centros se diseñó e implementó una intervención educativa de prevención primaria de la caries con consejos y habilidades para las familias. En el otro centro se mantuvo el protocolo habitual de recomendaciones. Se evaluó y comparó la incidencia de caries en ambos grupos a la edad de 18 meses con un modelo de regresión logística estimado con el programa R. Resultados: la incidencia de caries a los 18 meses fue superior en los niños del grupo control (OR = 6,0; IC 95% 1,8-20,2), a pesar de que la valoración del riesgo de caries basada en el sistema llamado Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) indicó mayor riesgo de desarrollo de caries en los lactantes del grupo intervención. Conclusión: la intervención interdisciplinaria de prevención primaria de la caries incorporada en los programas de salud infantil reduce la incidencia de caries en los primeros años de vida. (AU)

Introduction: caries is the most common chronic disease in childhood. The presence of caries in the primary dentition is the main risk factor for developing caries in the permanent dentition. Most of the risk factors for caries are modifiable and can become elements for the prevention and control of the disease. With the goal of reducing the incidence of caries in children at age 18 months, we designed an interdisciplinary primary prevention intervention aimed at families with children who attended routine preventive visits within the PAPPS (“Protocol d’activitats preventives i de promoció de la salut a l’edat pediàtrica”) child health programme. Methodology: non-randomized clinical trial carried out in two primary care centres in Catalonia between January 2019 and June 2022. In one of the centres, an educational intervention for the primary prevention of caries was designed and implemented to provide families with guidance and skills. In the other centre, patients received standard care. The incidence of caries was assessed and compared in both groups at age 18 months by means of a logistic regression model fitted with the R software. Results: the incidence of caries at 18 months was higher in children in the control group (OR=6.0; 95% CI: 1.8-20.2), despite the fact that the caries risk assessment by means of the “Caries Management by Risk Assessment” (CAMBRA) protocol indicated a higher risk of caries in infants in the intervention group. Conclusion: the interdisciplinary primary caries prevention intervention integrated into the child health prevention and promotion programme achieved a reduction in the incidence of caries in early childhood. (AU)

Manejo odontológico en paciente con síndrome de Cornelia de Lange / Dental treatment of a patient with Cornelia de Lange syndrome

El síndrome de Cornelia de Lange (SCdL) es un trastorno genético poco frecuente y se atribuye principalmente a mutaciones en los genes NIPBL, SMC3 y SMC1A. Sus principales características clínicas son múltiples anomalías congénitas, dimorfismo facial, hirsutismo, hipertricosis, retraso psicomotor, discapacidad intelectual, restricción del crecimiento prenatal y postnatal, anomalías de manos y pies, así como malformaciones congénitas que afectan a distintos órganos. En pacientes con SCdL es necesario hacer hincapié en la higiene oral debido a la discapacidad intelectual que puede presentarse y asegurarse de que se realiza una adecuada valoración y saneamiento dental de forma periódica con el fin de prevenir enfermedades bucodentales. El objetivo de este reporte de caso es describir el manejo odontológico de un paciente de 10 años con SCdL y revisar las características clínicas y hallazgos radiológicos presentes en la cavidad oral (AU)

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetic disorder and is principally attributed to mutations in the NIPBL, SMC3 and SMC1A genes. The main clinical characteristics are multiple congenital anomalies, facial dimorphism, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, psychomotor retardation, intellectual disability, prenatal and postnatal growth restriction, hand and foot anomalies, as well as congenital malformations affecting different organs. In patients with CDLS, it is necessary to focus on oral hygiene due to the intellectual disability that may be present and to ensure that adequate dental valuation and hygiene is routinely performed in order to prevent oral diseases. The aim of this case report is to describe the dental management of a 10-year-old patient with CDLS and review the clinical characteristics and radiological findings that are present in the oral cavity (AU)

Periodontitis en niños sanos de 3 años: dos casos con seguimiento a 5 años / Periodontitis in healthy 3-year-old children: two cases with 5-year follow-up

Objetivo: La periodontitis en dentición primaria es ex- cepcional en niños sin enfermedades sistémicas. El objetivo de este informe es describir las características clínicas y ra- diográficas de dos casos de niños de 3 años sistémicamente sanos con periodontitis, y su tratamiento con seguimiento a 5 años. Casos clínicos: En ambos casos, a los 3 años de edad los niños fueron derivados al especialista en periodoncia por su odontopediatra debido a la pérdida muy temprana de inci- sivos inferiores. El examen clínico y radiográfico mostró pér- dida de inserción clínica, pérdida ósea y movilidad dental en otros incisivos superiores e inferiores. Se realizó la intercon- sulta médica y se descartó que los niños padecieran enferme- dades relacionadas con el diagnóstico de periodontitis como manifestación de una enfermedad sistémica. El tratamiento consistió en la instrucción de medidas de higiene bucal que debían ser ejecutadas por los padres, ins- trumentación subgingival, antisépticos locales, medicación antibiótica sistémica y mantenimiento periodontal. No se rea- lizaron extracciones como parte del tratamiento. En ambos casos uno de los incisivos presentes al momento de la con- sulta se perdió prematuramente, antes de los 4 años. El resto de los incisivos primarios cumplieron su ciclo normal. Luego de 5 años de seguimiento, a la edad de 8 años, ambos niños presentaban los incisivos y los primeros molares permanentes periodontalmente sanos y el resto de los dientes primarios sin signos de periodontitis (AU)

Aim: Periodontitis in primary dentition is exceptional in children without systemic diseases. The objective of this article is to describe the clinical and radiographic charac- teristics of two cases of systemically healthy 3-year-old chil- dren with periodontitis, and their treatment, with a 5-year follow-up. Clinical cases: In both cases, at 3 years of age, the chil- dren were referred to a periodontic specialist by their pediat- ric dentist, due to the very early loss of lower incisors. Clin- ical and radiographic examination showed loss of clinical attachment, bone loss and dental mobility in other upper and lower incisors. A medical consultation was carried out and diseases related to the diagnosis of periodontitis as a mani- festation of a systemic disease were ruled out. The treatment consisted of instruction on oral hygiene measures that had to be carried out by the parents, subgingival instrumentation, local antiseptics, systemic antibiotic medication, and perio- dontal maintenance. No extractions were performed as part of the treatment. In both cases, one of the incisors present at the time of consultation was lost prematurely, before the age of 4 years. The rest of the primary incisors completed their normal cycle. After 5 years of follow-up, at the age of 8 years, both children showed periodontally healthy incisors and first permanent molars, and the rest of the primary teeth without signs of periodontitis (AU)

Time to complain about pain: Children's self-reported procedural pain in a randomised control trial of Hall and conventional stainless steel crown techniques.

BACKGROUND: Children's pain in dentistry has undesirable short- and long-term consequences; therefore, less invasive treatments merit consideration. AIM: To investigate procedural pain scores for two treatments for carious primary molars in New Zealand primary care. DESIGN: This study was a split-mouth randomised control trial, with secondary outcome analysis. Children (4-8 years) with proximal carious lesions on matched primary molars had one tooth treated with the Hall technique (HT) and one treated with a conventional stainless steel crown (CT); treatment type and order of treatment were randomly allocated (allocation concealment). The Wong-Baker self-report pain scale measured pretreatment dental pain, procedural pain at each treatment and post-operative pain. RESULTS: Data were analysed for 103 children: 49 children had the HT first and 54 children had the CT first. Procedural pain scores did not differ by treatment type, with 71.8% and 76.7% of children reporting low pain for the HT and the CT, respectively. Fewer children reported low procedural pain for the second treatment than the first (p = .047). Most children reported low procedural pain for both treatments (58.3%), although 41.7% experienced moderate-high procedural pain with at least one treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The HT caused pain for as many children as the CT. There is an opportunity for better dental pain management in this setting.