Evaluating conceptual model measurement and psychometric properties of Oral health-related quality of life instruments available for older adults: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Older adults present a variety of oral diseases and conditions, in addition to co-morbidities and limited access to dental care, which significantly impact their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). There are many instruments published to measure OHRQoL. However, it is challenging for clinicians and researchers to choose the best instrument for a given purpose. PURPOSE: To identify OHRQoL instruments available for older adults and summarize the evidence on the conceptual and measurement model, psychometric properties, interpretability, and administration issues of OHRQoL instruments available for older adults through a systematic review. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and CENTRAL up to February 2023. Articles reporting information on the concept model measurement, psychometric properties, and administration issues of an instrument measuring OHRQoL in older adults were included. Two researchers independently evaluated each instrument using the Evaluating Measures of Patient-Reported Outcomes (EMPRO) tool. The overall score and seven attribute-specific scores were calculated (range 0-100): Conceptual and measurement model, Reliability, Validity, Responsiveness, Interpretability, Burden, and Alternative forms. RESULTS: We identified 14 instruments evaluated in 97 articles. The overall score varied between 73.7 and 8.9, with only six questionnaires over the threshold score 50.0. EORTC QLQ OH-15 (cancer-specific questionnaire) achieved the highest score (73.7), followed by OHIP (generic OHRQoL questionnaire) (66.9), GOHAI (generic OHRQoL questionnaire) (65.5), and OHIDL (generic OHRQoL questionnaire) (65.2). Overall, the Conceptual and measurement model and Validity showed the best performance, while Responsiveness and Interpretability showed the worst. Insufficient information was presented for an overall evaluation of DSQ and OHAI. CONCLUSION: The evidence supports using EORTC QLQ-OH15 as a specific instrument to assess OHRQoL in cancer patients and the OHIP-49, GOHAI, or OHIDL as generic instruments to assess OHRQoL either for cross-sectional or longitudinal studies in older adults.

Identifying Frailty in Older Adults in Rural Victoria, Australia: A Secondary Analysis of Population Health Data.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults in regional Victoria, Australia. Methods: Frailty status of 376 participants from the Crossroads II cross-sectional study was assessed by selected markers of frailty. The selected variables were psychometrically tested. Associations between frailty and socio-demographic, environmental and health factors were analysed using chi-square, ANOVA and binary logistic regression (BLR). Results: Estimated prevalence of frailty was 39.4%. BLR indicated that frailty decreased with higher educational attainment, (OR = .23; 95% CI: .10-.51) increased for divorced/separated participants (OR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.29-5.56) and when having three (OR = 3.27; 95% CI: 1.07-9.98), four (OR = 7.20; 95% CI: 2.22-23.31) or five or more chronic conditions (OR = 9.18; 95% CI: 2.83-29.72). Discussion: Frailty in this Australian regional community-dwelling sample was higher than other studies conducted in urban areas of Australia. Present results highlight the importance of exploring the multidimensionality of the frailty construct to have a better understanding which factors are associated with the development of this syndrome.

Emergency and sequalae management of traumatic dental injuries: a systematic survey of clinical practice guidelines.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and consequences of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) make them a public health problem. Trustworthy TDI clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) assist clinicians in determining a diagnosis and guide them to the most appropriate therapy. The aim of this systematic survey was to identify and evaluate the quality of CPGs for the diagnosis, emergency management, and follow-up of TDIs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was carried out in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Epistemonikos, Trip database, CPG websites, and dental societies to identify documents providing recommendations for the emergency and sequelae management of TDIs. Reviewers assessed the included guidelines independently and in duplicate, using the AGREE II instrument. ANOVA or Student's t-tests were used to determine the attributes of CPGs associated with the total score in AGREE II. RESULTS: Ten CPGs published between 2010 and 2020 were included, mostly from Europe (n = 6). The overall agreement between reviewers was very good (0.94; 95%CI 0.91-0.97). The mean scores (the higher the score, the better the domain assessment) per domain were as follows: Scope and purpose 78.0 ± 18.9%; stakeholder involvement 46.9 ± 29.6%; rigour of development 41.8 ± 26.7%; clarity of presentation 75.8 ± 17.6%; applicability 15.3 ± 18.8%; and editorial independence 41.7 ± 41.7%. The overall mean rate was 4 ± 1.3 out of a maximum score of 7. Two guidelines were recommended by the reviewers for use in practice and rated as high quality. CPGs developed by government organizations showed a significantly higher overall score. CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality of CPGs on TDI was suboptimal. CPG developers should synthesize the evidence and formulate recommendations using high-quality methodologies and standards in a structured, transparent, and explicit way.

Self-Rated Oral Health as a Valid Measure of Oral Health Status in Adults Living in Rural Australia.

It is unclear how well self-rated oral health (SROH) reflects actual oral health status in the rural Australian population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the clinically assessed oral health status and SROH of adults living in rural Australia. The data were from 574 participants who took part in the Crossroads II cross-sectional study. Three trained and calibrated dentists evaluated the oral health status of participants based on WHO criteria. SROH was assessed with the question 'Overall, how would you rate the health of your teeth and gums?', with a score ranging from excellent = 5 to poor = 1. A logistic regression analysis (LRA) was performed, allowing us to assess factors associated with SROH. The mean age of participants was 59.2 years (SD 16.3), and 55.3% were female. The key results from the LRA show poorer SROH in those with more missing teeth (OR = 1.05; 95% CI; 1.01-1.08), more decayed teeth (OR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.11-1.46), and more significant clinical attachment loss of periodontal tissue (6mm or more) (OR = 2.63; 95% CI: 1.29-5.38). This study found an association between negative SROH and clinical indicators used to measure poor oral health status, suggesting that self-rated oral health is an indicator of oral health status. When planning dental healthcare programs, self-reported oral health should be considered a proxy measure for oral health status.

Current State of Serious Games in Dentistry: A Scoping Review.

Objective: Over the past decade, serious games (SGs) have played a growing role in medical education and health promotion; however, little is known about their use in the field of oral health. This study provides a comprehensive synthesis about SGs developed for training oral health professionals or for health promotion in oral health. Material and Methods: A systematic search was conducted. The following electronic databases were reviewed: MEDLINE (1966 to September 2019), Embase (1980 to September 2019), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), LILACS and Scopus from inception to September 2019. Two reviewers independently screened and assessed the study's quality and extracted data. The Sardi and collaborators' tool was used to assess the quality of the evidence presented. Results: A total of 19 studies (25 articles) were selected. Games were divided into two categories: for specific educational purposes and for oral health promotion. Most studies involved oral health professions' students (n = 9) or school/preschool children (n = 9). Two studies included preschool children and parents. Interactive SGs were as effective as traditional noninteractive methods in improving oral health outcomes. Nonetheless, participants' feedback reflected a higher level of satisfaction in learning through games. The quality of the studies was limited due to the lack of a proper technical description of the games and the absence of discussion of the limitations and challenges of the games. Conclusion: The use of SGs in oral health is limited, and little valid empirical evidence is available to confirm their effectiveness. Further studies are required for using more rigorous designs, evaluation, and follow-ups.

Prevalencia y Severidad de Caries Dental en los Niños Beneficiarios del Programa de Salud Oral Asociados a Escuelas de Chile

RESUMEN: La caries es la enfermedad crónica más prevalente en niños constituyendo un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia y severidad de caries en niños y niñas pertenecientes al Programa de Salud Oral asociado a escuelas de la Junta Nacional de Auxilio Escolar y Becas (JUNAEB). Se realizó un estudio de corte trasversal basado en datos del año 2015 del Sistema Informático del Programa de Salud Oral de JUNAEB. Las variables de estudio fueron presencia y severidad de caries (índices ceod y COPD) y las variables de asociación exploratorias fueron zona geográfica, provincias, sexo, tipo de dependencia administrativa del colegio, tipo de enseñanza, sistema de salud, situación de extrema pobreza, tipo de dentición y tipo de atención. La asociación independiente entre las variables se analizó mediante el test de Chi2 y t-test. La muestra quedó constituida por 162.116 individuos, siendo el 50 % mujeres. La población estudiada mostró una prevalencia de 49 % y un índice ceod y COPD de 2,48 y 1,55 respectivamente. La mayor prevalencia (63 %) fue la zona centro sur y la región del Bío-Bío mostró los mayores índices de severidad (p<0,001). Las asociaciones más significativas fueron entre caries y el nivel socioeconómico y zona geográfica (p<0,001). Este estudio evidencia la asociación de la prevalencia/ severidad de caries y el nivel socioeconómico, y la distribución geográfica de la caries; lo cual hace necesario implementar medidas preventivas que compensen la ruralidad o la falta de fluoración del agua en algunas zonas geográficas de pobreza extrema.

ABSTRACT: Caries is the most prevalent chronic disease in children, constituting a worldwide public health problem. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of caries in children included in the Oral Health Program associated to schools of the National Board of School Aid and Scholarships (JUNAEB). A cross- sectional study based on data from 2015 electronic register JUNAEB Oral Health Program was carried out. The main variables studied were presence and severity of caries (dmft and DMFT indices) and association variables were geographical area, sex, type of administrative dependency of the school, type of education, health system, and situation of extreme poverty, type of teething and type of care. The independent association between the variables was analyzed using the Chi2 test and the t-test.The sample consisted of 162,116 individuals, 50 % being women. The studied population showed a prevalence of 49 % and a CEOD and COPD index of 2.48 and 1.55, respectively. The highest prevalence (63 %) was the south-central zone and the Bío- Bío region showed the highest severity indices (p <0.001). The most significant associations were between caries and socioeconomic level and geographic area (p <0.001). This study shows the association between caries prevalence / severity and socioeconomic level, and the geographical distribution of caries, which make necessary the implementation of preventive measures that compensate rurality, or the lack of water fluoridation in some areas of extreme poverty.

Correlation of the need for orthodontic treatment between the self-perception of chilean adolescents aged 14 to 18 years and the dentist's diagnosis / Correlación de la necesidad de tratamiento ortodóncico entre la autopercepción de adolescentes chilenos de 14 a 18 años con la observación del odontólogo

Background: To correlate the need for orthodontic treatment between the self-perception of Chilean adolescents from 14 to 18 years old with the observation of a dentist using the same assessment scale, as well as to determine if covariates such as gender, age and type of school influence the self-perception of the adolescent and the examiner. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of adolescents aged 14 to 18 years from public, subsidized and private schools in Temuco, Chile. The probability sample is stratified by course, from first to fourth year, a total of 414 students participated, according to the eligibility criteria. The photographic score of the aesthetic component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) was used. The statistical analysis of the data was performed with the SPSS Statistics program v.23. Results: 94.9% of the adolescents perceived themselves as having good aesthetics. The examiner considered that 77% presented this condition, p<0.00. Males perceived themselves better than females. At age 15, 1.7% of students considered themselves to have poor aesthetics, p<0.01. From the examiner's perspective, aesthetics are related to type of school, p<0.00. Conclusion: Adolescents perceive themselves better aesthetically than do the evaluators. The school type factor, according to the IOTN-AC examiner, shows a higher proportion of students with no need for orthodontic treatment in private schools, and a threshold need in municipal and subsidized institutions.

Correlacionar la necesidad de tratamiento ortodóncico, entre la autopercepción de adolescentes con el diagnóstico de un evaluador odontólogo, utilizando la misma escala de valoración, así también determinar si las variables como el género, la edad y la dependencia educacional influyen en la autopercepción del adolescente y la observación del examinador. Material y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, en adolescentes de 14 a 18 años de escuelas públicas, subvencionadas y privadas de Temuco-Chile. Muestreo probabilístico estratificado por cursos, de primero a cuarto medio con una muestra de 414 estudiantes, según los criterios de elegibilidad. Se utilizó el score fotográfico del componente estético (AC) del Índice de Necesidad de Tratamiento de Ortodoncia (INTO). El análisis estadístico de los datos fue realizado con el programa SPSS Statistics v.23. Resultados: El 94,9% de los adolescentes se autoperciben con una buena estética, el examinador considera que un 77% presenta esta condición, p<0,00. Los varones se perciben mejor que las damas. Los adolescentes de 15 años un 1,7% considera tener mala estética, p<0,01. Desde la perspectiva del examinador la estética se relaciona con la dependencia educacional, <0,01. Conclusión: Los adolescentes se autoperciben mejor estéticamente que lo diagnosticado por evaluadores odontólogos. El factor dependencia educacional según INTO-AC examinador, muestra mayor proporción de estudiantes sin necesidad de tratamiento ortodóncico en los establecimientos privados, y necesidad límite en los públicos y subvencionados.

usencia de asociación entre estrés parental y caries temprana de la infancia en preescolares / Absence of association between parental stress and early childhood caries in preschoolers

RESUMEN: La caries temprana de infancia (CTI) es un problema de salud pública. Los determinantes de CTI pueden ser biológicos, conductuales y psicosociales, siendo estos últimos los menos estudiados. El objetivo de este estudio es establecer la asociación entre estrés parental y CTI. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en niños de 3 a 5 años que asisten a jardines infantiles de INTEGRA en la ciudad de Temuco, Chile. La variable dependiente fue índice ceod; la variable independiente fue estrés parental, medida a través de la versión en español del Parenting Stress Index, versión corta (PSI-sf). El cuestionario fue entregado al cuidador principal del niño. Posteriormente, se realizaron los exámenes clínicos a los preescolares por investigadores calibrados. Las variables de control fueron sexo, estado civil, nivel socioeconómico, higiene oral y dieta cariogénica. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo con las características sociodemográficas. El test exacto de Fisher, la prueba ttest y ANOVA fueron utilizados para determinar asociación entre las variables de estudio (nivel de significancia p<0,05). Fueron incluidos 202 preescolares (105 niños y 97 niñas) con edad promedio de 3,3 (SD 0,6). Los cuidadores principales fueron mayoritariamente mujeres (91,0 %). El 48,5 % de los padres presentaron nivel de estrés adecuado y sólo un 18,3 % presentaron nivel de estrés clínicamente significativo. La prevalencia de caries fue un 69,8 %. No se encontró asociación entre alto nivel de estrés o estrés clínicamente significativo e índice ceod (p>0.05). Los padres que reportaron una peor salud de sus hijos o quienes no realizaban higiene oral, presentaron significativamente un mayor índice ceod (p<0,01). Los ingresos económicos y la composición familiar mostraron estar asociados a mayor índice ceod (p<0,05). Este estudio no mostró asociación significativa entre CTI y estrés parental.

ABSTRACT: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem. ECC determinants can be biological, behavioral and psychosocial, the latter being the least studied. The aim of this study is to establish the association between parental stress and ECC. A cross-sectional study was carried out with children from 3 to 5 years of age who attend INTEGRA kindergartens in Temuco, Chile, The dependent variable was dmft index. The independent variable was parental stress, measured by the Spanish version of the Parenting Stress Index, short form (PSI-sf). The questionnaire was given to the main caregiver of the child. Subsequently, preschooler clinical examinations were performed by calibrated researchers. Control variables were sex, marital status, socioeconomic level, oral hygiene and cariogenic diet of the preschooler. A descriptive analysis was carried out with the sociodemographic characteristics. Fisher's exact test, t test and ANOVA test were used to determine association between the study variables. The level of significance was p <0.05. Two hundred and two preschoolers were included (105 boys and 97 girls); the average age was 3.3 (SD 0.6). The main caregivers were mostly women, (91.0 %). Forty eight point five percent of parents presented an adequate level of stress and only 18.3 % presented a clinically significant level of stress. The prevalence of caries was 69.8 %. No association was found between high level of stress or clinically significant stress and dmft index (p> 0.05). Parents who reported worse health of their children, or who did not perform oral hygiene with their children presented a significantly higher dmft index (p <0.01). The economic income and the family composition showed to be significantly associated to a higher dmft index (p<0,05). This study showed no significant association between early childhood caries and parental stress.

Adaptation and validation of the PEDSQL™ oral health scale for toddlers in Chilean population.

BACKGROUND: The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Oral Health Scale was developed to measure oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The aim of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the parent-reported version for toddlers of PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale into Spanish and to assess the acceptability, reliability and validity of this version in Chilean preschool population. METHODS: The PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale for toddlers was cross-culturally adapted for the Spanish language using the recommended standards. To assess metric properties, a cross-sectional study was carried out with 301 children aged 2 to 5 years in Carahue, Chile. Chilean versions of the PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale, PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, and Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) were completed by the children's parents. Dental caries, malocclusion and dental trauma were examined by trained dentists. The PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale was administrated a second time 14-21 days after. The reliability of the scale was verified by analysis of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and reproducibility (Intraclass correlation coefficient - ICC). The validity of the construct was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis and known groups method. The convergent validity was assessed by calculating the Spearman's correlation with the ECOHIS questionnaire. RESULTS: The PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale demonstrated good reliability, with Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.79 and ICC of 0.85. A moderate-to-strong correlation was found between the PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale and the ECOHIS questionnaire (- 0.64); the PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale score was lower in children with poor than those with excellent/very good oral health (median 100 vs 85, p < 0.001); it also was lower in children with caries than in those caries-free (median 100 vs 90, p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found among groups according to malocclusion and traumatic dental injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The PedsQL™ Oral Health Scale for toddlers in Spanish showed to be equivalent to the original version, and its psychometric properties were satisfactory for application in a Chilean pre-school population.

Validation and usability of a mobile phone application for epidemiological surveillance of traumatic dental injuries.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are a public health problem, given their prevalence and consequences. However, their epidemiology is uncertain due to a general lack of quality data capture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and usability of a mobile phone-based application for community-based surveillance of traumatic dental injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mobile phone-based application, Dental Trauma Tracker (DTT), was developed. This system involves a mobile application for general users to report TDIs and a Web application for researchers to generate epidemiological data. The DTT evaluation used mixed methods and was conducted in three phases: (a) validation of a trauma identification system using preselected TDI images; (b) design evaluation by experts; and (c) usability evaluation measured by the reporting of three fictitious TDI cases and using the System Usability Scale (SUS). RESULTS: In the first phase, 182 participants participated. Most images showed over 95% accuracy, indicating that they adequately represented the type of dentoalveolar trauma being evaluated (κ = 0.75). The design evaluation identified nine usability problems-four of them with a "High priority" to be fixed, four with "Low priority," and one "No fix necessary." A total of 29 volunteers participated in the usability evaluation. The mean time for users to complete all of the reports was 7.8 ± 3.0 minutes. Mean SUS score was 67.4 ± 21.9 (Range: 0-100; worst to best). The global agreement between cases registered with the gold standard was also "Substantial" (κ = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary evaluation confirmed the App's usability, using a sample of potential users, as well as reporting on the results of an expert panel review of the DTT. These are the minimum requirements necessary before further expansion and widespread implementation occurs to confirm these results.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) in chilean population.

BACKGROUND: The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) measures the impact of dental diseases on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life both in children and their families. The aim of this study was to develop a Chilean Spanish version of the ECOHIS that is conceptually equivalent to the original and to assess its acceptability, reliability and validity in the preschool population of Chile. METHODS: The Chilean version of the ECOHIS was obtained through a process including forward and back-translation, expert panel, and cognitive debriefing interviews. To assess metric properties, a cross-sectional study was carried out in Carahue, Southern Chile (April-October 2016). Children younger than six years old without systemic diseases, disabilities or chronic medication from eleven public preschools were included. Parents were invited to complete the Chilean version of the ECOHIS, PedsQL™4.0 Generic Core and PedsQL Oral Health scales, and to answer global questions about their children's general and oral health. A subsample was administrated ECOHIS a second time 14-21 days after. A clinical examination was performed to assess dental caries, malocclusion, and traumatic dental injuries. Reliability was evaluated using measures of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and reproducibility (Intraclass correlation coefficient - ICC). Construct validity was assessed by testing hypotheses based on available evidence about known groups and relationships between different instruments. RESULTS: The content comparison of the back-translation with the original ECOHIS showed that all items except one were conceptually and linguistically equivalent. The cognitive debriefing showed a suitable understanding of the Chilean version by the parents. In the total sample (n = 302), the ECOHIS total score median was 1 (IQR 6), floor effect was 41.6%, and ceiling effect 0%. Cronbach's alpha was 0.89 and the ICC was 0.84. The correlation between ECOHIS and PedsQL™4.0 Generic Core was weak (r = 0.21), while it was strong-moderate (r = 0.64) with the PedsQL Oral Health scale. In the known groups comparison, the ECOHIS total score was statistically higher in children with poor than excellent/very good oral health (median 11.6 vs 0, p < 0.01), and in the high severity than in the caries-free group (median 8 vs 0.5, p < 0.01). No differences were found according to malocclusion and traumatic dental injuries groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results supported the feasibility, reliability and validity of the Chilean version of ECOHIS questionnaire for preschool children through proxy.

Dental caries prevention in children and adolescents: a systematic quality assessment of clinical practice guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for dental caries prevention in children and adolescents MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic search of CPGs on caries preventive measures between 2005 and 2016. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, TripDatabase, websites of CPG developers, compilers of CPGs, scientific societies and ministries of health. We included CPGs with recommendations on sealants, fluorides and oral hygiene. Three reviewers independently assessed the included CPGs using the AGREE II instrument. We calculated the standardised scores for the six domains and made a final recommendation about each CPG. Also, we calculated the overall agreement among calibrated reviewers with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: Twenty-two CPGs published were selected from a total of 637 references. Thirteen were in English and nine in Spanish. The overall agreement between reviewers was very good (ICC = 0.90; 95%CI 0.89-0.92). The mean score for each domain was the following: Scope and purpose 89.6 ± 12%; Stakeholder involvement 55.0 ± 15.6%; Rigour of development 64.9 ± 21.2%; Clarity of presentation 84.8 ± 14.1%; Applicability 30.6 ± 31.5% and Editorial independence 59.3 ± 25.5%. Thirteen CPGs (59.1%) were assessed as "recommended", eight (36.4%) "recommended with modifications" and one (4.5%) "not recommended". CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality of CPGs in caries prevention was moderate. The domains with greater deficiencies were Applicability, Stakeholder involvement and Editorial independence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should use the best available CPGs in dental caries prevention to provide optimal oral health care to patients.

Effectiveness of fluoride varnish in preventing early childhood caries in rural areas without access to fluoridated drinking water: A randomized control trial.

OBJECTIVES: Early childhood caries (ECC) constitutes a serious public health issue, especially in communities without water fluoridation. We assessed the effectiveness of biannual fluoride varnish applications to prevent ECC in children from nonfluoridated rural areas. METHODS: A triple-blind randomized control trial with two parallel arms was conducted with 275 two- to three-year-old children without cavitated carious lesions from 28 rural public preschools in Chile. The preschools were located in areas of low socioeconomic status without access to fluoridated water. An oral health education component was administered to children, parents and educators. A new toothbrush and toothpaste for each child was delivered to the parents at baseline and at four follow-up visits. The participants were randomly allocated to receive fluoride varnish or placebo applications every six months. Trained, calibrated dentists blind to the treatment arm performed visual dental assessments at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. The primary endpoint was the development of cavitated carious lesions in children during the 24-month follow-up period using WHO criteria, and the secondary outcomes were an increase in caries measured as a change in the index of decayed, missing or filled teeth (dmft) since the beginning of the study and the development of adverse effects. An intention-to-treat (ITT) approach was used for the primary analysis. RESULTS: We included 131 participants in the intervention group and 144 participants in the placebo group; of these children, 89 (67.9%) in the intervention group and 100 (69.4%) in the control group completed the protocol. The comparative ITT analysis of caries incidence after 24 months of follow-up showed a between-group prevention fraction of 18.9% (-2.9%-36.2%). Caries incidence was 45.0% for the experiment group and 55.6% for the control group (P = .081), with a mean dmft of 1.6 (SD = 2.4) and 2.1 (SD = 2.5), respectively. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, biannual fluoride varnish application is not effective in preschool children from rural nonfluoridated communities at a high risk of caries.

Graftless Maxillary Sinus Lift Using Lateral Window Approach: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The aim was to determine the survival rate of dental implants installed in the posterior region of the maxilla after a graftless maxillary sinus lift via the lateral window approach and to identify the factors involved in the results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was done on MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Scopus, and Science Direct up to June 2016; additional studies were identified through an analysis of references. Primary studies in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French were included; the selection and data extraction process was conducted by 2 investigators independently, and the methodological quality was evaluated by means of the Effective Public Health Practice Project's Quality Assessment Tool. RESULTS: The combined search identified 232 articles. After the selection process, 11 articles were identified, 9 of which were prospective and 2 were retrospective. In all of them, the graftless maxillary sinus lift was done with the immediate installation of the implant. All the studies included presented a low methodological quality. The mean survival rate of the implants was 97% with an average new intrasinus bone formation of 6.2 mm. CONCLUSION: This technique has a high implant survival although it is not possible to identify its correct indication and contraindication.

Success Rate of Autotransplantation of Teeth With an Open Apex: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to determine the success rate of autotransplanted permanent teeth with an open apex and to identify the most influential prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and SciELO databases was conducted for January 1990 to August 2015. The study eligibility criteria were primary studies that had evaluated patients with autotransplantation with an open apex, with or without preparation of the socket, and a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. The principal outcome was the success rate of autotransplanted teeth with an open apex. Two of us independently performed the selection process and data extraction. The Effective Public Health Practice Project's Quality Assessment Tool was used for the quality assessment of the studies. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated, with the 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included in the present analysis. Of the 21 studies, 10 were retrospective and 11 were prospective. All the studies were of weak methodologic quality. The overall success rate was 89.68%, the survival rate was 98.21%, and the mean follow-up period was 6 years, 3 months (standard deviation 5.81 years). Among the prognostic factors analyzed, the premolars had a lower failure risk than did the molars (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.84). The stage of development of the root and the autotransplantation receptor site showed no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The overall success rate and survival were high, despite the methodologic limitations of the included studies. Further study is needed of the prognostic factors that influence the success of autotransplantation with an open apex.

Prevalence of early childhood caries in non-fluoridated rural areas of Chile / Prevalencia de caries temprana de la infancia en zonas rurales sin agua fluorada de Chile

Introduction: early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a serious public health concern worldwide, especially in communities without water fluoridation. Objective: To determine the prevalence of ECC in 2 and 3 year old children attending rural daycare centers without access to water fluoridation. Methods: A cross-sectional study at community level was performed during 2012. The eligible population was composed of 2 and 3 year-old children from rural daycare centers located in nonfluoridated areas in regions La Araucania, Los Rios, and Los Lagos, Chile. Four calibrated examiners (ICC=0.83) measured the prevalence of dental caries based on criteria proposed by the WHO. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression models. Results: The study sample consisted of 587 children; two-year-olds accounted for 53.32 percent, and 52.47 percent were female. Prevalence of ECC was 51.62 percent with a mean dmft index of 2.53. Region de la Araucania had the highest ECC prevalence (52.79 percent). Variables that showed association were age, OHI-S and type of health insurance coverage (p<0.05). Conclusion: A high prevalence of ECC was found in areas with a non-fluoridated water supply.

Introducción: la Caries temprana de la infancia (CTI) constituye un serio problema de salud pública a nivel mundial, sobre todo en zonas rurales sin acceso a agua florada. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de CTI en niños de 2 y 3 años que asisten a jardines infantiles sin acceso agua potable florada. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal a nivel comunitario durante el 2012. La población elegible fueron niños de 2 y 3 años asistentes a Jardines rurales de zonas no fluoradas de las regiones de La Araucanía, Los Ríos y Los Lagos. Cuatro examinadores calibrados (ICC= 0,83) determinaron la prevalencia de caries usando los criterios propuestos por la OMS. La información fue analizada utilizando el test chi cuadrado, la prueba t-test y modelos de regresión logística. Resultados: La muestra quedo constituida por 587 niños de los cuales el 53,32% tenían 2 años y el 52,47 por ciento eran mujeres. La prevalencia de CTI fue de 51,62 por ciento con un índice ceod promedio de 2,53. La región con más alta prevalencia fue la Araucanía con un 52,79 por ciento. La variables que mostraron asociación fueron edad, IHO-S y previsión (p<0,05). Conclusión: La prevalencia de CTI en las zonas rurales sin agua florada es alta.

Estudio Comparativo de la Indicación y Tasa de Sobrevida de Materiales de Restauración Utilizados en Pacientes Pediátricos de 4 a 9 Años con Alto Riesgo de Caries / Comparative Study of the Indicated Survival Rate of Restorative Materials Used in Pediatric Patients 4 to 9 Years of Age with High Risk of Developing Caries

La elección del material restaurador a usar, puede ser una decisión crítica, especialmente en pacientes pediátricos de alto riesgo cariogénico y corta edad, debido a que idealmente, las restauraciones debieran acompañar al diente primario a su exfoliación natural, por lo que la indicación debe estar estrechamente ligada al riesgo cariogénico del paciente. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar si hay diferencias en la indicación y sobrevida de los materiales de restauración utilizados en la clínica pediátrica. Se llevo a cabo un estudio observacional retrospectivo. Se seleccionaron 60 pacientes de un universo de 369, de entre 4 y 9 años de edad, atendidos en la clínica Docente Asistencial de La Universidad de la Frontera, durante el año 2010, que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión de esta investigación: pacientes con alto riesgo cariogénico, molares primarios con tratamiento pulpar vital, restaurados con cemento de vidrio ionómero convencional, amalgama, resina compuesta o coronas de acero pediátricas. Para el análisis estadístico de los datos se utiliza el paquete estadístico Stata 8.0, realizándose un exploratorio de los datos, test de Fisher y el estimador de Kapan Meier para el análisis de sobrevida. Fueron estudiados 150 molares primarios de 60 pacientes, con una edad promedio de 6,8 años (DE±1,5 años). El tiempo de observación promedio fue de 10,4 meses (DE±3,7 meses). No se observó diferencias estadísticamente significativa entre los diferentes materiales de restauración, comparados entre si, excepto entre las amalgamas y los vidrios ionómeros (P=0,0510). El análisis de las tablas de sobrevida demuestra que la longevidad de las amalgamas y las coronas es similar, mientras que la restauración que presenta menor sobrevida son las realizadas con vidrio ionómeros.

The choice of restorative materials can be critical decisions, especially when it comes to high-risk pediatric patients and young cariogenic where professional commitment lies in the maintenance of the temporary works to its natural exfoliation time. So that the indication should be closely linked to the patient's caries risk. The objective of this study was to determine the survival of different restorative materials used in the pediatric clinic. We carried out a retrospective observational study, convenience sampling, 60 pediatric patients were selected from a total of 369, whose ages ranged between 4 and 9 years old and who attended the Universidad de La Frontera teaching clinic during 2010, and met inclusion and exclusion criteria of this research. Criteria included patients with high risk for caries, endodontically treated molars restored with amalgam, glass ionomer composite restoration and pediatric steel crowns. The analysis used the Stata 8.0 statistical package, Fisher exact test and survival analysis tables. We studied 150 primary molars of 60 patients, with an average age of 6.8 years (SD±1.5 years). The average observation time was 10.4 months (SD±3.7 months). There was no statistically significant difference between different restorative materials compared, except between amalgam and glass ionomer those found at the limit of statistical significance (P=0.0510). Analysis of survival tables showed that the longevity of amalgam fillings and crowns was similar, while the restoration had lower survival rates than those made with glass ionomer.