Children who have more toothache-related behaviors have worse masticatory performance.

Inadequate masticatory function can be linked to oral problems and result in functional limitation. In children, this function is extremely important for their development, and therefore efforts are made to keep it adequate. To evaluate whether dental pain-related behaviors are associated with masticatory performance (MP). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 123 children from 3 to 5 years old. Toothache was evaluated using the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire. Anthropometric data, predominant type of breathing, presence of malocclusion, number of posterior teeth cavitated by dental caries, and masticatory units were collected. MP was measured by the median size of the crushed particles (X50 ) after 20 cycles of chewing the Optocal test material and was calculated with the Rosin-Rammler equation. Data analysis involved a description of variable frequencies, as well as simple and multiple linear regression, and a confidence level set at 95%. The mean scores of dental pain-related behaviors were 1.14 (±1.90) points, and the mean X50 value was 3.96 mm (±1.34). In the multiple linear regression, a larger median size of the particles remained associated with a higher score of dental pain-related behaviors (ß = +.81, p = .01); mouth breathing (ß = +.22, p = .01); and a smaller number of masticatory units (ß = -.22, p = .02). Greater dental pain-related behavior scores are associated with worse MP, regardless of the presence of associations with predominantly oral breathing and fewer chewing units.

The influence of malocclusion, sucking habits and dental caries in the masticatory function of preschool children.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of malocclusion, nutritive and non-nutritive sucking habits and dental caries in the masticatory function of preschool children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 384 children aged 3-5 years. A single examiner calibrated for oral clinical examinations performed all the evaluations (kappa > 0.82). Presence of malocclusion was recorded using Foster and Hamilton criteria. The number of masticatory units and of posterior teeth cavitated by dental caries was also recorded. The parents answered a questionnaire in the form of an interview, addressing questions about the child's nutritive and non-nutritive sucking habits. The masticatory function was evaluated using Optocal test material, and was based on the median particle size in the masticatory performance, on the swallowing threshold, and on the number of masticatory cycles during the swallowing threshold. Data analysis involved simple and multiple linear regression analyses, and the confidence level adopted was 95%. The sample consisted of 206 children in the malocclusion group and 178 in the non-malocclusion group. In the multiple regression analysis, the masticatory performance was associated with age (p = 0.025), bottle feeding (p = 0.004), presence of malocclusion (p = 0.048) and number of cavitated posterior teeth (p = 0.030). The swallowing threshold was associated with age (p = 0.025), bottle feeding (p = 0.001) and posterior malocclusion (p = 0.017). The number of masticatory cycles during the swallowing threshold was associated with the number of cavitated posterior teeth (p = 0.001). In conclusion, posterior malocclusion, bottle feeding and dental caries may interfere in the masticatory function of preschool children.

The influence of malocclusion, sucking habits and dental caries in the masticatory function of preschool children

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of malocclusion, nutritive and non-nutritive sucking habits and dental caries in the masticatory function of preschool children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 384 children aged 3-5 years. A single examiner calibrated for oral clinical examinations performed all the evaluations (kappa > 0.82). Presence of malocclusion was recorded using Foster and Hamilton criteria. The number of masticatory units and of posterior teeth cavitated by dental caries was also recorded. The parents answered a questionnaire in the form of an interview, addressing questions about the child's nutritive and non-nutritive sucking habits. The masticatory function was evaluated using Optocal test material, and was based on the median particle size in the masticatory performance, on the swallowing threshold, and on the number of masticatory cycles during the swallowing threshold. Data analysis involved simple and multiple linear regression analyses, and the confidence level adopted was 95%. The sample consisted of 206 children in the malocclusion group and 178 in the non-malocclusion group. In the multiple regression analysis, the masticatory performance was associated with age (p = 0.025), bottle feeding (p = 0.004), presence of malocclusion (p = 0.048) and number of cavitated posterior teeth (p = 0.030). The swallowing threshold was associated with age (p = 0.025), bottle feeding (p = 0.001) and posterior malocclusion (p = 0.017). The number of masticatory cycles during the swallowing threshold was associated with the number of cavitated posterior teeth (p = 0.001). In conclusion, posterior malocclusion, bottle feeding and dental caries may interfere in the masticatory function of preschool children.

Association between epilepsy and oral maxillofacial trauma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic literature search was conducted (through April 2017), using Web of Science, PubMed and Virtual Health Library, manual reference list, and grey literature searches. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The meta-analysis was performed using R software. A total of 30 studies was included in this review. From a total of 25 studies included in the meta-analysis, the prevalence of oral and maxillofacial injuries among epileptic subjects was 19%. Among the epileptic patients who suffered some type of injury due to epileptic seizures, 52% had facial soft tissue injuries (95%CI: 28-75%), 18% suffered dental trauma (95%CI: 11-29%), and 12% (95%CI: 4-28%) suffered maxillofacial fractures. Epileptic patients were more likely to have oral and maxillofacial injuries than healthy individuals (OR: 5.22, 95%CI: 2.84-9.36) and subjects with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (OR: 2.77, 95%CI: 1.28-5.99), but not than patients with special needs (OR: 2.45,95%CI: 0.95-6.31).

Association between occlusal characteristics and the occurrence of dental trauma in preschool children: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Occlusal features may increase the risk of dental trauma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between occlusal characteristics and the occurrence of dental trauma in preschool children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based case-control study was conducted with a representative sample of 200 children 3-5 years of age enrolled at private and public preschools in the city of Diamantina, Brazil. The case and control groups were matched for gender, age and type of preschool (public or private) at a ratio of 1:1 (100 cases and 100 controls). Independent variables of interest to the study (occlusal characteristics) and potential confounders (sociodemographic characteristics, sucking habits and lip coverage) were investigated. Intra-examiner and inter-examiner kappa values were higher than 0.80 for all oral conditions evaluated. The SPSS 22.0 program was used to analyse the data. Descriptive and univariate analyses as well as simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The occlusal feature most strongly associated with trauma was anterior open bite (OR = 3.80; 95% CI: 1.42-10.16). Maxillary anterior crowding (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.00-4.63) and overjet (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.58-2.17) were associated with the occurrence of trauma independently of the confounding variables (sociodemographic characteristics, sucking habits and lip coverage), but these variables lost their significance when adjusted for other types of malocclusion. Anterior open bite remained strongly associated with dental trauma, regardless of confounding variables and other types of malocclusion. CONCLUSION: Anterior open bite was the main variable associated with dental trauma in the preschool children analysed independently of the confounding variables and the presence of other malocclusions.