Self-reported satisfaction with teeth and associated factors in 12-year-olds.

OBJECTIVES: To explore self-reported satisfaction with teeth in 12-year-old children, and to study whether satisfaction was associated with child characteristics, oral health behaviours and previous experiences with teeth and dental treatment. METHODS: Data were retrieved from dental records of 4725 children and questionnaires including information on satisfaction with teeth, gender, parents' origin, parents' education, dental anxiety, tooth brushing frequency, use of dental floss, toothache, pain at last dental visit and caries. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Data were crosstabulated and tested using Chi-square statistics and multivariable logistic regression. The study was ethically approved. RESULTS: Most children (68%) were satisfied with their teeth. Children who were dissatisfied with teeth were more likely to have negative experiences with their teeth and dental treatment with higher probability of having experienced toothache (OR 1.6, CI 1.4-1.8), pain at last dental visit (OR 1.4, CI 1.2-1.6) or dental anxiety (OR 1.2, CI 1.1-1.4) than other children. In addition, children with caries in their primary (OR 1.4, CI 1.2-1.7) and permanent teeth (OR 1.2, CI 1.0-1.4) were more likely to be dissatisfied than those without caries. CONCLUSIONS: Most 12-year-olds were satisfied with their teeth. The strongest indicator for being dissatisfied was experiences with toothache, pain at last dental visit or caries while parents' origin and education were less important.

Oral health behaviours in 12-year-olds. Association with caries and characteristics of the children?

OBJECTIVE: To explore frequency of tooth brushing, dental flossing, fluoride supplements and sugar snacking in 12-year-olds, and to study how these oral health behaviours were associated with background characteristics and caries prevalence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 4779 children. Data were collected by clinical examination and questionnaires regarding oral health behaviours and child characteristics. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Data were tested using Chi-square statistics and analyzed by logistic regression. The study was ethically approved. RESULTS: Of the children, 81% brushed twice daily, 36% flossed once a week or more often, 39% used fluoride supplements daily and 48% consumed sugar between meals once a week or less often. Children who brushed twice daily more often flossed regularly, used fluoride daily and consumed sugar between meals less often than other children (p < .05). Girls and children whose parents had long education more often had favourable oral health behaviours than other children; brushed more frequently, more often used floss and fluoride supplements and consumed sugary snacks less often than other children (p < .05). In total, 40% of the children were caries-free. Children who brushed less than twice daily had more often caries than other children (OR 1.50, CI 1.29-1.74) when controlling for background characteristics and other oral health behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children brushed twice daily and these children had caries less often than other children. The use of dental floss, fluoride supplements or sugar snacking in addition to brushing twice daily, did not reduce the probability of having caries.

Identification of caries risk in 2-year-olds.

OBJECTIVE: The first aim was to describe presence of plaque, caries and oral health behaviours in 2-year-old children. The second aim was to measure increments in caries experience from 2 to 5 years of age and to study whether national background, visible plaque, caries and oral health behaviour at 2 years of age were associated with increments in caries experience. METHODS: The study population consisted of 392 children, of whom 211 were monitored from 2 to 5 years of age. At age 2 years, parents completed a questionnaire about family background and oral health behaviour. The presence of plaque and caries at tooth level was obtained from dental records. Data were tested with chi-square statistics and Mann-Whitney U test. Negative binomial regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between caries increment between 2 and 5 years of age and national background, visible plaque, caries and oral health behaviour at 2 years of age. RESULTS: Caries was found in 4.6% of 2-year-olds, and 4.6% had visible plaque. More than half of these children (57.9%) brushed twice daily, toothbrushing was introduced when the child was 7 months or older in 61.0% of the children, and 15.6% consumed sugary snacks daily. Non-Western children more often had caries, visible plaque and unfavourable oral health behaviour than Western children (P < .05). At age 5 years, 28.9% of the children had caries experience. Non-Western background, toothbrushing less than twice daily, not using fluoridated toothpaste, not using fluoride lozenges, consuming sugary drinks at night, consuming sugary snacks daily, presence of plaque and caries at 2 years of age were associated with caries increment between 2 and 5 years of age in bivariable analyses. The results from multivariable analysis showed that children who started toothbrushing late, children who brushed less than twice daily at 2 years of age and children of non-Western background had a higher probability of having caries increment from 2 to 5 years of age than other children. CONCLUSIONS: A small proportion of 2-year-olds had caries, but these children had several decayed teeth. Substantial differences in oral health and oral health behaviour were found between Western and non-Western children. The preventive care delivered to the studied children failed to prevent caries increment from 2 to 5 years of age.

Molar incisor malformation in six cases: description and diagnostic protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The term molar-incisor malformation (MIM) has recently been presented in the scientific literature, where it is described as a condition with localized impaired root development. Here we present 6 recently discovered cases referred to our departments. STUDY DESIGN: The patients were enrolled in the study after referral and were examined clinically and radiologically. Two extracted teeth were further examined with micro-computed tomography or microscopy. RESULTS: Affected teeth were first permanent molars with hypoplastic roots, narrow pulp chambers, and a hypercalcified dentine layer cervical to the pulp chamber. Two of the cases also had cervical constrictions on the upper incisors. The patients were 8 to 12 years of age and healthy, but had experienced serious medical conditions of the head and neck region in their first year of life. Some of the cases had been referred because of acute infection and pain. CONCLUSION: In 5 out of 6 patients, severe health problems in the head and neck region early in life may have been associated with root malformation in molars and incisors. Patients with MIM need to be followed closely, and extractions should be planned at the right time to avoid unnecessary infection and pain in addition to orthodontic problems.