Impact of income and financial subsidies on oral health care utilization among persons with disabilities in Singapore.

BACKGROUND/AIM(S): Globally, studies have shown that the dental disease burden among persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) is high and can be attributed to lower utilization levels of dental services. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of income and financial subsidies on the utilization of dental care services among persons with IDD in Singapore. METHODS: Between August 2020 and August 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted via centres offering Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children, special education schools and adult associations in Singapore serving persons with IDD. A sample of 591 caregivers of children and adults with IDD completed the survey. Data on sociodemographic information, oral health behaviours and dental utilization were collected. Financial subsidy status was assessed by the uptake of a government-funded, opt-in Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) for low-income families that provided a fixed subsidy amount for dental services in the primary care setting. Statistical analysis was carried out using univariable, multiple logistic regression and modified Poisson regression. Propensity score matching was carried out in R version 4.0.2 to assess the impact of financial subsidies on oral health care utilization among persons with IDD. RESULTS: Compared to those with lower gross monthly household incomes, the adjusted prevalence ratios of having at least one dental visit in the past year, having at least one preventive dental visit in the past year, and visiting the dentist at least once a year for persons with IDD with gross monthly household incomes of above SGD$4000 were 1.28 (95% CI 1.08-1.52), 1.48 (95% CI 1.14-1.92) and 1.36 (95% CI 1.09-1.70), respectively. Among those who were eligible for CHAS Blue subsidies (247 participants), 160 (62.0%) took up the CHAS Blue scheme and 96 (35.4%) visited the dentist at least yearly. There was no statistically significant difference in the utilization of dental services among individuals enrolled in the CHAS Blue subsidy scheme among those eligible for CHAS Blue subsidies. CONCLUSION: Higher household income was associated with a higher prevalence of dental visits in the past year, preventive dental visits in the past year, and at least yearly dental visits. CHAS Blue subsidies alone had limited impact on dental utilization among persons with IDD who were eligible for subsidies.

Development of oral health resources and a mobile app for caregivers and autistic children through consensus building.

LAY ABSTRACT: Caregivers of autistic children often lack knowledge regarding oral homecare and when and where to see the dentist. To address this need, we developed a series of information on oral health. An autistic child assisted in developing two social stories to showcase a dental visit. A mobile app was developed to deliver the above mentioned. Other features include creation of customised social stories and visual schedule and an inbox to allow dentists to send messages to parents. The developed information and social stories were reviewed by experts and parents. The app also underwent anonymous and independent testing by parents. Overall the information and app were well received by the experts and parents.

The use of aesthetic paediatric full coverage restorations among paediatric dental practitioners: an international survey.

Despite the recent growing evidence in support of prefabricated zirconia crown use as a successful option in managing grossly carious anterior and posterior primary teeth, the use of such crowns remains controversial within the paediatric dental profession. This study aims to assess the use of aesthetic full coverage paediatric restorations among paediatric dentists worldwide, with emphasis on aesthetic prefabricated zirconia crowns. This was an online cross-sectional survey questionnaire study comprising of 38 multiple-choice questions disseminated worldwide through the contact lists of national, regional and international paediatric dental organisations and social media platforms. The survey was completed by 556 respondents thus achieving power, with 391 (70.3%) females and 165 (29.7%) males. The respondents were from 55 different countries spread across six continents. The use of aesthetic full coverage restorations was reported by 80% (n = 444) of the respondents. For restoring anterior teeth, participants mainly used either composite strip crowns (94.4%, n = 419) or zirconia crowns (73.6%, n = 327), while those who used aesthetic crowns for restoring posterior teeth mainly used zirconia crowns (68.2%, n = 303). Within the limitations of this study, the results have shown a wide use of full coverage aesthetic restorations, including the use of zirconia crowns, of primary teeth within this international sample of practicing dentists.

Mesenchymal stromal cell exosomes enhance dental pulp cell functions and promote pulp-dentin regeneration.

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) therapies are currently being explored for dental pulp regeneration. As the therapeutic effects of MSCs in tissue repair are mediated mainly through the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes, we investigated here the cellular processes and molecular mechanisms modulated by MSC exosomes in dental pulp regeneration. Using dental pulp cell (DPC) cultures, we demonstrated that MSC exosomes could increase DPC migration, proliferation, and odontogenic differentiation. The enhancement of these cellular processes was mediated through exosomal CD73-mediated adenosine receptor activation of AKT and ERK signaling. Consistent with these observations, MSC exosomes increased the expression of dentin matrix proteins and promoted the formation of dentin-like tissue and bridge-like structures in a rat pulp defect model. These effects were comparable to that of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) treatment. MSC exosomes also yielded recellularized pulp-dentin tissues in the root canal of endodontically-treated human premolars, following subcutaneous implantation in the mouse dorsum. Together, our findings suggest that MSC exosomes could exert a multi-faceted effect on DPC functions including migration, proliferation and odontogenic differentiation to promote dental pulp regeneration. This study provides the basis for development of MSC exosomes as a cell-free MSC therapeutic alternative for pulp-dentin regeneration.

Tooth autotransplantation: An umbrella review.

Tooth autotransplantation is a versatile procedure with several clinical applications among patients across different age groups. The success of this procedure depends on multiple factors. Despite the wealth of studies available, no single primary study or systematic review is able to report on every factor affecting the outcomes of autotransplantation. The aims of this umbrella review were to evaluate treatment-related and patient-related outcomes of autotransplantation and to assess the pre-, peri- or post-operative factors that could affect these. An umbrella review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. A literature search of five databases was performed up to 25 September 2022. Systematic Reviews (SR) with and without meta-analysis evaluating autotransplantation were included. Calibration among reviewers was carried out prior to study selection, data extraction and Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment. Study overlap was calculated using corrected covered area. Meta-meta-analysis (MMA) was performed for suitable SRs. The AMSTAR 2 critical appraisal tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. Seventeen SRs met the inclusion criteria. Only two SRs were suitable for conduct of MMA on autotransplantation of open apex teeth. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates were >95%. A narrative summary on factors that could affect autotransplantation outcomes and comparisons of autotransplantation to other treatment options were reported. Five SRs were rated as 'low quality' and 12 SRs were rated as 'critically low quality' in the AMSTAR 2 RoB assessment. In order to facilitate a more homogenous pool of data for subsequent meta-analysis, an Autotransplantation Outcome Index was also proposed to standardise the definition of outcomes. Autotransplantation of teeth with open apices have a high survival rate. Future studies should standardise the reporting of clinical and radiographic findings, as well as the definition of outcomes.

Qualitative study on barriers and coping strategies for dental care in autistic children: Parents' perspective.

BACKGROUND: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face challenges in home oral care, accessing a dentist and accepting dental treatment. AIM: To determine the barriers to dental care for autistic children in Singapore through the experiences and opinions of their parents. DESIGN: A qualitative exploratory approach comprising semistructured interviews and a focus group discussion was used. Audio recordings were transcribed and coded into themes using NVivo 12 software. RESULTS: Participants were 23 parents of autistic children aged 3-12 years. The following barriers were identified: (1) Sensory, physical and parental knowledge issues are related to toothbrushing difficulties and use of nonoptimally fluoridated toothpaste in autistic children. (2) Accessing dental services was hindered by a lack of parental knowledge on the importance of an early dental home, parental apprehension about the child's acceptance of dental care, lack of information on specialised dentists and perceived high cost of dental visits. Parental suggestions for improvements included understanding the child's sensory profile, more information on finding a suitable dentist and subsidisation of costs for multiple acclimatisation visits. CONCLUSION: Caregivers' education, information about specialised dentists and the availability of specific dental care resources for autistic children in Singapore are needed for optimising their dental care.

Outcomes of preformed metal crowns placed with the conventional and Hall techniques: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Preformed metal crowns (PMCs) have been used to restore carious primary molars and have a high success and survival rate. There are two methods currently employed for PMC placement - the conventional technique (CT) and Hall technique (HT). AIM: This systematic review aims to compare the outcomes of PMCs placed using the CT and HT. DESIGN: This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement. A literature search of five databases was performed up to 23 August 2022. Clinical studies comparing carious primary molars restored with PMCs using either technique with a minimum 12-month follow-up were included. Risk of bias (RoB) assessment was performed using the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment tool. RESULTS: Five articles met the inclusion criteria, and four were included for meta-analysis. The 12- and 24-month success and survival rates were above 85% for both groups, with no significant differences shown at 12 and 24 months. The HT requires a shorter treatment duration, is more cost-effective and has a high level of acceptability among parents when compared to the CT. Four articles were rated fair, and one article was rated good in the RoB assessment. CONCLUSION: Greater consideration may be given towards using the HT as part of standard treatment procedures in managing carious primary molars. Future studies should standardise reporting of outcomes to facilitate a more homogeneous pool of data for future meta-analysis.

Deep dentine caries management of immature permanent posterior teeth with vital pulp: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Preservation of pulpal vitality in immature permanent teeth with deep carious lesions is essential to enable further root development and apical closure. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the evidence regarding the efficacy, presented clinical and radiographic success, and bacteriological outcomes of techniques and materials used for deep caries management in vital immature permanent teeth. DATA: Randomised controlled trials evaluating Vital Pulp Therapy (VPT) for deep caries in immature permanent posterior teeth without history of irreversible pulpitis, and a follow up period of ≥12 months were included. Study characteristics and outcomes of all included studies were summarized. Cochrane's Risk-of-bias tool 2.0 was used to assess the quality of eligible studies. Meta-analyses using a random effects model was performed. SOURCES: Electronic databases PubMed, Medline, Embase, LILACS, CENTRAL and Cochrane Library were searched, followed by a manual search. STUDY SELECTION: Twelve papers were included into the review. Overall success rates were 98%, 93.5%, 93.6% for direct pulp cap (DPC), indirect pulp cap (IPC) and pulpotomy (PP) respectively. Regardless of VPT technique, there were no significant differences between clinical and radiographic success rates. Completion of root development was achieved in more than 83% of the cases in all VPT techniques. CONCLUSIONS: All treatment modalities for PP were equally efficient with high overall success rates. Biodentine showed high success rates regardless of technique. No significant differences were found in the clinical and radiographic success rates between various follow-up intervals. There are no clear conclusions regarding superiority of either VPT technique on apical closure. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This manuscript systematically evaluates the evidence and summarises all available data on each vital pulp therapy technique and materials used in treatment of deep caries in immature permanent teeth with vital pulps. The limitations in the current scientific literature and recommendations for future research are also highlighted.

Occupational and speech therapists' perceptions of their role in dental care for children with autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative exploration.

BACKGROUND: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have challenges in home oral care, accessing a dentist and accepting dental treatment. Occupational therapists (OTs) and speech therapists (STs) are likely to be involved earlier in managing communication, behavioural and sensory processing issues. AIM: To determine perceived issues, barriers and potential solutions to dental care for children with ASD in Singapore from the perspective of OTs and STs. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion involving OTs and STs who treat children with ASD were conducted. Audio recordings were transcribed and coded into themes using the NVivo 12 software. RESULTS: Emergent themes indicated that: (i) OTs and STs have important roles in recognition of issues with toothbrushing, oral pathology and harmful oral habits; (ii) OTs and STs were able to identify reasons for difficulties in oral home care for children with ASD and offer helpful strategies; and (iii) OTs and STs can play a role in pre-dental visit preparations but lack a clear dental referral pathway. CONCLUSIONS: OTs and STs exclusively assist in the early identification and referrals of children with ASD to the dentist. Interprofessional collaboration with dentists should be further explored to aid in the provision of preventive dental advice.

Effect of dental trauma management resources on dental practitioners' confidence and knowledge: A pilot cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The knowledge of standardized care guidelines is critical to the confidence of practitioners in managing dental trauma. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the awareness, use and impact of the International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines, and the online Dental Trauma Guide on general dental practitioners' self-reported confidence and knowledge in managing traumatic dental injuries in the primary and permanent dentitions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, pre-piloted, 27-item self-administered questionnaire survey was distributed electronically to general dental practitioners' working within five member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar) between September and December 2020. Data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test analysis for relevant comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 294 respondents completed the survey, with the majority being from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (47.4%) and Qatar (27.3%). A lack of evidence-based knowledge in managing traumatic dental injuries was evident among more than half of the respondents. Respondents who were cognizant of the recent International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines (2020) and those who use the Dental Trauma Guide routinely demonstrated a higher self-reported confidence level in managing both simple and complex primary dentition trauma, as well as simple traumatic dental injuries in the permanent dentition (p < .05). CONCLUSION: This survey highlights critical deficiencies in the knowledge of a large number of the respondents in the management of dental trauma which is likely to cause irreversible long-term patient effects.

Vital pulp treatment for traumatized permanent teeth: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic dental injuries involving the pulp are quite common and there is a need to evaluate the quality of evidence on the success of vital pulp treatment (VPT) interventions in traumatised permanent teeth. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the success of VPT in the management of traumatised human vital permanent teeth diagnosed with complicated crown or crown-root fractures. METHODS: An electronic search of the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Clinical Trial Registries and the grey literature was performed until 25th /8/2021. Controlled clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series with at least five cases and a minimum of 12-months follow-up were included. Non-English language literature was excluded. Two independent assessors performed study selection, data extraction and quality assessment using the National Institutes of Health's quality assessment tool. Disagreements were resolved through consensus/with a third assessor. RESULTS: A total of 14-studies (2-controlled clinical trials, 1-case-control, and 11-case series) published between 1978-2020, with a total of 1081 permanent teeth and an age range between 6-42 years-old were included. Bias analysis ranged considerably from 'good' to 'poor'. Meta-analysis was not performed due to data heterogeneity, unclear reporting, and limited number of controlled clinical studies. Partial pulpotomy was the main reported clinical procedure with an overall success rate between 82.9-100%. Complete pulpotomy and direct pulp capping were associated with lower success rates of 79.4-85.7% and 19.5%, respectively. Calcium hydroxide was the main pulp capping material with favourable clinical and radiographic success (79.4-100%). Biodentine® , mineral trioxide aggregate and IRoot® BP were also associated with a high clinical and radiographic success, 80-91%, 80-100%, and 90-100%, respectively, albeit in fewer studies. DISCUSSION: Although a high success rate has been reported when using VPT in managing pulpally involved traumatised teeth, the results of this systematic review clearly highlighted a paucity and low quality of the available evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Overall high success of VPT in the management of traumatised vital permanent teeth were reported, although based on limited evidence of well-conducted clinical studies. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO database (CRD42020205213).

Contemporary management of deep caries in primary teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To systematically evaluate the available evidence regarding contemporary management of deep caries in vital primary teeth. This review was carried out to facilitate the development of European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) guidelines on deep caries management of primary teeth in paediatric dentistry. METHODS: A systematic electronic literature search was conducted to locate studies reporting on interventions and medicaments used for the treatment of deep caries in vital primary teeth. To facilitate this, the Cochrane Library (1992 to up to December 6th, 2020), MEDLINE (PubMed, 1946 to December Week 1, 2020), Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, December 6th, 2020); EMBASE (Embase.com, 1974 to December 6th, 2020) and LILACS (1982 to December 6th, 2020) were accessed. Hand search of reference lists of included articles, as well as handbooks and grey literature search was also performed. Study screening was done in duplicate and study inclusions were agreed upon by all authors. Data extraction, and methodological quality and risk of bias assessment were carried out in duplicate for each of the included studies. Overall success rate of each intervention and medicament within the intervention was reported. Meta-analysis was also performed for high-quality studies reporting similar interventions and comparable outcomes in homogeneous population. RESULTS: A total of 1332 papers were identified. Following the primary and secondary assessment process, 36 papers were included in the review. Of these, 8 papers were deemed to represent 4 individual studies, leaving a total of 32 unique studies eventually included in the final analysis. These studies were further categorized into three main vital pulp treatment methods for analysis: indirect pulp capping (IPC), direct pulp capping (DPC), and pulpotomy (PP). Overall, IPC, DPC and PP interventions have high success rates with the reported clinical success rates higher than radiographic success rates. Medicaments used for IPC and DPC have similar success rates. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), ferric sulfate (FS) and formocresol (FC) PP showed similar success rates, and which were all higher than calcium hydroxide (CH). Majority of included studies (n = 22; 63%) were rated low in terms of their potential risk of bias, 6 studies were rated high (17%), and 7 studies were of unclear risk (20%). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the studies included, IPC, DPC, and PP can be recommended as effective treatment modalities for primary teeth with deep caries under specific conditions.

Cell-Based Therapy for Tooth Replantation Following Avulsion: A Systematic Review.

The management of avulsed teeth undergoing delayed replantation remains a clinical challenge as there are currently no effective interventions that can improve periodontal healing and prevent replacement root resorption. While several preclinical studies have reported varied success using cell-based tissue engineering to improve periodontal healing, a consensus is required before further clinical translation. Therefore, this systematic review seeks to evaluate the efficacy of cell-based therapy in promoting periodontal healing following delayed replantation in animal models. MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase were searched on September 27, 2020. Ten studies involving rodent and dog models met the inclusion criteria. Cell sources included gingiva, periodontal ligament (PDL), bone marrow, and adipose tissues. Generally, cell-based therapy had increased the proportion of root surfaces displaying periodontal healing and concomitantly reduced the proportion presenting with replacement root resorption and ankylosis. The best outcomes were observed following treatment with PDL-derived cells of various potency. Future preclinical studies will benefit from adopting measures to minimize bias during the conduct of animal experiments and the standardization of the outcome measures reporting. This will facilitate future reviews with possible pooling of results in the form of meta-analyses, allowing a consensus to be obtained from the literature. In addition, further research will be required to shed light on the implications of using allogeneic cells as well as the optimization of cell delivery protocols. The findings of this systematic review demonstrated the therapeutic potential of certain cell-based therapies in promoting periodontal healing following delayed replantation, thus highlighting their prospective clinical benefits and translational value. Impact statement Current therapies cannot predictably promote periodontal healing following delayed replantation of an avulsed tooth, especially when there is already significant root surface damage. This review systematically assessed the literature for preclinical studies employing cell-based therapies to promote periodontal healing following delayed replantation. The results showed that certain cell-based therapies significantly increased the formation of new periodontal ligament and reduced adverse healing outcomes of replacement root resorption and ankylosis. This highlights the potential clinical benefits and translational value of cell-based therapy for the replantation of avulsed teeth.

Vital Pulp Therapy in Primary Teeth with Deep Caries: An Umbrella Review.

Purpose: The purpose of this umbrella review was to retrieve and assess the available systematic reviews reporting on pulp treatment of vital primary teeth with deep carious lesions. Methods: A literature search was conducted on electronic bibliographic databases to locate systematic reviews reporting on vital pulp therapy techniques or medicaments with two-arm comparisons and a follow-up period of at least 24 months. Eligible reviews were selected, data were extracted, and the risk of bias was assessed using a risk of bias in systematic reviews (ROBIS) tool. The degree of overlap was evaluated by calculating the corrected covered area (CCA). Results: Nine systematic reviews that cited 96 primary studies, with a high degree of overlap (14 percent CCA) were included. Indirect pulp capping had the highest success rate (94 percent) at 24 months, followed by direct pulp capping (88.8 percent), with different medicaments not significantly affecting the outcome. Pulpotomy showed the lowest success rate (82.6 percent), with the highest quality of evidence supporting the effective application of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol (FC). Conclusions: The high success rate of pulp therapy techniques for the management of deep caries in vital primary teeth is evident; nevertheless, there remains insufficient evidence to draw scientifically solid conclusions about which technique and material are superior.

Conventional versus comprehensive dental prophylaxis: comparing the clinical outcomes between rubber cup and air polishing and the importance of plaque disclosure.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes in dental prophylaxis between rubber cup polishing and an air polishing system using erythritol powder, with or without prior dental plaque disclosure. Method and materials: In this single-blind, randomized, controlled, split-mouth clinical trial, healthy participants with full-mouth plaque score ≥ 60% were recruited. Quadrants in each participant were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: air polishing with prior plaque disclosure; air polishing without plaque disclosure; rubber cup polishing with prior plaque disclosure; or rubber cup polishing without plaque disclosure. Plaque scores and treatment time for each quadrant were recorded. Posttreatment satisfaction questionnaires for both the participants and operators were also completed. Results: In total, 88 participants consisting of 42 men and 46 women (mean age 23.1 ± 2.0 years) were recruited. Air polishing with prior plaque disclosure had significantly lower posttreatment marginal mean plaque score (21.7 ± 17.5%) compared to air polishing (33.5 ± 23.4%) or rubber cup polishing (34.5 ± 19.7%) without prior plaque disclosure (P < .001). Marginal mean treatment time for air polishing (325 seconds; SE = 10 seconds) was significantly shorter compared to rubber cup polishing (407 seconds; SE = 15 seconds) (P < .001). Both the participants and operators preferred air polishing over rubber cup polishing (P < .001). Conclusion: Prior plaque disclosure enhanced the effectiveness of plaque removal. Air polishing exhibited better treatment efficiency than rubber cup polishing and was the patients' and clinicians' preferred treatment modality.

Parental acceptance of silver diammine fluoride in children with autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have concerns with fluoride/silver content in silver diammine fluoride (SDF). AIM: To compare parental acceptance of SDF and dental fear between children with and without ASD. DESIGN: Three hundred parents were enrolled. Demographics, dental history, and dental fear were recorded. Subjects viewed an educational video and completed survey about SDF acceptance including the following: (a) overall acceptance, (b) aesthetic concerns by tooth location, (c) fluoride/silver concerns, and (d) its use as a general anaesthesia (GA) alternative. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were used. RESULTS: Significantly, more children with ASD had dental fear (ASD: 56% vs neurotypical: 26%). No differences in acceptance existed between the two groups overall or with respect to aesthetics, fluoride/silver content, or as an alternative to GA. Overall acceptance is >60%. Regardless of group, parents of older children were less likely to accept SDF as an alternative to GA (OR = 0.67 [95% CI: 0.50-0.90]). CONCLUSION: Parents of children with ASD had similar acceptance of SDF use compared to parents of neurotypical children. Children with ASD had higher levels of dental fear. Parents of younger children are more likely to accept SDF as an alternative to GA in both groups.

Pediatricians' Self-Efficacy Affects Frequency of Giving Oral Health Advice, Conducting Oral Examination, and Prescribing Referrals.

Purpose: To assess the role of pediatricians' self-efficacy on frequency of enquiring about dental visits, conducting oral examinations, and prescription of referrals to dentists.
Methods: Pediatricians and pediatric medicine residents in public hospitals in Singapore completed a self-administered written questionnaire between April and October 2015. Participants' demographics, training, knowledge of oral health, perceived importance of oral health, and confidence in health-promoting behaviors were assessed. Self-efficacy related to oral health, including frequency of enquiring about dental visits, conducting oral examinations, and prescribing dental referrals, was measured. Generalized linear models were used for bivariate and multivariable analyses.
Results: A total of 122 responses were analyzed out of 227 that were sent out (response rate: 53.7 percent). Confidence in oral health knowledge was related to the frequency of enquiring about dental visits (relative risk [RR] = 0.74; 95 percent confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.55 to 1.00; P =0.047). Confidence in identification of caries was related to frequency of examination for oral diseases (RR=0.62; 95% CI=0.49 to 0.79; P <0.001). Confidence in giving oral health advice was related to referral of children with special needs (B=0.30; 95% CI=0.07 to 0.53; P =0.01) and those without (B=0.42; 95% CI=0.23 to 0.61; P <0.001).
Conclusion: Pediatricians' self-efficacy was strongly associated with the frequency with which they advised, examined, and referred children for oral-health-related reasons. (J Dent Child 2019;86(3):131-8).

Anaesthetic efficacy of articaine versus lidocaine in children's dentistry: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Over the last few years, numerous reviews and studies have awarded articaine hydrochloride local anaesthetic (LA) a superior reputation, with outcomes of different studies demonstrating a general tendency for articaine hydrochloride to outperform lidocaine hydrochloride for dental treatment. Nevertheless, there seems to be no clear agreement on which LA solution is more efficacious in dental treatment for children. There is no previous publication systematically reviewing and summarising the current best evidence with respect to the success rates of LA solutions in children. AIMS: To evaluate the available evidence on the efficacy of lidocaine and articaine, used in paediatric dentistry. DESIGN: A systematic search was conducted on Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (OVID; 1950 to June 2017), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL; EBSCOhost; 1982 to June 2017), EMBASE (OVID; 1980 to June 2017), SCI-EXPANDED (ISI Web of Knowledge; 1900 to June 2017), key journals, and previous review bibliographies through June 2017. Original research studies that compared articaine with lidocaine for dental treatment in children were included. Methodological quality assessment and assessment of risk of bias were carried out for each of the included studies. RESULTS: Electronic searching identified 525 publications. Following the primary and secondary assessment process, six randomised controlled trials (RCT) were included in the final analysis. There was no difference between patient self-reported pain between articaine and lidocaine during treatment procedures (SMD = 0.06, P-value = 0.614), and no difference in the occurrence of adverse events between articaine and lidocaine injections following treatment in paediatric patients (RR = 1.10, P-value = 0.863). Yet, patients reported significantly less pain post-procedure following articaine injections (SMD = 0.37, P-value = 0.013). Substantial heterogeneity was noted in the reporting of outcomes among studies, with the overall quality of majority of studies being at high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: There is low quality evidence suggesting that both articaine as infiltration and lidocaine IAD nerve blocks presented the same efficacy when used for routine dental treatments, with no difference between patient self-reported pain between articaine and lidocaine during treatment procedures. Yet, significantly less pain post-procedure was reported following articaine injections. There was no difference in the occurrence of adverse events between articaine and lidocaine injections following treatment in paediatric patients.

Regenerative Endodontic Therapy in the Management of Nonvital Immature Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review-Outcome Evaluation and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Although the protocols in previously published studies appeared to be largely similar, there were inadequate evidence-based guidelines to support a single protocol. Using a meta-analysis, this systematic review aimed to summarize and quantitatively evaluate the outcomes for nonvital immature permanent teeth treated using the regenerative endodontic technique (RET) as well as critically appraise the level and quality of evidence of the existing publications. METHODS: Risk of bias assessment and level of evidence grading were performed on all included studies. Meta-analyses using a random effects model were performed to combine the results of randomized controlled trials. The pooled success rate for each exposure was estimated for each outcome (event rates with 95% confidence intervals). The outcomes of all included studies were summarized. RESULTS: Success rates for tooth survival and resolution of periapical pathosis were excellent; however, results for apical closure and continued root development were inconsistent. There are few well-reported randomized prospective clinical studies. Reporting of long-term outcomes and late-stage effects was sparse. No study evaluated health economic outcomes and improvements to patients' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Many knowledge gaps still exist within the studies published. Current published evidence is unable to provide definitive conclusions on the predictability of RET outcomes.

Outcomes and prognostic factors that influence the success of tooth autotransplantation in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tooth autotransplantation has been advocated for replacement of missing teeth or teeth that are unsuitable for restoration. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes and prognostic factors that influenced the success of tooth transplantation in a paediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the records of 75 patients (89 teeth). Demographic and prognostic factors were recorded and analysed for the clinical and radiographic outcomes for periodontal ligament (PDL) and pulp healing of transplanted teeth. RESULTS: The mean age at transplant was 13.2 years, and the mean follow-up observation period was 2.6±1.8 years with a range of 12.0 months to 9.9 years. The main reason for transplantation was to replace upper central incisors lost or missing due to dental trauma, hypodontia and dilaceration. Of the 45 teeth that were monitored for pulp revascularization, 75.6% showed clinical and radiographic signs of pulp healing and 24.4% showed signs of pulp necrosis and infection. Pulp healing was significantly related to the stage of root development of the transplant. Favourable PDL healing was observed in 87.6% of the transplants, while 13.5% showed signs of replacement resorption. PDL healing was significantly related to the stage of root formation of the transplanted tooth at the time of the surgery, the ease of handling and placement of the tooth, and the status of the alveolar bone at the recipient site at the time of the surgery. Overall success of tooth transplantation was 87.6%, and the survival rate was 94.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth transplantation carried out in children and adolescents demonstrated high success and survival, with the stage of root development influencing both the pulp and PDL healing of the transplanted teeth.