Pulp Calcification in Traumatized Primary Teeth - Classification, Clinical And Radiographic Aspects.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to standardize the nomenclature of pulp alteration to pulp calcification (PC) and to classify it according to type, quantity and location, as well as relate it to clinical and radiographic features. STUDY DESIGN: The dental records of 946 patients from the Research and Clinical Center for Dental Trauma in Primary Teeth were studied. Two hundred and fifty PC-traumatized upper deciduous incisors were detected. RESULTS: According to radiographic analysis of the records, 62.5% showed diffuse calcification, 36.3% tube-like calcification, and 1.2% concentric calcification. According to the extension of pulp calcification, the records showed: 80% partial calcification, 17.2% total coronal calcification and partial radicular calcification, and 2.8 % total coronal and radicular calcification. As for location, only 2.4% were on the coronal pulp, 5.2% on the radicular pulp and 92.4% on both radicular and coronal pulp. Regarding coronal discoloration, 54% were yellow and 2% gray. In relation to periradicular changes, 10% showed widened periodontal ligament space, 3.1% internal resorption, 10% external resorption, 10.4% periapical bone rarefaction. CONCLUSIONS: Since PC is a general term, it is important to classify it and correlate it to clinical and radiographic changes, in order to establish the correct diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of each case.

Giant Cell Fibroma in a Two-Year-Old Child.

The giant cell fibroma is a benign nonneoplastic fibrous tumor of the oral mucosa. It occurs in the first three decades of life in the mandibular gingiva, predominantly, showing predilection for females. This article reports a case of giant cell fibroma in a 2-year-old girl, which is an uncommon age for this lesion. The patient was brought for treatment at the Research and Clinical Center of Dental Trauma in Primary Teeth, where practice for the Discipline of Pediatric Dentistry (Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil) takes place. During clinical examination, a tissue growth was detected on the lingual gingival mucosa of the lower right primary incisors teeth. The lesion was excised under local anesthesia and submitted to histological examination at the Oral Pathology Department of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, which confirmed the diagnosis of giant cell fibroma. There was no recurrence after 20 months of monitoring. This instance reinforces the importance of oral care from the very first months of life in order to enable doctors to make precocious diagnosis and offer more appropriate treatments for oral diseases, as well as to promote more efficient oral health in the community.

Conhecimento dos cirurgiões-dentistas frente aos cuidados com a saúde bucal de crianças em idade pré-escolar / Knowledge of dentists compared to oral health care for children in preschool

Objetivo - Avaliar o nível de conhecimento dos cirurgiões-dentistas, exceto odontopediatras, frente aos cuidados com a saúde bucal de crianças em idade pré-escolar. Métodos - Foram questionados 137 cirurgiões-dentistas que não possuíam nenhum curso de pós-graduação em Odontopediatria. Foram coletados dados referentes à região que se formou; se realizou curso de especialização ou não; se o entrevistado tinha filho e a idade do mesmo na primeira visita ao cirurgião-dentista; qual a idade ideal para iniciar a limpeza na cavidade do bebê, qual o tipo de dentifrício e sua quantidade para diferentes faixas etárias, indicação ou não de chupeta ou mamadeira e a idade da remoção do habito. Resultados - Verificou-se que a maioria (62%) dos cirurgiões-dentistas fez graduação na região sudeste; 53% já eram especialistas; 33% têm filhos; 75% levariam seus filhos ao cirurgião-dentista entre zero até um ano de idade; 84% afirmaram que a idade ideal para iniciar a limpeza na cavidade bucal do bebê é antes do irrompimento do primeiro dente; 89% dos entrevistados não indicam dentifrícios para bebês edêntulos; 84% dos entrevistados indicam para pacientes entre quatro e seis anos dentifrício com flúor; 37% indicam a remoção da chupeta até dois anos de idade; 72% dos cirurgiões-dentistas indicam o bico da mamadeira ortodôntico e 36% indicam a remoção da mamadeira precocemente. Conclusão - A maioria dos cirurgiões-dentistas têm conhecimento suficiente para orientar os pais quanto aos hábitos de higiene, prevenção e remoção de hábitos deletérios das crianças, apesar de não serem da área de Odontopediatria.

Objective - This study assessed the level of knowledge of dentists compared to oral health care for children in preschool. Methods - We questioned 137 dentists who did not have any postgraduate course in Pediatric Dentistry. Data were collected regarding the region that was formed, held a specialist course or not, whether the respondent had a son the same age and in first visit to the dentist, which is the ideal age to start cleaning the cavity of the baby, which type and quantity of toothpaste for different age groups, indicating whether or not a pacifier or bottle and removing the old habit. Results - We found that most (62%) of dentists had graduated from the southeast, and 53% were specialists, 33% have children, 75% would take their children to the dentist between zero to one year of age; 84% said the ideal age to start cleaning the baby's oral cavity before the first tooth eruption, 89% of respondents did not indicate toothpaste for babies, 84% of respondents indicated for patients between four and six years with fluoride toothpaste, 37% indicate the removal of the pacifier after two years of age, 72% of dentists indicate the orthodontic nipple of the bottle and 36% indicate the removal of the bottle early. Conclusion - Most dentists have enough knowledge to guide parents as to hygiene, prevention and removal of harmful habits of children, although not in the area of Pediatric Dentistry.