Impact of Pulp Necrosis on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Children with Early Childhood Caries.

Purpose: To assess the impact of pulp necrosis on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with early childhood caries and their caregivers.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with a consecutive sample of children who were divided into three groups: (1) caries-free children; (2) with untreated carious lesions and without pulp necrosis; and (3) with untreated carious lesions and at least one tooth with pulp necrosis. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and a dental clinical examination using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System index. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Mann-Whitney tests and Poisson regression were performed (P <0.05).
Results: A total of 532 children and their legal guardians participated in the study. Children with pulp necrosis had a greater negative impact on the OHRQoL versus those with untreated carious lesions without pulp necrosis (ratio of unadjusted and adjusted rates [RR] = 1.59; 95 percent confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.36 to 1.86; P <0.001), as measured by the total ECOHIS score. in Group 3, four- and five-year-old children had a greater negative impact on the OHRQoL than two- and three-year-old peers (RR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.08 to 1.72; P <0,001).
Conclusion: The presence of pulp necrosis increased the negative impact on OHRQoL of children with untreated carious lesions and their guardians.

Molar-incisor hypomineralization in quilombola children and adolescents: A study of prevalence and associated factors.

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional observational study determined the prevalence and factors associated with molar-incisive hypomineralization (MIH) in quilombola children and adolescents in north-eastern Brazil. METHODS: The sample consisted of 251 children and adolescents (8 to 14 years old) living in the rural quilombola community Lagoas in São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí (census population). Sociodemographic and health-related data were collected from pre-, peri- and post-natal health records and a clinical examination for MIH diagnosis was performed by four previously trained and calibrated examiners. Descriptive data analysis and Poisson regression were performed. The magnitude of the association was determined by adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of MIH was 46.6%. The presence of MIH was associated with gestational diabetes (PR = 2.49, 95% CI 2.08-2.99; p <0.001) and acute foetal distress (PR = 1.39; 95% CI 1.04-1.86; p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the prevalence of MIH in the quilombola community was high and associated with gestational diabetes and acute foetal distress.

Nível de satisfação dos pais/responsáveis de crianças atendidas em programa odontológico de atenção materno-infantil / Satisfaction level of parents of children in a dental program of maternal child attention

Objetivo: avaliar o nível de satisfação dos pais e/ou responsáveis de crianças atendidas em programa odontológico deatenção materno-infantil e implantar um sistema permanente de avaliação simplificada das ações desenvolvidas.Metodologia: estudo transversal quantitativo, desenvolvido no Instituto de Perinatologia Social do Piauí onde funciona oPrograma Preventivo para Gestantes e Bebês (PPGB). Os dados foram coletados através de um questionário estruturadoauto administrado e uma escala visual simplificada que continha questões relativas à percepção dos mesmos logo após oatendimento. Foram aplicados 569 questionários no período de março a outubro de 2014. Foi realizada a análisedescritiva das variáveis categóricas. Resultados: os itens acolhimento, ambiente, atendimento, importância doatendimento e localização do programa tiveram aprovação “ótimo” e “bom” entre 91% e 97,7% no questionário, enquantona escala visual os valores ficaram entre 76,6% e 98,8% de satisfação. A localização obteve o menor índice de satisfaçãotanto no questionário como na escala visual. Conclusão: o Programa Preventivo para Gestantes e Bebês foi bem avaliadopor pais e/ou responsáveis pelas crianças atendidas e a implantação de um sistema permanente de avaliação simplificadadas ações desenvolvidas é viável e de fácil aplicação.

Objective: evaluating the level of satisfaction of the parents and/or caregivers of children attending a dental program formaternal and child care and establishing a permanent system of simplified evaluation of the actions developed.Methodology: a quantitative cross-sectional study, developed at the Institute of Social Perinatology of Piauí where thePreventive Program for Pregnant Women and Babies (PPGB) works. The data were collected through a structured selfadministeredquestionnaire and a simplified visual scale that contained questions regarding their perception soon after thecare. A total of 569 questionnaires were applied from March to October 2014. A descriptive analysis of the categoricalvariables was performed. Results: the items welcoming, ambience, attendance, importance of attendance and location ofthe program had "excellent" and "good" approval between 91% and 97.7% in the questionnaire, whereas in the visual scalethe values were between 76.6% and 98.8% satisfaction. The location obtained the lowest index of satisfaction in both thequestionnaire and the visual scale. Conclusion: the Preventive Program for Pregnant Women and Babies was wellevaluated by parents and/or caregivers of children and the implementation of a permanent system of simplifiedevaluation of actions developed is feasible and easy to apply.

Caries, Toothbrushing Habits, and Fluoride Intake From Toothpaste by Brazilian Children According to Socioeconomic Status.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries, toothbrushing habits, fluoride intake, and factors associated with the use of toothpaste in Brazilian children according to socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 148 three- to four-year-olds of both low and high socioeconomic status. Data collection consisted of administering a questionnaire to guardians, brushing to determine fluoride intake, and examining the children's teeth to evaluate dental caries. RESULTS: In this study, 42 percent of children from high SES and 2.7 percent of children from low SES used toothpaste without fluoride or with a concentration below 1,000 ppm F. Fluoride intake was associated with SES, frequency of brushing, the amount of toothpaste used, and the concentration of fluoride present in toothpastes (P<0.05). Low SES children had a higher fluoride intake during brushing (0.045 mg F/kg body weight/day), compared to high SES children (0.023 mg F/kg body weight/day). Unlike low SES children (68.9 percent), all high SES children were caries free. CONCLUSIONS: A lower socioeconomic status was associated with a higher prevalence of dental caries and a higher intake of fluoride from toothpaste.

Endodontic Treatment of Primary Molars with Antibiotic Paste: A Report of 38 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: This study presents 38 cases of primary molars with necrotic pulps treated with antibiotics-based paste. CASE REPORT: The technique consisted of necrotic tissue removal of the pulp chamber, using spoons excavators and low speed drills. Pulp cavity was washed with saline solution and dried with sterile cotton balls. Then an antibiotic paste composed of chloramphenicol, tetracycline, zinc oxide and eugenol - CTZ paste - was inserted at the entrance of root canals. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at different times. The criteria that defined clinical success were the lack of periapical abscess and mobility compatible with chronological age. Radiographic assessments consisted in absence of radiolucency in the region of root bifurcation and pathological bone resorption. CONCLUSION: There were 100% and 93% of clinical and radiographic success, respectively. The results suggest that the CTZ paste is an optional therapy for pulp of primary molars.

Does Leishmaniasis disease alter the parenchyma and protein expression in salivary glands?

Leishmaniasis is considered a serious public health problem in several regions in Brazil and worldwide. This research aimed to perform a histopathological and proteomic study of parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands of BALB/c mice infected by Leishmania (L) infantum chagasi using histological, immunohistochemical and epifluorescence techniques. Twelve isogenic BALB/c male mice, around six- to eight-weeks old, were separated into two groups: the animals of the control group were injected with 0.15 ml of NaCl, while those in the experimental group were inoculated with 5 × 10(6) amastigote forms of Leishmania (L) infantum chagasi by the ip route. After 50 days, animals were euthanized and major salivary glands were collected to perform histological, immunohistochemical and epifluorescence techniques using anti-Caspase-2, anti-Ki-67 and anti-ß-catenin antibodies, respectively. The histological and morphometric evaluation showed clusters of mononuclear inflammatory cells and a higher area and perimeter of the parotid gland. However, none of the salivary glands had morphophysiological impairment. There was no immunoreactivity to the anti-caspase-2 antibody and Ki67 expression in acinar and ductal cells in both groups. According to the immunofluorescence staining, the ß-catenin antibodies did not show nuclear expression, suggesting no uncontrolled proliferation. The data obtained in this study showed population and morphological stability of major salivary glands after 50 days post-infection by Leishmania (L) infantum chagasi.

Epidemiologic Study of Molar-incisor Hypomineralization in Schoolchildren in North-eastern Brazil.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in children and possible factors associated with this disorder. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study of 594 11- to 14-year-olds from Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. The diagnosis of MIH was made based on criteria set by the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. To investigate possible associated factors, mothers completed a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis of the data, chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Fisher tests and Poisson regression (PR) were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of MIH was 18.4 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI] equals 15.20 to 21.50). The maxillary molars were the teeth most affected by MIH (36.1 percent). MIH patients showed a higher number of mean DMF-T (PR equals 2.18; 95 percent CI equals 1.46 to 2.85) than those not affected by the condition. There was an association between MIH and preterm birth (PR equals 1.76; 95 percent CI equals 1.22 to 2.12) and between MIH and respiratory distress at birth (PR equals 1.83; 95 percent CI equals 1.25 to 2.18). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MIH in schoolchildren was 18.4 percent. Those with MIH had a greater mean DMF-T than those without MIH. Preterm birth and respiratory distress were associated with MIH.

The impact of a dental program for maternal and infant health on the prevalence of dental fluorosis.

PURPOSE: This study's purpose was to investigate the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children, whose parents had participated in an oral health program when the children were between zero and three years old, residing in a city with fluoridated water. METHODS: Group 1 consisted of 128 eight- to 12-year-olds whose parents had visited a program on at least five occasions when the children were zero to three years old and received education about tooth-brushing and the proper use of fluoridated toothpaste in this young age group. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in the permanent maxillary incisors, using the Thylstrup-Fejerskov index, in Group 1 was compared to that of an age-matched group of children (n=128) whose parents had not participated in the program (Group 2). RESULTS: Group 1 mothers reported higher education levels (P<.05). Group 1 children had a significantly lower prevalence (∼42 percent) and severity (P<.05) of dental fluorosis than those in the control group (∼61 percent). CONCLUSION: Children whose parents participated in a dental program that included counselling on the proper amount of fluoridated toothpaste when their children were between zero and three years old presented less frequently with dental fluorosis than a control group when examined at eight to 12 years old.