Possible Risk Factors for Dental Fear and Anxiety in Children Who Suffered Traumatic Dental Injury.

BACKGROUND: Children who undergo painful experiences such as traumatic dental injury (TDI) during their early years are more likely to be at an increased risk of developing dental fear and anxiety (DFA). The purpose of this study was to identify potential risk factors for DFA of these children. METHODS: The study participants were 220 parents/caregivers and their children who experienced TDI. Their socio-demographic backgrounds were investigated with the modified WHO Oral Health Questionnaire for Children that included questions about parents' knowledge and attitudes, while the DFA level was determined using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S Index) was used to assess oral hygiene status. RESULTS: The confirmed risk factors are parental knowledge, female gender, and degree of oral hygiene and pain in the last three months, while age, type of TDI, presence of soft-tissue injury, and number of subjective complaints were not confirmed. The overall model predicted approximately 54% of variance in DFA, R2 = 0.545, F (4.215) = 64.28 p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasise the importance of addressing pain management, improving oral hygiene, and enhancing parental knowledge to mitigate DFA in children with TDIs.

Occupational Injuries among Dentists in Croatia.

OBJECTIVES: Dental profession is characterized by a high risk of injuries at work due to exposure to specific working conditions. The operating area in a patient's mouth is small, and it is handled by a large number of sharp instruments and drills that rotate at high speed, which creates an aerosol contaminated with particles of saliva and blood. This poses a risk of transmitting infections from patients to the dentist through stabbing incidents and cuts, which are some of the most common occupational injuries that are reported in the scientific literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of occupational injuries among dentists in Croatia, to establish most common injuries, and to determine the main risk factors. The aim of this research was also to determine the dentists' opinion on causes that are responsible for the occupational diseases and injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survey was conducted based on a sample of 406 dentists from Croatia as respondents to an electronic survey. RESULTS: 63.05% of the respondents suffered injuries caused by dental practitioners. The most common injuries were needle puncture incidents (57.75%) and cuts (20.86%), followed by eye injuries (13.37%), patient bite (4.81%) and punches (1.60%). The largest number of respondents stated the improper posture as the most important cause of occupational diseases and injuries, followed by stress, infection and noise. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of risk factors is the first step of injury prevention. Our respondents were largely aware of the dangers surrounding them. Nevertheless, the frequency of injuries was high and there is still a need for preventive measures to minimize the frequency of injuries in dentistry.

Anaerobic Bacteria in Implants and Homologous Teeth 2-14 Years after Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to establish whether there is a difference in the presence of potentially pathogenic anaerobic microorganisms around the implant and the homologous tooth in implant-prosthetic patients who received individual information about maintaining their oral hygiene. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 30 subjects with dental implants and metal-ceramic crowns. A periodontal probe was used to record the approximal plaque index (API), the papilla bleeding index (PBI), the periodontal pocket probing depth (PD) and the gingival recession. The fluid around the implant and the gingival sulcus fluid around the homologous tooth on the opposite lateral side were sampled. RESULTS: The results have shown a positive API and PBI on 30% of the implants and a negative one on 70% of the implants. The average mucosal retraction measured around the implants was 0.15 mm, and the average probing depth was 2.25 mm. The API and PBI were positive on 78.3% of the homologous teeth. The average gingival retraction measured was 1.06 mm, and the average probing depth was 1.85 mm. Anaerobic bacteria were found in 12 out of 30 subjects (40%). Anaerobic bacteria were isolated only on the implant in 7 subjects, only on the homologous tooth in 3 subjects and both on the implant and the homologous tooth in 2 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Anaerobic bacteria were more abundantly present on implants than on homologous teeth.

The chronology of third molar eruption in the Croatian population.

Dental age estimation is common in orthodontics, paedodontics, paleodontology and forensic dentistry. The aim of this study was to assess chronological course of eruptive developmental phases of third molar and to establish parameters for the Croatian population. Sample of this study consisted of 1249 orthopantomograms of 530 (42.4%) male and 719 (57.6%) female subjects, aged 10 to 25 years. Eruptive phases were classified in 4 stages. No significant sex difference was found. Established chronology of the third molar eruption can be used as a standard for the assessment of dental age in clinical and forensic research on samples of Croatian population.