Autistic spectrum disorder children and adolescents' oral health characteristics - scoping review.

This study aimed to conduct a scoping review to know children and adolescents' main oral health concerns with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and thus identify any oral characteristic that stands out, aiming at preventive and interceptive clinical conduct. A search was performed in the three electronic databases and the gray literature; in September 2021. A total of 562 studies were identified, and after applying the eligibility criteria, 73 articles were included in the synthesis of this scoping review. The mean decayed, lost, and restored teeth index (DMFT/dfmt) ranged from 0 to 12.37; the mean DMFT index (permanent dentition) from 0.06 to 6.2; and the average dmft index (deciduous dentition) ranged from 0.29 to 9.91. The mean simplified oral hygiene index (OHIS) ranged from 0 to 3.4; gingival index (GI) from 0.29 to 2; and plaque index (PI) from 0.005 to 3.15. Plaque prevalence was 25.9% to 90%; dental calculus from 4.7% to 59.41%; gingivitis from 36.7% to 100%. Bruxism was 10.3% to 73%, and dental trauma was 4.7% to 100%. This disparity in the results shows the heterogeneity of this population, with different degrees of socio-behavioral impairment, which can directly influence oral hygiene and the consequent accumulation of biofilm.

Development, validation, and application of a Brazilian sleep myths and truths assessment scale (SLEEP-MTAS).

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop, validate, and apply a scale assessing knowledge of sleep-related myths and truths and associate it with sociodemographic factors. METHODS: A scale with 15 questions was created, containing statements about the characteristics of sleep and related to sleep and dentistry. Each answer ranged from 0 to 4 points, generating a total score from 0 to 60, where higher scores represented greater knowledge. A preliminary study with 200 people assessed its convergent and discriminant construct validity, internal consistency, and temporal stability. The main study included 1965 respondents over 18 years. Additionally, sociodemographic data were collected and a classification of the level of knowledge was performed. Data were analyzed with Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The questionnaire showed convergent (p < 0.001) and discriminant (p = 0.024) construct validity, internal consistency (alpha = 0.7), and temporal stability (ICC = 0.87). In the main study, 90.3% of the participants had moderate and high knowledge, with the score ranging from 24 to 58. Adults over 28 years old (p < 0.001), from the southern region of Brazil (p < 0.001), who lived in capital or metropolitan areas (p < 0.001), with higher education (p < 0.001), without religion (p < 0.001), and involved in dentistry (p < 0.001) had greater knowledge than their peers. CONCLUSIONS: The scale presented good psychometric properties. Most participants had moderate and high knowledge on sleep, with a difference in knowledge related to the age, region and area of residence, education, involvement with dentistry, and religion.

Is there association between dental malocclusion and bruxism? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Given that current literature largely dissociates dental malocclusion and bruxism, the objective of this study was to gather, through a systematic review, scientific evidence to support their relationship. METHODOLOGY: This study was performed according to the PECO strategy (where P = general population; E = dental malocclusion; C = no dental malocclusion; and O = bruxism). Literature searches were conducted without language or date restrictions in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, the Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, LILACS/BBO via VHL and the grey literature. The search strategy included Medical Subject Headings/DECs, synonyms and free terms relevant to each database, with no age restrictions applied. Once the relevant data were extracted from the articles, the Fowkes and Fulton guidelines were followed to assess the quality and risk of bias. For quantitative analysis, dental malocclusions were divided into groups according to their type in order to perform odds ratio (OR) meta-analyses with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the Review Manager software program (Cochrane, London, UK). The level of certainty of evidence was demonstrated through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: After 1,502 studies found, 10 studies were included for qualitative analysis and nine for quantitative synthesis. Four studies presented high methodological quality. Five meta-analyses suggested a non-association between bruxism and Angle class I (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.41-2.69; P = .92; I2  = 84%), Angle class II (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 0.77-2.87; P = .23; I2  = 71%) or Angle class III (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.31-1.93; P = .58; I2  = 0%). Bruxism was associated with children who did not present with a posterior crossbite (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51-0.96; P = .03; I2  = 27%) and present crowding (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.03-2.26; P = .03; I2  = 0%). The GRADE analysis presented a very low quality of evidence. CONCLUSION: Individuals who present with bruxism have a greater chance of crowding. However, bruxism is not associated with the presence of any of the other malocclusions evaluated.