Prognosis of non-vital incisors after apexification using bioceramics: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of apexification using bioceramics in immature permanent teeth, and to study the factors influencing treatment outcome and frequency of spontaneous cervical root fractures. METHODS: Forty-six children with 51 non-vital permanent incisors treated with a bioceramic apical plug were included. Mean age at pulp necrosis was 9.8 (SD 2.2) years and mean follow-up time was 3.3 (SD 2.4) years. Data were extracted from dental records and included stage of root development, presence of external root resorptions, clinical signs of infection, size of periapical lesion, type and placement of bioceramic plug, and spontaneous root fracture. Treatment outcome was assessed using periapical index (PAI-score) and presence of clinical symptoms. The statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 28 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA). Data were cross-tabulated and tested with chi-square statistic. RESULTS: Biodentine™ was used as apical plug in 78.4% of the teeth and MTA in 21.6%. Complete healing or signs of healing was reported in 86.3% of the teeth, whilst seven teeth (13.7%) were non-healed. All non-healed teeth had preoperative clinical signs of infection. No difference was found in stage of root development, presence of root resorption, and type and placement of bioceramic plug in healed and non-healed teeth (p > 0.05). Five teeth (9.8%) exhibited root fracture 1-6 years after treatment and all had very immature root development. Type of bioceramic or external root resorption was not associated with spontaneous root fracture. CONCLUSION: Apexification using bioceramics showed favourable prognosis in immature permanent teeth. Very immature teeth were at risk of root fracture after apexification with bioceramics.

Fissure sealing and caries development in Norwegian children.

PURPOSE: To explore the use of fissure sealing as a caries preventive method by describing characteristics of children who had received sealants and to study associations between sealing and caries prevalence at 12 years of age. METHODS: The study included 3075 children examined at 5 and 12 years of age. Data were collected by clinical examination and questionnaire to parents. The questionnaire provided information on child characteristics and oral health behaviour in children at 5 years of age. Data on sealing and caries prevalence were obtained from dental records. Bi- and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. The Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics approved the study (2.200.54 and 2013/1881). RESULTS: Of the children, 12% had received sealants on permanent teeth before 12 years of age. Children with dentin caries at 5 years of age (OR 2.0, CI 1.5-2.7) had a higher probability of having received sealants than children without caries. Having sealants (OR 2.8, CI 2.2-3.6), enamel caries (OR 1.5, CI 1.2-1.9), dentin caries (OR 2.9, CI 2.3-3.6) and using fluoride lozenges less than daily (OR 1.5, CI 1.3-1.8) at 5 years of age were associated with having dentin caries prevalence at 12 years of age. CONCLUSION: Few children had received fissure sealing. Although sealing was used as a caries preventive method in children who had experienced caries in primary teeth, these children continued developing caries in their permanent teeth.

Characteristics of teenagers who use dental floss.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of dental floss by teenagers and study associations between flossing and approximal caries experience, oral health behaviours, gender, parental education and national background. METHODS: The study included 2156 14-year-old teenagers. Data were collected in conjunction with routine dental examinations. Teenagers answered a questionnaire about frequency of and reasons for flossing, oral health behaviours and family characteristics. Information about approximal enamel (D1₋2Sa) and dentine caries experience (D3MFSa) was collected from dental records. Data were cross-tabulated and tested with Chi-Square statistics and ANOVA, and analysed using multivariable logistic regression. The data was baseline data in a longitudinal study exploring effects of dental floss. The study was performed as part of the quality assurance system required by law in the dental services and did not require ethical approval. RESULTS: Half of the teenagers (54%) used dental floss. Among teenagers who flossed, 15% reported doing so daily. Recommendation from dental personnel was the most important reason for using dental floss. Proportionately more girls and teenagers whose parents had high educational achievement reported flossing. Teenagers who flossed more often had more favourable oral health behaviours than other teenagers but more often had approximal enamel caries (D1₋2Sa) and approximal dentine caries experience (D3MFSa) than other teenagers (p⟨0.05). CONCLUSION: Use of dental floss was not a daily behaviour in most teenagers. Flossing was associated with having approximal caries lesions, indicating that teenagers having signs of approximal caries had been recommended to use dental floss.

Do enamel and dentine caries at 5 years of age predict caries development in newly erupted teeth? A prospective longitudinal study.

Objective: To explore caries development in children from 5 to 12 years of age, and to study whether enamel caries and dentine caries at 5 years of age could predict caries prevalence at 12 years of age, controlled for child characteristics.Methods: The study included 3282 children examined at 5 and 12 years of age. Data were collected by clinical examination and questionnaire. Enamel and dentine caries were registered at surface level. Data were tested by t-test and analysed by bi- and multivariate logistic regression. The study was ethically approved.Results: In 5-year-olds, 15% of the children had dentine caries experience and 21% had enamel caries. In 12-year-olds, 32% had dentine caries experience and 47% had enamel caries. Children with dentine caries experience at 5 years of age had at 12 years of age developed more surfaces with enamel caries (mean 2.8, SD 4.2) and dentine caries experience (mean 1.8, SD 2.5) than other children (p < .05). Dentine caries experience at 12 years of age was associated with having only enamel caries (OR 1.6, CI 1.2-2.0) and dentine caries experience (OR 3.2, CI 2.6-3.9) at 5 years of age. Family status and parental education were related to caries development.Conclusion: Children with caries in primary teeth continued to be caries risk children during the mixed dentition period. In addition to dentine caries experience, enamel caries in primary teeth was a predictor for caries development in young permanent teeth and may be used to improve the caries risk assessment.

Caries-preventive self-care for children. Consistent oral health messages to the public?

BACKGROUND: Recommendations regarding caries-preventive self-care for children are provided by several health authorities. OBJECTIVE: To investigate recommendations given to the public regarding children's caries-preventive self-care by Norwegian dentists, dental hygienists, dental nurses and public health nurses. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent by e-mail and answered by 808 of 1132 persons who provide oral preventive promotion to children in dental services and health centres. The preventive advice was obtained through questions about the preferred preventive methods, fluoride recommendations and sources of knowledge on which the personnel based the advice about caries prevention in children. The responses were analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The majority (59-71%) in all professions judged oral hygiene education to be the most important caries-preventive method. Most personnel (84-98%) recommended all children to use fluoride toothpaste, and half of all personnel (53%) recommended fluoride lozenges for 50% or more of children. Multivariate analysis showed that dental nurses recommended lozenges to more children than dentists (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.7), while health nurses recommended lozenges to fewer children than dentists (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8). The most important source of knowledge reported by dental personnel was professional education, while health nurses relied on information from dental personnel. CONCLUSIONS: Health professions' recommendations regarding caries-preventive self-care for children were mainly similar, although variation existed both between and within professions. Collaboration between professions and awareness of the evidence base for preventive oral care may improve the consistency of information given by health professionals to the public.

Referral of young children to dental personnel by primary care nurses.

Oral health promotion to young children is delivered by primary care nurses as part of general health promotion given to all children in Norway. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate established routines for referral of children by primary care nurses to the dental services and to study whether referred children younger than 3 years required contact with dental personnel. METHODS: All children referred by primary care nurses to the dental services in one county during one year were included. Primary care nurses referred children using criteria developed by dental personnel. At the dental clinic, anamnestic information, dental health and oral health behaviour of the referred children were registered. RESULTS: Altogether, 181 children were referred; 53% were younger than 3 years. The most frequent reasons for referral of children younger than 3 years were caries or dental plaque, and 34% had visible plaque accumulation and/or visible signs of caries. All referred children had at least one risk factor for caries. The referral reasons given by primary care nurses corresponded partly with findings at dental examination. The results indicated that 2% of the children younger than 3 years were referred to the dental services. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that by using established referral routines, all children referred from well-baby clinics to the dental services were caries risk children who required early contact with dental personnel. However, the low proportion of children in the studied population referred by primary care personnel may indicate under-referral of children to the dental services.