Translation and cultural adaptation of the Children's Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure (CEDAM) to Brazilian Portuguese / Tradução, adaptação cultural e análise das propriedades psicométricas da "Children's Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure" para uso em crianças brasileiras

Objetivo: A escala Children's Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure (CEDAM) foi originalmente desenvolvida em Inglês para avaliar importantes aspectos da ansiedade odontológica em crianças. Os objetivos do estudo foram traduzir e realizar a adaptação cultural da CEDAM para o Português Brasileiro. Material e Métodos: A CEDAM consiste de 14 itens, medidos por escala Likert de 3 pontos, que indica a intensidade da ansiedade odontológica. O questionário foi traduzido para o Português Brasileiro, retraduzido para o Inglês, revisado por um Comitê de Especialistas e pré-testado em 10 escolares de oito a doze anos. Resultados: O Comitê Revisor de Especialistas comparou as versões original, traduzida (T1, T2) e retraduzida (BT1, BT2) e recomendou algumas mudanças a fim de obter uma boa compreensão dos itens. No pré-teste, somente a questão 8 não foi compreendida por uma criança, isto é, a versão traduzida foi bem compreendida por mais de 85% dos participantes. Conclusão: A versão brasileira da CEDAM foi culturalmente adaptada para a população avaliada de crianças.(AU)

Objective: The Children's Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure (CEDAM) was originally developed in English to assess important aspects of dental anxiety for children. The aims of the study were to translate and perform the cultural adaptation of the CEDAM to Brazilian Portuguese. Material and Methods: The CEDAM consists of 14 items, measured by a Likert scale of 3 points, that indicates the intensity of dental anxiety. The questionnaire was translated to Brazilian Portuguese, back-translated to English, reviewed by an Expert Committee and pretested in 10 eight- to twelve-year-old schoolchildren. Results: The Expert Committee Review compared the original, translated (T1, T2) and back-translated (BT1, BT2) versions and recommended some changes in order to achieve good understanding of the items. In the pretest, only question 8 was misunderstood by one child, i.e., the translated version was well-understood by more than 85% of the participants. Conclusion: The Brazilian CEDAM was culturally adapted for the evaluated population of children(AU)

Agreement between schoolchildren and their parents on rating the child's oral health-related quality of life.

The perceptions of parents/caregivers regarding their children's oral health can influence the standard of care and decision-making regarding oral health. The children's perspective on their own oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may differ from the parents/caregivers' views. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the agreement between the perceptions of parents/caregivers and schoolchildren regarding OHRQoL. It was conducted with a sample of children between 8 and 11 years old and their parents/caregivers from Pelotas. Children answered the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 8-10 (CPQ), and parents/caregivers answered the short form of the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ). Socioeconomic data were also collected. Children's dental caries, traumatic dental injuries, and malocclusions were examined. The Spearman's correlation test was performed. A total of 119 parents/caregivers-children pairs were included. There was an agreement between the total scores of parents/caregivers and children (0.2770; p = 0.003), in the oral symptoms (0.1907; p = 0.038), and functional limitations (0.2233; p=0.015) domains. The Bland-Altman graph showed an agreement between children's and parents/caregivers' OHRQoL total score, but there was an underestimation of approximately two points in the parents/caregivers' perception compared to the children's score. There was an agreement between the reports of parents/caregivers and children regarding children's OHRQoL.

Translation and cultural adaptation of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised for Dental to Brazil.

This study aimed to translate and to perform the cultural adaptation of the instrument Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised for Dental (IPQ-RD) into Brazilian Portuguese. The IPQ-RD consists of 34 items that assess the cognitive and emotional representation/perception of parents/caregivers of children with dental caries, with response options on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from "Strongly agree" (score 1) to "Strongly disagree" (score 5). The higher the score, the lower the perception of the disease. The protocol consists of translation into Brazilian Portuguese, back-translation into English, revision by an Expert Review Committee, and pre-test (application in parents/caregivers of children in dental care). For some questions, the translated versions were identical (T1 = T2); for others, one version was preferred (T1 or T2); for still others, it was decided to modify terms to obtain greater clarity on the item (T3). In the first pre-test, three questions were misunderstood by more than 15% of the sample, after which the items were reviewed by the Expert Review Committee. In the second pre-test, the adapted version was applied to a new sample of parents/caregivers (n = 15) and the questions were understood by more than 85% of the participants. The Brazilian Portuguese version of the IPQ-RD was well understood by the evaluated population.

Parental Perception of the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

This study evaluated the parental perception of the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their family functioning. Moreover, sociodemographic factors associated with parental ratings of OHRQoL were assessed. A hundred parents/guardians of children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 years with ASD (ASD group) and 101 unaffected children and adolescents (UCA group) participated. Data collection was carried out using a Google form, containing three sections: (1st) Socioeconomic data and health history; (2nd) Oral health assessment by parental report; (3rd) The short forms of the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (16-P-CPQ) and the Family Impact Scale (4-FIS). The scores of 16-P-CPQ total and subscales and 4-FIS were significantly higher for the ASD group (p < 0.02), except for the oral symptoms subscale (p > 0.05). Older ages (OR = 1.24), brushing 0/1x day (OR = 2.21), teeth grinding (OR = 2.20), gingival bleeding (OR = 3.34), parents with an elementary school degree (OR = 0.314) and family incomes less or equal to the minimum wage (OR = 3.049) were associated with a worse OHRQoL. Parents in the ASD group had a worse perception of QHRQoL when compared to the UCA group. 'Frequency of tooth brushing', 'gingival bleeding', and 'teeth grinding' were predictors of the worst parental perception of their children's OHRQoL. Families with low socioeconomic conditions were more strongly affected by the oral conditions of their children.

Association of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life with the Longevity of ART-Restorations in Children

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the association of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) with the longevity of ART-restorations in children after 18 months. Material and Methods: A longitudinal clinical study with 62 six- to seven-year-old children, both genders, 31 of whom underwent four weeks of oral health education strategy (OHES) followed by ART (GOHES+ART) and the others only ART (GART). The Brazilian short-version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (16-CPQ8-10) was used to evaluate the OHRQoL and the perception of change in oral health was assessed by a single question. Data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Friedman's tests. Results: After 18 months, GOHES+ART reported a greater impairment on OHRQoL, mainly in oral symptoms domain (p<0.05). In this period, greater impairment of oral symptoms was reported in children with failed restorations and with treatment considered to have a minor failure (p<0.05). In inter-group analysis, the GOHES+ART, with 2 to 4 restorations, Class I, of small size, located in the upper arch and with a smaller failure, reported more oral symptoms than the GART. Conclusion: In the long-term, children submitted to OHES followed by ART reported more oral symptoms. Factors such as number, class, size and location of the restorations need to be considered for the implementation of an efficient and effective oral health program, as well as for greater longevity of ART-restorations.

Agreement between schoolchildren and their parents on rating the child's oral health-related quality of life

Abstract The perceptions of parents/caregivers regarding their children's oral health can influence the standard of care and decision-making regarding oral health. The children's perspective on their own oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may differ from the parents/caregivers' views. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the agreement between the perceptions of parents/caregivers and schoolchildren regarding OHRQoL. It was conducted with a sample of children between 8 and 11 years old and their parents/caregivers from Pelotas. Children answered the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 8-10 (CPQ), and parents/caregivers answered the short form of the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ). Socioeconomic data were also collected. Children's dental caries, traumatic dental injuries, and malocclusions were examined. The Spearman's correlation test was performed. A total of 119 parents/caregivers-children pairs were included. There was an agreement between the total scores of parents/caregivers and children (0.2770; p = 0.003), in the oral symptoms (0.1907; p = 0.038), and functional limitations (0.2233; p=0.015) domains. The Bland-Altman graph showed an agreement between children's and parents/caregivers' OHRQoL total score, but there was an underestimation of approximately two points in the parents/caregivers' perception compared to the children's score. There was an agreement between the reports of parents/caregivers and children regarding children's OHRQoL.

Translation, Cross-cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese Language

ABSTRACT Objective: To translate, cross-culturally adapt and test the psychometric properties of the Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire (PFSQ) to Brazilian Portuguese language. Material and Methods: Three stages were carried out: 1st, the 27-item of PFSQ was translated, back-translated, reviewed by a Committee of Experts and pre-tested (n=60), obtaining the cross-culturally adapted version. 2nd, the final version was self-applied by 42 mothers for internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha). After 2-weeks, 19 mothers answered the PFSQ again for reproducibility (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC). 3rd, 204 mothers of children aged 4-5 years answered the PFSQ for translation validation [convergent validity and exploratory factor analysis (EFA)]. Results: For subscales, Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.65 to 0.82; the overall reliability was 0.69, indicating substantial internal consistency. The ICC for overall PFSQ was 0.78 and for domains 0.56-0.89, indicating moderate to excellent reproducibility. 'Control over eating' correlated positively with 'prompting/encouragement to eat' and negatively with 'instrumental feeding'; 'prompting/encouragement to eat' correlated positively with 'emotional feeding'. By EFA, PFSQ items were loaded on four factors. 'Control over eating' and 'prompting/encouragement to eat' settled into two factors, whereas the 'emotional' and 'instrumental feeding' domains into one factor each. Conclusion: Despite the different factors found by AFE related to the original PFSQ, the reliability was satisfactory, making the Brazilian Portuguese version of the PFSQ adequate to assess parental feeding style.

Translation and cultural adaptation of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised for Dental to Brazil

Abstract This study aimed to translate and to perform the cultural adaptation of the instrument Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised for Dental (IPQ-RD) into Brazilian Portuguese. The IPQ-RD consists of 34 items that assess the cognitive and emotional representation/perception of parents/caregivers of children with dental caries, with response options on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from "Strongly agree" (score 1) to "Strongly disagree" (score 5). The higher the score, the lower the perception of the disease. The protocol consists of translation into Brazilian Portuguese, back-translation into English, revision by an Expert Review Committee, and pre-test (application in parents/caregivers of children in dental care). For some questions, the translated versions were identical (T1 = T2); for others, one version was preferred (T1 or T2); for still others, it was decided to modify terms to obtain greater clarity on the item (T3). In the first pre-test, three questions were misunderstood by more than 15% of the sample, after which the items were reviewed by the Expert Review Committee. In the second pre-test, the adapted version was applied to a new sample of parents/caregivers (n = 15) and the questions were understood by more than 85% of the participants. The Brazilian Portuguese version of the IPQ-RD was well understood by the evaluated population.

Oral Health Literacy and Periodontal Disease in Primary Health Care Users.

BACKGROUND: Oral health literacy (OHL) is a key factor for reducing inequalities in oral health and promoting better health outcomes, including those related to periodontal health. This study aimed to evaluate associations between OHL and periodontal disease amongst users of primary health care services. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 250 adult users of primary health care services in Brazil. OHL was measured using the Oral Health Literacy Instrument-Brazilian (OHLA-B). Participants also answered a structured questionnaire addressing sociodemographic and behavioural data. Clinical oral examination was performed using the Community Periodontal Index. Analyses of the crude associations were performed by simple logistic regression models, and estimates were reported as odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Variables associated with a significance level <0.20 in bivariate analyses were included in hierarchical multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Amongst participants, 62% were female with an average age of 37.2 years. Adults aged 37 years or older (OR, 5.48; 95% CI, 2.68-11.21), with fewer years of study (OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.66-6.71), with low OHL levels (OR, 5.91; 95% CI, 1.71-20.49), and who smoked (OR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.34-8.09) were more likely to have periodontal pockets compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Primary health care users with low OHL levels presented with more severe periodontal diseases.

Translation and Cultural Adaptation of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale - Faces (MCDASf) into Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract Objective: To translate and culturally adapt the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale - Faces (MCDASf) into Brazilian Portuguese. Material and Methods: The MCDASf consists of eight questions about anxiety toward dental procedures that are answered on a five-point Likert scale ranging from "not worried" (1 point) to "very worried" (5 points). The answers correspond to a scale of face drawings ranging from extremely negative to extremely positive. The process consisted of initial translation, back-translation, expert committee review, and pretesting. Results: The first revised version was applied to 32 children aged 5 to 12 years, 16 from the city of Governador Valadares, Brazil (southeastern region) and 16 from the city of Pelotas, Brazil (southern region). In the first pretest, Item 5 was misunderstood by 6.25% of children in the southern region; Item 6 by 6.25% in both regions; Items 7 and 8 by 87.5% and 100% of those from the southeastern region, respectively, and by 12.5% and 25% of those from the southern region, respectively. Items 7 and 8 were modified by the expert committee, and the second revised version was applied to 32 children, 16 from each region. The only misunderstood items were 4 and 5, both by a 7-year-old boy in Governador Valadares. Conclusion: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the MCDASf was well understood by the sample of children (AU).

Effect of educational strategy combined with ART on oral health-related quality of life: a controlled clinical trial.

This study aimed to assess whether complementing atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with oral health educational strategies (OHES) improves the perception of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and clinical oral outcomes. A controlled clinical trial included 93 six- to eight-year-old students from five public schools of Piracicaba, Saltinho, and Charqueada municipalities (State of São Paulo, Brazil) divided into 3 groups (31 children each) which received: OHES (caries-free), ART (dental caries), and ART plus OHES (dental caries). OHRQoL (CPQ8-10-ISF:16), dental caries, biofilm control, and gingivitis were assessed before and 1 month after interventions by one calibrated examiner. OHES consisted of an educational interactive activity performed once a week for four weeks. Data were analyzed using mixed model ANOVA, Chi-square, and Sign tests. After 1 month of follow-up, improvement in gingivitis status, OHRQoL total score, and Functional Limitations, Emotional Well-Being and Social Well-Being domains scores were found in all groups (p < 0.05). The improvement in biofilm control was observed only in the OHES group (p < 0.001; power = 0.98), while a decrease in Oral Symptoms scores was observed only in ART+OHES group (p <0.001; power = 0.99) and a significant change in the perception of oral health was observed in the two groups that received ART (p < 0.05). In conclusion, improvement in overall OHRQoL and oral status was observed in all children, although the effect of including health educational strategies in the treatment plan was determinant for the perception of an improved oral health after restorative treatment.

Effect of Orthodontic Treatment on Tooth Autotransplantation: Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Trials.

This systematic review was focused on evaluating tooth autotransplantation, considering its impacts on the teeth, bone, soft tissues, and aesthetics in orthodontic patients. A bibliographic search was conducted without limitations on year of publication or language in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Medline Complete, Cochrane, Clinical Trials, and Trials Central. For triage of articles, indications, surgical planning, orthodontic movement, risk factors for treatment, and long-term follow-ups were considered. For outcomes, the results with reference to teeth, alveolar bone, periodontal tissues, and esthetic satisfaction were considered. Risk of bias was evaluated using the methodological index for nonrandomized studies-MINORS. The results showed 10 controlled clinical trials, and no randomized clinical trials were found. The selected studies included 715 patients and 934 autotransplanted teeth among which there were premolars, molars, and anterior teeth evaluated in the long term, indicating that orthodontics associated with autotransplantation indicated a result that was generally clinically acceptable. The quality of the set of evidence was considered medium due to the presence of different methodological problems, risk of bias, and significant heterogeneity in the evaluated studies. There was a sufficient body of evidence that justified autotransplantation in patients who needed orthodontic movement. In teeth, there was an increase in root resorption influenced by orthodontics, but without impacting on the general clinical result in the long term. Bone and periodontal tissue do not appear to be affected by orthodontics. The patient's aesthetic satisfaction was not considered in the studies.

Antimicrobial, mechanical and biocompatibility analysis of chlorhexidine digluconate-modified cements.

BACKGROUND: The focus of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial, mechanical properties and biocompatibility of glass ionomer (GICs) modified by Chlorhexidine (CHX). MATERIAL AND METHODS: For biocompatibility, 105 male Wistar rats were used, divided into 7 groups (n=15): Group C (Control,Polyethylene), Groups M, M10, M18, and Groups RL, RL10, RL18 (M-Meron and RL-Riva Luting: conventional, and modified with 10%, and 18% CHX, respectively). The tissues were analyzed under optical microscope for different cellular events and time intervals. Antibacterial effect and Shear Bond Strength Test (SBST) were also analyzed. Biocompatibility was analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests; SBST one-way ANOVA and Tukey test (P<0.05). For the antibacterial effect, the Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman, followed by Dunn (P<0.05) tests were used. RESULTS: Morphological study of the tissues showed inflammatory infiltrate with significant differences between Groups C and RL18, in the time intervals of 7(P=0.013) and 15(P=0.032) days. The antimicrobial effects of the cements was shown to be CHX concentration-dependent (P=0.001). The SBST showed no significant difference between the Groups of Meron cement (P=0.385), however, there was difference between Group RL and Groups RL10 and RL18 (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of CHX did not negatively influence the SBST. Meron-CHX-10% was the most biocompatible, and Riva-CHX-18% had more influence on the inflammatory process and presented slower tissue repair. Key words:Glass ionomer, chlorhexidine, biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties, microscope.

In Vitro Effect of Acidic Challenges on the Physical Properties of Dental Prosthesis Artificial Teeth

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of immersion and acid challenge with cola drink on color change (ΔE), Vickers hardness (VHN) and surface roughness (Ra) of artificial acrylic resin teeth. Material and Methods: The artificial teeth were divided into 6 groups (n= 8): TC (Trilux/Control), BC (Biotone/Control), TAC (Trilux/Acid challenge), BAC (Biotone/Acid challenge), TI (Trilux/Immersion) and BI (Biotone/Immersion). The teeth were embedded in acrylic resin and the labial side was serially polished to provide appropriate flat surface. The samples of TC, BC, TI, BI groups were immersed in artificial saliva and cola drink (coke) for 7 days, respectively. The acid challenge was performed with immersion of samples in coke for 5 min, and subsequently immersion in artificial saliva for 2h. This cycle was repeated at 4 times/day, during 7 days. The tests of VHN, ΔE and Ra were analyzed before and after the challenge and immersion groups. Data was analyzed by ANOVA, Tukey and T test (α = 0.05). Results: There was no difference in Ra values between groups after treatments. However, there was a decrease in VHN for all groups. BI (19.2 ± 0.3) presented significantly lower hardness than BAC (19.5 ± 0.9) and BC (20.2 ± 0.5). Groups BI (2.18 ± 0.41) and TI (1.50 ± 0.43) had statistically higher ΔE compared to the other groups. Conclusion: The hardness of resin teeth decreased after acid challenges, but the roughness surface was not affected. The color was more affected by the times of exposure in cola beverage and remineralization in artificial saliva, which were associated to the material degradation (AU).

Orofacial functions and quality of life in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

This study aimed to evaluate the orofacial functions and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). This case-control study included patients with UCLP matched by sex and age with controls (children without UCLP), resulting in the inclusion of a total of 108 eight- to ten-year-old children. Orofacial functions and OHRQoL were evaluated using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) and the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ 8-1 0 ), respectively. Data normality was assessed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Differences and correlations in NOT-S and CPQ 8-1 0 scores between and within the groups were evaluated using Mann-Whitney and Spearman´s correlation tests, respectively. The distribution of NOT-S and global ratings of CPQ 8-1 0 for each group were assessed by Chi-squared/Fisher's Exact tests. The UCLP group had a higher NOT-S total and examination scores than the controls. Dysfunctions related to breathing, facial symmetry/expression, and speech were more frequent in the UCLP patients than in the controls. The UCLP group had higher scores on the social well-being domain than the controls. There was a significant difference between the groups in their ratings in regards to the extent to which their oral condition affected their life overall, with controls perceiving it as somewhat better than patients. In both groups, NOT-S total and interview scores were positively correlated with CPQ 8-1 0 total and domain scores. The NOT-S examination score was only significantly correlated with social domain scores in the control group. The presence of UCLP was associated with clinical signs of orofacial dysfunctions related to breathing, facial symmetry/expression, and speech. Children with UCLP reported more orofacial dysfunctions and negative impacts on social well-being than controls.

Translation, Transcultural Adaptation and Validation of the Halitosis Associated Life-Quality Test for Use in Brazilian Adolescents

Objective: To perform the transcultural adaptation to Brazil and validation of the Halitosis Associated Life-quality Test (HALT) for use in adolescents. Material and Methods: Students aged 12 to 15 years, of both sexes, with healthy permanent dentition, attending public schools in Piracicaba, Brazil, were selected for this study. The HALT was translated, backtranslated, reviewed by an expert committee and submitted to a pre-test. In the first phase (n = 13), 15% of the sample did not understand items 2, 12 and 15; therefore, these items were reformulated and resubmitted to 13 adolescents. The version with a sociocultural adaptation was self-applied by 56 adolescents (64% females, 13.4 ± 1.0 years), of whom 25 participated in the test-retest. The presence of visible biofilm, gingival bleeding, calculus and tongue coating, was evaluated. Selfperception of halitosis after exhalation/breathing was assessed by a single question. Results: The HALT score ranged from 0 to 62 points (mean = 10.1±13.4) and the floor effect was 5.4%. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92) and reproducibility was moderate (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = 0.59). Individuals with "excessive" tongue coating had a higher HALT score than those with mild and/or moderate coating (p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that only the male sex was related to a higher HALT score (p<0.05). Conclusion: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the HALT was easily understood by adolescents. Those with greater tongue coating accumulation reported more frequently the presence of halitosis, which was only associated to male sex.

Salivary alpha-amylase and hormones levels of young adults with different body composition.

The aim of this study was to assess the differences in salivary biomarker levels of young adults classified according to body fat accumulation. One hundred and thirty-four volunteers were evaluated (mean age 21 ± 2 years). Body composition was calculated through skinfold thickness: supra-iliac, biceps, and triceps, sub-scapular. Body fat percentage (BF%) was used to classify subjects according to fat tissue accumulation: normal-weight (n = 37, 19 females, 18 males), overweight (n = 42, 30 females, 12 males), and obese (n = 55, 42 females, 13 males). Saliva samples were collected 30 min after awakening to determine salivary levels of 17-beta-estradiol. For salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase activity (sAA) three samples were obtained, just after awakening, 30 min after awakening and at bedtime. Oral contraceptive intake was considered for the female group. The results showed that overweight and obese females using oral contraceptive presented lower levels of 17-ß-estradiol than normal-weight females. In overweight and obese males, sAA levels were higher 30 min post-awakening when compared with the normal-weight group. The comparison of sAA levels within time showed no difference for males; obese females showed significant higher values at bedtime than 30 min post-awakening. The salivary cortisol concentration showed higher values at morning decreasing significantly at bedtime for all groups. Concluding, differences in 17-ß-estradiol and sAA levels were found in females and males, respectively, according to body fat accumulation, showing the usefulness of salivary biomarkers in the study of systemic conditions. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Saliva is an advantageous biological fluid in innovative methods for diagnosis. Besides being a noninvasive method, salivary steroid measurements have the potential to provide a convenient assessment of serum free steroid concentrations.

Assessment of anxiety and stress markers in children submitted to educational strategies and ART-restoration: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Although atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) is considered to be a good option for anxious patients, there is a lack of information whether ART associated to oral health educational strategy (OHES) would positively influence the level of anxiety and stress in children. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of OHES on anxiety and stress markers of schoolchildren submitted to ART. DESIGN: A sample of 78 six- to eight-year-old schoolchildren, with carious lesions in dentin, were randomly divided into groups: OHES + ART-group (n = 39) and ART-group (n = 39). OHES consisted of an educational interactive strategy performed once a week for four weeks. ART was performed using a standardized procedure with hand instruments and glass-ionomer cement. Anxiety and stress markers were assessed subjectively by the modified Venham Picture Test (m-VPT), modified Venham Anxiety Scale (m-VAS), while objective measures consisted of heart rate (HR) and salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels evaluated before, during and after treatment. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ in the perceived anxiety and in anxious behavior, and the variation along the treatment was not significant in both groups (p > 0.05). Both groups also showed higher HR "Before ART-restoration" than the other time-points as an anticipatory anxiety. ART group showed higher HR than OHES + ART group during the "Explanation of procedure" (p = 0.041) and "Deep excavation" (p = 0.018), and only ART group showed higher amylase levels "Before ART" compared to "After ART" (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that OHES associated with ART showed a positive effect in modulating heart rate and alpha-amylase levels, that is, those markers of stress objectively measured during ART-restoration.

Orofacial functions and quality of life in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the orofacial functions and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). This case-control study included patients with UCLP matched by sex and age with controls (children without UCLP), resulting in the inclusion of a total of 108 eight- to ten-year-old children. Orofacial functions and OHRQoL were evaluated using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) and the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ 8-1 0 ), respectively. Data normality was assessed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Differences and correlations in NOT-S and CPQ 8-1 0 scores between and within the groups were evaluated using Mann-Whitney and Spearman´s correlation tests, respectively. The distribution of NOT-S and global ratings of CPQ 8-1 0 for each group were assessed by Chi-squared/Fisher's Exact tests. The UCLP group had a higher NOT-S total and examination scores than the controls. Dysfunctions related to breathing, facial symmetry/expression, and speech were more frequent in the UCLP patients than in the controls. The UCLP group had higher scores on the social well-being domain than the controls. There was a significant difference between the groups in their ratings in regards to the extent to which their oral condition affected their life overall, with controls perceiving it as somewhat better than patients. In both groups, NOT-S total and interview scores were positively correlated with CPQ 8-1 0 total and domain scores. The NOT-S examination score was only significantly correlated with social domain scores in the control group. The presence of UCLP was associated with clinical signs of orofacial dysfunctions related to breathing, facial symmetry/expression, and speech. Children with UCLP reported more orofacial dysfunctions and negative impacts on social well-being than controls.