Hypomineralisation of second primary molars and primary canines: Prevalence and description of lesions in a population of 153 patients visited at a hospital paediatric dentistry service.

AIM: The enamel defects of Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) share clinical characteristics with hypomineralised second primary molars (HSPM) and hypomineralised primary canines (HPC). The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of these entities in a population of patients in a hospital dentistry service. The secondary objectives are to know the number and distribution of lesions, classify them according to their degree of severity and to know which dental surfaces are most affected. METHODS: A cross-sectional and observational prevalence study was carried out over a 32-day period, guided by the diagnostic criteria of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) together with the descriptive study of the lesions. Healthy patients between 30-42 months and who had all erupted teeth were included. RESULTS: Out of a total of 153 patients, 29 presented HSPM (18.95%) and 17 HPC (11.11%). Check-ups were made on 116 second primary molars (SPM) and 116 primary canines (PC), obtaining 81 HSPM (69.82%) and 31 HPC (26.72%). The lesions observed were mild in 60 molars (74.07%) and in 27 canines (87.09%). As for the 405 surfaces checked, 168 showed HSPM (41.48%) and 43 HPC (10.61%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HSPM and HPC varies depending on the population studied. It was observed that SPM were affected more often than PC, with the occlusal and buccal surfaces being the most affected, and the majority of the lesions presenting a low degree of severity.

Probiotics diminish the post-operatory pain following mandibular third molar extraction: a randomised double-blind controlled trial (pilot study).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a probiotic in preventing infections after third molar surgery. Thirty-eight patients were consecutively enrolled to a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial. Patients were asked to take one tablet two times a day containing a mixture of Levilactobacillus brevis CECT7480 (KABP-052) and Lactoplantibacillus plantarum CECT7481 (KABP-051) or placebo for the first post-intervention week. The primary outcome was the postoperative infection rate. Secondary outcomes included swelling, eating difficulties and postoperative pain recorded by the patient using a visual analogue scale (VAS) during the first postoperative week. No statistically significant difference in the infection rate between the groups was found; with only three cases of infections reported (one in the probiotic group and two in the placebo group) on the first week. Compared to placebo, treatment with the probiotic showed a significantly higher reduction in pain and eating difficulties scores at 5, 6 and 7 days post-surgery. Swelling values were not significantly different between the groups at any time point. The findings of this pilot study justify a larger study to clarify the possible role of these bacterial strains on the post-operative pain management following third molar surgery.

The prevalence of ankyloglossia in 302 newborns with breastfeeding problems and sucking difficulties in Barcelona: a descriptive study.

AIM: Oral and maxillofacial development is influenced by the lingual frenulum and also affects breathing, occlusion, sucking, swallowing, speech, among others. Ankyloglossia in the newborn may result in breastfeeding difficulties: maternal nipple pain and/or erosion or mastitis, poor weight gain and excessively long breastfeeds. The main objective of this work is to study the prevalence of ankyloglossia in newborns with breastfeeding difficulties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a transversal descriptive study of 302 patients, between 0 and 6 months, who attended the hospital as a result of breastfeeding difficulties. All patients with sucking problems and ankyloglossia were included in this study and followed the multidisciplinary treatment protocol made up of the services of Breastfeeding, Speech Therapy and Orofacial Rehabilitation and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. RESULTS: 1,102 newborns were seen at the paediatric service of Hospital de Nens, Barcelona (Spain) during 2 years; 302 had breastfeeding difficulties and of these, 171 were diagnosed with ankyloglossia (60 girls and 111 boys). Coryllos Grade 3 ankyloglossia was the most prevalent (59.6%) type; 85 infants (49.7%) were exclusively breastfed and 26 (50.35%) were mixed fed (formula and breastfeeding). Only 43 patients had a family history of tongue-tie (25.1%). CONCLUSION: Ankyloglossia linked to breastfeeding difficulties must be treated by a multidisciplinary team. We have found a high prevalence of the condition since the population studied are newborns with sucking problems. If a frenotomy is necessary, we recommend stimulating suction with myofunctional therapy before and after surgery to avoid scar retraction.

Study of the frequency, localisation and morphology of supernumerary teeth in 1960 Spanish non-syndromic paediatric patients.

AIM: The main objective was to study supernumerary teeth diagnosed during the routine checkups at the Paediatric Dentistry Service of Hospital de Nens, Barcelona (Spain), for four months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A transversal, descriptive study, was performed in 1,960 patients, aged 1 to 17 years, visited during routine oral checkups. An intraoral exploration (with intraoral mirror and probe) was performed to all patients, and subjects older than 5 years also underwent panoramic x-ray examination. RESULTS: A total of 33 patients showed supernumerary teeth (1.68%), 22 boys and 11 girls. A total of 10 patients (8 boys/2 girls) had supernumerary teeth in the temporary dentition, 20 patients (12 boys/8 girls) in the permanent dentition and 3 patients (2 boys/1girls) in both temporary and permanent dentition. A total of 46 supernumerary teeth were diagnosed. CONCLUSION: Any alteration in the number of teeth in patients younger than 5 years are difficult to diagnose, as x-rays are usually not taken. We believe that starting at 5 years old, a radiological exploration (panoramic x-ray) has to be carried out as a complement to the clinical examination.

Unusual transalveolar and transmuco-gingival root avulsion of a fractured primary central incisor: a case with an 8-year follow-up.

The purpose of this unique case report is to describe a very unusual dentoalveolar fracture associated with avulsion of the near-complete root. A 3-year-old male patient came for consultation after a dentoalveolar trauma with a "fragment that looks like canine" found in his mouth by his mother. This boy suffered root fracture of the upper primary central right incisor, accompanied by transalveolar and transmuco-gingival avulsion of the tooth root fragment, leaving the crown in its position in the dental arch. Clinical and radiological examinations were performed in order to follow up the case: 15 days, one month, and three months after trauma, the crown had a slight mobility without other clinical or radiological signs. After six months, the upper primary central right incisor's crown was exfoliated. Open bite due to the persistence of the pacifier habit favored the crown retention in the mouth. This case emphasizes the importance of primary diagnosis and follow-up of trauma cases. To the best of our knowledge, this kind of dental injury has not been previously described in the literature nor in the current Dental Trauma guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries in the primary dentition.