Quantification of three-dimensional morphology of craniofacial mineralized tissue defects in Tgfbr2/Osx-Cre mice.

Craniofacial morphology is affected by the growth, development, and three-dimensional (3D) relationship of mineralized structures including the skull, jaws, and teeth. Despite fulfilling different purposes within this region, cranial bones and tooth dentin are derived from mesenchymal cells that are affected by perturbations within the TGF-ß signaling pathway. TGFBR2 encodes a transmembrane receptor that is part of the canonical, SMAD-dependent TGF-ß signaling pathway and mutations within this gene are associated with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, a condition which often presents with craniofacial signs including craniosynostosis and cleft palate. To investigate the role of Tgfbr2 in immature, but committed, mineralized tissue forming cells, we analyzed postnatal craniofacial morphology in mice with conditional Tgfbr2 deletion in Osx-expressing cells. Novel application of a 3D shape-based comparative technique revealed that Tgfbr2 in Osx-expressing cells results in impaired postnatal molar root and anterior cranial growth. These findings support those from studies using similar Tgfbr2 conditional knockout models, highlight the anomalous facial and dental regions/structures using tomographic imaging-based techniques, and provide insight into the role of Tgfbr2 during postnatal craniofacial development.

Kindergarten/Elementary School Teachers and Web-based Oral Health-Related Resources: An Exploration.

PURPOSE: The percentage of U.S. children with poor oral health continues to be high. Kindergarten/elementary school educators could play an important role in teaching students about oral health promotion. The objectives were to assess which oral health-related web-based resources teachers consider most helpful and how teachers' attitudes, knowledge, and behavioural intentions concerning oral health-related teaching change between before and after having access to a resource website. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Web-based survey data were collected from 95 kindergarten/elementary school educators before and after they accessed a website with oral health-related information for teachers (web-link: http://media.dent.umich.edu/teachoralhealth/index.html). RESULTS: Most teachers accessed lesson plans about 'Teeth and smiling' (90%) and 'Taking care of your teeth' (88%) and the fewest accessed information about 'Nutrition and health' (42%) and 'Information for parents' (39%). On average, all materials were perceived as useful (5-point scale with 5 = 'very useful', range = 3.80 to 4.04). Responses to the question on how important dental health is for a child's ability to learn improved significantly from before to after the educational intervention (5-point scale with 5 = 'very important', 3.78 vs 4.44). Knowledge increased and behavioural intentions improved as well. The percentage of teachers who reported that they had included oral health-related material in the past was 47% and the percentage who intended to include it in the future was 65% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Providing kindergarten/elementary school educators with web-based resource materials improves their attitudes, increases their knowledge and leads to positive behavioural intentions concerning educating their students about oral health.