Understanding Children's Attention to Dental Caries through Eye-Tracking.

Visual attention is a significant gateway to a child's mind, and looking is one of the first behaviors young children develop. Untreated caries and the resulting poor dental aesthetics can have adverse emotional and social impacts on children's oral health-related quality of life due to its detrimental effects on self-esteem and self-concept. Therefore, we explored preschool children's eye movement patterns and visual attention to images with and without dental caries via eye movement analysis using hidden Markov models (EMHMM). We calibrated a convenience sample of 157 preschool children to the eye-tracker (Tobii Nano Pro) to ensure standardization. Consequently, each participant viewed the same standardized pictures with and without dental caries while an eye-tracking device tracked their eye movements. Subsequently, based on the sequence of viewed regions of interest (ROIs), a transition matrix was developed where the participants' previously viewed ROI informed their subsequently considered ROI. Hence, an individual's HMM was estimated from their eye movement data using a variational Bayesian approach to determine the optimal number of ROIs automatically. Consequently, this data-driven approach generated the visual task participants' most representative eye movement patterns. Preschool children exhibited two different eye movement patterns, distributed (78%) and selective (21%), which was statistically significant. Children switched between images with more similar probabilities in the distributed pattern while children remained looking at the same ROI than switching to the other ROI in the selective pattern. Nevertheless, all children exhibited an equal starting fixation on the right or left image and noticed teeth. The study findings reveal that most preschool children did not have an attentional bias to images with and without dental caries. Furthermore, only a few children selectively fixated on images with dental caries. Therefore, selective eye-movement patterns may strongly predict preschool children's sustained visual attention to dental caries. Nevertheless, future studies are essential to fully understand the developmental origins of differences in visual attention to common oral health presentations in children. Finally, EMHMM is appropriate for assessing inter-individual differences in children's visual attention.

Understanding children's attention to traumatic dental injuries using eye-tracking.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in the primary dentition may result in tooth discolouration and fractures. The aim of this child-centred study was to explore the differences between preschool children's eye movement patterns and visual attention to typical outcomes following TDIs to primary teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An eye-tracker recorded 155 healthy preschool children's eye movements when they viewed clinical images of healthy teeth, tooth fractures and discolourations. The visual search pattern was analysed using the eye movement analysis with the Hidden Markov Models (EMHMM) approach and preference for the various regions of interest (ROIs). RESULTS: Two different eye movement patterns (distributed and selective) were identified (p < .05). Children with the distributed pattern shifted their fixations between the presented images, while those with the selective pattern remained focused on the same image they first saw. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool children noticed teeth. However, most of them did not have an attentional bias, implying that they did not interpret these TDI outcomes negatively. Only a few children avoided looking at images with TDIs indicating a potential negative impact. The EMHMM approach is appropriate for assessing inter-individual differences in children's visual attention to TDI outcomes.

Mixed messages from the 'Mild Traumatic Brain Injury' and 'Sport-related Concussion' literatures: Clinical implications.

Objectives: The Sport-related Concussion (SRC) literature has three areas of emphasis which in some circumstances can be detrimental to the recovery of a patient after a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). These include the role of organic factors in post-concussion symptoms, the need to be asymptomatic to return to play and the later-life complications of sustaining multiple MTBIs. These contrast with quite different emphases in the broader MTBI literature and can cause significant anxiety for some patients with prolonged post-concussion symptoms (PCS).Methods: This paper presents for the first time a case where such factors operated.Results: Five sessions of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) to address these elements resulted in the complete amelioration of persisting PCS.Conclusions: Anxiety due to maladaptive cognitions influenced by the 'mixed messages' from the SRC literature can exacerbate or solely maintain persisting PCS but may be successfully addressed with CBT.

Eye-tracking in dentistry: what do children notice in the dental operatory?

OBJECTIVES: To determine, using eye-tracking technology, (i) what children notice the most when they look at images of dental operatories and (ii) the effect of distractors on gaze pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one children aged 4-12 years (21 girls, 19 boys) viewed 13 images of dental operatories taken from different perspectives on a computer screen. One child was excluded due to calibration issues with the eye-tracking equipment. Areas of interest (AOI's) were pre-defined on each image, then a Tobii X2-60 eye-tracking camera was used to track the location of participant's gaze. Count of participants to fixate and mean length of fixation (LOF) for each AOI were measured. RESULTS: Significant differences in the mean LOF was noticed for bracket tables, handpieces, and the dental chair. Significantly differences in mean LOF between different areas of the images were noted where distractors (cartoons) were added. CONCLUSIONS: When viewing images of dental operatories on a computer screen, children fixated most on the bracket tables, handpieces, and dental chairs. The addition of distractors was able to change where they looked. Eye-tracking was able to effectively assess where the children looked. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings demonstrate that children have inherent preferences for where they fixate when viewing images of a dental operatory. This has not previously been known and will allow customization of dental operatories where children will be treated.

Dentigerous cyst formation following trauma to the primary incisors: A case report.

Although usually considered to be of developmental origin, dentigerous cysts (DCs) have been reported to form in response to chronic periapical inflammation associated with primary teeth that have necrotic, infected pulps. This article describes the management of a DC associated with tooth 21 in a seven-year-old Caucasian child with a history of multiple TDIs to the primary maxillary incisors. Chronic periapical inflammation associated with a necrotic pulp in tooth 61 was identified as the likely cause of the lesion. Initial conservative management involved marsupialization of the lesion by extracting the necrotic tooth 61. Following significant decompression of the cyst, surgical enucleation was carried out under general anaesthesia and an orthodontic attachment was bonded to the crown of the unerupted tooth 21 to facilitate traction. Histopathological assessment of the enucleated tissue confirmed it to be a DC. Two years after the initial presentation, teeth 21 and 22 had erupted into the oral cavity, improving patient aesthetics. However, the root of tooth 22 was transposed with the crown of the unerupted tooth 23. This case highlights the undesirable sequelae that may occur following delayed and inappropriate management of TDIs.

Relationships between parental education, choice of child dentifrice, and their children's caries experience.

BACKGROUND: The influence of parental education, choice of child dentifrice, and its impact on their children's dental caries experience remain unclear. AIM: To investigate (a) dentifrice types used by Australian pre-school children, (b) demographic factors that influence parents' dentifrice choice, and (c) whether dentifrice type is related to pre-schooler's caries experience. DESIGN: 155 parent-child dyads were recruited from five random metropolitan childcare centres. Parents completed a questionnaire recording relevant demographics and child dietary preferences, oral hygiene practice, and dental visits. One calibrated operator performed a clinical examination of their pre-schooler for evidence of carious lesions. Data were analysed, and comparisons between variables made using chi-square tests and regression models. RESULTS: 50% of pre-schoolers used <1000 ppm fluoride dentifrice and 29% used non-fluoridated dentifrice. Higher parental education level was associated with the use of non-fluoridated dentifrice (P = .02, χ2  = 0.034). Children with higher brushing frequency were more likely to use fluoridated dentifrice (P = .03, χ2  < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The proportion of Australian pre-schoolers using non-fluoridated dentifrice was higher than in other world regions. Higher parental education level was strongly associated with choosing non-fluoridated toothpaste, which warrants further qualitative analysis to assess determinants for parents' choice of child dentifrice.

Reporting stAndards for research in PedIatric Dentistry (RAPID): an expert consensus-based statement.

BACKGROUND: Reporting guidelines for different study designs are currently available to report studies with accuracy and transparency. There is a need to develop supplementary guideline items that are specific to areas within Pediatric Dentistry. This study aims to develop Reporting stAndards for research in PedIatric Dentistry (RAPID) guidelines using a pre-defined expert consensus-based Delphi process. METHODS: The development of the RAPID guidelines was based on the Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting Guidelines. Following a comprehensive search of the literature, the Executive Group identified ten themes in Pediatric Dentistry and compiled a draft checklist of items under each theme. The themes were categorized as: General, Oral Medicine, Pathology and Radiology, Children with Special Health Care Needs, Sedation and Hospital Dentistry, Behavior Guidance, Dental Caries, Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, Pulp Therapy, Traumatology, and Interceptive Orthodontics. A RAPID Delphi Group (RDG) was formed comprising of 69 members from 15 countries across six continents. Items were scored using a 9-point rating Likert scale. Items achieving a score of seven and above, marked by at least 70% of RDG members were accepted into the RAPID checklist items. Weighted mean scores were calculated for each item. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and one-way ANOVA was used to calculate the difference in the weighted mean scores between the themes. RESULTS: The final RAPID checklist comprised of 128 items that were finalized and approved by the RDG members in the online consensus meeting. The percentage for high scores (scores 7 to 9) ranged from 69.57 to 100% for individual items. The overall weighted mean score of the final items ranged from 7.51 to 8.28 (out of 9) and the difference was statistically significant between the themes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The RAPID statement provides guidance to researchers, authors, reviewers and editors, to ensure that all elements relevant to particular studies are adequately reported.

Role of Marginal Ridge Shape and Contact Extent in Proximal Caries Between Primary Molars.

OBJECTIVES: To determine different combinations of marginal ridge shape (MRS) and contact extents in nature of the contact between primary molars and its correlation with the presence of carious lesions on radiographic examination of approximal surfaces. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 347 clinical records, including photographs and bitewing radiographs, were assessed for intact MRS and caries extent. The carious lesions were scored (0-5, Mejàre scoring system) radiographically and correlated to the intact MRS on clinical photographs, and strength of associations quantified using logistic regression analysis and chi-square tests. RESULTS: Primary molars, 848(contact extent), and 757(MRS) were analyzed. Combination of straight-convex(35.4%) MRS was more common (p<0.001). None of the approximal surfaces were caries-free for straight and straight MRS with 36.4% of both approximal surfaces exhibiting caries in enamel, and 38.2% of one approximal surface exhibiting caries in dentin. Approximately 90% of the primary molars with substantial contacts exhibited carious lesions in the enamel and 80% with light contacts exhibited carious lesions in the dentin (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Six different combinations of intact MRS were identified. Combination of concave-convex shapes exhibited caries extending into dentin. Substantial and/or light contacts between primary molars showed higher caries experience in the approximal surfaces.

Embodying empathy: A phenomenological study of physician touch.

CONTEXT: Empathic physician behaviour is associated with improved patient outcomes. One way to demonstrate empathy is through the use of non-verbal communication (NVC) including touch. To date, research on NVC, and specifically touch, has been relatively limited in medicine, which is surprising given the central role it plays in conveying affective and empathic messages. To inform curriculum development on NVC, this study aimed to examine physicians' experiences of communicating by touch. METHODS: We conducted an interpretative phenomenological study. A total of 15 physicians (seven women and eight men) from different specialties, including both recent graduates and experienced doctors, described in detail specific instances of touch drawn from their clinical practices. Interview prompts encouraged participants to recall exact details such as the context, their relationship with the patient they touched and their physical experience of touching. Interviews (45-100 minutes) were analysed with template analysis, followed by a process of dialectic questioning, moving back and forth between the data and researchers' personal reflections on them, drawing on phenomenological literature to synthesise a final interpretation. RESULTS: Participants described two dimensions of the experience of touch: 'choosing and inviting touch' and 'expressing empathy.' Touch was a personal and fragile process. Participants interpreted non-verbal patient cues in order to determine whether or not touch was appropriate. They interpreted facial expressions and body language in the present to make meaning of patients' experiences. They used touch to share emotions, and to demonstrate empathy and presence. Participants' experiences of touch framed it as a form of embodied empathic communication. CONCLUSIONS: Touch is a powerful form of NVC that can establish human connection. Phenomenological accounts of empathy, which emphasise its embodied intersubjective nature, can be used to theoretically enrich pedagogical approaches to touch in medical education and to deepen our understanding of empathy.

Understanding Experiences in Hospice: Exploring Temporal, Occupational, and Relational Dimensions Using Pictor Technique.

Temporality, occupation, and relationships are identified as discrete factors that impact quality of life for individuals at the end of life and those around them. However, scholars, practitioners, and educators require insights regarding whether and how interactions between these factors shape this quality of life. This study is framed by an understanding that meaning is negotiated between people through social interaction and occupational engagement in temporal contexts. We conducted in-depth interviews with 9 patients and 10 family members, incorporating the Pictor visual elicitation technique. Analysis was conducted through an iterative process involving open and selective coding. Findings are described as three main processes: (a) experiences of temporal rupture, (b) diminished significance of clock time, and (c) shifts in occupational priorities. Participants' perspectives may help carers understand how to foster positive temporal experiences and quality of life for patients and those who love them.

Reporting stAndards for research in PedIatric Dentistry (RAPID): A development protocol.

Reporting guidelines can improve the quality of reports of research findings. Some specialities in health care however require guidance on areas that are not captured within the existing guidelines, and this is the case for Paediatric Dentistry where no such standards are available to guide the reporting of different types of study designs. The 'Reporting stAndards for research in PedIatric Dentistry' (RAPID) group aims to address this need by developing guidelines on reporting elements of research of particular relevance to Paediatric Dentistry. The development of RAPID guidelines will involve a five-phase process including a Delphi study, which is an explicit consensus development method designed and implemented in accordance with the Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies. The guideline development process will be overseen by an Executive Group. Themes specific to areas in Paediatric Dentistry will be selected, and items to be included under each theme will be identified by members of the Executive Group reviewing at least five reports of experimental and analytical study types using existing reporting guidelines. For the Delphi study, the Executive Group will identify an international multidisciplinary RAPID Delphi Group (RDG) of approximately 60 participants including academics, Paediatric Dentists, parents, and other stakeholders. Each item will be evaluated by RDG on clarity using a dichotomous scale ('well phrased' or 'needs revision') and on suitability for inclusion in the Delphi study using a 9-point Likert scale (1 = 'definitely not include' to 9 = 'definitely include'). The items will then be included in an online Delphi study of up to four rounds, with participants invited from stakeholder groups across Paediatric Dentistry. Items scored 7 or above by at least 80% of respondents will be included in the checklist and further discussed in a face-to-face Delphi consensus meeting. Following this, the Executive Group will finalize the RAPID guidelines. The guidelines will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and disseminated at scientific meetings and conferences. All the outputs from this project will be made freely available on the RAPID website: www.rapid-statement.org.

Body pedagogics: embodied learning for the health professions.

MEDICINE AS EMBODIED PRACTICE: Bodily dysfunctions bring patients to their doctors and even diseases of the mind can originate in patients' bodies. Doctors respond by using their own bodies - hands, eyes, ears and sometimes noses - to make diagnoses and treat diseases. Yet, despite the embodied nature of practice, medicine typically treats the body as an object, paying scant attention to the subjective embodied experiences of patients and doctors. Much health professions education (HPE) reflects this, prioritising cognition over learners' sense of embodiment. Hence there is a gap between the embodied realities of practice and the disembodied nature of medical education. This article introduces readers to 'body pedagogics' as a framework that can help to re-establish embodiment as a central principle of HPE. BODY PEDAGOGICS: This embodiment theory, drawn from sociology, anthropology and phenomenology, has informed such disparate fields as glassblowing education and military training. Body pedagogics emphasises learning as a physically embodied process. It illustrates how multisensory experience causes embodied changes that become an automatic part of physician expertise. We introduce core body pedagogic concepts using physical examination as an example, examining the bodily means of HPE, students' bodily experiences and the resulting bodily changes. IMPLICATIONS: Body pedagogics can help us to focus attention on embodiment as a central principle of HPE that transcends the discipline-specific teaching of clinical skills. Moreover, it provides a set of conceptual foundations for an interdisciplinary practice within HPE with implications for instructional design. Body pedagogics can also help us to make strange the habits and disregarded aspects of embodied learning and in so doing help us to consider embodiment more critically and directly in practice and education, and in the ways we research them.

'Mild Traumatic Brain Injury' and 'Sport-related Concussion': Different languages and mixed messages?

The last 20 years has seen the emergence of a sub-category of the mild traumatic brain injury literature termed 'sport-related concussion'. Some important differences now exist between this sub-category and the wider findings in the field and these could be detrimental to patients with persisting post-concussion symptoms (PCS). Sport-related studies often emphasize the cerebral risks associated with concussive injuries whilst the broader literature typically focuses on the relatively benign organic implications and the role of psychological factors in persisting symptoms. Clinically, anxiety caused by these mixed messages could lead to an exacerbation of PCS. This paper summarizes the commonalities and differences between the literatures and addresses the key clinical implications.

Dental development in children with supernumerary teeth in the anterior region of maxilla.

OBJECTIVE: Development of human dentition has been used as a predictor for evaluating the growth and maturity of an individual. It is fairly identical in a specific population, but the effect of development on subjects with dental anomalies had not been fully explored, particularly on subjects with supernumerary teeth (ST). This study hence aims to evaluate the dental development of children with and without ST. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sample size calculation was conducted and 320 radiographs of subjects with and without supernumerary teeth (ST) were obtained from the archives of a teaching hospital. The subjects in both groups were age and sex matched. All the subjects belong to southern Chinese ethnicity aged 2 to 14 years. The left-side dentition was scored, and dental age (DA) was estimated by obtaining scores from the southern Chinese dental reference dataset. Paired t test was used to calculate the difference between chronological age and dental age (CA-DA) for boys and girls with and without ST and further based on the number and position of ST. RESULTS: The difference between chronological age and dental age (CA-DA) was 0.10 years for boys and 0.19 years for girls with ST whilst 0.01 and 0.05 years for boys and girls without ST (p > 0.05). The boys with bilateral ST showed significant delay in dental development of 0.23 years (p < 0.05). Position of the ST did not have any influence on dental age. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was observed in the dental development of children with and without supernumerary teeth. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding dental development of children with supernumerary teeth may be useful in appropriate treatment planning of such conditions.

Supernumerary teeth formation following subluxation of primary incisors.

Supernumerary teeth are reported to occur in both primary and permanent dentitions, but their exact aetiology remains unclear. To date, there have been no documented reports of supernumerary teeth formation subsequent to traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) to the primary incisors. This case report illustrates such an unusual consequence where a supernumerary tooth developed subsequent to a subluxation injury to teeth 51 and 61 in a 4-year-old Caucasian girl. This emphasizes the importance of reviewing TDIs, as well as providing parents with sufficient information about possible sequelae at the time of trauma. Nevertheless, it also provides an excellent basis for future investigations, which are essential to establish this correlation and to prove causation.

Unusual sequelae of a subluxated primary incisor on its permanent successor tooth.

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) such as subluxations of primary teeth can have significant consequences on their developing successors. The purpose of this report is to present a 3-year-old boy who encountered subluxation injuries to his primary incisors which subsequently had an unusual consequence on the permanent successor. On the day of the TDI, based on clinical and radiographic examinations, a diagnosis of subluxation of teeth 52, 51 and 61 was made. By age 5, the patient reported that tooth 51 had exfoliated, and consequently, tooth 11 had erupted into the oral cavity, but it was very loose. Eventually, the patient lost the crown of tooth 11 during his routine daily activities. Furthermore, radiographic examination at age 11 revealed a small root-like structure in the tooth 11 region. It is very unusual to have premature loss of a permanent incisor following subluxation to its predecessor. Therefore, the present case serves as a good example to emphasize that even minor TDIs are of considerable importance as they may lead to unexpected consequences.

Age estimation in three distinct east Asian population groups using southern Han Chinese dental reference dataset.

BACKGROUND: Dental age estimation can assist in the identification of victims following natural disasters and it can also help to solve birth date disputes in individuals involved in criminal activities. A reference dataset (RDS) has been developed from the dental development of 2306 subjects of southern Han Chinese origin and subsequently validated. This study aimed to test the applicability of the southern Han Chinese dental maturation RDS on three distinct East Asian population groups. METHODS: A total of 953 dental panoramic radiographs of subjects aged 2 to 24 years were obtained from Philippines, Thailand and Japan. The staging of dental development was conducted according to Anglo-Canadian classification system. The dental age (DA) was calculated using six methods; one un-weighted average and five weighted average (n-tds, sd-tds, se-tds, 1/sd-tds, 1/se-tds) methods based on the scores of the southern Han Chinese RDS. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and the variation between chronological age (CA) and DA was evaluated using paired t-test and Bland & Altman scatter plots. RESULTS: From six dental age calculations, all methods of DA accurately estimated the age of Japanese and few methods in Filipino subjects (n-tds, 1/sd-tds, 1/se-tds). There was consistent overestimation of age for all the methods for Thai females (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The southern Han Chinese dental reference dataset was shown to be most accurate for Japanese, followed by Thai males and it was particularly ineffective for Filipinos and Thai females.

Remineralizing Potential of Clinpro® and Tooth Mousse Plus® on Artificial Carious Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Calcium phosphate and fluoride (F) delivery systems claim to facilitate enamel remineralization. AIM: To evaluate and compare (i) the remineralizing potential of Clinpro® Tooth Crème(CTC) and Tooth Mousse Plus®(TMP) on artificial carious lesions, and (ii) the benefit of 1000ppm F dentifrice prior to the application of CTC and TMP. STUDY DESIGN: Carious lesions, 200-300µm deep were produced by placing molars in demineralizing solution for 96h, sections 100-150µm thick were then randomly assigned to six groups(n=150). Specimens were treated thrice daily with a non-fluoridated(Group A), or fluoridated dentifrice[1000ppm, (Group B)], or CTC(Group C), TMP(Group D), fluoridated dentifrice followed by CTC(Group E), or a fluoridated dentifrice followed by TMP(Group F), and then subjected to a 10-day pH cycling model. Lesion evaluation involved polarizing light microscopy and microradiography. RESULTS: Posttreatment maximum mineral content at the surface zone(Vmax) was significantly increased in Groups B, C, and D compared to the other groups. The lesion depth(LD) decreased in Group D>Group C>Group E, and the net mineral content gain(ΔZ) in Group C>Group D, which did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: CTC and TMP exhibited similar efficacy in remineralizing artificial carious lesions. Nevertheless, the net mineral gain or lesion consolidation following CTC use was higher than TMP.

Pulp Chamber Analysis of Primary Molars Using Micro-Computed Tomography: Preliminary Findings.

Purpose: To determine the three-dimensional (3D) tooth morphology of all primary molars and to identify and consolidate positional factors that could potentially have an effect on tooth preparation. Study design: Thirty-one non-carious primary molars were scanned using micro-CT and reconstructed using 3D analysis software. Each pulp horn to its respective cusp tip distance (PHCD) was measured as well as the distances from the pulp chamber to the mesial, distal, lingual and buccal surfaces. One-way ANOVA and post-hoc t-tests were used for data analysis. Results: The mesio-buccal and disto-buccal PHCD was significantly shorter than the mesio-lingual and disto-lingual PHCDs in maxillary second primary molars (P < 0.05). Mesial, distal and lingual walls were thinner than the buccal walls of mandibular molars while in maxillary molars; the mesial and distal walls were thinner than the palatal and buccal walls (P < 0.05). Conclusions: First primary molars have thinner tooth structure surrounding the pulp than second primary molars in the same arch with the exception of the buccal walls of all molars and lingual walls of maxillary molars. The mesial and distal walls are thinner than the buccal walls of all molars and lingual walls in maxillary molars.

Developmental Disturbance of a Maxillary Permanent Lateral Incisor Following Trauma at the Age of 16 Months: A 6-Year Follow-Up.

A 3 year and 8 months old Chinese boy was referred for a consultation regarding his missing maxillary anterior teeth. He had a history of trauma to his primary maxillary anterior teeth due to a fall at the age of 16 months. Clinical examination of the patient indicated multiple carious lesions and inadequate oral hygiene. Radiographic examination revealed intrusion of the primary left lateral incisor, with evidence of damage to the permanent tooth germ. Subsequently, the patient was followed-up for almost six years during which his permanent maxillary left lateral incisor erupted exhibiting an unusual morphology. Clinically enamel hypoplasia and radiographically dens invaginatus were evident in affected tooth.