Aspectos epidemiológicos da saúde bucal de crianças em um município brasileiro

The Health Sciences, prior to the planning of prevention programs, adopt the tools to analyze the population profile, entitled epidemiological surveys, to obtain data on the need for heathcare and the possibility of treating health events. The aim of this study was to evaluate dental conditions in schoolchildren, aged five to fourteen, enrolled in public schools in Américo Brasiliense, SP Brazil. The dmft and DMFT index, caries experience, and prevalence of fluorosis were analyzed. For this epidemiological study, 1,137 children were selected. Four calibrated dentists performed oral exams according to WHO criteria (1997). The data were collected using descriptive analyses. The results showed that 94% of the five-year-old children were caries free, and the value of dmft was 1.44. DMFT was 1.19 in 12-year-olds. The lowest and the highest fluorosis prevalence could be observed in eight and fourteen-year-olds, respectively. It could be concluded that the city of Américo Brasiliense has developed respectful educational and preventive oral health programs which presented satiosfactory results in the present epidemiological study.

Promoção de Saúde Bucal em Bebês

This study is a literature review about promotion of oral health in babies and it discusses the importance of early preventive treatment. The conclusions are: 1 - The early treatment aims to reduce the dental caries prevalence in babies and to make familiar the dentistry´s office. It is important the creation of oral habits in children and in their parents. 2 - The high prevalence of dental caries in babies shows the necessity of programs with health promotion in the first infancy. The aim is to keep the oral health of these children. 3 - The success of the oral health promotion in babies depends on the awareness of the parents about the importance of oral hygiene. This fact must be considered during the planning and development of programs to this age.

Impacto dos problemas de saúde bucal na qualidade de vida de gestantes

Objectives: 1) to evaluate the impact of oral health problems on the quality of life of pregnant women by the simplified Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire as well by the presence of dental caries, periodontal disease and denture use/need; 2) to correlate the sociodemographic variables and the oral health conditions revealed in the clinical examinations with the OHIP-14. Method: In addition to the application of the OHIP-14 questionnaire, clinical examination of the oral conditions (CPI - community periodontal index, DMFT and prosthetic evaluation) was performed on 51 pregnant women, who sought dental treatment between April 2008 and August 2010 at the Preventive Dentistry Clinic. Descriptive analyses were made for sample characterization, bivariate analysis (chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests) and multiple logistic regressions at a 5% significance level to assess the correlation between the impact of oral health on the quality of life of pregnant women and the socio-demographic and clinical variables. Results: The OHIP-14 data showed a lesser impact of oral health on the women’s quality of life. The mean DMFT was 12.8; 70.6% of the pregnant women presented dental calculus and 58.8% needed prostheses. The association between OHIP-14 data and last dental visit and DMFT remained in the final regression model (p<0.05). Conclusion: Caries experience of the pregnant women was considered high. Most of them needed prostheses and presented dental calculus. The OHIP-14 presented a low impact on this population and was significantly influenced by the last dental visit and the DMFT index.

Avaliação do perfil de risco de cárie dentária em gestantes de Araraquara, Brasil

The knowledge of risk of carried during pregnant is essential for an appropriate treatment using educational and preventives actions to mother for a good care of their oral health and that of children. The main objective of present retrospective study was to identify the risk of caries of pregnants (aged 15-44, mean= 25 years) came to clinic of Preventive Odontology of Araraquara-UNSEP from 1999 to 2007, using 166 medical records obtained by the third pregraduate year students, following the pre-established guidelines. The information collected includes: classification of caries risk diagnosis, pregnancy trimester, carbohydrates ingestion (between or during foods), dental plaques (O'Leary's plaque control registry) and the number of teeth with caries. The statistical analysis used the Chi2 and ANOVA tests. Most of patients showed a 25 % or more of teeth surfaces with dental plaques (92.1 %) and carbohydrates consumption among foods (89.2 %). The mean (SD) of carried and restores teeth was of 7.9 (5.1) and 4.0 (3.4), respectively and the posterior teeth were the more involved by caries/restorations. As regards the diagnosis of caries risk, classification of high risk was observed in the 38.5 % of pregnants, moderate in the 47.6 %) and low in the 13.9 %. There was a statistically significant association (p= 0.001) between the carbohydrates consumption and the diagnosis of caries risk. The plaque's rate was similar in the different trimesters of pregnancy (f= 0.223; p= 0.803). The caries risk of most pregnant women was high or moderate and it was associated with the consumption of carbohydrates.

Conhecimento de mães sobre promoção de saúde bucal em bebês

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge level on oral health promotion for babies of all mothers (n=60), aged 18-42 years, assisted in the Preventive Dentistry Clinic of the Faculty of Araraquara, at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), during the period 2005-2008. Methods - An interview was performed using a questionnaire with 18 open and five closed questions about knowledge and practices related to caries prevention as well as demographic information. Methods - The majority believed that breast milk does not cause caries (73,3%), that caries is not a transmissible disease (51,6%) and that anatibiotics cause caries (63,3%). Almost all mothers (93,3%) responded that brushing teeth could prevent the disease, action that should be initiated since first tooth erupts (75%). For 73,3% of the respondents, the use of dental floss should be initiated onle after all deciduous teeth erupt. Results - The majority (83,3%) knew what was fluoride, but a third of them (33,3%) did not know the best time to start using it. The dentist counseling related to oral health of babies was considered imoprtant by 96,7% of mothers. Conslusion - The mothers presented good knowledge about baby's oral hygiene, however, they did not know about other important variables for oral health promotin of babies.

Adesão de células sanguineas em raízes biomodificadas de pacientes fumantes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Promoção da saúde por meio de atividades educativas sobre hábitos de sono

A good night sleep is part of a healthy lifestyle. However, children and adolescents replace sleeping hours by several other activities. This project aimed to disseminate information about sleeping and stimulate some reflections about the risk factors to health arising frompersonal and collective habits. A group of 1014 junior high school students from five schools in the city of Assis-SP, participated in the project. The students visited an exhibition about the theme "sleeping and health" and took part of group assignments. Issues related to sleeping and alternatives to promote healthy sleeping habits in day-life context were discussed. The activities were planned and executed by six trainees under the supervision of the responsible teacher. The majority of the visitors reported pleasure (90% of students) and interest in the subject; (85%) enjoyed learning new information about it (93%). Among the activities performed, 25% of visitors particularly enjoyed playful educational activities, 19% the oral presentation and 23% all the activities without distinction. Group discussion on everyday situations encouraged the adolescents to reevaluate previous experiences and knowledge that were not always consistent with current scientific knowledge. Undergraduate students had a rich practical opportunity that stimulated them to create health education strategies for adolescents. Some adolescents got more involved in the activities and others were more stimulated by the change of school routine. The activities were feasible and can be designed according to the target public. Certainly individual experience was sporadic and we suggest that future projects might be improved by stimulating bigger schools and more teachers to participate.

Streptococcus mutans adhesion and releasing of metallic ions in dental alloys

AIM: To evaluate the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to the surface of the amalgam and copper/aluminum alloy samples and also evaluate the release of metallic ions. METHODS: The prepared medium was changed every 72 h and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Samples were removed from the prepared medium at 15, 30, 48 and 60 days. RESULTS: The result shows that ions released were statistically different among all groups, and so were both biofilm and pits formation and the corrosion induced by the S. mutans in both types of samples. SEM observation of the samples immersed in the prepared medium with S. mutans showed adherence of microorganisms on the whole surface, in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: The S. mutans adhere to both amalgam and copper/aluminum alloy causing corrosion of those restorations. S. mutans produced a greater ions release in Cu/Al alloy; in amalgam, the ions release was not influenced by exposure to S. mutans.

Estudo qualitativo sobre as justificativas de adolescentes para a não adesão ao tratamento odontológico

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Quality of life and satisfaction of patients wearing implant-supported fixed partial denture: a cross-sectional survey of patients from Aracatuba city, Brazil

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life and satisfaction of patients wearing implant-supported fixed partial dentures.Materials &methodsA total of 106 patients were selected and submitted to clinical examination and collection of the demographic data for evaluation of the implant-supported fixed dentures conditions. All participants agreed to answer to the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-EDENT) questionnaire and another questionnaire about satisfaction with the implant-supported prostheses. The patients were classified into the following three groups for statistical analysis: patients wearing splinted implant-supported prosthesis (E), patients wearing single implant-supported prosthesis (U), and patients wearing single implant-supported prosthesis associated with splinted prosthesis (E+U). Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the answers between the groups, and a logistic regression model was measured to verify the relation between variables of the patients and the questionaries'items.ResultsThere were significant differences among groups (P=0.006) for discomfort during surgery itself of the satisfaction questionnaire. The marital status, groups, and hygiene condition were significant mainly for physical pain item.ConclusionsIt was concluded that the patients presented high level of satisfaction and quality of life for the most of the items evaluated as well as the groups showed similar results.

Responses of human dental pulp cells after application of a low-concentration bleaching gel to enamel

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Does a mandibular RDP and new maxillary CD improve masticatory efficiency and quality of life in patients with a mandibular Kennedy class I arch?

To evaluate the change in masticatory efficiency and quality of life of patients treated with mandibular Kennedy class I removable partial dentures (RPDs) and maxillary complete dentures at the Department of Dentistry of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. A total of 33 Kennedy class I patients were rehabilitated with maxillary complete dentures, and mandibular RPDs were selected for this non-randomized prospective intervention study. The patients had a mean age of 59.1 years. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated by colorimetric assay using fuchsin capsules. The measurements were conducted at baseline and 2 and 6 months after prosthesis insertion. Quality of life was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) at baseline and 6 months after denture insertion. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was applied. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA. Oral health-related quality of life was compared using the paired t test. There was no statistically significant difference in masticatory efficiency after denture insertion (p = 0.101). Significant differences were found (p = 0.010) for oral health-related quality of life. A significant improvement in psychological discomfort (p < 0.01) and psychological disability (p < 0.01) was observed. Mean difference value (95 % confidence interval) was 6.8 (3.8 to 9.7) points, reflecting a low impact of oral health on quality of life, considering the 0-56 range of variation of the OHIP-14 and a Cohen's d of 1.13. According to the results of the present study, rehabilitation with Kennedy class I RPDs and complete dentures did not influence masticatory efficiency but improved oral health-related quality of life. The association between the patient's quality of life and the masticatory efficiency is important for treatment predictability.

Condições de saúde bucal de crianças e adolescentes portadores de síndrome de Down

Patients with Down syndrome have shown different conditions of oral health, and there is a low occurrence of dental caries and a higher susceptibility to periodontal diseases. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal diseases in subjects with Down syndrome. The population was composed of 40 patients with the syndrome, aged 6 to 18 years, of both genders, and an equal number of non-syndromic patients. The periodontal conditions were evaluated by mean of the criteria of PSR and dental conditions were registered following indexes dmft and DMFT. It was found that in children with Down syndrome, the dmft index was 1.17 and DMFT 3.53 while the control group was verified dmft 1.97 and DMFT 2.77. The results of PSR evidenced that 32.5% of children with Down syndrome were periodontally healthy, 65% were gingivitis patients and 2.5% were periodontitis patients, while in the control group, 50% healthy and 50% were gingivitis patients. The results evidenced similar populations of cariogenic cocci between patients with Down syndrome and non-syndromic subjects. It was concluded that the incidence of caries in children with Down syndrome was higher in permanent teeth compared with the control group, while in the occurrence of deciduous teeth caries was slightly higher in the control group, so when children with Down syndrome are subjected to periodic examinations, they present themselves periodontally healthy.

Brazilian community health agents and qualitative primary healthcare information

The aim of this study was to explore female community health agents’ views about the value of recording qualitative information on contextual health issues they observe during home visits, data that are not officially required to be documented for the Brazilian System of Primary Healthcare Information. Background: The study was conducted in community primary healthcare centres located in the cities of Araçatuba and Coroados (state of São Paulo) and Rio de Janeiro (state of Rio de Janeiro), Brazil. Methods: The design was a qualitative, exploratory study. The purposeful sampling criteria were being female, with a minimum of three years of continuous service in the same location. Data collection with 62 participants was conducted via 11 focus groups (in 2007 and 2008). Audio files were transcribed and submitted to the method of thematic analysis. Four themes guided the analysis: working with qualitative information and undocumented observation; reflecting on qualitative information; integrating/analysing quantitative and qualitative information; and information-sharing with agents and family health teams. In 2010, 25 community health agents verified the final interpretation of the findings. Findings: Participants valued the recording of qualitative, contextual information to expand understanding of primary healthcare issues and as an indicator of clients’ improved health behaviour and health literacy. While participants initiated the recording of additional health information, they generally did not inform the family health team about these findings. They perceived that team members devalued this type of information by considering it a reflection of the clientele’s social conditions or problems beyond the scope of medical concerns. Documentation of qualitative evidence can account for the effectiveness of health education in two ways: by improving preventative care, and by amplifying the voices of underprivileged clients who live in poverty to ensure the most appropriate and best quality primary healthcare for them.

Impacto do uso de fita adesiva na qualidade de vida de pacientes institucionalizados e usuários de próteses totais convencionais

Objective: Evaluate the impact of the use of strip adhesive over the quality of life of institutionalized patients and wearers of complete dentures. Material and method: Twenty-nine institutionalized patients wearers of complete denture were selected to this study and after a clinical exam, a questionnaire (adjusted and based upon the index of Oral Health Impact Profile and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, OHIP and OHQOL) was applied to evaluate issues related to epidemiological conditions (gender and age), quality of life (pain, discomfort, functional limitations, phonetic, social, psychological and esthetic), taste and notion of implant treatment. Following this part, the patients received instruction to use the strips adhesives (Corega Fita Adesiva, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), considering three in maxillary prosthesis and two in the lower prosthesis during a period of 30 days. After this period, all the patients were recall and the questionnaire was reapplied; add some adhesive performance questions, to compare the results before and after the adhesive use in terms of percentage. Result: After the adhesive strips use there were improvement of the functional, social and physcological limitation aspects, but without percentual increasement of phonetic and esthetics aspects. The results showed 65.5% of the answers stating adhesive maintenance between 6-12 hours, easy removal (68.9%), and without change the taste (89.6%). The notion for implant treatment was decreased changing from 75.8 to 37.9% after the adhesive use. Conclusion: The results enhanced a positive impact over quality of life of the respondents after the strip adhesive use, showing decrease of pain and discomfort, mainly of inferior dental prosthesis.