Behavioral evaluation during dental care in children ages 0 to 3 years

Purpose: Many studies concluded that the behavior of babies complicated dental care because of child immaturity or the difficulty of establishing acceptable communication and comprehension. Methods: The records of 696 babies were randomly selected from the baby clinic of Araçatuba in Brazil. Patient age ranged from 0 to 36 months. They were divided into 6 groups according to age: Group I-0 to 6 months; Group II-7 to 12 months; Group III-13 to 18 months; Group IV-19 to 24 months; Group V-25 to 30 months; Group VI-31 to 36 months. The behavior of the child was evaluated upon entrance in the dental office and during the first 4 clinical appointments with a clinical exam and oral physiotherapy. The baby was classified as collaborator (C) or noncollaborator (NC). Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's chi-square method (P< .05). Results: The percentage of NC for Groups II, III, IV, and V (66%), was significantly higher than for groups I (30%) and VI (50%). Conclusions: Babies from 0 to 6 months showed a collaborative behavior; babies from 7 to 30 months showed noncollaborative behavior; and babies from 31 to 36 months showed no statistically significant difference between the percentage of C and NC.

Longitudinal behavioral analysis during dental care of children aged 0 to 3 years

Abstract: When and how the dentist intervenes have repercussions on children's physical and emotional patterns. The objective of the present study was to conduct a longitudinal behavioral analysis during dental care of babies aged 0 to 3 years. A total of 216 patients seen at the Baby Clinic of the School of Dentistry at Araçatuba, São Paulo State University (UNESP), were selected. The selection criterion was attendance at ten dental care sessions at bimonthly intervals for routine procedures such as clinical examination and oral hygiene. There was a predominance of cooperative behavior compared to uncooperative behavior when each visit was analyzed separately. The behavior of the patients must have been directly influenced by their psychomotor development. Constant attendance and exposure of the baby to non-stressful dental stimuli are factors that favor a cooperative behavior.

Use of dental implants in children: A literature review

The aim of this literature review is to discuss the use of dental implants in growing patients and the influence of maxillary and mandibular skeletal and dental growth on the stability of those implants. It is recommended to wait for the completion of dental and skeletal growth, except for severe cases of ectodermal dysplasia.

Influence of dental care for infants on caries prevalence: A comparative study

Purpose: The influence of early dental care on the prevalence of dental caries was determined in children ages 35 to 40 months divided into 2 groups of 160 children each, with 1 group participating in a dental care program from the first year of life to the time of the study, while the other group did not receive any dental care. Methods: The clinical conditions considered for the evaluation were: sound teeth, enamel caries without cavitation, enamel caries with cavitation, and dentinal caries. The proportion and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis with the level of significance set at 5%. Results: A significant difference regarding the presence of dental caries, especially in the number of children presenting enamel caries with cavitation (P<.0001), was observed between the 2 groups. The number of children with enamel caries without cavitation and dentinal caries was similar for the 2 groups. Conclusions: Considering the aspect of dental caries prevention, the authors concluded that children in the age range of 3 to 4 years who received early dental care showed better oral conditions.

Dentistry for babies: Why do parents seek dental care?

This study investigated what are the main reasons that led parents to enroll children in a clinic for infants. This was studied by consulting 1368 records during the period from July 1996 to August 2001. The predominant reason for enrolling was orientation/prevention followed by other and treatment. This study demonstrated that a program for children from the first year of life encourages parents to have a new vision of dentistry.

Salivary alpha amylase and cortisol levels in children with global developmental delay and their relation with the expectation of dental care and behavior during the intervention

The purpose of this study was to analyze the alpha-amylase (sAA) and cortisol levels in children with Global developmental delay (GDD) before and after dental treatment and its association with the children's behavior during treatment. The morning salivary cortisol levels and activity of sAA of 33 children with GDD were evaluated before and after dental treatment and were compared to 19 healthy children. The behavior of children with GDD during dental care was assessed by the Frankl scale. Children with GDD showed lower levels of sAA activity than healthy children, but this result was not significant. The salivary cortisol levels were similar between GOD and healthy children. GDD children showed increased levels of sAA (but not cortisol) prior to the dental treatment as compared to the post-treatment phase. GOD children who showed less favorable behavior during dental care had higher levels of sAA and salivary cortisol than GOD children with more favorable behavior, but only the sAA results were significant. In conclusion, GOD children show hyperactivity of the SNS-axis in anticipation of dental treatment which indicates the need for strategies to reduce their anxiety levels before and during dental care. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of children's behavior aged 0-3 years during dental care: A longitudinal analysis

Child temperament has been studied in various researches and may be useful to predict how a child responds to dental treatment, especially very young children. The purpose of the present longitudinal study was to evaluate the behavioral manifestation of children aged 0 to 3 years, considering different types of dental situation. A total of 169 children were selected and the following data were collected: the age of the child, gender, age of the mother, number of dental visits and their respective dates, stimuli offered to the child, and behavioral response to these stimuli. The children and their respective behaviors were divided into five groups according to the dental situation offered: control, missed visits, fluoride varnish, restoration, and dental trauma. The data were submitted to descriptive and inferential analysis using the chi-square test, with the level of significance set at 5%. Analysis of the different situation offered to infants during routine dental care revealed a predominance of collaborating and partially collaborating behavior, and age at the time of dental care influenced the behavior of the infants, irrespective of the stimulus group. The different types of dental situation provoked changes in the behavioral response of the children of certain age groups, especially in the dental trauma group.

Caries experience in preschool children referred for specialist dental care in hospital

Background : Increasing numbers of preschool children are being referred for specialist dental management in a paediatric hospital. Most cases have severe early childhood caries and require comprehensive management under general anaesthesia. The present study investigated risk factors for disease presence at initial consultation. Methods : A convenience sample of 125 children under four years of age from the north Brisbane region were examined and caries experience recorded using dmft and dmfs indices. A self-administered questionnaire obtained information regarding social, demographic, birth, neonatal, infant feeding and dental health behaviour variables. The data were analysed using the chi-square and one-way analysis of variance procedures. Results : Ninety-four per cent of referred children had severe ECC with mean dmft of 10.5 ± 3.8 and mean dmfs of 27.1 ± 15.1. Prevalence of severe ECC was significantly higher in children allowed a sweetened liquid in the infant feeding bottle (99 per cent) and allowed to sip from an infant feeding bottle during the day (100 per cent). Mean dmfs was significantly higher in children allowed to sleep with a bottle (28.7) and sip from a bottle during the day (29.9), children from a non-Caucasian background (31.8), those children that commenced regular toothbrushing between 6 to 12 months of age (28.1), had no current parental supervision of daily tooth-brushing (34.2) and had not taken daily fluoride supplements (27.8), vitamin supplements (27.8) or prescription medicine previously (27.6). Conclusions : The behavioural determinants for severe early childhood caries presence in hospital-referred children were similar to those identified in the regional preschool population.

Inequalities in dental services utilization among Brazilian low-income children: the role of individual determinants

Objectives: To assess the role of the individual determinants on the inequalities of dental services utilization among low-income children living in the working area of Brazilian`s federal Primary Health Care program, which is called Family Health Program (FHP), in a big city in Southern Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was performed. The sample included 350 children, ages 0 to 14 years, whose parents answered a questionnaire about their socioeconomic conditions, perceived needs, oral hygiene habits, and access to dental services. The data analysis was performed according to a conceptual framework based on Andersen`s behavioral model of health services use. Multivariate models of logistic regression analysis instructed the hypothesis on covariates for never having had a dental visit. Results: Thirty one percent of the surveyed children had never had a dental visit. In the bivariate analysis, higher proportion of children who had never had a dental visit was found among the very young, those with inadequate oral hygiene habits, those without perceived need of dental care, and those whose family homes were under absent ownership. The mechanisms of social support showed to be important enabling factors: children attending schools/kindergartens and being regularly monitored by the FHP teams had higher odds of having gone to the dentist, even after adjusting for socioeconomic, demographic, and need variables. Conclusions: The conceptual framework has confirmed the presence of social and psychosocial inequalities on the utilization pattern of dental services for low-income children. The individual determinants seem to be important predictors of access.

A qualitative study exploring barriers to a model of shared care for pre-school children`s oral health

Objective To explore the oral health beliefs and practices of primary health care professionals which may act as barriers to the development of a model of shared care for the oral health of pre-school children.

Design Qualitative focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews.

Setting Four rural local government areas in Victoria, Australia, 2003.

Subjects and methods Subjects: maternal and child health nurses, general medical practitioners, dental professionals and paediatricians working in the four local government areas. Data collection: discipline specific focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis: transcription, coding, clustering and thematic analysis.

Results Several strong themes emerged from the data. All participants agreed that dental caries is a significant health issue for young children and their families. Beliefs about the aetiology of dental caries and its prevention were variable and often simplistic, focusing predominantly on diet. Dental professionals did not believe that they had a primary role in the oral health of pre-school aged children but that others particularly maternal and child health nurses did. However other health care professionals were not confident in assuming this role.

Conclusions This study has identified important barriers and possible strategies for the development of an integrated and shared approach to preventing dental caries in pre-school aged children. Clear and consistent oral health information and agreed roles and responsibilities need to be developed.

Dental caries in children participating in a dentistry for infants program

To assess the impact of the "Dentistry for Infants" early dental care program run by Jacareí County (SP) by comparing the caries of individuals participating and not participating in this program. Methods: In total, 300 children between 0 and 48 months old were assessed in the following two groups: infants not participating in the program (G1, n = 100) and infants participating in the program (G2, n = 200). Each group was further divided according to age in subgroups of 0 to 24 months and 25 to 48 months. All children were clinically assessed for carious lesions using the visual-tactile method. The data were statistically analyzed using a paired Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and c 2 test at a 5% significance level. Results: There was a significant difference in the prevalence (P) and mean index of deciduous teeth (deft) (C) that were decayed, indicated for extraction and filled, and the highest values were observed in G1 (p < 0.0001). The values were as follows: PG1, 73%; PG2, 22%; CG1, 3.45 ± 3.84; and CG2, 0.66 ± 1.57. Conclusion: Participating in the program positively impacted the infants' oral health.

The cost of publicly financed dental care in relation to community water fluoridation in Texas

Dental caries lead to children being less ready to learn and results in diminished productivity in the classroom. Tooth decay causes pain and infection, leading to impaired chewing, speech, and facial expression, in addition to a loss in self-esteem. There have been many studies supporting the safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation in reducing dental caries. Water fluoridation has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. The decline in the prevalence and severity of tooth decay in the United States during the past 60 years has been attributed largely to the increased use of fluoride; in particular, the widespread utilization of community water fluoridation. However, in the decades since fluoridation was first introduced, reductions in dental caries have declined, most likely due to the presence of other sources of fluoride. Questions have been raised regarding the need to continue to fluoridate community water supplies in the face of possible excessive exposure to fluoride. Nevertheless, dental caries continue to be a significant public health burden throughout the world, including the United States, especially among low-income and disadvantaged populations. Although many poor children receive their dental care through Medicaid, the percentage of Texas children with untreated dental caries continues to exceed the U.S. average and is well above Healthy People 2010 goals, even as state Medicaid expenditures continue to rise. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between Medicaid dental expenditures and community water fluoridation levels in Texas counties. By examining this relationship, the cost-effectiveness of community water fluoridation in the Texas pediatric Medicaid beneficiary population, as measured by publicly financed dental care expenditures, may be ascertained.^

Dental health in children with phenylketonuria PKU and other inborn errors of amino acid metabolism managed by diet /

"Supported in part by Maternal and Child Health, Grant No. MCS-000252-16 and by contributions to Friends of Metabolic Research."

Predicting Successful Dental Examination for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06