Evaluation of an Oral Health Promotion and Preventive Programme: A Case-Control Study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the oral health of children who were beneficiaries of a promotion and preventive programme for more than 6 years and to estimate the factors relating to their oral condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, the total population comprised all 7- to 13-year-old children who attended the Paediatric Dentistry Centre of Reference Simón Bolívar (CROSB), a programme for students of the community of Viña del Mar, Chile. The case group was treated from the age of 7 to 13 years and controls were only seen at the age of 13 (had not been previously enrolled in the programme). The compilation of data was carried out through examination of clinical records. Statistical analysis included Fisher's Exact Test, the chi-square and Mantel-Haenszel tests to determine odds ratios, log-linear models to study some types of relationships between the different qualitative variables and Mood's Median Test for quantitative variables. Finally, a logit-type generalised linear model (GLM) was adjusted to estimate the probability of a caries-free child according to the different variables under study.

RESULTS

The main finding is that this programme does not successfully control the local risk factors of caries. The factors that jointly explain the presence of caries-free children were: non-participation in the programme, attending public school and the presence of sealed teeth.

CONCLUSION

Even though the evaluated programme creates equity in the indicators of oral health among its beneficiaries, it does not reach the levels of oral health of the non-vulnerable population. It is recommended that this programme seek more effective tools.

Comorbid depression/anxiety and teeth removed: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2010

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between participants (i) who reported having had clinical diagnoses of depression and anxiety with 6+ teeth removed and (ii) who reported having had clinical diagnoses of depression and anxiety with edentulism.

METHODS

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey 2010 was used for the study. Analyses involved using SAS 9.3® to determine variable frequencies, Rao-Scott chi-square bivariate analyses, and Proc Surveylogistic for the logistic regressions on complex survey designs. Participants eligibility included being 18 years or older and having complete data on depression, anxiety, and number of teeth removed.

RESULTS

There were 76 292 eligible participants; 13.4% reported an anxiety diagnosis, 16.7% reported a depression diagnosis, and 8.6% reported comorbid depression and anxiety. The adjusted logistic regression models were significant for anxiety and depression alone and in combination for 6+ teeth removed (AOR: anxiety 1.23; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.38; P = 0.0773; AOR: depression 1.23; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.37; P = 0.0275; P < 0.0001; and AOR: comorbid depression and anxiety 1.30; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.49; P = 0.0001). However, the adjusted models with edentulism as the outcome failed to reach significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbid depression and anxiety are associated independently with 6+ teeth removed compared with 0-5 teeth removed in a national study conducted in United States. Comorbid depression and anxiety were not shown to be associated with edentulism as compared with any teeth present.

[Relations between extraction of wisdom teeth and temporomandibular disorders: a case/control study]

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of extraction of third molars on the occurrence of temporo-mandibular disorders (TMD). A review of the literature and a case-control study have been conducted. The case-control study compares the frequency of extraction of third molars between the sample with TMD (case) and the sample without TMD (control). The proportion of patients who had undergone extractions of wisdom teeth was higher in the case group than in the control group. The difference was statistically significant when patients had undergone extraction of all four wisdom teeth or when the extraction of four wisdom teeth underwent in one sitting or under general anesthesia. The study of patients in case sample shows that all signs of TMD were more common in patients who had undergone extractions in several sessions and under local anesthesia. The temporomandibular joint sounds are significantly more frequent with local anesthesia. In the case group, 85 to 92% of patients have parafunctions and 5 to 11% have malocclusion. This demonstrates the multifactorial etiology of temporomandibular disorders.

Deep carious lesions and other consequences of caries among 18-year-olds at Public Dental Health Service in Northern Norway: A cross-sectional age cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To document deep carious lesions and other consequences of caries (DCL-CC) in molars of 18-year olds leaving the free-of-charge Public Dental Health Service (PDHS). To explore the association between background factors and DCL-CC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The final study sample (n=1876) comprised 95% of individuals born in 1993 and registered in the PDHS in Troms County, Northern Norway. The most recent digital bitewing radiographs of each subject were examined for DCL-CC (deep untreated carious lesions, deep restorations, root canal obturations or extractions due to caries). Inter- and intra-observer kappa scores were 0.62 and 0.87, respectively. Information on background factors (gender, clinic location, history of medical problems, bitewing examination interval, DMFT score and planned recalls) were retrieved from dental records.

RESULTS

About one-quarter of subjects (488) had at least one molar with DCL-CC. There were 848 molars in total with DCL-CC; the majority were deep restorations (70%), but 4% were deep untreated carious lesions. More than a quarter of DCL-CC were either root canal obturations (14%) or extractions (12%). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that a 1-unit increase in DMFT score was associated with deep untreated carious lesions and extractions due to caries. There was no association between urban/rural clinic location, which indicated socio-economic status, and either DMFT score or DCL-CC.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the existence of a free-of-charge dental service, more than one-quarter of the subjects in the present study had at least one molar with DCL-CC.

ATYPICAL DISLOCATION OF IMPACTED PERMANENT TEETH IN CHILDREN. OWN EXPERIENCE

INTRODUCTION

Disturbances in forming of the hard tissue of teeth and bones can be a cause of their malformation and translocation. The impact of permanent teeth is one of them. It can occur with translocation of the tooth germ. The aim of the study was to present an atypical translocation of impacted permanent teeth in children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

3.5 year clinical observation was carried out in 14 children (5 girls and 9 boys), aged between 9 and 12 years old. Patients were referred to our Department by orthodontists, paedodontists and General Dental Practitioners, due to impacted permanent teeth. According to the interview, in 8 cases children suffered from a trauma of a facial part of the skull, caused by a fall. On admitance patients were generally healthy. Basing on the clinical and radiological examination, translocation of the impacted permanent teeth has been diagnosed. In 9 cases it concerned medial maxillary incisors, whereas in remaining children--maxillary premolars. The extraction of such teeth has been performed as a part of the one day surgery procedures.

CONCLUSION

In the cases where basing on the radiogram, the position of the tooth allows to predict the latter translocation, the germ has to be extracted.

Improving access to dental care for vulnerable children; further development of the Back2School programme in 2013

This paper describes a service evaluation of a dental treatment programme providing care to children not normally taken to the dentist. It explains the extension of the Back2School programme from the pilot phase and assesses if a mobile dental unit (MDU) can provide a high quality service. The public health competencies it illustrates include oral health improvement, developing and monitoring quality dental services, and collaborative working.

A register-based study of variations in services received among dental care attenders

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether receipt of dental services, among attenders, reflects variations in dental health or whether and to what degree it is associated with socioeconomic status, with irregular or regular dental attendance and with the availability of dentists in residential areas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective register-based study followed two Danish cohorts, aged 25 and 40, with a dental examination in 2009 (n = 32,351). The dental service data were registered during 2005-2009. The number of dental examinations, individual preventive services (IPS), tooth extractions, root fillings and composite fillings were analyzed in relation to socioeconomic status, irregular/regular dental attendance, inhabitant/dentist ratio and to DMFT at age 15 (DMFT15) and change in DMFT (ΔDMFT) from age 15 to age 25 and age 40, respectively. Poisson regression and negative binomial regression analyses were used.

RESULTS

The variations in number of services received in the study population were small (SD = 0.2-2.7). However, with a few exceptions, high levels of DMFT15 and ΔDMFT were associated with receipt of more dental services. Socioeconomically-privileged individuals received more dental examinations but fewer tooth extractions, root fillings and composite fillings compared to disadvantaged persons, when controlled for dental health levels. Irregular attenders received fewer IPS and composite fillings but had more extractions compared to regular attenders.

CONCLUSIONS

Variations in dental care services were found to reflect variations in dental health, but the variations were also related to individual socioeconomic status, residential area and dental attendance patterns.

A study of the provision of hospital based dental general anaesthetic services for children in the northwest of England: part 1--a comparison of service delivery between six hospitals

BACKGROUND

Extensive caries in children can result in a referral for tooth extraction under General Anaesthesia (GA). While there are guidelines for the use of GA within paediatric dentistry this process is ultimately dependent upon the decision making of the treating dentist. This decision can be influenced locally by the availability of services and their waiting list. GA services for paediatric extractions (DGA) have developed from different historical positions, including community dental services, maxillofacial services and paediatric led specialist services.

METHODS

This article explores the differences between DGA services provided by 6 randomly selected hospitals across the North West of England. 456 patients who attended a routine DGA appointment in each hospital over a period of two months from 2012 to 2013 gave consent to allow access to their clinical notes and completed a questionnaire (93% consent rate). Data were entered onto SPSS and appropriate statistical tests undertaken.

RESULTS

Differences between hospitals included the clinic structure, patient characteristics and the treatment provided. There was a significant difference in the number of previous child DGAs experienced within the family, ranging from 33% to 59% across hospitals. Hospital 1 attendees differed in a number of ways to other areas but notably in the stability of life time residency with 20% of patients having previously lived in another area and with just 58% of parents stating their child regularly attended the dentist (compared to an average of 9% and 81% respectively across other hospitals).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest services throughout the region face different obstacles in providing support and treatment for young children referred for DGA. There are, however common practices such as preventative treatment, which could impact on caries experience and subsequent DGA referral, a particular issue given the high DGA repeat rate observed. For many children a DGA may be their first dental experience. It is therefore vital to engage with both child and family at this stage, attempt to initiate a pattern of dental attendance and to ensure this experience does not create an on-going cycle of poor dental behaviour and health.

Extractions as a form of interception in the developing dentition: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the extractions of lower primary canines are an effective procedure to relieve crowding of the labial segment.

STUDY DESIGN

randomized controlled trial. Subject sample: 83 cases were collected in clinics in Italy, Germany and Wales. The groups were followed over a 2-year period.

METHODS

Subjects were randomly allocated to a primary canine non-extraction or extraction group. Dental casts of the patients were collected at the start and at the recall period of the trial. The outcome measures recorded were lower incisor crowding, arch length, intermolar width, overbite, overjet, lower clinical crown heights and lower incisor inclinations.

STATISTICS

The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the differences between the extraction and non-extraction groups.

RESULTS

In both groups, crowding reduced 1.27 mm in the non-extraction group and 6.03 mm in the extraction group. The difference between the 2 groups was 4.76 mm (P<0.05). The arch perimeter decreased more in the extraction group by 2.73 mm (P<0.05). As the incisor inclination stayed essentially the same, the loss in arch length was attributed to the molars moving forward. The net gain from extracting deciduous canines was 2.03 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a reduction in lower incisor crowding as a result of lower primary canine extraction. However, arch perimeter decreased more in the extraction group leaving less space for the eruption of the lower secondary canines.

[Epidemiology and clinic of dental extractions in University Teaching Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo, (Burkina Faso)]

INTRODUCTION

The consequences of tooth loss are often severe for the patient: aesthetic deficit, decreased masticatory coefficient, malnutrition... The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of dental extractions of patients attending the University Teaching Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo (UTHYO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

It was a descriptive cross-sectional retrospective study on a sample of 65 patients who received a dental extraction at least in dental surgery of the UTHYO.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 33 (50.8%) patients female to 32 (49.2%) cases of male, or a sex ratio of 0.96. The average age was 36,55 year-old with extremes of 5 and 84 years. Employees and pupils were the most affected by extractions (33 cases; 47,8% and 22 cases; 33,8%). Dental extractions were more frequent in patients aged between 25 and 60 years. A total of 84 tooth extraction was performed in 65 patients, an average of 1.3 tooth extracted per patient. The most often extracted tooth was the third lower molar (17 cases, 22,95%). The canine was the less often extracted tooth (1 case, 1,35%). Dental decay and its complications (57 cases, 67,87%) and periodontal diseases (10 cases, 11,90%) were the commonest reasons for dental extractions.

CONCLUSION

Dental decay and periodontal diseases are the most important causes of dental extractions. Particular emphasis should be placed on prevention and early care of teeth.

Oral health of older people admitted to hospital for needs assessment

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical oral health status, treatment needs and oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of older people admitted to older persons' wards at Dunedin Public Hospital due to a sudden worsening of their general health. Participants and methods: A systematic oral assessment was undertaken for a consecutive case series of 200 patients (59.5% female; mean age 82.6 years, sd 6.6) admitted to older person's wards at Dunedin Public Hospital. The Oral Health Impact Profile-20 (OHIP-20) was used to assess OHRQoL.

RESULTS

One in three (36.0%) had been living independently at home prior to admission, and over half (55.0%) had been admitted for a medical reason which required assessment. Half (50.0%) of the participants were dentate (with an average of 16.8 teeth). There was an average of 1.9 decayed teeth present in the dentate group; 70.7% of individuals required restorations or extractions, and about 90% required only simple scaling of the teeth and prophylaxis. A reline or a replacement denture were required by three-quarters of those with dentures. Almost two-thirds of participants did not have a regular dentist, and fewer than one in three had made a dental visit in the previous year. One in six described their oral health as 'fair' or 'poor', and just under one-third reported dry mouth. Dentate participants, those without xerostomia, and those reporting better oral health had better OHRQoL, reflected in lower OHIP-20 scores. Affecting 37.1% of participants, functional limitation was the most commonly experienced of the OHIP-20 domains, followed by physical disability and physical pain (18.0% and 15.6% respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The oral health of medically compromised and functionally dependent but cognitively competent older people in this study is generally poor. If transfer to long-term care is indicated, early and proper preventive measures and appropriate dental contact should be advocated in order to reduce morbidity and improve quality of life for older people.

Do early dental visits reduce treatment and treatment costs for children?

PURPOSE

The purpose of this paper was to determine if number and cost of dental treatments in high caries-risk children differs in children with early dental intervention compared to children with later intervention.

METHODS

Billing data from children age zero to seven years old, whose first dental visit was between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004, were collected from 20 corporate treatment centers serving children from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds. Data included age at first visit, dental treatment codes, and associated costs for eight years after the first dental visit. Treatment included restorations, crowns, pulpotomies, and extractions. First visit age was categorized into early starters (younger than four years old) and late starters (four years of age or older). Linear regression with cluster adjustment for clinic determined a difference in costs and dental treatments by early and late starters.

RESULTS

Of 42,532 subjects, 17,040 (40 percent) were early starters and 25,492 (60 percent) were late starters. There were 3.58 more dental procedures performed on late starters, over eight years of follow-up, than on early starters (P<.001). Late starters spent $360 more over eight years of follow-up than early starters (P<.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, number of procedures performed were fewer and cost of treatment less for children seen earlier versus later.

Tooth loss and stroke: results from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 2010

PURPOSE

Strokes are common events of significant morbidity and mortality. Poor oral conditions may share or exacerbate pathways that lead to stroke.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional study of 410,939 participants from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Stroke was defined as the participant's response (yes/no) to the survey's question, "Has a doctor, nurse or other health professional ever told you that you had a stroke?" The definition for tooth loss was based upon participant's response to the survey's question, "How many of your permanent teeth have been removed because of tooth decay or gum disease?" Descriptive, Chi Square and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Other variables that are known etiologic factors were also included in the analysis.

RESULTS

The participants with increasing numbers of teeth lost had increasing adjusted odds ratios for stroke independent of the other factors. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, the participants who had 1 to 5 missing teeth had an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.29 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.17, 1.42), participants who had 6 or more, but not all missing teeth had an AOR of 1.68 (95% CI: 1.50, 1.88), and participants who were edentulous had an AOR of 1.86 (95% CI: 1.63, 2.11).

CONCLUSION

Evidence from this cross-sectional study indicates that tooth loss had a potential, although weak positive association as an independent factor in multivariable analysis with stroke.

Dental caries among children in Georgia by age, gender, residence location and ethnic group

OBJECTIVE

To provide prevalence data for dental caries in Georgia.

METHODS

This World Health Organization pathfinder survey was conducted among 1,351 (6, 12 and 15 year-old) Georgian children, representing the main ethnic groups in urban and rural locations. Caries was analysed at univariate and multivariate levels, according to age, gender, urban/rural locality and ethnic group.

RESULTS

Caries experience levels among 6-year-olds were dmft = 4.57, sd 3.42 (14.8% caries-free); DMFT = 2.04 (sd 2.02) among 12-year-olds (31.1% caries-free); and DMFT = 3.51 (sd 3.14) for the 15-year-olds (17.7% caries-free). Urban children at ages 6 and 12 years were more likely to be caries-free and have both lower levels of caries-experience and higher levels of filled or restored teeth. In multivariate regression analyses, most age groups showed a significant contribution from residence location. No differences were found by age and no consistent differences were detected by ethnic group.

CONCLUSION

These data should provide the baseline for formulating and conducting public oral health efforts in Georgia, with emphases on rural residence locations.

Frequency evaluation of different extraction protocols in orthodontic treatment during 35 years

BACKGROUND

Studies that show frequencies of different orthodontic treatment protocols can be used as valuable parameters in the interpretation of treatment tendency with time. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate all orthodontic treatment planning conducted at the Orthodontic Department at Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Brazil, since 1973, in order to investigate extraction and non-extraction protocol frequencies selected at each considered period.

METHODS

The sample comprised 3,413 records of treated patients and was evaluated according to the protocol choice, divided into 10 groups: Protocol 0 (non-extraction); Protocol 1 (four first premolar extractions); Protocol 2 (two first maxillary and two second mandibular premolars); Protocol 3 (two maxillary premolar extractions); Protocol 4 (four second premolars); Protocol 5 (asymmetric premolar extractions); Protocol 6 (incisor or canine extractions); Protocol 7 (first or second molar extractions); Protocol 8 (atypical extractions) and Protocol 9 (agenesis and previously missing permanent teeth). These protocols were evaluated in seven 5-year intervals: Interval 1 (1973 to 1977); Interval 2 (1978 to 1982); Interval 3 (1983 to 1987); Interval 4 (1988 to 1992); Interval 5 (1993 to 1997); Interval 6 (1998 to 2002); Interval 7 (2003 to 2007). The frequency of each protocol was compared between the seven intervals, using the proportion test (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

The results showed that 10 protocol frequencies were significantly different among the 7 time intervals.

CONCLUSIONS

The non-extraction protocol frequency increased gradually with consequent reduction of extraction treatments. The four premolar extraction protocol frequency decreased gradually while the two maxillary premolar extraction protocol has maintained the same frequency of indications throughout time.

Dental caries in primary and permanent molars in 7-8-year-old schoolchildren evaluated with Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index

BACKGROUND

No reports on a caries pattern covering the full spectrum of the disease could be found in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate caries in primary and first permanent molars of 7-8-year-old Polish children by the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index and to find whether there was any correlation between the caries stages in such teeth.

METHODS

The study covered 284 7-8-year-old children from randomly selected schools in the Bialystok District, Poland. The prevalence of CAST categories was evaluated with regard to the first and second primary, and first permanent, molars. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to explore the correlation of the distribution of CAST codes among the evaluated teeth. The level of statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. The intra-examiner reliability was determined by the unweighted kappa coefficient.

RESULTS

With regard to the permanent molars, caries was observed in 14.8% to 17.3% of the molar and most lesions were scored at the non-cavitation level. Caries in primary molars was most often recorded at the stage of cavitated dentine lesion. Teeth with pulpal involvement, sepsis and extracted due to caries were found to be more prevalent in first, and then in second primary molars. A strong correlation was found between the status of teeth from the right and left sides of the oral cavity. The correlation of the status of first and second primary teeth was stronger for the left than for the right side of the mouth, r was 0.627 and 0.472 in maxilla and 0.513 and 0.483 in mandible (p < 0.001), respectively. For the neighbouring primary and permanent molars the correlation was assessed to be weak. With regard to the teeth situated in opposite jaws the study revealed that the correlations were moderate - r between 0.33 and 0.49. The intra-examiner reliability was established at 0.96 for the primary dentition and at 0.878 for permanent molars.

CONCLUSION

The strongest correlation found in the evaluated population concerned the distribution of caries in primary molars on the left side of the mouth. The study proved the usefulness of the CAST index in epidemiological surveys.

Causes and pattern of tooth extractions in children treated at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND

Tooth mortality is mainly a reflection of untreated dental caries and periodontal disease and is considered a crude but useful measure for the dental status of a community. Oral health status of the people of Niger Delta particularly that of children, is currently vague.

AIM

To investigate the reasons and pattern of tooth extractions among children who presented at the Paediatric dental clinic of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

METHODS

A retrospective study of children aged 16 years and below who attended the paediatric dental clinic of UPTH for treatment from March 2008 to August 2010 was done. The following information was retrieved from hospital records of the patients: age, sex, indications for extraction and the extracted teeth.

RESULTS

A total of 462 children aged between 2-16 years were seen out of which 115 (24.9%) patients had extraction. On the whole, 145 teeth were extracted. Dental caries and its sequelae (irreversible pulpitis, dentoalveolar abscess etc) accounted for the highest indication for extraction 71 (61.7%) while periodontal disease accounted for the least (2.6%). The other indications for extractions were trauma, orthodontic reasons and eruption anomalies. Primary teeth 103 (71.0%) were mostly affected with the anterior teeth (33.8%) being the most frequently involved. The molars (73.8%) were the most frequently involved teeth in the permanent dentition.

CONCLUSION

Dental caries and its sequelae is the commonest reason for tooth extraction. Efforts must be made to improve the dental health awareness and status of Nigerian children in this region.

Post-operative complications following dental extractions at the School of Dentistry, University of Otago

OBJECTIVES

To determine the frequency and correlates associations of post-extraction complications at a dental school.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of patient records.

SETTING

Exodontia clinic at the School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Provider characteristics, patient demographic characteristics, patient medical history, teeth extracted and occurrence of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Of the 598 extractions (540 routine and 58 surgical) which were undertaken in the audit period, 74 (12.4%) resulted in post-operative complications. Dry socket and post-operative pain were the major complications. A higher complication rate was found among patients treated by fourth-year undergraduate students than among those treated by more senior students or staff. Post-operative complications were not significantly associated with patients' ethnicity or medical history.

CONCLUSION

The rate of postoperative complications at the Univeristy of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry is consistent with reports in existing literature and inversely associated with operators' experience.

Dental management of children with special healthcare needs

INTRODUCTION

Dental caries is a common condition amongst young children that negatively impacts on their quality of life, It is an added burden on children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) who have an increased risk of developing caries due to the high sugar contents in their medications, regular consumption of cariogenic foods and a poor salivary flow.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

to analyse the management of dental caries in CSHCN at a tertiary public hospital in South Africa.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted of the dental and medical records of 374 medically compromised children presenting with dental caries. Dental treatment and anaesthetic techniques used were reviewed.

RESULTS

Results indicated that the majority of CSHCN presenting with caries were managed by extractions (96.5%) under either local anaesthesia (73.3%) or general anaesthesia (26.7%). There was a lack of restorative care provided to these compromised children,

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment by extractions may relieve discomfort and pain; however, early loss of teeth leads to functional, psychological, aesthetic and orthodontic problems, which can result in a further decline in the quality of life of these already compromised patients, Restorative treatment and prevention strategies are critical in managing caries in CSHCN in order to improve their quality of life,

[Medicolegal aspects of iatrogenic root perforations]

AIM

To retrospectively analyze the medico-legal aspects of iatrogenic root perforations (IRP) that occurred during endodontic treatments.

METHODOLOGY

A comprehensive search in a professional liability insurance database was conducted to retrospectively identify cases of IRP following root canal treatments (RCTs). The complaints were categorized as either financial risk bearing or financial nonrisk bearing, and related demographic and endodontic variables were analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty cases of patients with IRP were identified. Twenty six cases (22%) were elective RCTs, and 94 cases (78%) were endodontic treatments performed due to pathologic processes (p < 0.05). Sixty cases (50%) were identified in mandibular molars, significantly more than other tooth locations (P < 0.05). In 102 cases (85%) the outcome was extraction, and in 18 cases (15%) the outcome was an additional treatment (p < 0.05). For both the cases with outcome of extraction and for the cases with an additional treatment, the complaints were judged as financial risk bearing in 95% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

latrogenic root perforation is a complication of root canal treatment and may result in tooth extraction and in legal actions against the treating practitioner. Mandibular molars are more prone to medico-legal claims related to root perforations. The patient should be informed of the risks during RCT and should get information on alternative treatments and their risks and prognosis

[Prevalence of dental caries: national pilot study comparing the severity of decay (CAO) vs ICDAS index in Senegal]

This pilot study has for main objective to measure the applicability and the utility of ICDAS index in a context of prevention in developing countries. Dental caries prevalence was evaluated among schoolchildren using DMF (WHO basic method) vs. ICDAS index in Senegal.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

A representative stratified random cluster sample of 677 primary and college schoolchildren aged 12 and 15 years was examined for caries prevalence. The clinical examination was conducted in two steps for each. The investigator proceeded at first to the inventory of the number of teeth decayed (D), missing (M) or filled (F) according to the WHO basic method. Then, after cleaning and drying all teeth, a two-digit ICDAS code was used to record data at each dental surface.

RESULTS

Caries prevalence (96%) was higher than expected in Senegal. ICDAS index provides 43% moreover information than DMF. The need for prevention (ICDAS1: 66%/72% and ICDAS2: 54%/58%) and intercept (ICDAS3: 40%/42% and ICDAS4: 31%/33%) are higher than the need of curative treatment (ICDAS5: 18%/23% and ICDAS6: 27%/33%) respectively among primary and college schoolchildren.

CONCLUSION

Preventive programs are urgently needed in Senegal. It's necessary to lead epidemiological studies in other African countries for determining caries prevalence using the ICDAS criteria to harmonize oral health regional planning.

Concordance between clinical practice and published evidence: findings from The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network

BACKGROUND

Documenting the gap between what is occurring in clinical practice and what published research findings suggest should be happening is an important step toward improving care. The authors conducted a study to quantify the concordance between clinical practice and published evidence across preventive, diagnostic and treatment procedures among a sample of dentists in The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network ("the network").

METHODS

Network dentists completed one questionnaire about their demographic characteristics and another about how they treat patients across 12 scenarios/clinical practice behaviors. The authors coded responses to each scenario/clinical practice behavior as consistent ("1") or inconsistent ("0") with published evidence, summed the coded responses and divided the sum by the number of total responses to create an overall concordance score. The overall concordance score was calculated as the mean percentage of responses that were consistent with published evidence.

RESULTS

The authors limited analyses to participants in the United States (N = 591). The study results show a mean concordance at the practitioner level of 62 percent (SD = 18 percent); procedure-specific concordance ranged from 8 to 100 percent. Affiliation with a large group practice, being a female practitioner and having received a dental degree before 1990 were independently associated with high concordance (≥ 75 percent).

CONCLUSION

Dentists reported a medium-range concordance between practice and published evidence.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Efforts to bring research findings into routine practice are needed.

Trends in pediatric dental surgery for severe early childhood caries in Manitoba, Canada

INTRODUCTION

Caries is the most common chronic disease of childhood, and severe forms may necessitate rehabilitative dental surgery. In this study, administrative data related to pediatric dental surgery performed under general anesthesia to treat severe early childhood caries in Manitoba, Canada, were reviewed to determine trends in pediatric dental surgery, as well as geographic, regional and socio-economic variations in surgical rates.

METHODS

The total number of dental surgery cases performed under general anesthesia was obtained from provincial administrative databases for fiscal years from 1997-98 to 2006-07. Codes from the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (9th or 10th revision, as appropriate) were used to identify children who underwent extractions under general anesthesia for a slightly earlier fiscal year period (1996-97 to 2005-06). Each 10-year period was divided into two 5-year periods for comparisons over time. Analyses included descriptive and bivariate statistics, with the data being disaggregated by regional health authority (RHA) or by community area (for Winnipeg). Comparisons for which p ≤ 0.05 were defined as statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 18,544 children had dental surgery under general anesthesia between 1997-98 and 2006-07 (mean age ± standard deviation 3.28 ± 1.02 years). Many of the children requiring surgery resided in one northern RHA (26.8%) or the Winnipeg RHA (23.8%). More than half of the RHAs (7/11) displayed significant increases in the rate of surgery, with northern RHAs having the highest rates. Within Winnipeg, 3 of the 12 community areas had significant increases in the rate of surgery. Two inner-city neighborhoods accounted for nearly 50% of surgical cases. The rate of extractions under general anesthesia increased significantly in 6 of the 11 RHAs, with northern RHAs having the highest rates. Four Winnipeg communities experienced significant increases in the extraction rate over time.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric dental surgery under general anesthesia for treatment of severe early childhood caries is common in Manitoba, and the demand increased in several communities over the study period. These results are being shared with decision-makers and communities to identify regions where oral health promotion is needed.