Individual and Contextual Factors Associated with Adolescents' Self-Perceived Need for Treatment

The present study aimed to investigate associations between the self-perceived dental treatment need and clinical factors, familial characteristics, and school context in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 746 students aged 15 to 19 years in a medium-sized city in Brazil. Data collection involved the use of a sociodemographic questionnaire, an oral health questionnaire, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales (FACES III) instrument. Clinical examinations were performed by two trained and calibrated examiners (Kappa > 0.80) using the Nyvad criteria. A robust logistic regression analysis for complex samples was performed using a multilevel approach (α = 5%). The individual factors associated with the self-perceived treatment need were dental pain (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.16), the loss of the first molars (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.15), and disengaged family cohesion (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.01-1.31). In terms of context, attending a public school was associated with the self-perceived treatment need (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02-1.33). Thus, the individual factors of toothache, tooth loss, and a disengaged family, as well as the school context, exerted an influence on the self-perceived treatment need.

Oral health characteristics in children and adolescents with Down syndrome

AIM

To compare oral health indicators of children/adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) with a group of children/adolescents without DS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This cross-sectional study included 144 individuals with DS, ages 4 to 18 years, matched for age and sex with a group of 144 individuals without DS, and their parents/caregivers. Parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic information and habits related to their children's oral health. Clinical examination of the children/adolescents evaluated dental caries experience (DMFT/dmft), bleeding on periodontal probing, presence of visible plaque, clinical consequences of untreated dental caries (PUFA/pufa), and malocclusion (DAI). The chi-square test, linear by linear test, and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the variables between the groups (p < .05). Children/adolescents without DS brushed their teeth more times per day (p < .001) and had a higher frequency of daily sugar intake (p < .001). The children/adolescents in the DS group had a greater presence of gingival bleeding (p < .001) and had a greater number of cases of "severe malocclusion" and "very severe malocclusion" (p = .001). No difference was found in the prevalence of dental caries between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The children/adolescents in the DS group had a greater presence of gingival bleeding during the clinical examination and had a greater need for orthodontic treatment.

Sleep disorders, anxiety and obesity associated with untreated dental caries in children eight to ten years of age

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the presence of sleep disorders, obesity and anxiety associated with cavitated carious lesions in children aged 8 to 10 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Northeast of Brazil. The sample was comprised of 793 schoolchildren randomly selected from public and private schools. Calibrated examiners (Kappa >0.80) performed the clinical examination of dental caries using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System and applied the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children questionnaires. The anthropometric variables evaluated were weight and height. Negative binomial regressions (α ≤ 0.05) were performed. A Directed Acyclic Graph was prepared using DAGitty software (version 3.0), to select the co-variables for the statistical fits.

RESULTS

The prevalence of tooth decay was 52.8%. The mean number of tooth surfaces with cavitated caries was 2.2(2.8), 58.9% of the schoolchildren had some type of sleep disorder, while 20.2% were anxious and 29.1% were obese. Sleep disturbance (RR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.05-1.83), general anxiety (RR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.32-2.21), obesity (RR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.17-1.86) were associated with dental caries in the final model.

CONCLUSION

The presence of carious lesions was higher in children with sleep disorders, anxiety, obesity, and those who experienced dry mouth.

Impact of pulpectomy versus tooth extraction in children's oral health-related quality of life: A randomized clinical trial

AIM

The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the impact of two management options for primary molars with pulp necrosis (pulpectomy or extraction) on children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

DESIGN

A total of 100 children aged 3-5 years with at least one necrotic primary molar were selected and randomized into the study groups. The Brazilian version of early childhood oral health impact scale (B-ECOHIS) was completed by the parent proxy reports at baseline and after 4, 8 and 12 months. Differences between the trial groups were assessed through bootstrap linear regression for B-ECOHIS scores, logistic regression for dental pain self-reports and anxiety scores (α = 5%).

RESULTS

The mean (SD) B-ECOHIS scores at baseline and after 12 months were 17.7 (6.5) and 3.0 (4.0) in the pulpectomy group and 18.8 (7.7) and 7.9 (7.7) in the extraction group. Both treatments significantly improved OHRQoL, but tooth extraction group showed higher scores in total B-ECOHIS (p < .001) and most domains, indicating lower OHRQoL. Furthermore, higher anxiety levels were reported for dental extraction compared to pulpectomy (OR = 2.52; p = .008).

CONCLUSION

Pulpectomy resulted in an improved OHRQoL scores after 12 months when compared to tooth extraction and should be considered as the treatment of choice for necrotic primary molars.

Early Childhood Caries and Its Consequences Impact Sleep in Preschool Children

Purpose: To assess the impact of early childhood caries (ECC) and its clinical conse- quences on preschool children's sleep, as reported by caregivers. Methods: A representative cross-sectional study was carried out with preschoolers aged four to six years in Brazil. Caregivers responded to the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale and a specific question from this questionnaire was used to determine sleep-related quality of life: "Has your child had trouble sleeping because of dental problems or dental treatments?" Additionally, a self-administered questionnaire with socioeconomic questions was used. Clinical examinations were performed by two calibrated dentists to diagnose dental caries (International Caries Detection and Assessment System -epi) and its clinical consequences (pulpal involvement, tissue ulceration, fistula and abscesses [pufa] index). Adjusted and unadjusted Poisson regression was used for data analysis (P<0.05). Results: The sample consisted of 533 preschoolers, with 259 girls (51.4 percent) (n=259). The mean age of preschoolers was 4.78±0.6 (standard deviation) years. One-third (n=176) exhibited extensive carious lesions, and 14.1 percent (n=75) had clinical consequences of ECC. Conclusion: Children with clinical consequences of ECC were approximately 3.04 times more likely to have difficulty sleeping than children without them (95 percent confidence interval=1.75 to 5.25). The clinical consequences of ECC were significantly associated with difficulty sleeping among preschool children.

Late Eruption of Mandibular Central Incisor in Small for-Gestational-Age Infants: A Cohort Study

Purpose: To evaluate the chronology of the eruption of primary mandibular central incisors in infants born preterm and with low weight (PLBW) and its association with weight/length ratio for gestational age (GA) at birth, individual characteristics and hospitalization at birth. Methods: A cohort of 46 infants was followed at a multidisciplinary reference center at a university hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The inclusion criteria were infants born preterm with low/very low/extreme low birth weight and at least four months of age. Oral clinical examinations were carried out by a calibrated dentist for a total of eight months, with a one-month interval between each examination, to verify the chrono- logy of eruption of the primary mandibular central incisors. Caregivers completed a sociodemographic and health questionnaire. Data on neonatal hospitalization were collected from medical records. Data were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test, and bivariate analysis was done using the Mann-Whitney method and Kruskal-Wallis test (P <0.05). Results: The average age at eruption of primary lower central incisors was 11 months for both sexes. No association was found between tooth eruption and child hospitalization or individual characteristics (P >0.05). Infants large for gestational age had earlier tooth eruption (9.3±1.41 months) than infants small for gestational age (13.6±3.29 months; P <0.05).Conclusion: The most likely age for the eruption of the first primary teeth in infants born preterm and with low weight was 11 months, and there was no influence of individual characteristics and hospitalization at birth. Small-for-gestational age infants experienced delayed tooth eruption compared to large-for-GA infants.

Orthodontic treatment during pregnancy, lactation, and postmenopausal period: a questionnaire development

This study aimed to develop and validate a self-administered questionnaire in Brazilian Portuguese to verify the level of knowledge of orthodontists in the care of pregnant, lactating, and postmenopausal women, named "Considerations on Orthodontic Treatment during Pregnancy, Lactation, and Postmenopausal Periods." The development and validation of the questionnaire consisted of the following steps: a) item generation; b) item reduction; c) questionnaire design; and d) validity and reliability tests in a cross-sectional study with 258 orthodontists working in the field from different Brazilian states. A total of 60 orthodontists participated in test-retest over a mean period of 45 days. The preliminary questionnaire consisted of a total of 60 questions. After item reduction, 40 questions were selected for the final version of the questionnaire, with eight questions about pregnant women; six about lactating women; 18 about postmenopausal women, and eight about general knowledge in dentistry. Each item had three response options in the Likert scale format. Face and content validity analysis, reliability assessment through internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega), and test-retest reliability through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman's correlation coefficient were performed. Face and content validity indicated that the questionnaire was considered valid, objective, and easily understandable. The questionnaire had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77; McDonald's omega = 0.78) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.71; Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.51). The questionnaire was considered valid and reliable to assess the level of knowledge of orthodontists in the care of pregnant, lactating, and postmenopausal women.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI) for use on Brazilian adolescents

The present study aimed to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI) for native Brazilian Portuguese-speaking adolescents (DHLI-BrA). Cross-cultural adaptation consisted of the following steps: translation, assessment, and adjustments by the expert committee to ensure cultural equivalence; back-translation, and synthesis of back-translations. Cognitive testing was then performed in a pretest with adolescents using cognitive interviews with probing questions on the item's understanding interpretation and response options. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and McDonald's omega were used to estimate the instrument's reliability. Forty-two Brazilian adolescents participated in the study (mean age: 16.0 ± 2.0 years; range: 13 to 19 years). Items that were difficult to understand were adapted to the context of Brazilian adolescents. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and McDonald's omega for the 21 items of the DHLI-BrA were, respectively, 0.79 and 0.80. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the subscales of the self-report instrument was 0.53-0.79 (range), demonstrating good reliability in the total instrument and moderate reliability in the subscales. This study provides the cross-cultural adapted version of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI), which is an instrument for measuring digital Health literacy, for use in Brazilian adolescents (DHLI-BrA).

Situational diagnosis of policies in Latin American and Caribbean countries for the use of fluoride and reduction of sugar consumption

Policy evaluation and guidance on fluoride use and sugar consumption in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACC) may provide a scientific evidence basis for policymakers, dental professionals, civil society organizations and individuals committed to improving public oral health. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the extent of implementation of policies/guidelines on fluoride use, and sugar consumption in LACC. The study had two stages. First a questionnaire covering four major areas was developed: fluoridation of public water supplies; salt fluoridation; fluoride dentifrices, and sugar consumption. Then, the questionnaire was applied to collect data among representative participants in public oral health from LACC. Ninety-six participants from 18 LACC answered the questionnaire. One-hundred seventy documents were attached, and 285 links of websites were provided by the respondents. Implementation of policies and guidelines on water and table salt fluoridation and processed and ultra-processed food consumption were found in most countries, with some issues in the consensus and coverage. Thus, differences were identified in the extent of implementation of public oral health strategies on sugar consumption and fluoridation among the countries. There is no consensus on the policies in LACC to reduce sugar consumption and for the use of fluoride. A few policies and guidelines were applied in isolated countries, with a variety of strategies and standards. For future actions, it will be important to encourage the development of strategies and public policies within countries, and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies in reducing dental caries and in improving oral health in LACC.

Consensus for teaching dental caries in the Portuguese Language at Brazilian dental schools

The aim of this paper was to present a summary of the process of developing and preparing the final documents of the national consensus for teaching undergraduate Brazilian dental students the dental caries curriculum in the Portuguese language. The final document was developed in three steps: a) The ABENO and LAOHA cariology group invited experts from all five regions of Brazil to participate in the discussion. The theoretical support for crafting the first draft of the consensus was based on two publications: National Curriculum Guidelines of the Dentistry graduation in Brazil, Ministry of Education (2021) and the competences described in the European Core Curriculum for Cariology (ORCA-ADEE, 2011); b) The group of experts was divided into 5 working groups: G1-Domain, Main and Specific Competences, G2-Essential knowledge, G3-Life course perspective, G4-Social determinants and dental caries, G5- Glossary. The document was finalized by thoroughly reviewing the process using Delphi methodology; c) The 5-chapter document (one from each working group) was submitted to three open public consultations in 2022 (May-June, August, and October) using Google-forms. The suggestions (content/wording) were discussed within the group as: totally accepted, partially accepted, and rejected. A total of 192 suggestions were registered from 31 dental schools in all regions of Brazil. The number of suggestions received per Group were: 84, 28, 26, 24, 30 suggestions for G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5, respectively. The majority of suggestions were totally accepted by the group of experts (n = 172, 89.6%), 15 were partially accepted (7.8%), and 5 were rejected. Conclusion The final document could be considered to be the first national consensus for teaching the dental caries curriculum in Brazil.

Leadership through a gender lens: Disparities in Dental Research

This study aimed to analyze the 100 most-cited papers in Dentistry, with a focus on female leadership in dental research. Papers were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS- CC) in the category 'Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine'. Gender was assessed through WoS-CC, Scopus, ResearchGate, social media, institutional websites, and software that assigns gender according to first names (https://genderapi.io). Characteristics of authors in leadership roles were retrieved, such as affiliation, publication history, citations, H factor, and i500. The 100 most-cited papers in Dentistry were authored by 394 researchers, 326 (82.7%) men, and 68 (17.3%) women - there were 4.8 male authors for each female. Among the lead authors, there were 11.3 males for each female. Among female senior authors, there were 7 males for each female. Among lead/senior authors of the 100 most-cited papers (first and last authors, respectively), 18 were women. There was an increase in the participation of women in the top cited papers regardless of authorship role across the six decades, with a peak of two female authors in the first decade of the 21st century. For female authors in leadership roles, their publication history shows the time between their first and last papers in WoS-CC ranged from 4 to 42 years for lead authors and 1 to 39 years for senior authors. Women were found to be largely underrepresented as leaders of the 100 most-cited papers, highlighting pervasive gender inequalities in dental research publications.

Early-life sugar consumption and breastfeeding practices: a multicenter initiative in Latin America

The aim of this multicenter study was to explore the early-life sugar consumption and dietary practices in Latin America as well as to investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and the age at which foods and beverages with added sugars are introduced. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 805 1- to 3-year-old children from 10 Latin American countries, as a complementary study to the Research Observatory for Dental Caries of the Latin American Region (OICAL). A Food Frequency Questionnaire previously tested in different countries was applied to children's mothers and data on breastfeeding and age at introduction of sugary foods and beverages was collected. Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis test and Poisson regression with robust variance, with the calculation of crude and adjusted mean ratios (MR) and 95% of confidence intervals (CI). The average age at introduction of sugary foods and beverages was 10.1 months (95%CI 9.7-10.4) and 9.6 (95%CI 9.2-9.9) months, respectively, with a significant variation between countries (p < 0.001). The average daily frequency of sugary foods-beverages was 3.3 times per day (95%CI 3.1-3.5) and varied significantly between countries (p = 0.004). Breastfeeding duration of over six months was associated with an increase in the age of introduction of sweet drinks (16%; MR 1.16; 95%CI 1.05-1.28) and foods (21%; MR 1.21; 95%CI 1.10-1.33). In conclusion, most children from vulnerable settings in Latin America start consuming sugary products in the first year of life and a high frequency of consumption was reported through early childhood. Additionally, breastfeeding contributes to a delay in the introduction of sugary products.

Worldwide prevalence of natal and neonatal teeth: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Identifying the presence of teeth in newborns is important as it may require immediate care. This study aimed to determine the worldwide prevalence of natal and neonatal teeth.

TYPE OF STUDIES REVIEWED

Six electronic databases and the gray literature were searched on February 23, 2023 to identify observational studies reporting the prevalence of natal or neonatal teeth. Studies assuming natal and neonatal teeth as identical terms or not reporting prevalence indicators were excluded. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for studies reporting prevalence data. The worldwide prevalence of natal and neonatal teeth was estimated via proportion meta-analysis using a β-binomial model. Heterogeneity across studies was explored via subgroup analyses and meta-regression.

RESULTS

None of the 23 included studies fulfilled all items of the methodological quality checklist. The worldwide prevalence of natal teeth was 34.55 (95% CI, 20.12 to 59.26) per 10,000, and the prevalence of neonatal teeth was 4.52 (95% CI, 2.59 to 17.91) per 10,000. Subgroup analysis by continent showed that the prevalence of natal teeth ranged from 11.26 (95% CI, 7.58 to 16.61) per 10,000 in Asia through 75.32 (95% CI, 51.11 to 99.86) per 10,000 in North America, and the prevalence of neonatal teeth ranged from 3.52 (95% CI, 1.73 to 7.06) per 10,000 in Europe through 6.01 (95% CI, 2.25 to 16.60) per 10,000 in South America. Meta-regression did not find a statistically significant association between prevalence rates and year of publication or sample size.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Approximately 1 in 289 newborns had natal teeth and 1 in 2,212 had neonatal teeth. Although this is not a high prevalence, professionals must be alert to identify these conditions, which often require immediate care.

Structuring of the effects of oral health literacy on dental caries in 12-year-old adolescents

OBJECTIVES

To explore the pathways by which oral health literacy is associated with dental caries in adolescents, assessing direct and indirect effects of family cohesion and socioeconomic status.

METHODS

A population-based, representative cross-sectional study was conducted with 740 12-year-old adolescents in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a sociodemographic questionnaire. Adolescents answered validated questionnaires addressing family cohesion and oral health literacy. Dental caries was diagnosed using Nyvad criteria. Two dentists underwent training exercises for the diagnosis and administration of the questionnaires (k > 0.80). Descriptive analysis was followed by the use of structural equation modelling to determine direct and indirect associations between the variables incorporated into the theoretical model of the study (95% CI).

RESULTS

Oral health literacy (standardized coefficient: -3.472, p < .01) and mother's schooling (standardized coefficient: -0.405, p < .01) were directly associated with dental caries, whereas family cohesion and socioeconomic status exerted an indirect effect on the occurrence of dental caries in the adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociodemographic factors, family characteristics and oral health literary are associated with dental caries in 12-year-old adolescents.

Perceptions of Parents/Caregivers About the Impact of Oral Conditions on the Quality of Life of Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

PURPOSE

To investigate the perceptions of parents/caregivers about the impact of oral conditions on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children/adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to the perceptions of parents/caregivers of children/adolescents without ASD.

METHODS

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 80 children/adolescents with ASD three to 16 years of age matched by sex and age with 80 children/adolescents without ASD and their parents/caregivers. Clinical examinations were performed for the diagnosis of dental caries experience (DMFT/dmft), clinical consequences of untreated dental caries (PUFA/pufa), visible plaque (VPI), bleeding on probing (BPI), malocclusion and traumatic dental injury (TDI). Parents/caregivers answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics and the Brazilian version of the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ), which measures OHRQoL from the perspective of parents/caregivers. Data analysis involved the Wilcoxon test, chi-squared test and Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Dental caries experience impacted OHRQoL in the group with ASD regarding the total P-CPQ score (p < 0.001) as well as the "oral symptoms" (p = 0.011) and "wellbeing" (p < 0.011) domains. No differences were found between the perceptions of parents/caregivers of children/adolescents with ASD and perceptions of parents/caregivers of children/adolescents without ASD (p = 0.721).

CONCLUSION

Dental caries experience can have a negative impact on the OHRQoL of children/adolescents with ASD.

Early Introduction of Total Sugar Foods and Early Childhood Caries

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the introduction of total sugar foods (TSF) in the first six months of age and the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) and its consequences for dental pulp in preschool children. Methods: A representative cross-sectional study was conducted with 533 preschool children (four to six years old) in Ribeirão das Neves, Brazil. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index was used for determining ECC. The visible pulp, oral mucosa ulceration due to root fragments, fistula, and abscess (pufa) index was used for the pulp consequences of dental caries. Parents/caregivers answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics and the children's diet. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression (P<0.05). Results: The multiple logistic regression model adjusted for family income and breastfeeding showed that preschool children who were introduced to TSF prior to six months of age were 1.58 times more likely to have ECC (95 percent confidence interval equals 1.09 to 2.30). The multiple logistic regression model, adjusted for family income, breastfeeding, and brushing behaviors, showed that preschool children who were introduced to TSF prior to six months of age were 2.30 times more likely to have pulp consequences (95 percent confidence interval equals 1.35 to 3.91). Conclusion: The early introduction TSF is associated with a higher prevalence of early childhood caries and pulp consequences in preschool children. The negative effects on oral health may be greater when the introduction of TSF occurs prior to six months of age.

Diagnosis and prevalence of probable awake and sleep bruxism in adolescents: an exploratory analysis

The aims of this study were to perform an exploratory analysis of probable awake (AB) and sleep bruxism (SB) prevalence using of different diagnosis criteria based on the International Consensus; evaluate the associations between self-report and clinical signs/symptoms in adolescents. Participated in this cross-sectional study 403 adolescents aged 12- to 19-years-old enrolled in public and private schools from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Parents/caregivers answered a questionnaire about sociodemographic status and adolescents' health status. Adolescents answered a questionnaire evaluating AB (e.g., grinding and clenching) and SB (e.g., grinding, bracing, and thrusting) activities and frequent headaches. A clinical examination was performed on adolescents to evaluate bruxism clinical signs/symptoms (pain upon palpation on masseter and temporal, linea alba, indentation on the tongue and attrition wear severity). Descriptive statistics and Pearson's Qui-square test were performed (P≤0.05). Adolescents mean age was 14.3±1.5 years, and 58.1% were female. Self-report of SB was identified in 31% of participants and self-report of AB in 51.6%. Almost all adolescents (99%) presented at least one tooth with attrition wear (98.5% on enamel and 0.5% on dentin), with a mean number of 12.4±5.7 teeth. Depending on the diagnosis criteria, the prevalence of probable SB and AB varied from 0- 99% and 0.2- 99%, respectively. A high inconsistency was found for the prevalence of probable AB and SB in adolescents, which were influenced by the different clinical sings/symptoms used as diagnosis criteria. Frequent headaches and pain upon palpation on masseter and temporal muscle were associated to self-report of AB and SB among adolescents.

Psychosocial associated factors of early childhood caries and oral health-related quality of life: structural equation model approach

OBJECTIVE

To identify a structural model for the identification of psychosocial associated factors of early childhood caries (ECC) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children and their families.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 533 preschool children from 4 to 6 years-old public and private preschools, from XXX, XXX. Parents/caregivers self-completed the Brazilian versions of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS) and Resilience Scale as well as a structured questionnaire addressing socioeconomic status and child's oral health behavior. Two dentists who had undergone training and calibration exercises for ICDAS-epi and pufa index (Kappa≥0.95) performed the examinations for ECC. Stages of ECC were classified as free of visible carious lesion, initial caries, moderate caries, extensive caries without pulp consequences and extensive caries with pulp consequences. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, using Mplus version 8.6.

RESULTS

Lower socioeconomic status (b=-0.250; p<0.001) and higher frequency of free sugar consumption (b=0.122; p=0.033) were directly associated with a more severe stage of ECC. Lower parental resilience had an indirect impact on more severe stage of ECC which was mediated by the variable 'frequency of free sugar consumption' (b=-0.089; p=0.048). ECC was associated with lower child's OHRQoL (b=0.587; p<0.001) and lower family's OHRQoL (b=0.506; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Structural modeling revealed that the severity of ECC negatively impacted the OHRQoL of preschoolers and their families. The main associated factors of the severity of ECC were lower socioeconomic status, higher frequency of free sugar consumption and lower parental resilience.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

T The findings indicate that psychosocial and behavior variables can be associated with the severity of ECC, and ECC can be associated with negative impact on wellbeing and ability to perform daily activities of preschoolers and their families.

The relationship between temperament and dental fear and anxiety: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between temperament traits and dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in children and adolescents by the means of a systematic review (PROSPERO #CRD42020207578).

METHODS

The PEO (Population, Exposure, and Outcome) strategy was followed using children and adolescents as the population, temperament as the exposure, and DFA as the outcome. A systematic search for observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort) without restrictions on year or language of publication was performed in seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO) in September 2021. Grey literature search was performed in OpenGrey, Google Scholar, and in the reference list of included studies. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were carried out independently by two reviewers. The Fowkes and Fulton Critical Assessment Guideline was used to assess methodological quality of each study included. The GRADE approach was performed to determine the certainty of evidence of relationship between temperament traits.

RESULTS

This study recovered 1362 articles, of which 12 were included. Despite the high heterogeneity of methodological aspects, qualitative synthesis by subgroups showed a positive association/correlation between emotionality, neuroticism, and shyness with DFA in children and adolescents. Different subgroups analysis showed similar results. Eight studies were classified as having low methodological quality.

CONCLUSION

The main shortcoming of the included studies is the high risk of bias and a very low certainty of evidence. Within its limitations, children and adolescents with a temperament-like emotionality/neuroticism and shyness are more likely to present higher DFA.

Associations between Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pain and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Happiness, and Polymorphisms in Adolescents' Genes

Adolescence is marked by changes and vulnerability to the emergence of psychological problems. This study aimed to investigate associations between anxiety/depression/chronic pain and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL)/happiness/polymorphisms in the COMT, HTR2A and FKBP5 genes in Brazilian adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with ninety adolescents 13 to 18 years. Anxiety, depression and chronic pain were evaluated using the RDC/TMD. The Oral Health Impact Profile was used to assess oral OHRQoL. The Subjective Happiness Scale was used to assess happiness. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in COMT (rs165656, rs174675), HTR2A (rs6313, rs4941573) and FKBP5 (rs1360780, rs3800373) were genotyped using the Taqman® method. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed (p < 0.05). Chronic pain and depression were associated with feelings of happiness (p < 0.05). A significant inverse association was found between anxiety and OHRQoL (p = 0.004). The presence of minor allele C of COMT rs174675 was significantly associated with depression (p = 0.040). Brazilian adolescents with depression and chronic pain considers themselves to be less happy than others and those with anxiety are more likely to have a negative impact on OHRQoL. Moreover, the rs174675 variant allele in the COMT gene was associated with depressive symptoms in Brazilian adolescents.

Association between Level of Parental Oral Health Literacy and the Rational Use of Fluoride for Children from 0 to 4 Years of Age after Instruction: An Intervention Trial

An inadequate level of oral health literacy (OHL) can hinder the understanding of dental information, which can have a negative impact on health promotion actions, such as the rational use of fluoride. The aims of the present study were (1) to look for association between parents/guardians' OHL and the amount of fluoride toothpaste used for children from zero to four years of age; (2) to compare the effect of different modes of educational interventions on the amount of fluoride toothpaste used for children from zero to four years of age; and (3) to assess the ability of parents/guardians to choose a toothpaste with adequate fluoride concentration, after the educational intervention. A randomized intervention study was conducted with parents/guardians of children from zero to four years of age (n = 145). The participants answered the Oral Health Literacy Adults Questionnaire and a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics. The participants were allocated to four intervention groups based on type of counseling (written, oral, written + photograph, and oral + photograph), with randomization stratified by level of OHL. The participants were instructed to place the adequate amount of toothpaste on a toothbrush for children from zero to four years of age (smear of 0.125 mg) before and after the intervention. The correct choice of toothpaste was also evaluated by the interpretation of the labels of four toothpastes of different brands and with different concentrations of fluoride. Associations between variables were tested using the Student's t test and one-way ANOVA. Level of OHL was associated with the amount of fluoride toothpaste deposited prior to the educational intervention (p = 0.021) and the percentage of approximation to the appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste (p < 0.05). The choice of toothpaste was associated with schooling (p = 0.031). In conclusion, parents/guardians with adequate OHL better quantified fluoride toothpaste before and after the educational intervention and also came closer to the appropriate amount of toothpaste after the educational intervention. No significant differences in the final amount of toothpaste placed on the toothbrush were found among the intervention groups. The choice of the correct toothpaste was associated with a higher level of schooling.

Semantic equivalence of the Brazilian version of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (B-PSQ)

The Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) is a self-administered instrument to assess adolescent patients' satisfaction with orthodontic treatment. A pre-existing North American instrument was further explored in the Netherlands. Semantic equivalence is part of cross-cultural adaptation and is necessary to achieve a valid and reliable instrument for a specific culture. The present study aimed to evaluate the semantic equivalence of the items, subscales, and overall PSQ between the original English version and the Brazilian Portuguese language version (B-PSQ). The PSQ has 58 items, distributed across 6 subscales: doctor-patient relationship, situational aspects of the clinic, dentofacial improvement, psychosocial improvement, dental function, and a residual category. Semantic equivalence was evaluated according to the following methods: (1) independent translations to Portuguese by two translators, both native in Brazilian Portuguese and fluent in English; (2) an expert committee drafted the first summarized version in Portuguese; (3) two independent back-translations into English by two native English-speaking translators fluent in Portuguese; (4) committee review; (5) committee drafted a summarized version of the back-translations; (6) expert committee drafted the second summarized version in Portuguese; (7) pre-test of the instrument using individual semi-structured interviews with 10 adolescents; (8) review and final version of the B-PSQ. Semantic equivalence between the original and the Brazilian versions of the questionnaire was achieved through diligent and rigorous methods, with effective translation and expert evaluations, incorporating the opinions of the target population.

Premature Primary Tooth Loss and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Preschool Children

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between premature primary tooth loss and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 769 5-year-old preschool children. The children and their parents or guardians answered the Brazilian version of the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-Year-Old Children for the assessment of OHRQoL. Meanwhile, clinical examinations were performed for the assessment of premature primary tooth loss. Unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression models were utilized to investigate the associations between the variables. In the parental version of the scale, premature posterior primary tooth loss (rate ratio [RR] = 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.51-4.68), weak sense of coherence (RR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.62-3.11), and visit to a dentist (RR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.04-2.52) were associated with OHRQoL. Based on the children's perceptions, only the preschool type was associated with OHRQoL (RR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.21-3.05). Premature posterior primary tooth loss had a greater impact on OHRQoL based on the parents' perception, whereas only the preschool type was associated with OHRQoL based on the children's perception.

Adolescents' and Parents' Perspective on Impact of Dental Caries and Malocclusion on Quality of Life

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of malocclusion and dental caries on oral health- related quality of life (OHRQoL) in adolescents and the differences between adoles- cents' self-reports and caregiver's proxy reports. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,612 Brazil- ian adolescents and 1,168 caregivers. Adolescents completed the Child Perceptions Questionnaire and caregivers completed the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Question- naire. Malocclusion (dental esthetic index) and dental caries (DMFT) were documented. Multiple Poisson regression was conducted. Results: A self-reported model demonstrated that adolescents with malocclusion had an impact on emotional (PR=1.14; 95 percent confidence interval [95% CI=1.03 to 1.26) and social domains (PR=1.35; 95% CI=1.20 to 1.50). Dental caries had an impact on the emotional domain (prevalence ratio [PR]=1.34; 95% CI=1.21 to 1.48). The caregiver model showed that malocclusion had an impact on oral symptoms (PR=1.12; 95% CI=1.03 to 1.21), functional limitations (PR=1.18; 95% CI= 1.05 to 1.33), and emotional (PR=1.23; 95% CI=1.10 to 1.54) and social domains (PR=1.22; 95% CI=1.02 to 1.45). Those with dental caries felt an impact on oral symptoms (PR=1.09; 95% CI=1.01 to 1.19), functional limitations (PR=1.18; 95% CI=1.05 to 1.33) and social domains (PR=1.24; 95% CI=1.04 to 1.45). Conclusions: Adolescents reported a negative impact on OHRQoL both in relation to dental caries and malocclusion. Caregivers observed the impact of oral conditions on more domains than the adolescents reported.

Profile of brazilian research productivity grant holders with a background in pediatric dentistry

This study outlines the profile of research productivity grant holders of the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development)] in the field of pediatric dentistry. A cross-sectional study with data collected from the Brazilian academic curriculum vitae database. The eligibility criterion was being a research productivity grant holder in pediatric dentistry from 2018 to 2020. In the period of interest, 215 individuals were research productivity grant holders in the field of dentistry, 33 of whom had graduate degrees (specialization, master's or doctorate) in pediatric dentistry. The period of scientific production and work concluded of advising of scientific initiation, master, doctoral and post-doctoral degrees was 2010 to 2020. Descriptive analysis was performed and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze associations (5% significance level) between productivity grant level (2, 1D, 1C, 1B or 1A) and year of obtainment of the doctoral degree. The VOSviewer (version 1.6.17) was used to present graphically the interinstitutional collaborations. The sample was composed of Level 2 researchers (66.7%), women (66.7%), researchers linked to institutions in the southeastern region of Brazil (81.8%), with a doctoral degree concluded prior to 2002 (51.5%), began working as a professor at a higher education institution prior to 2007 (78.8%) and the title of full professor (45.5%). No significant association was found between productivity grant level and year of conclusion of the doctoral degree (p = 0.10). Median (interquartile range) of scientific articles was 119 (37-312). The prevalence of citations (57.52%) and JCR articles (62.76%) was higher among female researchers. In conclusion, CNPq research productivity grant holders in pediatric dentistry are essentially represented by females from the southeast region of the country (UFMG and USP). However, males have proportionally greater productivity.

Orofacial dysfunction, nonnutritive sucking habits, and dental caries influence malocclusion in children aged 8-10 years

INTRODUCTION

Malocclusion is one of the most prevalent oral health problems and can affect self-esteem, social relations, and oral health-related quality of life. The present study aimed to evaluate associations between malocclusion and orofacial dysfunction, nonnutritive sucking habits, cavitated carious lesions, and anxiety in Brazilian children.

METHODS

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 739 children aged 8-10 years. Parents or guardians provided sociodemographic data and information on the nonnutritive sucking habits of the children. The children answered the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. Four trained examiners examined the children for the diagnosis of malocclusion (dental aesthetic index), dental caries (International Caries Detection and Assessment System), and orofacial dysfunction (Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening). The control variables were selected using a directed acyclic graph. Descriptive statistics were performed, followed by unadjusted and adjusted robust logistic regression analysis (P <0.05).

RESULTS

The following variables remained associated with the occurrence of malocclusion in the final model: nonnutritive sucking habits (odds ratio [OR], 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-4.08), orofacial dysfunction (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.13-2.17), and cavitated carious lesion (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.03-1.89).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonnutritive sucking habits, orofacial dysfunction, and cavitated carious lesions were associated with the presence of malocclusion in children aged 8-10 years.

Validation of the Brazilian Oral Health Literacy-Adults Questionnaire

Background:

Objective:

Methods:

Key Results:

Conclusions:

Plain Language Summary:

Facial Type, Sex and Skin Color of Pediatric Patients Are Associated with Dental Students' Empathy and Self-Confidence During Dental Care

Purpose: To assess the levels of empathy and self-confidence of pre- and post-doctoral dental students during the dental care of children of different facial types, sex and skin color.<br/> Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 170 Brazilian dental students. Photos of four mesofacial pediatric patients of different sex (male, female) and skin color (white, black) were digitally altered to dolichofacial and brachyfacial facial types. The 12 photos obtained (four originals and eight digitally altered) were projected during lectures and students reported their level of empathy (scores from zero to 10) and self-confidence (not confident/confident) using a structured questionnaire, based exclusively on children's appearance. Bivariate analysis and Poisson robust regression were performed (P <0.05).<br/> Results: Students' lower empathy was observed among brachyfacial children (preva- lence ratio [PR] = 0.940; 95 percent confidence interval [95 percent CI] = 0.904 to 0.978). Female (PR=1.202; 95 percent CI=1.162 to 1.243) and black children (PR=1.068; 95 percent CI=1.035 to 1.103) received students' higher empathy scores. Higher percentages of self-confidence were associated with mesofacial (P =0.049), female (P <0.001), and black (P =0.001) children. Students' lower self-confidence was associated with brachyfacial (PR=1.106; 95 percent CI=1.066 to 1.147), male (PR=1.202; 95 percent CI=1.165 to 1.239) and white (PR=1.056; 95 percent CI =1.025 to 1.088) pediatric patients.<br/> Conclusions: Brachyfacial children were associated with dental students' lower levels of empathy and self-confidence while female and black children received higher levels of empathy and self-confidence. However, dental students felt less confident regarding the dental care of white children.

Impact of oral health literacy and psychoactive substances on tooth loss in adolescents

The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between tooth loss, and oral health literacy, the use of multiple psychoactive substances, and the reason for the last dental appointment in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 746 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a sociodemographic questionnaire. The adolescents answered the Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD-30), the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, and an oral health questionnaire from the National Oral Health Survey. The adolescents were then examined by two examiners who had undergone training and calibration exercises for the diagnosis of tooth loss due to caries (K> 0.80). Associations between variables were investigated using robust logistic regression analysis for complex samples (α = 5%). The prevalence of tooth loss was 17.4%. Oral health literacy (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89-0.97) was inversely associated with tooth loss, while multiple psychoactive substance use (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.09-3.69) and last dental visit for treatment/symptoms (OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.73-5.36) were directly associated with tooth loss. Oral health literacy, multiple psychoactive substance use, and reason for last dental appointment exerted an influence on tooth loss among adolescents.

Risk indicators of untreated dental caries incidence among preschoolers: a prospective longitudinal study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of socioeconomic factors, oral conditions and the impact of OHRQoL as possible risk indicators related to the incidence of untreated dental caries in preschool children two years after an initial examination. A prospective longitudinal study was performed with a sample of 288 preschool children allocated to two groups at baseline (T0): caries free (n = 144) and with untreated dental caries (n = 144). Untreated dental caries was determined through clinical examinations performed by a calibrated dentist at T0 (Kappa > 0,89) and T1 (two years after the baseline) (Kappa > 0,91) using the dmft criteria. Parents/caregivers answered a socioeconomic questionnaire and the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS) at T0 and T1. Mann-Whitney test and hierarchically adjusted Poisson regression models were used (95%CI, p < 0,05). The incidence of untreated dental caries was 41.3%. Low (RR = 1.63; 95%CI:1.18-2.26; p < 0.001) and high severity of untreated dental caries (RR = 1.92; 95%CI:1.36-2.72; p < 0.001), monthly household income less than two times the Brazilian minimum salary (RR = 1.79; 95%CI:1.04-3.25; p = 0.042) and overall B-ECOHIS score (RR = 1.03; 95%CI:1.02-1.05; p < 0.001) at T0 were risk indicators for the incidence of untreated dental caries among the preschool children. In conclusion, the incidence of untreated dental caries was high and the higher severity of untreated dental caries, the lower monthly income and the higher the B-ECOHIS score (indicating a negative impact on quality of life) were risk indicators to the developing of new lesions of untreated dental caries after 2 years.

Development and validation of a short form of the BOHLAT-P

The authors developed and validated a short form of the Brazilian Oral Health Literacy Assessment Task for Paediatric Dentistry (BOHLAT-P). Data included responses from 200 parents of preschoolers to sociodemographic and oral health service access questions on the BOHLAT-P, the Brazilian Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD-30), and the Brazilian Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). Data on the preschoolers' dental caries experience (ICDAS-II) were also included. An item response theory-based approach was employed to develop the short form, while confirmatory factor analysis evaluated the instrument dimensionality. The validity and reliability of the short form were tested by statistical analysis using BREALD-30, B-ECOHIS, and sociodemographic and dental caries experience data. The short form (BOHLAT-P-30) comprises 30 items, is unidimensional, and presents better model fit estimates (TLI = 0.94; CFI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.05) than those of the BOHLAT-P. Moreover, BOHLAT-P-30 demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91; intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.95). BOHLAT-P-30 scores were positively correlated with BREALD-30 scores (r = 0.71), with the number of years of schooling (r = 0.60), and with the number of hours spent reading (r = 0.33). BOHLAT-P-30 scores were negatively correlated with B-ECOHIS scores (r = -0.21), and with the number of teeth with cavitated caries (r = -0.18). After controlling for confounding factors, BOHLAT-P-30 scores were not found to be associated with caries presence, or with the number of teeth with cavitated caries. The BOHLAT-P-30 had properties similar to those of the BOHLAT-P, and proved to be a valid measure to assess the OHL of Brazilian parents.

Impact on oral health-quality of life in infants: Multicenter study in Latin American countries

To assess the impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in infants in ten Latin America countries (LAC). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 930 pairs of 1-to-3-year-old children/parents from 10 LAC, as a complementary study of the Research Observatory for Dental Caries of the Latin American Region. The scale ECOHIS, previously tested and valid in ten countries, was applied to parents/caregivers of children to measure OHRQoL. Statistical analysis included descriptive data analysis and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA-One-Way) were performed to compare age groups with OHRQoL. Bootstrapping procedures (1000 re-samplings; 95%CI Bca) were performed. The mean scores of the ‘Child Impact’ section in the LAC was 4.0(±8.3), in the ‘Family Impact’ section was 2.0(±4.0), and in overall ECOHIS score was 6.0(±12.0). In the ‘Child Impact’ section, Argentina 10.0(+2.4) and Venezuela 17.8(±17.5) demonstrated mean scores higher than the LAC total data. In the ‘Family Impact’ section, the countries with higher mean scores were Argentina 4.9(±2.0), Ecuador 2.1(±3.1) and Venezuela 7.9(±7.8). In the overall ECOHIS score, Argentina 15.1 (±4.1) and Venezuela 25.7(±25.2) has higher mean scores than the values of LAC. There is an association between children's age and parents' report of impact on the OHRQoL (p<0.001). Three-year-olds had a higher mean when compared to one- and two-year-olds, both in the Impact on the Child and Impact on the Family (p<0.001) sections, as well as in the overall ECOHIS (p<0.001). In conclusion, there are differences in OHRQoL among Latin American countries, impacting older children more significantly.

Comparison between Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI) and self-reported measures for diagnosing pain in conscious individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI), an objective measure of pain based on heart rate variability (HRV), has its usefulness in awake patients still unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess ANI's accuracy compared to self-reported pain measures in conscious individuals undergoing medical procedures or painful stimuli. PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and grey literature were searched until March 2021. Of the 832 identified citations, 16 studies complied with the eligibility criteria. A meta-analysis including nine studies demonstrated a weak negative correlation between ANI and NRS for pain assessment in individuals in the post-anesthetic recovery room (r = − 0.0984, 95% CI = − 0.397 to 0.220, I² = 95.82%), or in those submitted to electrical stimulus (r = − 0.089; 95% CI = − 0.390 to 0.228, I² = 0%). The evidence to use ANI in conscious individuals is weak compared to self-report measures of pain, yet ANI explains a part of self-report. Therefore, some individuals may be benefited from the use of ANI during procedures or in the immediate postoperative period.

Association of the prevalence and severity of untreated traumatic dental injuries with body mass index among Brazilian preschool children

BACKGROUND/AIM

Children with excess weight may be more predisposed to traumatic dental injuries (TDI). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between overweight/obesity and TDI presence and severity in Brazilian preschool children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted of 347 children aged three to five years. The main exposure was evaluated based on the body mass index (BMI). Socioeconomic-demographic characteristics and harmful oral habits were investigated using a questionnaire sent to the parents/guardians. Oral clinical examinations were performed to determine overjet (criteria proposed by Foster and Hamilton), and the presence and severity of TDI (criteria proposed by Andreassen). Descriptive statistics were performed. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses were conducted for each outcome.

RESULTS

The prevalence of TDI in the sample was 41.5% and 16% of the children had enamel and dentin fractures. In the multivariate analysis, BMI and overjet were associated with the presence and severity of TDI (PR: 2.04 and 1.78, respectively) of TDI (PR: 2.27 and 2.24, respectively) (p < .001 for all associations).

CONCLUSION

Overweight/obesity was associated with both the presence and severity of TDI in early childhood.

Factors associated with awake bruxism according to perceptions of parents/guardians and self-reports of children

BACKGROUND

Bruxism is a repetitive activity of the masticatory muscles that has been associated with orofacial disorders and psychosocial factors AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between possible awake bruxism (PAB) and family functioning, bullying, and dental caries in children 8-10 years of age.

DESIGN

A school-based study was conducted with 739 pairs of parents/guardians and children. The parents/guardians answered the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales for the establishment of family functioning. Information on bullying due to dental conditions was collected from the children. Dental caries in the children was evaluated using International Caries Detection and Assessment System criteria. A directed acyclic graph was used to define the theoretical model and select control factors. Descriptive analysis was performed, followed by multivariate logistic regression for complex samples.

RESULTS

Considering the parental reports, fewer years of mother's schooling, a low family income, very flexible family adaptability, and cavitated dental caries were associated with PAB. The female sex, bullying, and orofacial dysfunction were associated with self-reported PAB.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, the factors associated with PAB differ according to the reports of parents/guardians or self-reports of children. Healthcare providers should consider both reports for a more effective intervention addressing PAB.

Possible sleep bruxism, smartphone addiction and sleep quality among Brazilian university students during COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives

To evaluate the association of sleep bruxism activity with smartphone addiction and sleep quality among university students during COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and Methods

A cross-sectional online survey with 546 university students in social distancing was conducted (May 29^th to June 2^nd 2020). Participants should be undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Brazilian public/private universities. A self-completed questionnaire collected sociodemographic characteristics, academic information, and severity of possible sleep bruxism (PSB) activities (grinding, bracing, and thrusting). Students answered the Brazilian version of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI-BR) and short form of the smartphone addiction scale (SAS-SV). Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were performed (p=0.05).

Results

Sample mean age was 24.9 (±5.5) years. Students with higher scores of PSQI-BR were more likely to present severe PSB-bracing (OR=1.154; 95%CI=1.057-1.260), severe PSB-grinding (OR=1.133; 95%CI=1.048-1.225) and severe PSB-thrusting (OR=1.197;95%CI=1.107-1.294). Students who had children presented 3 times more chance (OR=3.193; 95%CI=1.236-8.250) to report severe PSB-thrusting. Being female increased the chance of reporting moderate (OR=3.315; 95%CI=1.333-8.914) and severe (OR=2.940; 95%CI=1.116-7.747) PSB-thrusting. Students not enrolled in distance learning presented 2 times more chance (OR=2.638; 95%CI=1.233-5.649) of reporting moderate PSB-grinding. Students with higher scores in SAS-SV had a slight increase in the chance of presenting mild (OR=1.042; 95%CI=1.009-1.077) and moderate (OR=1.065; 95%CI=1.018-1.115) PSB-bracing, as well as mild (OR=1.044; 95%CI=1.011-1.078) and moderate (OR=1.041; 95%CI=1.005-1.077) PSB-thrusting.

Conclusion

Smartphone addiction, worse sleep quality, having children, female sex and not being enrolled in distance learning were associated possible sleep bruxism during COVID-19 pandemic.

Contributions of school context to caries on anterior teeth: a multilevel analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether oral health literacy (OHL) and school context are associated with untreated dental caries on the anterior teeth of adolescents.

METHODS

A representative cross-sectional study was conducted with 746 students aging 15 to 19 in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil. The guardians answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic data and the absence/presence of private health insurance. Two examiners were trained for the diagnosis of dental caries using the Nyvad criteria and the measurement of OHL using the Brazilian Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD-30) (Kappa > 0.80). Contextual aspects of the schools were obtained from the 2017 National School Census. Descriptive statistics were conducted, followed by unadjusted and adjusted robust negative binomial regression for complex samples (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The average number of anterior teeth with untreated caries was 0.95 (SD = 1.77). Among individual factors, the male sex (RR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.24–2.16), inadequate level of OHL (RR = 2.03; 95%CI: 1.13–1.63), marginal level of OHL (RR = 1.87; 95%CI: 1.05–3.33) and not having private health insurance (RR = 1.34; 95%CI: 1.07–1.68) were associated with untreated caries on anterior teeth. Among school contextual factors, the number of students in the classroom (RR = 2.64; 95%CI: 1.78–3.93), number of public oral health services in the district (RR = 0.14; 95%CI: 0.05–0.39) and average income of the district in which the school is located (RR = 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98–0.99) were associated with the outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociodemographic factors, having private health insurance, OHL, and school context exerted an influence on the occurrence of untreated dental caries on anterior teeth in adolescents aging 15 to 19.

Family and contextual factors associated with licit drug use in adolescence

OBJECTIVE:

TO evaluate the family and contextual factors associated with licit drug use among 15 to 19-year-old adolescents in the school context.

METHODS:

This is a representative, school-based, cross-sectional study conducted with 746 adolescents from 15 to 19 years old enrolled in public and private schools. Parents/guardians reported on the sociodemographic variables, while adolescents answered questionnaires on drug use, family cohesion and adaptability, oral health literacy and visits to the dentist. Information on school context was obtained at the institution and via municipal publications. Associations between variables were analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted multilevel Poisson regression models.

RESULTS:

Prevalence of licit drug use at least once and a pattern indicative of harmful drug use were 39.8% and 15.1%, respectively. After the adjusted analysis of licit drug use at least once, the variables gender (PR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.01–1.59), family cohesion (PR = 9.81; 95%CI: 1.23–72.54), and average income of the school district (PR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.57–0.91) remained in the final model. As for drug abuse, only the detached type (PR = 23.01; 95%CI: 2.46–214.87) and separated type (PR = 13.54; 95%CI: 1.40–130.97) of family cohesion remained in the final model.

CONCLUSION:

Experience with licit drug use was associated with family and contextual factors among the adolescents, while family cohesion was the main factor related to harmful drug use.

Attention-deficit Disorder, Family Factors, and Oral Health Literacy

Introduction

Relationships amongst attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), family factors, and oral health literacy (OHL) in adolescents are unclear. The objective of this research was to investigate whether family environment and signs of ADHD are associated with OHL at the onset of adolescence.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed with 448 twelve-year-old adolescents enrolled in schools in Cajazeiras, Brazil. Adolescents responded to an instrument measuring OHL (Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry [BREALD-30]) and a validated questionnaire addressing family cohesion and adaptability (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales [FACES III]). Parents and teachers answered subscales of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Questionnaire (SNAP-IV) and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Adjusted Poisson regression analysis was employed for the data analysis (P < .05).

Results

Greater OHL was found in adolescents with higher family cohesion scores (rate ratio [RR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.03), those whose mothers had more than 8 years of schooling (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.12), and those whose families earned more than the Brazilian minimum salary (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03–1.12). Higher family adaptability scores (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98–0.99) and more signs of ADHD (teachers’ reports) (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91–0.99) were associated with lower OHL.

Conclusions

OHL in adolescents was influenced by family adaptability and cohesion, signs of ADHD, maternal schooling, and family income.

Association of deleterious sucking habits with the occurrence of otitis in newborns, infants, preschool children, and children: a systematic review protocol

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review is to determine whether deleterious sucking habits contribute to otitis in newborns, infants, preschool children, and children.

INTRODUCTION

Otitis is one of the most prevalent diseases in infants. Diverse studies have suggested that deleterious sucking habits, such as pacifier use, bottle-feeding, and finger-sucking, may be risk factors for the development of otitis in young individuals.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This systematic review will include observational studies in which the association between deleterious sucking habits and otitis was assessed in newborns, infants, preschool children, and children. Studies will compare caregiver reporting of sucking habits in this population to those with no deleterious sucking habits or those who exclusively breastfeed. The primary outcome will be the presence of otitis.

METHODS

The searches will be carried out in six electronic databases, and gray literature will also be screened. A three-step search strategy will be used, with no date or language restrictions. Studies whose full text meets the eligibility criteria will be included in the systematic review. Study screening and selection, critical appraisal, and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach will be used to assess the certainty of the evidence. Meta-analysis will be performed if there is relative homogeneity among included studies.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42020197162.

Family structure, sociodemographic factors and type of dental service associated with oral health literacy in the early adolescence

The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between oral health literacy and family, sociodemographic and dental service characteristics in early adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 740 schoolchildren. The following variables were investigated using validated questionnaires: oral health literary (BREALD-30), sociodemographic characteristics, type of dental service and family functioning (FACES III). Associations were tested using robust Poisson regression analysis (α=5%). Higher oral health literacy was associated with the female sex (RR=1.09; 95%CI: 1.03-1.14), connected type of family cohesion (RR=1.12; 95%CI: 1.05-1.20), rigid (RR=1.14; 95%CI: 1.04-1.25) and structured (RR=1.11; 95%CI: 1.04-1.20) types of family adaptability, more than eight years of mother's schooling (RR=1.16; 95%CI: 1.10-1.22), age of caregiver more than 38 years (RR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.02-1.13) and the use of private dental services (RR=1.06; 95%CI: 1.01-1.12). The level of oral health literacy in early adolescents was associated with sex, family structure, mother's schooling, caregiver's age and type of dental service used.

Impact of untreated dental caries and dental pain on sadness related to oral health of Brazilian children

PURPOSE

Children should feel sad when they believe that a negative outcome is permanent. The sadness that an oral problem might bring tends to contribute to children's loneliness and increase the social stress levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of untreated dental caries, dental pain, malocclusion, and traumatic dental injury on prevalence of sadness related to oral health among Brazilian children.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out with 397 children aged 8-10 years randomly selected from public and private schools in Diamantina, Brazil. The Brazilian version of the CPQ_8-10 was applied. Sadness was collected through the question, "In the last month how often did you feel sad because of your teeth or mouth?" and dental pain through the question, "In the last month, how many times have you had pain in your teeth?" One calibrated examiner (Kappa value intra examiner: 0.77-0.91; Kappa value inter examiner: 0.80-1.00) performed the exam for dental caries (DMFT), malocclusion (DAI), and dental trauma (O'Brien). Parents answered questions addressing socioeconomic issues. Descriptive analyses, Chi-square test, and hierarchical Poisson regression models were performed (IC 95%; p < 0.05)."

RESULTS

The prevalence of sadness related to oral health was 30.5% (n = 121). Sadness related to oral health was associated with untreated dental caries (PR: 1.46; 95% CI 1.32-2.46; p = 0.001 ) and dental pain (PR: 2.91; 95% CI 2.00-4.22; p < 0.001). Other clinical variables analyzed (traumatic dental injury and malocclusion) were not significantly associated with sadness related to oral health.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with untreated dental caries and dental pain presented a higher report of sadness related to oral health.