A 24-month retrospective study of preformed metal crowns: the Hall technique versus the conventional preparation method

PURPOSE

Conventional and Hall Technique (HT) Preformed Metal Crowns (PMCs) are used for treatment of carious primary molars. The aim was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic success of conventional and HT PMCs in a postgraduate dental setting.

METHODS

A retrospective study using patients' electronic case-notes and radiographic images of carious primary molars treated with either conventional or HT PMCs was conducted to assess clinical and radiographic success/failure. A Kaplan-Meier curve was used to assess PMC survival.

RESULTS

187 PMCs (110 HT and 77 conventional) in 65 children (34 females and 31 males) at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months were assessed. At 24 months, the success rates of conventional and HT PMCs were 97.6% and 93.5%, respectively. Two HT (perforated/abscessed) and four conventional (abscessed) PMCs failures occurred. There was no significant difference in success/failure (p = 0.362) at 12 months, but the HT was more successful at 24 months (p = 0.002) with similar survival times for both methods.

CONCLUSION

HT and conventionally placed PMCs, when placed in a postgraduate paediatric dentistry setting, were clinically and radiographically very successful at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post operatively with a slightly higher success of the HT at 24 months.

Oral health problems in leukaemic paediatric patients in the United Arab Emirates: a retrospective study

AIM

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of oral health problems in leukaemic paediatric patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and correlate it to the phase of chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records of 120 paediatric leukaemic patients (age below 15 years) in the UAE were reviewed for the occurrence of oral health problems. Records from the three main hospitals that provide cancer therapy were accessed after obtaining the required permissions.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of oral health problems in leukaemic patients in our study is 60%. The most common oral health problem recorded in the patients’ records was oral mucositis and ulceration (52.4%) followed by dental caries and oral candidiasis accounting for 18.3% and 14.2% respectively. Other oral health problems recorded were gingivitis and gingival bleeding, herpetic gingivostomatitis, poor oral hygiene, and facial palsy. The peak occurrence of most oral problems was during phase IV (maintenance). Oral health problems were more common among patients who received treatment and follow-up locally rather than abroad.

STATISTICS

Collected data were analysed using statistical software International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 20, Chicago, SPSS Inc). Descriptive statistics were performed to describe the characteristics of the study population. The association between oral health problems and other risk factors was analysed using the Chi-squared test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to describe oral health problems and its correlation to the phase of chemotherapy in leukaemic paediatric patients in the UAE. Oral health problems as a result of leukaemia and its management are both variable and unavoidable. Therefore, oral and dental care is of critical importance in maintaining the overall wellbeing of the patient before, during, and after treatment. This can be achieved by close liaison between the oncology and dental teams.

Dentists' knowledge of the guidelines of traumatic dental injuries in the United Arab Emirates

AIM

This study aimed to assess general dental practitioners' (GDPs) knowledge within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding the management of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), and to compare their level of knowledge with that of paediatric dentists (PDs).

METHODS

Dentists were asked to complete a two-part questionnaire (seven questions covering demographic data and 13 questions about trauma cases scenarios) in electronic and paper format. A total of 296 returned questionnaires were analysed to identify GDPs' knowledge in managing TDIs, and to compare the score of GDPs' knowledge with that of PDs'.

RESULTS

Out of a total score of 13, the mean knowledge score (MKnS) for GDPs was 4.87±1.82 (only 37.5% of the 13 questions were answered correctly) while the MKnS of paediatric dentists was 5.56±1.47 (with 42.8% correct answers); both scores indicated poor knowledge and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

There was poor knowledge of TDIs among the surveyed UAE GDPs as well as the PDs, although PDs scored higher, indicating the need for further training.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of primary teeth caries studies in Gulf Cooperation Council States

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of dental caries in pre-school children in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area.

METHODS

A search of literature was conducted to identify articles of dental caries in primary dentitions published during the period from January 1st, 1992 to June 30th, 2016. PubMed, Google Scholar search, and hand searching of journals was conducted to identify relevant articles. The search strategy employed both dental subject headings and free-text terms.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 193 studies that fit the initial inclusion criteria, 159 studies were further excluded. Only 34 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analyses. The overall mean dmft in the primary teeth was 5.14 with prevalence of 80.9% in the GCC area. A high level of heterogeneity in the selected studies was found as demonstrated by Q-value of 2538.501 (df = 21) and I2 value of 99.17%. However, the funnel plots showed symmetrical shape at the bottom in both dmft and prevalence studies indicating absence of publication bias, which was also confirmed by insignificant result of Egger's regression statistical test (Egger's test P = 0.179-0.358).

CONCLUSION

Caries in the primary dentition in the GCC States was high both in terms of mean dmft (5.14) and prevalence (80.95%).

Oral health challenges facing Dubai children with Autism Spectrum Disorder at home and in accessing oral health care

AIM

To investigate the challenges faced by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children and their families in Dubai from three different perspectives of dental care: oral care at home, oral care at the dentist and access to oral care, and to compare the results to their normally developing peers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case-control comparative study of 84 ASD and 53 healthy children attending special needs centres and schools in Dubai including siblings of the autistic children. Data collection was by a survey questionnaire completed by parents or guardians.

RESULTS

More parents of ASD children compared to parents of healthy children reported difficulties across almost all oral care variables explored. The majority of ASD children's parents (83.3%) reported that their children need assistance in brushing their teeth compared with 15.4% of the healthy controls (p-value < 0.001). The ASD children's uncooperative behaviour increased during dental visits and significantly more parents (37%) rated their child's experience as negative compared with 9.5% among the parents of control children (p-value=0.006). The autistic children had visited a dentist mostly for extractions.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that autistic children in Dubai experience more challenges and barriers to oral care than their typically developing healthy peers.

Assessment of the knowledge of United Arab Emirates dentists of Child Maltreatment, protection and safeguarding

AIM

Child safeguarding is society's responsibility. Dentists are uniquely positioned to recognise Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) in dental practice and the wider society. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) introduced a child protection law in 2016. We aimed to assess the awareness of UAE dentists of child maltreatment, protection and safeguarding. Study Design A cross-sectional survey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We surveyed 381 UAE dentists about the knowledge and practice of CAN and safeguarding issues using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation test and statistical significance was set as p <0.05.

RESULTS

Over 39 % (n=152) of the responders suspected CAN; male dentists suspected more CAN than females (p=0.015). Orthodontists, paediatric dentists (p<0.001) and female dentists (p=0.001) were more knowledgeable about diagnosing CAN. Paediatric dentists attended more CAN-related postgraduate training (p<0.001) than other specialties. Over 90% (n=346) believed that CAN should be addressed, 58.1% (n=224) and 54.1% (n=206) had CAN undergraduate and postgraduate training respectively but 53.5% (n=204) were unaware of local child protection guidelines. Dentists barriers to child protection reporting were; fear of family violence (59.6%, n=227), lack of knowledge of referral process (60.2%, n=228) and lack of diagnosis certainty (54.9%, n=206). UAE dentists qualified in Western and Asian countries had fewer barriers for child protection reporting (p=0.022) than the Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council qualified dentists.

CONCLUSIONS

A large minority of UAE dentists suspected CAN. Factors influencing child protection reporting were identified. Dentists' gender, specialty, and country of qualification affected their knowledge of CAN and practice of safeguarding. Child protection training is recommended.