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The aims of this study were to estimate the risk of caries in the permanent teeth at 12 years of age and to describe the diagnostic accuracy of caries patterns in the primary dentition at age 4 years to predict caries at age 12 years. A prospective cohort study followed children from birth to age 12 years in the city of São Leopoldo, Brazil. Sociodemographic variables were collected at birth and dental caries was measured at 4 and 12 years of age (n = 204). At 4 years, children were classified according to the presence of caries (cavitated and non-cavitated lesions), number of lesions, affected segment (anterior or posterior), and affected surface (occlusal, smooth or proximal). Prediction of permanent dentition caries occurrence (DMFT≥1) (primary outcome) involved Poisson regression with robust variance and standard diagnostic accuracy measures. The prevalence of caries at age 4 years (including non-cavitated lesions) and 12 years was 61.8% and 42.2%, respectively. All caries patterns in the primary dentition were associated with caries in the permanent dentition. In multivariable analysis, the strongest associations were carious lesions on primary posterior teeth (RR 2.2; 95% CI 1.5-3.2) and occlusal surfaces (RR 2.1; 95% CI 1.4-3.0). Among patterns evaluated, the presence of any tooth with caries (cavitated or non-cavitated) had the highest sensitivity (73%), but any tooth with cavitated decay had the highest accuracy (67%). In conclusion, any dental caries experience in early childhood is strongly predictive of dental caries experience in early adolescence. Primary dentition carious lesions on posterior teeth or occlusal surfaces and the presence of cavitated lesions were stronger predictors.

The aim of the present study was to compare the prevalence of dental caries between crack cocaine users and a control group. The study included 106 participants in each group matched for age, sex, and exposure to tobacco. Crack cocaine users were selected from institutions for the treatment of chemical dependency, and the control group was recruited from a public school and among patients who sought dental care. A calibrated examiner determined dental caries experience [Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index]. The severity of tooth decay was determined using the Significant Caries Index (SiC). The prevalence of dental caries (DMFT ≥ 1) was 96.2 and 81.1% among the crack cocaine users and nonusers, respectively. Crack users had higher mean DMFT values (7.16 versus 4.92) for the decayed and missing components as well as a higher percentage of individuals with highly severe caries compared to nonusers. After the adjustments in the multivariate model, the prevalence of caries was 18% higher among the crack users (prevalence ratio: 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.30). Age, family income, crack cocaine use, and dental calculus were associated with the occurrence of dental caries. In conclusion, the prevalence of caries was higher among the crack users compared with the control group and remained associated with dental caries in the multivariate analysis.

Background Evidence regarding the feelings evoked, distress caused, and the best way to conduct protective stabilization for the management of young children is lacking. Aim Describe the perceptions of mothers, psychologists, and pediatric dentists regarding the use of protective stabilization during the dental care of children up to three years of age attending a University Dental Clinic in southern Brazil. Design After watching a video of dental care involving the protective stabilization technique, individualized qualitative interviews were held with three groups [mothers (n = 5), psychologists (n = 7), and pediatric dentists (n = 4)] to investigate four categories of interest: importance of the technique, affective attitude, distress caused to the child, and participation of parents. After the transcription of the recorded comments, qualitative content analysis was performed. Results Protective stabilization generated emotional discomfort but was well accepted by all groups. All expressed the need to create a bond between the dentist and caregiver; and the active participation of the caregiver was considered fundamental. The mothers and psychologists rejected other options, such as passive restraint, general anesthesia, and sedation. Conclusion The three groups admitted having negative feelings, recognized the importance of protective stabilization, and suggested conditions for its use.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of morphological and attachment variations of the maxillary labial frenum (MLF) and associated factors in preschool children. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,313 children aged between zero and five years of age attending public nurseries in the city of Canoas in southern Brazil. Data were collected through a questionnaire addressing demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral characteristics and a clinical examination of the MLF. Assessments of MLF morphology and attachment were based on the classification systems proposed by Sewerin and Mirko et al., respectively. Results: The most prevalent patterns were simple MLF (63.8%) and gingival attachment (51.1%). Morphological abnormalities were found in 21.6% of the preschoolers and 25.4% exhibited abnormal frenal attachment. Abnormalities in MLF morphology were more prevalent among girls (p = 0.003) and a significant reduction was found with the increase in age (p < 0.001). Attachment abnormalities were significantly more prevalent among girls (p < 0.001), the white ethnic group (p = 0.005), and children who used a pacifier (p = 0.007) and also reduced significantly with the increase in age (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Demographic and behavioral characteristics were associated with MLF morphology and attachment. The reduction in the prevalence of the outcomes with the increase in age suggests that surgical interventions in the first years of life may constitute overtreatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different patterns of dental caries on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) throughout early childhood. This birth cohort study followed 277 children from southern Brazil for 6 years. Demographic and socioeconomic variables were collected at birth. At age 3 years, children's dental caries experience was quantified by the decayed, missing, or filled teeth (dmft) index. At age 6 years, parents answered the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). Poisson regression models were used to estimate associations between caries experience and later OHRQoL, presented as the ratio of ECOHIS scores between the groups. The prevalence of dental caries at 3 years of age was 37.5%. In children with caries, lesions only in anterior teeth, only in posterior teeth, and in both dental segments at age 3 were associated with age 6 ECOHIS scores that were 2.7, 7.8, and 6.2 times higher, respectively, than in children without dental caries experience. OHRQoL was worse among children with higher dmft scores. Dental caries lesions in posterior teeth by age 3 years was strongly predictive of adverse impacts on later OHRQoL, presumably as an indicator of continued disease experience in the intervening years.

Estimate the prevalence of developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in the primary dentition, describe the distribution among tooth groups and investigate the association with birth weight. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 827 children aged 2–5 years representative of the city of Canela in southern Brazil. Demographic characteristics (gender and age) and birth weight were collected from vaccination cards. The diagnosis of DDE was performed by six trained examiners following the criteria of the Federation Dentaire International. DDE were described both jointly and separately as opacity and hypoplasia. Statistical analysis involved the Chi square test, Mann–Whitney test and Poisson regression with robust variance. The prevalence of DDE was 55.1% (95% CI 51.6–58.5%), with a mean of 3.0 ± 2.2 teeth affected. Opacity was the more frequent defect (50.4%), followed by hypoplasia (15.5%). Distribution of the defects was uneven, with opacity predominant on second molars and hypoplasia predominant on canines and second molars. Children with a low birth weight did not have a greater probability of opacity (PR: 1.13; 95% CI 0.91–1.41), hypoplasia (PR: 1.33; 95% CI 0.80–2.22) or DDE (PR: 1.11; 95% CI 0.91–1.37). The prevalence of DDE was high, predominant on second molars and not associated with birth weight. These findings indicate directions for future examination/diagnosis protocols and specific orientations.

Early-life family conditions may presage caries development in childhood. The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between patterns of sugar consumption in early childhood and permanent dentition caries at age 6 years. A cohort enrolled women accessing prenatal care at public health clinics in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and dietary data were collected during pregnancy and 6-month, 12-month, and 3-year follow-ups. Calibrated dental examinations occurred at ages 3 and 6 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed in series to quantify associations between early-life variables and permanent dentition caries. At age 6 years, 7.9% of children (21/266) had ≥1 caries lesion on permanent teeth (first molars). In unadjusted models, gestational weight gain, sweet food introduction (age 6 months), household sugar purchases (age 3 years), and caries (age 3 years) were positively associated with permanent dentition caries (age 6 years). In multivariable models, each 1-kg increase in gestational weight gain (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.16) and each 1-item increase in sweet food consumption at age 6 months (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.59) remained statistically significantly associated with permanent molar caries. Findings from this cohort study suggest family and child factors that long predate the permanent dentition, including sugar-related behaviors, predict future dental status, and may inform prevention strategies.

The aim of this study was to investigate the intraoral distribution of untreated caries and tooth loss and estimate the impact of different socioeconomic factors on the occurrence of these outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 652 18-year-old male adolescents from the city of Sapucaia do Sul, Brazil, who conscripted for military service. The participants answered a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic variables. Two trained and calibrated examiners performed the clinical examinations for the diagnosis of dental caries using the criteria of the World Health Organization. Tooth group and adolescent were the units of analysis for the primary outcomes of the study. Poisson regression analysis with robust variance was performed, with the calculation of crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The prevalence of caries experience and untreated caries was 70.2% and 39.3%, respectively, and 9.4% of the adolescents had missing teeth. Sixty-seven percent of the untreated caries and 98.8% of missing teeth were in first molars. The probability of dental caries and tooth loss was significantly higher among adolescents with less schooling (PR = 2.56; 95%CI: 1.97–3.32 and PR = 3.28; 95%CI: 1.61–6.65, respectively) and those whose mothers had less schooling (PR = 1.31; 95%CI: 1.03–1.67 and PR = 2.30; 95%CI: 1.18–4.50, respectively). In conclusion, the occurrence of untreated dental caries and tooth loss was concentrated in the first molars of adolescents. Moreover, the prevalence of both conditions was higher among adolescents with low schooling and whose mothers had low schooling, reflecting the strong intraoral and socioeconomic polarization of these outcomes.

Identifying the risk factors for dental caries is vital in epidemiology and clinical practices for developing effective preventive strategies, both, at the individual and collective levels. Different causality/determination models have been proposed to understand the development process of dental caries. In the present review, we designed a model inspired by the world-known social determinants models proposed in the 90s and more recently in the 10s, wherein the contextual factors are placed more externally and encompass the individual factors. The contextual factors included those related to the cultural and societal values, as well as the social and health government policies. The individual factors were classified into the following categories: socioeconomic (social class, occupation, income, and education level), demographic characteristics (age, sex, and ethnicity), behavioral factors (non-use of fluoride dentifrice, sugar consumption, poor oral hygiene, and lack of preventive dental care), and biological factors (recent caries experience/active caries lesions, biofilm retentive factors, developmental defects of the enamel, disabilities, saliva amount and quality, cariogenic biofilm). Each of these variables was addressed, while focusing on the current evidence from studies conducted in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACC). Based on the proposed model, educational aspects were addressed, and individual caries risk assessment and management decisions were proposed; further, implications for public health policies and clinical practice were described. The identification of modifiable risk factors for dental caries should be the basis for multi-strategy actions that consider the diversity of Latin American communities.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of a training program for health workers regarding infant feeding practices to reduce sugar consumption in children. Design A cluster randomized trial was conducted at 20 health centers in southern Brazil randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 9) or control (n = 11) group. Participants The 715 pregnant women enrolled were assessed when their children were aged 6 months, 3 years, and 6 years. Intervention A training session for primary care workers based on the Brazilian National Guidelines for Children. Main Outcome Measure Mothers were asked when sugar was first offered to children. Added sugars intake was obtained from dietary recalls. Analysis The effectiveness of the intervention was modeled using generalized estimation equations and Poisson regression with robust variance. Results Children attending intervention health centers had a 27% reduced risk of sugar introduction before 4 months of age (relative risk, 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.87) as well as lower added sugars consumption (difference, −6.36 g/d; 95% CI, −11.49 to −1.23) and total daily energy intake (difference, −116.90 kcal/d; 95% CI, −222.41 to −11.40) at 3 years of age. Conclusions and Implications Health care worker training in infant feeding guidelines may be an effective intervention to delay the introduction of added sugars and lower the subsequent intake of added sugars in infants and toddlers.

Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are highly prevalent among children and adolescents throughout the world and exert negative impacts on affected individuals, families, and society. In the present chapter, we perform an in-depth analysis of aspects related to the prevalence, etiology, risk factors, preventive measures, and treatment of TDI in the primary and permanent dentition from an epidemiological standpoint. The network of causality of TDI involves contextual and individual factors. The consistently demonstrated risk factors are the male gender and accentuated overjet, with psychosocial and behavioral characteristics also reported. Recent studies have demonstrated the impact of TDI in both dentitions on oral health-related quality of life, highlighting this problem as an important issue for epidemiological research. The diversity of tooth injuries and difficulty in obtaining informed consent during immediate care are a considerable challenge to the planning and conduction of randomized clinical trials on this topic and constitute a barrier to the development of evidence-based prevention and treatment protocols. Nonetheless, preventive actions and treatment protocols have been suggested for different tooth injuries based on cohort studies and systematic reviews of observational studies.

Birth cohorts are those among observational studies that provide understanding of the natural history and causality of diseases since early in life. Discussions during an International Association for Dental Research symposium in London, United Kingdom, in 2018, followed by a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2019, concluded that there are few birth cohort studies that consider oral health and that a broader discussion on similarities and differences among those studies would be valuable. This article aims to 1) bring together available long-term data of oral health birth cohort studies from the low, middle, and high-income countries worldwide and 2) describe similarities and differences among these studies. This work comprises 15 studies from all 5 continents. The most studied dental conditions and exposures are identified; findings are summarized; and methodological differences and similarities among studies are presented. Methodological strengths and weaknesses are also highlighted. Findings are summarized in 1) the negative impact of detrimental socioeconomic status on oral health changes over time, 2) the role of unfavorable patterns of dental visiting on oral health, 3) associations between general and oral health, 4) nutritional and dietary effects on oral health, and 5) intergenerational influences on oral health. Dental caries and dental visiting patterns have been recorded in all studies. Sources of fluoride exposure have been documented in most of the more recent studies. Despite some methodological differences in the way that the exposures and outcomes were measured, some findings are consistent. Predictive models have been used with caries risk tools, periodontitis occurrence, and permanent dentition orthodontic treatment need. The next steps of the group’s work are as follows: 1) establishing a consortium of oral health birth cohort studies, 2) conducting a scoping review, 3) exploring opportunities for pooled data analyses to answer pressing research questions, and 4) promoting and enabling the development of the next generation of oral health researchers.

Objective: To investigate risk factors for pacifier use in the first year of life. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted with children enrolled at birth in Porto Alegre, S...

Background Sugar consumption in early childhood is the primary cause of negative health outcomes, including early childhood caries. Aim To investigate risk factors associated with early-life sugar consumption. Design Explanatory variables were collected at baseline of a birth cohort in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. At six months of age, data were collected on child feeding practices, including the number of foods and beverages containing sugar. Multivariate Poisson regression analysis with robust variance was performed. Results Virtually all children (98.3%) had consumed sugar by the age of 6 months. Multivariable analysis showed that the number of sweet items was significantly larger in children whose mothers were less than 20 years of age (MR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.05-1.36), those from non-nuclear families (MR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.04-1.20), those whose mothers had less than eight years of schooling (MR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.20-1.50) and those whose mothers smoked (MR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.13-1.35). Moreover, the number of sweet items was significantly lower among children who breastfed in the first hour of life (MR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.76-0.95). Conclusion Sugar consumption begins very early, especially in children with no access to breastfeeding in the first hours of life and those from younger, less educated, and smoking mothers.

Background: Environmental issues lead to serious health problems in young growing children. This study aims to determine the association between a country's level of environmental health, ecosystem vitality, and prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC).Methods: This was an ecological study. The data for the explanatory variables—country-level environmental performance index (EPI), environmental health, and ecosystem vitality—were obtained from the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy. The outcome variables were country-level prevalence of ECC in 0- to 2-year-old and 3- to 5-year-old children. The country EPI, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality were matched with country ECC prevalence for 0- to 2-year-olds and 3- to 5-year-olds for the period of 2007 to 2017. Differences in the variables by country income level were determined using ANOVA. Multivariate ANOVA was used to determine the association between ECC prevalence in 0- to 2-year-olds and 3- to 5-year-olds, and EPI, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality, adjusting for each country's per-capita gross national income.Results: Thirty-seven countries had complete data on ECC in 0- to 2-year-old and 3- to 5-year-old children, EPI, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality scores. There were significant differences in ECC prevalence of 0- to 2-year-olds and 3- to 5-year-olds between countries with different income levels. Also, there were significant differences in EPI (P < 0.0001), environmental health score (P < 0.0001), and ecosystem vitality (P = 0.01) score by country income levels. High-income countries had significantly higher EPI scores than did low-income countries (P = 0.001), lower-middle-income countries (P < 0.0001), and upper-middle-income countries (P < 0.0001). There was an inverse non-significant relationship between ECC prevalence and EPI in 0- to 2-year-olds (B = −0.06; P = 0.84) and 3- to 5-year-olds (B = −0.30; P = 0.50), and ecosystem vitality in 0- to 2-year-olds (B = −0.55, P = 0.08) and 3- to 5-year-olds (B = −0.96; P = 0.02). Environmental health was directly and non-significantly associated with ECC in 0- to 2-year-olds (B = 0.20; P = 0.23) and 3- to 5-year-olds (B = 0.22; P = 0.32).Conclusions: There was a complex relationship between various indicators of environmental performance and ECC prevalence. The association with EPI and ecosystem vitality was inverse whereas the association with environmental health was direct. Only the inverse association with ecosystem vitality in 3–5 year old children was significant. There may be higher risk of ECC with greater economic development, industrialization, and urbanization, while better ecosystem vitality may offer protection against ECC through the rational use of resources, healthy life choices, and preventive health practices.

The most recent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - COVID-19 - caused by coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2) has high-virulence transmission and direct human contagiousness by proximity. Thus, the considerable occupational risk in pediatric dentistry is evident, given the nature and form of procedures performed in an outpatient setting. Thus, the aim of this paper was to identify and contextualize technical and scientific information available to date aimed at preventing and minimizing risks for patients, caregivers and professionals. The results indicate that protective measures are being developed considering procedures according to risks and benefits, and five points stand out: 1. Regulation of resumption of elective procedures, screening and scheduling patients; 2. Restructuring clinical environment and infection control; 3. Improvement of personal protective equipment and biosafety recommendations; 4. Maximization of the use of non-invasive techniques, use of high-powered dental suction, and absolute isolation of the operative field; and 5. Minimization of the use of air-water syringe, dental spittoon and high-speed handpiece. The measures to be taken require reflection for the restart of a “new clinical practice”, especially aiming at behavioral and structural changes regarding operational biosafety.

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is prevalent around the world, but in particular the disease is growing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries in parallel with changing diet and lifestyles. In many countries, ECC is often left untreated, a condition which leads to pain and adversely affects general health, growth and development, and quality of life of children, their families and their communities. Importantly, ECC is also a global public health burden, medically, socially and economically. In many countries, a substantial number of children require general anaesthesia for the treatment of caries in their primary teeth (usually extractions), and this has considerable cost and social implications. A WHO Global Consultation with oral health experts on "Public Health Intervention against Early Childhood Caries" was held on 26-28 January 2016 in Bangkok (Thailand) to identify public health solutions and to highlight their applicability to low- and middle-income countries. After a 3-day consultation, participants agreed on specific recommendations for further action. National health authorities should develop strategies and implement interventions aimed at preventing and controlling ECC. These should align with existing international initiatives such as the Sixtieth World Health Assembly Resolution WHA 60.17 Oral health: action plan for promotion and integrated disease prevention, WHO Guideline on Sugars and WHO breastfeeding recommendation. ECC prevention and control interventions should be integrated into existing primary healthcare systems. WHO public health principles must be considered when tackling the effect of social determinants in ECC. Initiatives aimed at modifying behaviour should focus on families and communities. The involvement of communities in health promotion, and population-directed and individual fluoride administration for the prevention and control of ECC is essential. Surveillance and research, including cost-effectiveness studies, should be conducted to evaluate interventions aimed at preventing ECC in different population groups.

Objective: To analyze the bibliometric profile of articles published in the Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clinica Integrada (PBOCI). Material and Methods: In this documental study, two trained examiners independently assessed the abstracts of all articles published between 2007 and 2017. Articles were categorized according to the study design, dental specialty and institutional affiliation of the main author. The full article was read whenever the abstract did not allow its classification. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the absolute and relative frequencies. Results: In total, 670 articles were identified, with predominance of publications in the areas of Pediatric Dentistry (33.3%), Community Health (18.7%) and Restorative Dentistry (12.2%). The most used designs were cross-sectional (58.3%), especially in the areas of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Health; and laboratory studies (25.7%), mainly in the areas of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics. The Brazilian universities that most published in the Journal were the Federal University of Paraiba (9.7%), followed by the State University of Sao Paulo (6.4%) and University of Sao Paulo (6%), characterizing predominance of the Southeastern and Northeastern regions. The publications of authors with international affiliation represented 9.1%. The distribution among nations reveals studies from countries such as India (34.5%), Nigeria (14.8%), Bosnia (11.5%) and Iran (8.2%). Conclusion: PBOCI has provided Brazilian and foreign researchers the opportunity to disseminate studies in all areas of Dentistry, but studies in the fields of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Health are predominant. The most frequent designs were cross-sectional and laboratorial, and in relation to foreign participation, there is predominance of research from countries such as India, Nigeria and Bosnia.

Breastfeeding is a powerful health-promoting behavior. A 2016 Lancet global collaboration to review the health implications of breastfeeding was among the first to consider oral health outcomes. While a role was suggested for breastfeeding in preventing malocclusion, caries was the only included disease condition unfavorably associated with breastfeeding. The present critical review examines the evidence connecting breastfeeding practices to these outcomes and discusses the methodological challenges inherent in reaching causal conclusions. Published systematic reviews show some evidence of a protective effect of breastfeeding against primary dentition malocclusion but no supportive evidence for mixed dentition and permanent dentition malocclusions. Regarding caries, well-conducted studies report a benefit with breastfeeding up to 12 mo but a positive association between caries and breastfeeding of longer duration, at times that vary between 12 and 24 mo, as well as nocturnal feeding. Future studies would be methodologically stronger if focused on specific malocclusion traits that are plausibly associated with sucking movements rather than using general malocclusion indices. Studies should use detailed and consistent terminology for breastfeeding definition, including frequency, intensity, and timing. Analytical studies should be carried out to distinguish between confounders (e.g., prematurity) and mediators (e.g., use of pacifier). Regarding a link to caries, standard terminology for exposures (e.g., nocturnal feeding) is recommended. Statistical analyses must account for known confounding factors (e.g., socioeconomic conditions) but avoid inappropriate adjustment for variables on a causal path between exposure and outcome or for variables not associated with breastfeeding (e.g., tooth brushing), as can be guided using tools such as direct acyclic graphs. For dental practice, the potential caries risk of long-duration breastfeeding should be part of individual patient counseling that incorporates patient values and circumstances. Given the unquestioned overall health benefits of breastfeeding, the dental community should support World Health Organization guidelines that encourage and promote breastfeeding.

Objective: To investigate the association between malocclusion/dentofacial anomalies and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in adolescents. Materials and Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study comprised 509 adolescents aged 11 to 14 years enrolled at public schools in the city of Osório, southern Brazil. Parents answered a structured questionnaire addressing demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. An examiner who had undergone a training and calibration exercise recorded malocclusion/dentofacial anomalies (Dental Aesthetic Index, DAI), TDI (Andreasen), and dental caries (World Health Organisation). Statistical analyses (SPSS software) involved Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: The prevalence of TDI was 11.6%, and the prevalence of defined, severe, and handicapping malocclusion was 24.0%, 21.6%, and 22.0%, respectively. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the probability of TDI was approximately twofold higher among adolescents with severe malocclusion (prevalence ratio [PR] 2.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–4.31) and handicapping malocclusion (PR 1.95; 95% CI 1.01–3.85) in comparison to those with normal occlusion or minor malocclusion. Defined malocclusion was not significantly associated with the outcome. Among the dentofacial anomalies evaluated, the probability of TDI was nearly twofold higher among adolescents with overjet greater than 3 mm (PR 1.96; 95% CI 1.14–3.37) and 2.2-fold higher among those with an abnormal molar relationship (PR 2.24; 95% CI 1.17–4.32), after controlling for confounding variables. Conclusions: Severe and handicapping malocclusion, accentuated overjet, and abnormal molar relationship were strongly associated with the occurrence of TDI. Future studies should investigate whether the treatment of these conditions can help reduce the occurrence of TDI in adolescents.

Objective To compare counts of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum between crack users and non-users. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving seventy-four crack cocaine users and eighty-one non-users matched for age, gender and tobacco use. Demographic and clinical variables were analysed. Subgingival bacterial samples were collected from four sites with the greatest probing depths and were analysed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results No significant difference was found in the prevalence of total counts for each bacterial species analysed between groups. However, crack users had a 1.85 (95% CI: 1.03–3.31), 2.19 (95% CI 1.24–3.88), 2.53 (95% CI 1.27–5.04) and 2.40 (95% CI 1.22–4.75) greater probability of having the higher counts (≥75th percentile) for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum, respectively. Conclusion Although some crack users had higher (>75th percentile) bacterial counts for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum, total counts did not differ between crack users and non-users, leading to the hypothesis that the higher occurrence of periodontitis on crack users may be related to other non-bacterial factors.

Crack cocaine can alter functions related to the immune system and exert a negative influence on progression and severity of periodontitis. The aim of this study is to compare periodontal status between crack cocaine users and crack cocaine non-users and investigate the association between crack cocaine and periodontitis after adjustments for confounding variables.This cross-sectional study evaluated 106 individuals exposed to crack cocaine and 106 never exposed, matched for age, sex, and tobacco use. An examiner determined visible plaque index (VPI), marginal bleeding index, supragingival dental calculus, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Logistic regression was used to model associations between crack cocaine and periodontitis (at least three sites with CAL4 mm and at least two sites with PD3 mm, not in the same site or tooth).Prevalence of periodontitis among crack non-users and crack users was 20.8% and 43.4%, respectively. Crack users had greater VPI, BOP, PD ≥3 mm, and CAL ≥4 mm than crack non-users. Periodontitis was associated with age24 years, schooling ≤8 years, smoking, moderate/heavy alcohol use, and plaque rate ≥41%. Crack users had an approximately three-fold greater chance (odds ratio: 3.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.51 to 7.86) of periodontitis than non-users.Occurrence of periodontitis, visible plaque, and gingival bleeding was significantly higher among crack users, and crack use was associated with occurrence of periodontitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM Enamel fractures are the most common type of traumatic dental injury (TDI) in children and adolescents. Recognizing the impact of these fractures on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) could contribute to the establishment of treatment protocols. The aim of this study was to assess and quantify the impact of enamel fractures on overall OHRQoL and domain scores in adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 775 adolescents aged 11 to 14 years in the city of Santo Ângelo in southern Brazil. Sociodemographic variables were collected from parents/caregivers using a structured questionnaire. The adolescents answered the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14 ). Physical examinations were performed by an examiner who had undergone training and calibration exercises for the investigation of TDI (Andreasen criteria), dental caries (WHO criteria), and malocclusion (Dental Aesthetic Index). Data analysis involved Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS The prevalence of TDI was 11.9% and enamel fractures accounted for 79.3% of all injuries. In the multivariate analysis, adolescents with enamel fractures had 29% higher CPQ11-14 scores (worse OHRQoL) than those without TDI, even after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical variables (mean ratio = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.09-1.53; P = .003). Enamel fractures exerted a negative impact on the functional limitation, emotional well-being, and social well-being domains. CONCLUSIONS Enamel fractures exert a negative impact on the OHRQoL of adolescents, suggesting that subjective measures should be incorporated in the evaluation of patients with this traumatic injury.

BACKGROUND/AIM Knowledge of factors influencing the occurrence of crown discoloration following traumatic dental injuries in primary teeth and understanding its possible consequences can help dentists to provide appropriate care. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the incidence of crown discoloration following trauma in primary teeth. This study also estimated the risk of pulp necrosis with subsequent infection of the root canal system and pulp canal obliteration in discolored teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS Records of children treated at the specialized trauma center of the Federal University of Pelotas during a period of 10 years were analyzed. Patient details including the type of injury, presence of crown discoloration, pulp necrosis, and pulp canal obliteration were collected. Photographs of teeth with crown discoloration were assessed to evaluate the color presented (yellow or dark). Chi-square tests and Poisson regression were used for data analyses (P < .05). RESULTS A total of 355 children with 628 traumatized teeth were included in the study. The incidence of crown discoloration was 27.9%, and 20.5% of the teeth were affected. Discoloration was higher in children whose age at the time of trauma was 2-4 years (P = .020), and it was associated with the type of injury (P = .019). Discolored teeth had a twofold risk of pulp necrosis and subsequent infection of the root canal system (RR 1.98 95% CI 1.42-276; P < .001) and a higher risk of pulp canal obliteration (RR 8.47; 95% CI 4.95-14.51; P < .001) than did teeth without discoloration. Teeth with dark and yellow discoloration were significantly associated with pulp necrosis and pulp canal obliteration, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the importance of monitoring traumatized primary teeth with crown discoloration, particularly those appearing darker, owing to their higher risk of pulp necrosis and subsequent infection of the root canal system.

Background: This paper is a summary of the proceedings of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry Bangkok Conference on early childhood caries (ECC) held in 3-4 November 2018. Aim: The paper aims to convey a global perspective of ECC definitions, aetiology, risk factors, societal costs, management, educational curriculum, and policy. Design: This global perspective on ECC is the compilation of the state of science, current concepts, and literature regarding ECC from worldwide experts on ECC. Results: Early childhood caries is related to frequent sugar consumption in an environment of enamel adherent, acid-producing bacteria in a complex biofilm, as well as developmental defects of enamel. The seriousness, societal costs, and impact on quality of life of dental caries in pre-school children are enormous. Worldwide data show that ECC continues to be highly prevalent, yet infrequently treated. Approaches to reduce the prevalence include interventions that start in the first year of a child's life, evidence-based and risk-based management, and reimbursement systems that foster preventive care. Conclusions: This global perspective on ECC epidemiology, aetiology, risk assessment, global impact, and management is aimed to foster improved worldwide understanding and management of ECC.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify factors associated with the occurrence of distoclusion among preschool children in southern Brazil. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 1026 children aged two to five years enrolled at public preschools in the city of Canoas, Southern Brazil. Interviews were held with parents/caregivers to acquire demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral data. Six examiners who had undergone a training and calibration exercise performed the oral examinations. Distoclusion was recorded when the cusp of the maxillary canine was in an anterior relation to the distal surface of the mandibular canine during centric occlusion. Statistical analysis involved simple and multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: The prevalence of distoclusion was 36.5% (375/1026). This condition was more frequent in younger children, those classified as white or brown, those who were breastfed for a shorter period of time, those who used a pacifier and those who were bottle fed. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the likelihood of exhibiting distoclusion was greater among two-year-olds (P=0.038), three-year-olds (P=0.023), those classified as white (P=0.016), those who used a pacifier (P

Objetivo: investigar a prevalência e os fatores asso­ciados ao uso de chupeta em pré-escolares. Sujeitos e método: estudo transversal foi realizado com 1.316 crianças de 0 até 5 anos de idade no município de Ca­noas, no Rio Grande do Sul. O instrumento de pesquisa foi um questionário semiestruturado respondido pelos responsáveis sobre características sociodemográficas (sexo, cor da pele, idade da criança e materna, esco­laridade materna, estrutura e renda familiar) e compor­tamentais (uso da mamadeira e aleitamento materno). O desfecho foi presença/ausência de uso de chupeta. A análise estatística compreendeu regressão de Poisson com variância robusta bruta e ajustada. Resultados: a prevalência de uso de chupeta em algum momento da vida foi de 68,1%. A análise multivariável ajustada mostrou que crianças que usaram mamadeira tiveram três vezes maior prevalência do desfecho (RP: 3,21; IC95% 2,25-4,59; p

This chapter aims to address the aspects involved in the relationship between dietary practices and dental caries, such as early introduction of sucrose, frequency and quantity of free sugars consumed. These concepts will be illustrated by previous community experiences in promoting healthy eating practices that have been proposed to prevent dental caries. Additionally, this chapter will address the role of oral hygiene in biofilm control with special emphasis to oral hygiene counselling as a strategy with potential to contribute to the prevention and control of carious lesions. Guidelines for promoting healthy eating practices and oral hygiene will be discussed according to each stage of child growth and development, always recognising the role of the family and the environment throughout the process. In this way, we intend to contribute to the understanding of the aetiology of dental caries as well as in the elaboration and implementation of strategies for prevention and control of the disease.

Background Early-life dental service utilization could improve child dental health. Aim Identify contextual, socioeconomic, and child characteristics associated with dental visitation by age 3 years. Design Within a Brazilian birth cohort (N = 435), multivariable regression models were fitted to identify independent predictors of having made a dental visit at age 3 years. Contextual variables considered included health center type (Traditional vs. Family Health Strategy, which perform home visits) and composition of oral health teams at the heath center where mothers accessed prenatal care. Results Dental visitation was positively associated with Family Health Strategy health centers (36% vs. 23%) and with higher maternal education and family social class. Visitation was lowest among families served by a health center without a dentist, but number of dentists and oral health team composition were not associated with visitation among facilities with ≥1 dentists. Dental visitation was not statistically significantly associated with caries experience but was higher if parents reported worse oral health-related quality of life. The vast majority of dental decay remained untreated. Conclusions Dental visits were underutilized, and socioeconomic inequalities were evident. Dental visitation was more common when mothers received prenatal care at Family Health Strategy health centers, suggesting a possible oral health benefit.

The global Early Childhood Caries (ECC) burden is of concern to the World Health Organisation (WHO), but the quantification of this burden and risk is unclear, partly due to difficulties in accessing young children for population surveys and partly due to diagnostic criteria for ECC experience. The WHO criterion for caries diagnosis is the late stage event of dentine cavitation. Earlier stages of the caries lesion are clinically detectable and should be registered earlier in the life of children and arrested/remineralized before lesions progress to the cavitation stage. A protocol for ECC diagnosis is proposed to guide those engaged in clinical dentistry in their characterization of the ECC lesion. As management of early lesions is a critical step to reduce risk of their progression to later stage lesions, a practical method for assessing ECC risk is proposed also. Risk assessment is very important because it determines (a) urgency for interventions aimed to arrest lesion progression; (b) the frequency of such interventions and (c) the need to enhance the primary prevention of ECC. The guidelines are set out separately for ECC diagnosis for ongoing clinical care and for epidemiologic purposes. Similarly, guidelines are set out for ECC risk assessment and ongoing monitoring.