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Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine adolescents' knowledge regarding e-cigarettes and e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), and (2) describe common misconceptions regarding e-cigarette use. Methods: Adolescents aged 13 to 19 years were recruited in pediatric dental clinics and completed a survey questionnaire regarding their knowledge of e-cigarettes. Results: A total of 66 adolescents participated. Forty-seven adolescents indicated knowledge of e-cigarettes. Forty adolescents recognized that most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, and 49 adolescents reported knowledge of EVALI cases. Adolescents had knowledge of possible lung damage from e-cigarette use. Adolescents also had misconceptions about e-cigarettes containing nicotine and them being less addictive than other tobacco products. Conclusions: Adolescents were aware of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury cases, and the majority of them viewed e-cigarette use as harmful to their health. However, some adolescents had misconceptions regarding the safety of e-cigarette use. Oral health providers should recognize that they play an important role in identifying risky behaviors amongst adolescents, incorporate adolescent-specific risk assessments into their clinical practice, and be comfortable providing anticipatory guidance about e-cigarette and nicotine use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the safety of nitrous oxide (N2O) during dental procedures in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: Patients three to 15 years of age received N2O with oxygen (N2O:O2) during their dental procedure in a university pediatric dental clinic between March 2019 and December 2020. Blood oxygen levels were monitored via pulse oximetry throughout the visit. Caregivers received a follow-up call to assess for postoperative complications. Results: Twenty-three patients were enrolled. The duration of N2O sedation was 20 to 50 minutes. Oxygenation levels during (P<0.001) and after (P=0.004) the procedure were higher than for baseline. No adverse effects were reported in the three days after N2O use. Conclusions: Following dental guidelines for sedation, treatment with up to a 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide with oxygen increased blood oxygen levels and did not cause postoperative complications in children with sickle cell disease. This is the first formal study confirming the safety of nitrous oxide use in the dental care of SCD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the association between food insecurity and dental caries in US children aged 1-19 years.Methods: Data from children ages 1-19 collected through the 2013/2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was analyzed. Descriptive analysis of both the exposure (food insecurity) and outcome variables (dental caries), as well as covariates, was carried out. Strata-specific odds ratios and respective 95 percent confidence intervals for each covariate were determined, followed by linear regression models.Results: The odd of having dental caries was 2.9 times higher for children who had very low food security. The odds of having dental caries was 2.6 times higher for children aged 6-11, 2.9 times higher for children aged 12-15, and 4.2 times higher for children aged 16-19 when compared to children aged 1-5.Conclusions: There is a significant association between food insecurity and dental caries in children and dental caries prevalence increases with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine if caregivers' race and ethnicity impact their willingness to accept passive immobilization for their child's dental treatment and to determine if a detailed description of passive immobilization will make caregivers more likely to accept the technique. Methods: Caregivers of one- to 11-year-old patients were recruited in a university pediatric dental clinic. They completed two surveys and reviewed a written and pictorial description of passive immobilization. Results: A total of 266 caregivers participated. Subjects were willing to accept passive immobilization at the following percentages by race/ethnicity: Hispanic (84 percent); African American (66 percent); Asian (50 percent); and non-Hispanic Caucasian (24 percent). There was a significant association between a caregiver's race and ethnicity and the willingness to consent to passive immobilization (P=.000), and in willingness to accept passive immobilization after reviewing its detailed description (P=.000). Conclusion: Differences in acceptance of passive immobilization were observed based upon race and ethnicity. African American and Hispanic caregivers were more willing to accept the technique than their Asian and non-Hispanic Caucasian counterparts. Caregivers were more likely to accept the use of passive immobilization after they were given more information about the technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of radiographically identifiable developmental dental anomalies (DDA) in a university-based pediatric dental clinic and to assess for associations between DDA and health status. Methods: Retrospective data, obtained from the electronic dental records of a three-year pediatric patient cohort, were evaluated by two trained and calibrated examiners. Strict inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. A validated image quality grading system was used for radiograph assessment, and the physical status classification of the American Academy of Anesthesiology was utilized. A chi-square test and bivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. The inter- and intraexaminer reliability was assessed using Cohen's Kappa. Results: A total of 1,478 subjects (69 percent medically healthy) were enrolled. DDA were identified in 25 percent of the subjects, with hyperdontia, hypodontia, and microdontia being more common. A statistically significant association was found between the presence of DDA and health status (P<0.001) and between DDA and asthma (P=0.035). Patients with systemic disturbances showed 2.12 times greater odds of having DDA (P<0.001, 95 percent confidence interval equals 1.7-2.7). Conclusions: The prevalence of developmental dental anomalies was high, with one in four patients affected. DDA in number were the most common. Patients with systemic disturbances had greater odds of having DDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine adolescents' knowledge regarding e-cigarettes and e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), and (2) describe common misconceptions regarding e-cigarette use., Methods: Adolescents aged 13 to 19 years were recruited in pediatric dental clinics and completed a survey questionnaire regarding their knowledge of e-cigarettes., Results: A total of 66 adolescents participated. Forty-seven adolescents indicated knowledge of e-cigarettes. Forty adolescents recognized that most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, and 49 adolescents reported knowledge of EVALI cases. Adolescents had knowledge of possible lung damage from e-cigarette use. Adolescents also had misconceptions about e-cigarettes containing nicotine and them being less addictive than other tobacco products., Conclusions: Adolescents were aware of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury cases, and the majority of them viewed e-cigarette use as harmful to their health. However, some adolescents had misconceptions regarding the safety of e-cigarette use. Oral health providers should recognize that they play an important role in identifying risky behaviors amongst adolescents, incorporate adolescent-specific risk assessments into their clinical practice, and be comfortable providing anticipatory guidance about e-cigarette and nicotine use.