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Sweetened beverage consumption is particularly important in countries such as Kuwait, where the prevalence of obesity is high, and most children drink sweetened beverages daily. To assess the relationship between three most commonly consumed beverages, (soda, milk, and juice) and the incidence of obesity among Kuwaiti children at the critical age of 10-12 year, Longitudinal cohort data of 6,305 children on initial presentation in 2012 (age, 10 years) and follow-up in 2014 (age, 12 years) were obtained from the Kuwait Healthy Life Study. The servings for the three beverages (soda, juice, and milk) were calculated as servings per day groups (0, 1-2, and 3 servings/day or more). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between developing obesity during 2012-2014 and soda, juice, and milk consumption. Model selection was based on clinically relevant covariates and potential confounders using stepwise model selection. Six percent children become obese between baseline and follow-up visits. High soda drinking showed significant association with developing obesity. High milk consumption (more than 3 servings a day) was also significantly associated with developing obesity. Potential confounders included in the final model were age, sex, governorates, and fitness level, of which none were significant confounders or effect modifiers for the association. Children with high soda consumption had significantly higher prevalence of obesity. High obesity prevalence was observed with high milk consumption at a lower significance level but not with high juice consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to present a dental office-based healthy weight intervention (HWI) protocol designed for all children. It is argued that dental care professionals have an opportunity to provide obesity prevention interventions to their patients. Findings indicate that preventive dental office visits are an opportunity for dental care professionals to provide HWIs.

It is found that phentolamine mesylate was well-tolerated and safe for children aged four to 11 years and that this reduced the recovery time from a local anesthesia after a dental procedure in children aged six to 11 years. The findings are based on a randomized controlled clinical trial on 152 pediatric subjects.

A community-based program for dental caries prevention in children is described. The ForsythKids program reduced the percentage of children with newly decayed or restored primary and permanent teeth by 25.4 and 53.2 percent respectively.

The New England Children's Amalgam Trial (NECAT) compared neuropsychological outcomes of children aged 6 to 10 whose caries were restored using dental amalgam and those whose caries were restored using mercury-free resin-based composite. The results of the trial showed that the use of dental amalgams was not associated with any adverse neuropsychological effects.

A study on durability of dental amalgams and compomer/composite restorations in posterior teeth is presented.

A study to compare the neuropsychological and renal function of children whose dental caries were restored using amalgam or mercury-free materials is illustrated. It was concluded that there were no statistically significant differences, although it is possible that very small IQ effects cannot be ruled out, which suggests that the health effects of amalgam restorations in children need not be the basis of treatment decisions when choosing restorative dental materials.

The BriteSmile 2000 light source from BriteSmile Inc. used in combination with a 15% hydrogen peroxide gel can whiten teeth in one treatment, according to a study of 87 people. Using both light and gel whitened teeth more than either one alone. The BriteSmile lamp emits light in the blue-green portion of the spectrum.

Fluoride-releasing resin placed over a dentin bonding agent may be used to treat sensitive exposed tooth root surfaces. The resin may provide coverage and filling of open dentinal tubules, and the fluoride may help to densensitize teeth and prevent cavities from developing on root surfaces. A study was conducted using a slow-release boron trifluoride BIS-GMA resin to reduce hypersensitivity on teeth with exposed root surfaces. Patients with abraded or eroded exposed root surfaces and tooth sensitivity to cold received a composite restoration in addition to the fluoride resin application, which eliminated tooth sensitivity. A thinner coating of resin on non-abraded teeth led to more resin loss and return of tooth sensitivity.

Abstract Background Multiple guidelines and systematic reviews recommend sealant use to reduce caries risk. Yet, multiple reports also indicate that sealants are significantly underutilized. This study examined the knowledge, opinions, values, and practice (KOVP) of dentists concerning sealant use in the southwest region of Andalusia, Spain. This is a prelude to the generation of a regional plan for improving children’s oral health in Andalusia. Methods The survey’s target population was dentists working in western Andalusia, equally distributed in the provinces of Seville, Cadiz, and Huelva (N=2,047). A convenience sample of meeting participants and meeting participant email lists (N=400) were solicited from the annual course on Community and Pediatric Dentistry. This course is required for all public health sector dentists, and is open to all private sector dentists. Information on the dentist’s KOVP of sealants was collected using four-part questionnaire with 31, 5-point Likert-scaled questions. Results The survey population demographics included 190 men (48%) and 206 women (52%) with an average clinical experience of 10.6 (± 8.4) years and 9.3 (± 7.5) years, respectively. A significant sex difference was observed in the distribution of place of work (urban/suburb) (p=0.001), but no sex differences between working sector (public/private). The mean ± SD values for each of the four KOVP sections for pit and fissure sealants were: knowledge = 3.57 ± 0.47; opinion = 2.48 ± 0.47; value = 2.74 ± 0.52; and practice = 3.48 ± 0.50. No sex differences were found in KOVP (all p >0.4). Independent of sex: knowledge statistically differed by years of experience and place of work; opinion statistically differed by years of experience and sector; and practice statistically differed by years of experience and sector. Less experienced dentists tended to have slightly higher scores (~0.25 on a Likert 1–5 scale). Statistically significant correlations were found between knowledge and practice (r=0.44, p=0.00) and between opinion and value (r=0.35, p=0.00). Conclusions The results suggest that, similar to other countries, Andalusian dentists know that sealants are effective, have neutral to positive attitudes toward sealants; though, based on epidemiological studies, underuse sealants. Therefore, methods other than classical behavior change (eg: financial or legal mechanisms) will be required to change practice patterns aimed at improving children's oral health.

The cover image is based on the Original Article Household, dietary, and clinical characteristics of childhood caries and overweight progression—A prospective cohort study by Mary Tavares et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.13093. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]