Dental Fear Survey: A Cross-Sectional Study Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian Portuguese Version

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Dental Fear Survey (DFS), previously translated to the Brazilian Portuguese language and validated. Methods. A cross-sectional study with 1,256 undergraduates from the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was carried out. The DFS and a questionnaire about previous dental experiences were self-administered. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, principal components analysis (PCA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and construct, discriminant, and convergent validity. Results. PCA identified a three-factor structure. CFA confirmed the multidimensionality of the Brazilian version of the DFS. A modified model of the Brazilian version of the DFS fits better than the hypothesized model. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total DFS scale was 0.95. Conclusion. The DFS demonstrated acceptable construct validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. These results supported the reliability and validity of the DFS among Brazilian undergraduates

Difference of Socioeconomic Factors among Mothers of Preterm and Full-Term Infant

Objective: To analyze the difference of socioeconomic factors among mothers of preterm and full-term infants. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was developed with 250 mothers of children aged three to five years. The sample was divided into two groups: 125 mothers of preterm infants from the referral center of a public hospital in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil and 125 mothers of children born full-term at a daycare center within the same city. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect socioeconomic data and type of breastfeeding. To verify if there was association between the dependent variable gestational age at birth and the independent variables, the chi-square test was used. A final model with multiple Poisson regression estimated prevalence ratio values for each independent variable was developed. Results: The final multiple regression model showed that mothers that have a low monthly income of up to USD 450.28 (PR = 1.979, 95% CI = 1.082–3.620), used drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol during their pregnancy (PR = 4.095, 95% CI = 2.422–6.921), and did not breastfeed (PR = 2.294, 95% CI = 1.205– 4.369) were more likely to give birth to preterm infants. Conclusion: Low monthly family income, use of drugs, alcohol, or smoking during pregnancy and absence of breastfeeding were more frequent on mothers of preterm infants

Determining Cut-Off Points for the Dental Fear Survey

Objective. To determine a high fear cut-off point score for the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) using a single-item self-report questionnaire. Methods. The DFS, a 20-item questionnaire assessing fear of dental treatment, was completed by 1,256 participants with a mean age of 22.3 years (SD = 5.1). Another self-report questionnaire was used to collect data on previous dental experiences. A high fear cut-off point score was determined by calculating the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the DFS. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were calculated; a significance level of p<0.05 was used for all tests. Results. The ROC curve indicated that a DFS score ≥53 corresponds to a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 92.5%. Most participants (n=895; 71.5%) reported no fear of going to the dentist. There was significant association between DFS score and fear assessed with the question “Are you fearful of going to the dentist?” (p<0.001). Conclusion. A cut-off point of 53 on the DFS total score represents the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity and can be used to predict high dental fear

Lesões bucais de maior frequência clínica em crianças – revisão de literatura

Objective: The objective of this article is to present to the dental professionals, through a literature review, the main oral lesions that are part of the odontopediatric stomatology, in order to improve the knowledge and attention to the health of the pediatric patients. Methods: The searches were carried out in the following bibliographic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS and Bireme. Data synthesis: this article deals with the description of the most frequent oral lesions in Pediatric Dentistry, such as epstein’s pearls and gingival cyst of the newborn, which are the most common changes in newborns; congenital abnormalities such as ankyloglossia; lesions with fluid retention such as eruption cyst/hematoma; fungal and viral diseases such as candidosis, acute herpetic gingivostomatitis and secondary herpes simplex, respectively. There are also those related to the main infectious diseases of childhood, with clinical manifestations in the oral cavity such as measles, impetigo, varicella, mumps and hands, feet and mouth disease. Conclusion: It is very important, for General Practitioner and Pediatric Dentistry to recognize oral lesions in children, to make a correct and early diagnosis of them, in order to improve the knowledge, attention to the health and quality of life of the pediatric patients.Objetivo: Apresentar aos profissionais da Odontologia, por meio de uma revisão de literatura, as principais lesões bucais que fazem parte da Odontopediatria, a fim de melhorar o conhecimento e a atenção à saúde dos pacientes pediátricos. Métodos: As buscas foram realizadas nas seguintes bases de dados bibliográficas: PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS e Bireme. Síntese dos dados: Este artigo trata da descrição das lesões bucais mais frequentes na Odontopediatria, como pérolas de Epstein e cisto gengival do recém-nascido, que são as alterações mais comuns em recém natos; alterações congênitas como anquiloglossia; lesões com retenção de líquido como cisto/hematoma de erupção; doenças fúngicas e virais como candidose, gengivoestomatite herpética aguda e herpes simples secundário, respectivamente. Há, também, aquelas relacionadas às principais doenças infecciosas da infância, com manifestações clínicas na cavidade bucal como sarampo, impetigo, varicela, caxumba e doença das mãos, pé e boca. Conclusão: É muito importante, para o clínico geral e para o odontopediatra, reconhecer as diversas lesões que podem acometer a cavidade bucal das crianças, propiciando um diagnóstico correto e precoce das mesmas, a fim de melhorar o conhecimento, atenção à saúde e qualidade de vida dos pacientes pediátricos

Dental fear survey: a cross-sectional study evaluating the psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version,”The Scientific

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Dental Fear Survey (DFS), previously translated to the Brazilian Portuguese language and validated. Methods. A cross-sectional study with 1,256 undergraduates from the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was carried out. The DFS and a questionnaire about previous dental experiences were self-administered. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, principal components analysis (PCA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and construct, discriminant, and convergent validity. Results. PCA identified a three-factor structure. CFA confirmed the multidimensionality of the Brazilian version of the DFS. A modified model of the Brazilian version of the DFS fits better than the hypothesized model. The Cronbach&apos;s alpha coefficient for the total DFS scale was 0.95. Conclusion. The DFS demonstrated acceptable construct validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. These results supported the reliability and validity of the DFS among Brazilian undergraduates

Agreement between two different approaches to assess parent-reported sleep bruxism in children

Introduction: Parents' report is the most used method for the study of sleep bruxism (SB) in children, especially in research with large samples. However, there is no consensus about the questions used to assess SB, what may difficult the comparisons between studies. Objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate the agreement between two different approaches to assess possible sleep bruxism (PSB) in children using parents' report. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 parents/caregivers. Prior to the questionnaire completion, all participants received a standard explanation of SB concept. Subsequently, the parents/caregivers answered a general question (GQ) and a frequency-time question (FTQ) about SB, and the answers were compared. Results: The majority of the participants were the children's mothers (73%) and the childrens mean age was 7.5 years (SD: 2.25). PSB frequency in children did not differ statistically through the two questions [GQ: 30.7% (CI95%: 24.2 - 37.1) and FTQ: 26.6% (CI95%: 20.4 - 32.8)], and an almost perfect agreement was observed between the answers (kp=0.812). Nevertheless, the FTQ showed a more coherent relation with the factors already recognized as associated with childhood bruxism than GQ. Conclusions: Different approaches result in similar PSB frequency, however, they show different ability to identify PSB associated factors and suggest the need of questions including frequency and time in further studies