Disasters in pediatric dentistry: a systematic review

Abstract Background Disasters can harm many people, especially children, in unpredictable and public ways. One of the neglected aspects of children's health in disasters is oral and dental hygiene, which can affect their physical and mental well-being. This systematic review explores how dentistry can help children in disasters, focusing on two aspects: providing oral health care and identifying disaster victims. Methods A thorough search of databases, such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest, and Web of Science, was done to find English-language publications from 1930 to August 31, 2023. The screening, data collection, and quality assessment followed the PRISMA guidelines. Results Out of 37,795 articles found in the databases, seven research articles were chosen. Five articles were retrospective, and two articles were prospective. The results showed that dentistry for children is very important in disasters by giving information about the oral and dental problems and identifying the victims. The results also showed some of the challenges and difficulties in giving dental care for children in disaster situations, such as changing control, referral systems, and parental fear of infection. Conclusion Dentistry for children can improve the health and well-being of children affected by disasters

Factors Affecting Oral Hygiene Behavior in 9-12-Year-Old Children Based on Data from Fars Birth Cohort Study

Background: Several factors may influence oral hygiene behavior, which is essential for oral health and well-being in children. This study aimed to investigate the factors that contribute to the oral hygiene behaviors in children, especially mothers’ oral hygiene behaviors.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data from the fifth phase of Fars Birth Cohort Study were used. Our focus was on a group of 1143 children aged 9-12 years old in the year 2021. The demographic, socio-economic variables as well as oral hygiene behaviors of children and their mothers were assessed. The score for oral hygiene behavior was determined based on self-reported practices of brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, ranged between 0 and 3. The factors related to children’s oral hygiene behavior were examined by logistic regression analysis.Results: In this study, 345 (30.2%) of the children (50.3% females, average age 10.33±0.48 years) did not brush their teeth, 1042 (91.2%) did not use dental floss, and 1083 (94.8%) did not use mouthwash. The mean score for oral hygiene behavior in children was 0.83±0.67. Mothers had a higher mean score of 1.42±0.74 (P<0.001). Several factors were found to be significantly associated with oral hygiene behavior in children, including higher scores for mothers’ oral hygiene behavior (OR=2.18, P<0.001), living in the center of the province (OR=0.73, P=0.04), having insurance (OR=1.47, P=0.03), and having a government-employed mother (OR=0.52, P=0.025). Children with regular six-monthly or yearly visits had higher odds compared with those who visited the dentist only when a problem arose (OR=7.27, P=0.009, and OR=2.33, P=0.01, respectively).Conclusion: The study revealed unacceptable oral hygiene behaviors in 9-12-year-old children, and showed the gap between oral hygiene behavior in mothers and children. The mother’s role in promoting oral health and hygiene is crucial. Future research should consider mediating and confounding impacts of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to oral hygiene