Characteristics of dental fear among Arabic-speaking children: a descriptive study

BACKGROUND: Dental fear has not only been linked to poor dental health in children but also persists across the lifespan, if unaddressed, and can continue to affect oral, systemic, and psychological health. The aim of this study was to assess the factor structure of the Arabic version of the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), and to assess the difference in factor structure between boys and girls. METHODS: Participants were 220 consecutive paediatric dental patients 6–12 years old seeking dental care at the Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. Participants completed the 15-item Arabic version of the CFSS-DS questionnaire at the end of the visit. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Factor analysis (principal components, varimax rotation) was employed to assess the factor structure of the scale. RESULTS: The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.86. Four factors with eigenvalues above 1.00 were identified, which collectively explained 64.45% of the variance. These factors were as follows: Factor 1, ‘fear of usual dental procedures’ consisted of 8 items such as ‘drilling’ and ‘having to open the mouth’, Factor 2, ‘fear of health care personnel and injections’ consisted of three items, Factor 3, ‘fear of strangers’, consisted of 2 items. Factor 4, ‘fear of general medical aspects of treatment’, consisted of 2 items. Notably, four factors of dental fear were found in girls, while five were found in boys. CONCLUSIONS: Four factors of different strength pertaining to dental fear were identified in Arabic-speaking children, indicating a simple structure. Most items loaded high on the factor related to fear of usual dental procedures. The fear-provoking aspects of dental procedures differed in boys and girls. Use of the scale may enable dentists to determine the item/s of dental treatment that a given child finds most fear-provoking and guide the child’s behaviour accordingly. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1472-6831-14-118) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Signs of oral dryness in relation to salivary flow rate, pH, buffering capacity and dry mouth complaints

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study aimed to investigate the signs of oral dryness in relation to different salivary variables and to correlate subjective complaints of oral dryness with salivary flow rate.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>312 unmedicated healthy individuals belonging to three age groups, (6–11, 12–17, and 18–40 years) were examined clinically for signs of oral dryness. Resting and stimulated saliva were collected to determine flow rate, pH and buffering capacity. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on subjective sensation of dry mouth.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Dry lip and dry mucosa were present in 37.5% and 3.2% of the sample respectively. The proportion of subjects who complained of oral dryness (19%) showed a stimulated salivary flow rate significantly lower than non complainers. Dry lip was significantly related to low resting flow rate but pH and buffering capacity did not show any significant relation to dry lip. Dry mucosa was not related to any of the above mentioned parameters.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The finding that the stimulated salivary flow rate was reduced in subjects complaining of dry mouth is of great clinical relevance, since the reduction is expected to be reflected in compromising various salivary functions.</p

Prevalence and risk factors of molar incisor hypomineralization in the Middle East: A systematic review and meta-analysis

الملخص: أهداف البحث: يعتبر نقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي مصدر قلق عالمي متزايد. هنا، نجري مراجعة منهجية وتحليل تلوي لانتشار العوامل / عوامل الخطر المرتبطة بنقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي في الشرق الأوسط. طرق البحث: تضمنت هذه المراجعة المنهجية والتحليل التلوي دراسات على الأطفال الذين يعانون من ضرس دائم واحد على الأقل متأثر بنقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي، الذين تتراوح أعمارهم بين 5 و 18 عاما، دون متلازمات أو تشوهات خلقية، ويقيمون في الشرق الأوسط وشملوا المقطعية المستعرضة، وضبط الحالات، أو دراسات الأتراب. تم البحث عن الكلمات الرئيسية المتعلقة ببلدان الشرق الأوسط و نقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي بشكل منهجي حتى 10 يناير 2021 في أربع قواعد بيانات: ''ببميد، غوغل العلمي، ''ساينس دايركت''، و ''كوكرين''، وفقا لمعايير الأهلية المحددة. تم استخدام أداة تقييم الجودة من معهد جوانا بريجز لتقييم جميع الدراسات المشمولة. أجريت التحليلات التلوية لتقييم تأثير عوامل الخطر. تم تسجيل بروتوكول الدراسة في ''بروسبيرو'' (رقم التسجيل: 247391). النتائج: بعد فحص 4373 وثيقة، تم تضمين 29 دراسة مؤهلة مع ما مجموعه 32636 طفلا من 11 دولة تتراوح أعمارهم بين 7-12 عاما. وتراوحت وتيرة الإبلاغ عن نقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي في الشرق الأوسط من 2.3٪ إلى 40.7٪، بمتوسط انتشار 15.05٪. الحمل وأمراض الطفولة المبكرةوالعوامل المتعلقة بالولادة كانت مرتبطة ارتباطا ذو دلالة احصائية مع نقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي. الاستنتاجات: يتماشى متوسط انتشار نقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي في الشرق الأوسط مع معدل انتشار نقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي العالمي. تعد الأمراض ومضاعفات الولادة من عوامل الخطر التي يمكن السيطرة عليها للوقاية من نقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي. كما أظهرت الدراسات المشمولة عدم التجانس العالي في التحليلات التلوية ، هناك حاجة إلى مزيد من الأدلة من الشرق الأوسط لتقييم الانتشار وعوامل الخطر البيئية الأخرى المرتبطة بنقص تمعدن المينا في الضرس الرحوي. Abstract: Objectives: Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a growing global concern. Herein, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and associated factors/risk factors of MIH in the Middle East (ME). Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis included studies on children with at least one first permanent molar affected by MIH, aged 5–18 years, without syndromes or congenital anomalies, and residing in the ME and included cross-sectional, case–control, and cohort studies. Keywords related to MIH and ME countries were systematically searched until January 10, 2021 in four databases, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library, following the specified eligibility criteria. The Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool was used to evaluate all included studies. Meta-analyses were conducted to assess the effect of risk factors. The study protocol was registered on the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (Registration No. 247391). Results: After screening 4,373 documents, 29 eligible studies with a total of 32,636 children aged 7–12 years were included from 11 countries. The frequency of MIH reported in the ME ranged from 2.3% to 40.7%, with a mean prevalence of 15.05%. Pregnancy and early childhood illnesses (odds ratio [OR]: 2.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.91–2.68; P < 0.001) and factors related to delivery (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.55–3.72; P < 0.001) were statically significantly associated with MIH. Conclusion: The mean prevalence of MIH in ME aligns with the global MIH prevalence rate. Illnesses and delivery complications are risk factors that could be controlled to prevent MIH. As included studies showed high heterogeneity in the meta-analyses, further evidence from the ME is needed to assess the prevalence and other associated environmental risk factors for MIH

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population