The Preference of Children and their Parents About the Pediatric Dentist’s Appearance

Objective: To analyze whether children and their parents prefer a particular professional coat worn by the dentist and whether these preferences are influenced by their gender or level of anxiety. Material and Methods: Standardized images of male and female models dressed with different coats were shown to 400 pairs of 5-12 year-old children and respective parents and they were asked to point their preference. Information about child's dental experience was collected and children's anxiety level was obtained using the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale. Results: Both children (55.5%) and parents (76.5%) preferred a female professional over a male one. Children preferred the dentist wearing a white coat, while adults preferred the dentist wearing a colored coat (p<0.05). There was a tendency for the child to choose a dentist with the same gender as theirs, so boys chose more male dentists and girls more female dentists (p<0.05), but there was no difference between the choice of the dentist’s coat between boys and girls (p=0.53). Conclusion: Children have strong preferences in relation to the appearance of their dentists. Children and parents preferred female dentists, but there was a tendency to choose the dentist with the respondent’s gender. Contrary to popular belief, children preferred their dentists wearing the conventional white coat, different from their parents who preferred dentists wearing a colored coat

Physicochemical Properties of MTA and Portland Cement after Addition of Aloe Vera

Introduction: The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the liquid-powder ratio, setting time, solubility, dimensional change, pH, and radiopacity of white structural and non-structural Portland cement, ProRoot MTA and MTA Bio, associated with a 2% glycolic solution containing Aloe Vera, as vehicle. Methods and Materials: Five samples of each material were used for each test, according to the American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association (ANSI/ADA) specification No. 57. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test at 5% significance. When sample distribution was not normal, non-parametric analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used (α=0.05). Results: No statistical differences were found in liquid-powder ratios among the tested materials. ProRoot MTA showed the longest setting time. Dimensional change values were acceptable in all groups. Also, no significant differences were found in pH values and pH was alkaline in all samples throughout the experiment. Mean radiopacity results obtained for white Portland cements did not meet ANSI/ADA requirements, and were significantly lower than those obtained for MTA-based cements. Finally, Portland cements showed significantly higher mean solubility values compared to the other samples. Conclusion: The physicochemical properties of the tested materials in association with Aloe Vera were compatible with ANSI/ADA requirements, except for the white Portland cements, which failed to meet the radiopacity specification.Keywords: Aloe Vera; MTA; Physicochemical Properties; Portland Cemen

Effect of different chewing gum brands on the salivary pH of children

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different chewing gum brands on the salivary pH of children with primary dentition. Method: Forty children were selected and assigned to four groups: control (no chewing gum); sugarless chewing gum; chewing gum with casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate; and chewing gum with xylitol. The first saliva collection was made after supervised tooth brushing for stabilization of the oral pH. Next, all children were instructed to drink slowly 100 mL of a cola-based soft drink (Coca-Cola®) and a new saliva collection was made 10 min later. Then, each group chewed on the chewing gum for 5 min and discarded it after this time. Saliva was collected again at 5, 10 and 15 min intervals after start using the chewing gum. Measurement of salivary pH was made with colorimetric test papers and a digital pH-meter. Data were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance and Tukey’s test at a 5% significance level. Results: The use of chewing gums accelerated the increase of salivary pH to considerably alkaline levels after consumption of an acidic beverage, especially within the first minutes. The highest levels were obtained in the groups of children that used chewing gums containing xylitol and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate. Conclusion: Children that used the chewing gums after ingestion of an acidic soft drink presented an increase in salivary pH, with the best results in the groups that used chewing gums containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate and xylitol.Objetivo: avaliar o efeito de diferentes gomas de mascar sobre o pH\ud salivar de crianças em dentadura decídua.\ud Métodos: foram selecionadas 40 crianças e divididas em quatro grupos:\ud controle (sem goma de mascar), goma de mascar sem açúcar, goma de\ud mascar com fosfopeptídeo de caseína – fosfato de cálcio amorfo e\ud goma de mascar com xilitol. Após a escovação dentária supervisionada\ud para estabilização do pH bucal foi realizada a primeira coleta de saliva.\ud Após isso, todas as crianças foram instruídas a beberem lentamente\ud 100 mL de refrigerante à base de cola (Coca-Cola®), e após 10 min foi\ud realizada nova coleta. Logo após, cada grupo fez uso de sua goma de\ud mascar durante 5 min e a descartou, sendo coletada saliva novamente\ud em intervalos de 5, 10 e 15 min após o início do uso da goma. Os\ud métodos utilizados para leitura do pH salivar foram fitas colorimétricas\ud e pH-metro digital. O tratamento estatístico dos dados foi feito por\ud meio da Análise de Variância (Anova) e teste de Tukey com nível de\ud significância de 95%.\ud Resultados: o uso de gomas de mascar acelerou a elevação do pH\ud salivar em níveis bastante alcalinos após o consumo de bebida ácida,\ud principalmente nos primeiros minutos. Os níveis mais elevados foram\ud encontrados nos grupos que utilizaram gomas contendo xilitol e\ud fosfopeptídeo de caseína – fosfato de cálcio amorfo.\ud Conclusão: o uso de gomas de mascar após a ingestão de bebida ácida\ud elevou o pH salivar, sendo que os grupos que utilizaram gomas com\ud fosfopeptídeo de caseína – fosfato de cálcio amorfo e xilitol em sua\ud composição apresentaram os melhores resultados

Evaluation of the use of low-intensity laser and Light-Emitting Diode (LED) on the behavior of fibroblasts and in reducing the incidence of oral mucositis in children under chemotherapy

Avaliou-se o uso do laser de baixa intensidade e do Light-Emitting Diode (LED) no comportamento de fibroblastos e na redução da incidência da mucosite bucal em crianças sob tratamento quimioterápico. Para tanto, o estudo foi executado em dois períodos experimentais distintos. No primeiro período, foi realizada a análise da viabilidade de fibroblastos Balb/c 3T3 cultivados sob déficit nutricional irradiados com laser vermelho (660nm, 40mW), laser infravermelho (780nm, 50mW) e LED vermelho (637 ± 15nm, 40mW) por 4 e 8 segundos através dos ensaios de redução do MTT e captação do vermelho neutro. No segundo período experimental realizouse ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego para avaliar a eficácia do laser vermelho (660nm, 40mW) e do LED vermelho (637 ± 15nm, 40mW) na redução da incidência e da severidade da mucosite bucal e da dor relacionada em crianças portadoras de câncer submetidas a quimioterapia utilizando-se o sistema de graduação da mucosite bucal da Organização Mundial de Saúde e a Escala de Dor de Faces Revisada associada à escala analógica visual. A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando-se o teste não paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis e analise de variância do modelo linear geral com nível de significância de 5% (p = 0,05). Observou-se com a redução do MTT uma tendência de aumento da proliferação celular relacionado diretamente com o tempo de irradiação, no entanto, não significante estatisticamente. Após 72 horas, os grupos que apresentaram maior proliferação celular foram: grupo irradiado com laser infravermelho, grupo irradiado com LED, grupo irradiado com laser vermelho, grupo controle positivo e grupo controle negativo. Já através da captação do vermelho neutro, após 72 horas o grupo que apresentou maior proliferação celular foi o grupo controle positivo (cultivado sob condições nutricionais ideais) seguido pelo grupo irradiado com laser infravermelho, grupo controle negativo e grupos irradiados com LED e laser vermelho. Através da análise dos resultados obtidos e considerando os parâmetros e protocolo de fototerapia utilizados, pode-se concluir que a fototerapia com laser de baixa intensidade e diodo emissor de luz (LED) não apresentaram toxicidade em nível celular, vindo mesmo a estimular a proliferação dos fibroblastos cultivados sob déficit nutricional, sobretudo no grupo irradiado com o laser infravermelho (780nm, 50mW). A incidência e a severidade da mucosite bucal, assim como a dor associada, foram muito baixas nos grupos irradiados com laser vermelho (660nm, 40mW) e LED (637 ± 15nm, 40mW). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos; A coerência da luz não interferiu no resultado da fototerapia in vitro e in vivo.The use of low-intensity laser and Light-Emitting Diode (LED) on the behavior of fibroblasts and in reducing the incidence of oral mucositis in children under chemotherapy were evaluated. The study was performed in two separate experiments. In the first moment, the viability of fibroblasts Balb/c 3T3 cultured under nutritional stress irradiated with red laser (660nm, 40mW), infrared laser (780nm, 50mW) and red LED (637 ± 15nm, 40mW) for 4 and 8 seconds was analyzed through the MTT and neutral red assays. The second experiment carried out was a double-blind randomized clinical trial aiming to assess the effectiveness of red laser (660nm, 40mW) and red LED (637 ± 15nm, 40mW) in reducing the incidence and severity of oral mucositis and related pain in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy using the World Health Organization oral mucositis grading system and the Faces Pain Scale - Revised associated with a visual analogue scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test and ANOVA with a significance level of 5% (p = 0.05). It was observed with the MTT assay a trend of cell proliferation increase directly related to the irradiation time, however, not statistically significant. After 72 hours, the groups that showed higher cell proliferation were: infrared laser irradiated group, LED irradiated group, red laser irradiated group, positive control group and negative control group. By the neutral red assay, though, after 72 hours the group that showed higher cell proliferation was the positive control (grown under ideal nutritional conditions) followed by the group irradiated with infrared laser, the negative control group and groups irradiated with red laser and LED. By analyzing the results and considering the used parameters and phototherapy protocol, it is plausible to conclude that phototherapy with lowintensity laser and light emitting diode (LED) showed no toxicity at cellular level, even stimulating the proliferation of fibroblasts cultured under nutritional stress, especially in the group irradiated with infrared laser (780nm, 50mW). The incidence and severity of oral mucositis and associated pain, were very low in the groups irradiated with red laser (660nm, 40mW) and LED (637 ± 15nm, 40mW). There was no statistically significant difference between these groups, the coherence of light did not affect the outcome of phototherapy in vitro and in vivo

Estudo da clientela do Programa de Atendimento Odontológico Precoce em um serviço público do município de Cuiabá, Mato Grosso Study Program of Early Dental Care clientele of a public service in the city of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

OBJETIVOS: descrever a clientela assistida pelo Programa de Atendimento Odontológico Precoce de uma clínica municipal de Cuiabá, identificando: a) faixa etária da clientela ao iniciar-se no programa; b) uso de mamadeira por faixa etária; c) uso da mamadeira noturna; d) realização de higiene bucal; e e) presença de cárie dental. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo de corte transversal, utilizando os 934 prontuários das crianças atendidas pelo programa entre 1996 e 1998. RESULTADOS: 92,93% da clientela do programa era composta por crianças que iniciaram o tratamento com idade entre 0 e 36 meses; até os 42 meses de idade, em apenas uma faixa etária o número de crianças que usavam mamadeira é inferior ao número de crianças que não faziam uso da mesma; entre as crianças que usamvam mamadeira, a maioria absoluta o fazia durante a noite; a realização de higiene bucal e a prevalência da cárie dentária foram diretamente relacionadas à idade da criança. CONCLUSÕES: é necessário um trabalho de conscientização da população quanto à saúde bucal visto que a clientela do serviço estudado apresentou alto índice de desmame precoce e a higiene bucal esteve presente no primeiro ano de vida em apenas um terço das crianças assistidas.<br>OBJECTIVES: to describe the children assisted by a public clinic Program of Early Dental Care in Cuiabá, identifying: a) the age group of the children when entering the program; b) the use of the bottle in each age group; c) the use of the bottle at night; d) the accomplishment of oral hygiene; and e) the presence of dental caries. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was performed using 934 medical files of the children in the program between 1996 and 1998. RESULTS: 92.93% of the children entered the program aged from 0 to 36 months; until the 42nd month of age, in only one age group the number of children that used the bottle was lower than the number of children who did not; a large number of the children used the bottle at night; both oral hygiene and dental caries prevalence were directly associated to the children's age. CONCLUSIONS: it is necessary to raise population awareness of the value of oral health as the program indicated a large number of children who were weaned much too early and only one third of the children in the program had any oral hygiene at all during the first year of life

Dental transposition of canine and lateral incisor and impacted central incisor treatment: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Dental transposition and impaction are disorders related to ectopic eruption or failure in tooth eruption, which can affect child physical, mental and social development and may be difficult to be clinically solved. METHODS: We describe a case of transposition between the upper left canine and lateral incisor associated with impaction of the central incisor on the same side, in a 12-year-old patient. Conservative treatment involving surgical-orthodontic correction of transposed teeth and traction of the central incisor was conducted. CONCLUSION: The option of correcting transposition and orthodontic traction by means of the segmented arch technique with devices such as cantilever and TMA rectangular wire loops, although a complex alternative, was proved to be esthetically and functionally effective

Ectopic Thyroid at the Base of the Tongue of a Young Patient

Lingual thyroid is defined as an ectopic thyroid gland tissue located in the midline of the tongue base and it is uncommonly observed in clinical practice and is rare in children. This paper describes the surgical treatment of ectopic thyroid at the base of the tongue in a child. The chief complaint of the 12-year-old, melanodermic female patient was the difficulty to swallow for 15 days. The intraoral physical examination barely showed a nodular lesion at tongue base. The CT scan showed a round, well defined hyperdense lesion of approximately 25.8 mm at its largest diameter, with infiltrative growth in the posterior region of the base of the tongue. The proposed treatment was complete resection of the lesion. The histopathological diagnosis was lingual thyroid. After the diagnosis was established, the patient was referred to an endocrinologist for exams and medical follow-up. Lingual thyroid is a rare condition and its diagnosis in children is even rarer. Its approach should be transdisciplinary and should take into consideration the hormonal aspects of the patient in addition to the clinical condition of the lesion. In the presented case, the removal of the alteration was performed via conservative surgical procedure followed by immediate referral of the patient to the endocrinologist for a follow-up

Riga-Fede Disease Associated with Natal Teeth: Two Different Approaches in the Same Case

Natal teeth are those present in the oral cavity at the child’s birth. These teeth can cause ulcers on the ventral surface of the tongue, lip, and the mother’s breast characterizing the Riga-Fede Disease. The treatment depends on the tooth’s mobility and the risk of aspiration or swallowing; whether it is supernumerary or regular primary teeth; whether it is causing interference in breastfeeding; breast and oral soft tissue injuries; and the general state of child’s health. A 1-month-old female infant was diagnosed with two natal teeth and an ulcerated lesion on the ventral surface of the tongue, leading to the clinical diagnosis of Riga-Fede Disease. The treatment performed consisted of the maintenance of the natal tooth that showed no increased mobility, adding a small increment of glass ionomer cement to its incisal edge, and orientation for hygiene with saline solution. Due to the increased mobility of the other natal tooth, surgical removal was performed. There was regular monitoring of the patient and complete wound healing was observed after 15 days. The proposed treatment was successful and the patient is still in follow-up without recurrence of the lesion after one year

Cariogenic microbiota of children under chemotherapy: A pilot study

Aim: To analyze the cariogenic microbiota of children who are under antineoplastic therapy. Methods: Twenty-seven patients undergoing cancer treatment in the Pediatric Unit of Mato Grosso Cancer Hospital were selected. The inclusion criteria of volunteers were being under chemotherapy in the saliva collection period, age between 2 and 18 years, collaborate with the protocol for clinical examination and saliva collection, and responsible have given their written consent. For the realization of lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans count in the patients′ saliva, respectively, Dentalcult I and II (LaborClin; ) kits were used. Statistical Analysis: Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher′s exact tests were used to assess the association of the variables age group, prevalence of lactobacilli and S. mutans, diagnosis of patients, presence and level of decay of patients defined by decayed, filled, and missing teeth (DMFT)/dmft indexes with a significance level of 5%. Results: The group of patients consisted of 27 children, 15 males, and 12 females; 44% were aged between 6 and 10 years; 61% had present or past history of caries (dmft/DMFT >0); 48% had low value for Dentalcult I; 59% presented value grade 0 to Dentalcult II; and 63% were diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of dental caries in the study population but low rates of S. mutans and lactobacilli in the saliva of the children. Lactobacilli rate was significantly associated with caries index scores, and the prevalence of caries was directly associated with the age group of the children