American Academy Of Pediatric Dentistry Research Articles

Effect of Advocacy Training During Dental Education on Pediatric Dentists' Interest in Advocating for Community Water Fluoridation.

Dentists, like other health professionals, are uniquely positioned to be public health advocates. One venue where dental students can become skilled public health advocates is in dental education programs. However, debates about the need and importance of integrating advocacy training into dental curricula exist. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between pediatric dentists' interest in and willingness to participate in an advocacy-related activity and their prior training in advocacy during dental education. The advocacy activity used in the study related to community water fluoridation (CWF). A 22-item pilot-tested online survey was sent in February-May 2016 to 5,394 pediatric dentists who were members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The final response rate was 16% (n=830). Most (77%) of the respondents were willing to advocate for CWF initiatives at the community and/or state levels. Only 44% of the respondents reported receiving training in advocacy during their predoctoral dental and/or pediatric dental residency education. The pediatric dentists who were willing to advocate for CWF initiatives had 2.7 times (95% CI: 1.63-4.39, p<0.0001) the odds of having received advocacy training during their dental education compared to those who were unwilling. These results suggest a positive association between the pediatric dentists' willingness to advocate for CWF and their prior advocacy training during dental education. This finding provides support for the Commission on Dental Accreditation's requirement for pediatric dental residency programs to train residents in advocacy. Because dentists are respected leaders in their community, the study results also support the integration of advocacy training into predoctoral dental curricula.

Dental Care for Patients With Childhood Cancers.

Childhood cancer is the second most common cause of death in children in the United States. Treatments for childhood cancers usually incorporate chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and/or surgery. This review of contemporary literature highlights the necessity for interprofessional care to achieve the best dental outcomes for this patient population during cancer treatment, as well as for children who are long-term cancer survivors. A literature search at PubMed identified research and review articles about oral and dental complications in children diagnosed with cancer. Also included were evidence and current best practices from guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry on dental management of pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy, hematopoietic cell transplantation, and/or radiation therapy. Finally, clinical recommendations from the European Society for Medical Oncology Guidelines Working Group on management of oral and gastrointestinal mucositis were included. The literature search was limited to articles published in the English language. Children with a new diagnosis of cancer should have dental care provided by a pediatric dentist to mitigate the oral complications from cancer treatment as well as to avoid dental infections during immunosuppressed states. An individualized oral care program can be developed for each patient to manage and treat acute and long-term oral complications related to cancer treatment. Childhood cancer survivors present with unique challenges for dental management because of dental anomalies caused by cancer therapy. Interprofessional collaborative care between the pediatric dentist and the oncologist during and after cancer therapy will enable best outcomes for the pediatric patient. In addition, dental professionals must be prepared to meet the unique needs of long-term cancer survivors because of the increasing survival rates of childhood cancers.

Stretching new boundaries of caries prevention with silver diamine fluoride: A review of literature

Silver diamine fluoride can arrest dental caries and prevents its progression. By doing so, it provides an alternative care path for those patients in whom traditional restorative treatment cannot be done, for example, children lacking cooperating ability. Although silver diamine fluoride had been used as a caries preventive measure in 1970s in Japan, it had not become popular in the other part of the world. Now, many countries have recommend the use of 38% silver diamine fluoride solution for caries prevention as well as for caries arrest. Recently, The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry provided the guidelines regarding the use of silver diamine fluoride for dental caries management in children and adolescent including those with special healthcare needs.

Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride for Dental Caries Management in Children and Adolescents, Including Those With Special Health Care Needs

This manuscript presents evidence-based guidance on the use of 38 percent silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for dental caries management in children and adolescents, including those with special health care needs. A guideline workgroup formed by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry developed guidance and an evidence-based recommendation regarding the application of 38 percent SDF to arrest cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth.The basis of the guideline's recommendation is evidence from an existing systematic review "Clinical trials of silver diamine fluoride in arresting caries among children: A systematic review." (JDR Clin Transl Res 2016;1[3]:201-10). A systematic search was conducted in PubMed®/MEDLINE, Embase®, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and gray literature databases to identify randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews reporting on the effect of silver diamine fluoride and address peripheral issues such as adverse effects and cost. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the quality of the evidence and the evidence-to-decision framework was employed to formulate a recommendation.The panel made a conditional recommendation regarding the use of 38 percent SDF for the arrest of cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth as part of a comprehensive caries management program. After taking into consideration the low cost of the treatment and the disease burden of caries, panel members were confident that the benefits of SDF application in the target populations outweigh its possible undesirable effects. Per GRADE, this is a conditional recommendation based on low-quality evidence. Conclusions and practical implications: The guideline intends to inform the clinical practices involving the application of 38 percent SDF to enhance dental caries management outcomes in children and adolescents, including those with special health care needs. These recommended practices are based upon the best available evidence to-date. A 38 percent SDF protocol is included in Appendix II.

The conceptualization of childhood in North American pediatric dentistry texts: a discursive case study analysis.

In recent years, conceptions of childhood have been evolving towards an increased recognition of children as active agents, capable of participating in the determination of their wellbeing. In pediatric dentistry, the extent to which these conceptions are being discursively endorsed is not well known. The aim of this investigation was to examine the discursive construction of childhood in seminal North American pedagogical dentistry materials. We conducted a qualitative discourse analysis of a sample of prominent texts using a sociological discourse analysis approach. We analyzed the latest edition of Macdonald and Avery's textbook (Chapter: Non pharmacologic management of children's behaviors) and the clinical practice guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, AAPD (Behavior guidance for the pediatric dental patient). The analysis produced five salient discursive categories: socialization through behavior modification; development and behavior; paternalism; the utility of child-centered communication; and consequentialism. While there were instances of a child-centered focus in the texts, the main discourses were rooted in developmentalism and behaviorism. There was scant acknowledgment of the importance of children's agency or voice, which runs contrary to child-centered discourses and practices in related disciplines (e.g., pediatric medicine, nursing). Predominant discourses in pediatric dentistry suggest a paternalistic, behaviorist approach to the 'management' of children in the dental office, focused primarily on completing interventions. Priorities for the future development of pediatric dentistry are discussed, integrating more child-centered approaches.

Assessing attitudes and actions of pediatric dentists toward childhood obesity and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Childhood obesity is a major US health concern, and oral health professionals have opportunities to participate in an interprofessional effort to intervene owing to their access to young patients and their abilities in addressing obesity-related dietary habits like consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). This study determined attitudes, behaviors, future intentions, and perceived barriers of pediatric dentists regarding efforts to prevent childhood obesity and reduce children's consumption of SSBs. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry conducted an online electronic survey with a convenience sample of approximately 7,450 pediatric dentists and pediatric dental residents during spring 2016. Over 17 percent of pediatric dentists offer childhood obesity interventions. Of those not providing interventions, 67 percent were interested in offering obesity-prevention services. Nearly 94 percent of pediatric dentists offer information or other interventions on consumption of SSBs. Statistically significant barriers to providing healthy weight interventions were fear of offending parents, appearing judgmental, or creating parent dissatisfaction and a lack of parental acceptance of guidance about weight management from a dentist. Significant barriers to SSB interventions were sufficient time and health professional education. More pediatric dentists stated they offer childhood obesity interventions than in previous surveys reporting 6 percent, but respondents suggested that a child's weight is seen as a medical rather than dental issue. Most pediatric dentists provide interventions related to consumption of SSBs, perceiving the issue as integral to their care of children.

Caries Prevalence and Risk Assessment in Thuringian Infants, Germany.

To determine the caries prevalence and experience in Thuringian infants and to assess their caries risk. The subjects were participants in a regional preventive programme, a birth cohort study with the aim of preventing caries. In the first year of life, children were invited to a dental examination at the Jena University Hospital. Dental caries was scored using WHO diagnostic criteria at the d1-level without radiography. Children were categorised as being of low, moderate or high risk for caries according to the caries-risk assessment tool of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). 512 children (mean age 6.7 ± 2.2 months) were examined. 58.2% (n = 298) of all children had teeth (2.21 ± 2.76). Caries prevalence of cavitated carious lesions was 1.7%, and prevalence of non-cavitated carious lesions was 7.7% in children who had teeth. Caries experience was 0.3 ± 1.0 d1-4mfs/0.2 ± 1.5 d3-4mfs (range of 0 to 16). Children with caries were on average 10.8 ± 3.2 months old, while children without caries were 6.6 ± 2.1 months. One hundred sixty-nine children (33.1%) were categorised at high risk for caries, and 98 already had teeth. Although caries prevalence and experience was relatively low in infants, one third of all children were categorised as being at high caries risk. Early dental visits are necessary to detect the first signs of caries, to assess the caries risk and to establish a dental home with a risk-related recall system. The caries-risk assessment tool (CAT) of the AAPD can assist the clinician in the decision-making process.

Clinical Practice Guidelines Proposed the Use of Pit and Fissure Sealants to Prevent and Arrest Noncavitated Carious Lesions

Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: A report of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Wright JT, Crall JJ, Fontana M, Gillette EJ, Nový BB, Dhar V, Donly K, Hewlett ER, Quinonez RB, Chaffin J, Crespin M, Iafolla T, Siegal MD, Tampi MP, Graham L, Estrich C, Carrasco-Labra A. J Am Dent Assoc. 2016;147(8):672-82. American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Systematic review with meta-analysis of data.

A Comparison of Oral and Intravenous Glutamine Therapy Effects On Mucositis Development in Acute Leukemic Patients After High Dose Chemotherapy Supplementation

Aim: We compared the oral and intravenous glutamine therapy effects on mucositis development in acute leukemia patients after high dose chemotherapy supplementation. This research was applied in high dose chemotherapy patients in order to determine the effects of parenteral glutamine support on mucositis development. The results of oral and parenteral glutamine therapy are compared and analyzed for variations in mucositis formation. Materials and Methods: The present study includes the results of glutamine therapy performed on two patient groups. A total of 70 individuals (33 female and 37 male) were included in the study. Out of these patients, 35 were given oral glutamine whereas the remaining 35 were given glutamine via an intravenous route following chemotherapy. Patients were between 16 and 71 years of age. IV-therapy and oral therapy patients were selected as first and second groups, respectively. The same amount of Lalanyl Glutamine solution was given to both groups in equal time intervals. Mucositis grading was performed according to the criteria of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and staging was carried out according to oral mucositis index. Results: When records of both groups were analyzed seperately, mild to moderate mucositis was determined in 85.7% (30 of 35) of the patients whereas severe mucositis was observed in 14.3% (5 of 35) patients who received oral glutamine support. On the other hand, mild- to moderate mucositis developed in all 35 patients (100%) who received intravenous glutamine support, but no severe mucositis developed in those patients. Conclusion: The result of this work can be summarized as; neither oral nor parenteral glutamine therapy prevents mucosite development, but parenteral glutamine therapy has a preventative effect on the development of severe mucositis.

YouTube as a source for parents' education on early childhood caries.

Patients can and do search the Internet for information on various health-related topics. YouTube™ is one popular website they may consult. To examine the quality of information offered by YouTube™ for patients seeking information on early childhood caries (ECC). YouTube™ was searched for videos on ECC. The usefulness of selected videos in providing adequate information about ECC was evaluated using a 13-point usefulness score. The guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry were used for benchmarking. Most videos were uploaded by healthcare professionals (60%, n = 18). Videos had generally low usefulness scores (mean: 5.1 ± 2.9; range: 1-11). An average YouTube™ video on ECC was viewed two times/day (range: 0.07-34.4 views/day). Less useful videos ranked early on the viewing list, and viewer's interactions with videos were not affected significantly by their usefulness. YouTube™ should not be used as a trusted site for educating patients on ECC.

OBESITY AND RELATED ORAL HEALTH VARIABLES AMONG A GROUP OF YOUNG ADOLESCENTS

INTRODUCTION: Obesity and dental caries both are multifactorial diseases that impact adolescent's health and psychosocial development. They both share common, modifiable, influences such as diet and lifestyle.OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study was to assess young adolescents' obesity and dietary habits association with dental caries experience and stimulated salivary flow rate.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional comparative study designs, fifty obese adolescents with mean age of 13.0±0.54 years and fifty normal weight adolescents with mean age of 12.87±0.45 years were selected from preparatory schools in Alexandria. They were clinically examined with respect to dental caries, as well as answered a questionnaire concerning sociodemographic background, oral hygiene practice, 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. Body mass index (kg/m2) for age and flow rate of stimulated whole saliva (ml/min) was determined. Total cariogenic food exposure time was calculated.RESULTS: The obese subjects exhibited significant higher mean score of DMFS (4.84±3.65 for male - 5.00±2.04 for female) vs. 0.76±1.39 for male - 0.44±2.71 for female in normal weight group (p= 0.011) and (p= 0.001) respectively. Obese group had lower flow rate of stimulated whole saliva (1.74±0.75 ml/min for male-1.80±0.65 ml/min for female) vs 2.86±0.70 for males- 2.83±0.65 for females in normal weight group (p=0.001) and (p=0.018) respectively. Obese subjects exhibited significant higher cariogenic food total exposure time with mean of 155.60±59.56 min/day vs. 50.40±34.58 min/day (p < 0.001). No significant difference existed between the two groups regarding different food groups consumption except for grain group according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommendations. In a multiple stepwise linear regression model for DMFS predictors, DMFS was significantly associated with lower flow rate of stimulated whole saliva (p < 0.001), cariogenic food total exposure time, added sugar and milk group consumption.CONCLUSIONS: Obese young adolescents are more likely to suffer from dental caries and lower salivary flow rate compared to normal weight ones. They are more liable to consume cariogenic snacks and grain group food items.

Guidelines for Monitoring and Management of Pediatric Patients Before, During, and After Sedation for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures: Update 2016.

The safe sedation of children for procedures requires a systematic approach that includes the following: no administration of sedating medication without the safety net of medical/dental supervision, careful presedation evaluation for underlying medical or surgical conditions that would place the child at increased risk from sedating medications, appropriate fasting for elective procedures and a balance between the depth of sedation and risk for those who are unable to fast because of the urgent nature of the procedure, a focused airway examination for large (kissing) tonsils or anatomic airway abnormalities that might increase the potential for airway obstruction, a clear understanding of the medication's pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects and drug interactions, appropriate training and skills in airway management to allow rescue of the patient, age- and size-appropriate equipment for airway management and venous access, appropriate medications and reversal agents, sufficient numbers of staff to both carry out the procedure and monitor the patient, appropriate physiologic monitoring during and after the procedure, a properly equipped and staffed recovery area, recovery to the presedation level of consciousness before discharge from medical/dental supervision, and appropriate discharge instructions. This report was developed through a collaborative effort of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry to offer pediatric providers updated information and guidance in delivering safe sedation to children.

Dental Injuries and Mouthguard Use Among High School Athletes

Research Article| May 01 2016 Dental Injuries and Mouthguard Use Among High School Athletes AAP Grand Rounds (2016) 35 (5): 53. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.35-5-53 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Dental Injuries and Mouthguard Use Among High School Athletes. AAP Grand Rounds May 2016; 35 (5): 53. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.35-5-53 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: dental trauma, mouth protectors, student athletes Source: Collins CL, McKenzie LB, Ferketich AK, et al. Dental injuries sustained by high school athletes in the United States, from 2008/2009 through 2013/2014 academic years. Dent Traumatol. 2016; 32(2): 121– 127; doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12228Google Scholar Researchers from multiple institutions assessed the rate of dental injuries among high school athletes and determined athletes’ use of mouthguards at the time of injury. Data were obtained from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, which collects information about high school athlete injuries on a weekly basis from certified athletic trainers (AT) at a national sample of US high schools. Data from academic years 2008–2009 through 2013–2014 were included in this study. ATs used a standardized, internet-based injury report that included information on the number of athlete competitions, athlete practices, and reportable injuries sustained by athletes by sport, including dental injury. A dental injury was defined as any injury to the teeth and/or mouth of an athlete that occurred as a result of participation in a high school competition, practice, or performance, required medical attention, and resulted in restriction of the athlete’s participation for ≥1 days. ATs were asked to include the type of dental injury, how it occurred, and information about the use of self-fitted or professionally-fitted mouthguards at the time of injury. The primary outcome was dental injury rates. The rate of dental injury was calculated as the ratio of injuries per 100,000 athletic exposures (AEs), which was defined as 1 athlete participating in 1 practice, competition, or performance. Rates of dental injury were compared across sports and the rate of dental injury during practice was compared to the rate of injury during competition. During the study period, 222 dental injuries occurred during 24,787,258 AEs for a rate of 0.9 per 100,000. Oral lacerations, tooth fractures, and tooth avulsion injuries accounted for 36.5%, 23.9%, and 11.3% of the dental injuries, respectively. Dental injuries most commonly occurred due to contact with another player (61.3%) or with a playing apparatus (31.5%). Dental injuries occurred more often during competition (1.8 per 100,000) than practice (0.6 per 100,000). Girls’ field hockey (3.9 per 100,000) and boys’ basketball (2.6 per 100,000) were the sports with highest rates of dental injuries. In most cases of dental injury, the athlete was not wearing a mouthguard (72.5%). In those instances where an injury was sustained while wearing a mouthguard, most athletes were wearing self-fitted mouthguards (95.9%). The authors conclude that dental injuries in high school sports are uncommon but may potentially be prevented by wearing a mouthguard. Dr Karp has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. Mouthguards are advocated by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as effective protective equipment for preventing or reducing the severity of dental injuries.1,2 The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) requires mouthguard use... You do not currently have access to this content.

Infant oral health care: An invaluable clinical intervention

Dental assessments and evaluations for children during their 1st year of life have been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Pediatrics. Early dental intervention evaluates a child's risk status based on parental interviews and oral examinations. These early screenings present an opportunity to educate parents about the medical, dental, and cost benefits of preventive rather than restorative care and may be more effective in reducing early childhood caries than traditional infectious disease models. A comprehensive infant oral care program includes: (1) risk assessments at regularly scheduled dental visits, (2) preventive treatments such as fluoride varnishes or sealants, (3) parental education on the correct methods to clean the baby's mouth, and (4) establishment of dental home and use of anticipatory guidance. The present article highlights the important guidelines of infant oral health care.

AGE AND REASONS OF THE FIRST DENTAL VISIT OF CHILDREN IN LEBANON.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry have recommended that the child's first dental visit should be during the child's first year of life for dental disease prevention and to decrease the invasive restorative interventions. In Lebanon, no study has been conducted to determine the age and the reasons of the first dental visit of children and who requested the first dental screening. To assess at what age occurred the first dental visit in a group of Lebanese children visiting a private pediatric dental clinic and to explore the reasons for their first dental consultation. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted. During a five-year period, all children visiting the pediatric clinic were invited to participate in the study. Parents were asked about the general health status of their child, the use of antibiotics before the age of 2 years. Parents were also requested to give the dental reasons for their initial visit to a pedodontist. Two hundred and twenty children (mean age 4.24 ± 1.35 years) visited the pedodontic care office for the first time and were included in the study. All participants had visited a pediatrician before the age of 1 year. Fifty-seven (25.9%) children were referred by a dentist and 163 (74.1%) came with their parents without referral. All participants had at least one reason for the first consultation; the most common were the presence of decayed teeth (50.9%) and a dental pain perception (29.5%). All participants had visited a pediatrician at an earlier age but none was referred to a pedodontist by a pediatrician for check-up or prevention. Children came upon the decision of their parents. A dental problem was the major reason which triggered the first visit. Therefore, pediatricians in Lebanon need to keep themselves updated on recommendations regarding children oral health and be encouraged to play an important role in prompting oral health and first dental visits.

Dental students' compliance with antibiotic prescribing guidelines for dental infections in children.

To investigate the antibiotic prescribing training received by dental students, clinical experience in treating child patients, awareness of antibiotic prescribing guidelines, preparedness in antibiotic prescribing, and compliance with antibiotic prescribing guidelines for the management of dental infections in children. This was a cross-sectional study involving final year dentals students from Malaysian and Asian dental schools. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of five clinical case scenarios was e-mailed to all final year students at selected dental schools. Students' responses were compared for each clinical case scenario with the prescribing guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association. Compliance in each scenario was tested for association with their preparedness in antibiotic prescribing, previous training on antibiotic prescribing and awareness of antibiotic prescribing guidelines using Chi-square test. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS statistics version 20. A total of 108 completed responses were received. About 74 (69%) students were from Malaysian dental schools. The compliance rate with prescribing guidelines ranged from 15.7% to 43.5%. Those attending Malaysian dental schools (47.3%) and those who had treated child patient more often (46.3%) were more likely (P < 0.05) to be aware of the guidelines. Those who had received antibiotic prescribing training (21.3%) were more likely to think they were well prepared in antibiotic prescribing (P < 0.05). Final year dental students had low awareness and compliance with antibiotic prescribing guidelines. Further research is needed to investigate how compliance with the guidelines may be enhanced.

Educators’ and Applicants’ Views of the Postdoctoral Pediatric Dentistry Admission Process: A Qualitative Study

The postdoctoral application and matching process in dental education is a high-stakes and resource-intensive process for all involved. While programs seek the most qualified candidates, applicants strive to be competitive to increase their likelihood of being accepted to a desirable program. There are limited data regarding either subjective or objective factors underlying the complex interplay between programs and applicants. This qualitative study sought to provide insight into the stakeholders' experiences and views on the matching process. Telephone and in-person interviews were conducted with ten pediatric dentistry program directors and ten recent applicants to pediatric dentistry programs in the United States in 2013-14. Participants were selected to represent the geographic (five districts of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) and institutional (hospital- or university-based) diversity of pediatric dentistry programs. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Veracity and need for more information were the themes most often articulated by both groups. The program directors most valued teachability and self-motivation as desirable applicant characteristics. The applicants relied primarily on subjective sources to gather information about programs and prioritized location and financial factors as pivotal for their rankings. Both groups appreciated the uniformity of the current application process and highlighted several weaknesses and areas for improvement. These results shed light on the postdoctoral matching process in pediatric dentistry via a qualitative description of stakeholders' experiences and viewpoints. These insights can serve as a basis for improving and refining the matching process.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Pediatric Dentists Regarding Speech Evaluation of Patients: Implications for Dental Education

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine pediatric dentists' attitudes about speech evaluation in the dental setting and assess their knowledge of speech development and pathology. In October 2013, members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry were invited to participate in an electronic questionnaire. Categories of questions were demographics, attitudes and confidence in speech pathology, and theoretical and practical knowledge of speech development and speech pathology. Theoretical knowledge was assessed using questions about phonetics and speech milestones. Practical knowledge was determined with three 30-second interview-style video clips. A total of 539 responses were received for a response rate of 10.4%. The majority of respondents reported feeling that speech evaluation should be part of the pediatric dental visit (72.8%) and felt confident in their ability to detect speech issues (73.2%). However, they did poorly on the theoretical knowledge questions (41.9%) as well as the practical knowledge questions (8.5%). There was a statistically significant difference in theoretical score between gender and type of occupation (p<0.05). This difference was not observed when examining practical knowledge. This study suggests that although pediatric dentists are in an ideal position to aid in the detection of speech issues, they currently have insufficient training and knowledge to do so.

Evaluation of Children's Perception towards Non-pharmacologic Behavior Guidance Techniques

Objective: Pediatric dentistry understands that the behavior guidance of the child cannot be separated from the quality of dental work. A child's willingness in accepting dental treatment is as important as the parents', if not more. This study aimed to evaluate the children's attitude towards different non-pharmacologic behavior guidance techniques adopted by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry using the line of favor. Methods: A total of 200, 6-12 years old children were selected; 100 from private schools and 100 from public schools. Each child was asked to watch 7 videos of non-pharmacologic behavior guidance techniques which include: tell-show-do, positive reinforcement, distraction, non-verbal communication, parental presence/absence, protective stabilization and voice control. After watching the videos, children were asked to express their feeling towards each technique by drawing a line of favor. Results: In both the private and public schools, the gender didn't affect the acceptability of behavior guidance techniques among children. For the two study groups, positive reinforcement was the most accepted technique with statistically significant difference in favor of private schools, while voice control was the least accepted technique with statistically significant difference in favor of public schools. Conclusion: Children's opinion should always be considered as they are the one receiving the treatment. Positive reinforcement was the most accepted technique, while protective stabilization and voice control were the least accepted.

Risk determinants associated with early childhood caries in Uygur children: a preschool-based cross-sectional study.

BackgroundThe prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) varies with geographical region and population. The Uygur people, one of 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities in China, have a population of 10,069,346. We performed a preschool-based cross-sectional study of 670 Uygur children from the southern region of Xinjiang, China, to investigate the prevalence and severity of ECC and to identify factors related to the dental health condition of this population.MethodsThe study population of children ranging in age from 3 to 5 years was invited using a three-stage stratified sampling in Kashgar, the westernmost city in China. The “dmft” index was used to assess dental caries. The diagnosis of ECC or severe ECC was based on the oral health diagnostic criteria defined by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. A questionnaire was completed by the children’s caregivers. The survey included questions concerning the children’s sociodemographic background; feeding and eating habits, particularly frequency of sweet beverage and food consumption; dental hygiene-related behaviors; the general oral health knowledge of caregivers; and the dental healthcare experience of caregivers and their children.ResultsA total of 670 Uygur children underwent complete dental caries examination. Most of the children (74.2%) had ECC, with a mean dmft ± SD of 3.95 ± 3.84. The prevalence of severe ECC was 40.1% (N =269), with a mean dmft of 7.72 ± 3.14. More than 99% of caries were untreated. Statistically significant correlations were found between higher ECC prevalence and increased age and lower socioeconomic background, while greater dental health knowledge of the caregiver and positive oral hygiene behaviors were found to be protective. Our findings confirm the multi-factorial etiology of ECC.ConclusionsThe prevalence of ECC among preschool-aged Uygur children in Kashgar was high, particularly among those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Caries prevalence was associated with oral hygiene behaviors of children and the general oral health knowledge of caregivers. These factors could be modified through public health strategies, including effective publicity concerning general dental health and practical health advice.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1472-6831-14-136) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.