Journal of Dentistry for Children

The use of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in pediatric dental practices is a relatively new approach for behavior management, with few studies gauging interest in its use from the provider's perspective. The purpose of this study was to assess pediatric dentists' interest in and concerns with the use of AAT and identify its challenges and limitations. A survey was sent to the membership of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, comprising questions about providers' practices and their views on the benefits of and concerns about implementing AAT...

Chemical burn of the oral mucosa can occur as a result of the inadvertent, intentional or iatrogenic use of chemicals. Self-treatment for toothache relief with nonpharma ceutical substances can result in a chemical burn. A detailed history is paramount in such cases to identify the etiologic agent to proceed with appropriate treatment. The purpose of this report is to describe the case of an eight-year-old with a complaint of toothache who rinsed his mouth with potassium aluminium sulfate solution to achieve pain relief...

Purpose: It has been suggested that follow-up visits for pediatric patients after full-mouth dental rehabilitation (FMDR) under general anesthesia (GA) are important to evaluate healing and restorative treatment, review oral hygiene instruction, provide nutritional counseling and address guardians' concerns. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pediatric dentists' current utilization of follow-up visits after GA and to evaluate pediatric dentists' and guardians' perceptions of their purpose and value. Methods: Three separate surveys were administered: (1) pediatric dentist survey, (2) guardian pre-appointment survey and (3) guardian post-appointment survey...

Mandibular fractures are rare in children and normally result from high-impact trauma. Clinical protocols have evolved in recent years, especially after the introduction of rigid internal fixation methods and the development of novel resorbable materials. The purpose of this report is to present the case of a three-year-old toddler who fell from a bunk bed at home, resulting in a unilateral fracture of the mandibular parasymphysis and a joint fracture on the left side. The patient was treated under general anesthesia with rigid internal fixation with biodegradable plates and screws...

Infraocclusion is a local etiologic factor of malocclusion that can have deleterious effects on normal dental development. Therefore, early recognition and diagnosis are the two most important factors in the management of infraocclusion. The purpose of this case report is to describe the management of a patient who was diagnosed at seven years of age with an eruption disturbance, whose severe sequela could have been prevented had the infraocclusion been diagnosed early.

Bilateral dentigerous cysts (DC) associated with unerupted mandibular first molars in a non-syndromic pediatric individual are rare. Secondary infections may lead to complications, such as discomfort due to pain, disfigurement caused by enlargement of the cyst with cortical expansion of the jawbone, displacement of teeth and paraesthesia of the adjacent nerve. This case report describes the occurrence of bilateral DC in an eight-year-old patient. Marsupialization was the treatment of choice to preserve the permanent teeth and other adjacent tissues...

Purpose: To compare the effective dose (E) of the Tru-Image® rectangular collimator and the universal round collimator of a Planmeca® wall-mounted radiograph unit for two bitewing radiographs (right and left) on a pediatric phantom.<br/> Methods: Absorbed doses utilizing the Tru-Image ®rectangular collimator and universal round collimator were acquired using an anthropomorphic 10-year-old child phantom. Each set of 24 dosimeters was exposed to two bitewing exposures with the manufacturer's child settings...

Purpose: To compare the accuracy and efficiency of both alginate and digital impression techniques in a method representative of a clinical setting. By evaluating the difference in fabrication time and accuracy for these techniques, it can be determined if using digital scanning is a viable alternative to alginate impressions to fabricate pediatric dental appliances.<br/> Methods: Both the alginate and digital impressions were taken from the same pediatric typodont study model. The alginate impressions were handled and poured up, per product instructions, and digital impressions were 3D printed...

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy in dental biofilm (DB) removal between electric toothbrushes versus manual toothbrushes in primary dentition using an Image Analysis System (IAS) of digital photographs.<br/> Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled, blind, crossover clinical trial was conducted for 12 weeks with children between four to six years of age. The amount of DB was evaluated at zero, four, eight and 12 weeks. The degree of acceptance of the type of toothbrush used by the child was assessed at week 12...

Purpose: To assess the setting of premixed mineral trioxide aggregate (NuSmile NeoPUTTY) when used as a pulpotomy agent in primary molars, restored in a single visit, and to compare the effect of overlying materials, including zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE), resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) and stainless steel crowns (SSC), on the microhardness of the NeoPUTTY.<br/> Methods: Forty-eight extracted primary molars were prepared with the standard pulpotomy technique. Approximately three mm of NeoPUTTY were placed on the pulpal floor of each tooth...

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the avulsion of a primary maxillary first molar in a 22-month-old child, which occurred while she had a training cup in her mouth. The parents noticed bleeding in the mouth and a missing tooth, and brought the child to a pediatric emergency department. A clinical assessment by the pediatric dental team confirmed the avulsion and since the tooth could not be located, a radiograph of the chest was obtained to rule out aspiration. The chest radiograph showed the tooth to be in the proximal jejunum...

Purpose: To evaluate the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms reported by parents and the variables sleep problems, possible sleep bruxism, possible awake bruxism and dental trauma (DT), and its mode of occurrence in children and adolescents.<br/> Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the parents of 144 four- to 16-year-old subjects through a questionnaire on demographics, subjects' sleep, self-reported bruxism and DT mode of occurrence. The Swanson, Nolan and Pelham scale IV was used to assess ADHD signs and subtypes...

Regional odontodysplasia (ROD) is a rare developmental anomaly with distinctive clinical, radiographical and histological findings, affecting both primary and permanent dentitions. The teeth with ROD have an atypical morphology and are usually discolored, with either delayed eruption or complete failure to erupt. Radiographically, the affected teeth have a "ghostly" appearance, with marked radiolucency and decreased radiodensity, showing a thin outline of enamel and dentin, which appear hypomineralized histologically, with poorly structured dentinal tubules and enamel prisms...

Odontogenic infections are preventable yet common in adults and children, and can progress to life-threatening levels if not definitively managed in a timely manner. Children with odontogenic infections often first present to the pediatric or general dental practice, making pediatric and general dentists key players in the management of odontogenic infections. While the pediatric or general dentist can definitively manage several types of infections, their critical role goes well beyond treatment to include timely and appropriate triage as well as facilitation of care when the severity of the infection exceeds the scope of their practice...

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare proliferative disease of myeloid cells that can affect multiple organs and present with diverse clinical manifestations. The skeleton, skin and lymph nodes are commonly affected sites, while oral involvement is rare. LCH is currently classified by disease extent into single system and multisystem forms, and further categorized by risk organs. The purpose of this report is to describe the case of a six-month-old girl who presented with a chief complaint of feeding difficulties, premature eruption of the primary left maxillary second molar, expansion of the maxillary alveolar ridges and ulceration of the posterior maxillary oral mucosa...

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of malocclusion and dental caries on oral health- related quality of life (OHRQoL) in adolescents and the differences between adoles- cents' self-reports and caregiver's proxy reports. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,612 Brazil- ian adolescents and 1,168 caregivers. Adolescents completed the Child Perceptions Questionnaire and caregivers completed the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Question- naire. Malocclusion (dental esthetic index) and dental caries (DMFT) were documented...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Purpose: To determine the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) to improve recall attendance after dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA).<br/> Methods: The sample consisted of parents of randomly selected pediatric patients who had oral rehabilitation under GA at a children's hospital. An 18-item questionnaire that included demographics, education, language, country of birth and age was administered prior to the GA appointment. A five-minute MI phone call three months after the procedure and a second MI phone call after the first recall was conducted by a standardized interviewer...

Purpose: To present a patient interaction teaching tool for synchronous teledentistry visits following concepts in critical thinking and report on the viability, assessment and implementation of the tool in an academic pediatric dentistry clinic.<br/> Methods: A teaching tool was derived from interviews with pediatric dental residents and clinicians. The tool contained six main sections and 26 steps. The main sections included: greeting, medical, dental and behavioral histories; airway assessment; treatment recommendations; behavioral modalities of treatment; and follow-up...

Purpose: To evaluate the factors associated with longitudinal changes in the caries activity profile of high caries risk children.<br/> Methods: The sample consisted of clinical records of children who had undergone dental care in a public setting during a one-year period. Patients with active carious lesions (non-cavitated and/or cavitated) at the initial examination and who completed treatment were considered for the analysis. A caries-controlled profile was set as the main outcome based on arresting active carious lesions...