Isabel Bica

Accuracy in the legal age estimation according to the third molars mineralization among Mexicans and Columbians.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to assess the accuracy of age estimation according to two cut-off points of Demirjians developmental stages (G and H) in the wisdom teeth, using panoramic radiographs from Colombian and Mexican teenagers. STUDY DESIGN The degree of maturation of the third molars was classified according to Demirjian in 8 stages (from A to H) by a blinded trained assessor. The sensitivity, specificity and efficacy of two cut-off points (G and H) were calculated for both samples. RESULTS The orthopantomographies of 316 subjects, 171 Colombians (54.1%) and 145 Mexicans (45.9%), were analyzed. The stage H was found to be the best threshold for detecting juveniles (because the high specificity) in all the third molars assessed. The specificity was higher for lower third molars than for upper third molars, but no asymmetrical discrepancy was noted. CONCLUSIONS The stage H is the best cut-off point for detecting the adulthood when a high-specificity test is required.

Food consumption, body mass index and risk for oral health in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE The food intake has great influence on the oral health of adolescents, being relevant to analyze the type of food consumed by adolescents and their relationship with the DMFT index (decayed, missing and filled), the plaque index (PI) and the body mass index (BMI). DESIGN Epidemiological study conducted in public schools of the 3rd cycle of basic education, central Portugal. INSTRUMENTS The sociodemographic and dietary habits and frequency characterization was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire completed by adolescents and validated for the population under study. The DMFT index was evaluated according to WHO criteria, oral hygiene was evaluated based on the plaque index and BMI through weight and height in adolescents. PARTICIPANTS Random sample by clusters (schools) with 661 adolescents, 84.1% female and 15.9% male. RESULTS Adolescents with mean age 13.22 years (± 1.139). The mean DMFT was 2.23 (± 2.484), the prevalence of PI was 96.4%, and ≥ 5 BMI <85. Adolescents with a higher DMFT index consume more cariogenic foods (r=0.160; P=.000). Adolescents with a higher BMI consume less cariogenic foods (r=-0.1343; P=.001). The value of t reveals that the consumption of cariogenic foods explains 1.8% of the variance of the BMI and 2.6% DMFT. CONCLUSION The cariogenic foods are presented as a risk factor for dental caries. The results suggest that it is important to develop up actions for health education.

Health Surveillance: What Adolescents Expect

Involve adolescents and knowing what to expect from a health surveillance query, rather than decide for them without the consult, is of paramount importance. We aimed to know the opinion of adolescents about health surveillance query. As a methodology we applied, Cross-sectional study of qualitative nature and phenomenological approach. There were semi-structured interviews in a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 14 adolescents, aged 15 to 17 years old, attending high school. After the content analysis of the responses, it was found that teens put the emphasis on prevention, there were no differences between the two sample groups. The query should be preventive and about health promotion; the theme that adolescents seem to consider most important is to address sexuality (affections, contraception and STI); professional mentioned was a nurse with specialized training; although they prefer the free time, they like to a fixed schedule to answer questions and education sessions for health; as to the operation site, said the school.