Karina Bonanato

Relationship between Mothers’ Sense of Coherence and Oral Health Status of Preschool Children

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between mothers’ sense of coherence (SOC) and oral health status in a representative sample of 5-year-old preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Belo Horizonte (Brazil) on a sample of 546 mothers and their 5-year-old children, randomly selected from preschools. Data were collected through questionnaires (mothers), the short version of Antonovsky’s SOC scale (SOC-13) and clinical dental examinations (children). Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed on the data. The following 8 outcome variables were selected: dental caries, filled and missing teeth, dental pulp exposure due to caries, dental root fragment, visible plaque, gingivitis and supragingival calculus. The examination was carried out by 2 trained, calibrated examiners. Results: Mothers with a lower SOC were more likely to have children with decayed teeth (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.01–2.29), dental pulp exposure (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.06–3.77) or filled teeth (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.12–3.06) regardless of the child’s social class and gender. Conclusion: The data indicate that mothers’ SOC is an important psychosocial determinant of the oral health status among preschool children.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a Brazilian version of an instrument to assess impairments related to oral functioning of people with Down syndrome

BackgroundAn instrument was developed in Canada to assess impairments related to oral functioning of individuals with four years of age or older with Down syndrome (DS). The present study attempted to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the instrument for the Brazilian Portuguese language and to test its reliability and validity.FindingsAfter translation and cross-cultural adaptation, the instrument was tested on caregivers of people with DS. Clinical examination for malocclusion was carried out in people with DS by two calibrated examiners. Inter and Intra examiner agreement was assessed by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and ranged from 0.92 to 0.97 respectively. Total of 157 people with DS and their caregivers were able to compose the sample. They were selected from eight institutions for people with DS in five cities of southeastern Brazil. The mean age of people with DS was 20.7 [±13.1] and for caregivers was 53.1 [±13.7]. The mean instrument score was 18.6 [±9.0]. Internal reliability ranged from 0.49 to 0.80 and external reliability ranged from 0.78 to 0.88. Construct validity was verified by significant correlations identified between malocclusion and the total instrument; and caregivers’ educational level and the instrument (p<0.05). Discriminant validity was proved as the instrument presented different mean comparing people with DS and non-DS (p<0.05).ConclusionsInitial validity tests indicated that the instrument related to the oral health for people with DS may be a valid instrument to this segment of the population in Brazil.

Avulsion of permanent lower central incisors: esthetic-functional solution.

This short communication reports a clinical case of a 11-year-old girl, who underwent an avulsion of the lower left lateral incisor and who sought delayed treatment. The treatment was a combined technique with polyethylene fibers and composite resins to create a fixed partial denture, which is a low-cost solution and presents a good esthetic-functional result. The technique is described and the success of its use in appropriately recommended cases is confirmed.