Objective: Children frequently experience pain and/or discomfort during dental treatment. Still, pain research in dentistry has mainly been performed on adults using quantitative methods while research on the child's perspective is scarce. This study aims to explore and describe children's experiences and/or thoughts regarding pain in conjunction with tooth extraction.

Material and methods: Interviews were carried out with twelve Swedish 10-16-year-olds who had recently undergone tooth extractions due to orthodontic reasons. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to grounded theory.

Results: A core category was identified and named 'handling the unavoidable unknown'. The informants recalled experiences of pain and discomfort during extractions. However, instead of focussing on pain, they described an urge for more information about the procedure and what to expect in terms of pain and/or discomfort, during and/or after treatment. They stated that the levels of pain/discomfort were manageable, while the lack of information negatively affected their coping abilities, causing feelings of unease.

Conclusions: To improve patients' ability to deal with pain in conjunction with dental extraction, the dental team should ensure better and individually tailored information about the treatment. Thus, the use of psychological techniques is a cornerstone in pain management and must be reflected in clinical guidelines.

PURPOSE: To study pain perception in 10-15-year-olds, during and after uncomplicated extractions of bilateral maxillary premolars. The study investigated pain's natural course and made comparisons between the first and second extractions. METHODS: 31 Swedish children in need of orthodontic treatment were identified and consecutively enrolled. Tooth extractions followed a standardised protocol and the two teeth were extracted with at least 10 days between. The participants rated pain intensity using visual analogue scale (VAS) at 14 different time points from treatment and 7 days forward. RESULTS: The pain intensity profile followed the same pattern for all patients. Pain intensity peaked 2 h after extractions (mean VASPI 27.3, SD 20.8; median 23.0) when moderate pain intensity (VASPI >/= 40) was registered for 16 (28%) of 57 cases. After that, there was a rapid decrease in pain intensity notable already at 4 h after extractions. There were no statistically significant differences in any VASPI measurements between the first and second extractions, sexes, or different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the participants who undergo uncomplicated bilateral extraction of maxillary premolars experience mild to moderate levels of postoperative pain during a short period of time, with no differences between the first and second extractions. Bilateral tooth extractions is a suitable model for further studies on pain management.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate Swedish dentists' attitudes regarding pain management strategies for treating children and adolescents. It assessed recommendations for pre- and postoperative analgesics, and use of local anaesthesia, and whether application of these strategies differs between general dental practitioners (GDPs) and specialists in paediatric dentistry (SPDs). DESIGN: We invited all GDPs (n = 807) in southern Sweden (Region Skåne), and all registered SPDs (n = 122) working in Sweden (929 actively practising dentists under age 65 years) to participate in a postal survey on pain management in paediatric dental care. RESULTS: The SPDs reported using all types of pain-reducing strategies more frequently than GDPs except local anaesthesia when extracting a permanent premolar, which SPDs and GDPs used equally often. Preoperative analgesic use was greater among SPDs than GDPs. GDPs used local anaesthesia less frequently for filling therapy in primary teeth than in permanent teeth. CONCLUSIONS: SPDs recommend preoperative analgesics more often than GDPs do. GDPs seem to underuse local anaesthetics when treating children and adolescents. SPDs also use pain management strategies more frequently than GDPs. Among GDPs, pain management is less frequent when treating primary teeth than permanent teeth.

Background There is an uncertainty regarding how to optimally prevent and/or reduce pain after dental treatment on children and adolescents. Aim To conduct a systematic review (SR) and health technology assessment (HTA) of oral analgesics administered after dental treatment to prevent postoperative pain in children and adolescents aged 3-19 years. Design A PICO-protocol was constructed and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017075589). Searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Cinahl, and EMBASE, November 2018. The researchers (reading in pairs) assessed identified studies independently, according to the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, following the PRISMA-statement. Results 3,963 scientific papers were identified, whereof 216 read in full text. None met the inclusion criteria, leading to an empty SR. Ethical issues were identified related to the recognized knowledge gap in terms of challenges to conduct studies that are well-designed from methodological as well as ethical perspectives. Conclusions There is no scientific support for the use or rejection of oral analgesics administered after dental treatment in order to prevent or reduce postoperative pain in children and adolescents. Thus, no guidelines can be formulated on this issue based solely on scientific evidence. Well-designed studies on how to prevent pain from developing after dental treatment in children and adolescents is urgently needed.

BACKGROUND: There is rising concern about how preterm birth affects long-term health later in life. The various effects that preterm birth have on developmental outcomes, cognitive profiles and medical health may also affect levels of cooperation in the dental care situation in addition to general oral health and other oral health-related habits. Oral health is an integral part of one's general health and well-being; however, less is known about how prematurity affects oral health and other related areas such as dental care, and including dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in individuals during adolescence and adulthood. This is considered of special interest to study, as preterm children during the preschool and school period were reported to have behavioural problems during dental treatments and less than favourable oral hygiene. METHODS: A questionnaire was used of self-report design and structured into behavioural aspects relating to dental treatment, oral health-related factors, and medical health. This questionnaire at 17-19 years of age was a follow-up from 12 to 14 years of age and considered a predictor for planning future dental care for this group of patients. The 145 participating adolescents were all preterm, born between 23 and 32 weeks of gestation and 140 full-term controls, born ≥37 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Dental fear and anxiety, oral health behaviour, and intake of sweets and sugary drinks of 17-19-year old adolescents born preterm was comparable to that of the full-term control group. Medical health problems as well as the intake of sweets and sugary drinks increased from the time of early adolescence to late adolescence in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Preterm as well as full-term adolescents between 17 and 19 years of age are satisfied with their dental care and display low prevalence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA). The findings in this study indicate that adolescents born very preterm and extremely preterm are well prepared for transition to dental care in adult life with expectations of being able to take responsibility for their oral health. KEYWORDS: Adolescent; Born preterm; Dental care; Oral health behaviour

Background: Vitamin D is crucial for mineralized tissue formation and immunological functions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between vitamin D status and dental status in healthy children with vitamin D supplementation in infancy and at 6 years of age. Method: Eight-year-old children who had participated, in a vitamin D intervention project when they were 6 years old were invited to participate in a dental follow-up study. They had fair or darker skin complexion and represented two geographically distant parts of Sweden. 25-hydroxy vitamin D in serum had been measured at 6 years of age and after a 3-month intervention with 25, 10 or 2 (placebo) mu g of vitamin D-3 per day. Two years later, caries and enamel defects were scored, self-reported information on e.g., oral behavior, dietary habits and intake of vitamin D supplements was collected, and innate immunity peptide LL37 levels in saliva and cariogenic mutant streptococci in tooth biofilm were analyzed. The outcome variables were caries and tooth enamel defects. Results: Dental status was evaluated in 85 of the 206 children in the basic intervention study. Low vitamin D levels were found in 28% at baseline compared to 11% after the intervention, and 34% reported continued intake of vitamin D supplements. Logistic regression supported a weak inverse association between vitamin D status at 6 years of age and caries 2 years later (odds ratio 0.96; p = 0.024) with minor attenuation after an adjustment for potential confounders. Multivariate projection regression confirmed that insufficient vitamin D levels correlated with caries and higher vitamin D levels correlated with being caries-free. Vitamin D status at 6 years of age was unrelated to enamel defects but was positively associated with saliva LL37 levels. Conclusion: An association between vitamin D status and caries was supported, but it was not completely consistent. Vitamin D status at 6 years of age was unrelated to enamel defects but was positively associated with LL37 expression.

Aim

Sweden´s first multidisciplinary children's advocacy centre (CAC) was founded in 2005 as a collaborative practice between child protection services, the legal system and health care in response to police-reported child abuse. CACs were introduced in the county of Skåne in 2007. The aim of the study was to describe the health of children investigated at the CAC in Lund, and to examine whether the CAC model of collaboration responded to the healthcare needs of these children.

Methods

All children aged 0–17 years investigated at the CAC in 2015 were included in this retrospective study. We reviewed the CAC files and the children's medical and dental records from one year prior to, until one year after their assessment at the CAC.

Results

Our review of the medical and dental records (n = 298) showed a high prevalence of mental, dental and physical ill-health. After the CAC joint meeting, only 1% of the children were referred for a medical examination and 4% for a focused forensic evaluation.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates limitations in the CAC process in responding to extensive health issues of the young victims of crime. We suggest mental, dental and physical health assessments to be statutory in CACs.

Background. Paediatric dentistry in Sweden has been surveyed four times over the past 25 years. During this period postgraduate training, dental health, and the organization of child dental care have changed considerably. Aim. To investigate services provided by specialists in paediatric dentistry in Sweden in 2008, and to compare with data from previous surveys. Design. The same questionnaire was sent to all 30 specialist paediatric dental clinics in Sweden that had been used in previous surveys. Comparisons were made with data from 1983, 1989, 1996 and 2003. Results. Despite an unchanged number of specialists (N = 81 in 2008), the number of referrals had increased by 16% since 2003 and by almost 50% since 1983. There was greater variation in reasons for referrals. The main reason was still dental anxiety/behaviour management problems in combination with dental treatment needs (27%), followed by medical conditions/disability (18%), and high caries activity (15%). The use of different techniques for conscious sedation as well as general anaesthesia had also increased. Conclusions. The referrals to paediatric dentistry continue to increase, leading to a heavy work load for the same number of specialists. Thus, the need for more paediatric dentists remains.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the evidence supporting effects and adverse effects of local analgesia using different pharmacological agents and injection techniques during dental treatment in children and adolescents aged 3-19 years. METHODS: A systematic literature search of databases including PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus was conducted in November 2016. The PRISMA-statement was followed. Two review authors independently assessed the selected randomised control trials for risk of bias and quality. RESULTS: 725 scientific papers were identified. 89 papers were identified to be read in full text of which 80 were excluded. Finally, 9 papers were evaluated for quality and risk of bias. Many of the included papers had methodological shortcomings affecting the possibility to draw conclusions. Information about ethical clearance and consent were missing in some of the included papers. No alarming adverse effects were identified. One study was assessed as having low risk of bias. This reported inferior alveolar nerve block to be more effective than buccal infiltration for dental treatment of mandibular molars, while no differences were found regarding pharmacological agents. CONCLUSIONS: At present, there is insufficient evidence in support of any pharmacologic agent or injection technique as being superior compared to others. There is a need for more rigorous studies which also handle the ethical issues of including children in potentially painful studies.

The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rightsof the Child, states that all children should havethe same right to the highest attainable standardof health. This should be known by everyone whoworks with children. Despite good oral health in theNordic countries, studies show that children livingin socially deprived environments have a greaterincreased risk of poor oral health. These childrenare not reached by preventive measures, they morefrequently do not show up for dental appointmentsand they receive less dental care than others. Therefore, in addition to a more general preventive andpopulation-based method, a special high-risk approach is also needed to reach children in socially deprived areas. It is also important that promotion and preventive efforts start from an early age.There are large knowledge gaps regarding the effects of different preventative and treatment strategies, and health economic analyzes are rare. It is achallenge to systematically document and evaluate oral health promotion and prevention directed atchildren in socially vulnerable environments to enable research. There is a need for interdisciplinaryresearch that includes clinicians. The vision mustbe health equity and that both health promotionand preventive measures contribute to closing theoral health gap between different social groups. l

Nationell statistik över tandhälsan hos barn och ungdomar redovisar uteslutande uppgifter om karies som till exempel genomsnittligt antal karierade och fyllda tänder och antal karierade och fyllda tandytor i olika åldersgrupper. Det innebär att de saknas kunskaper om mer komplicerade och tidskrävande behandlingar som rotbehandling av unga permanenta tänder. Syftet med denna avhandling var därför att undersöka förekomst av och kvalitet på rotbehandlingar av unga permanenta tänder samt att undersöka faktorer som kan innebära ökad risk för framtida rotbehandling på grund av karies. Materialet bestod av patientjournaler och röntgenbilder tillhörande en åldersgrupp 19-åringar (arbete I-III) och en åldersgrupp 15-åringar (arbete IV) från Folktandvården i Malmö. I arbete III ingick också en kontrollgrupp som inte hade rotbehandlade tänder. I arbete I studerades förekomsten av och orsakerna till rotbehandlingar av unga permanenta tänder. Resultaten visar att nio procent av alla 19-åringar hade minst en rotbehandlad tand. Den vanligaste orsaken var karies följt av olycksfallskador. Endast en liten andel berodde på störningar under tandens utvecklingsfas. Den första kindtanden, den s.k. sexårstanden, var den oftast rotbehandlade tanden tätt följd av framtänderna i överkäken. Andelen 19-åringar med någon rotbehandlad tand varierade avsevärt mellan olika kliniker. I arbete II studerades förekomsten av sjukliga förändringar runt rotspetsarna på de rotfyllda tänderna och kvaliteten på rotfyllningen, dvs om den var tät och hade en optimal längd. Resultaten visade att sjukliga förändringar förekom i 51 % av alla rotfyllda tänder, och att hälften av rotfyllningarna hade bristfällig kvalitet. Potentiella riskfaktorer för framtida rotbehandling på grund av karies undersöktes i arbete III. Det konstaterades att individer med minst en rotbehandlad tand på grund av karies hade mer karies vid 10 års ålder, oftare uppvisade tandvårdsrädsla eller behandlingsproblem och oftare uteblev från tandbehandlingar jämfört med en kontrollgrupp som inte hade någon rotbehandlad tand. I arbete IV undersöktes förekomsten av obehandlad dentinkaries och djupa fyllningar vid 15 års ålder. Utvecklingen av obehandlade dentinkariesskador mellan 14 och 15 år studerades också. Tjugotvå procent av individerna hade minst en obehandlad dentinkariesskada och ungefär var femte individ hade en fyllning som var djupare än halva dentinets tjocklek enligt röntgenbilden. Nio procent av individerna hade minst en kariesskada som hade utvecklats till en djup kariesskada mellan de två undersökningstillfällena. Sammanfattning: Rotbehandling av permanenta tänder var relativt vanligt hos 19-åringar. Den vanligaste orsaken var karies. Sjukliga förändringar i käkbenet kring den rotfyllda tanden sågs hos hälften av tänderna. Den tekniska kvalitén var också bristfällig i ungefär hälften av de rotfyllda tänderna. Potentiella riskfaktorer för kommande rotbehandling på grund av karies var hög kariesförekomst vid 10 års ålder, tandvårdsrädsla/behandlingsproblem och många uteblivanden. Obehandlad dentinkaries och djupa fyllningar var vanliga hos 15-åringar och måste ses som en potentiell riskfaktor för rotbehandling.

Objective. This study evaluated oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) in children and families before and after dental treatment under general anesthesia because of severe caries or molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Materials and methods. A consecutive sample of the parents/caregivers of children (3–14 years) in need of treatment under general anesthesia participated in the study. The children were divided into two groups: 3–6 years and 7–14 years. The 49-item questionnaire that was administered before and after general anesthesia comprised the Child Oral Health Quality of Life-components of the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ), the Family Impact Scale (FIS) and two global questions concerning oral health and general well-being. The P-CPQ domains were Oral symptoms, Functional limitations, Emotional well-being and Social well-being. The FIS items assessed impact on family life. Results. In both age groups, a significant decrease (p < 0.001) occurred in overall P-CPQ and the Oral symptoms, Functional limitations and Emotional limitations domains of the P-CPQ. Mean values for the Social well-being domain decreased significantly in the older (p < 0.05) but not the younger age group. Mean values for FIS decreased significantly in the younger (p < 0.001) and the older (p < 0.05) age groups. Conclusions. Dental treatment of severe caries or MIH, performed under general anesthesia, had an immediate effect on the oral health-related quality-of-life in the children in this study and a positive impact on the family situation.

Objective. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the association between background factors and future endodontic treatment due to caries in young permanent teeth. Material and methods. The material comprised all 19-year-olds born in 1979 in a city in Sweden who had experienced endodontic treatment due to caries in permanent teeth and a control group with no endodontic treatment. From dental records, the following independent variables were derived from age 7 to age 19: immigrant background, caries prevalence (DMFT values) at age 10, occurrence of dental anxiety, and missed or cancelled appointments before endodontic treatment. The outcome variable was presence or absence of endodontic treatment due to caries. Bivariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression model were used to analyse the data. Results. In the bivariate analyses, all independent variables except cancelled appointments were statistically significantly associated with future endodontic treatment. Of these, immigrant background did not remain as a statistically significant factor in the multiple regression model. The highest odds ratios were 4.3 for DMFT at age 10 and 4.1 for 20% missed appointments. Conclusion. In the present sample, with a relatively high proportion of individuals with an immigrant background, DMFT at age 10, many missed appointments and dental anxiety were all risk indicators for future endodontic treatment due to caries up to age 19. Key Words: Dental anxiety, dental avoidance, dental caries, immigrants, risk assessment

The objectives of this longitudinal study were to assess: (a) the prevalence of unrestored dentin caries among 15-year-olds, (b) the proportion of these lesions that had progressed to deep dentin lesions (inner half of dentin) since the immediately preceding examination at the age of 14 and (c) the frequency of deep restorations (extending into the inner half of the dentin). The sample consisted of all 15-year-olds (n = 2,487) born in 1990 and included in the Public Dental Service in Malmo, Sweden. Bitewing radiographs taken during 2005-2007 and the immediately preceding radiographs were analysed and scored by two examiners. The main radiographic scores were: sound; radiolucency in the outer or inner half of dentin; restored surface. The results showed that 22% of the individuals had 1 or more dentin lesions left unrestored from the time of the examination at the age of 14 until the next recall examination at the age of 15. During the observation period (median time 1.2 years), 9% of the unrestored outer dentin lesions progressed to deep dentin lesions. The majority of these (93%) were in molars. One or more deep restorations were found in 22% of the 15-year-olds; the majority involved occlusal surfaces of first molars. In conclusion, unrestored dentin lesions were common in 15-year-olds. Progression to deep dentin lesions occurred in 9% of these lesions and was most common in first molars. Occlusal surfaces of first molars had the highest frequency of deep restorations. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Objective. The aim was to study periapical status and the technical quality of root-filled teeth in Swedish adolescents and young adults in Malm, Sweden. Material and Methods. The sample, collected from dental records in the Public Dental Service, consisted of notes and radiographs of all root-filled permanent teeth in all 19-year-olds born in 1979 (mean age at root filling = 16.2 years). The sample for assessing periapical status and technical quality consisted of 124-153 teeth. The criterion for inclusion for assessing periapical status was a follow-up time of at least one year. Periapical status was assessed with the Periapical Index (PAI). Technical quality was analyzed from radiographs in two respects: sealing quality of the root canal and distance from the root filling to the radiographic apex. The radiographs were analyzed independently by two observers with inter-examiner kappa values of 0.82-0.85. Results. Apical periodontitis was found in 52% of the teeth and occurred significantly more often among molars than among anterior teeth. As judged radiographically, 51% of the teeth were inadequately sealed. In 38%, the distance to the apex was >2 mm and overfilling was registered in 14% of the teeth. Compared with anterior teeth, significantly more root fillings of molars had a distance to the apex of >2 mm. Technical quality was statistically significantly correlated with periapical status at follow-up. Conclusions. The technical quality and periapical status of root-filled teeth in adolescents and young adults were unsatisfactory in about half of the teeth.

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and reasons for endodontic treatment in a sample of 19-year-old adolescents living in the city of Malmö, Sweden. Dental records and available radiographs of all 19-year-olds (1,971) registered at the 20 Public Dental Service (PDS) clinics in Malmö were reviewed and data were collected on the following: endodontic treatment, number and type of teeth involved, and diagnosis leading to treatment. Endodontic treatment had been performed in 180 (9.1%) patients. The percentage of 19-year-olds at a PDS clinic who had undergone such treatment varied between 1.2% and 25.2%. One tooth had been treated endodontically in 138 (76.7%) of these patients. In three patients four teeth and in two patients five teeth had needed treatment. The molars were the teeth most frequently treated (46.5%), followed by the anteriors (39.5%), and the premolars (14.0%). The most commonly treated tooth was the maxillary central incisor and the most common diagnosis was caries (56.4%) followed by trauma (22.2%) and tooth developmental disturbances (1.6%). In conclusion, endodontic treatment seems to be fairly common among 19-year-olds in the city of Malmo. The great variation seen between the different PDS clinics most likely reflected variations in the socio-economic structure of the catchment areas of the clinics.

BACKGROUND: Salt fluoridation is considered a cost-effective community strategy for reducing caries. AIM: To evaluate the effect of school-based and domestic distribution of F-salt to schoolchildren residing in a disadvantaged community. DESIGN: Seven hundred and thirty-three schoolchildren (12-14 years), attending two public schools, were enrolled; one was assigned to intervention (IS), whereas the other served as reference (RS). Subjects in IS were given access to F-salt (250 ppm F) in marked jars at school lunch and through free supply for domestic use. The 2-year caries increment and progression rate, assessed from bitewing radiographs, was scored. Information on diet, oral hygiene, and fluoride exposure was collected through a baseline questionnaire. RESULTS: The dropout rate was high (IS 27%; RS 18%). At baseline, the IS children displayed more unfavourable risk factors and a higher caries experience than RS children. There were no significant differences in total caries increment or proximal progression rate between the two schools. A negative correlation (r = -0.29; P < 0.05) between the amount of delivered salt and the caries progression rate was, however, noted. No side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: F-salt was not effective in this setting. Still, the findings indicate that salt may be a beneficial source of fluoride in schoolchildren provided that compliance can be secured.