Search

The world is hopeful a vaccine will help mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted a hospital-based study using a questionnaire to examine parental acceptance of an anticipated COVID-19 vaccination. A 41-item questionnaire using the Health Belief Model was administered to caregivers of children receiving oral health care in a dental clinic in an urban pediatric teaching hospital. Demographic, health-seeking, and health-behavior questions were assessed. A total of 39.2% of caregivers would not allow their child to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Whereas 27.8% of caregivers agreed that if their physician recommends a COVID-19 vaccination, they will allow their child to receive it, 52.2% said that a health care professional could influence this decision. Dentists, intimately aware of the suggested risks of aerosol-generating procedures, can play a critical role in educating the public about the importance of accepting a COVID-19 vaccine. Dentists are in a unique position to discuss and advocate for vaccine acceptance. If a COVID-19 vaccine is not widely accepted, risks associated with performing aerosol-generating procedures will remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe oral manifestations and oral health quality of life (QOL) in children aged six months to six years, 11 months with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Methods: Parents of participants completed an oral health QOL survey. The presence of oral lesions associated with TSC was assessed. Results: Sixty-two participants enrolled between February 2015 and March 2017. Among the significant oral health findings, 11 (17.7 percent) had enamel pitting, 33 (53 percent) had no previous dental examination, eight (12.9 percent) did not brush their teeth, and eight (12.9 percent) had caries present. Per the QOL survey results, 18 (31 percent) had difficulty sleeping, 22 (37.3 percent) experienced irritability/frustration, and 15 (29.4 percent) had difficulty pronouncing words. Developmental delays were present in 40 (70.2 percent), seizures occurred within the last three months in 37 (59.7 percent), and a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor medication was used for 22 (35.4 percent). Conclusions: Enamel pitting was observed in 17.7 percent of children in the primary dentition. Oral health quality of life in this tuberous sclerosis complex cohort was significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]