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Objectives: Population‐based variations have been reported in permanent teeth eruption but only sparse literature exists on the same. A systematic review and meta‐analysis were performed to assess the global variations in eruption chronology of permanent teeth in children and adolescents and the role of sexes, jaws and classes of socio‐economic status (SES) on timing of eruption was explored. Methods: The protocol for the systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. An extensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Cochrane library, and anthropology databases was carried out until April 2023. Additionally, grey literature search and hand‐searching of relevant key journals was done. Results: Overall, 3797 cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies were retrieved from multiple databases. A total of 939, 191 participants were included from 80 studies of which, 41 were carried out in Asia, 26 in Europe, 5 in Africa, 4 in North America, and 4 in Oceania. The mandibular first molar eruption was found to be as early as 4.09 years while the maxillary second molar erupted as late as 13.45 years. Using a random effects model, 28 forest plots were generated. Meta‐regression interpreted tooth eruption to be earlier in females and in the mandible. Conclusions: The findings of this study show that the ages of permanent teeth eruption was advanced in the European population followed by Africa and Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods Results Conclusion Despite the exponential growth of mobile device applications in promoting awareness on traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), the overall validity of existing applications in content, engagement, usability, functionality, esthetics, and user perception remains largely uncertain.The primary aim was to systematically search and assess the quality, functionality, perceived impact and usability of available applications related to TDIs using the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) and the Coventry, Aberdeen, and London–Revised (CA‐LO‐RE) scale. A heuristic evaluation was additionally performed. The secondary aim was to categorize existing mobile applications according to their target users, including general population, dentists, dental students, medical healthcare professionals, and researchers.A systematic search for dental trauma applications (free and paid) was conducted using the AppStore and Google Play store. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and quality assessment for all the included applications using uMARS and CA‐LO‐RE. A user experience architect conducted a heuristic evaluation.Only 6 of the 3061 initially screened applications were eligible for qualitative and quantitative assessments. These applications' average star uMARS rating was 12.5 (standard deviation [SD] 2.6). The mean and SD for the uMARS objective items were as follows: A‐engagement (mean 12.1 [SD 3.3]), B‐functionality (mean 15.5 [SD 1.4]), C‐esthetics (mean 9.5 [SD 2.5]), and D‐information (mean 13 [SD 4.5]). The severity rating for the heuristic evaluation criteria was low to moderate for all the included applications, excluding tooth emergencies with a high severity score.Despite moderate quality, functionality, user perception, behavioural impact and usability scores, the inclusion of advanced features to “engagement” and “usability” in existing trauma based apps will enhance their purpose. A design‐thinking approach coupled with interactive features is recommended for future mobile applications on TDIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the contact areas of primary molar teeth and approximal caries after three years of observation. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 1,119 caries-free children, aged three to four years, from Puducherry, India. At baseline, 4,476 contacts were assessed using the OXIS criteria, which denotes O for open contact and X, I, and S for closed contacts. X contact represents a point contact, I is a straight contact, and S is a curved contact. Two calibrated dentists measured dental caries at one-year intervals following the International Caries Detection and Assessment System for three years. Poisson regression analysis with a multilevel approach was used to determine the association between contact type and approximal caries. Results: Of 3,848 contacts observed at the end of three years, 499 (13 percent) were carious. The adjusted analysis revealed a significant association between contact type and approximal caries (P<0.05). The risk ratios for the development of approximal caries were 2.3 for X-type contacts (0.5 to 11.4, P=0.307), 12.7 for I-type (4.1 to 39.6, P<0.05), and 22.5 for S-type (7.2 to 70.6, P<0.05) when compared with O-type. Conclusions: Compelling evidence suggests that variations in contacts between teeth are significant in the development of approximal caries. The S-type contact is the most susceptible to approximal caries, followed by the I-type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Genetic polymorphisms of genes regulating amelogenesis can alter susceptibility to Early Childhood Caries (ECC). This systematic review aims to analyze associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms of enamel formation genes and ECC. Methods: Search was conducted across PUBMED, CINAHL, LILACS, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Web of Science, Genome-Wide Association Studies databases from January 2003 to September 2022. This was supplemented by hand search. Totally 7124 articles were identified and 21 articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria proceeded to data extraction. Quality assessment was done using the Q-Genie tool. Results: Quantitative synthesis revealed that homozygous genotype AA of rs12640848 was significantly higher in children with ECC with an odds ratio of 2.36. Gene-based analysis revealed significant association between six variants of AMBN, four variants of KLK4, two variants of MMP20, and a single variant of each of MMP9 and MMP13 genes and ECC. The Bonferroni corrected-log10 P value of amelogenesis gene Cluster was 2.25 (0.05/88 = 5.6 x 10-4). Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes and Proteins plot constructed to comprehend the protein-protein interaction revealed the presence of four functional clusters. Gene function prediction using Multiple Association Network Integration Algorithm revealed that physical interaction between these genes was 69.3%. Conclusion: Polymorphisms of genes regulating amelogenesis can influence the susceptibility to ECC. AA genotype of rs12640848 may increase the susceptibility to ECC. Gene-based analysis revealed a significant association between multiple polymorphisms of genes regulating amelogenesis and ECC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Feeding At Sleep Time (FeAST) scale was developed and validated to assess sleep time feeding practices for children younger than three years. The purpose of this study was to describe the process of scoring and find on optimum clinical cutoff score for early childhood cories (ECC) using receiver operating charocteristics (ROC) analysis, thereby enabling researchers and clinicions to assess risk for developing ECC. Methods: The FeAST scale was administered to mothers of 527 toddlers, aged 12 to 36 months, attending four outpatient departments. The score was calculated based on subconstructs of combined breast-feeding (CBR) ond combined bottle-feeding (CBO), and suitable cutoff points were identifed using ROC analysis. Results: The study established o cutoff score greater than 14 for the CBR construct and o cutoff score greater thon 11 for the CBO construct of the FeAST scale to determine a childs risk for developing ECC. The area under the curve (AUC), which measures the overall performance of o scale, has yielded statistically significant values (P<0.001) with foir (0.707) ond good (0.788) performconce for the CBR and CBO constructs, respectively. Conclusion: The Feeding at Sleep Time scale, based on receiver operoting characteristics onolysis, can potentially be used by clinicions and researchers to screen toddlers ot risk of developing early childhood cories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: To investigate the susceptibility of Cusp of Carabelli (CoC) to caries in 3- to 4-year-old children.Methods: The prevalence of CoC was obtained, by two calibrated examiners using 2128 maxillary posterior sectional die models of 1064 caries-free children (that were prepared 8 months back). Four months after recording the CoC, prospective clinical examination of above-mentioned children was carried out by a calibrated third examiner. International Caries Detection and Assessment System was used to record caries of the mesiopalatal surfaces (site of CoC) of the primary maxillary second molars. Data were expressed in numbers and percentages and subjected to chi-square and logistic regression analyses.Results: The prevalence of CoC was 90.6%. The incidence of caries in association with CoC was 10.5%, and this association was statistically significant (0.004), with an odds ratio of 4.7. A statistically significant association was found between positive and negative expression of CoC and caries (0.001), with an odds ratio of 7.7 in positive expression and 4.1 in negative expression.Conclusion: The prevalence of CoC was high, with an increased risk for caries with a positive cusp expression. This highlights the need for closer assessment of the mesiopalatal surfaces of primary maxillary second molars during examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of three modes of school dental health education (SDHE) and the two frequencies of reinforcements, on the oral health status of children. Three hundred and sixty school children aged 8 to 9 years participated in this study. Dental caries (dft/DMFT), oral hygiene (OHI-S) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) scores were recorded by a calibrated investigator. The interventions included three different modes of SDHE (drama, game and flashcards). One mode of SDHE was randomly allotted to each school. Children were randomly sub-divided based on the frequency of reinforcement provided (3 months and 6 months). Post-intervention data were collected after 2 years. There was a significant reduction in the dft [drama (p = 0.006), game (p = 0.001) and flashcards (p = 0.002)] and OHI-S scores [drama and game (p < 0.001) and flashcards (p = 0.01)] and significant improvement in the total OHRQoL scores [drama (p = 0.001), game (p = 0.016) and flashcards (p = 0.023)] in all the three modes. Children who received game mode SDHE every 3 months had a significantly higher number of filled primary teeth (p = 0.03) compared to children who received the reinforcement every 6 months. All three modes were effective in improving the oral health status of school children. Game mode had the highest impact followed by drama and flashcard modes. Reinforcements given every 3 months using the game mode had a positive influence on the oral health of these children. Health educators must focus on child-friendly modes to make the health information more retentive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although gingival thickness has been extensively studied in permanent dentition, the literature regarding marginal gingival thickness in primary dentition is insufficient. The purpose of this study was to assess the variations in marginal gingival thickness in preschool-age children. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 4,109 primary teeth was conducted. Using a reamer, the transgingival probing method was employed to assess marginal gingival thickness in healthy preschoolers. Inter-examiner and intra-examiner reproducibility were assessed via the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: Descriptive statistics revealed that primary maxillary left second molars had the highest mean marginal gingival thickness (1.06 mm), whereas primary mandibular right central incisors had the lowest mean marginal gingival thickness (0.74 mm). Gender-based independent sample t-tests revealed significant differences in the values of primary maxillary right canines (females had greater values than males; P=0.03) and primary mandibular right first molars (males had greater values than females; P=0.01). An inter-arch comparison revealed significant differences between the primary second molars (maxillary more than mandibular; P=0.001). Conclusions: This study reports the first documented marginal gingival thicknesses of primary dentition. It reveals substantial variations in the values of primary maxillary right canines and primary mandibular right first molars and between primary maxillary and mandibular second molars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review to assess current evidence for the association between child temperament and early childhood caries (ECC). Methods: A systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE® through PubMed®, EMBASE®, Scopus®, LILACS, Web of Science™, and EBSCO up to January 2023. Studies measuring ECC and child temperament for children younger than or equal to six years of age using questionnaires, interviews, and surveys through case-control studies, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies were included. Literature reviews were excluded. Medical subject heading (MeSH) terms like "temperament" and "dental caries" were used by two authors who independently extracted the data, and a third author resolved disagreements. Risk of bias assessment was done using the Newcastle-Ottawa assessment scale for case-control and cohort studies and the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS). The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach (GRADE approach). A chi-square test and I-square index were used to evaluate heterogeneity. Results: A total of 5,072 records were screened, resulting in 15 included studies that yielded data for 6,667 participants; sevenstudies were high, and eight were of moderate quality. Seven studies qualified for meta-analysis, which revealed that persistence did not affectthe presence or absence of ECC. However, there was a strong association between difficult temperament and ECC (odds ratio equals 2.63). Conclusion: A positive association between a child's temperament and early childhood caries exists that is supported by quantitative findings, indicating a connection with very low certainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]