International journal of paediatric dentistry
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Int J Paediatr Dent · Sep 2006
A qualitative look at parents' experience of their child's dental general anaesthesia.
Caries relapse after treatment of early childhood caries (ECC) under general anaesthesia (GA) has been frequently reported. This research used a qualitative method of inquiry to explore parents' experience of their child's treatment under GA, and their perception of the impact of this treatment on their child. ⋯ The general anaesthetic experience was troubling in a variety of ways for both parents and children. However, an 'early' and positive outcome of the GA was a reported improvement in dental health practices. Parents were more positive about maintaining the health of primary teeth and now knew how to take care of their child's teeth. Future exploration is required to reveal if and how the GA experience will affect long-term preventive behaviours.
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Int J Paediatr Dent · Mar 2006
Capnocytophaga in the dental plaque of immunocompromised children with cancer.
(i) To compare the prevalence and levels of Capnocytophaga, a known systemic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, in the dental plaque of healthy children and children with cancer, and (ii) to determine the susceptibility of strains isolated from cancer patients to a range of antibiotics. ⋯ This study showed that Capnocytophaga decreased in prevalence and proportion in the dental plaque of cancer patients during chemotherapy but became predominant in some cases. It is recommended that imipenem or beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations be used to treat Capnocytophaga bacteraemia.
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Int J Paediatr Dent · Nov 2005
Randomized Controlled TrialAssessment of a novel alternative to conventional formocresol-zinc oxide eugenol pulpotomy for the treatment of pulpally involved human primary teeth: diode laser-mineral trioxide aggregate pulpotomy.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a diode laser pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) sealing could be an acceptable alternative to the conventional formocresol pulpotomy and zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) sealing in human primary teeth. ⋯ The laser-MTA pulpotomy showed reduced radiographic success rates compared to the formocresol-ZOE pulpotomy at 15.7 months; however, these results were not statistically significant. Improved success rates among a larger patient sample and a longer follow-up period would be required for the laser-MTA pulpotomy to be considered a routine alternative to the conventional formocresol-ZOE procedure. Meticulous restorative techniques must be followed to ensure the success of laser-MTA pulpotomies.
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Int J Paediatr Dent · Sep 2005
An investigation of language used by children to describe discomfort expected and experienced during dental treatment.
A study of dental pulp testing has shown that children's linguistic comprehension and chronological age independently influence their descriptions of pain. The present study sought first to demonstrate this for expectations and experience of routine dental treatment, and secondly, to determine whether the effect of age was the result of previous dental and medical experience. ⋯ The results suggest that a list of adjectives provides the most discriminating measure of discomfort. They also show that it is necessary to take into account children's linguistic development to evaluate their estimates of pain so as not to entertain the belief of many clinicians that children exaggerate such reports.
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Int J Paediatr Dent · Sep 2005
Injuries to the head, face, mouth and neck in physically abused children in a community setting.
The aims of the present study were to identify the incidence of orofacial injuries found within a cohort of physically abused children, and examine demographic data surrounding the alleged perpetrator, the location in which the alleged assault occurred, the mechanism of injury and the actual orofacial injury incurred. ⋯ Fifty-nine per cent of physically abused children in the present cohort had orofacial signs of abuse which would be easily visible to a dental practitioner. The commonest injuries were bruises and abrasions. This concurs with previous reports in the literature and highlights the important role of dental practitioners in the recognition of children who have been abused.