Dental anxiety affects children worldwide and can have negative consequences on oral health. This study aimed to evaluate a novel communication aid ‘message to dentist’ (MTD), as part of a wider cognitive behavioural therapy approach to reduce dental anxiety in young patients. Dentally anxious children, aged 9–16 years, were invited to complete the MTD proforma, before and following their course of treatment. They scored how worried they were and their anticipated pain levels on a scale of 1–10 (10 being the worst outcome). They also wrote down their coping plans and post-treatment reflections. One hundred and five children, from a UK general dental practice and a hospital clinic, were included. They had a mean age of 11.6 years, and 65% were female. There was a significant reduction in self-report worry (from 4.9 to 2.1) and anticipated pain (from 5.1 to 2.0) scores (p < 0.05, paired t-test). Many children (30%) used listening to music/audiobook as a coping strategy. Thematic analysis revealed concerns around pain, uncertainty, errors and specific procedures. The MTD proforma proved an effective means of facilitating communication between anxious children and the dental team, allowing them to identify their worries and make personalised coping plans.
Background
Dental caries is a significant public health problem in Iran. Teaching minimally invasive interventions in paediatric dentistry may facilitate the provision of treatment for untreated dental caries in children. We evaluated the teaching of such interventions in both undergraduate dental curriculum and Paediatric Dentistry Specialty Training Programme (PDSTP) in Iran.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey. Participants in this study were the directors of 40 undergraduate programmes and 15 PDSTPs in all Iranian dental schools (response rate = 100%). Descriptive statistics were reported.
Results
The most commonly taught methods were preventive fissure sealant and preventive resin restoration (PRR), which were taught ‘both didactically and clinically’ in all undergraduate dental programmes. The least commonly taught methods were silver diamine fluoride (SDF), the Hall technique and resin infiltration, which were taught ‘both didactically and clinically’ in less than 5% of dental schools. The same three methods were the least commonly approaches taught in PDSTP, further, they were less often perceived to be ‘essential’.
Conclusions
There was a notable variation in the teaching of the management of dental caries in Iran’s dental education. Some minimally invasive approaches including SDF, the Hall technique and resin infiltration are not being commonly taught in Iranian dental schools despite the evidence base for these techniques.
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is applied topically to arrest caries and has an increasing evidence base to support its efficacy, both in the primary dentition and to arrest root caries in older patients. It can be used as a non-aerosol generating procedure and is a simple technique. It has a side-effect of discolouring caries black, a factor which requires discussion with patients and their carers prior to application. Due to its efficacy and simplicity, it is a useful intervention for the management of caries. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Caries is a common condition in the UK, and silver diamine fluoride offers a simple alternative management technique when case selection is appropriate.
Introduction Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an option for biologic caries management that is not well utilised in the United Kingdom (UK). Caries in the primary dentition is common in the UK, and despite current treatment options many children require invasive treatment and multiple extractions. SDF could provide an alternative and due to their clinical expertise paediatric dentists are well placed to discuss this. Methods Fourteen semi-structured interviews were carried out with paediatric dentists across the UK. This was a heterogeneous sample including working across different settings, with differing levels of experience and both academic and NHS primary employment. Thematic analysis was undertaken with respondent validation. Results Participants felt SDF could be useful where patients have caries in their primary dentition, are asymptomatic and cannot manage other treatment options. The five themes influencing their views were child factors, parental influence, external influences, the clinician’s knowledge, experience and beliefs and the properties of SDF. Conclusion Paediatric dentists interviewed feel that there is a role for SDF in caries management in the UK. They believe case selection and communication with families is important.
Untreated dental caries affects children in the UK, with significant burden to the child, family and health service. High quality bitewing radiography is more effective than clinical observation alone at detecting proximal caries in children. Accurate diagnosis before cavitation allows preventive rather than operative management. Research has demonstrated that most children find bitewing radiography acceptable. It is therefore vital that bitewing radiographs of children are taken as per national guidance in general practice. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Timely and high quality bitewing radiography is required for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning in children.
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