Alternative root canal filling materials to zinc oxide eugenol in primary teeth: a systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

The aim of this review was to compare the currently available root canal filling materials for primary teeth to zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) to find a suitable alternative. The search question was: which root canal filling materials used in pulpectomy for primary teeth give better clinical and radiographic success rates than ZOE?

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted using five databases, namely Cochrane central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE via PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and EBSCOhost using a selection of "MeSH terms". The "Modified Jadad Scale" was used for the methodology assessment of the included studies.

RESULTS

Out of 480 articles identified in the initial search, 8 articles met all the inclusion criteria. The results showed that, compared to ZOE, ZOE with calcium hydroxide and iodoform had better clinical and radiographic success rates, a resorption rate similar to that of the roots, faster resorption of extruded particles and a maximum decrease in the size of pre-operative inter-radicular radiolucencies.

CONCLUSION

Numerous materials, proposed and used by clinicians in root canal filling in primary teeth, can be recommended as alternatives to ZOE. However, none of them could be the ideal material in primary teeth. Thus, more high-quality well-designed randomised clinical trials are required to develop more high-performing materials.

Parental stress as a predictor of early childhood caries: a systematic review

AIM

The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to answer the question: Are parental stress associated with early childhood caries (ECC)?

METHODS

Electronic databases including MEDLINE (via Pubmed), Scopus and SciELO were searched. Cross-sectional and case-control studies that investigate the association between parental stress and ECC were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the risk of bias of the included articles.

RESULTS

Out of 498 articles identified in initial research, 7 articles met the inclusion criteria; five were cross-sectional and two were control-case in design. A statistically significant correlation between ECC and total parental stress as well as a higher level of carious activity associated with total parental stress was reported in four studies. In two studies, no significant relationship between stress and ECC was found (P > 0.05) and in one study, parental stress was inversely associated with children's ECC status with better dental outcomes significantly associated with a higher level of parenting stress.

CONCLUSION

Despite the fact that the heterogenicity of the following data precluded conclusions to be drawn, it was obvious that parenting stress or some of its domains may influence the development of carious lesions in young children.

Treatment of pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption: A scoping review

AIM

Pre-eruptive intra-coronal resorption (PEIR) is a rare condition that can affect children's dentition. Showing the same aspect of dental caries, these lesions are diagnosed in non-erupted teeth. The aetiology is not yet defined and no consensus on their treatment is available. Thus, the aim of the present scoping review of the literature was to try to establish a protocol for treatment and management of PEIR defects.

METHODS

The search was performed on Medline via PubMed, Science Direct and EBSCOhost' databases using the appropriate Medical Subject Headings (MESH) terms. Studies that described the PEIR were considered eligible and the data from the selected papers were extracted and analysed independently by two authors.

RESULTS

Out of 172 articles identified in initial research, 15 articles were selected for reviewing. Interventions varied from preventive treatment to extraction, depending on the lesion severity and its proximity to the pulp.

CONCLUSION

Non-operative procedures, conservative approaches and extractions were recommended for the management of PEIR, depending on the extent of the lesions. Overall, further researches should be conducted to explore the effectiveness of the approaches of PEIR management.

Black stain and dental caries in primary teeth of Tunisian preschool children

AIM

To assess the prevalence of black tooth stains and to investigate its correlation with caries experience in the primary dentition of 3-5-year-old children in the region of Monastir, Tunisia.

METHODS

It was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving children in preschool establishments in Monastir, Tunisia. It consisted of an oral examination of 393 children and data collection through a questionnaire completed by parents. ANOVA test and Pearson Chi-square test were used to assess the prevalence of black stains and its association with dental caries.

RESULTS

The overall mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index was 1.42 ± 0.1. Caries prevalence was 49.9%. Of all the children involved, 6.1% had black stains. A statistically significant relationship was found between black stain and the prevalence of early childhood caries (p = 0.047). However, the association with the dmft index was not statistically significant (p = 0.08).

CONCLUSION

Preschool children with black tooth stain had lower dental caries experience. The results of the present study suggest that black stains are a protective factor for early childhood caries. More studies are needed to explore the risk factors of black stains.

Goals for oral health in Tunisia 2020

In 1981, the World Health Organization (WHO) together with the Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) set global dental health goals for the year 2000 within the global strategy of health for all. In 1999, a team of experts drew up new goals to be achieved by 2020, which aimed to facilitate specific oral health policy development for each country. These goals are more general and have to be adapted to local circumstances. This paper aimed to adapt the WHO/FDI/IADR's Global goals for oral health 2020 to Tunisia and draw up new national goals and targets for Tunisia based on previous national oral health surveys.