CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF PLAQUE-INDUCED GINGIVITIS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Aim: Clinical assessment of periodontal status and subgingival microflora in children aged 10-14 years with plaque-induced gingivitis. Materials and methods: The subject of the study were 34 children. The real-time PCR method was used for the identification of 9 subgingival microorganisms. Results: The studied children showed a probing depth averaging 1.26±0.24 mm and unsatisfactory oral hygiene (FMPS - 62.76±22.94). A generalized form of gingival inflammation was found with values of bleeding sites over 52% (BoP -52.76±17.57) and mild gingival inflammation (SBI - 1.17±0.73). C.gingivaliswas isolated in all children (100%), followed by P.intermediaand P.micros - in 70.6%. Microbial associations ranged from 2 to 8 microorganisms. Conclusion: Children aged 10-14 years are at risk for gingival inflammation because of the pronounced pathogenic potential of the subgingival microflora.

RISK FACTORS AND GINGIVAL INFLAMMATION IN CHILDREN AGED 10 TO 14 YEARS - AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Aim: The aim of the present study is an epidemiological study of risk factors and the prevalence of periodontal disease in children aged 10-14 years. Materials and methods: The subject of the study were 457 children. All were clinically examined, and the data were recorded on a specially designed card. Each child was assessed for risk periodontal profile in 4 levels, which includes: assessment of oral hygiene habits; registration of dental status, reporting of carious lesions and obturations on surfaces dangerous for periodontal health (proximal, cervical); the presence of orthodontic anomalies and other risk factors; assessment of the plaque index of Silness-Loe (PLSL); assessment of gingival index according to Loe and Silness (GILS) Results: Carious lesions at risk for gingival inflammation surfaces are registered in 59% of children, at risk for periodontal health fillings in 32% and orthodontic anomalies in 37%. The studied children showed relatively good oral hygiene (PLSL-0.43 ± 0.28), which improved with age, with the largest amount of plaque observed on the proximal and vestibular surfaces. Over 88% of children have mild gingival inflammation (GILS-0.56 ± 0.42), mainly affecting the front teeth in both jaws. Conclusions: Gingival inflammation in 10-14 year old children covers more than half of the studied children, with mild forms of inflammation predominating with a relatively low oral hygiene index. 2/3 of registered caries and 1/3 of the fillings have a localization which presents a risk for periodontal health. Orthodontic anomalies are the next most serious risk factor for plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation.

TOOTH WEAR IN CHILDREN - PREVALENCE, CLINICAL FEATURES AND RISK FACTORS

Introduction: Pathological tooth wear in children with primary dentition can be a result of various harmful habits, risk factors and nocturnal bruxism. It is difficult to be distinguished from physiological tooth wear. Aim:To study caries prevalence, tooth wear prevalence, its clinical characteristics and its relationship with bruxism in children aged 3 - 7 years. Materials and methods: The object of the study are 222 children, divided into 5 age groups - from 3 to 7 years. The examined children underwent a clinical examination, during which the following were registered: dental status, caries prevalence, the type, degree and prevalence of tooth wear. Information on the presence and characteristics of nocturnal bruxism in the examined children was obtained from the parents. The results were statistically processed with SPSS-19. Results: Tooth wear is found in more than 2/3 of the examined children (P<0.05). The highest average number of abraded teeth is present in 6- and 7-year-old children - about 7. Tooth abrasion affects 75% of canine teeth, 37.6% of incisors and 11.8% of molars in children aged 3-7 years. The predominant severity of wear is that in the inner ½ of the enamel (degree 1b) and occurs in 41.7% of children (P<0.05). 1/3 of the examined children have nocturnal bruxism (P<0.05). In almost 90% of them, tooth wear was found (P<0.05). Conclusions: There is an increase in the severity of tooth abrasion with age in children between 3-7 years. Nocturnal bruxism is almost always accompanied by tooth wear.

Application of Contemporary Magnifying Methods in the Diagnostics of Occlusal Carious Lesions on First Permanent Molars in Children

INTRODUCTION

Dental operating microscopes (DOM) enable dentists to examine, with the aid of magnification and photodocumentation in clinical conditions, the occlusal anatomy of newly erupted permanent molars and to detect any early carious lesions more precisely.

AIM

To determine the advantages of magnifying technology in detecting early occlusal carious lesions in newly erupted permanent first molars.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined 176 first molars of 44 children divided into two age groups: 7-8 and 9-10 years. The surfaces of each of the teeth were examined after they were cleaned with a brush without paste. The diagnoses were first made using only illumination and a clinical examination. These were followed by a visual examination of the occlusal surface using a DOM at ×8 magnification. A photo of the occlusal surface was then taken with a camera at the respective magnification for the purposes of photodocumentation.

RESULTS

This study demonstrated that dental operating microscopes increased by 7% the rate of successful detection of early caries lesions on the occlusal surfaces. There was also a significant increase of the number of diagnosed cavitated caries in the dentine in comparison with those detected with naked eye. Using DOMs in pediatric dentistry facilitates the more detailed and precise diagnosing of early stage carious lesions and/or cavitations in the fissures.

CONCLUSION

The use of a DOM facilitates differential diagnosing between deep fissures and early carious lesions, which is a key point in the assessment of occlusal surfaces of newly erupted permanent molars, necessary for their preventative sealing and micro-invasive treatment.

Depth of Gingival Sulcus in Healthy Children with Erupting Permanent Teeth

INTRODUCTION

Measuring the gingival sulcus depth in children while their permanent teeth erupt is rather difficult especially if using reference norms for adults for a base.

AIM

Assessment of the depth of the gingival sulcus during the period of tooth eruption in healthy children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty children were included in the study (age range 6 - 14 yrs). The children had good oral hygiene and no history of systemic disease. They were clinically examined - their dental statuses were taken, stages of permanent teeth eruption (up to 1/3 of the clinical crown, between 1/3 and 2/3, over 2/3, in occlusion contact), and their gingival sulcus depth was measured at 6 distovestibular, vestibular, mesiovestibular, mesiolingual, lingual, and distolingual sites using an electronic probe Parometer (Orange). It was concluded that the one with the highest value would be considered the maximum depth of the sulcus.

RESULTS

The gingival sulcus depth in fully erupted teeth is very similar to that in healthy adults (2.20 - 0.49 mm). The change of sulcus depth in incisors and canines has a variation of 1.5 mm, which at the end of eruption is close to those in adults. Maximum sulcus depth for molars, premolars and incisors was measured distovestibularly, and for canines - mesiovestibularly.

CONCLUSION

At the various stages of eruption, the depth of the gingival sulcus plausibly decreases in all tooth types, and by the end of eruption it reaches a depth similar to that of the adult standard. Most indicative in regard to depth are the vestibular probing point.