Perception of parents and caregivers about the need for dental appointments for adolescents from a Brazilian birth cohort

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the perception of parents or caregivers regarding the need for dental appointments for adolescents aged 12-13 years and associated factors.

METHODS

Data from the Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort were used. The outcome variable was the need for dental appointments for young adolescents perceived by parents or caregivers. Demographic and economic exposure variables were obtained from the first (2004) and sixth general follow-up (2015), respectively. The exposure variables 'previous history of dental pain', 'self-rated oral health', clinical variables and the outcome variable were obtained from the second oral health follow-up (2017). Unadjusted and adjusted multivariate Poisson regression analyses provided prevalence ratios (PR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

At the first oral health follow-up (2009), 1303 five-year-old children were recruited, 996 of whom were reassessed and underwent oral health examinations at 12 and 13 years of age (response rate: 76.4%). The findings showed that 72.4% of parents/caregivers perceived that the adolescents needed dental appointments. No associations were found between the outcome and sociodemographic or economic variables. After adjustments, the outcome remained positively associated with previous history of toothache (PR 1.22; 95% CI 1.14-1.32), self-rated oral health as fair or poor (PR 1.26; 95% CI 1.15-1.39), the presence of dental caries (PR 1.27; 95% CI 1.20-1.38) and severe or disabling malocclusion (PR 1.14; 95% CI 1.05-1.25).

CONCLUSIONS

The perception of parents/caregivers regarding the need for dental appointments on the part of their adolescent sons and daughters was associated with oral health problems, and these findings can serve as the basis for creating and improving oral health programmes that seek a better understanding on the part of parents and caregivers regarding the importance of integral care for their adolescent children.

Generalized anxiety disorder in Brazilian undergraduate dental students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Explore the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and associated factors in undergraduate dental students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cross-sectional study. A semi-structured questionnaire addressing the variables of interest was shared with dental students between July 8 and 27 2020. The outcome was determined using the seven-item generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) scale. A 'positive' diagnosis was defined as a total of ≥10 points on the scale. Statistical analysis involved descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses, with the significance level set at 5%.

RESULTS

Among the 1050 students evaluated, 53.8% had a positive diagnosis for GAD. The multivariate analysis revealed that the prevalence of symptoms was higher among individuals who resided with more than three people, those enrolled at teaching institutions that suspended all clinical and laboratory activities, those who did not have an adequate home situation to maintain distance learning, those who had been diagnosed with COVID-19, those who felt anxious about having to see patients with a suspicion or diagnosis of COVID-19 and those who preferred to interrupt in-person academic activities until the population is vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of GAD was high. Aspects related to the composition and organization of the home, the suspension of academic activities, a history of COVID-19 contamination, feelings of anxiety in providing dental care to patients with symptoms/suspected of COVID-19 infection and the preference to interrupt in-person academic activities until the population is vaccinated for COVID-19 were factors predisposing the students to anxiety during the first wave of the pandemic.

Parental stress and dental caries experience in adolescents: analysis of data from a birth cohort study in Pelotas, Southern Brazil

PURPOSE

Analyze the association between parental stress and dental caries experience in adolescents in southern Brazil using data from the Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort.

METHODS

Interviews and oral health examinations for the determination of the main exposure and outcome of the study were performed in the homes of the adolescents. The outcome was dental caries experience in the permanent dentition analyzed using the Decayed, Missing and Filling Surfaces (DMFS) index. The main exposure was parental stress measured using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form administered to the parents of the adolescents. Demographic/socioeconomic characteristics, oral health characteristics and oral health-related quality of life were considered potential confounding factors. Negative binomial regressions estimated mean ratios (MR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Nine hundred ninety-six adolescents were evaluated at 12 and 13 years of age. The prevalence of dental caries experience in the adolescents was 36.9% (95% CI: 33.8-40.0) and 15.1% (95% CI: 12.8-17.3) of the parents had parental stress. After adjusting for confounding factors, parental stress was associated with a higher mean number of decayed, missing and filling surfaces in the adolescents (MR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01-1.26; p = 0.045).

CONCLUSION

Adolescents of parents with parental stress have more dental caries experience compared to those whose parents do not have parental stress.

Agreement between self-rated denture condition and clinical examination in older adults

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare differences between complete denture conditions self-rated by older adult wearers and clinically exanimated by a professional based on standardised aesthetics and functional criteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Complete denture clinical examination was based on the functional (stability, retention, occlusion and articulation, vertical dimension of occlusion) and aesthetics criteria. Data on self-rated complete denture conditions were measured using the Patient's Denture Assessment (PDA) questionnaire based on standardised aesthetic and functional criteria (n = 122). Prevalence rates of clinical and self-rated complete denture condition, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and absolute and relative bias were calculated.

RESULTS

The highest sensitivity (66.7% [95% CI 55.3-76.7]) was obtained for aesthetic criterion, whereas occlusion revealed the lowest sensitivity (14.9% [95% CI 6.2-28.3]). Stability had the highest specificity (91.3% [95% CI 72.0-98.9]) and aesthetics the lowest (21.4% [95% CI 8.3-41.0]). Stability also yielded the highest positive predictive value (83.3% [95% CI 51.6-97.9]), and vertical dimension of occlusion the lowest (26.3% [95% CI 9.1-51.2]). The vertical dimension of occlusion yielded the highest negative predictive value (71.2% [95% CI 58.7-81.7]). Self-rated data underestimated the complete denture condition in 6.5% compared with clinical examinations when the aesthetic criterion was excluded from the analysis and 7.6% when added.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adult wearers better identified the condition of their complete denture when the aesthetic criterion was excluded from examination. In contrast, considering functional criteria (retention, stability, occlusion and vertical dimension of occlusion), self-rated complete denture conditions underestimated clinical examination.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Using standardised aesthetic criteria in epidemiological studies for assessing complete denture conditions self-rated by wearers could avoid underestimating or overestimating the information regarding the use or need for dental prostheses.

COVID-19 pandemic and impact on dental education

Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess the perception of undergraduate students on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Brazilian dental education. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire hosted in Google Forms platform and publicized on Instagram® and Facebook®. The questionnaire was available between July 8-27, 2020. Absolute and relative frequencies were obtained for variables of interest using Pearson’s chi-squared and considering 95% confidence intervals. Prevalence of learning resource variables according to self-reported skin color, educational institution, and Brazilian region were presented using equiplots. Results: A total of 1,050 undergraduate dental students answered the questionnaire. Most students reported being in full-distance learning mode. Among the undergraduate students, 65.4% reported perceiving a very high impact in dental education, and 16.6% of students reported not being able to follow distance learning. In addition, 14% reported not having a personal laptop or desktop to study with, with this condition being more prevalent among non-white than white individuals. Conclusion: We conclude that Brazilian dental students perceived a high impact of COVID-19 on dental education, as well as one-sixth of the students reported not having adequate resources to continue with distance learning. It is important that different policies are developed at the institutional and governmental levels to reduce the impact of the pandemic on dental education.

Fatores associados à redução de atendimentos odontológicos na Atenção Primária à Saúde no Brasil, com o surgimento da COVID-19: estudo transversal, 2020

Resumo Objetivo: Analisar fatores associados à redução de atendimentos odontológicos na Atenção Primária à Saúde, durante pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal, com cirurgiões-dentistas das unidades básicas de saúde (UBS). O desfecho foi a redução dos atendimentos odontológicos, e as variáveis de exposição, dados sociodemográficos, disponibilidade de equipamentos de proteção individual (EPIs) e medidas adotadas pela UBS na pandemia. Realizou-se regressão de Poisson para determinar razão de prevalências e intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%). Resultados: A redução de atendimentos acima de 50% após o início da pandemia foi relatada por 62,6% dos 958 participantes. Adoção de protocolos de biossegurança (RP = 1,04; IC95% 1,01;1,07), disponibilidade de EPIs preconizados por novos protocolos (RP = 0,94; IC95% 0,89;0,99) e adoção da teletriagem (RP = 0,90; IC95% 0,85;0,96) estiveram associados à redução. Conclusão: A disponibilização dos novos EPIs e a implementação da teletriagem nas UBS parecem ter minimizado a redução dos atendimentos odontológicos após o início da pandemia.

Oral health and depressive symptoms among older adults: longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms and determine the association with oral health variables in older adults belonging to an oral health cohort.

METHOD

A prospective longitudinal study was conducted between 2009 and 2015. A standardized questionnaire was administered to collect demographic-socioeconomic variables and self-perceived oral health status. The clinical oral examinations were performed by examiners who had undergone training and calibration exercises. Depressive symptoms (outcome) were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), with a score of five points or higher considered indicative of the presence of depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of 439 and 163 older adults (≥60 years of age) were evaluated in 2009 and 2015, respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18.3% in 2009 and 28.5% in 2015. In the adjusted Poisson regression model, older adults who experienced tooth loss between 2009 and 2015 (PR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.01-3.53) and those with a sensation of dry mouth in 2015 but not in 2009 (PR = 3.25 95% CI: 1.56-6.72) were at greater risk of exhibiting depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was considerable. Older adults with tooth loss between 2009 and 2015 and those with a perception of dry mouth were at greater risk of exhibiting depressive symptoms, which underscores the importance of including a dentist as part of the health team for the prevention and treatment of mental health problems.

Anxiety symptoms and alcohol abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study with Brazilian dental undergraduate students

Aim

The aim of this study is to assess whether anxiety symptoms are associated with alcohol abuse in Brazilian undergraduate dental students during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Method

A cross‐sectional study was conducted. A semi‐structured questionnaire addressing the variables of interest was hosted on Google Forms and shared with dental undergraduate students from all Brazilian regions between July 8 and 27, 2020. Alcohol abuse was measured using the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye opener (CAGE) questionnaire score of ≥2. All participants responded to the seven‐item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD‐7). Hierarchical logistic regression was also conducted.

Results

Among the 1050 students evaluated, 18.7% (n = 196) had a positive screening for alcohol abuse during the pandemic. The prevalence of mild (GAD‐7 = 5–9), moderate (GAD‐7 = 10–14), and severe (GAD‐7 ≥15) anxiety among students were 31.3%, 29.6%, and 24.2%, respectively. The final hierarchical logistic regression model showed that during the COVID‐19 pandemic, anxiety levels predict the likelihood of alcohol abuse among students with moderate (OR 10.05 [95% IC: 4.12–24.52]) or severe (OR 15.82 [95% IC: 6.46–38.73]) anxiety, especially for male students (moderate anxiety: OR 17.06 [95% CI: 8.36–34.78]; severe anxiety: OR 28.38 [95% CI: 8.62–38.24]).

Conclusion

The prevalence of alcohol abuse and moderate or severe anxiety in Brazilian undergraduate dental students during the COVID‐19 pandemic was high. Male students may be more sensitive to the presence of anxiety symptoms in this period, thus contributing to higher levels of alcohol consumption, in comparison to female students. Intervention strategies that promote the adoption of healthier lifestyles can enable the effective management of anxiety symptoms during the pandemic and thus, hold the potential to reduce exacerbated alcohol intake in this population.

Regular use of dental services among university students in southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To verify the prevalence and factors associated with regular use of dental services in university students of the Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study interviewed 1,865 students aged 18 years or older, starting bachelor’s degrees in 2017, enrolled in the second academic semester of 2017 and in the first of 2018 in classroom courses at UFPel. We considered regular users those who reported regularly going to the dentist with or without perceived dental problems. To test factors associated with regular use of dental services, demographic, socioeconomic and oral health variables were collected. Statistical analyses were based on Poisson regression models.

RESULTS

The prevalence of regular use of dental services was 45.0% (95%CI 42.7–47.3). University students of high economic class (PR = 1.47; 95%CI 0.91–2.36), with last private dental appointment (PR = 1.29; 95%CI 1.03–1.61), positive self-perception of oral health (PR = 2.33; 95%CI 1.79–3.03) and no report of toothache in the last six months (PR = 1.22; 95%CI 1.03–1.45) showed higher prevalence of regular use of dental services.

CONCLUSION

The results point to inequalities in the regular use of dental services related to socioeconomic factors and a lower use among university students with worse oral health conditions. These results suggest that public health prevention and promotion policies in higher education institutions must be carried out to ensure quality of life among these young adults.

Regular dental care in preschoolers in rural Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if factors related to the mother’s previous guidance on her children’s dental health and the school attendance of children influence the regular dental care of preschoolers living in the rural area of a municipality in Southern Brazil. METHODS: A population-based study was conducted with 264 children under five years of age and their mothers. Socioeconomic and behavioral data were collected using a questionnaire, and the children were subjected to dental health tests. The outcome was the regular use of dental services. The main exposure variables were children’s care in daycare centers or schools and maternal guidance on the child’s dental health. Poisson regression analysis with robust variance adjustment was used to estimate prevalence ratios, considering a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The prevalence of regular use was 11.4% (95%CI 7.5–15.2). In the adjusted analysis, the regular use of services was associated with the child attending day care center/school (PR = 2.44; 95%CI 1.38–4.34), and the mother received dental health guidance (PR = 4.13; 95%CI 1.77–9.61), even with control for socioeconomic, maternal and child variables. CONCLUSION: When mothers receive previous information on child dental health care and children attend schools or daycare centers, the likelihood of regular dental appointments in preschoolers living in rural locations increases.

[Is oral health associated with the presence of depressive symptoms among the elderly?]

The scope of this study was to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale-EDG - 15 and test the association of oral health variables and depressive symptoms in a population of the elderly linked to eleven Family Health Units in the south of Brazil. It involved a cross-sectional study with 439 elderly individuals. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain socio-economic and oral health variables of the study. The clinical variables of oral health were obtained by a qualified dentist. The symptoms of depression, which was the scope of the study, were obtained by the Geriatric Depression Scale-EDG -15. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18.3% (CI95% 14.6-21.8). Analyzing the exposure variables and depressive symptoms through adjusted Poisson regression analysis, individuals with 1 to 9 teeth (PR = 1.68; CI95% 1.06-2.64, p = 0.012), with a perception of dry mouth (PR = 2.23; CI95% 1.52-3.28, p < 0.001) and perception of pain in the mouth (PR = 2.11; CI95% 1.10-4.07, p = 0.036) have a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms. The study identified a significant prevalence of depressive symptoms and that oral health variables are associated with the presence of depressive symptoms in the elderly population.

Uso regular de serviços odontológicos e perda dentária entre idosos

Resumo Objetiva-se verificar a associação entre o uso regular de serviços odontológicos e a perda dentária por idosos vinculados a onze Unidades de Saúde da Família no sul do Brasil. Estudo transversal que avaliou 438 idosos. Um questionário padronizado foi utilizado e as variáveis clínicas de saúde bucal foram obtidas por um dentista treinado. O relato do uso regular dos serviços odontológicos, desfecho do estudo, foi obtido por meio de pergunta única. Foram realizadas análises descritivas e regressão de Poisson com o Stata 12.0. Analisando as variáveis de exposição e desfecho do estudo, na regressão não ajustada, houve associação positiva do relato do uso regular dos serviços de saúde bucal dos idosos com 9-11 anos de estudo (RP = 3,89; IC95%1,77-8,58) em comparação aos idosos com menos de 4 anos de estudo, com até 9 dentes (RP = 2,50;IC95%19,0-5,72) e 10 ou mais dentes (RP = 3,89;IC95%1,58-9,57) em comparação aos idosos sem dentes. Ao considerar a exposição principal, perda dentária, na análise ajustada, os indivíduos com 10 ou mais dentes (RP = 3,51;IC95%1,37-8,99) apresentavam maiores prevalências de relato de uso regular em comparação aos indivíduos sem dentes. O estudo identificou que ter dentes está associado positivamente ao relato do uso regular dos serviços de saúde bucal entre os idosos.

Sense of coherence and oral health in older adults in Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between sense of coherence and oral health among older adults treated at family health units in southern Brazil.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The sample was composed of 164 individuals aged 60 years old or older. Socio-demographic and oral health variables were collected using a standardised questionnaire. Sense of coherence (SOC) was measured with the questionnaire proposed by Antonovsky containing 29 closed-ended questions. Poisson regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with SOC.

RESULTS

Among the 164 older adults, 53.9% were edentate, 54.5% did not need any type of dental prosthesis, and 82.1% had good/adequate self-assessed oral health. The multivariate analysis revealed lower SOC scores among non-white individuals [Mean Ratio (MR)=0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.97; P<.001], with poor/very poor self-assessed oral health (MR=0.85; 95% CI: 0.78-0.91; P<.001) and with one or more teeth present in the oral cavity (MR=0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.97; P<.001).

CONCLUSION

The present results show that older adults who are self-reported as non-white, with one or more teeth in the oral cavity and with poor/very poor self-assessed oral health have lower SOC scores.

Gastos privados com saúde bucal no Brasil: análise dos dados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares, 2008-2009

Resumo: O objetivo foi analisar os gastos privados com assistência odontológica e produtos de higiene bucal dos brasileiros. Foram analisados dados de 55.970 domicílios pesquisados na Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares de 2008-2009. Os gastos foram descritos segundo macrorregiões, estados e capitais do Brasil e de acordo com características socioeconômicas e demográficas dos domicílios (sexo, idade, cor da pele e escolaridade do chefe, renda domiciliar per capita e presença de idoso no domicílio). Os brasileiros gastaram em média no ano R$ 42,19 com serviços de assistência odontológica e R$ 10,27 com produtos de higiene bucal. Desigualdades sociais na distribuição desses gastos segundo as características dos moradores dos domicílios e segundo as diferentes macrorregiões, estados e capitais do país foram encontradas. O presente estudo evidenciou com detalhes quanto e com o que gastam os brasileiros com assistência odontológica e com produtos de higiene bucal. O monitoramento e avaliação desses gastos são condições fundamentais para avaliação e orientação de políticas públicas em saúde bucal.

Sugar Consumption and Changes in Dental Caries from Childhood to Adolescence

There are no prospective studies investigating the effects of sugar-related feeding practices on changes in dental caries from early childhood to young adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess whether sugar-related feeding practices affect dental caries between the ages of 6 and 18 y. This birth cohort study was initiated in 1993 in Pelotas, Brazil. There were 3 dental clinical assessments; at ages 6 y (n = 359), 12 y (n = 339), and 18 y (n = 307). Sugar-related feeding practices were assessed at ages 4, 15, and 18 y. Covariates included sex and life course variables, such as family income, breast-feeding, mother's education, regularity of dental visit, and child's toothbrushing habits. Group-based trajectory analysis was performed to characterize trajectories of time-varying independent variables that had at least 3 time points. We fitted a generalized linear mixed model assuming negative binomial distribution with log link function on 3-time repeated dental caries assessments. One in 5 participants was classified as "high" sugar consumers, and nearly 40% were "upward consumers." "Low consumers" accounted for >40% of the sample. High and upward sugar consumers had higher dental caries prevalence and mean DMFT in all cohort waves when compared with low sugar consumers. Caries occurred at a relatively constant rate over the period of study, but in all sugar consumption groups, the increment of dental caries was slightly higher between ages 6 and 12 y than between 12 and 18 y. Adjusted analysis showed that dental caries increment ratio between ages 6 and 18 y was 20% and 66% higher in upward and high sugar consumer groups as compared with low consumers. The higher the sugar consumption along the life course, the higher the dental caries increment. Even the low level of sugar consumption was related to dental caries, despite the use of fluoride.

Validation of self-reported information on dental caries in a birth cohort at 18 years of age

Objective

Estimate the prevalence of dental caries based on clinical examinations and self-reports and compare differences in the prevalence and effect measures between the two methods among 18-year-olds belonging to a 1993 birth cohort in the city of Pelotas, Brazil.

Method

Data on self-reported caries, socio-demographic aspects and oral health behaviour were collected using a questionnaire administered to adolescents aged 18 years (n = 4041). Clinical caries was evaluated (n = 1014) by a dentist who had undergone training and calibration exercises. Prevalence rates of clinical and self-reported caries, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, absolute and relative bias, and inflation factors were calculated. Prevalence ratios of dental caries were estimated for each risk factor.

Results

The prevalence of clinical and self-reported caries (DMFT>1) was 66.5% (95%CI: 63.6%–69.3%) and 60.3% (95%CI: 58.8%–61.8%), respectively. Self-reports underestimated the prevalence of dental caries by 9.3% in comparison to clinical evaluations. The analysis of the validity of self-reports regarding the DMFT index indicated high sensitivity (81.8%; 95%CI: 78.7%–84.7%) and specificity (78.1%; 95%CI: 73.3%–82.4%) in relation to the gold standard (clinical evaluation). Both the clinical and self-reported evaluations were associated with gender, schooling and self-rated oral health. Clinical dental caries was associated with visits to the dentist in the previous year. Self-reported dental caries was associated with daily tooth brushing frequency.

Conclusions

Based on the present findings, self-reported information on dental caries using the DMFT index requires further studies prior to its use in the analysis of risk factors, but is valid for population-based health surveys with the aim of planning and monitoring oral health actions directed at adolescents.

Obesity and dental caries: systematic review

OBJECTIVE Identifying, through a systematic literature review, evidence of a possible association between obesity and dental caries. METHODS A search of articles published between 2005 and January 2012 was performed in the Medline/PubMed, LILACS and Web of Science databases. The quality of scientific evidence of the selected articles was assessed by the items proposed for observational studies in the Downs & Black instrument. RESULTS Initially, 537 references were found; after checking the titles and abstracts by two independent researchers, twenty-eight articles were selected for complete reading. Ten of them that assessed the primary and/or permanent dentition observed a positive association between obesity and dental caries and one study found an inverse association. According to the Downs & Black classification, thirteen articles with good scientific evidence were found. CONCLUSIONS The present review did not find sufficient evidence regarding the association between obesity and dental caries, and it did not clarify the possible role of diet and other possible effect modifiers on this association.

Mental health problems and smoking among adolescents from Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between mental health problems and smoking in adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 4,325 adolescents aged 15 from the 1993 birth cohort of the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, was studied. Smoking was defined as having smoked one or more cigarettes in the previous 30 days. Mental health was assessed according to the total score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Score > 20 points was considered positive. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression with adjustment for robust variance.

RESULTS

Smoking prevalence was 6.0% and about 30% of the adolescents presented some mental health problem. In the crude analysis, the prevalence ratio for smoking was 3.3 (95%CI 2.5; 4.2). After the adjusted analysis (for sex, age, skin color, family income, mother's level of schooling, group of friends who smoke, employment in the previous year, school failure, physical activity during leisure time and experimental use of alcohol), it decreased to 1.7 (95%CI 1.2; 2.3) among those with mental health problem.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health problems in adolescence may be related to tobacco consumption.

Accuracy of linear measurements before and after digitizing periapical and panoramic radiography images

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of linear measurements made on conventional and digitized periapical and panoramic radiographic images of dry human hemi-mandibles. Images from the posterior region of 22 dry human hemi-mandibles were obtained by conventional panoramic and periapical radiography technique. Using a digital caliper, 3 vertical measurements were marked directly on the dry hemi-mandibles (reference measurements) as well as on the tracing from the conventional radiographic images of the specimens made onto acetate paper sheet: Distance 1: between the upper limit of the alveolar ridge and the lower limit at the mandible base; Distance 2: between the upper limit of the alveolar ridge and the upper limit of the mandibular canal; Distance 3: between the lower limit of the mandibular canal and the lower limit of the mandible base. Next, the radiographs were digitized and the three measurements were made on the digital images using UTHSCSA Image Tool software. Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (α=0.05). There was no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between periapical and panoramic radiographs or between the measurements recorded using the digital caliper and UTHSCSA software compared with dry mandible specimens for Distances 1 (p=0.783), 2 (p=0.986) and 3 (p=0.129). In conclusion, the radiographic techniques evaluated in this study are reliable for vertical bone measurements on selected areas and the UTHSCA Image Tool software is an appropriate measurement method.