{"title":"Salivary biomarkers and their association with dental caries and oral health status in children with β-thalassaemia: a case-control study.","authors":"Rutika Rajkumar Gawand, Neeta Padmawar, Viddyasagar Mopagar, Chetan Patil, Sakshi Prashant Dumbre, Anushka Pawar","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01225-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01225-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study compared oral health status, dental caries, and salivary biomarkers (flow rate, pH, sialic acid, and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]) in children with β-thalassaemia and healthy controls and examined their associations and predictive value for caries risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This analytical case-control study involved 80 children aged 5-12 years (40 with β-thalassaemia major and 40 age- and sex-matched controls). The unstimulated saliva was analysed for flow rate, pH, sialic acid (acidic ninhydrin method), and TAC (phosphomolybdenum method). Clinical indices included DMFT/dmft, gingival bleeding, periodontal scores, and probing depths. Statistical analyses included t-tests/Mann-Whitney U tests, Spearman correlations, multivariable logistic regression, and ROC curves (SPSS v26.0; p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thalassaemic children had significantly higher DMFT/dmft (median 4.5 vs. 2, p < 0.001), worse periodontal health, reduced flow rate (0.68 ± 0.26 vs. 1.7 ± 0.43 mL/min), lower pH (6.47 ± 0.17 vs. 7.21 ± 0.54), elevated sialic acid (51.23 ± 12.38 vs. 20.97 ± 3.48 μg/mL), and lower TAC (303.32 ± 88.36 vs. 888.33 ± 319.16 μmol/L; all p < 0.001). Biomarker-DMFT correlations were present in controls but absent in the thalassaemia group. Multivariable regression showed that elevated sialic acid level was the strongest predictor of high caries risk (DMFT/dmft > 3; OR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.45, 4.32, p = 0.001), whilst higher flow rate, pH, and TAC were protective.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>β-Thalassaemia major is linked to poor oral health and disrupted salivary profiles due to iron overload and oxidative stress. Salivary sialic acid and TAC have emerged as promising non-invasive biomarkers for caries risk assessment, advocating for the integration of preventive dental care within multidisciplinary management.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1463-1470"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148008505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L S van der Knaap-Kind, Gisselle Carbajal Rodriguez, M A Schorer-Jensma, E B Wolvius, L Kragt, N C W van der Kaaij
{"title":"Cleft team strategy and caries experience in patients with a cleft lip and/or palate, a multicentre study.","authors":"L S van der Knaap-Kind, Gisselle Carbajal Rodriguez, M A Schorer-Jensma, E B Wolvius, L Kragt, N C W van der Kaaij","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01226-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01226-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Most cleft teams in The Netherlands have a paediatric dentist as a permanent team member, but differences persist in patients receiving general or specialised dental care in-between team visits. The current study aims to find out if different strategies regarding dental care result in different caries experience and restorative care levels of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The cleft team of the Amsterdam University Medical Center, presented as Team Spec, refers all CL/P patients at age one to specialised dental care. The majority of CL/P patients treated in the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, receive dental care from a general dentist, Team Gen. Data on decayed teeth (dt), missing teeth (mt), filled teeth (ft), sum dmft and restorative care level for the primary dentition of CL/P patients were compared with independent t-tests. Negative binomial hurdle regression and generalised linear models were used to correct for age, gender and cleft type. No comparison of the costs of both strategies was made.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The restorative care level of Team Spec (51.50%) was significantly better than Team Gen (29.31%) (p < 0.001). Though sum dmft of both teams was comparable (p = 0.32), patients in Team Spec had fewer missing teeth due to caries (p = 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Receiving specialised dental care is beneficial for the restorative care level of CL/P patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1471-1477"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593653/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S Schick, M A Schlenz, N Schulz-Weidner, C Frese, A Pelkonen, T Tanner
{"title":"Improving oral health communication in paediatric dentistry using intraoral scanners: a multicentre pilot study.","authors":"S Schick, M A Schlenz, N Schulz-Weidner, C Frese, A Pelkonen, T Tanner","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01212-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01212-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This multicentre pilot study examined whether intraoral scanners (IOS) enhance oral health competence in paediatric patients and their caregivers compared with conventional verbal oral health instructions (OHI).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty children aged 6-14 years and their caregivers from three European university centres were randomly assigned to a control group (verbal OHI) or an intervention group (verbal OHI + IOS visualisation). Children were stratified into age groups: (6-8, 9-11, 12-14 years). Calibrated dentists performed standardised examinations and delivered OHI. In the intervention arm, an IOS scan was obtained and the 3D model was used to explain individual clinical findings. Comprehension of clinical findings was assessed after the consultation using age-adapted questionnaires. Children in the intervention group additionally rated their IOS experience using a visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-100%). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children in the intervention group achieved higher comprehension scores (4.40 ± 1.61 vs. 3.33 ± 1.81; p = 0.019). Caregivers also scored higher in the intervention group (5.03 ± 1.25 vs. 4.10 ± 1.37; p = 0.008). Benefits were greatest in children aged 6-11 years. VAS ratings indicated acceptance: scanning was perceived as \"fun\" (83.8%), \"informative\" (81.3%) and \"enjoyable to watch\" (88.6%). Tip size was rated appropriate (68.7%), whilst agreement with \"boring\" (25.9%) and \"painful\" (24.1%) was low. The dentist's explanation was rated as clear (94.8%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IOS improved communication and understanding of oral health findings in paediatric dentistry, particularly amongst younger children and their caregivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1413-1424"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593785/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147795376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I Wan Mokhtar, A N B Abd Jalil, A N Amirulhusni Alshukor, M S Ahmad, N A Jusoh Mohd Zaki, A F Omar
{"title":"Navigating toothbrushing challenges for caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder: a qualitative study.","authors":"I Wan Mokhtar, A N B Abd Jalil, A N Amirulhusni Alshukor, M S Ahmad, N A Jusoh Mohd Zaki, A F Omar","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01245-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01245-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to identify the challenges caregivers encounter in providing effective toothbrushing for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to propose caregiver-reported strategies for an optimal toothbrushing routine.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative study utilized focus group discussions (FGD) with primary caregivers of students from an early intervention program in Selangor, Malaysia. A semi-structured interview guide was designed to identify the challenges faced by caregivers in delivering toothbrushing for their children with ASD. Data were obtained from eight sessions of focus group discussions, and verbatim transcripts were analyzed thematically via an inductive and deductive approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 26 caregivers attended the FGDs, the majority of whom were Malay mothers aged between 30 and 39 years and degree holders. The FGDs identified four themes. The themes are behavioral, physical, and functional-related challenges, which include insufficient manual dexterity and poor comprehension of toothbrushing techniques. The next themes were sensory challenges, characterized by oral hypersensitivity; routine-related challenges, which include inconsistent brushing routines and habit development; and caregiver-related factors, which include care burden and limited understanding of oral care challenges. To facilitate success, three core strategies were identified, which were modeling through siblings or videos, structured parental supervision, and the use of toothbrushing motivators such as music or specialized digital applications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Formulating a home oral care routine for children with ASD is complex due to the variability between the child's unique behaviors, sensory and hygiene necessities, and caregiver-related burden. Success requires early and persistent planning, modeling, and motivators.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1605-1618"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148407873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Parental oral health literacy and oral health service utilisation amongst Myanmar migrant children in Thailand: a qualitative study.","authors":"P Detsomboonrat, D Duangthip, W M Phyo","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01239-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01239-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to explore parental oral health literacy and oral health service utilisation amongst Myanmar migrant children in Thailand.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 23 Myanmar migrant parents residing in the central region of Thailand, each with at least one child aged 5-6 years. Data were collected through in-person, in-depth interviews conducted in the Myanmar language. Data analysis was performed via manual line-by-line inductive coding and content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three major categories were identified: (i) oral health knowledge and home practices: parents recognised the immediate consequences of oral disease; however, misconceptions about the importance of primary teeth and a variable understanding of the roles of diet and fluoride remained widespread; (ii) oral health-related information-seeking and utilisation: social media served as the primary source of information, with parents actively seeking information in response to particular concerns. Their ability to assess the reliability of online information varied considerably; and (iii) oral health service utilisation: many parents sought oral health care in a reactive manner rather than a preventive one. Financial constraints, work schedules, language barriers, immigration issues, and negative past experiences constituted significant barriers. Despite these barriers, parents expressed a strong willingness to seek care when their child's need was evident.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides insights into how migrant parents understand and manage their children's oral health, highlighting limited knowledge of primary teeth, reliance on social media for oral health information, and structural barriers to oral health service utilisation.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1541-1552"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148207571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Caries burden and high-risk subgroups in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in Türkiye.","authors":"Esra Tunalı, Şeniz Karaçay, Arda Tabancalı, Büşra Seda Yavuz, Ersin Yıldırım, Turgay Arık","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01236-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01236-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate the oral health status of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Türkiye and to examine the distribution of caries experience using the Significant Caries (SiC) Index to identify high-risk subgroups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 51 children with CP receiving services from the Spastic Children's Foundation. Clinical examinations assessed dental caries using combined dft + DMFT scores, whilst lesion severity was evaluated using a three-category clinical classification mapped to ICDAS levels. Plaque accumulation was assessed using the Silness-Löe index. Caregivers completed structured questionnaires on oral hygiene practices, feeding habits, and dental attendance. Descriptive statistics were used. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD or median (IQR). Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages with 95% confidence intervals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ICDAS-mapped lesion prevalence was 94% and the mean dft + DMFT score was 4.12 ± 3.59. Lesion severity distribution based on ICDAS-mapped categories showed a predominance of moderate lesions. The SiC value was 8.41, indicating a subgroup with markedly higher caries burden. Although 86% had a toothbrushing habit, only 43% brushed twice daily. Of those using toothpaste, 59% used fluoride-free children's toothpaste and 34% used adult toothpaste. Nighttime bottle use persisted in 55% and all with this habit had caries. The mean plaque index was 1.25 ± 0.99. No caregiver had received oral health education.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Dental caries amongst children with CP in Türkiye are highly prevalent and concentrated in a high-risk subgroup identified by the SiC.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1511-1517"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148207619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana Freifrau von Rotenhan, Sabine Weiland, Aneta M Kochanowicz, Renata Cserjesi
{"title":"Dog-assisted therapy in paediatric dentistry: physiological, psychological, and family-centred benefits in managing child dental anxiety.","authors":"Ana Freifrau von Rotenhan, Sabine Weiland, Aneta M Kochanowicz, Renata Cserjesi","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01238-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01238-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Dental anxiety in children is a major challenge affecting treatment quality and family well-being. This study examined the effectiveness of dog-assisted therapy (DAT) in modulating physiological indicators of dental anxiety in paediatric patients and assessed its relevance for family-centred dental care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty children aged 5 to 12 years were allocated to a therapy dog group (n = 30) or a control group receiving standard care (n = 30). Heart rate (HR) was measured before (T0), during (T1), and after treatment (T2). In the DAT group, Corah's dental anxiety scale (CS) and oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were additionally assessed. Parents and children provided qualitative feedback on their experiences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the DAT group, HR decreased significantly from 96.53 bpm (T0) to 91.53 bpm (T2) (-5.00 bpm; t(29) = 2.71, p = 0.011, d = 0.49), while HR in the control group increased slightly (+ 3.33 bpm; p = 0.028). Between-group differences were significant during treatment (p ≈ 0.015, d ≈ 0.65) and after treatment (p < 0.001, d ≈ 0.96). SpO₂ remained stable throughout. Parents frequently reported feeling calmer and perceived their children as more cooperative in the presence of the dog.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>DAT was associated with lower heart rates and more efficient post-procedural physiological recovery compared to standard care. Conclusions regarding subjective anxiety should be interpreted cautiously due to the absence of a control-group CS assessment. Nevertheless, DAT may contribute to a more positive emotional climate during dental appointments, supporting both children and families in coping with dental procedures.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1529-1540"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593651/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluating a condition-specific PROM for amelogenesis imperfecta in children and young people: insights from patients and clinicians.","authors":"J Altaher, S Parekh, F Ryan","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01214-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01214-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a genetic enamel defect affecting both primary and permanent dentitions, often leading to functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial challenges. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly used in paediatric dentistry. This study aimed to explore the impact of AI on oral health-related quality of life in children and adolescents using an AI-specific PROM, and to assess clinician use of the PROM in the UK.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-centre retrospective service evaluation involved children with AI who completed a nine-question PROM pre- and mid-treatment. Responses were analysed by treatment stage, age group, and AI subtype. Clinician feedback on the AI PROM was obtained via an online survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 68 paired AI PROMs from patients aged 7-19 years were analysed at pre-treatment and mid-treatment stages. The cohort comprised 40 females (58.8%) and 28 males (41.2%). Children under 13 years were more frequently reported functional difficulties, such as pain and eating challenges, while adolescents (≥ 13 years) more often expressed psychosocial concerns including bullying and low self-confidence more frequently. Satisfaction with dental appearance increased from 26 to 42% by the mid-treatment stage. In the clinician feedback survey, 23 of 78 paediatric dentists responded (29.5% response rate). Of those familiar with the AI PROM, 67% reported actively using it in their clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The AI PROM, while non-validated, provided meaningful insights into patient experiences and supported more empathetic, patient-centred care. Incorporating clinician perspectives further supported its perceived relevance and usefulness.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1425-1433"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593735/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147871341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A Divvi, S Kengadaran, D J Caplan, S Sivasamy, A K Sundaragopal
{"title":"Psychometric validation of a novel instrument to measure caregiver-reported oral health-related quality of life in children with intellectual disabilities.","authors":"A Divvi, S Kengadaran, D J Caplan, S Sivasamy, A K Sundaragopal","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01234-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01234-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a critical yet underexplored dimension of well-being in children with intellectual disabilities, who experience a disproportionately high burden of oral diseases due to cognitive, behavioural, and self-care limitations. Existing paediatric OHRQoL instruments were developed for typically developing populations and may not capture the unique experiences of this group. This study aimed to evaluate the construct validity, criterion validity, and reliability of a newly developed caregiver-reported OHRQoL instrument specifically designed for children with intellectual disabilities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A psychometric validation study was conducted among 200 children aged 12 to 18 years with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and their mothers/caregivers from four special schools in Pondicherry, India. Caregiver-reported OHRQoL assessments were obtained through structured interviews, and clinical oral examinations recorded caries status. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis. Criterion, convergent, and discriminant validity were assessed using correlation and group comparison analyses. Reliability was evaluated through Cronbach's alpha, split-half reliability, and test-retest Intraclass Correlation Coefficients. Floor and ceiling effects were examined to determine score distribution.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exploratory factor analysis yielded a seven-component structure reflecting cognitive, behavioural, emotional, caregiver, health-care system, motor, and family domains. Criterion validity was supported by significant correlations between caregiver-reported OHRQoL scores, perceived oral health, and caries burden. Discriminant validity showed significantly poorer caregiver-reported OHRQoL among children with higher caries experience. The instrument demonstrated excellent internal consistency (overall α = 0.947), strong split-half reliability, and acceptable test-retest stability. No ceiling effects and minimal floor effects were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Within the limitations of the study, the instrument demonstrated strong validity and reliability, offering a comprehensive tool to assess caregiver-reported OHRQoL in children with intellectual disabilities. Further validation across diverse settings and longitudinal evaluation are recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1501-1509"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148221586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Y Peneluc Rocha, V Venske Pinheiro, J Lima do Amaral, C de Oliveira Langlois, A Emidio Ribeiro Silva
{"title":"Maternal control of children's daily toothbrushing: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Y Peneluc Rocha, V Venske Pinheiro, J Lima do Amaral, C de Oliveira Langlois, A Emidio Ribeiro Silva","doi":"10.1007/s40368-026-01223-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40368-026-01223-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence of lack of maternal control of the daily toothbrushing of children up to 6 years of age receiving care at a School of Dentistry in Southern Brazil, as well as its associated factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study. Data were obtained through a structured questionnaire administered to the mothers. The outcome of interest was maternal control of their children's daily toothbrushing, and the exposure variables were related to both the mother and the child. Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 156 mother-child pairs were evaluated. The percentage of children whose daily toothbrushing was not controlled by their mothers was 14.8%. After adjusted regression analysis, lack of dietary control (PR = 2.74; 95% CI 1.15-6.50; p = 0.023) and maternal stress symptoms (PR = 3.74; 95% CI 1.56-8.96; p = 0.003) remained associated with the outcome.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The percentage of children whose daily toothbrushing was not controlled by their mothers was 14.8%. Factors, such as the presence of maternal stress symptoms and the absence of dietary control for the child, directly influenced the lack of maternal control of children's daily toothbrushing.</p>","PeriodicalId":520615,"journal":{"name":"European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"1455-1462"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593663/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147984993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}