Implications of dental caries in children

Question 1

Untreated caries is

Answer 1

10th most prevalent disease worldwide

Question 2

Implications of disease

Answer 2

Pain
Infection
General health effects
Psychosocial

Question 3

Pain

Answer 3

Unpleasant sensory and emotional response to actual or potential tissue damage
Subjective

Question 4

Words used by children

Answer 4

Lots of bees stinging

Stabbing, burning

Question 5

Words to describe pulp testing

Answer 5

Uncomfortable
Sore
Hitting
Dizzy

Question 6

Prevalence and likelihood of caries

Answer 6

50% of children with caries
Young age
2 or more surfaces
Disease in lower molars

Question 7

Effects children describe

Answer 7

Crying
Stopping them from playing
Missing school

Question 8

Impacts in own words

Answer 8

Hurt/toothache/earache
Eating sleeping school
Annoyed sad grumpy

Question 9

Signs in very young children

Answer 9

Pain on toothbrushing
During eating
Not crying at night

Question 10

Infection

Chronic or acute

Answer 10

Chronic infection

• buccal sinus
• hypoplasia of permanent successor

Acute infection

• Facial swelling
• Pyrexia
• may require hospitalisation

Question 11

General effects

Answer 11

Height
Weight 
due to poorer diet 
Iron deficiency 
Psychosocial

Question 12

How are psychosocial impacts measured

Answer 12

Oral Health related QoL measures 
Assess- 
Oral symptoms
Functional limitations
Social well-being
Emotional well-being

Question 13

Oral impact

Answer 13

Pain most common
22% difficulty eating
Self confidence issues

Question 14

Child dental anxiety and its impact

Answer 14

1/5 have dental anxiety
Varies with age and unequal gender distribution
Time-consuming
Financial implications

Question 15

Ways to improve?

Answer 15

Communication is good

Question 16

Local anaesthesia

Answer 16

Topical
Explain feeling of numbness
Small amounts of treatment

Question 17

Conscious sedation

Routes

Answer 17

May require pharmacological behaviour management 
NOS most commonly used 
Oral 
Transmucosal 
IV

Question 18

General anaesthesia
Minor risks
Major risks
Benefits

Answer 18

Most common reason for hospital admissions in children 
nausea 
vomiting 
headache 
1:25000-1:2M mortality
One visit
Multiple procedures 
Cost-effective

Question 19

Success of treatment

Answer 19

Less pain
Eat more
Sleep better
Improved oral related QoL

Question 20

Minimising the impact of dental caries

Answer 20

Prevention (DBOH)
Community oral health promotion
Reducing child dental anxiety

Question 21

Community oral health promotion

Answer 21

Community based fluoride varnish ‘‘clubs’’
Provision of oral hygiene equipment
Healthy food and drink policies
Fluoridation of water supplies

Question 22

Reducing dental anxiety

Answer 22

Self-help
Challenge unhelpful thoughts
Enhance control
Reflect and plan reward