Dental Plaque Disclosing as an Auxiliary Method for Professional Dental Prophylaxis in Early Childhood
Catarina RB de Alencar, Gabriela C de Oliveira, Celso DV Tripodi Junior, Priscilla SP Gonçalves, Franciny Q Ionta, Heitor M Honorio, Thais M Oliveira, Daniela Rios
Keywords :
Coloring agents, Dental care for children, Dental prophylaxis, Preventive dentistry, Professional education
Citation Information :
de Alencar CR, de Oliveira GC, Tripodi Junior CD, Gonçalves PS, Ionta FQ, Honorio HM, Oliveira TM, Rios D. Dental Plaque Disclosing as an Auxiliary Method for Professional Dental Prophylaxis in Early Childhood. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019; 12 (3):189-193.
Aim: This study aimed to clarify whether dental plaque disclosing before professional prophylaxis would improve the visualization of dental plaque, therefore optimizing the procedure.
Materials and methods: The sample comprised both the smooth and occlusal surfaces of the teeth of 25 children from 18 to 36 months. A randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted with two groups: GI—with disclosing and GII—without disclosing (washout/1 month). The teeth were stained with 1% malachite green solution to assess the amount of dental plaque on smooth and occlusal surfaces.
Results: Dental plaque removal was more effective and statistically faster (391.27 seconds ±142.2) in GI. The plaque index and the prophylaxis duration were inversely related in GI. The child's behavior did not affect the plaque removal effectiveness, regardless of plaque disclosure (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Dental plaque disclosing in young children is an effective and less time-consuming method that improves the quality of the professional dental prophylaxis.
Clinical significance: Biofilm control is important for the success of programs for prevention of early childhood caries (ECC) and considering the particularities inherent to the dental care of infants, it is necessary that periodic professional prophylaxis is effective in eliminating the oral biofilm, ideally reducing chair time. Although dental plaque disclosing has been traditionally performed on educational basis during oral hygiene instruction, this resource can be safely employed to help professional prophylaxis in infants.
Dentistry AAOP. Definition of early childhood caries (ECC). Reference Manual. 2005–2006, 2007.
Harris R, Nicoll AD, et al. Risk factors for dental caries in young children: a systematic review of the literature. Community Dent Health 2004 Mar;21(1):71–85.
Narvey A, Shwart L. Early childhood dental disease – what's in a name? J Can Dent Assoc 2007 Dec;73(10):929–930.
Ng MW, Chase I. Early childhood caries: risk-based disease prevention and management. Dent Clin North Am 2013 Jan;57(1):1–16. DOI: 10.1016/j.cden.2012.09.002.
Milsom KM, Tickle M, et al. Dental pain and dental treatment of young children attending the general dental service. Br Dent J 2002 Mar;192(5):280–284. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4801355.
Tinanoff N, Daley NS, et al. Failure of intense preventive efforts to arrest early childhood and rampant caries: three case reports. Pediatr Dent 1999 May–Jun;21(3):160–163.
Cunnion DT, Spiro 3rd A, et al. Pediatric oral health-related quality of life improvement after treatment of early childhood caries: a prospective multisite study. J Dent Child 2010 Jan–Apr;77(1):4–11.
Clarke M, Locker D, et al. Malnourishment in a population of young children with severe early childhood caries. Pediatr Dent 2006 May–Jun;28(3):254–259.
Bonecker M, Ardenghi TM, et al. Trends in dental caries in 1-to 4-year old children in a Brazilian city between 1997 and 2008. Int J Paediatr Dent 2010 Mar;20(2):125–131. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2009.01030.x.
Ramos-Gomez FJ, Shepard DS. Cost-effectiveness model for prevention of early childhood caries. J Calif Dent Assoc 1999 Jul;27(7):539–544.
Kay E, Locker D. A systematic review of the effectiveness of health promotion aimed at improving oral health. Community Dent Health 1998 Sep;15(3):132–144.
Naidu R, Nunn J, et al. Oral healthcare of preschool children in Trinidad: a qualitative study of parents and caregivers. BMC Oral Health 2012 Aug;12:1–14. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6831-12-27.
Trubey RJ, Moore SC, et al. Parents’ reasons for brushing or not brushing their child's teeth: a qualitative study. Int J Paediatr Dent 2014 Mar;24(2):104–112. DOI: 10.1111/ipd.12034.
Finucane D. Rationale for restoration of carious primary teeth: a review. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2012 Dec;13(6):281–292. DOI: 10.1007/BF03320828.
Greene JC, Vermillion JR. The oral hygiene index: a method for classifying oral hygiene status. J Am Dent Assoc 1960 Aug;61(2):172–179. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.1960.0177.
Mestrinho HD, Carvalho JC, et al. Desempenho clínico das escovas infantis produzidas no Brasil. Rev Gaúcha Odont 1994 Sep–Oct;42(5):254–258.
Rode Sde M, Gimenez X, et al. Daily biofilm control and oral health: consensus on the epidemiological challenge-Latin American Advisory Panel. Braz Oral Res 2012;26(1):133–143. DOI: 10.1590/S1806-83242012000700020.
Kasaj A, Moschos I, et al. The effectiveness of a novel optical probe in subgingival calculus detection. Int J Dent Hyg 2008 May;6(2):143–147. DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2007.00277.x.
Montevecchi M, Checchi V, et al. The use of a disclosing agent during resective periodontal surgery for improved removal of biofilm. Open Dent 2012;6:46–50. DOI: 10.2174/1874210601206010046.
da Silva CH, Paranhos H F. Efficacy of biofilm disclosing agent and of three brushes in the control of complete denture cleansing. J Appl Oral Sci 2006 Dec;14(6):454–459. DOI: 10.1590/S1678-77572006000600012.
Duarte CA, Lascala NT, et al. Influence of bacterial plaque disclosing agents on patient oral hygiene motivation under direct supervision and direction. Rev Odontol Univ Sao Paulo 1990 Oct–Dec;4(4):278–283.
Zenkner JE, Alves LS, et al. Influence of eruption stage and biofilm accumulation on occlusal caries in permanent molars: a generalized estimating equations logistic approach. Caries Res 2013;47(3):177–182. DOI: 10.1159/000345076.
Carvalho J, Ekstrand K, et al. Dental plaque and caries on occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars in relation to stage of eruption. J Dent Res 1989 May;68(5):773–779. DOI: 10.1177/00220345890680050401.
Carvalho JC, Thylstrup A, et al. Results after 3 years of non-operative occlusal caries treatment of erupting permanent first molars. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1992 Aug;20(4):187–192. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1992.tb01713.x.