Nowak AJ, Casamassimo PS, Scott J
… +1 more, Moulton R
J Mich Dent Assoc
· 2016 Jan · PMID 26882647
PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to determine if number and cost of dental treatments in high caries-risk children differs in children with early dental intervention compared to children with later intervention. ME...PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to determine if number and cost of dental treatments in high caries-risk children differs in children with early dental intervention compared to children with later intervention. METHODS: Billing data from children age zero to seven years old, whose first dental visit was between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004, were collected from 20 corporate treatment centers serving children from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds. Data included age at first visit, dental treatment codes, and associated costs for eight years after the first dental visit. Treatment included restorations, crowns, pulpotomies, and extractions. First visit age was categorized into early starters (younger than four years old) and late starters (four years of age or older). Linear regression with cluster adjustment for clinic determined a difference in costs and dental treatments by early and late starters. RESULTS: Of 42,532 subjects, 17,040 (40 percent) were early starters and 25,492 (60 percent) were late starters. There were 3.58 more dental procedures per- formed on late starters, over eight years of follow-up, than on early starters (P < .001). Late starters spent $360 more over eight years of follow-up than early starters (P < .001). CONCLUSION: In this study, number of procedures per- formed were fewer and cost of treatment less for children seen earlier versus later.
It is common for oral health and dental care to be considered a lesser priority for children with complex medical histories than other aspects of their health care. Often, these patients are at a high risk for caries and...It is common for oral health and dental care to be considered a lesser priority for children with complex medical histories than other aspects of their health care. Often, these patients are at a high risk for caries and infection due to poor oral health practices at home, special or restricted diets, and no early establishment of a dental home for routine dental care. Unfortunately, many of these patients present to their first dental visits with caries and require aggressive treatment, such as extractions instead of pulp therapy, or crowns instead of fillings, due to their high caries risk and the difficulty in safely managing them medically during treatment. A unique example of this occurred at the Children's Hospital of Michigan, where a patient with Townes-Brock syndrome (TBS) presented to the dental clinic with advanced caries. TBS is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by major findings such as anomalies of the external ear, imperforate anus, renal malformations, and malformations of the hand. Like many medically complex cases, dental anomalies are not a direct consequence of TBS; however, due to the necessity of high calorie and high sugar feeding supplementation, many of these patients are at high risk for advanced dental caries. Due to this high caries risk, a more aggressive treatment plan is necessary to minimize the risk of recurrent decay and infection. It is critical to stress that even if the disease, syndrome, etc., of a patient does not have inherent dental consequences, it is imperative for regular dental care to be part of the comprehensive treatment plan for these patients. This includes the establishment of a dental home at a young age and proper oral health education of the patient's caregivers and their physicians. In the case of the patient with TBS, recommendations for daily brushing, especially after high sugar feedings was stressed, as well as the reduction of any other sweets within the diet.
Ectopic eruption of a permanent tooth involves abnormal resorption of a portion or all of the adjacent primary tooth. Among the most commonly ectopically erupted teeth are the permanent first molars. Ectopically erupting...Ectopic eruption of a permanent tooth involves abnormal resorption of a portion or all of the adjacent primary tooth. Among the most commonly ectopically erupted teeth are the permanent first molars. Ectopically erupting molars may require intervention to allow for full eruption, or they may spontaneously self-correct and erupt into occlusion. Decisions regarding the necessity of intervention, its ideal timing, and intervention type are multifactorial. Treatment options for the ectopically erupting permanent first molar include the elastomeric separator, brass wire, pre-fabricated clip separator, custom made appliances (Humphrey appliance, Halterman appliance), or extraction of the primary molar. Early intervention when indicated can ensure proper full eruption of the permanent first molar and prevent mesial angulation, arch perimeter loss, tooth impaction and ankylosis. Two cases are described that manage ectopic eruption of the permanent first molar.