Dental and Oral Disorders

33 Dental and Oral Disorders



The mouth serves many functions, including speech, and is richly endowed with special systems that serve complex needs; it is increasingly recognized as a barometer of health and well-being throughout life. For this reason, good oral health is essential for normal growth and development. Saliva is replacing serum and blood as the vehicle for noninvasive diagnostic tests for systemic diseases in some cases. Many of these tests are already on the market.


In children, microbial infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi cause tooth decay (dental caries), periodontal or gum diseases, herpes labialis, and candidiasis. Moreover, inherited and congenital conditions result in impairments and cosmetic defects that have serious effects on children as they grow and develop. Lifestyle choices such as tobacco and drug use, body art, and piercings create challenges for maintaining oral health.


Dental problems, particularly tooth decay, are much more common than asthma and can restrict normal daily activity. Dental caries are the most common infectious disease of children. The unmet dental needs of children 2 to 17 years in the U.S. over the past nine years have been steady at 6% to 7% (Blackwell, 2010; Bloom et al, 2009; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2010). Increased demand for dental services is compounded by an inadequate supply of dentists and a maldistribution of pediatric dentists, especially in underserved areas. In addition, the dentist-to-population ratio continues to decline (Nash, 2009).


Ensuring an adequate workforce to meet the needs of children requires involvement of primary care providers (PCPs). They are in a unique position to play a critical role in preventing oral disease, identifying and minimizing the effects of disease, and providing guidance to parents and children about oral health. And yet, Danielson and colleagues’ study (2006) found that although 82% of the physician assistants and nurse practitioners recognized the importance of performing an oral examination, less than half expressed confidence in their ability to do so. These results largely reflect similar findings of a study of physicians that revealed that although 84% knew the importance of oral examinations, only 19% performed the examination routinely; 56% expressed lack of confidence in their skills, and 77% felt their training was insufficient (Morgan et al, 2001). In response, this chapter offers information and practical answers for providers in everyday practice to ensure they have basic examination competencies; are able to distinguish between normal and abnormal structures, pathology, and common oral diseases; feel competent to educate regarding oral health and prescribe and apply preventive treatment (e.g., fluoride and fluoride varnish); and know when to refer to dentists (Danielson et al, 2006).



image Normal Growth and Development



Anatomy of the Mouth


The structures of the mouth include the mucosa (buccal and gingival), palate, salivary glands, frenula, tongue, and teeth.



The Teeth




Pattern of Tooth Eruption


The first primary tooth (also called baby tooth or deciduous tooth) may be present at birth. Normally the eruption of primary teeth begins with the anterior primary teeth, occurs during the first 6 to 8 months of life, and ends at about 30 to 36 months old with the maxillary second molars. The sequence of eruption and the timing of eruption for each tooth are similar for both sexes. Variability in the age of children at emergence of the individual teeth is small, with a standard deviation of 2 to 3 months. In most children, the 20 primary teeth (10 per arch) erupt in a period spanning about 2 years.


The permanent teeth begin erupting as children reach school age (about 6 years old), and the jaws grow. The eruption of permanent dentition begins with eruption of the mandibular central incisors and ends with the eruption of the maxillary third molars. The primary teeth are shed as the permanent ones erupt. The permanent molars erupt behind the primary molars. The shedding and replacement of the primary molars by permanent premolars is usually complete around the fifth grade or by 12 years of age. This period, when both primary and permanent teeth are present, is called transitional dentition. The total period of eruption of permanent teeth (except for the third molars) spans about 6 years in most children.


In general, the variability in eruption times for the permanent dentition is much greater than the variability observed in the primary dentition, with standard deviation of 8 to 18 months (about five times greater than in the primary dentition). The sequence of permanent tooth eruption is almost identical for both sexes. However, all teeth erupt earlier in girls than in boys. The gender difference in eruption times averages approximately 6 months. The tooth eruption pattern for both the primary and permanent dentitions is listed in Table 33-1.


TABLE 33-1 Calcification, Crown Completion, and Eruption
































































































Tooth Age of Eruption
Primary Dentition
Maxillary
Central incisor 7½ months
Lateral incisor 8 months
Canine 16-20 months
First molar 12-16 months
Second molar 20-30 months
Mandibular
Central incisor 6½ months
Lateral incisor 7 months
Canine 16-20 months
First molar 12-16 months
Second molar 20-30 months
Permanent Dentition
Maxillary
Central incisor 7-8 years
Lateral incisor 8-9 years
Canine 11-12 years
First premolar 10-11 years
Second premolar 10-12 years
First molar 6-7 years
Second molar 12-13 years
Third molar 17-21 years
Mandibular
Central incisor 6-7 years
Lateral incisor 7-8 years
Canine 9-10 years
First premolar 10-12 years
Second premolar 11-12 years
First molar 6-7 years
Second molar 11-13 years
Third molar 17-21 years

Adapted from Logan WHG, Kronfeld R: Development of the human jaws and surrounding structures from birth to age fifteen years, J Am Dent Assoc 20:379, 1993.




image The Oral Examination




Clinical Findings


An oral and dental examination should be systematic. During the examination, take the opportunity to point out abnormalities (e.g., tooth decay) to the parent.






image Aberrations in Primary Tooth Eruption





Other Gum Events





Bohn Nodules


Bohn nodules are present at birth and appear as firm nonpainful nodules on the buccal surface of the alveolar ridge (Fig. 33-4). They are remnants of dental lamina connecting the developing tooth bud to the epithelium of the oral cavity. No treatment is required because they will resolve spontaneously. If they appear in the midline of the palate, they are referred to as Epstein pearls.




image Professional Dental Care





Choosing a Dentist


The choice of a dentist is critical, especially for children who have had poor previous experiences. Many general dentists are skilled at working with children, so the absence of a pediatric specialist is not a huge barrier. A dentist new to the child should be told about any prior dental experiences. Parents of dentally naive children should be counseled to choose a dentist known to like and work well with children. Parents should be encouraged to ensure that their child has had a good night’s sleep and is fed before a visit. The child’s teeth should be brushed before any visit to the dentist. A parent or caretaker should accompany the child into the treatment room; avoid dentists who are adverse to such. Counsel parents to avoid dentists who rely only on pharmacology to manage behavior, such as using nitrous oxide, oral antihistamines, or narcotics. The most effective strategies are behavioral. Combinations of behavioral and pharmacologic methods—such as distraction and nitrous oxide—can be effective, whereas the drug alone may not be.


Preparation should focus on helping the child develop coping skills and ways to gain control. Children gain control when the dentist briefly explains procedures and allows them to signal any discomfort. An example of a coping skill is relaxation breathing. Finding a dentist who tells stories and riddles, sings to the children, or otherwise distracts them (e.g., with videos, music, or games) is particularly effective. Directed guidance strategies—specific kinds of direction followed by praise—are also very effective in managing children’s behaviors. For fearful children, practitioners can be successful by using structured rehearsals, in which procedures are broken into small steps, and teaching coping strategies. Dentists and parents who rely solely on authoritarian approaches or who are permissive are likely to fail with a fearful child (Weinstein and Milgrom, 2006).


Parents should be cautious about dentists with laser-based diagnostic devices. These devices are often marketed to dentists as being capable of detecting “invisible” cavities. They are being misused to justify unnecessary fillings, often called “preventive resins.” The standard method of examination of the teeth is visual, using strong light and transillumination (shining light through the tooth) without using sharp probes, which can damage teeth and transfer potential pathogenic bacteria from one groove or surface to another. Most tooth decay in permanent teeth in children occurs on the biting surface, and x-rays are of limited diagnostic value in such cases. Parents should be urged to seek second opinions whenever eight or more fillings (two for each quadrant of the child’s mouth) are recommended.



image Dental Health Education


Dental health education is a crucial preventive strategy. Tailoring health education messages and instruction to an individual’s capacity to “obtain, process, and understand” reflects a health literacy approach to oral health education. Low parental health literacy is most often associated with early childhood caries, low income, and inadequate maternal education. Low reading literacy, combined with low health literacy, is of particular concern given the dual role a parent plays as decision-maker for self and child. The potential negative consequences for health and safety escalate.


Health information that is accessible to individuals with limited literacy is just beginning to influence dentistry. A review of dental education materials for parents found many required reading skills above the seventh to ninth grades. Additionally, many materials included dental jargon and unnecessarily difficult words (Alexander, 2000). The same study found that more than 80% of secondary school children (spanning a reading level equivalent to that of adults) were unsure of many dental terms, such as “fluoride tablets” and “gum disease.” The advice given in published materials often is inconsistent. In addition, there are many oral health myths that should be dispelled by the PCP during conversations on oral health (e.g., caries in baby teeth aren’t important since they eventually fall out anyway; it is “impossible” to brush children’s teeth; fluoride is unsafe; pregnant women shouldn’t see the dentist).


A good source of reference material on the Internet is www.medlineplus.gov, the consumer side of PubMed from the National Library of Medicine. Access is free, and materials are often in multiple languages. The site includes brochures that can be freely downloaded and copied.



Reducing Disparities Through Preventive Intervention and management


Weinstein and colleagues (2004) have shown that parents of young children are willing and able to change home preventive oral health practices. Using an intervention based on the transtheoretical “stages of change” model of Prochaska and Norcross, individuals overcome self-identified barriers to change, setting goals that are attainable and of personal value (Weinstein and Milgrom, 2006; Weinstein et al, 2004) (see Chapter 9 for discussion of this model).


Parents’ toothbrushing skills and oral hygiene education can be improved when staff in the primary care clinic, preschool, Head Start, or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program demonstrate proper technique and give parents a chance to practice. Researchers found that oral hygiene and gingivitis scores improved in children when instructions about oral health were reinforced both in the home and at school (Kwan et al, 2005). Davies and colleagues (2005) reported positive benefits of a series of “gifts” by mail to parents of infants 8 through 32 months old. The gifts included written educational pamphlets, a trainer cup, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. Parents who received the repeated mailings versus those who did not were more likely to report favorable feeding behaviors, initiation of toothbrushing before 12 months old, and twice daily toothbrushing.


Beil and Rozier’s study (2010) evaluated whether a recommendation by a PCP to see a dentist resulted in more dental checkups in children. They found that children 2 to 5 years who received such a recommendation were more likely to have a dental examination, whereas children from 6 to 11 years of age showed no increase. This supports the efficacy of the recommendation that primary care providers refer children to a “dental home” at an early age.



image Bacterial Diseases of the Mouth



Tooth Decay (Cavities, Dental Caries)



Description and Epidemiology


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that of the approximately 50% of children who have had decay, two thirds of these children are in the 12- to 19-year-old range (CDC, 2010a); about one quarter are from 2 to 5 years old. Tooth decay is a bacterial disease that can result in irreversible damage and potential loss of teeth. The decay is caused by lactic acid demineralization of the tooth subsurface enamel. The acid is produced by an alpha hemolytic streptococcus (mutans streptococci), in older literature referred to as Streptococcus mutans, after metabolism of carbohydrates in the diet. Unless neutralized and buffered by saliva (remineralized), the demineralization process will lead to cavitation. Active cavities are also frequently infected with lactobacilli. The bacterial species are part of the biofilm adherent to the teeth. The bacteria are usually transmitted when saliva is shared between the child, caregivers, or other children (California Dental Association Foundation, 2010). Infection and colonization peak around the time of the eruption of the primary teeth, but may occur before.


In infants the carbohydrates may be present in the form of prolonged exposure to formula or breast milk, especially if the infant is allowed to sleep with the nipple in his or her mouth (Azevedo et al, 2005; van Palenstein Helderman et al, 2006). Before and after weaning, carbohydrates may also come from milk sweetened with honey or sugar or from juices in baby bottles or training cups, especially when given at bedtime, naptime, or when a child is allowed to take swigs of the fluid throughout the day. In older children, the source of the carbohydrates may be Tang, Kool-Aid, sports drinks, and/or soda. This frequent carbohydrate exposure keeps the pH of mouth fluid near the tooth surface below 5 and results in an environment conducive to demineralization. The neutralization process does not have enough time to increase the mouth pH to a level that would allow remineralization. In patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation to the head and neck and in patients who are immunocompromised, normal salivary flow and salivary buffering of acids is disrupted. Cavities result. Box 33-1 provides a list of risk factors associated with dental caries in children.




Clinical Findings


Clinical findings can include the following:



Early caries lesions. These appear as horizontal white or brown lines or spots along the upper central gumline or gingival margin, more commonly in populations using baby bottles because the cavity-causing fluids pool in these areas of the mouth (breastfed babies are not necessarily excluded from such lesions). In cultures where bottle use, especially at night or naptime, is less common the damage may occur in back teeth first as a function of other dietary patterns. When white lesions occur, the dentin is initially damaged. Then, as the lesion progresses, the hard enamel breaks, and a clinical cavity is evident (see Color Plate). Baby teeth are important for chewing food, serve an aesthetic function, and hold space in the mouth so that the permanent teeth can erupt properly. Therefore, it is critical to prevent cavities and intervene early in any decay.


Advanced tooth decay. This appears as cavitations in the teeth. Nearly all cavities in permanent teeth in children in the U.S. begin on the biting surface of the molars. The initial lesion appears as a pinhole surrounded by a white, opaque halo. As the lesion enlarges greater damage to the enamel becomes apparent. Lesions typically appear about 1 year after the eruption of the tooth and frequently begin while the tooth is still erupting. A gumboil may form if the tooth becomes abscessed (Fig. 33-5).


Sensitivity. Cavities can be hot, cold, or sweet sensitive.


Localized pain. Lesions that progress can begin to hurt all the time, disrupting normal activity, sleeping, and eating.


Inflammation and abscesses. Bacterial invasion of the pulpal tissue in the tooth causes inflammation and necrosis. In severely decayed primary teeth, a gumboil or draining fistula will form on the gum tissue above the root end of the tooth. This also occurs in permanent teeth, but is a late stage (see Fig. 33-5).


Facial pain


Gingival swelling, erythema


Possible lymphadenopathy


Possible fever


Methamphetamine use (“meth mouth”) can cause accelerated tooth decay on the facial surfaces of the teeth and between the teeth. In later stages the teeth are blackened, stained, and appear to be crumbling. There may be signs of severe grinding and dry mouth (Klasser and Epstein, 2005). See the discussion on the use of 12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse for this condition.


Cavities may spontaneously arrest. This is thought to occur, for example, when cavities are exposed to saliva high in fluoride or when the diet changes (such as after weaning). Arrested caries appear as open cavities that are black or dark brown. If the child has such open cavities, is asymptomatic, the teeth are primaries, and access to dental care is problematic, these teeth can be left alone and allowed to shed normally. Ideally, these children should receive dental care. The discoloration also may be the result of previous topical treatment by a dentist with diamine silver fluoride or silver nitrate that was used in an attempt to arrest and prevent carious lesions.




Management and Prevention Strategies in Primary Care



Fluoride Varnish


Early white spot lesions in primary and permanent teeth can be remineralized using topical fluoride varnish. In many states, PCPs and nurses are permitted to apply fluoride. Marketed fluoride varnish preparations contain from 1000 parts per million (ppm) (0.1% silane fluoride) to 22,600 ppm (sodium fluoride, 5%). Typically the 5% varnish preparations are used for children. All of the 5% varnishes for sale in the U.S. are essentially similar, varying in flavor or color. Twice-yearly applications have been shown to reduce tooth decay by about one third. A recent study suggested that four treatments given at the same time as well-child visits before 24 months reduced tooth decay in high risk children (Holve, 2008). Frequent application of fluoridated toothpaste also promotes repair (Do and Spencer, 2007). Plasma fluoride levels following applications of varnish are low and are not associated with toxicity or fluorosis. Fluoride varnish is the agent of choice for young children and has been shown to be more effective than the fluoride gels that are still widely used in the U.S. Fluoride gels are dangerous and difficult to apply in preschool children and are not recommended because of the risk of acute toxicity.


To apply fluoride varnish:




A short training video on the technique for applying varnish is available from the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center at www.mchoralhealth.org/highlights/flvarnish.html..



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Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in PEDIATRICS | Comments Off on Dental and Oral Disorders

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