Assessing the Knowledge Levels of Pediatricians and Family Physicians Regarding the Eruption Period of Primary Teeth and Oral Health of Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Year 2023, Volume: 50 Issue: 2, 57 - 63, 31.08.2023

Merve Aksoy , Makbule Buse Dündar Sarı , Eren Sarı , Cenkhan Bal

https://doi.org/10.52037/eads.2023.0017

Abstract

Purpose: The research aimed to assess the knowledge level of pediatricians and family physicians regarding the eruption period of primary teeth and pediatric oral-dental health.
Methods: Pediatricians, research assistants in pediatrics, and family physicians working in Ankara were reached via e-mail and mobile applications. The demographic characteristics of the participants and their level of knowledge on child oral-dental health and primary teeth eruption period were assessed. The questions were formed following the current guidelines (AAPD). The collected data was analyzed by SPSS 24, and p<0.05 was accepted for statistical significance.
Results: 251 physicians, 67.3% (n=169) of whom were female, participated in the study. The ratio of assistant physicians among the participants is approximately 41%. Nearly 40% of the participants were in the first three years of their profession. A statistically significant relationship was detected between the answers to the questions on the eruption cyst, amber necklace use and the necessity of primary teeth treatments, and the titles of the professionals (p<0.05). The rates of correct answers were found to be less in ratio regarding early childhood caries, the differences of oral mucosa in eruption and newborn period, and the relation between fever and teething period.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the knowledge level of pediatric and family physicians about the eruption period of primary teeth and oral-dental health was found to be insufficient. Protecting children's oral and dental health is necessary, especially by informing family physicians and pediatricians.

Keywords

Teething symptoms, pediatric dentistry, children oral health

References

• 1. Schafer TE, Adair SM. Prevention of dental disease. The role of the pediatrician. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2000;47(5):1021–42, v–vi. doi:10.1016/s0031-3955(05)70256-x.
• 2. Douglass AB, Douglass JM, Krol DM. Educating pediatricians and family physicians in children’s oral health. Acad Pediatr. 2009;9(6):452–6. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2009.09.004.
• 3. of Pediatrics AA. Preventive oral health intervention for pediatricians. Pediatrics. 2008;122(6):1387–1394. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2577.
• 4. Bracho Pacheco A, Finkelman M, Choi A, Hinton D, Rich AP, Bagher SM, et al. Effectiveness of an oral health education sem- inar for paediatric and family medicine residents. Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2018;19(3):221–225. doi:10.23804/ejpd.2018.19.03.10.
• 5. Markman L. Teething: facts and fiction. Pediatr Rev. 2009;30(8):e59–64. doi:10.1542/pir.30-8-e59.
• 6. Akyıildiz MB, Dogusal G, Snnmez I. Knowledge of pediatricians in Aydin and Izmir regarding oral and dental health. J Pediatr Res. 2015. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4274/jpr.84755.
• 7. AlanziA,MuhammadS,FaridounA,AlterkaitA.Pediatricians’ Knowledge of Children’s Oral Health: A National Survey. Int Dent J. 2023;73(3):463–469. doi:10.1016/j.identj.2022.08.004.
• 8. ARIKAN V, Tugba S, Yelken N, Döger C. Pediatrist- lerin agiz ve dis sagligi konusundaki bilgi dızey- lerinin degerlendirilmesi. KUTFD. 2018;20(1):73–83. doi:1https://doi.org/10.24938/kutfd.343300.
• 9. Di Giuseppe G, Nobile CG, Marinelli A, Angelillo IF. Knowledge, attitude and practices of pediatricians regarding the preven- tion of oral diseases in Italy. BMC Public Health. 2006;6:176. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-176.
• 10. Dickson-Swift V, Kenny A, Gussy M, McCarthy C, Bracksley- O’Grady S. The knowledge and practice of pediatricians in children’s oral health: a scoping review. BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):211. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01198-0.
• 11. Garrocho-RangelA,López-TorreME,Santos-DíazM,Torre- Delgadillo G, Flores-Arriaga JC, Saadia M, et al. Assessment of Pediatricians’ Knowledge, Practices, and Attitudes on Oral Health/Care in Children in the Last Decade: A Systematic Scoping Review and Critical Reflection. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2022;46(4):262–272. doi:10.22514/1053-4625-46.4.2.
• 12. DentistryAAoP.FluorideTherapy[WebPage];2022.Available from: https://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/ BP_FluorideTherapy.pdf.
• 13. DentistryAAoP.ManagementConsiderationsforPediatricOral Surgery and Oral Pathology [Web Page]; 2022. Available from: https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_ guidelines/bp_oralsurgery.pdf.
• 14. DentistryAAoP.Managementofthedevelopingdentitionand occlusion in pediatric dentistry. [Web Page]; 2022. Available from: https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_ guidelines/bp_developdentition.pdf.
• 15. Dentistry AAoP. Perinatal and infant oral health care. [Web Page]; 2022. Available from: https://www.aapd.org/media/ policies_guidelines/bp_perinataloralhealthcare.pdf.
• 16. DentistryAAoP.Policyonearlychildhoodcaries(ECC):Conse- quences and preventive strategies. [Online Database]; 2022. Available from: https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/ policies_guidelines/p_eccconsequences.pdf.
• 17. DentistryAAoP.PolicyonOralHealthCareProgramsforInfants, Children, Adolescents, and Individuals with Special Health Care Needs [Web Page]; 2022. Available from: https://www.aapd. org/media/policies_guidelines/p_oralhealthcareprog.pdf.
• 18. Dentistry AAoP. Policy on Use of Fluoride [Web Page]; 2022. Available from: https://www.aapd.org/media/policies_ guidelines/p_fluorideuse.pdf.
• 19. Dentistry AAoP. Use of Antibiotic Therapy for Pedi- atric Dental Patients [Web Page]; 2022. Available from: https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_ guidelines/bp_antibiotictherapy.pdf.
• 20. Celen R, Arslan FT. Bebeklerde Dis Cikarma Sureci ve Bu Surecte Karsilasilan Sorunlara Yonelik Uygulamalar. Guncel Pediatri. 2018;16(2):181–186.
• 21. BarlowBS,KanellisMJ,SlaytonRL.Tootheruptionsymptoms: a survey of parents and health professionals. ASDC J Dent Child. 2002;69(2):148–150.
• 22. Sarrell EM, Horev Z, Cohen Z, Cohen HA. Par- ents’ and medical personnel’s beliefs about infant teething. Patient Educ Couns. 2005;57(1):122–125. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2004.05.005.
• 23. KahanT,AdesmanA.Commonparentingmisconceptionsre- garding infant care: setting the record straight for parents (and some pediatricians). Curr Opin Pediatr. 2019;31(6):874–880. doi:10.1097/mop.0000000000000835.
• 24. OwaisAI,ZawaidehF,Al-BataynehOB.Challengingparents’ myths regarding their children’s teething. Int J Dent Hyg. 2010;8(1):28–34. doi:10.1111/j.1601-5037.2009.00412.x.
• 25. CotaALS,SilvaEAD,FreitasN,BisnetoJ,BuritiGM,ValenteJ, et al. Use of the amber teething necklace by the child popula- tion: risks versus benefits. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2022;40:e2020412. doi:10.1590/1984-0462/2022/40/2020412in.
• 26. ThompsonK,HuntingtonMK.MethodsofSymptomaticRelief of Teething in Infants and Young Children Recommended by South Dakota Physicians. S D Med. 2019;72(11):509–512.
• 27. Alaki SM, Burt BA, Garetz SL. The association between antibiotics usage in early childhood and early childhood caries. Pediatr Dent. 2009;31(1):31–37. 28. Valinoti AC, da Costa J L C, Farah A, Pereira de Sousa V, Fonseca-Gonçalves A, Maia LC. Are Pediatric Antibiotic Formulations Po- tentials Risk Factors for Dental Caries and Dental Erosion? Open Dent J. 2016;10:420–30. doi:10.2174/1874210601610010420.
• 29. Koufatzidou M, Koletsi D, Basdeki EI, Pandis N, Poly- chronopoulou A. Pediatricians’ awareness on orthodontic prob- lems and related conditions-a national survey. Prog Orthod. 2019;20(1):33. doi:10.1186/s40510-019-0285-x.
• 30. Maden EA, İbrahim E. Pediatricians’ Knowledges, Attitudes and Practices on Parafunctional Oral Habits and Orthodontic Problems in Children. Clin Exp Health Sci. 2021;11(4):834–841. doi:https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.971473.
• 31. Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Classifications, Consequences, and Preventive Strategies. Pediatr Dent. 2017;39(6):59–61.
• 32. Prakash P, Lawrence HP, Harvey BJ, McIsaac WJ, Lime- back H, Leake JL. Early childhood caries and infant oral health: Paediatricians’ and family physicians’ knowledge, prac- tices and training. Paediatr Child Health. 2006;11(3):151–7. doi:10.1093/pch/11.3.151.
• 33. Ismail AI, Nainar SM, Sohn W. Children’s first dental visit: attitudes and practices of US pediatricans and family physicians. Pediatr Dent. 2003;25(5):425–430.
• 34. AlshunaiberR,AlzaidH,MeaigelS,AldeeriA,AdlanA.Early childhood caries and infant’s oral health; pediatricians’ and family physicians’ practice, knowledge and attitude in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Dent J. 2019;31(Suppl):S96–s105. doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2019.01.006.
• 35. Ercan E, Baglar S, Colak H. Dis hekimliginde topikal florur uygulama metotları. Cumhuriyet Dental Journal. 2011;13(1):27– 33.
• 36. EmmiDT,LimaAFMR,deLemosAJV,daSilvaCdMS.Knowl- edge of pediatricians and the importance of interdisciplinarity in attention to oral health in early childhood. Acta Scientiarum Health Sciences. 2017;39(1):115–122.
• 37. GeikenA,HoltmannL,SpliethCH,ConradJ,DoerferCE,Graetz C. Are the Dental Guidelines for Early Dental Visits and Flu- oridation Measures Supported by Pediatricians, and What Are Their Caries Prevention Efforts? J Clin Med. 2022;11(5). doi:10.3390/jcm11051159.
• 38. BenniDB,SirurD.Gingivalcystofthenewborn:Acasereport. Int Dent African Ed. 2000;3(2):32–34.
• 39. Sen-Tunc E, Acikel H, Saroglu-Sonmez I, Bayrak S, Tu- loglu N. Eruption cysts: A series of 66 cases with clini- cal features. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2017;22(2):e228. doi:https://doi.org/10.4317/medoral.21499.
• 40. Kumari A, Thomas AM, Kundra R, Kumar R. Eruption cyst: A literature review and case re- port. Int J Appl Dent Sci. 2021;7(1):363–366. doi:https://doi.org/10.22271/oral.2021.v7.i1e.1156. Children’s Oral Health And Pediatricians/Family Physicians | 63
• 41. Brecher EA, health. Lewis CW. Infant oral Pediatric Clinics. 2018;65(5):909–921. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2018.05.016.
• 42. CAKIRP,EdenE.SosyalMedyaPlatformlariTwitter,Instagram ve YouTube’daki Flor Paylasimlarinin Degerlendirilmesi: Kesit- sel Arastirma. Turkiye Klinikleri J Dental Sci Cases. 2022;28(1). doi:http://doi.org/10.5336/dentalsci.2020-80806.
• 43. ToumbaK,TwetmanS,SpliethC,ParnellC,VanLoverenC,Ly- gidakis N. Guidelines on the use of fluoride for caries prevention in children: an updated EAPD policy document. Eur Arch Paedi- atr Dent. 2019;20:507–516. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368- 019-00464-2.