This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of professional topical fluoride application on the prevention of dental caries in primary and permanent dentition. A web search was conducted for English papers published from 2000 to 2020, using various digital resources (Pubmed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and ResearchGate). The keywords were “professionally applied fluoride”, “fluoride gel”, “fluoride varnish”, “fluoride foam”, “fluoride mouthrinses”, and “non-cavitated caries lesions”. Inclusion criteria: (a) participants: children and adolescents, treated in a dental care setting; (b) intervention: professionally applied fluorides (gel, varnish, foam, mouthrinse); (c) comparator: no professional treatment or other preventive treatments; (d) outcomes: clinical effectiveness (e.g., caries reduction, tooth remineralization); (e) study design: randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses; (f) publication period: 1 January 2000–31 December 2021. Clinical studies about home-use fluoride products, discussion papers, in-vitro studies, case reports, non-English articles, and studies with unclear methodology were excluded. Topical fluoride applications are indicated for patients with active smooth surface caries and for patients in high caries risk groups. Both APF gel and fluoride varnish are effective and can be recommended for caries prevention in primary and permanent teeth. For children under the age of 6, only 2.26% fluoride varnish is recommended.

This study aimed to give an image of the oral health status and treatment needs of intellectually challenged athletes taking part in Special Olympics—Special Smiles (SO-SS) events organized in Romania during 2011–2019 and to find potential associations with socio-economic factors. An observational ecological retrospective study was conducted, and 1860 oral examinations were performed on participants aged 8 to 30 years in nine SS-SO events. Oral examination was performed under field conditions. Percentage of caries-free subjects, mean DMF-T index and its components (D = decayed; M = missing; F = filled; T = teeth), restoration index RI = [F/(F + D) × 100]%, and Plaque Index were calculated for each of the nine groups. Caries-free subjects ranged between 5.90% and 21.70%. DMF-T ranged from 4.27 to 7.71. Higher values for “F” component (range 0.66–1.69) and RI (range 13.02–27.74%) were found in events held in cities from regions with higher reported Gross Domestic Product. Sealants were present in 0 to 8.4% of the subjects. In areas with lower numbers of inhabitants per dentist, more sealants were found (p < 0.001). Romanian SO athletes exhibited relatively poor oral health, limited access to dental treatment, and low level of prevention. Targeted prevention and treatment programs adjusted to specific conditions in each geo-economic region are needed.

Dentigerous cysts may be of developmental or inflammatory origin. The latter occur in unerupted permanent teeth as a result of inflammation from a preceding non-vital primary tooth or from another source spreading to involve the tooth follicle. This report presents two clinical cases of children with dentigerous cysts of inflammatory origin. Case 1 is a healthy boy (7 years 11 months) referred for a large cystic cavity in the right mandibular premolar region. Extraction of 84 and 85 and marsupialization of the cyst were performed under nitrous sedation. A removable appliance with an acrylic piece fitted into the socket was applied on the same occasion. The in-socket piece was progressively reduced as the cystic cavity was shrinking. After a 20-month follow-up, 44 and 45 are sound and correctly erupted and 46 remains unaffected. Case 2 is an autistic girl (10 years 9 months) with bilateral large odontogenic cysts enclosing the crowns of 35 and 45. Extractions of 75, 85 were performed under general anesthesia, leaving large bone defects. Given the limited compliance of the patient under common dental office circumstances, no appliance was used. Thirteen months after extraction, 35 and 45 are sound, fully erupted and no visible mesial drifting of 36 and 46 occurred. In conclusion, conservative treatment of large inflammatory dentigerous cysts in children gives good results with minimal intervention, ensures physiologic development of teeth and proper bone healing. The general condition of the patient can influence treatment choice. Patients must be followed up until eruption of the displaced permanent teeth and bony consolidation of the cyst.

Hypodontia (tooth agenesis) is regarded as the most common congenital dental anomaly. The present review discusses the epidemiological characteristics of congenitally missing second permanent molars (CMSPMs) within a systematic review of the literature. The review was based on Pubmed library associated with the search of various scientific databases or academic resources, improved by hand search of reference lists. The terms 'hypodontia' or 'anodontia' in combination with 'prevalence' or 'epidemiology' were searched in the data sources for studies published between January 2001 and December 2020. Abstracts of non-English papers were also analyzed. The inclusion criteria were as follows: i) Study provided precise data about CMSPMs, even if no second permanent molar was reportedly missing; ii) the number of CMSPMs distributed by jaw was provided and iii) studies on subjects >3 years were used. The exclusion criteria were as follows: i) Studies on patients with history of trauma of the maxilla or the mandible, any type of syndrome affecting bone metabolism, metabolic disorders, previous extraction or tooth loss due to dental caries, cleft lip and palate; ii) studies performed on cohorts of patients with hypodontia and iii) studies reporting data including third molars, except for those that presented sufficient data to perform correct calculations. A total of 79 studies were selected, accumulating a population of 281,968 people, with an average sample size of 3,524.60±11,255.25. The prevalence of CMSPMs (IpHSPM) was 2.79±3.16% among all missing teeth (1.03±1.59% for upper CMSPMs and 1.76±2.32% for lower CMSPMs; P= 0.011). There were no significant differences (P= 0.250) in IpHSPM between men (1.59±1.52%) and women (2.13±1.67%). However, significant differences were recorded between continents. Furthermore, lower CMSPMs were found more frequently in orthodontic samples (P=0.033). The prevalence of CMSPMs is low compared with the overall prevalence of CM teeth. Despite the rarity of these anomalies, early detection is important to enable practitioners to plan and start treatment at the best time for optimal results.

The present study aimed to assess the dentin lesion activity in non-superficial carious lesions affecting vital immature permanent molars and to investigate possible associations between microbiological status, clinical dentin alterations, and salivary cortisol levels. Study sample consisted of a total number of 22 immature permanent molars of 13 children. After clinical estimation of lesion activity, a fine sample of deep dentin layer was removed and inoculated on bacteria tests. Salivary cortisol was assessed using an ELISA method. Most molars were diagnosed as actively carious progressing. There was a gradual increase in the bacterial counts, with higher lactobacilli (p=0.001) and mutans streptococci (p=0.045) loads in deep carious lesions, without any salivary cortisol level association. The findings of the present study discriminate between different clinical characteristics of carious lesions, supporting a conservative cavity preparation approach.