OSA pediatric subjects suffer from episodes of upper airway obstruction that can be partial or complete, with atypical sleep patterns and blood-gas level alteration. If poor treated and/or diagnosed, it can cause cardiovascular disease, learning difficulties, behavioural issues, and retardation of growth. In the literature, there are conflicting evidence about OSA assessment and treatment in pediatric age, so the aim of this paper is to highlight the multidisciplinary approach in the management of sleep disorders, stressing the role of the pediatric dentist in both diagnosing and treating the OSAS in children, according to the current evidence of the treatment options effectiveness of the syndrome itself. Conclusions. Scientific evidence shows that OSAS management requires a multidisciplinary approach in order to make an early diagnosis and a correct treatment plan. The orthodontic treatment approach includes orthopedic maxillary expansion and mandibular advancement using intraoral appliances. Hence, the orthodontist and the pediatric dentist play an important role not only in early diagnosis but also in the treatment of pediatric OSAS.

The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life of children and adolescents affected by cleft lip, palate and alveolus (CLPA) in the Italian population after a tailored treatment dental program. A prospective study was conducted with subjects of both genders at the University Hospital of Pisa, Italy. This study included 32 patients (11 females and 21 males, mean age: 9.8 ± 2.1 years old) affected by CLPA (test group); a tailored oral hygiene instruction protocol was adopted in the test group since early age (6.1 ± 0.9 years old) after corrective surgery and regular dental hygiene appointments were scheduled. Moreover, a control group of 32 patients (11 females and 21 males, mean age: 10.1 ± 2.2 years old) without CLPA was included; control subjects were first-visit patients, matched for age and sex, who had not received a specific dental hygiene program before. The OHIP-14 (Oral Health Impact Profile) questionnaire was applied for the evaluation of the quality of life of patients of both groups and the questions were presented directly to the patients. Moreover, the DMFT (Decayed, Missed and Filled Teeth) index was measured. A statistical analysis was performed and the level of significance was set at: p < 0.05. The OHIP-14 scores presented significant differences between the two groups (p < 0.05); the test group exhibited a lower mean OHIP-14 score in comparison to the control group. The DMFT score was significantly lower in the test group in comparison to controls (p: 0.001, p < 0.05). The quality of life and DMFT score of children and adolescents affected by CLPA, after a tailored treatment dental program, were better than that of the subjects of the control group.

Dentinal hypersensitivity represents one of the most widespread dental problems and symptoms in the general population. It mainly affects the age group between 18 and 65 years old, presents an incidence of 35%, and may negatively affect the oral health-related quality of life of these patients. This longitudinal study aims to measure dentinal hypersensitivity in adult patients after the use of domiciliary desensitizing devices. In this study, 52 patients were included (32 females and 20 males, mean age: 53 ± 9.4) At T0 (baseline), patients were instructed to use a desensitizing toothpaste and, at T1, 27 patients reported using sodium monofluorophosphate (1450 ppm) and arginine 8% product (product A), while 25 patients reported using a toothpaste containing n-HAp (nano-hydroxyapatite) in effective dose 2.25% and 0.15% fluoride (1500 ppm) (product B). The study was carried out through three follow up appointments, 14 days apart from one another (T1 and T2). Results showed that the air sensitivity test did not exhibit a significant difference between the time points (p > 0.05), while a significant improvement of DH was recorded for tactile, osmotic, cold thermic, acid, and omni-comprehensive tests in both groups. Both desensitizing agents were effective in reducing DH for different stimuli.