This work analyzed the available evidence in the scientific literature about the risk of preterm birth and/or giving birth to low birth weight newborns in pregnant women with periodontal disease. A systematic search was carried out in three databases for observational cohort studies that related periodontal disease in pregnant women with the risk of preterm delivery and/or low birth weight, and that gave their results in relative risk (RR) values. Eleven articles were found, meeting the inclusion criteria. Statistically significant values were obtained regarding the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with periodontitis (RR = 1.67 (1.17–2.38), 95% confidence interval (CI)), and low birth weight (RR = 2.53 (1.61–3.98) 95% CI). When a meta-regression was carried out to relate these results to the income level of each country, statistically significant results were also obtained; on the one hand, for preterm birth, a RR = 1.8 (1.43–2.27) 95% CI was obtained and, on the other hand, for low birth weight, RR = 2.9 (1.98–4.26) 95% CI. A statistically significant association of periodontitis, and the two childbirth complications studied was found, when studying the association between these results and the country’s per capita income level. However, more studies and clinical trials are needed in this regard to confirm the conclusions obtained.

In a continuous process such as caries, it is important to possess criteria or instruments that allow the lesions to be diagnosed at early stages so that preventive or interceptive treatments can be applied before cavitation takes place. The present study seeks to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) criteria and the DIAGNOdent laser fluorescence (LF) pen in occlusal caries lesions, using histological sections as the gold standard. Sixty-four permanent teeth were examined by two researchers who previously performed and calibrated both the ICDAS II criteria and the use of DIAGNOdent pen. The teeth were then cut into sections and observed under an optical microscope. The sensitivity values were 0.82 (ICDAS II) and 0.85 (LF). The specificity values were 1.00 (ICDAS II) and 0.53 (LF). The intraexaminer reproducibility was 0.892 for ICDAS II and 0.912 for the DIAGNOdent, so it was high for both diagnostic methods. However, the DIAGNOdent pen showed greater sensitivity and the ICDAS criteria more specificity. It was concluded that both methods are efficacious individually but combining the two is recommended to improve the diagnosis.

To examine the available evidence on the association between exposure to tobacco use in the womb and in infancy and the presence of caries in primary and permanent dentition in children and adolescents.A systematic review was conducted through searches in 4 data bases (Pubmed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science), complemented by hand-searching. Of the 559 articles identified, 400 were duplicates. Finally, 28 articles were included in the qualitative review and 21 in the meta-analysis. Their quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The quality was medium in 44% of the articles included and high in 56%.The overall meta-analysis gave a significant odds ratio (OR = 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.39–1.68, Z test p-value = 0.000) and high heterogeneity (Q = 200.3, p = 0.000; I2 = 86.52%). Separate meta-analyses were also performed for three subgroups: exposure in the womb (prenatal) and caries in primary dentition, which resulted in a significant OR = 1.46 with a 95% CI of 1.41–1.52 (Z test p = 0.000), without heterogeneity (Q = 0.91, p = 0.824; I2 = 0%); exposure in infancy (postnatal) and caries in primary dentition, with OR = 1.72 (95% CI 1.45–2.05) and high heterogeneity (Q = 76.59, p = 0.00; I2 = 83.01%); and postnatal exposure and caries in permanent dentition, with OR = 1.30 (95% CI 1.25–1.34) and no heterogeneity (Q = 4.48, p = 0.880; I2 = 0%). In children and adolescents, a significant though moderate association was found between passive tobacco exposure and caries.

Objectives: To assess the oral health status of the child population and its evolution over the 2004-2010 period. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study of the entire schoolchild population of the Valencia region of Spain was conducted using cluster sampling. Seventy schools were selected. The sample size was 1373 pupils, aged 6, 12 and 15 years. The children were examined in November and December 2010, at their schools, by 6 examiners calibrated in the ICDAS II method. The descriptive statistics, comparison of means and comparison of proportions (p<0.05) were recorded. Results: The caries prevalence (ICDAS 4-6>0) was 30% in primary dentition at 6 years and 37.7% and 43.6% in permanent dentition at 12 and 15 years respectively. At 6, 12 and 15 years, the df.t/DMF. TICDASII 4-6 scores were 0.98, 0.83 and 1.08, the df.s/DMF.SICDASII 4-6 scores were 1.43, 1.27 and 1.64 and the care index results were 14.3%, 59% and 71.3% respectively. Conclusions: Both the caries indices (df.t at 6 years and DMF.T at 12 and 15) and caries prevalence have improved, as the values obtained were lower than in 2004. Using the comparison at 95% CI, between both years, the improvement was only noticeable in the 15 year-old group. The care index continued to be low at 6 years of age but higher values than in 2004 were found at 12 and 15 years. Social class continued to influence the child caries indicators. Key words:Caries prevalence, schoolchildren, ICDAS II, cross-sectional survey.

The aim of this study was to determine the caries status and risk factors in the schoolchildren of Spain’s Valencia region in 2018 and to compare them to the 20-year evolution of caries indicators in the region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1722 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 15 using cluster sampling. Caries status, using International Caries Detection and Assessment System II (ICDAS II) criteria, and sociodemographic variables were recorded. To ensure the comparison with previous studies using WHO caries criteria, the cut-off point was established at ICDAS II code 4. Caries prevalence was found to be 37.4% and the decayed and filled teeth index (dft) was 1.23 at 6 years for deciduous dentition (DD). In permanent dentition (PD) at 12 years, caries prevalence was 30.1% with a 0.66 decayed, missing and filled teeth index (DMFT), and at 15 years, prevalence was 44.6% and DMFT was 1.21. Socioeconomic status poses a major risk factor for caries prevalence in deciduous dentition; it is 1.8 times higher in the lowest socioeconomic group. Deciduous dentition status has worsened in the most recent eight-year period, whereas in permanent dentition the 12- and 15-year values are similar to those of the 2010 survey. Evolution analysis suggests that community dental care programs be enhanced, involving preventive activities staring at the first year and targeting disadvantaged groups.