Service Delivery of a Preventive Oral Health Care Model to High Caries Risk Urban Children in Sri Lanka: A Retrospective, Descriptive Study

Evaluation of Post-Translation Control Mechanisms (Mirnas) In Type 1 Diabetic Patients with and Without Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy

“…More extractions, pulpectomies and pulp extirpation were the treatments of choice in the lock-down period among paediatric patients in the Israelite study [16] whilst conservative management with antibiotics and analgesics, oral hygiene instructions and dietary advice were the combined treatment that was offered at our setting. Our usual practice was referring the children with dento-alveolar abscesses and symptomatic pulp exposed teeth for pulp therapy provided at Restorative Units of National Dental Hospital (Teaching) Sri Lanka after initial management combined with the preventive oral health care package [51][52][53]. This comprised behavioural management of the child in the exclusively child friendly environment to gain the cooperation of the child, dietary counselling to address cariogenic dietary habits, oral hygiene and brushing advice, professional fluoride therapy and restorations [51][52][53].…”

“…Our usual practice was referring the children with dento-alveolar abscesses and symptomatic pulp exposed teeth for pulp therapy provided at Restorative Units of National Dental Hospital (Teaching) Sri Lanka after initial management combined with the preventive oral health care package [51][52][53]. This comprised behavioural management of the child in the exclusively child friendly environment to gain the cooperation of the child, dietary counselling to address cariogenic dietary habits, oral hygiene and brushing advice, professional fluoride therapy and restorations [51][52][53]. One restorative unit provided pulp therapy and pulpectomy under general anaesthesia for uncooperative children and other children with special needs who could not be provided with the necessary treatment under general anesthesia.…”

“…Therefore, it was important to provide oral health education to children and their parents whilst addressing the acute problems of children [50]. Our usual geographically targeted preventive oral health care package was offered in a child-friendly environment embraced with in-built behavioural management aimed at gaining their cooperation for preventive dental care provision [18,[51][52][53]. As restless, crying children spread more aerosols compared to cooperative children, appropriate and skillful behavioural management techniques have been recommended as a useful strategy to control Sars-Cov-2 infection transmission underpinned by stringent infection control measures [16].…”

“…Therefore, prescribing antibiotics for symptomatic dento-alveolar infections helped in gaining their cooperation rather than attempting to provide invasive treatment [16]. Further, our previous research showed the predominantly low socioeconomic background and the cariogenic dietary patterns of toddlers and children attended POHU [51][52][53]55]. Given the impact of stringently imposed Covid-19 lockdown scenarios on breakdown of normal lifestyles, underpinned by indefinite closure of schools, work-fromhome strategies, impaired health care seeking and breakdown of day-to-day life activities that became pertinent to flatten the rising epidemic curves of Covid-19 infection had its toll of promoting unhealthy lifestyles among adults and children.…”

Baseline Assessment of Dental Behavior Patterns, Associated Factors and Non-pharmacological Behavior Management Approaches among High Caries Risk 2-5-year Old Children Receiving Preventive Oral Health Care

“…Our previous research findings reported high cariogenic dietary patterns and revealed cariogenic food items consumed by children with a high burden of untreated decayed teeth who attended the preventive dental clinic [18][19][20][21]. Those food items were included in the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) item with healthy food items in the data collection form used for the present study [18][19][20][21]. Therefore, based on our previous research findings, an 'operational classification' was derived to categorize children into mutually exclusive dietary patterns.…”