Longitudinal Follow-up Comparing Future Care of Primary Teeth Treated with Silver Diammine Fluoride: A Private Dental Claims Review.

The purpose of this study was to longitudinally evaluate follow-up treatment on primary teeth initially treated with silver diammine fluoride (SDF). This retrospective cohort evaluated private insurance (not Medicaid) claims data from 2018 to 2019 for children no older than 12 years with at least one primary tooth initially treated with SDF. Additional treatment per tooth was recorded over a follow-up of at least 24 months.

Effect of Different Isolation Methods on Bioaerosol Distribution: An In Vitro Study.

The purposes of this in vitro study were to evaluate the effect of three isolation methods to mitigate bioaerosols during stainless steel crown (SSC) preparations and assess the distribution of Streptococcus mutans by aerosolization in closed-room operatories. Melamine teeth coated in laboratory-grown S. mutans biofilm were prepared for SSCs using three different isolation methods.

Occupational Noise Exposure in the Pediatric Dental Setting.

To evaluate the noise levels recorded in a hospital-based pediatric dental clinic and evaluate the occupational exposure personnel have to potentially hazardous levels of noise. A SoundAdvisor™ Sound Level Meter Model 831C was used to gather 19 days of background sound data (equivalent continuous sound levels, measured as LAeq) in the open bay, quiet room, sedation suite, and operating room settings. A Spartan™ Wireless Noise Dosimeter Model 730 (Larson Davis) was utilized to capture data about personal noise exposure of pediatric dental residents over 81 clinic sessions.

Supplemental Oxygen Concentrations and the Use of Suction to Mitigate Risk of Oral Surgical Fires Using a Laboratory Model.

Intraoral oxygen pooling during dental sedation, especially using supplemental oxygen, is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous perioperative fire. The purpose of this in vitro study was to examine the effectiveness of intraoral suctioning for reducing oxygen pooling to safe levels during a simulated dental procedure. Phase one: Twenty trials were completed for each of the three suctioning devices: high-volume evacuation (HVE), fixed tip saliva ejector (SE), and Yankauer suction (YS).

Rehabilitation of Patients with Arthrogenic Muscular Inhibition in Pathologies of Knee Using Virtual Reality.

Arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) refers to muscular alterations that are generated, producing biomechanical motor control and movement problems, leading to deficiencies in strength and atrophy. Currently, there exist methods that involve virtual reality (VR) and have been well perceived by physiotherapists. The present research measured the potential benefits in terms of therapeutic adherence and speed of recovery, through a comparative analysis in a healthcare provider institution, in Medellín, Colombia, with and without the aid of VR.

Amalgam or composite in pediatric dentistry: Analysis of private insurance claims data.

Background: Advancements in dental materials and changing parental preferences are modifying the frequency of use of restorative materials. This insurance claims analysis examined the trends in the use of amalgam and resin composite in the United States.

Methods: Commercial dental insurance claims were analyzed to compare 505,994 restorations, corresponding with procedure codes for 1-, 2-, and 3-surface amalgam or resin restorations.

Topical fluoride impact in future restorative dental procedures: A claim study.

Background: Caries is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting children. Topical fluoride is used to decrease the incidence of caries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of fluoride varnish and gel applications on future restorative dental treatment claims.

Pediatric Phantom Dosimetry Evaluation of a New Rectangular Collimator.

To compare the effective dose (E) of the Tru-Image® rectangular collimator and the universal round collimator of a Planmeca® wall-mounted radiograph unit for two bitewing radiographs (right and left) on a pediatric phantom.
Absorbed doses utilizing the Tru-Image ®rectangular collimator and universal round collimator were acquired using an anthropomorphic 10-year-old child phantom. Each set of 24 dosimeters was exposed to two bitewing exposures with the manufacturer's child settings.

Comparison of Oropharyngeal Oxygen Pooling and Suctioning During Intubated and Nonintubated Dental Office-Based Anesthesia.

Objective: The risk of a spontaneous surgical fire increases as oxygen concentrations surrounding the surgical site rise above the normal atmospheric level of 21%. Previously published in vitro findings imply this phenomenon (termed oxygen pooling) occurs during dental procedures under sedation and general anesthesia; however, it has not been clinically documented.

Methods: Thirty-one children classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II between 2 and 6 years of age undergoing office-based general anesthesia for complete dental rehabilitation were monitored for intraoral ambient oxygen concentration, end-tidal CO2, and respiratory rate changes immediately following nasotracheal intubation or insertion of nasopharyngeal airways, followed by high-speed suctioning of the oral cavity during simulated dental treatment.

Trends in dental insurance claims in the United States in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: A 3-year perspective (2019-2022).

Objectives: We showed in a previous analysis the patterns of disruption for private dental insurance claims in the United States caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020. The present report examines trends during 2020 and 2021, that is, contrasting perspectives during 2019 with the acute phase of the pandemic in 2020, and 2021.

Methods: Private dental insurance paid claims from a data warehouse were obtained, encompassing a 5% random sample of records between January 2019 and December 2021 for child and adult insureds who filed a claim in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Financial Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Care for Pediatric Patients: a Dental Claims Review.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on private dental insurance claims for pediatric dental care.

Methods: Commercial dental insurance claims for patients in the United States ages 18 and younger were obtained and analyzed. The claims dates ranged from January 1, 2019, to August 31, 2020.

Evaluation of Claim Reports for Potential Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Dental Procedures.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the postponement of dental elective procedures at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increased number of simple dental extractions, and/or decreased restorative procedures by analyzing data obtained from state-funded insurance dental claims.

Methods: Paid dental claims collected from March 2019 to December 2019 and from March 2020 to December 2020 for children ages two to 13 years old were analyzed. Dental procedures were selected based on Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes for simple dental extractions and restorative procedures.

The Saudi Arabian national demographic and health survey, 2017: Study design and oral health-related influences.

Objective: To describe the study design, and the distal and proximal influences on oral health reported in the national demographic and health survey (DHS) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2017.

Methods: The 2017 KSA DHS used an innovative multistage stratified random-sampling technique to select the population sample by using primary health care centers' (PHCs) catchment areas as the primary sampling unit. Over 45,000 household heads plus a family member were interviewed.

Insurance claim data trends in pulpal therapy for pediatric patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in usage trends for 2 specific pulpal therapy treatments in pediatric patients during an 11-year period from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2020.

Methods: Insurance data claims for children aged 2 through 12 years undergoing a pulpotomy or a pulpectomy performed by a general dentist (GD) or pediatric dentist (PD) from 2010 through 2020 were extracted from a dental data warehouse. The state where the provider was located was included in the extracted claim.

Virtual Reality Game for Physical and Emotional Rehabilitation of Landmine Victims.

Landmine victims require an engaging and immersive rehabilitation process to maintain motivation and therapeutic adherence, such as virtual reality games. This paper proposes a virtual reality exercise game called , which works with , a lower limb rehabilitation robot (LLRR). Together, they constitute the general system.

Patterns of radiograph use in a population of commercially insured children.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in number and type of radiographs used among 3 age groups (0-5, 6-12, 13-18 years) by general dentists, pediatric dentists, and other specialists, and to determine the association between number and type of radiographs and clinical need.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of insurance claims by age group and oral health care provider type included children aged 0 through 8 years in 2005 who had a minimum of 10 years of continuous eligibility. Indicator claim variables were calculated to identify high-risk, high-need patients.

Trends in dental insurance claims in the United States before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020.

Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic disrupted health care services. Previous reports estimated reductions in demand and supply of dental care services, but actual changes have not been reported. The present report depicts a perspective of trends in claims from private dental practice in the United States during 2019 and 2020.

Prescription of bite-wing and panoramic radiographs in pediatric dental patients: An assessment of current trends and provider compliance.

Background: The aim of the authors was to evaluate prescription patterns for bite-wing and panoramic radiographs (PRs) for pediatric and adolescent dental patients after the implementation of the most recent guidelines from the American Dental Association and US Food and Drug Administration.

Methods: The authors accessed paid insurance claims data for all 50 states from January 1, 2013, through June 30, 2019, for patients 18 years and younger and extracted a 5% random sample population. The authors performed statistical analyses to evaluate various imaging metrics for pediatric dentists (PDs) and general practitioners (GPs).

Pediatric Phantom Dosimetry of a Portable Handheld X-ray Device.

The purpose of this study was to quantify radiation dose from the XTG (Xray2Go) handheld X-ray device for bitewing and maxillary anterior occlusal projections using a pediatric phantom. The aim was to evaluate effects of thyroid shielding on total effective dose (E) and tissue equivalent doses (HT) and assess operator backscatter radiation. Methods:A pediatric phantom head with 24 tissue site dosimeters was exposed to radiation from the x-ray device.

Utilization of Silver Diamine Fluoride by Dentists in the United States: A Dental Claims Review.

A Current Dental Terminology (CDT) code, D1354, for silver diamine fluoride was made effective on January 1, 2016. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utilization of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) by pediatric dentists (PDs) and general dentists (GDs) in the United States. Data were obtained from a commercial dental insurance claims warehouse in the United States.

Longevity of Primary Anterior Crown Restorations: A Retrospective Dental Claim Analysis.

The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine the longevity of resin crowns (RCs), pre-veneered stainless steel crowns (PVSSCs), and stainless steel crowns (SSCs) in primary maxillary incisors in a nationwide sample of private insurance claims; and (2) explore whether longer survival rates are related to the type of treating practitioner.
Private dental insurance claims were obtained from a national data warehouse. The paid insurance claims (2005 to 2016) included the treatment provided, number of teeth treated at an appointment, patient's age, and type of dentist.

Success Rates of Pulpotomies Performed by General Dentists Versus Pediatric Dentists: A Claims Data Analysis.

The purpose of this study was to examine if there are differences in the success rate of primary teeth treated with pulpotomies performed by general dentists (GDs) versus pediatric dentists (PDs), using submitted paid insurance dental claims. The extraction time after pulpotomy was examined. Data for this study were obtained from a private dental insurance claims warehouse.

Blood levels of lead and dental caries in permanent teeth.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between lead exposure within the ages of 1-4 years and dental caries in the permanent dentition between ages 9-17 among Mexican youth.

Methods: Data were collected for the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort from a group of 490 children born and reared in Mexico City. Among ages 1-4 years, blood lead levels were measured in micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (μg/dL) and the presence of caries in adolescence was determined using the International Caries and Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS).

Preventing Dental Surgical Fires: Characterizing Nasal-Cannulated Supplemental Oxygen Pooling in an In Situ Dental Procedure.

Objectives: Surgical operatory fires continue to occur in the United States, often with devastating consequences. Because more than 21% concentrations of oxygen are necessary for the onset of such combustion, this study examined fluctuations of surgical site oxygen levels. Better understanding how these more than 21% concentrations occur will not only add to surgical fire prevention efforts generally but also potentially reduce patient or staff harm and practitioner liability as well.