Biomedical subjects

Liisa Seppä

Publications and source records attributed to Liisa Seppä.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Dental fear of Finnish children in the light of different measures of dental fear.

OBJECTIVES: The aims were: (1) to examine the construct and reliability of the modified Dental Subscale of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS) among children of different ages and (2) to compare the correlations between fear measured with the modified CFSS-DS, the "peak value for dental fear" (PV), and "fear of dental treatment in general" (GF). METHODS: The study sample consisted of 302, 299, 314, and 297 children aged 6, 9, 12, and 15 years, respectively. Each child received a questionnaire to be filled out at home. An explorative factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed for eight items taken from the CFSS-DS and questions on fear of pain and suction used in the mouth. For further age-specific analyses, mean values were calculated for the sum of items that loaded >0.5 on each factor. The correlations between these values and PV and GF were studied. RESULTS: The questionnaire was reliable. Two factors were revealed for each age: "treatment of dental decay" (TDD), which included fears related to invasive treatment, and "attending the dentist" (AD), which included fears related to dental visits in general. TDD explained over 50% of the variance, except among 9-year-olds. TDD mean values were higher among older children than among younger ones and correlated more strongly with PV than with GF. AD mean values were higher among younger children than among older ones and correlated more strongly with GF than with PV. CONCLUSION: The factor structures were fairly similar but the correlations between fear measures differed among children of different ages.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Dental fear and oral health and family characteristics of Finnish children.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to describe the occurrence of dental fear among Finnish children of different ages and to ascertain how oral health and family characteristics are associated with dental fear. METHODS: The subject groups were aged 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 years in two middle-sized cities, and the 1474 participants were distributed over fairly equal samples of each age. A questionnaire given to each child to be filled out at home enquired about social background, oral hygiene habits, diet, and dental fear. Oral health status was examined clinically and radiographically by two calibrated dentists. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed for each age group in order to study the associations between dental fear and selected factors. RESULTS: Dental fear was higher among 12- and 15-year-old children than among the younger ones. Pain, drilling, and local anesthesia were reported to be the most frightening aspects. Excluding the 12-year-olds, children whose family members reported dental fear were more likely to report dental fear than children whose family members did not report dental fear. Six- and 12-year-olds who had experienced caries were more likely to report dental fear than were caries-free children. Among 6-year-olds, father's education modified the effect of a child's caries experience on child dental fear. Frequent intake of sugary items and a limit on eating candies to only one day per week were associated with higher dental fear. CONCLUSIONS: Fear of dental treatment is still fairly common among Finnish children, and the factors associated with it differ with the age of the child.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Development of a standardized method for comparing fluoride ingested from toothpaste by 1.5-3.5-year-old children in seven European countries. Part 1: Field work.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a standardized method for measuring the variables affecting fluoride ingestion from toothpaste in young children between the ages of 1.5 and 3.5 years, and to use the method at seven European sites. METHODS: Random samples of children were invited to take part in the study. Parents who gave consent were visited at home. The children brushed their teeth using the toothpaste brand and toothbrush type currently in use. Variables measured were: type of toothpaste used, fluoride concentration of toothpaste used, weight of toothpaste used, frequency of brushing and body weight of the child. RESULTS: It was not possible to follow the agreed protocol in all seven countries and in three countries appropriate alternative methods were employed. There was considerable variation between countries in the variables investigated. Use of children's toothpaste ranged from 69% in Ireland to 98% in Portugal. In the Netherlands up to 60% of the children were using toothpaste containing <400 ppm F and in Finland up to 27% of children were using toothpaste containing >1200 ppm F. Over half of the children used <0.25 g of toothpaste per brushing and the majority of children brushed once or twice per day. CONCLUSION: Although adherence to the agreed protocol was not possible at all study sites there was a clear picture of considerable variation in the oral hygiene practices of young children throughout Europe.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2004

Development of a standardized method for comparing fluoride ingested from toothpaste by 1.5-3.5-year-old children in seven European countries. Part 2: Ingestion results.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a standardized method for measuring the variables affecting fluoride ingestion from toothpaste in young children between the ages of 1.5 and 3.5 years, and to use the method at seven European sites. METHODS: Random samples of children were invited to take part in the study. Parents who gave consent were visited at home. The children brushed their teeth using the toothpaste brand and toothbrush type currently in use. The difference between the fluoride dispensed onto the toothbrush and the fluoride recovered after accounting for losses was deemed to be the fluoride ingested. Details of other oral health-care habits were collected by questionnaire. For each child, the fluoride concentration of the toothpaste used was measured in the laboratory, from which an estimate of total daily fluoride ingestion was made. RESULTS: There was considerable variation between countries in the types of toothpaste used and in the amounts of toothpaste applied and ingested. The amount of fluoride ingested ranged from 0.01 to 0.04 mg fluoride per kg of body weight per day. CONCLUSION: The amount of fluoride ingested that is likely to be a risk factor for the development of dental fluorosis during tooth formation is equivocal and was found to vary widely between European countries. There appears to be a need for clearer health messages regarding the use of fluoridated toothpaste by young children.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2004

A European perspective on fluoride use in seven countries.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to collate data on national policies for the use of fluoride in the seven European countries participating in the FLINT project. METHODS: Policies on the use of fluoride were obtained for each of the study areas. Data collected included the presence of water fluoridation and regulations governing fluoride toothpaste and fluoride supplements. RESULTS: In Ireland 74% of the population had a fluoridated water supply but in all the other countries fluoride toothpaste was the principal form of delivering fluoride, usually recommended as a dose of a pea-sized amount. Fluoride supplement use varied considerably between countries. The Netherlands had the clearest regulations covering the use of fluoride supplements and definition of at-risk individuals. Most countries, even if they recognized particular caries-risk did not define the term clearly. In Iceland all children were regarded as being at high risk of developing caries. CONCLUSION: Considerable variation exists between European countries in their policies for fluoride use and no clear definitions of high-caries-risk individuals were found. The results show that there is even a lack of coherent thought and planning within the different countries, let alone between them.

Cariostatic Agents↗

PubMed2004

Fluoride ingestion from toothpaste: conclusions of European Union-funded multicentre project.

An important challenge encountered in this multicentred project was the need to take account of the different cultural and legal differences between the seven sites when agreeing the protocol. Examples such as access to registers of births and subject consent dictated that there were some differences in the methods used in the different sites. The data presented showed that it was possible to train and calibrate a number of examiners in a standardized photographic method for recording enamel fluorosis. This method has a number of important advantages for the objective monitoring of enamel fluorosis over time. There were considerable differences between the seven sites in the formulations of the toothpaste used and in the pattern of their use. The results indicate that it is possible to agree and adopt a standardized method for measuring fluoride ingestion from toothpaste. The aesthetic impact of enamel fluorosis seemed low in the populations included in this project, but further work is required on this issue.

Cariostatic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fluoride varnishes in caries prevention.

The first fluoride varnishes were developed during the 1960s (Duraphat) sodium fluoride varnish) and 1970s (Fluor Protector) silane fluoride varnish) to prolong the contact time between fluoride and enamel. Fluoride varnishes adhere to enamel, and calcium fluoride formed after application acts as a long-term reservoir of fluoride. Currently Duraphat varnish is the most widely used topical fluoride for professional application in Europe, and the use of fluoride varnishes is increasing in the USA. Duraphat varnish has been effective in three decades of clinical studies, but the results of Fluor Protector varnish are inconclusive. The percent caries reductions found in the 1990s have generally been lower than those reported in earlier studies, probably because of the higher exposure to other preventive measures in the more recent studies. In studies comparing Duraphat varnish and APF gel, Duraphat varnish was equally or more effective than APF gel. Sealants were most effective in preventing occlusal caries. Four applications per year, or three weekly applications once a year, have been found to be effective. However, several studies have shown that two applications per year may provide comparable results. Application is fast and easy. Professional prophylaxis is not necessary, and the patient can leave immediately after the treatment. No acute toxicity has been reported after using any fluoride varnish.

Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride↗