Abstract The aim of this multicenter study was to explore the early-life sugar consumption and dietary practices in Latin America as well as to investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and the age at which foods and beverages with added sugars are introduced. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 805 1- to 3-year-old children from 10 Latin American countries, as a complementary study to the Research Observatory for Dental Caries of the Latin American Region (OICAL). A Food Frequency Questionnaire previously tested in different countries was applied to children’s mothers and data on breastfeeding and age at introduction of sugary foods and beverages was collected. Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis test and Poisson regression with robust variance, with the calculation of crude and adjusted mean ratios (MR) and 95% of confidence intervals (CI). The average age at introduction of sugary foods and beverages was 10.1 months (95%CI 9.7–10.4) and 9.6 (95%CI 9.2–9.9) months, respectively, with a significant variation between countries (p < 0.001). The average daily frequency of sugary foods-beverages was 3.3 times per day (95%CI 3.1–3.5) and varied significantly between countries (p = 0.004). Breastfeeding duration of over six months was associated with an increase in the age of introduction of sweet drinks (16%; MR 1.16; 95%CI 1.05–1.28) and foods (21%; MR 1.21; 95%CI 1.10–1.33). In conclusion, most children from vulnerable settings in Latin America start consuming sugary products in the first year of life and a high frequency of consumption was reported through early childhood. Additionally, breastfeeding contributes to a delay in the introduction of sugary products.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical and radiographic success rates of pulpotomies in primary molars using a new stain-free tricalcium silicate cement (Bio-C Pulpo) versus a conventional white MTA (MTA Angelus) as a pulpotomy medicament for primary teeth. Seventy primary teeth in 33 patients were randomly divided into two groups, MTA Angelus (n = 34) and Bio-C Pulpo (n = 36). Clinical and radiographic follow-up examinations were conducted at seven days (except radiographic follow-up), and at one, three, six and 12 months. At 12 months, the clinical success rate of the MTA Angelus group was 100 percent (28 out of 28), and the radiographic success rate was 100 percent (28 out of 28). In comparison, the clinical success rate for the Bio-C Pulpo group was 100 percent (29 out of 29), and the radiographic success rate was 100 percent (29 out of 29). No significant differences were found between the groups at any follow-up evaluation. According to Fisher´s exact test, a significant difference was observed between the pulpotomy agent and tooth discoloration (p < 0.001). The success rates were 100% for the Bio-C Pulpo group, with no case of discoloration, and 10.31% for the MTA Angelus group. Both MTA Angelus and Bio-C Pulp pulpotomy medicaments are appropriate options for pulpotomies in primary teeth, and enable high clinical and radiographic success rates. However, more long-term studies are required to test the new Bio-C Pulpo medicament.