RESUMO Embora antes da pandemia houvesse alguma resistência à virtualização da educação odontológica, a pandemia COVID-19 está nos fornecendo uma oportunidade única de superar várias barreiras que anteriormente bloqueavam a adoção do ensino à distância e teledontologia. Graças à ampla disponibilidade de telecomunicações, tecnologias digitais e plataformas, a educação à distância e a teledontologia parecem ser a escolha preferida para manter a educação odontológica e o atendimento ativo aos pacientes durante a pandemia, sem riscos de contaminação. Neste artigo, revisamos estratégias válidas de educação a distância e possíveis alternativas úteis na transformação virtual na educação odontológica. Além disso, o papel do teleodontologia e suas vantagens, assim como também os desafios. No atual contexto pandêmico, como educadores odontológicos, somos chamados a ser criativos e flexíveis. Cada escola de odontologia deve se adaptar e usar a educação à distância, tanto quanto possível, até que a atenção clínica possa ser readotada. As evidências apresentadas nesta revisão corroboram nossa posição de que, sob esta pandemia, a educação a distância e a telemedicina / teleodontologia podem ser “a solução virtual conveniente”, para adaptar e aprimorar a forma até então clássica de ensino de odontologia, agora por meio da teleducação.

ABSTRACT Although prior to the pandemic there was some resistance to the virtualization of dental education, the COVID-19 pandemic is providing us a unique opportunity to overcome several barriers that previously blocked the adoption of remote teaching and teledentistry. Thanks to the extended availability of telecommunications, digital technologies, and platforms, remote education and teledentistry appear to be the preferred choice to maintain dental education and patient care active under this pandemic, without contamination risks. In this paper, we review valid remote education strategies and possible alternatives useful in virtual transformation in dental education. Furthermore, the role of teledentistry and its advantages and challenges are also revised. Under the current pandemic context, as dental educators, we are called to be creative and flexible. Every dental school should adapt and use remote education as much as possible until clinical attention can be readopted. The evidence presented in this review supports our position that under this pandemic, remote education and telemedicine/teledentistry may be “the virtual convenient solution”, to adapt and improve the hitherto classic way of teaching dentistry through tele-education.

Abstract Robust epidemiological data allow for logical interventions taken in the interest of public health. Dental caries is a major public health problem driven by increased sugar consumption and various biological, behavioral, and psychosocial factors, and is known to strongly affect an individual’s quality of life. This study aims to critically review epidemiological data on the prevalence of dental caries in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACC) and its impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of the population. Although the majority of national surveys did not include all age groups and several countries reported a reduction in the prevalence of cavitated carious lesions, most nations still exhibited a high burden of decayed teeth. OHRQoL evaluation was limited to children and older adults only, and was not included in any national survey. Study heterogeneity and methodological issues hindered comparison of evidence between studies and over time, and updating national level data on caries prevalence and its impact on OHRQoL should be prioritized in LACCs.

RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o impacto das lesões de desgaste dentário erosivo na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal (QVRSB) de pré-escolares. Métodos: Exames clínicos foram conduzidos em 815 crianças de 3 e 4 anos de idade durante a Campanha Nacional de Multivacinação Infantil. Os pais ou responsáveis foram convidados a responderam a versão brasileira do Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). A prevalência e a gravidade das lesões de desgastes dentários erosivos foram avaliadas de acordo com o índice de O’Brien (1994). Também foram coletados dados socioeconômicos e variáveis da criança. A QVRSB foi mensurada por meio dos domínios e escore total do B-ECOHIS. A análise de regressão de Poisson foi adotada para associar as lesões de desgaste dentário erosivo ao desfecho e ajustada para cárie dentária e lesões dentárias traumáticas. Resultados: A proporção de crianças que apresentavam pelo menos 1 dente apresentando desgaste dentário erosivo foi 51,2%. A maioria das lesões de desgaste dentário erosivo estava confinada ao esmalte (42,7%). A análise ajustada multivariada revelou que apenas que a idade (crianças de 4 anos) foi associada a um impacto negativo nos domínios de sintomas (RR=1,70; p=0,010), limitação funcional (RR=1,85; p=0,005) e escore total do B-ECOHIS (RR= 1,63; p=0,006). Famílias com 2 ou mais filhos tiveram um impacto negativo nos dominíos de autoestima e interação social (RR=5,41; p=0,043). As lesões de desgaste dentário erosivo não foram associadas ao escore total de B-ECOHIS (RR= 0,79; p=0,163) e domínios individuais. Conclusão: As lesões de desgaste dentário erosivo não afetaram a qualidade de vida de pré-escolares da amostra estudada.

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of erosive tooth wear on the Oral Health-Related Quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children. Methods: Dental examinations were conducted on 815 children aged 3-4 years during the Children’s Vaccination National Day when their parents were also invited to answer the Brazilian Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). ETW prevalence and severity were measured using a modified version of the O’Brien index (1994). Data collected included socioeconomic factors and child's variables. OHRQoL was measured through B-ECOHIS domains and total score. Poisson regression was used to associate ETW to the outcome and this association was adjusted for dental caries and dental trauma. Results: The proportion of children who had at least 1 ETW tooth was 51.2%. Most erosive lesions were confined to enamel (42.7%). The multivariate adjusted model showed that child's age (children aged 4year-old) was associated to a negative impact on the symptom domain (RR=1.70; p=0.010), functional limitation domain (RR=1.85; p=0.005) and total B-ECOHIS score (RR= 1.63; p=0.006). Families with 2 or more children in the house have a negative impact on the self-image/social interaction domain (RR=5.41; p=0.043). ETW was not associated to total B-ECOHIS scores (RR= 0.79; p=0.163) and individual domains. Conclusion: Erosive tooth wear does not affect the OHRQoL in this sample of preschool children.

The literature reports that dental caries can cause functional, physical and aesthetic impairment, often with repercussions on children's general health at an early age. Moreover, recent studies have investigated how caries lesions can compromise children's quality of life. This paper aims to describe the current situation of dental caries prevalence in children and how this oral health disease can impact their quality of life.