Abstract Aim: Polymorphisms in the COMT gene can alter enzymatic functions, raising levels of endogenous catecholamines, which stimulates beta-adrenergic receptors related to pain. This study aimed to evaluate whether a polymorphism in the COMT gene (rs4818) is associated with dental pain in children. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 731 pairs of children and parents randomly selected from a population-based sample of eight-year-old children. Reports of dental pain was evaluated using a question directed at the parents and self-reported pain using the Faces Pain Scale – Revised. Dental caries experience was determined using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. For genetic analysis, DNA was obtained from oral mucosa epithelial cells of 352 children randomly selected from the initial sample. Results: Children with the CC genotype had higher odds of reporting moderate to intense pain than those with the GG genotype (OR=3.60; 95% CI=0.80–16.20; p=0.03). These same children had greater odds of parental reports of pain (OR=1.93; 95% CI=0.91-4.08; p=0.02). Moreover, lower schooling of parents/guardians and caries experience in the primary dentition were significantly associated with greater odds of a parental report of dental pain (OR=2.06; 95% CI=1.47–2.91; p<0.001; OR=6.26; 95% CI=4.46–8.78; p<0.001). Conclusions: The rs4818 polymorphism of the COMT gene is associated with dental pain. Children with the C allele are more likely to report higher levels of pain. Clinical Relevance: Even though the experience of pain is subjective and multifactorial, this study raises the hypothesis that there is a genetic predisposition to dental pain that should be considered in clinical practice. Aim functions catecholamines betaadrenergic beta adrenergic rs (rs4818 Methodology crosssectional cross sectional 73 populationbased population based eightyearold eight year old selfreported self reported Revised Decayed Missing DMFT (DMFT index analysis 35 Results OR=3.60 OR360 OR 3 60 (OR=3.60 95 CI=0.80–16.20 CI0801620 CI 0 80 16 20 p=0.03. p003 p p=0.03 . 03 p=0.03) OR=1.93 OR193 1 93 (OR=1.93 CI=0.914.08 CI091408 CI=0.91 4.08 91 4 08 CI=0.91-4.08 p=0.02. p002 p=0.02 02 p=0.02) Moreover parentsguardians guardians OR=2.06 OR206 2 06 (OR=2.06 CI=1.47–2.91 CI147291 47 p<0.001 p0001 001 OR=6.26 OR626 6 26 CI=4.46–8.78 CI446878 46 8 78 p<0.001. p<0.001) Conclusions rs481 Relevance multifactorial practice (rs481 7 OR=3.6 OR36 (OR=3.6 9 CI=0.80–16.2 CI080162 p00 p=0.0 OR=1.9 OR19 (OR=1.9 914 CI=0.914.0 CI09140 CI091 CI=0.9 408 4.0 CI=0.91-4.0 OR=2.0 OR20 (OR=2.0 CI=1.47–2.9 CI14729 p<0.00 p000 00 OR=6.2 OR62 CI=4.46–8.7 CI44687 rs48 (rs48 OR=3. OR3 (OR=3. CI=0.80–16. CI08016 p0 p=0. OR=1. OR1 (OR=1. CI=0.914. CI0914 CI09 CI=0. 40 4. CI=0.91-4. OR=2. OR2 (OR=2. CI=1.47–2. CI1472 p<0.0 OR=6. OR6 CI=4.46–8. CI4468 rs4 (rs4 OR=3 (OR=3 CI=0.80–16 CI0801 p=0 OR=1 (OR=1 CI=0.914 CI0 CI=0 CI=0.91-4 OR=2 (OR=2 CI=1.47–2 CI147 p<0. OR=6 CI=4.46–8 CI446 (rs OR= (OR= CI=0.80–1 CI080 p= CI= CI=0.91- CI=1.47– CI14 p<0 CI=4.46– CI44 (OR CI=0.80– CI08 CI=1.47 CI1 p< CI=4.46 CI4 CI=0.80 CI=1.4 CI=4.4 CI=0.8 CI=1. CI=4. CI=1 CI=4

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and factors associated with the intake of ultra-processed cariogenic foods (UFC) by preschoolers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving parents of 672 children from two to five years old enrolled at public schools in Curitiba, Brazil. Parents answered a questionnaire about socioeconomic and demographic data, their behavior regarding the dietary education of their children (Parent Mealtime Action Scale - translated and validated for use in Brazil), and children's food intake (qualitative food frequency questionnaire - list of foods based on a report from the Pan American Health Organization). The data were analyzed using Poisson regression analysis (α=0.05). Results: About 43% of parents/guardians reported changes in their children's diet during the pandemic, being that diet got worse and better in 19% and 24% of the cases, respectively. The ultra-processed cariogenic foods with the highest daily intake frequencies were sweetened juices/sweetened drinks (0.52), followed by cookies (0.37), and candies (0.35). Parents with a lower level of education reported a daily frequency of UCF intake 1.36 times higher (PR=1.359; CI 95%: 1.106-1.669) in their children compared to those with a higher level of education. On the other hand, parents’/guardians’ report of higher intake and greater offer of fruits and vegetables to children was associated with low UCF intake (PR=0.716; CI 95%: 0.592-0.866). Conclusion: The lower level of formal education of parents/guardians and lower availability of fruits and vegetables were related to higher consumption of ultra-processed cariogenic foods by children. Objective ultraprocessed ultra processed UFC (UFC COVID19 COVID 19 COVID-1 pandemic Methods crosssectional cross sectional 67 Curitiba Brazil Parent Brazil, , Brazil) childrens s qualitative Organization. Organization . Organization) α=0.05. α005 α α=0.05 0 05 (α=0.05) Results 43 parentsguardians guardians 24 cases respectively juicessweetened juices 0.52, 052 0.52 52 (0.52) 0.37, 037 0.37 37 (0.37) 0.35. 035 0.35 35 (0.35) 136 1 36 1.3 PR=1.359 PR1359 PR 359 (PR=1.359 95% 95 1.1061.669 11061669 1.106 1.669 106 669 1.106-1.669 hand /guardians parents’/guardians PR=0.716 PR0716 716 (PR=0.716 0.5920.866. 05920866 0.592 0.866 592 866 0.592-0.866) Conclusion COVID1 COVID- 6 α00 α=0.0 (α=0.05 4 2 0.5 5 (0.52 03 0.3 3 (0.37 (0.35 13 1. PR=1.35 PR135 (PR=1.35 9 1061 1.1061.66 1106166 1106 1.10 1669 1.66 10 66 1.106-1.66 PR=0.71 PR071 71 (PR=0.71 5920 0.5920.866 0592086 0592 0.59 0866 0.86 59 86 0.592-0.866 α0 α=0. (α=0.0 0. (0.5 (0.3 PR=1.3 PR13 (PR=1.3 1.1061.6 110616 110 1.1 166 1.6 1.106-1.6 PR=0.7 PR07 7 (PR=0.7 0.5920.86 059208 059 086 0.8 8 0.592-0.86 α=0 (α=0. (0. PR=1. PR1 (PR=1. 1.1061. 11061 11 16 1.106-1. PR=0. PR0 (PR=0. 0.5920.8 05920 08 0.592-0.8 α= (α=0 (0 PR=1 (PR=1 1.1061 1.106-1 PR=0 (PR=0 0.5920. 0.592-0. (α= ( PR= (PR= 1.106- 0.5920 0.592-0 (α (PR 0.592-

Abstract: Parental behavior towards their children's oral health is strongly influenced by parent's Oral Health Literacy (OHL) level. This study evaluated the impact of parental OHL on preschool children's utilization of dental services. A cross-sectional study was conducted with parents of 419 children aged 3 to 5 years who answered a self-administered questionnaire about their perception of their children's oral health and whether their children had already been to a dental visit. Parental OHL level was assessed by the validated version of the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) translated into Brazilian Portuguese. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses with robust variance were used for the data analysis (α = 0.05). Most children had already been to a dental visit (73%). Overall, 31.7% of the parents or guardians reported that their children had experienced dental pain or dental caries. Parental OHL level was classified by tercile as low, medium, and high. The final model showed independent associations between children who had already been to a dental visit and higher parental OHL level (PR = 1.16; 95%CI = 1.00-1.35) when compared to the lowest OHL level, higher parental educational level (PR = 1.39; 95%CI = 1.03–1.87) when compared to lower educational level, the report of children's pain and dental caries (PR = 1.22; 95%CI = 1.09–1.36) and married parents or parents in a common-law marriage (PR = 1.17; 95%CI = 1.03–1.93). The prevalence of children who had already been to a dental visit was higher among those parents with a higher OHL level when compared to those with a lower OHL level. Abstract childrens s parent (OHL services crosssectional cross sectional 41 selfadministered self administered OHLAQ AQ (OHL-AQ Portuguese α 0.05. 005 0.05 . 0 05 0.05) 73%. 73 73% (73%) Overall 317 31 7 31.7 low medium high PR 1.16 116 1 16 95CI CI 95 1.001.35 100135 1.00 1.35 00 35 1.00-1.35 1.39 139 39 1.03–1.87 103187 03 87 1.22 122 22 1.09–1.36 109136 09 36 commonlaw common law 1.17 117 17 1.03–1.93. 103193 1.03–1.93 93 1.03–1.93) 4 0.0 (73% 31. 1.1 11 9 001 1.001.3 10013 100 1.0 135 1.3 1.00-1.3 13 1.03–1.8 10318 8 1.2 12 2 1.09–1.3 10913 10319 1.03–1.9 0. (73 1. 1.001. 1001 10 1.00-1. 1.03–1. 1031 1.09–1. 1091 (7 1.001 1.00-1 1.03–1 103 1.09–1 109 ( 1.00- 1.03– 1.09– 1.03 1.09

Abstract The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between parental eating behavior and untreated early childhood caries (ECC). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 432 parent-child dyads with children aged 18 to 36 months, at Municipal Child Education Centers in São José dos Pinhais, Brazil. The parents answered a questionnaire addressing demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and the children were examined for dental caries (modified dmft index) by a single examiner (kappa = 0.80). A six-item questionnaire was administered addressing parental food consumption, parental control of the child’s food consumption, and parental offering of foods to the child. Three items were considered indicative of positive behavior, and three, of negative behavior. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses with robust variance were used for the data analysis (α = 0.05). The prevalence of untreated ECC was 20.3% (95%CI: 16.7–24.4). In the multiple regression model adjusted for the child’s age and the parent’s schooling, negative parental behavior was associated with a greater frequency of untreated ECC (PRa = 1.213; 95%CI:1.032–1.427, p = 0.019), but lost its significance when adjusted by positive parental behavior (PRa = 1.156; 95%CI: 0.983–1.358, p = 0.079). Based on the present findings, positive parental eating behaviors are capable of minimizing the impact of negative parental behaviors on the prevalence of untreated early childhood caries.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the impact of daily toothbrushing frequency on parental reports of dental pain and discomfort in preschoolers. Material and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving 376 children between four and five years of age at public preschools in the city of Campo Magro, Brazil. Parents/guardians answered a socioeconomic questionnaire that contained a single question on the child's daily toothbrushing frequency and the Brazilian version of the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ-B). Statistical analysis involved bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses (α=0.05). Results: After the adjustments in the multivariate analysis, the prevalence of dental pain and discomfort was lower among children whose last visit to the dentist was for prevention (PR = 4.42; 95% CI: 1.75– 11.14; p=0.002) and those with a higher daily toothbrushing frequency (PR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.12–4.05; p=0.021). Conclusion: A lower toothbrushing frequency is associated with parental reports of dental pain and discomfort in preschoolers. Educational and preventive measures that stimulate an increase in daily toothbrushing frequency can contribute to a better oral health status in preschoolers, consequently, less prevalence of dental pain and discomfort.