Perception of Pediatric Dentists on Child Patient Behavior and their Dental Care Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic Maria Eduarda Silveira Rodrigues Lisboa, Mariana Gonzalez Cademartori, Vanessa Polína Pereira da Costa, Marília Leão Goettems, Marina Sousa Azevedo Pesquisa Brasileira Em Odontopediatria E Clinica Integrada, 2026 ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the perception of Brazilian pediatric dentists (PD) regarding the behavior of child patients and their dental care management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: A self-administered online questionnaire was answered. Professionals who assisted children and/or adolescents, who had a postgraduate degree in Pediatric Dentistry, and worked in public and/or private services, were considered eligible for the study. Demographic information, perception of behavior changes of children and adolescents during appointments and the use of behavioral management techniques (Remained the same; Reduced/suspended or Increased employment) were collected. Fisher's exact test was used (p<0.05) to assess the association between the use of behavior management techniques and the perception of the child’s behavior in the consultation during the pandemic. Results: A total of 231 PD participated, of which 45.6% noticed a worsening in the behavior of children and adolescents during the pandemic. Regarding the management of child behavior, appropriate/physical contact was the technique that had the greatest reduction/suspension of use (77.6%), followed by the distraction technique using toys and books (55.9%). A higher prevalence of protective stabilization use (p<0.001) and positive reinforcement (p=0.002) was identified among PD who noticed a worsening of the behavior. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic interfered with the dynamics of pediatric dental appointments regarding the use of some behavioral management techniques, as well as the perception of child behavior.
Effects of COVID-19 on parental perception of children's oral health-related quality of life Thays Torres do Vale OLIVEIRA, Marília Leão GOETTEMS, Vanessa Polina Pereira COSTA, Fausto Medeiros MENDES, Thiago Machado ARDENGHI, Marina Sousa AZEVEDO Brazilian Oral Research, 2026 The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents’ perceptions of their children’s oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). This longitudinal study was performed in two stages: baseline (T1), before the pandemic, and follow-up (T2), from August to November 2021. Children aged eight to eleven years and their parents who were seeking dental care or were referred to the Pediatric Dental Clinic of the School of Dentistry, residing in Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) were included. OHRQoL served as the primary outcome measure and was assessed using the Brazilian short-form of the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) at T1 and T2. Child’s sex and age, caries status (dmft/DMFT), parents’ education, and household income were collected at T1. Variables related to COVID-19 were collected at T2: fear of COVID-19 and of family virus transmission, job loss, and children’s dental pain in the past 4 weeks. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test was used to compare OHRQoL. Changes in OHRQoL over time were analyzed using a multilevel negative binomial regression model. The random intercept and fixed effects model considered repeated measurements (level 1) grouped into individuals (level 2). The level of significance was set at 5%. There was no statistically significant difference between the median for total score and for each domain. In the multilevel analysis, fear of COVID-19 was linked to poorer OHRQoL perceptions. Having dental pain and younger children also negatively impacted these perceptions. Emotional and psychological factors and non-normative parameters significantly influenced parental perceptions of OHRQoL during the pandemic.
Dental Trauma Care According to the Perception of Pediatric Dentists in Brazil during the Initial COVID-19 Pandemic Period: A Cross-Sectional Study Muriel Denisse Rivera López, C. M. A. Soares, Marília Leão Goettems, Marina Sousa Azevedo, Mariana Gonzalez Cademartori, et al. Pesquisa Brasileira Em Odontopediatria E Clinica Integrada, 2025 ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate dental trauma care including teledentistry use by Brazilian pediatric dentists in the early pandemic period (2020/2021). Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study, collected through a self-administered online survey, sociodemographic characteristics, use of teledentistry as a resource for remote Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) care, and variables regarding trauma, such as etiology and type of trauma. Data were described by frequencies and analyzed with the chi-square test. Results: Of 374 pediatric dentists, 323 attended TDIs during the pandemic period. Majority of the participants were women (88.5%). Associations were found between some characteristics of pediatric dentists with having attended dental trauma, specifically age 21-39 years (p=0.001) and graduation time (p<0.00l). TDI appointments increased compared to the pre-pandemic period. Teledentistry was used as a valuable resource for remote orientation and monitoring patients who suffered TDIs. Etiology and trauma types remained the same compared to the period before the pandemic. Conclusion: Teledentistry was a useful resource for guidance and monitoring trauma. However, to be implemented in daily practice, it is necessary to develop regulatory norms.
Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale-Faces (MCDASf): validity and reliability of the Brazilian version Marília Leão GOETTEMS, Fernanda Vieira ALMEIDA, Giulia Tarquinio DEMARCO, Marina Sousa AZEVEDO, Vanessa Polina Pereira da COSTA, Taís de Souza BARBOSA Brazilian Oral Research, 2025 Specific measures for assessing dental anxiety and fear are crucial in pediatric dentistry for their management. This cross-sectional study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale – Faces (MCDASf). A total of 189 children enrolled in public schools in Pelotas, Southern Brazil, and their parents were included. The children completed an interview that included the MCDASf, Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), Dental Anxiety Question (DAQ), and self-reported oral health-related outcomes. The parents provided sociodemographic data and information on dental visits and pain. Descriptive statistics, comparison and correlation tests, and psychometric analyses were conducted. The MCDASf scores were positively correlated with the CFSS-DS scores (rho = 0.60; p < 0.001). Children reporting dental anxiety (DAQ) had higher MCDASf scores. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on MCDASf items. The factor model was supported by Bartlett’s test of sphericity (p < 0.001) and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure (0.782). The loadings indicated that the two factors explained 18.9% and 13.9% of the variance. Factor 1 included items 1–3, 5, 7, and 8, whereas Factor 2 included items 4 and 6. The MCDASf showed satisfactory internal consistency: Cronbach’s α = 0.73 and McDonald’s ω = 0.82 for the total scale, with α and ω > 0.66 for both factors. Coefficients ≥ 0.70 are considered acceptable. This study provided psychometric evidence supporting the Brazilian MCDASf (B-MCDASf) as a reliable self-report tool for assessing dental anxiety in children in both clinical and research settings.
Maltreatment and Dental Trauma in Preschool Children: A Cohort Study Renata Uliana Posser, Francine dos Santos Costa, Flávio Fernando Demarco, Fernando Barros, Joseph Murray, Marina Sousa Azevedo Dental Traumatology, 2025 Background Child maltreatment (CM) has been associated with adverse oral health outcomes during childhood. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between CM and dental trauma (DT) in the primary dentition. Aim To evaluate the association between CM and DT at 4 years of age. Design The sample comprised 4275 children from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study, southern Brazil. Overall CM from birth to age 4, as well as specific types of maltreatment (“physical abuse,” “sexual abuse,” “emotional abuse,” “neglect,” and “custodial interference”), were assessed using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, completed by mothers when the children were 4 years old. DT was assessed at age 4 using the criteria of the UK Child Health Survey (1993). Bivariate analyses were conducted using the chi‐square test, and crude and adjusted analyses were performed using Poisson regression models. Confounding variables with p < 0.250 in the crude analysis were included in the adjusted models. Results Of the 3645 children evaluated, 11.4% had been exposed to some form of CM, and 20.2% presented with DT. In the adjusted analysis, no statistically significant association was found between DT and overall or specific types of CM. Conclusions In this large‐sample study, no association was found between DT in the primary dentition and CM.
