Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Qscan plus™ (AIOBIO, Seoul, Korea) based on quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technology and disclosing agents in oral health programs in children. Methods: A randomized crossover study was conducted for Korean children aged 6–11 years. Fifty-eight participants (29 to use Qscan plus™ first and 29 to use the disclosing agent first) were enrolled in this study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group was assigned to brush with Qscan plus™, while the other group brushed with disclosed plaque visualization. One month later, the groups switched procedures. A total of 39 participants were analyzed, excluding those lost during the trial. There was no adverse event during the trial. The patient hygiene performance (PHP) index was used to assess oral hygiene status, and questionnaires about oral health behavior and attitude were completed. The data were analyzed using repeated-measure analysis of variance, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The PHP score decreased significantly on post-brushing and follow-up compared to baseline in both methods (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two methods. After oral hygiene education, participants’ brushing time increased, and their oral care attitudes improved. More participants preferred the Qscan device to the disclosed plaque visualization because it is more easily noticeable. Conclusions: The Qscan device has a similar educational effect as disclosing agents, and can be used as a supplementary tool to encourage children in oral hygiene education.
30 November 2024 in THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN ACADEMY OF PEDTATRIC DENTISTRY
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of dental sound insulation in alleviating stress and fear during dental scaling in pediatric patients. It also examined the influence of a noise-canceling application on dentist-patient communication and convenience of dental procedures. This study included 60 children and adolescents aged 7 - 16 years between April 2022 and March 2023. All participants underwent dental plaque control using an ultrasonic scaler on the maxilla first, followed by plaque control on the mandible. Dental sound insulation with active noise canceling was randomly applied to either the maxilla or mandible. Findings revealed that the stress index was significantly reduced when the application was used, with a score of 5.85 compared to 8.43 without it (p < 0.0001). Similarly, the dental fear score was significantly reduced to 1.17 with the application, as opposed to 2.97 without it (p < 0.0001). The dental sound insulation did not affect the communication between dentists and patients or the convenience of treatment. This study demonstrated that active noise canceling during pediatric dental care significantly reduced stress and fear, suggesting that it could be a valuable behavior guidance tool, particularly for children who find dental visits challenging.