Oral Health Preventive Approaches and Related Behaviors in Growing Subjects

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have seen increased clinical interest in the treatment of oral diseases in growing subjects, because early treatment is able to prevent worse consequences in adults. Caries treatment and management in early age, interceptive orthodontics, and myofunctional rehabilitations allow for the achievement of better outcomes after the end of growth. For example, the early correction of maxillary constriction reduces the incidence of oral breathing which is a risk factor for caries and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Children’s psychosocial attitudes and behaviors are able to influence the results of the preventive approach in oral health. Feeding, healthy eating, bad oral habits, self-esteem, physical comfort, sport activity, oral hygiene practices, pain management, treatment compliance, dental anxiety, oral health knowledge, lifestyle of parents, and access to healthcare and dental insurance, as well as other socioeconomic factors, are some among many that have an impact on the effectiveness of a preventive approach.

Recently, new technologies have helped clinicians in improving the compliance of youngsters in oral health procedures, also reducing the caries risk and social impact of orthodontic appliances, thanks to clear aligners.

Despite this, treatment outcomes are still variable, and the literature lacks published results that would be fundamental in prompting the clinician to choose the most suitable approach for each clinical condition.

The aim of the present Special Issue is to show the results of clinical therapies and compare alternative treatment solutions in order to improve preventive approaches in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. These aims will be achieved through the publication of original manuscripts with scientific relevance in the form of research articles, original reviews, or high-quality case reports on new techniques or clinical solutions. 

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in IJERPH.

Dr. Alessandro Nota
Prof. Dr. Simona Tecco
Guest Editors

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• oral health
• growing subjects
• children psychosocial attitudes
• orthodontics
• dentofacial orthopedics
• oral hygiene
• interceptive orthodontics
• malocclusions
• preventive approach