Seeking children's perspectives in the management of visible enamel defects.
OBJECTIVE
To undertake a child-centred evaluation of treatment provision for visible enamel defects.


METHODS
Postal questionnaires, developed with children, were sent to 88 patients, aged 7-16 years, with visible enamel defects of permanent incisors and who had received microabrasion, with/without additional composite restoration at Sheffield Dental Hospital, UK. The questionnaires sought children's perceptions about their teeth before and after the intervention, as well as their evaluation of how they had been treated. Anonymised responses were graded using a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) where a score of 10 indicated the most negative response, and zero the most positive response.


RESULTS
Sixty three questionnaires were returned (72% response). Prior to treatment, children reported high levels of worry (VAS=6.8), embarrassment (VAS=6.9) and a perception that their teeth looked yellow and discoloured (VAS=7.3). Following treatment, children thought their teeth looked much better (VAS=1.6), felt happier (VAS=2.2) and more confident (VAS=1.6). They also felt very positive about their clinical experiences, rating the staff as extremely friendly and kind (VAS=0.4) and reporting that procedures were clearly explained (VAS=0.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Simple non-invasive dental treatment can have a positive effect on appearance-related satisfaction. The use of child-centred approaches offers an invaluable insight into patient perspectives.
Rodd
H D
HD
Department of Oral Health and Development, School of Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. h.d.rodd@sheffield.ac.uk
Abdul-Karim
A
A
Yesudian
G
G
O'Mahony
J
J
Marshman
Z
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D020906:Air Abrasion, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D000567:Amelogenesis Imperfecta / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology*; D003744:Dental Enamel Hypoplasia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000523:psychology; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy
D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials