Relevance. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit poor oral hygiene levels connected with behaviour characteristics and low ability to new skills training. The study aimed to investigate the influence of an electric toothbrush with a mobile application on oral hygiene motivation in children with ASD and to evaluate a systemic desensitization technique as one of the evidence-based practices in applied behaviour analysis for preparing children with ASD for professional oral hygiene.

Material and methods. The study included children with ASD aged 5-12 years old. The main group comprised 25 children with ASD using electric toothbrushes, and the comparison group consisted of 25 children using manual toothbrushes.

Results. By the end of the study, the hygiene indices OHI-S and API demonstrated plaque reduction by 57.8% and 57.6% in the main group and by 26.6% и 33.3% in the comparison group, respectively. In the comparison group, the number of children, who followed the doctor's commands, increased from 20% to 36%.

Conclusion. Comprehensive approaches, including applied behaviour analysis, are necessary to increase the motivation of children with ASD to oral hygiene and dental treatment.

Relevance. The number of pathogens increases in the oral microbial community during pregnancy. The pre-pregnancy chronic infection significantly increases the risk of dental disease incidence and progression, which negatively affects the unborn baby. The study aimed to investigate the level of knowledge in pregnant women about individual oral hygiene to create effective programs for dental disease prevention and treatment.

Materials and methods. The study surveyed 100 pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy in one of St. Petersburg clinics on individual oral care issues. We analyzed the subject medical history to obtain the data on their pre-pregnancy condition, examined the oral cavity and determined hygiene and periodontal indices.

Results. 73% of pregnant women visit dentists less than once a year, turning to him as required and in acute pain. The survey showed low awareness of dental disease prevention; only 25% of the respondents followed specialist recommendations for individual oral care. 79% of women did not have the oral diseases treated before the pregnancy, while 58% claimed they had not known about the need for treatment. On examination, 69% of the patients needed dental treatment.

Relevance. Periodontal disease is a multifactorial process, which results from poor oral hygiene, dental plaque, malocclusion and bacterial biofilm formed by pathogens. We previously noted a high prevalence of periodontal diseases in children with congenital cleft palate and residual defects after the cleft palate repair. The study aimed to investigate the pathology components.

Materials and methods. The article presents the results of a periodontal microbial community study in 109 children aged 6-12 years with congenital cleft palate after the repair and residual palate defects and 50 practically healthy children of the same age. The study detected and quantified DNA of periodontal pathogens from periodontal pocket samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with fluorescent hybridization probes.

Results. The prevalence of the detected associations between "red" periodontal complex bacteria was 40% in the group of children with congenital cleft palate and residual palate defects after the repair. Children aged 6-12 years with congenital cleft palate and residual palate defects after the repair exhibited Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis in 51%, 50% and 40% of cases, respectively. There were frequent periodontal pathogen associations of 2 - 3 strains in one patient - in 62% of cases, which correlates with the high prevalence of periodontal diseases in the group of children with congenital cleft palate and residual defects after the repair.

Conclusion. Planning the next stage of reconstructive plastic surgery to treat the residual postoperative palate defect requires the implementation of certain measures into the rehabilitation algorithm aimed at treating periodontal diseases and reducing the adverse effect of periodontal pathogens on the oral mucosa.

Relevance. Tooth decay and its complications are the most common diseases worldwide. Prevention is the most effective way to fight the disease. It is reasonable to develop scientific research connected with a complex advanced analysis of metabolic processes in the oral cavity associated with fluoride-free caries-preventive product use in a pediatric dental clinic and their possible combination with fluoride-containing products.

Purpose. The study aimed to conduct a comparative clinical and laboratory analysis of the effectiveness of cariespreventive gel compositions in mixed dentition with active carious lesions to specify practical recommendations.

Materials and methods. We examined 1989 schoolchildren aged 7 to 12 years old. The patients with active carious lesions (60 people) formed two subgroups for more detailed research. We treated and taught oral hygiene children of both groups. The first group (comparison group) was recommended brushing their teeth with a fluoride toothpaste containing 1450 ppm fluoride. The second group (main group) used the authors' calcium-phosphate remineralizing gel (subgroup 1), developed at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry (Omsk State Medical University) or a commercially available calcium glycerophosphate remineralizing gel (subgroup 2).

Results. On prevention and treatment, clinical indices of the oral organ and tissue condition statistically significantly improved in all observation groups. The evidence again confirmed that oral hygiene improvement leads to a marginal gum inflammation decrease and reduces the risk of future periodontal diseases as the child grows up. Conclusion. Changing the standard prevention scheme, prolonging the use of a remineralizing gel, prescribing professional topical fluoride-containing products and recommending vitamin-mineral, fluoride and calcium supplements to take orally upon consultation with a pediatrician are presumably reasonable for more successful prevention in active carious lesions.

Relevance. The possibility to detect chewing muscle myodynamic imbalance based on the oral humoral immunity parameters is of theoretical and practical interest for planning the treatment duration and predicting the treatment results. Purpose. To evaluate the detection of suprahyoid muscle myodynamic imbalance based on the oral humoral immunity parameters in children with physiologic and distal occlusion.

Materials and methods. The study involved 131 patients aged 6 to 12 years from the Children's Clinical Dental Clinic No. 2 in Voronezh: 94 children with distal occlusion and 37 children with physiologic occlusion. The study determined the average amplitude of suprahyoid muscle bioelectric activity. We quantified the total oral fluid IgG, IgA, IgM and sIgA to evaluate the oral humoral immunity.

Results. In children with physiologic occlusion, it is possible to predict myodynamic imbalance of suprahyoid muscles at sIgA equal or higher than 34.060 pg/ml, at IgG value equal or more than 27.300 pg/ml. In the group of patients with distal occlusion, the assessment of sIgA, IgG, IgA and IgM did not detect statistically significant differences (p = 0.182; p = 0,921; p = 0,087; p = 0.226, respectively) between the patients with normal and impaired myodynamic balance of suprahyoid muscles.

Conclusion. In the group of children with physiologic occlusion, sIgA and IgG have the prognostic potential for the early diagnosis of the suprahyoid muscle myodynamic imbalance development, which is prognostically significant for the detection and prevention of hyoid muscle dysfunction development. The study did not reveal significant predictors among sIgA, IgG, IgA, IgM for the hyoid muscle myodynamic imbalance detection in the group with distal occlusion.

Relevance. The removable orthodontic appliances create favourable conditions in the oral cavity for the multiplication of many microorganisms. Purpose. The study aimed to investigate and correct the changes in the oral microbiota of children aged 6-12 years old undergoing orthodontic treatment with removable appliances.

Material and methods. Sixty-two patients aged 6-12 were examined and treated with removable orthodontic appliances. We comprehensively assessed the oral hygiene at the baseline and followed up after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. The microbiological evaluation of the oral cavity was performed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry, according to G.A. Osipov. The children randomly formed two groups: the main group (n = 30) and the comparison group (n = 32). To correct the oral microbiocenosis, in the main group, a mouthwash with an antiseptic 0.01% benzyldimethyl-myristoylamino-propylammonium solution and a supplement containing a strain of Bifidobacterium bifidum, which is a permanent representative of the human microflora, were prescribed.

Results. Four weeks later, the number of children with good and moderate oral hygiene levels significantly decreased in the comparison group, and the number of those with unsatisfactory and poor oral hygiene levels increased. After twelve weeks, there were significant differences in the oral hygiene index values between the main and comparison groups. By the fourth week, endotoxins increased up to 9.9 in the oral cavity in both groups compared with the normal of both groups compared with the normal, the total content of microbial markers rose, the number of S. aureus increased by a factor of 7.6; Candida spp. - by a factor of 7.2; Lactobacillus spp. - 2.6. The deficiency of Bifidobacterium, a permanent representative of the microflora, was 3.9 times. In the main group, the restoration of bifidobacteria balance was associated with Bifidobacterium bifidum intake.

Conclusion. Removable orthodontic appliances worsen the oral microflora. Rinse with an antiseptic 0.01% benzyldimethyl-myristoylamino-propylammonium solution and Bifidobacterium bifidum intake allowed improving the oral microbiocenosis.

Relevance. Modern studies about orthodontic correction with aligners and brackets focus on the three-dimensional assessment of bone and periodontal structures.

Purpose. The study aimed to develop a technique for the three-dimensional evaluation of bone tissue in orthodontic patients with aligners.

Materials and methods. Using our methodology, we evaluated the buccal and lingual bone thickness at the lower incisors, alveolar bone thickness, buccal and lingual width and height of the mandibular symphysis.

Results. Six months after the beginning of the orthodontic treatment with aligners, the study determined an increase in bone thickness bilaterally and the sharpness of buccal and lingual bone structure.

Conclusion. Treatment planning in patients is only possible using 3D cephalometry with complete visualization of tooth position in the bone and according to the roots of the adjacent teeth.

Relevance. Carious white spot lesion activity will affect the volume of dental interventions: both prevention and treatment. It is necessary to search for new criteria and clinical parameters to monitor the effectiveness of the preventive and treatment measures in superficial carious lesions. Purpose. To evaluate the prevalence, activity and the predominant localization of carious white spot lesions in 11- to 13-year-old adolescents who came for a dental check-up during the planned treatment.

Materials and methods. The study assessed 2888 teeth in 128 subjects aged 11 to 13 years old using Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S), Plaque Control Record (PCR); Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) introduced by Ainamo and Bay. The study detected carious lesions by the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). The results were statistically processed using the Pearson chi-square test.

Results. The prevalence of carious white spot lesions (CWSL) was over 42,0% in 11- to 13-year-olds. The oral hygiene level did not correlate with the presence of CWSL (Pearson χ² = 0,417; p = 0,812). The simulated gingival bleeding index was positive in 92,6% of the examined patients, at least on one surface with CWSL (Pearson χ² = 78,397; p < 0,001). The study recorded demineralization areas on the permanent mandibular second molars in 14,8% of the examined 11-13-year-olds.

Conclusion. Preventive programs, carried out today, should monitor the occurrence and course of the initial enamel lesions, appearing as white spot lesions, for early caries detection and treatment of hard dental tissues.

Relevance. Children began to fall ill more often, including severe forms of infection, due to the spread of delta and omicron strains of SARS-CoV-2 in the world. Purpose. To evaluate the Russian and international literature data on the prevalence and main signs and symptoms of the post-COVID syndrome in children.

Material and methods. A search was conducted in electronic databases: eLibrary, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar, using such keywords as „post-COVID syndrome in children”, „children's multisystem inflammatory syndrome”, „omicron”, „delta”, „COVID-1”

Results. In some patients, the manifestations of the post-COVID syndrome were very mild, while in others, even those who had had a mild infection, long-term consequences affected the quality of life.

Conclusion. Today, pediatric dentists and doctors of similar specialties detect signs and symptoms of infection manifestation, but, at present, there are no recommendations for the treatment and monitoring of these children. Besides, nowadays, there are no clinically and statistically significant observations demonstrating the effectiveness of specific therapeutic measures, which allows only a symptomatic treatment approach.

Relevance. Facial palsy is a severe somatic disease that significantly deteriorates the quality of life and affects adaptation in society. Both children and their families bear the burden of treating pediatric facial palsy. Some types of acquired facial nerve neuropathy require conservative treatment. Neuroplasty is a method of treating recently acquired acute facial palsy. The aplasia of the facial nerve and facial muscles, which requires myoneuroplasty in two stages, determines the complexity of the congenital facial palsy treatment. Cross-facial nerve grafting is the first stage of myoneuroplasty. A separate article describes the clinical case due to congenital aplasia of the buccal branch of the right facial nerve and the muscles innervated by it and due to the small number of surgeries performed in Russia in children with congenital facial palsy.

Purpose. We aimed to prepare a 5-year-old child for free revascularized gracilis muscle transfer in the position of the right zygomaticus major muscle to treat a congenital facial palsy.

Materials and methods. The paper describes a clinical case of cross facial nerve grafting by microsurgical techniques in a 5-year-old child with congenital palsy of the right zygomaticus major muscle at the Department of Pediatric Maxillofacial Surgery of the Maxillofacial, Plastic Surgery and Dentistry Clinical Center of A.I. Yevdokimov MSUMD. Results. In the postoperative period, the patient had no complications. Postoperative scars in the maxillofacial area were aesthetically acceptable. Numbness of soft tissues in the leg and foot was insignificant. The final result of the treatment would be after the second stage of treatment, i.e., free revascularized gracilis muscle transfer.

Conclusion. Pediatric cross-facial nerve grafting is a technically advanced surgery. The surgery does not have anthropometric contraindications for a 5-year-old. The use of a microscope and intraoperative neuromonitoring are recommended.