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Diagnostics
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Focus on Children's Oral Health: Advances in Pediatric Dentistry and...
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Focus on Children's Oral Health: Advances in Pediatric Dentistry and Imaging Assessments

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Imaging and Theranostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1143

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Iole Vozza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Oral and maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: pediatric dentistry; oral cancer; oral pathology; dental materials; medical device
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the clinical management of oral healthcare pediatric patients populations, shedding light on the research status, core problems to be solved, and potential solutions within this field. Oral healthcare plays a crucial role in overall health and quality of life, and it is vital in addressing the unique challenges and considerations faced by diverse pediatric patient populations.

It will focus on gathering research and insights related to the effective management of oral healthcare for individuals with varying needs, including, but not limited to, special needs patients, medically compromised patients, and individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds. It seeks to explore evidence-based strategies, best practices, and innovative approaches that can improve oral healthcare outcomes and promote equitable access to quality care.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a wide range of topics, such as preventive measures, diagnostic techniques, treatment modalities, patient communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and oral health promotion. We strongly encourage contributions from researchers and clinicians that address the existing gaps, identify barriers, propose practical solutions, and facilitate the development of patient-centered approaches.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Iole Vozza
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • special needs patients
  • oral healthcare
  • pediatric dentistry
  • dental hygiene
  • oral pathology
  • orthodontics
  • periodontics
  • imaging

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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12 pages, 539 KB  
Article
Exploratory Analysis of Dental Age Differences in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Using the Demirjian Method
by Maria Simona Dămășaru, Eugen Bud, Sorana Maria Bucur, Mariana Păcurar, Manuela Chibelean, Silvia-Izabella Pop, Alexandru Ștefan Zalana, Irina Elena Muntean, Lucian Cristian Petcu and Mariana Cornelia Tilinca
Diagnostics 2026, 16(9), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16091395 - 5 May 2026
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Abstract
Background: Chronological age does not always accurately reflect biological maturation in children, particularly in the presence of systemic conditions. Dental age is widely used as a biological maturity indicator; however, the impact of Type 1 diabetes mellitus on dental development remains unclear and [...] Read more.
Background: Chronological age does not always accurately reflect biological maturation in children, particularly in the presence of systemic conditions. Dental age is widely used as a biological maturity indicator; however, the impact of Type 1 diabetes mellitus on dental development remains unclear and inconsistently reported. Objective: This paper aims to explore differences between dental age (DA) and chronological age (CA) in children with Type 1 diabetes compared to healthy controls, and to assess the association between glycemic control (HbA1c) and dental maturation. Materials and Methods: This observational comparative study included 90 children aged 8–15 years: 45 with Type 1 diabetes and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Dental age was estimated using the Demirjian method and compared with chronological age. Group comparisons were performed using independent t-tests, while paired t-tests assessed within-group differences. Linear regression analysis evaluated the association between HbA1c and dental age. Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Results: In the diabetes group, dental age was significantly higher than chronological age (mean difference = 1.56 years, p < 0.001), indicating advanced dental maturation. No significant difference between dental and chronological age was observed in the control group. Dental age was also significantly higher in the diabetes group compared to controls (mean difference = 1.61 years, p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.93). HbA1c levels were positively associated with dental age (R2 = 0.409, p < 0.01), suggesting that metabolic control may contribute to variability in dental maturation. Conclusions: Children with Type 1 diabetes appear to exhibit advanced dental maturation compared to healthy peers. Glycemic control may be associated with this variation, although the findings should be interpreted within the exploratory framework of the study. Dental age assessment should be used cautiously and in conjunction with other maturity indicators, particularly in children with systemic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Children's Oral Health: Advances in Pediatric Dentistry and Imaging Assessments)
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12 pages, 3815 KB  
Case Report
A Case of Long-Term Management of Oral Function in a Child with Dyskeratosis Congenita
by Erika Aoki, Keigo Kubota and Kazuto Hoshi
Diagnostics 2026, 16(9), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16091358 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 323
Abstract
Background and Clinical Significance: Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited disorder classified as a telomere biology disorder and characterized by multisystem involvement, including bone marrow failure and mucocutaneous abnormalities. Oral manifestations such as leukoplakia, increased susceptibility to infection, and abnormal dental [...] Read more.
Background and Clinical Significance: Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited disorder classified as a telomere biology disorder and characterized by multisystem involvement, including bone marrow failure and mucocutaneous abnormalities. Oral manifestations such as leukoplakia, increased susceptibility to infection, and abnormal dental development have been reported; however, detailed descriptions of long-term oral functional management in pediatric patients remain limited. This report aims to describe the longitudinal oral management and imaging-based assessment of dental development in a child with DC and to discuss the clinical implications in the context of existing literature. Case Presentation: A female patient diagnosed with dyskeratosis congenita due to a heterozygous TINF2 mutation was followed from early childhood. She underwent hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation at five years of age and later required lung and liver transplantation. Long-term oral management included regular professional oral care, preventive strategies, and periodic imaging evaluation. Panoramic radiographs obtained over several years demonstrated generalized delayed eruption and incomplete root formation relative to chronological age, with apparent early arrest of root elongation. Discussion: This case highlights the potential association between telomere dysfunction, intensive systemic therapy in early childhood, and arrested odontogenesis. These findings suggest a possible association between telomere dysfunction, early intensive systemic therapy, and impaired root formation. Despite severe systemic disease, continuous preventive oral care and imaging-based monitoring were effective in maintaining oral health and detecting mucosal changes. Conclusions: Long-term preventive oral management combined with noninvasive imaging assessment may play an important role in preserving oral function and monitoring dental development in pediatric patients with dyskeratosis congenita. This case adds to the limited literature on longitudinal oral outcomes in this rare disorder. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Children's Oral Health: Advances in Pediatric Dentistry and Imaging Assessments)
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