Perception of Children With Visible Untreated and Treated Caries

Perception of Children With Visible Untreated and Treated Caries

In Germany about 5 to 20% of children suffer from early childhood caries (ECC). Preceding results of eye-tracking-studies on the perception of patients with unilateral cleft and patients with severe orthognathic malocclusion let us assume that caries and missing teeth might influence the observer's focus. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the faces of patients with ECC and patients with signs of dental treatment (crown, gap etc.) are contemplated differently from and assessed more negatively than healthy patients. Particular attention should be paid to potential differences between the findings of the two observer-groups (medical laypersons/ dental students).

In Germany about 5 to 20% of children suffer from early childhood caries (ECC). Resulting in complications like damages of the permanent teeth, pain and developmental disorder of the affected jaw, ECC might additionally lead to social exclusion. Previous eye-tracking-studies about the perception of patients with unilateral cleft and patients with severe orthognathic malocclusion demonstrated that these variations are transferring the observer's focus from the eyes and nose to the affected region. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the faces of patients with ECC and patients with signs of dental treatment (crown, gap etc.) are contemplated differently from and assessed more negatively than healthy patients. Particular attention should be paid to potential differences between the findings of the two observer-groups (medical laypersons/ dental students).

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy
• student of the University of Göttingen or Hildesheim
• age ≥ 18 years
• people who agreed to participate in the study
• right-hander

Exclusion Criteria:

• missing agreement to participate in the study
• missing cooperation,
• age < 18 years
• left-hander
• wearer of glasses
• people with severe systemic diseases, especially states with associated temporary or permanent restriction of immune status
• people with severe mental illness who have altered perception or neurophysiological stimulus processing.
• people who take regularly or at the time of the study drug or drugs that altered a perception or neurophysiological stimulus processing