This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the radiographic criteria used by final-year dental students when defining the need for restorative treatment for proximal caries, as well as investigating potentially associated factors in this therapeutic decision. A questionnaire with two schematic diagrams presenting five levels of proximal lesion penetration was administered to students attending the six private and three public dental schools in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. Absolute and relative frequencies were described and inferential statistics involving Chi-square and McNemar tests and simple logistic regression were carried out to assess variations in therapeutic decisions related to patient dentition (deciduous/permanent) and gender, age and dental school (public/private). Of the 346 dental students assessed, 28.6% (99/346) indicated restorative treatment for lesions restricted to the enamel in deciduous teeth and 38.2% (132/346) indicated the same for permanent teeth, revealing a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001). Student gender and age were not associated with the therapeutic decision; however, a significant difference between dental schools was found when comparing restorative criteria in deciduous (p < 0.001) and permanent molars (p < 0.001). The odds of restorative decision in permanent teeth when the caries lesion was restricted to the enamel was 72% higher for students graduating from private schools compared to public schools (Odds Ratio: 1.72; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.03-2.90). These data demonstrate a large variation between the therapeutic decisions regarding proximal caries reported by final-year dental students and suggest that deep reflection is needed on the part of faculty in order to provide an evidence-based education.

OBJETIVO: Verificar o conhecimento e a conduta de médicos pediatras frente a possíveis manifestações locais e sistêmicas ocorridas durante a erupção dentária, uma vez que a relação desta com o aparecimento de manifestações orgânicas na criança tem constituído, ao longo da história das ciências médico-odontológicas, um assunto controverso. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional no qual o instrumento de coleta de dados foi um questionário dirigido a todos os médicos pediatras (n=21) da cidade de Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul. Este questionário foi constituído por perguntas sobre a opinião dos médicos se a erupção dentária seria a causadora de alterações que surgem durante o irrompimento dos dentes e quais são as condutas por eles tomadas. Após a confecção do banco de dados, foram realizadas as freqüências simples e percentuais das variáveis avaliadas no estudo. RESULTADOS: Dos médicos pediatras entrevistados, 76% acreditam que o processo de erupção dentária pode estar associado a manifestações sistêmicas e/ou locais; 94% dos entrevistados observaram como manifestações ansiedade/irritabilidade e coceira/sucção de dedos ou objetos. A conduta clínica mais adotada pelos médicos pediatras foi a orientação aos pais/responsáveis (37%). CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos médicos pediatras entrevistados acredita que possam ocorrer manifestações sistêmicas e/ou locais devida à erupção dentária e que a conduta clínica de eleição é a orientação familiar.

OBJECTIVE: To study pediatricians' knowledge and management in face of possible local and systemic manifestations during tooth eruption, since the relationship between tooth eruption and systemic symptoms is a very controversial issue in pediatrics and dentistry science. METHODS: Observational study. Data were obtained from a questionnaire applied to all the pediatricians (n=21) from the city of Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The questionnaire was composed of questions about the doctors' opinion if tooth eruption could be the cause of local and systemic manifestations and how they manage them. Descriptive analysis of the data was performed. RESULTS: Among the interviewed pediatricians, 76% believed that the process of tooth eruption can be associated with systemic and/or local manifestations; 94% of them reported anxiety/irritation and itch/suction of fingers or objects as infants' manifestations. Parental/caregivers orientation was the most adopted clinical management (37%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the interviewed pediatricians believe that systemic and/or local manifestations can occur due to tooth eruption and that the clinical management of choice is family orientation.