Important aspects during advanced lingual laceration management: report of 2 cases

ABSTRACT Intraoral injuries affect the stomatognathic system, creating difficulties in mastication and speech articulation, especially when they affect the tongue. In this context, the quality of the suture and local care are important to proper recovery and the patient’s brief return to their normal functions. Oral lacerations resulting from trauma require specific approaches. Treatments of this type of trauma may primarily be performed by professionals who conduct emergency care; however, they may require the attention of specialists. This article contains recommendations for the primary approach, treatment, and postoperative care of complex lacerations in the tongue.

Transitional Era: from analogical to digital workflow in oral rehabilitation: a case report

ABSTRACT Digital dentistry is a ubiquitous phenomenon nowadays but it requires access to technologies and learning curve. To aid digital workflow implementation, digital steps can be progressively incorporated in conventional workflows. We aimed to demonstrate a multidisciplinary oral rehabilitation performed mixing conventional procedures with digital open-source software programs and low-cost devices. A 46-year-old female patient had photographs, intraoral scans, and cone-beam computed tomography obtained and used in combination with conventional clinical exams to develop a treatment plan. Power point software was used for digital smile planing and Horos for digital implant planning. The digital dataset were used to guide conventional clinical procedures (scaling and root planning, gingivoplasty, in-office tooth bleaching, fiber-post restoration, implant and bone graft placement, teeth preparation, and protheses design and milling). The inclusion of digital steps in the conventional workflow enabled the performance of rehabilitation procedures with reduced clinical time and increased predictability, favoring the overall workflow and the communication among the different dental specialties. A mixed workflow can progressively lead to an exclusively digital workflow as technologies become accessible and learning curve is coped.

Wide field scanning by optical fluorescence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): case report

ABSTRACT Optical fluorescence detection aims to identify precursor lesions, little noticeable to the human eye, and oral cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma or spinocellular carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm that affects the mouth more. In this article, two clinical cases are analyzed, treated with the use of two types of equipment, namely: the photoevidenciation by optical fluorescence of light-emitting violet wavelength of 405nm, power of 100mW, which is luminous radiation, not Ionizing and in the adjuvant treatment, we used low-power laser therapy, power 100mW, with two wavelengths of 808nm infrared, for pain relief, and the red 660nm, for oral mucositis. In Photodynamic therapy, the Photosensitizing Chimiolux® (methylene blue) was used to control Candida albicans. From these cases, we discuss how a more assertive diagnostic hypothesis can save a life and save time, resources, and efforts for the correct diagnosis of the pathology compared to a biopsy and histopathology negative for neoplasia. We conclude that optical fluorescence has excellent social relevance due to its potential to help the professional not specialized in the establishment of early diagnosis of oral cancer. Early diagnosis improves the rates of death caused by this carcinoma, which would extend the post-diagnosis survival and decrease the financial and emotional costs for the patient and family.

Self-perception of older adults regarding rehabilitation with dentures

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the self-perception that older adults have about rehabilitation regarding their uni or bimaxillary dentures. Methods: A form was applied to investigate the sociodemographic, economic and medical-dental variables of the users, a questionnaire to assess the satisfaction level of patients with their dentures, another to investigate the technical quality of the dentures from the aesthetic-functional point of view, and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) to ascertain the impact of prosthetic rehabilitation on the quality of life of users. Results: The majority of the participants (65.2%) used complete bimaxillary dentures, reported dissatisfaction during chewing, while the lower dentures had unsatisfactory technical quality for the retention requirements (69.6%) and stability (69.6%). The older adults’ complaints were predominantly related to the “physical pain” and “physical disability” domains. There were significant associations between general satisfaction with the dentures in use, their general technical quality and the OHIP-14 domains. Conclusion: The patient complaints were related to difficulties in their ability to chew, speak and with the retention and comfort of the lower dentures. The technical quality of the dentures had compromised retention and stability from the aesthetic-functional point of view. Dentures considered unsatisfactory caused negative impacts on the quality of life of users, especially in comfort during meals which was related to difficulty chewing and swallowing. The association between the instruments used in the study provides important tools for the performance of dental surgeons, in addition to enabling more adequate planning in the oral health services offered to the population.

COVID-19 and Painful Temporomandibular Disorders: what does the dentist need to know?

ABSTRACT COVID-19 outbreak may lead to major impacts in applied oral sciences. Remarkably, it could be expected that factors associated to pandemic may lead to a greater risk of developing, worsening and perpetuating TMD and its associated risk factors. This non systematic literature review aims to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic can influence the emergence, maintenance or worsening of TMD worldwide. During epidemics: the number of people whose mental health is affected tends to be greater than the number affected by the infection, and fear increases anxiety and stress levels in healthy individuals; chronic pain patients probably not receipt important treatments; overuse of medications becomes frequent; there are manifestation of unconscious oral parafunctional habits and poor sleep quality. All these facts represent risk factors common to TMD. Dentists should be aware of these issues and adapt their practices to properly diagnose and treat these patients within a multifactorial approach, increasing the quality of life of these individuals.

Neuropathic pain after a dental procedure in an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease: a case report

ABSTRACT Neuropathic pain occurs when there is damage to nervous system structures, particularly as a result of direct injury or disease. It can occur in the orofacial territory after dental implants placement. Oral rehabilitation is often performed with dental implant placement for older adults. However, the general health status should be considered, requiring a careful assessment of the patient and the identification of geriatric conditions that could lead to predictable failures. The purpose of this case report is to present the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain after dental implant placement in an older adult with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Oral rehabilitation in a child with early childhood caries: a case report

ABSTRACT The aim of the current study is to present a treatment approach in a case of severe early childhood caries (ECC). A 5-year-old girl was referred to the Pediatric Dentistry Division with multiple premature tooth loss, masticatory difficulties, prolonged breast-feeding, and low quality of life, who was diagnosed with severe ECC. A three-phased treatment plan was implemented: 1. Disease control – consisting of behavioral changes in oral hygiene habits, diet guidance, professional biofilm removal followed by fluoride application and temporary restorations; 2. Infection control – teeth extractions and pulpotomy; and 3. Functional rehabilitation – direct and semi-indirect resin restorations, a removable partial and total prostheses in the lower and upper jaws, respectively. In conclusion, the proposed multidisciplinary approach resulted in a positive impact on the patient’s nutrition and growth, speech production, communication, self-image, and social functioning leading to an improved quality of life.

Relationship between social capital and the experience of dental carie: systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Objective Understanding the individual and collective behavior of individuals about their oral health conditions is important to prevent and control of dental caries. This study aimed to seek evidence of the relationship between social capital and caries experience. Methods Using a systematic review with meta-analysis, we searched articles in PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, LILACS, IBECS, BBO, SCIELO, The Cochrane Library and MEDLINE databases. Studies with humans, of all ages and languages, published until July 2019, which related social capital to the caries experience, were included in this review. Results We identified 1163 articles evaluated considering inclusion and exclusion criteria, leaving 5 articles selected to compose the study sample, and only 3 included in the meta-analysis. In the final analysis p value was significant (p <0.001), showing that both social cohesion and neighborhood empowerment are associated with the caries experience. In the random model, the individual has 2.39 chances of not having the caries disease. The results reinforce the importance of community social capital in the caries experience of individuals. Conclusions The high level of community social capital is directly related to lower caries experience rates.

Fracture of upper incisors: a three-year follow-up of a multidisciplinary approach

ABSTRACT Multiple clinical specialties are usually needed for a successful long-term treatment in buccal cavity. The aim of this article is to report a clinical case of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation of fracture upper incisors without pulp exposure, concerning about endodontics, periodontics and restorative dentistry comments or procedures. A case of a patient reporting trauma that resulted in fracture and substantial loss of hard tissue, in mesial angle of both upper central incisors (11 and 21). In palatal side, fracture extended beyond cingulum up to subgingival region. Periodontal surgery was performed in order to reestablish biological space. Clinical and radiographic assessments demonstrated no need for endodontic treatment, since pulp was vital and non-altered. Preparations for restorative procedures were minimally invasive, followed by composite direct. A three-year follow-up was performed, consisting in re-assessment of clinical and radiographic aspects, re-polishing of the restorations and photographic documentation. No pulp tissue alteration was observed after the follow-up period. Restorative procedures, adjacent tissues and pulp vitality were considered adequate, and the patient was satisfied with the treatment.

Frequency of pulp canal obliteration in primary teeth after traumatic dental injury and its association with related variables

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of pulp canal obliteration (PCO) after traumatic dental injury (TDI) of primary anterior teeth and to investigate its relation with the related variables. Methods This retrospective study has been done with dental records of patients selected from the Paediatric Dental Trauma Clinic between 2006 and 2016. Those who had PCO in the primary anterior teeth and were aged 0-108 months at the time of trauma were considered eligible. Data related to patients and TDI, such as sex, the child’s age at the time of trauma, aetiology, affected teeth, the child’s age at the time of the eruption of the permanent successor as well as the presence of crown discoloration were extracted from the dental records. Results Among the 483 children with traumatised teeth, 14.9% had PCO and the most of them exhibited crown discoloration. The average age of the children at the time of the trauma was 38 months and the most common aetiology of the TDI was falls. The average time for the beginning of the PCO process was 13.5 months. There was no statistically significant association between the child’s age at the time of trauma and the types of TDI, PCO and the presence of crown discoloration. Conclusions The frequency of PCO was relatively low though the presence of crown discoloration was considerable. There was no association between the child’s age at the time of trauma and the studied variable.