Health changes during Covid-19: a nationwide study with dental students

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the changes in stress levels, social behavior, dietary and parafunctional habits, oral hygiene, among other conditions perceived by dental students in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic and evaluated the correlations between stress level and other variables. METHODS An online questionnaire was developed and validated. Undergraduates enrolled in private and public dental schools were recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected on the perceived changes regarding stress levels, financial and social characteristics, dietary habits, oral hygiene, health conditions, and parafunctional habits. Quantitative variables were expressed as absolute and relative frequencies. Wilcoxon test evaluated comparisons between perceived changes, and correlations between changes in stress levels and other variables were analyzed by Spearman correlation (α = 0.05). RESULTS A total of 638 dental students, mean age of 22.95 ± 4.10 years, participated in the study. During the pandemic, the reported stress levels increased while household income decreased (p < 0.05). Late dinners and mindless eating increased in frequency, whereas oral hygiene decreased (p < 0.05). Most of the health conditions and parafunctional habits assessed changed (p < 0.05). Perceived stress levels showed poor negative correlations with household income (rS = −0.14), poor positive correlations with the pressure to contribute financially in the household (rS = 0.19), and poor positive correlations with food choice frequency (rS = 0.15) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Dental students reported perceived changes in stress levels, dietary habits, oral hygiene, health conditions, parafunctional habits, and social behavior. Moreover, the results showed poor correlations, as students with higher stress levels tended to have the lowest household income, feel pressured to contribute financially in the household, and present a high meal intake frequency.

Resin infiltration for approximal caries lesions in primary and permanent teeth: case reports

Introduction: Minimally invasive dentistry aims to preserve the tooth structure and to achieve this, improved dental materials can be used. Among these, Icon®was developed for infiltration of non-cavitated enamel carious lesions or those located in the external third of dentin. Objective: To report two clinical cases in which Icon® was used to treat interproximal caries lesions in primary and permanent teeth. Case report: Two patients (10 and 13 years) attended the Pediatric Dental Clinic and the clinical and radiographic examination revealed non-cavitated enamel carious lesions and outer third of dentin on teeth 54 distal (D) and 55 mesial (M) (Patient 1), and teeth 24D and 25M (Patient 2), respectively. To restore the lesions, a resin infiltrant (Icon®) was used under rubber dam isolationand according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Results: The patients were assessed immediately after restoration, when complete sealing of the lesion was observed. Patient 1 returned for clinical and radiographic evaluation after 3 months and patient 2 returned after one month, where arrest of the carious lesions was detected. Conclusion: It is concluded that Icon® can be a good option of minimally invasive restorative material, with good applicability in Pediatric Dentistry.

Introdução: A odontologia minimamente invasiva visa maior preservação da estrutura dentária e novos materiais odontológicos vêm sendo utilizados para este fim. Dentre esses, o Icon® foi desenvolvido para infiltração de lesões de cárie não cavitadas localizadas em esmalte e/ou no terço externo de dentina. Objetivo: Relatar dois casos clínicos em que se utilizou o Icon® para tratamento de lesões de cárie interproximais em dentes decíduos e permanentes. Relato do caso: Dois pacientes (10 e 13 anos) compareceram à clínica de Odontopediatriada FO-UFRJ e ao exame clínico e radiográfico foram diagnosticadas lesões cariosas não cavitadas no terço externo de dentina e no esmalte dentário, nos dentes 54 distal (D) e 55 mesial (M) (Paciente 1) e dentes 24D e 25M (Paciente 2), respectivamente. Para restauração das lesões, foi utilizado o infiltrante de resina Icon® sob isolamento absoluto e de acordo com as recomendações do fabricante. Resultados: Os pacientes foram avaliados imediatamente após a restauração e observou-se um completo selamento da lesão. O paciente 1 retornou para avaliação clínica e radiográfica após 3 meses e o paciente 2 após 1 mês. Em ambos foi detectada paralisação da lesão cariosa. Conclusão: Conclui-se que o Icon® representa uma boa opção de material restaurador minimamente invasivo e com boa aplicabilidade em Odontopediatria.