Subjective oral health measures in caregivers of patients with autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome: a preliminary study

This study aimed to address the subjective oral health measures of caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Down syndrome. This cross-sectional study included 15 caregivers of individuals with ASD (n = 7) and Down syndrome (n = 8). Sociodemographic data, sense of coherence (SOC) (SOC-13 scale), social support (Social Support Scale [MOS-SSS]), oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) (OHIP-14), and self-rated oral health assessed on a 5-point Likert scale were collected. A descriptive analysis was performed in addition to correlation analyses (Spearman correlation coefficient). Most primary caregivers were parents of the individual (86.6%). The age of the caregivers ranged between 40 and 59 years (60%). Most caregivers have had 9 to 11 years of education (53.3%). Monthly family income was less than USD 186,28 for ASD caregivers (57.2%) and between USD 327,56 and USD 931,40 for Down syndrome caregivers (50%). Of the caregivers, 33.3% reported good oral health and 33.3% reported neither good nor bad. The average SOC score, social support and OHRQoL was 48.9, 69.3 and 10.9, respectively. The higher the family income, the better the OHRQoL (rs = -0.62, p = 0.014). SOC was correlated with the score of the emotional support domain (rs = 0.54, p = 0.039). It was concluded that caregivers had a strong SOC and high perceived support. Moreover, caregivers did not report a high impact on OHRQoL A better understanding of the caregivers' protective and coping factors in caring for individuals with disabilities may better promote their quality of life.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Intralesional Steroid Injection in a Central Giant Cell Granuloma Affecting the Gingiva: A New Clinical Approach

Central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) is a benign jaw lesion predominantly found in the mandible of young female patients with a variable clinical behavior. Although surgical management is regarded as the main treatment modality for this lesion, the use of intralesional injections of steroids has been recently advocated for its treatment. In addition to this conservative management, the use of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for diagnosing CGCGs has been proven a safe and efficient approach, especially useful in cases with lesions located in esthetic regions. Herein, it is described a case of CGCG extending to the overlying gingiva of a 15-year-old male patient diagnosed by FNAC and subsequently treated with intralesional injections of a solution of triamcinolone acetonide and ethanolamine oleate that led to an important clinical remission, allowing a more conservative surgical procedure for preservation of gingival esthetics. Therefore, both procedures can be considered as management options for CGCG of the jaws.

O granuloma central de células gigantes (GCCG) é uma lesão benigna dos maxilares predominantemente encontrada na mandíbula de pacientes jovens do sexo feminino com um variado comportamento clínico. Apesar de o manejo cirúrgico representar a principal modalidade terapêutica para esta lesão, o uso de injeções intralesionais de esteróides tem sido recentemente proposto para seu tratamento. Além do manejo conservador, o uso da punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) para o diagnóstico do GCCG tem sido comprovado ser uma abordagem segura e eficiente, especialmente útil em casos de lesões localizadas em regiões estéticas. Descrevemos aqui um caso de GCCG estendendo-se para a gengiva adjacente em um paciente do sexo masculino, 15 anos de idade, diagnosticado por meio da PAAF e subsequentemente tratado com injeções intralesionais de uma solução de acetato de triancinolona e oleato de etanolamina que levou a uma importante remissão clínica, permitindo a realização de uma abordagem cirúrgica conservadora preservando a estética periodontal. Por este motivo, ambos os procedimentos podem ser considerados opções de manejo para o GCCG dos maxilares.