Validation of self-reported history of root canal treatment in a southern Brazilian subpopulation

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess self-reported history of root canal treatment (SRHRCT) as a method for detecting the presence of root canal treatment (RCT) and apical periodontitis (AP) in a southern Brazilian subpopulation. In this cross-sectional study, 136 military police officers from the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, were included. The participants were interviewed and full-mouth periapical radiographs were taken. A calibrated examiner determined the presence of RCT and AP by applying standardized criteria. The diagnostic accuracy of SRHRCT was calculated separately for RCT and AP. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (+PV and -PV), efficiency, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (+LR and -LR) were estimated. The mean age of the participants was 34.1 ± 10.4 years and 88.2% were males. Overall, SRHRCT demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for RCT, but not for AP: sensitivity (RCT = 0.960, AP = 0.757) and specificity (RCT = 0.835, AP = 0.631). The estimated values for PV and LR were: +PV (RCT=0.777, AP=0.396), -PV (RCT = 0.972, AP = 0.890), +LR (RCT = 5.853, AP = 2.057), and -LR (RCT = 0.046, AP = 0.383). SRHRCT proved to be a good predictor of the presence of RCT, but a weak predictor of AP in this subpopulation.

Abordagem da doença periodontal e do edentulismo em idosos: uma revisão integrativa com foco na atenção primária / Approaching periodontal disease and edentulism in the elderly: a systematic review with a focus on primary health care

A adoção da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) como modelo de atenção primária à saúde (APS) no Brasil proporcionou mudanças na organização de serviços e nos processos de trabalho dos profissionais da saúde pública, dentro do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). No que se refere à saúde bucal, a inserção de equipes odontológicas na ESF, a partir dos anos 2000, também possibilitou, além do aumento do número de cirurgiões-dentistas na APS, alterações no modelo de atenção à saúde bucal. Com o declínio da cárie em populações mais jovens, a doença periodontal e o edentulismo têm assumido papel de destaque como os principais agravos a afetarem a população idosa. Nesse contexto, este trabalho tem por objetivo realizar uma revisão integrativa da literatura sobre o tratamento da doença periodontal e do edentulismo em idosos com foco na APS nas bases de dados do MEDLINE/ PUBMED publicados nos últimos 10 anos. Este trabalho contribui para a qualificação baseada em evidências dos profissionais da odontologia na atenção primária. A pesquisa, ao abordar tratamentos para doença periodontal e edentulismo em idosos, abrange assuntos que serão de grande importância para os serviços, nos próximos anos, considerando-se que o envelhecimento populacional e o acesso dessa população aos serviços se tornará mais frequente e regular com o aumento do número de cirurgiões- dentistas nas Estratégias de Saúde da Família capacitados para orientar suas práticas baseadas em evidências.

Adopting the Family Health Strategy (FHS) as the primary health care (PHC) model in Brazil has brought about changes in the organization of services and in the work processes of public health professionals, within the Unified Health System (UHS). With regard to oral health, the inclusion of dental teams in the FHS, beginning in the 2000s, also made changes in the oral health care model possible, in addition to the increase in the number of dentists in the PHC system. With the decline in tooth decay in younger populations, periodontal disease and edentulism have assumed prominent roles as the main disorders affecting the elderly. In this context, this work aims to carry out an integrative review of the literature on the treatment of periodontal disease and edentulism in the elderly, focusing on PHC in the MEDLINE/PUBMED databases published in the last 10 years. This work contributes to the qualification of evidence-based dentistry professionals in primary health care. In addressing treatments for periodontal disease and edentulism in the elderly, it covers subjects which will be of great importance for the services in the coming years, considering the aging population and that this population's access to services will become more regular and frequent with the increase in the number of dentists in the Family Health Strategies able to guide evidence-based practices.