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.

Avulsion of permanent teeth with open apex: a systematic review of the literature

Introduction: Considered the most serious of dental injuries, avulsion is known as the total displacement of tooth out of its socket. Treatment includes immediate replantation and its success is directly related to several factors. Objective: This paper aimed to review the literature in a systematic way on dental avulsion of permanent teeth with open apex, covering various topics such as: reason for avulsion; storage media; time out of the socket; use of antibiotics; splinting time; tooth vitality; presence of resorption and/or obliteration of pulp canal; and following-up time. Material and methods: PubMed/MedLine database and Dental Traumatology journal were searched, from May to June of 2011, and several studies comprising the current and classic literature were listed using the following terms: tooth avulsion, open apex, permanent and case report. Results and conclusion: Twelve cases reports were selected. Cases of dental trauma in open apex teeth may have a good prognosis if the following steps are taken: the hydration of the tooth and immediately replantation. It is important to search dental care, even if everything seems solved, and the tooth following-up should be performed periodically as informed by the dentist.

Análise radiográfica do tratamento endodôntico clínico da FOUERJ / Radiographic analysis of endodontic treatment of FOUERJ

O exame radiográfico nos permite obter dados importantes da qualidade da obturação e da instrumentação. O índice de sucesso e insucesso pode ser determinado pela radiografia, embora esse exame seja limitado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os tratamentos endodônticos realizados por acadêmicos na FOUERJ e a ausência de lesão periapical dos casos em questão. Foram analisadas 1175 radiografias periapicais e observou-se que 65,9% dos pacientes atendidos eram do sexo feminino; 60,1% dos canais radiculares apresentavam obturação 1 a 2mm aquém do ápice radiográfico; 58,5% dos dentes apresentavam adaptação e preenchimento do material obturador satisfatório; 44,6% dos dentes não apresentavam rarefação óssea

The radiographic examination allows us to obtain important data on the quality of the filling and instrumentation. The rate of success and failure can be determined by radiography, although the examination is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate root canal treatments carried out by academics at FOUERJ and the absence of periapical lesion of the cases in question. 1175 periapical radiographs were analyzed and was observed that 65.9% of patients seen were female, 60.1% had root canal fillings 1 to 2 mm short of the radiographic apex, 58.5% of teeth showed adaptation and satisfactory completion of the filling material, 44.6% of teeth did not showed bone rarefaction

Efeito antibacteriano dos lasers e terapia fotodinâmica contra Enterococcus faecalis no sistema de canais radiculares / Antibacterial effect of the lasers and photodynamic therapy against Enterococcus faecalis in the root canal system

O preparo químico-mecânico (PQM) é crucial para o sucesso do tratamento endodôntico. Neste sentido, metodologias são desenvolvidas a fim de garantir a máxima desinfecção do sistema de canais radiculares. Assim, o objetivo desta revisão de literatura foi avaliar a capacidade dos lasers e da terapia fotodinâmica (PDT) em eliminar o Enterococcus faecalis, fortemente associado ao fracasso da terapia endodôntica. A busca pelos artigos foi realizada de duas formas: por meio dos guias de estudo on line do Journal of Endodontics e por meio das bases de dados: BBO, PUBMED/MEDLINE e OVID. Paralelamente, foi realizada busca cruzada, considerando as referências bibliográficas dos artigos selecionados. Os critérios de inclusão foram: a) os períodos de tempo entre abril de 2000 e fevereiro de 2010; b) artigos que avaliassem o efeito antimicrobiano dos lasers e PDT sobre o E. faecalis. Após a leitura completa dos artigos selecionados, incluíram-se: 15 artigos que avaliaram a capacidade antibacteriana do laser, 10 artigos relativos à PDT e 5 artigos que compararam o laser e a PDT. Baseado nesta revisão, concluiu-se que nenhuma das duas técnicas foi 100% eficaz contra o E. faecalis, mas que foram capazes de reduzir sua presença; a PDT se mostrou aparentemente mais eficaz que o laser no controle desta infecção. Desta forma, as terapias podem ser consideradas aliadas promissoras ao tratamento convencional no controle da infecção endodôntica por E. faecalis, caracterizando-se como terapias complementares.

The chemomechanical disinfection is crucial to the success of endodontic treatment. In this regard, methodologies are developed to ensure maximum disinfection of root canal system. The objective of this literature review was to evaluate the ability of lasers and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in eliminating Enterococcus faecalis, which is strongly associated with failure of endodontic therapy. The search for articles was performed in two ways: through the online study guides in the Journal of Endodontics and, through databases: BBO, PubMed/MEDLINE and OVID. In parallel, we performed cross-searching, given the references of selected articles. Inclusion criteria were: a) the time periods between April 2000 and February 2010; b) articles that evaluate antimicrobial effect of lasers and PDT on E. faecalis. After a complete reading of selected articles, were included: 15 articles that evaluated the antibacterial capacity of the laser, 10 of PDT and 5 that compared laser and PDT. Based on this review, concluded that: neither of the two techniques was 100% effective against E. faecalis, but were able to reduce their presence; PDT apparently showed more effective than laser in controlling this infection. Thus, therapies can be considered promising allied to conventional treatment in the control of endodontic infection by E. faecalis, which is characterized as complementary therapies.