Knowledge of Dentists and Dental Undergraduates Related to COVID-19

Abstract Objective: To assess the knowledge of Brazilian dentists and final-year dental undergraduates concerning COVID-19. Material and Methods: We conducted a self-administered online questionnaire about the symptoms, incubation period, and transmission routes of COVID-19. In total, there were three questions addressing these topics and 15 correct answers, so each participant could score from 0 to 15 points. Besides that, data such as sex, age, education level, years of work experience and place of work were collected. All data were submitted to statistical analysis with a 5% significance level. Results: 476 participants were recruited. Regarding the respondents' perception of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, 99.4% responded fever, 95.2% cough, and 99.2% dyspnea. About the incubation period, 56.3% answered from 1 to 14 days. About the transmission routes, 98.3% recognized transmission through droplets, 80.3% through direct contact with infected persons, and 70.4% through indirect routes. The median knowledge score was 10 (4 - 14). Regarding the socio-demographic variables, participants aged 30 years or more had a higher score than those aged up to 29 years old (p=0.004). For education level, specialist dentists presented a higher score than undergraduates (p=0.006), general dentists (p=0.048) and Ph.D. (p=0.016). Participants with 15 years or more of work experience had a higher score than undergraduates (p=0.003). Concerning the workplace, participants working in the public sector had a higher score than those working in the private sector or universities (p=0.015). Conclusion: Participants recognized the main symptoms, incubation period, and transmission routes of the COVID-19 virus; however, the knowledge level of specialist dentists, older dentists, more experienced dentists, and dentists working in the public sector was higher than the other participants (AU).

Atrophic jaw fracture and predictability in oral rehabilitation: case report

Introduction: The treatment of atrophic jaw fractures requires extensive knowledge by the maxillofacial surgeon. The correct diagnosis and planning optimize the possibility of oral rehabilitation towards many possible alternatives. The difficulty in repairing these fractures makes the treatment complex, in which normally invasive techniques are used. However;which give us satisfactory and predictable aesthetic-functional results. Objective: The objective of this work is to report an atrophic jaw fracture and posterior dental implants re-habilitation. Case report: A 53 years old female patient, victim of in face aggression referred to the emergency care. At the clinical examination, the patient had laceration in the upper lip region and the left side of the mandibular area, with bilateral mobility and paresis. In the oral examination, total lower and partial upper edentulism. After tomographic evaluation, a bilateral fracture of the mandibular body was confirmed, with significant bone fragments uneven. Surgery was performed with total transcervical access and use of reconstruction plate. After 90 days of follow-up, the oral rehabilitation with osseointegrated implants was performed. Conclusion: Complex atrophic mandible fractures in total edentulous patients can be treated with open reduction and stable fixation, allowing a faster return to normal function, improve of quality of life and assists in increasing safety for implant installation (AU) Introdução: O tratamento de fraturas em mandíbula atrófica requer amplo conhecimento por parte da cirurgião bucomaxilofacial. O correto diagnóstico e planejamento otimizam a possibilidade de reabilitação, diante das muitas alternativas possíveis. A dificuldade em reparar essas fraturas torna o tratamento complexo, no qual normalmente técnicas invasivas são usadas. Entretanto, é possível alcançar resultados funcionais e estéticos satisfatórios e previsíveis. Objetivo: O objetivo de este trabalho é relatar uma fratura em mandíbula atrófica seguida de reabilitação com implantes dentários em região posterior. Relato de caso: Paciente do sexo feminino, 53 anos, vítima de agressão em face buscou o serviço de emergência. No exame clínico, observou-se laceração na região do lábio superior esquerdo com mobilidade bilateral e paralisia em região mandibular. No exame intra-oral, edentulismo total inferior e parcial superior. Após avaliação tomográfica, a fratura bilateral do corpo mandibular foi confirmada, com presença de significativos fragmentos ósseos. A cirurgia foi realizada com acesso transcervical total e uso de placa de reconstrução. Após 90 dias de acompanhamento foi iniciada a etapa de reabilitação oral com implantes osseointegrados. Conclusão: Fraturas atróficas complexas da mandíbula em pacientes desdentados totais podem ser tratados com redução e fixação estável, permitindo um rápido retorno da função, melhora da qualidade de vida, além de auxiliar no aumento da segurança no momento da instalação dos implantes (AU)