Evaluation of Anxiety and Vital Signs in Adults Undergoing Different Dental Procedures: A Prospective Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the vital signs related with different dental treatments, and correlate with demographic data and participants' anxiety level. This is a prospective clinical study with 60 participants, divided into 3 groups of dental procedures: (1) restorative treatment, (2) extractions and biopsies, and (3) gingival treatment. A level of anxiety questionnaire before dental procedure proposed by Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale was collected. Respiratory rate, systolic and diastolic pressure, temperature and oxygenation were measured before, during and after the procedures. 31 (51.7 %) women and 29 (48.3 %) men were included, with mean age of 41.75 years old. Most participants (50 %) were classified as very little anxious. Diastolic pressure before the procedure was higher for slightly anxious patients when compar ed with very little anxious patients (p=0.028). Systolic pressure before, during and after the procedure was higher for participan ts above 40 years old (p=0,001). Heart rate (p=0,050) and temperature (p=0,041) was higher before the restorative treatment. Anxiety can promote changes in vital signs in the dental environment. Vital signs, sex, age and level of anxiety do influence the blood pressure at different clinical moments. Dental procedures have association with variations in temperature, heart and respiratory rate.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los signos vitales relacionados con diferentes tratamientos dentales y correlacionarlos con datos demográficos y el nivel de ansiedad de los participantes. Este es un estudio clínico prospectivo con 60 participantes, divididos en 3 grupos de procedimientos dentales: (1) tratamiento restaurador, (2) extracciones y biopsias, y (3) tratamiento gingival. Se recogió un cuestionario de nivel de ansiedad antes del procedimiento odontológico propuesto por la Escala de Ansiedad Dental de Corah. Se midieron la frecuencia respiratoria, la presión sistólica y diastólica, la temperatura y la oxigenación antes, durante y después de los procedimientos. Se incluyeron 31 (51,7 %) mujeres y 29 (48,3 %) hombres, con edad media de 41,75 años. La mayoría de los participantes (50 %) fueron clasificados como muy poco ansiosos. La presión diastólica antes del procedimiento fue mayor en los pacientes ligeramente ansiosos en comparación con los pacientes muy poco ansiosos(p=0,028). La presión sistólica antes, durante y después del procedimiento fue mayor para los participantes mayores de 40 años (p=0,001). La frecuencia cardíaca (p=0,050) y la temperatura (p=0,041) fueron mayores antes del tratamiento restaurativo. La ansiedad puede promover cambios en los signos vitales en el entorno dental. Los signos vitales, el sexo, la edad y el nivel de ansiedad sí influyen en la presión arterial en los diferentes momentos clínicos. Los procedimientos dentales tienen asociación con variaciones de temperatura, frecuencia cardíaca y respiratoria.

Oral manifestations of syphilis: Knowledge and skills of senior dental students and newly graduated dentists.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge of senior dental students and newly graduated dentists about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral manifestations of syphilis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 32-question questionnaire was designed with three domains: (I) demographic, academic and professional data of the participants, (II) attitudes, practices and self-perception regarding training about syphilis and (III) knowledge about syphilis. All knowledge responses were classified as correct or incorrect. Scores ranging from 1 to 14 were calculated, and grades were assigned to each participant according to their level of knowledge. RESULTS: The sample comprised 408 dental students and 339 newly graduated dentists. The mean score was 7.70 ± 3.35 for undergraduates and 9.09 ± 3265 for dentists. The highest frequency of correct answers (>70%) was attributed to questions about the aetiology, transmission and treatment of syphilis. The questions with the lowest frequency of correct answers (<50%) were about the identification of oral manifestations and stages of syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of dental practitioners and academics about the oral manifestations of syphilis was unsatisfactory. The lack of understanding of these aspects can delay the diagnosis and treatment of patients with this disease, which is concerning given the steady increase in cases in recent years.

Radiographic Assessment of Different Autogenous Bone Grafts in the Alveolar Cleft: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study.

Objectives: To assess feasibility and maintenance of bone after alveolar cleft reconstructions using graft from iliac crest and mandibular symphysis. Methods: 51 alveolar clefts grafted with iliac crest and 51 ones grafted with mandibular symphysis bones were selected from patients aged between 7 and 12 years. At three (T1) and 12 months (T2) after surgeries, periapical radiographs were performed to measure the height of the grafted bone based on the modified Bergland scale. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests compared differences between T1 and T2 according to each bone graft. Results: From the clefts grafted with mandibular symphysis bone, 47 were classified as type I (92.5%) and 04 as type II (7.84%) at T1. At T2, 36 were classified as type II (25.49%) and 02 as type III (3.92%). In the analysis of the clefts grafted with iliac crest at T1, 48 were classified as type I (94.11%) and three as type II (5.88%). At T2, 37 classifieds as type I (72.54%), 12 as type II (23.52%) and two as type III (3.92%). There was no statistically significant difference between treatments. Conclusions: It was concluded that iliac crest and mandibular symphysis are adequate areas from which bone grafts can be obtained for reconstruction of alveolar cleft.

Knowledge about oral cancer among dental students and Primary Health Care dentists: A Brazilian study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to evaluate the knowledge of dental students and dentists who work in Primary Health Care (PHC). These are professionals who work in the public basic health units regarding oral cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. METHODS: A cross-sectional and observational Brazilian study was conducted. A survey with 27 questions was carried out regarding the (i) demographic, academic, and professional data of the participants, (ii) attitudes, practices, and self-perception about their training, and (iii) knowledge about oral cancer. With the exception of one question regarding the clinical characteristics of oral cancer, all knowledge answers were graded as correct or incorrect. Grades were assigned to each participant according to their level of knowledge, and scores for each participant were calculated ranging from 1 to 10. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine the difference in the knowledge score of oral cancer according to explanatory variables. The level of significance adopted was 5%. RESULTS: The sample comprised 541 dental students and 82 PHC dentists. Most participants did not consider it appropriate or had not received training for palpation of lymph nodes or for identifying lymphadenopathies associated with oral cancer. Less than 20% of the participants had some kind of practice before and felt safe performing biopsy surgery. The average student score was 7.01 ± 2.15, and the average dentist score was 7.81 ± 1.467. CONCLUSION: Although the scores were satisfactory, most of the participants did not show adequate knowledge about biopsy and palpation of cervical lymph nodes.

Oral Lesions Associated with Post-COVID-19: Disease Sequels or Secondary Infection?

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to report the presentation of oral lesions found in a post-COVID-19 patient. A 78-year-old female patient fifteen days post-COVID-19, confirmed through the PCR test, had pain in the mouth with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 8, dysgeusia and odynophagia. Erosive lesions were observed with circumscribed halos, of different sizes along the entire length of the dorsum, bilateral margins of the tongue and labial mucosa. Topical use of vitamin E 40 mg, nystatin oral suspension 100000UI and artificial saliva spray was prescribed. After 14 days, complete repair was observed. However, the patient worsened her respiratory failure and died after 2 days. There is still insufficient evidence to confirm whether this patient's oral lesion is the result of a direct viral infection with SARS-CoV-2. The relevance of inserting the dentist in the care team for infected patients stands out and we encourage the performance of intraoral evaluation, even after medical discharge. In this way, it will be possible to understand its long-term oral manifestations of COVID-19.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue reportar las lesiones orales encontradas en un paciente post-COVID-19. Paciente de sexo femenino de 78 años, con quince días post-COVID-19, confirmada mediante prueba de PCR, el cual presentaba dolor en la cavidad oral con una Escala Visual Analógica (EVA) 8, disgeusia y odinofagia. Se observaron lesiones erosivas con halos circunscritos, de diferentes tamaños a lo largo de todo el dorso, márgenes bilaterales de la lengua y mucosa labial. Se prescribió el uso tópico de vitamina E 40 mg, nistatina suspensión oral 100000 UI y spray de saliva artificial. Después de 14 días, se observó una reparación completa. Sin embargo, la paciente empeoró su insuficiencia respiratoria y falleció a los 2 días. Aún no hay evidencia suficiente para confirmar si la lesión oral de este paciente es el resultado de una infección viral directa con SARS-CoV-2. Destaca la relevancia de la inserción del odontólogo en el equipo de atención del paciente infectado y fomentamos la realización de la evaluación intraoral, incluso después del alta médica. De esta manera, será posible comprender sus manifestaciones orales a largo plazo de COVID-19.