Effects of interdental aids on clinical periodontal indices.

BACKGROUND: Removal of plaque and food particle between teeth represent interdental cleaning. Every patient's self-care program includes plaque removal efficiently and systematically. Periodontal disease, tooth decay and tooth loss may result from the absence of interdental cleaning or even an irregular and unsuccessful interdental cleaning. AIM: The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of inter-dental aids, including dental floss and toothpicks, on gingival and plaque indices. METHODS: A questionnaire including age, gender, education level and other information was obtained from 150 male subjects who were systemically and periodontally healthy. Clinical periodontal parameters (including plaque index and gingival index) were taken from each subject. The participants were categorized into different groups according to the use of inter-dental aids (dental floss, dental picks and without any interdental aids). The participants were divided into the toothbrush-alone group, including participants who did not use either dental floss or toothpicks; the dental floss group, including participants who used dental floss; and the toothpick group including participants who used toothpicks. Plaque and gingival indices compared among groups. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that the maximum mean of Plaque index was found in the toothbrush-alone group (1.09 ± 0.43), while the lowest mean of Plaque index was found in the dental floss group (0.87 ± 0.39). Plaque index of the toothpick group was (0.99 ± 0.41) with statistically significant difference among groups (p-value = 0.04*). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, dental floss is the most effective mean of removing interdental plaque.

Pre-cleaned bare wooden toothpicks for the determination of drugs in oral fluid by mass spectrometry.

This article deepens the potential of pre-cleaned bare wooden toothpicks (pb-WTs) for extracting drugs (antidepressants and acetaminophen) from oral fluid samples. The leaching of the intrinsic compounds from the wood matrix is identified as the main challenge for the final determination of the targets, even when a very selective instrumental technique, such as mass spectrometry, is employed. The pre-cleaning of the WTs is proposed for improving the analytical performance. The number of cleaning cycles depends on the injection mode (direct infusion or chromatography) into the mass spectrometer. The different variables affecting the extraction of selected antidepressant drugs were studied in detail, and the optimum procedure was validated using the two mentioned injection modes. The limits of detection were in the ranges 0.1-0.5 ng/mL and 0.1-0.3 ng/mL for direct infusion and liquid chromatography, respectively. The intra-day precision (expressed as relative standard deviation) was better than 12.1% and 8.6%, for direct infusion and liquid chromatography, respectively. Single-blind samples were used to study the applicability of the method. Finally, as a proof-of-concept, the potential of pb-WTs for in vivo sampling was outlined.

Necrotizing fasciitis from an iliopsoas muscle abscess caused by a toothpick: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Psoas muscle abscess is rare and can become more complicated to treat after they have progressed to necrotizing fasciitis. The data of secondary psoas muscle abscess cause by ingested toothpick are limited in the literature. We have done an extensive literature review and found a number of 8 cases (including our new case) of ingested toothpicks causing iliopsoas muscle abscess. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a 70-year-old man with unremarkable medical history experienced left flank pain for several days with radiated to left thigh and unable to walk. He initially exhibited drowsiness at emergency department with fever and chillness. Computed tomography showed iliopsoas abscess and necrotizing fasciitis. This patient received emergent surgical debridement and a toothpick was found lodged in the deep portion of the left psoas muscle. He was tolerated to the treatment and discharged on 58 days after the operation. DISCUSSION: A review of the literature revealed only eight reported cases since 1946 (including ours) of ingested toothpicks migrating into the iliopsoas muscle and causing abscess formation or necrotizing fasciitis. Three of the cases did not exhibit gut perforation, possibly because of self-healing of the wound. Gastrointestinal symptoms are not always apparent when the perforation site is over the retroperitoneal space. Thorough debridement is essential if the origin of infection is unknown. CONCLUSION: Ingestion of a foreign body may be asymptomatic, the present case and a review of the literature indicated that ingested toothpicks can cause severe morbidity or even mortality. The diagnosis of psoas abscesses associated with toothpicks is difficult, and such cases should not be overlooked. Appropriate early surgical intervention is recommended.

Resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico de la perforación intestinal causada por ingestión de mondadientes: aportación de 3 casos / Results of surgical treatment of intestinal perforation caused by toothpick ingestion: contribution of 3 cases

RESUMEN: La ingestión de mondadientes (IM) constituye un evento poco frecuente (se han publicado alrededor de 157 casos a nivel mundial), pero puede causar perforaciones intestinales (PI), con peritonitis, sepsis e incluso muerte. Este hecho, determina la necesidad de intervenir quirúrgicamente a la mayoría de estos pacientes. El objetivo de este manuscrito fue informar resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico de 3 casos de PI por IM. Caso 1: hombre de 52 años, con perforación duodenal y de la vesícula biliar. Caso 2: Mujer de 54 años con perforación cecal. Caso 3: hombre de 72 años, con perforación de colon izquierdo y lesión esplénica. Todos fueron hospitalizados por dolor abdominal y fiebre. En dos casos el diagnóstico se verificó por tomografía y en uno por ecotomografía. Los tres casos fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente a través de laparotomía. Intervenciones: Caso 1: se realizó colecistectomía y sutura duodenal. Caso 2: se realizó hemicolectomía derecha e ileotransverso anastomosis. Caso 3: se realizó hemicolectomía izquierda y esplenectomía. En todos los casos se encontró el mondadientes. Todos los pacientes evolucionaron de forma satisfactoria, sin complicaciones postoperatorias. La IPD es una emergencia quirúrgica. Las PI son comunes y la peritonitis asociada es frecuente. El pronóstico depende de un diagnóstico precoz y un tratamiento oportuno.

SUMMARY: Toothpick ingestion (TPI) is a rare event, but can cause intestinal perforation (IP), peritonitis, sepsis, and even death (approximately 157 cases have been published worldwide). This fact determines the need for surgical intervention in most of these patients. The aim of this manuscript was to report the results of the surgical treatment in 3 cases of IP by TPI. The report involves the following: Case 1: A 52-year-old man, with duodenal and gallbladder perforation. Case 2: A 54-year-old woman with cecal perforation. Case 3: A 72-year-old man, with perforation of the left colon and splenic rupture. All were hospitalized for abdominal pain and fever. In two of the cases the diagnosis was verified by tomography and in one by ultrasound. All three patients underwent laparotomy. In the first case (1), cholecystectomy and duodenal suture were performed; in the second case (2) right hemicolectomy and ileo-transverse anastomosis were performed, and in the third case (3), Left hemicolectomy and splenectomy were performed. Toothpick was found in all cases. The patients in this report all evolved satisfactorily without postoperative complications. In conclusion, TPI is a surgical emergency. IP are common and the associated peritonitis is high. Prognosis depends on early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Absceso de pared duodenal secundario a palillo de dientes enclavado en duodeno como causa inusual de dolor abdominal crónico / Duodenal Wall Abscess Secondary to a Toothpick in the Duodenum is an Unusual Cause of Chronic Abdominal Pain

Resumen Los cuerpos extraños (CE) constituyen una de las urgencias más frecuentes en gastroenterología. Aunque la mayoría de estos pasan de forma espontánea, en algunos casos pueden causar perforaciones. Presentamos el caso de un paciente masculino de 32 años quien consultó de forma ambulatoria por un cuadro de dolor abdominal de 4 meses de evolución. Dentro de los estudios solicitados se realizó una endoscopia de vías digestivas altas (EVDA) cuyo principal hallazgo fue la presencia de un cuerpo extraño (palillo de dientes) enclavado en el duodeno, que fue extraído sin complicaciones.

Abstract Foreign bodies are one of the most frequent emergencies in gastroenterology. Although most of these pass spontaneously, in some cases they can cause perforations. We present the case of a 32-year-old male patient who came to the outpatient clinic after four months of abdominal pain. An endoscopy of the upper digestive tract found a toothpick embedded in the duodenum. It was extracted without complications.