Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) blockage reduces acute inflammation and delayed wound healing in oral ulcer of rats.

Oral traumatic ulcers (OTU) are common in dental routine, and the control of proinflammatory cytokines, such as the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), may interfere with OTU repair. Our aim was to evaluate the role of TNF-α in the healing process of OTU in rats. Wistar male rats were divided into six groups: a control-group (treated with 0.1 mL/kg of saline) and five groups treated with anti-TNF-α infliximab (INF) at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 mg/kg immediately before OTU production. The animals were weighed (day 0) and euthanized on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 after ulceration. The ulcers were clinically measured, and the mucosa samples were histologically (scores 0-4), histochemically (collagen assay (pircrosirius)), histomorphometrically (cell counting), and immunohistochemically (TNF-α, α-smooth-muscle-actin (α-SMA), monocyte-chemoattractive-protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and fibroblast-growth-factor (FGF)) analyzed. The Evans blue assay was used to measure the vascular permeability. ANOVA-1-2-way/Bonferroni, Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn, and correlation analyses were performed (GraphPad Prism 5.0, p < 0.05). High doses of INF reduced the OTU area (p = 0.043), body mass loss (p = 0.023), vascular permeability (p < 0.001), and reduced delayed histologic scores (p < 0.05), polymorphonuclear (p < 0.001) and mononuclear (p < 0.001) cells, blood vessel counting (p = 0.006), and total (p < 0.001), type-I (p = 0.018), and type-III (p < 0.001) collagen. INF treatment reduced TNF-α immunostaining and delayed MPC-1, FGF, and α-SMA expression, with little/none influence in IL-8 immunostaining. TNF-α blockage by INF reduced acute inflammation in OTU but delayed cell migration and wound healing.

Analysis of a Brazilian cross-cultural adaptation of the FACE-Q SFAOS in facial harmonization in dentistry.

The FACE-Q SFAOS is an instrument developed for esthetic facial procedures and has been validated in patients undergoing rhinoplasty. It consists of ten items that assess the current perception of facial appearance regarding symmetry, harmony, proportion, freshness or vitality, and self-perception of appearance; these items are perhaps important to guide demands in orofacial harmonization (OFH). We aimed to validate the FACE-Q SFAOS scale among professionals working with OFH and verify its acceptance for use in clinical practice. Altogether, 25 OFH specialists were included to evaluate the FACE-Q SFAOS scale and the new technology acceptability model (TAM). Internal validity was measured using Cronbach's α coefficient. Both scales were associated with clinical experience and perceived usefulness using Spearman's correlation and Fisher's exact or chi-square tests (SPSS 20.0, p < 0.05). The FACE-Q SFAOS (α = 0.927) and TAM (α = 0.941) scales demonstrated good internal validity, and most professionals demonstrated good acceptance (TAM >70 = 64%). The mean FACE-Q SFAOS and TAM scores were 64.00±17.03 and 74.60±20.66, respectively. Practitioners with more than two years of experience (p=0.032) who believed the scale was useful for lip filler evaluation (p = 0.017) demonstrated greater acceptance. The number of indications on the scale was directly correlated with higher levels of acceptance (p = 0.002, r = 0.594). Thus, the FACE-Q SFAOS scale has good reproducibility and acceptance among OFH specialists; however, acceptability was shown to be dependent on perceived usability.

Intense orthodontic force induces the three dental pulp nitric oxide synthase isoforms and leads to orofacial discomfort in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms influence during tooth movement with different forces. SETTINGS AND SAMPLE POPULATION: 100 male Wistar rats (n = 10/group) were divided into a Sham group (animals not submitted to device installation nor Induced Toot Movement [ITM]), Negative Control Group (NCG) (animals submitted to device installation but not to ITM) and three experimental groups (F1, F2 and F3) (submitted to ITM with forces of 25, 50 and 100 gF respectively). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A daily count of biting and scratching on the vibrissae and the Grimace scale were applied. After 4 (D4) and 11 (D11) days, the molar diastema was measured, and the animals were euthanized for histological (vascular parameters) and immunohistochemistry (iNOS, eNOS and nNOS) in the dental pulp. RESULTS: On D4, there was significant movement in the F3 group (P = .001) and on D11 in F1, F2 and F3 (P < .001). The number of bites (P < .001) and scratching (P = .006) was higher in F2-F3, and F3 had higher Grimace scores (P < .001) and weight loss (P < .001). At D4, there was an increase in pulp ectasia in F2-F3 (P = .021) and a reduction in the number of vessels in F3 (P = .005). In D4 and D11, there was a significant increase in immunostaining for iNOS and eNOS in F1 (P = .025 and P < .001 respectively) and F2 (P = .007 and P < .001 respectively). At D4, F2 and F3 showed higher immunostaining for nNOS (P = .027). CONCLUSION: Thus, IDM induced inflammatory changes in the dental pulp reflecting in force-dependent pain/suffering signs.

Analysis of a Brazilian cross-cultural adaptation of the FACE-Q SFAOS in facial harmonization in dentistry

Abstract: The FACE-Q SFAOS is an instrument developed for esthetic facial procedures and has been validated in patients undergoing rhinoplasty. It consists of ten items that assess the current perception of facial appearance regarding symmetry, harmony, proportion, freshness or vitality, and self-perception of appearance; these items are perhaps important to guide demands in orofacial harmonization (OFH). We aimed to validate the FACE-Q SFAOS scale among professionals working with OFH and verify its acceptance for use in clinical practice. Altogether, 25 OFH specialists were included to evaluate the FACE-Q SFAOS scale and the new technology acceptability model (TAM). Internal validity was measured using Cronbach's α coefficient. Both scales were associated with clinical experience and perceived usefulness using Spearman's correlation and Fisher's exact or chi-square tests (SPSS 20.0, p < 0.05). The FACE-Q SFAOS (α = 0.927) and TAM (α = 0.941) scales demonstrated good internal validity, and most professionals demonstrated good acceptance (TAM >70 = 64%). The mean FACE-Q SFAOS and TAM scores were 64.00±17.03 and 74.60±20.66, respectively. Practitioners with more than two years of experience (p=0.032) who believed the scale was useful for lip filler evaluation (p = 0.017) demonstrated greater acceptance. The number of indications on the scale was directly correlated with higher levels of acceptance (p = 0.002, r = 0.594). Thus, the FACE-Q SFAOS scale has good reproducibility and acceptance among OFH specialists; however, acceptability was shown to be dependent on perceived usability.