Ability of Dental Students in Spain to Identify Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cancer.

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of students at the School of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, to diagnose oral cancer and other potentially malignant disorders, as well as to compare their ability at different stages of the learning process and evaluate their knowledge retention. Students were surveyed after they had studied oral medicine and oral pathology at two time points: midway through and near the end of their studies. The survey consisted of questions about 40 photographs of benign oral lesions, malignant oral lesions, and potentially malignant disorders. The response rate for all groups was greater than 70%. The results showed that these students' overall success rate in differentiating benign from malignant lesions averaged 73.9%. When the distinction for potentially malignant disorders was included, their average overall success rate decreased to 42.8% (p<0.001). Furthermore, the students' average success rate was at its lowest at the end of the dental program (p<0.001). Results from this study suggest that, given these students' difficulties in identifying potentially malignant disorders, an increased emphasis on cancer education in the dental curriculum may be needed for future practitioners to master this ability.

Diagnostic criteria in proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: Evaluation

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the ability of the diagnostic criteria proposed by Cerero et al in 2010 to perform an early diagnose in patients with proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. Study DESIGN: retrospective study with patients diagnosed with leukoplakia at Oral Medicine Service at Oral Medicine and Surgery Department at Dentistry Faculty at Universidad Complutense of Madrid. RESULTS: the criteria were applied in 116 patients, turning positive in 40 cases. Out of these, 24 (60%) had been previously diagnosed with PVL. Most frequent criteria were major criteria A and E, concerning lesion's site and histopathology, and minor criteria b and c, concerning sex and smoking habit. CONCLUSIONS: diagnostic criteria developed by Cerero et al can be a useful tool for an early diagnose of PVL, as in 60% of the cases, the criteria would have allowed to make an early diagnose of the disease

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Diagnostic criteria in proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the ability of the diagnostic criteria proposed by Cerero et al in 2010 to perform an early diagnose in patients with proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. STUDY DESIGN: retrospective study with patients diagnosed with leukoplakia at Oral Medicine Service at Oral Medicine and Surgery Department at Dentistry Faculty at Universidad Complutense of Madrid. RESULTS: the criteria were applied in 116 patients, turning positive in 40 cases. Out of these, 24 (60%) had been previously diagnosed with PVL. Most frequent criteria were major criteria A and E, concerning lesion's site and histopathology, and minor criteria b and c, concerning sex and smoking habit. CONCLUSIONS: diagnostic criteria developed by Cerero et al can be a useful tool for an early diagnose of PVL, as in 60% of the cases, the criteria would have allowed to make an early diagnose of the disease.

Pacientes con xerostomía: un retoterapéutico para el odontoestomatólogo / Patients with xerostomia: a therapeutic challenge for the dentist

La xerostomía, como manifestación clínica de la hiposialia, es cada vez más frecuente en la práctica diaria debido a su etiología multifactorial: polimedicación, tratamiento oncológico, estrés, edad avanzada, etc. Los pacientes ven afectada en gran medida su calidad de vida, ya que padecerán alteraciones funcionales y orgánicas, siendo estas motivo de consulta. Debido a la inexistencia de un protocolo estandarizado de tratamiento para la xerostomía, se plantea el objetivo de analizarlos productos existentes con sus características e indicaciones, ya que el profesional debe conocerlos métodos terapéuticos. Siempre que sea posible, se tratarán las causas etiológicas que ocasionan xerostomía haciendo hincapié en las medidas preventivas. Deberá acompañarse de un tratamiento sintomático y de estimulación de la producción salival, para mejorar la calidad de vida. Para los casos más graves, se recurrirá a fármacos sistémicos. El tratamiento de la xerostomía es largo y complejo, con resultados muy variables. Se requiere seguir investigando en nuevas alternativas, comprobando y mejorando la eficacia de los métodos ya existentes (AU)

Xerostomia, as a clinical manifestation of hyposialia, is increasingly more frequent indaily practice due to its multifactor etiology: polymedication, oncological treatment, stress, advanced age, etc. The patients’ quality of life is affected to a great extent, since they will suffer functional and organic alterations, without these being a reason for consultation. Due to the non-existence of a standardized protocol of treatment for xerostomia, the objective was posed of analyzing the existing products with their characteristics and indications, since the professional must know the therapeutic methods. Whenever possible, it will deal with the etiological causes that bring about xerostomia, stressing the preventive measures. It must be accompanied by a symptomatic treatment and stimulation of the saliva production, in order to improve the quality of life. For the most serious cases, systemic medicines will be turned to. The treatment of xerostomia is long and complex, with quite variable results. Continued research in new alterations and verifying and improving the effectiveness of the existing methods are required (AU)

Eritema multiforme: una posibilidad diagnóstica a considerar ante lesiones agudas de la mucosa oral / Erythema multiforme: a diagnostic possibility to be considered with acute damages of the oral mucous

Introducción: El Eritema Multiforme es una enfermedad aguda de la piel y las mucosas(especialmente de la mucosa oral), de carácter autoinmune, que se manifiesta con lesiones eritematosas y de tipo vesículo - ampollar. Su etiología es desconocida, apareciendo en muchos casos vinculada a la ingesta de fármacos y a factores predisponentes como infecciones por virus, siendo el más frecuente el herpes simple(VHS).Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar una revisión bibliográfica de los aspectos epidemiológicos, etiopatogénicos, clínicos, terapéuticos y pronósticos del eritema multiforme. Se hace especial hincapié en la importancia del conocimiento de las características clínicas para la realización de un correcto diagnóstico y la instauración de la terapéutica adecuada, tanto para el médico general como para el odontólogo. Material y método: Se presenta una revisión actualizada de la literatura. Resultados y discusión: El eritema multiforme puede presentar diversas manifestaciones clínicas, entre las que se encuentra una forma menor o recurrente, que es la que se produce con mayor frecuencia. La diversidad de las lesiones producidas en piel y mucosas dificulta, en algunos casos, el diagnóstico diferencial. Por ello, el conocimiento de los detalles clínicos, epidemiológicos e histopatológicos es de vital importancia a la hora de instaurar el tratamiento adecuado (AU)

Introduction: The Erythema Multiforme is an autoimmune-nature acute disease of the skin and the mucous membranes (in particular the oral mucous), which appears along with erythematous damages and vesicular-bullosis damages. Its etiology is still unknown, appearing in many cases linked to the intake of drugs and due to predisposing factors such as infections due to virus, being the herpes simplex (VHS) the most frequent one. Purpose: The purpose of this document is to perform a literature review of the epidemiological, aetiopathogenic, clinical, therapeutic aspects and prognosis of the erythema multiforme. We specially underline the importance of the knowledge regarding the clinical characteristics for the performing of a correct diagnosis and the definition of the most appropriate treatment, for the general physician and for the dental practitioner. Materials and method: We present next an updated literature review on the subject Results and discussion: The erythema multiforme may present several clinical signs among which we identify a minor or regular form, which is the most likey to appear. The diversity of the damages produced on the skin and mucous make sit harder, in some cases, to perform differential diagnosis (DD). Thus, the knowledge of the clinical, epidemiological and histopathological details is of the outmost importance when establishing the appropriate treatment (AU)

Papel de los antioxidantes en la promoción de la salud oral / Role of antioxidants in the promotion of oral health

Actualmente, existen suficientes investigaciones que sostienen que incorporar a la dieta ciertos alimentos ricos en antioxidantes, tiene un efecto beneficioso en la salud en general. Una dieta equilibrada disminuye el riesgo de patologías tales como las enfermedades cardiovasculares, cáncer y diabetes, entre otras. También el papel de los antioxidantes en la salud oral, es objeto de estudio en este momento. Se buscan beneficios y aplicaciones en la prevención y tratamiento de patologías orales, que de ser demostrados podrían suponer en el futuro un cambio en el manejo de estas patologías. Se ha realizado una revisión de la literatura para determinar si existe suficiente evidencia científica que avale la presencia de propiedades preventivas y terapéuticas de los antioxidantes en la salud oral. Para ello, se han consultado las bases de datos PubMed/Medline y Cochrane con las palabras clave: antioxidants, oral health, oral cancer, nutrition, quimioprevention, leukoplakia, lycopene (AU)

Nowadays, it is proved that incorporating food which is rich in antioxidants has beneficial effects to health. A balanced diet decreases the risk of suffering pathologies as heart disease, cancer and diabetes among others. In addition, the role of antioxidants in oral health is currently understudy. The aim of this paper is to find benefits and applications in the prevention and treatment of oral pathologies. If this was proved it could mean a future change in these pathologies management. A review of the scientific evidence todeterminate whether antioxidants have preventive and therapeutic properties in oral health hasbeen done, using the data bases PubMed/Medline, Cochrane with the following key words:antioxidants, oral health, oral cancer, nutrition, quimioprevention, leukoplakia, lycopene (AU)