Evaluation of Alveolar Bone Dimensions and Root Positioning of Anterior Teeth in the Maxilla.

Buccal bone walls present significant resorption after tooth extraction, possibly related to the smaller bone thickness, length, and the sagittal position of the root, as well as the bone morphology. The goal of the present study was to measure the thickness of the cortical bone of the vestibular and palatal walls in the anterior maxilla by means of CBCT images. Measurements were taken from CBCT scans of 300 maxillary anterior teeth from 50 patients (25 women, 25 men) aged 18 to 30 years. The parameters evaluated included the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone in the cervical, apical, and middle thirds of the root, as well as six specific angular measurements from each tooth. The lateral incisors showed a significant difference in thickness between each of the buccal and palatal thirds, and measurements were also significantly smaller than the central and canine incisors. Bone anatomy is tooth-and location-specific, and thus the sagittal root position within the alveolus influences the regional bone morphology and may explain the gingival zenith position in the anterior maxilla. These specific buccal and palatal anatomic parameters should be carefully taken into consideration for surgical planning and intervention in the esthetic area.

Objective structured clinical examination, OSCEs: an advance in the teaching and learning process in the student's perception / Exame clínico objetivo estruturado, OSCE: um avanço no processo de ensino e aprendizagem sob a percepção do estudante

Abstract Introduction The OSCE is a method of clinical competencies evaluation that has gained international popularity in medical and dental education. Objective The purpose of the present study was to describe the stages of development of the OSCE for the undergraduate course in Dentistry and to report the students' perception about this method of evaluation, regarding the degree of difficulty, time for each stage, importance of each station, number of stations, organization of the exam, as well as the total time for the OSCE. Material and method This research was an observational and cross-sectional study, composed of the carry out of an OSCE and later application of an evaluative questionnaire to the students who were in the fourth semester of the Dentistry course. These students had basic knowledge and an intermediate level of competences, compatible with their stage of education. Result As regards the number of stations, 43(97.7%) of the students responded that this was appropriate, OSCE process as a whole was very well organized (n=25; 56.8%), organized (n=17; 38.6%) or not very organized (n=1; 2.27%) and about the total time of the OSCE process, 29(65.9%) reported that it was appropriate; 10 (2.27%) said that it was short; 4 (9.09%), that it was long. Conclusion The student's perception was positive especially regarding to organization and the time attributed to each station. Furthermore, the students considered that the topics and questions applied in each station were relevant.

Resumo Introdução O OSCE é um método de avaliação de competências clínicas que tem obtido popularidade internacional na educação em Medicina e Odontologia. Objetivo O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever as etapas de desenvolvimento do OSCE para o curso de graduação em Odontologia e relatar a percepção dos estudantes sobre este método de avaliação, em relação ao grau de dificuldade, tempo para realização de cada etapa, importância de cada estação, número de estações, organização do exame, bem como o tempo total para a realização do OSCE. Material e método Esta pesquisa foi um estudo observacional e transversal, composto pela realização do OSCE e posterior aplicação de um questionário avaliativo aos alunos que cursavam o quarto semestre do curso de Odontologia. Esses alunos possuíam conhecimentos básicos em um nível intermediário de competências, compatíveis com sua etapa de ensino. Resultado No que diz respeito ao número de estações, 43 (97,7%) dos estudantes responderam que era apropriado, o processo da OSCE como um todo estava muito bem organizado (n = 25; 56,8%), organizado (n = 17; 38,6%) ou não muito organizado (n = 1; 2,27%) e sobre o tempo total do processo do OSCE, 29 (65,9%) relataram que era apropriado; 10 (2,27%) disseram que foi curto; 4 (9,09%), que foi longo. Conclusão A percepção do aluno foi positiva, especialmente em relação à organização e ao tempo atribuído a cada estação. Além disso, os alunos consideraram que os tópicos e questões aplicados em cada estação eram relevantes.

Laser acupuncture in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial.

A prospective, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial was conducted in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) to check the analgesic efficacy of infrared low-power GaAlAs diode laser applied to acupuncture points. Forty female subjects, ranging in age from 20 to 40 years, with diagnoses of chronic myofascial pain and arthralgia were randomly allocated to two groups: an experimental group (EG) who received the laser acupuncture as adjunct to reversible occlusal splint therapy and a control group (CG) who received a placebo laser associated with occlusal splint therapy. Both approaches were applied once a week for 3 months. Laser acupuncture was defined by the following parameters: 50-mW continuous radiation for 90 s to acupoints ST6, SI19, GB20, GB43, LI4, LR3, NT3, and EX-HN3; defining 4.5-J energy; 1250-W/cm(2) density point; and 112.5-J/cm(2) total density. The outcome measurements included a symptom evolution assessment carried out by checking spontaneous and palpation pain intensity, which was indicated on a visual analog scale (VAS). All evaluations were made by an assessor who was blind to the treatment. The symptom reduction was significant in both groups (EG: VAS = 0, n = 20; CG: VAS between 2 and 4, n = 18). The measurements showed significantly faster and lower pain intensity values in the EG (p ≤ 0.002), where there was a higher proportion of patients with remission of symptoms related to the action of laser acupuncture. For patients in whom conservative treatment was adopted, the laser acupuncture is a secure, noninvasive, and effective treatment modality because it improves the chronic pain associated with TMD and has no side effects.

Low-level laser therapy reduces delayed hypersensitivity reaction to ovalbumin in Balb/C mice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in an experimental model of delayed hypersensitivity reaction (DTH). LLLT has been used clinically to treat numerous diseases and has been tested in different experimental models, but some of its effects have yet to be explained. We assessed the effects of LLLT on DTH to ovalbumin (OVA), a protein that has commonly been used as an antigen to sensitize laboratory animals. This experimental model is broadly used to assess the effects of substances that can potentially modulate the immune system and inflammatory reactions. Balb/C mice were randomly divided into four groups: (I) immunized, untreated, and challenged (n = 6); (II) not immunized, untreated, and challenged (n = 6); (III) immunized, treated with azathioprine (AZA), and challenged (n = 6); and (IV) immunized, treated with LLLT, and challenged (n = 6). Forty-eight hours after the challenge, the animals were submitted to a paw edema test and euthanized for histopathology analysis of their plantar pads. The results obtained in DTH units were as follows: Group I, 19.6 ± 8.9; Group II, 5.8 ± 2.6; Group III, 5.6 ± 2.5; and Group IV, 5.2 ± 2.6. DTH was less intense for the groups treated with AZA and laser compared with Group I (p < 0.05). We observed no statistical difference between the AZA- and LLLT-treated groups. The slides obtained from the footpad specimens showed that AZA and laser acted similarly on the normal pattern of DTH triggering. Our results suggest that treatment with LLLT has an immunomodulatory effect on DTH to OVA.