Assessing the occurrence and severity of pre- and postendodontic pain in anemic and healthy female patients.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this current survey was to assess both the occurrence and severity of pre- and post-endodontic pain among female individuals, distinguishing between those with anemia and those without. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current study, we included a total of 60 women with anemia (hemoglobin < 11) and those without anemia (hemoglobin > 13). We recorded the occurrence and severity of pain before and at 24, 48, and 72 h following root canal treatment using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10. Additionally, we collected data on patient age, tooth type, as well as pulpal and periapical conditions. Statistical analysis was carried out using two-way ANOVA, pairedt-tests, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The significance level for statistical tests was set at p ≤ .05. RESULTS: The incidence of preoperative pain in both anemic and non-anemic patients was 80%. The total incidence of post-operative pain was recorded as 71.7% (82.2% in anemic and 61.1% in non-anemic women). Compared with the pretreatment pain incidence and intensity, the values increased in 24 h but declined in 48 h and 72 h after treatment. Considering the posttreatment pain intensity, the mean values were higher in the three time intervals (24, 48, and 72 h) in anemic patients. Pulpal and periapical status, in contrast to age and tooth type, significantly contributed to the intensity of posttreatment pain. CONCLUSION: Regarding the importance of pain phenomenon in human life, it is recommended to consider anemia as an important risk factor for post-endodontic pain. Early diagnosis and analgesic treatment interventions in anemic females, alongside the pain control during root canal treatment, could promote the patient's satisfaction and quality of care.

Comparing the Frequency of Some Oral Lesions in Prediabetic and Healthy Individuals: Is There Any Difference?

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of prediabetic stage is very important for prevention of diabetes and complications. This stage may be associated with some oral lesions. Only a few studies are available on the oral status of prediabetic patients and incidence of oral lesions in this population. This study aimed to compare some oral complications between prediabetic and healthy control groups. METHODS: The present two-group cross-sectional study was carried out on 302 prediabetic and non-diabetic (healthy) 20- to 60-year-old subjects. In this study, data on age, gender, educational level, medications use, smoking, and some other variables were extracted through history taking. In addition, orodental examination was carried out by an oral medicine specialist to diagnose oral lesions including candidiasis, lichen planus, periodontitis, gingivitis, xerostomia, delayed wound healing, geographic tongue, fissured tongue, and burning mouth sensation. Data entry and analysis was performed by SPSS version 22 software, and P value and odds ratio (OR) were calculated to show statistical relationship between variables. RESULTS: The most common oral lesion in prediabetic subjects was periodontitis (27.2%), followed by gingivitis (14.7%) and xerostomia (11.3%). In the control group, gingivitis (20.5%) followed by periodontitis (11.3%) are common oral lesions. Candidiasis (P = 0.036), periodontitis (P < 0.001), and xerostomia (P < 0.001) in prediabetic subjects were higher than control group that is statistically significant. Regression analysis showed that in the prediabetic group, periodontitis [OR = 2.91, confidence interval (CI): 1.54-5.49] and xerostomia (OR = 18.51, CI = 2.42-141.45) were significantly more prevalent than healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, glucose intolerance stage exhibited a significantly higher oral problems such as periodontitis and xerostomia than healthy euglycemic stage.

Oral Complications of The Oromaxillofacial Area Radiotherapy

Background: The incidence of malignancies is on the rise in different communities, making them the second most important cause of mortality in developed countries. One of the treatment modalities for these malignancies, apart from surgery and chemotherapy, is radiotherapy which might in itself lead to some complications in the area receiving radiation. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of oral complications in patients undergoing radiotherapy of the oromaxillofacial area in Shahid Ramazanzadeh Radiotherapy Center in Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive/analytical study was carried out from 2014 to 2015 on 144 patients with head and neck malignancies, referring to Shahid Ramazanzadeh Radiotherapy Center, Yazd, Iran. The patients underwent intraoral examinations before radiotherapy, during the second week after radiotherapy and at the end of radiotherapy. The patients' background data and the presence of oral complications were recorded in special forms. Data were analyzed with SPSS 17, using chi-squared test. Results: Of 144 patients evaluated, 51 were male and 93 were female. During the final examination, all the subjects (100%) had mucositis, xerostomia and candidiasis, with 85.4% of the subjects (123 patients) suffering from gustatory disturbances. Although only 38.1% of the subjects had oral ulcers at the end of the second week, all of them (100%) exhibited such lesions in the final examination. The prevalence rate of tooth hypersensitivity at this stage was 22.9%. During the second examination, 117 subjects (83.3%) exhibited grade I trismus, 42 of which exhibited deterioration toward grade II during the final examination. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed a high rate of oral complications in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. Mucositis, xerostomia and candidiasis were the most prevalent complications.