The enigma of sleep: Implications of sleep neuroscience for the dental clinician and patient.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances have been shown to result in considerable morbidity and mortality. It is important for dental clinicians to understand the neuroscience behind sleep disorders. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED: The authors conducted a search of the literature published from January 1990 through March 2024 of sleep medicine-related articles, with a focus on neuroscience. The authors prioritized articles about the science of sleep as related to dental medicine. RESULTS: The authors found a proliferation of articles related to sleep neuroscience along with its implications in dental medicine. The authors also found that the intricate neuroscientific principles of sleep medicine are being investigated robustly. The salient features of, and the differences between, central and obstructive sleep apneas have been elucidated. Sleep genes, such as CRY, PER1, PER2, and CLOCK, and their relationship to cancer and neurodegeneration are also additions to this rapidly developing science. CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The dental clinician has the potential to be the first to screen patients for possible sleep disorders and make prompt referrals to the appropriate medical professionals. This can be lifesaving as well as minimize potential future morbidity for the patient.

Needlestick injuries in dentistry: Time to revisit.

BACKGROUND: Blood-borne pathogens (BBPs) are infectious microorganisms that are found in human blood and can cause diseases in humans. Health care workers such as physicians, surgeons, nurses, dentists, dental students, dental assistants, laboratory technicians, personnel handling infectious waste, and other health care employees are at increased risk of exposure to these pathogens. Percutaneous injuries from needles or other sharp objects are the major sources of BBPs in the workplace. Needlestick injuries (NSIs) have the most potential to transmit and have the easiest mode of transmission of BBPs. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED: The authors searched electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, MEDLINE-Ovid) for studies and articles focused on the various aspects of NSIs, their possible causes, prevention, and management protocols. RESULTS: There is a lack of literature on the global prevalence of NSIs among dental practitioners and underreporting of NSIs by clinicians. The authors also found that dental students and inexperienced practitioners were the most vulnerable. They found apparent inconsistencies in guidelines and recommendations from various regulatory and statutory agencies in charge of limiting and managing NSIs. CONCLUSION: The most significant occupational risks for health care workers globally are NSIs. Dentists are recognized as one of the high-risk groups for exposure to NSIs. Although the reporting rate was noticeably low, the frequency of NSIs among dental students was alarmingly high. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Appropriate and succinct training of dental health care workers is crucial for prevention and management of NSIs. It is recommended that dentists familiarize themselves with recommendations from such agencies and organizations as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and American Dental Association.

Facial pain and trigeminal neuralgia secondary to metastasis: A case report.

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW: Trigeminal neuralgia due to a metastatic lesion is a relatively rare occurrence. These cases pose a diagnostic challenge for the clinician due to a complex clinical presentation. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors describe the case of a 65-year-old woman with left-sided facial pain and occasional numbness. The patient also reported autonomic features associated with facial pain, facial muscular weakness, and hearing and visual impairment. The patient's history of breast cancer, for which she was receiving treatment for bone metastasis, warranted diagnostic imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging with and without contrast was performed and revealed a possible metastatic lesion. CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Unusual clinical features must be identified, and prompt appropriate imaging is instrumental in making at an accurate diagnosis and management plan.