Oral ulcer in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report.

Background: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the end of 2019 caused the global pandemic. Oral and dermatological manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) such as xerostomia, aphthous-like lesions, ulcers, tongue depapillation, necrotizing gingivitis, and taste disorders, including the loss of taste and salivary gland infections are being reported. This study aims to describe a case of oral ulcers following COVID-19 infection. Case Description: We present the case of a 95-year-old male patient hospitalized in follow-up care and rehabilitation unit, of Minimes Geriatric Clinic, Toulouse, France. He had an alteration in his general health in the context of COVID-19 infection detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Six days after the admission, the patient complained of a strong burning sensation of the mouth, especially on the tongue and the lips' mucosa. Intraoral examination revealed painful erosive areas on the lateral edges of the tongue and the mucous side of the lower lip. The proposed treatment to reduce the burning sensation was based on general analgesics (morphine sulfate), mouthwash with sodium bicarbonate, the application of a lidocaine-based oral anesthetic and healing gel and a comfort-oriented diet. Thirteen days later, the patient reported a gradual improvement. Conclusions: A diverse range of oral manifestations has been observed in patients with a history of COVID-19 infection. These oral ulcers significantly impact the quality of life of the individual, causing intense pain, stress, and difficulties in eating, with repercussions on nutritional status, especially in older individuals. Our case underscores the importance of oral examinations and the role of dentists in the management of patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Dental assessment prior to orthopedic surgery: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: To reduce the risk of infection after orthopedic surgery, patients are asked to undergo preoperative assessments in various medical domains. However, to our knowledge, there has been no systematic review to evaluate the performance of a preoperative dental assessment before orthopedic surgery. We focus on two questions as follows: (1) is there a link between the presence of preoperative dental assessment and orthopedic infections?; (2) is the probability of an orthopedic infection increased in the presence of dental risk factors and comorbidities? PATIENTS AND METHODS: Databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Library databases and Google Scholar were searched for English-language articles until November 2018. The inclusion criteria were descriptions of infections of joint prostheses and dental infections, and potential dental origins of pathogenic infections. Studies dealing with oral assessments performed before orthopedic surgery were included. RESULTS: Based on eligibility criteria, 12 case series, 4 case-control studies and 12 cohort studies were included. In case-controls, prosthesis infection was presumably associated with a dental abscess in 6/224 of cases (2.9%). In cohort studies, exposure was defined as "any dental assessment or dental treatment performed before surgery". Even if only 4 cohort studies provide this information exposure, it would seem that the presence of an infectious complication is less frequent if the preoperative examination has been performed. Dental treatment given before surgery was mainly for scaling-polishing in 78/205 (38%), extraction in 49/205 of cases (24%) and restorative work in 37/205 (18%). DISCUSSION: The literature review was made complex by the substantial heterogeneity among included studies. Although there is no formal evidence for or against preoperative dental assessment, it is advisable to perform this with the aim of maintaining favorable oral hygiene and thus reduce the risk factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, systematic review.

[Improvement of oral health at institutionalized patients. Choice and validation of an adapted oral hygiene kit in long-term care unit]. / Amélioration de la santé orale chez des patients institutionnalisés Choix et validation d'un kit d'hygiène bucco-dentaire adapté au sein d'une USLD (unité de soins de longue durée).

The initiatives to improve the quality are widely developed in the healthcare sector. So, an evaluation of the professional practices (EPP) concerning oral diseases in elderly was organized in the long term care unit of the teaching hospital of Toulouse. In the dynamic of this EPP, a pilot study consisted in estimating a new kit of oral hygiene. This hygiene kit was chosen according to defined criteria adapted to the elderly. The results show a clear improvement of the oral health measured with a specific index (Oral health assessment tool).