Oral cancer: clinical features.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a well-known malignancy that accounts for more than 90% of all oral cancers. In this article we will perform a brief review of its clinical characteristics and the differential diagnosis. Regarding symptoms, pain is the most frequent presentation and the tongue and the floor of the mouth have the highest occurrence. OSCC in its initial stages shows an erytholeukoplastic area without symptoms but in advanced stages there are ulcers and lumps with irregular margins which are rigid to touch. The different diagnosis should be established with other oral malignant diseases such as lymphomas, sarcomas and metastasis, which have rapid growth rates as opposed to the typical OSCC.

Sjögren’s syndrome of the oral cavity. Review and update

Sjögren ́s syndrome is one of the most frequent autoimmune diseases. It is a chronic and systemic disorder pre- dominantly found in women, and is characterized by the appearance of a lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate, with dryness of the oral cavity and eyes, secondary to involvement of the salivary and lacrimal glands. The under- lying causal mechanism involves a number of factors and has not been clearly established, though an autoimmune response is known to be triggered, with the accumulation of immune complexes in the gland acini that interfere with gland function. In the oral cavity, xerostomia or hyposialia is the most disabling manifestation for patients, and is accompanied by rapidly progressing caries, candidiasis and an important worsening of buccodental health. The most important complication is a 44-fold increase in the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, com- pared with the general population. The treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome is limited to symptomatic management, and involves the use of solutions to replace salivary secretion and afford a measure of hydration, cholinergic agents such as pilocarpine to stimulate the unaffected gland tissue and, recently, the administration of substances that act against surface antigens of the B lymphocytes, such as anti-CD20 and anti-CD22 antibodies. The present study provides an update on this disease, placing special emphasis on its odontologic implications (AU)

Sjögren's syndrome of the oral cavity. Review and update.

Sjögren's syndrome is one of the most frequent autoimmune diseases. It is a chronic and systemic disorder predominantly found in women, and is characterized by the appearance of a lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate, with dryness of the oral cavity and eyes, secondary to involvement of the salivary and lacrimal glands. The underlying causal mechanism involves a number of factors and has not been clearly established, though an autoimmune response is known to be triggered, with the accumulation of immune complexes in the gland acini that interfere with gland function. In the oral cavity, xerostomia or hyposialia is the most disabling manifestation for patients, and is accompanied by rapidly progressing caries, candidiasis and an important worsening of buccodental health. The most important complication is a 44-fold increase in the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, compared with the general population. The treatment of Sjögren's syndrome is limited to symptomatic management, and involves the use of solutions to replace salivary secretion and afford a measure of hydration, cholinergic agents such as pilocarpine to stimulate the unaffected gland tissue and, recently, the administration of substances that act against surface antigens of the B lymphocytes, such as anti-CD20 and anti-CD22 antibodies. The present study provides an update on this disease, placing special emphasis on its odontologic implications.

Lichen sclerosus of the oral mucosa: a case report.

Lichen sclerosus or lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is a chronic inflammatory disease predominantly affecting the genital mucosa and skin. Clinically, it is characterized by white atrophic plaques in the anogenital region. The lesions are generally asymptomatic, but may cause discomfort with itching and pain. Extragenital mucosal involvement is very unusual, and lesions limited to the oral mucosa are even less frequent. Knowledge of such lesions is important in order to establish a differential diagnosis with other white oral lesions, and histological confirmation is required. We present the case of a 31-year-old woman with a well delimited, pearly white lesion located in the upper gingival mucosa, lip mucosa and adjacent skin. The lesion had led to loss of periodontal attachment of the affected tooth, causing pain in response to tooth brushing. The biopsy confirmed lichen sclerosus, and treatment was provided in the form of intralesional corticoid injections, followed by improvement of the mucosal lesion, though without recovery of the periodontal loss.

Lichen sclerosus of the oral mucosa: A case report

Lichen sclerosus or lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is a chronic inflammatory disease predominantly affecting the genital mucosa and skin. Clinically, it is characterized by white atrophic plaques in the anogenital region. The lesions are generally asymptomatic, but may cause discomfort with itching and pain. Extragenital mucosal involvement is very unusual, and lesions limited to the oral mucosa are even less frequent. Knowledge of such lesions is important in order to establish a differential diagnosis with other white oral lesions, and histological confirmation is required.We present the case of a 31-year-old woman with a well delimited, pearly white lesion located in the upper gingival mucosa, lip mucosa and adjacent skin. The lesion had led to loss of periodontal attachment of the affected tooth (2.3), causing pain in response to tooth brushing. The biopsy confirmed lichen sclerosus, and treatment was provided in the form of intralesional corticoid injections, followed by improvement of the mucosal lesion, though without recovery of the periodontal loss

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Cardiovascular diseases in dental practice. Practical considerations.

Coronary heart disease is the principal cause of death in the industrialized world. Its most serious expression, acute myocardial infarction, causes 7.2 million deaths each year worldwide, and it is estimated that 20% of all people will suffer heart failure in the course of their lifetime. The control of risk cardiovascular factors, including arterial hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus is the best way to prevent such diseases. The most frequent and serious cardiovascular emergencies that can manifest during dental treatment are chest pain (as a symptom of underlying disease) and acute lung edema. Due to the high prevalence and seriousness of these problems, the dental surgeon must be aware of them and should be able to act quickly and effectively in the case of an acute cardiovascular event. In patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, attention must center on the control of pain, the reduction of stress, and the use or avoidance of a vasoconstrictor in dental anesthesia. In turn, caution is required in relation to the antiplatelet, anticoagulant and antihypertensive medication typically used by such patients.

Pediatric dental care in a tertiary public hospital. Four years of experience in the Service of Stomatology of Valencia University General Hospital (Valencia, Spain).

UNLABELLED: A study is made of the experience gained with the Child Oral Care Program (Plan de Atención Dental Infantil, PADI) in the Service of Stomatology of Valencia University General Hospital (Valencia, Spain) after four years in operation (July 2003 - July 2007). STUDY DESIGN: The sample comprised 2626 children between 5-14 years of age, pertaining to department 9 of the Valencian public health system. A clinical history was compiled in each case, a radiological study was made, and a treatment plan was elaborated including fillings, extractions, and control visits. RESULTS: Of the 2626 designated children, 2369 visited our Service - mostly referred from the Preventive Dental Care Units. A total of 5784 fillings were carried out (93.3% with silver amalgam, 5.6% with composites and the rest as provisional fillings). The permanent first molars were the teeth with the largest number of fillings (70.2% of the total). These were followed in order of frequency by the second molars (19.1%). As regards composite resin fillings, most involved the upper central incisors, followed by the upper lateral incisors. A total of 644 extractions were performed, corresponding to 110 permanent teeth and 534 temporary teeth. In the case of the permanent dentition, the first molars were the most commonly removed teeth. In the temporary dentition, the most frequently removed teeth were the second molars. CONCLUSIONS: The response of the population to this program has been very good, and reinforces the preventive measures already in place, with the provision of restorative treatments to improve the oral and dental health of the pediatric population, and yielding good results in terms of the program quality indicators. The Service of Stomatology (Valencia University General Hospital) is able to address the demand and offers the public health network integrated and continuous patient care.

Cardiovascular diseases in dental practice. Practical considerations

Coronary heart disease is the principal cause of death in the industrialized world. Its most serious expression, acutemyocardial infarction, causes 7.2 million deaths each year worldwide, and it is estimated that 20% of all people will suffer heart failure in the course of their lifetime. The control of risk cardiovascular factors, including arterial hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus is the best way to prevent such diseases. The most frequent and serious cardiovascular emergencies that can manifest during dental treatment are chest pain (as a symptom of underlying disease) and acute lung edema. Due to the high prevalence and seriousness of these problems, the dental surgeon must be aware of them and should be able to act quickly and effectively in the case of an acute cardiovascular event. In patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, attention must center on the control of pain, the reduction of stress, and the use or avoidance of a vasoconstrictor in dental anesthesia. In turn, caution is required in relation to the antiplatelet, anticoagulant and antihypertensive medication typically used by such patients (AU)

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Pediatric dental care in a tertiary public hospital. Four years of experience in the Service of Stomatology of Valencia University General Hospital (Valencia, Spain)

A study is made of the experience gained with the Child Oral Care Program (Plan de Atención Dental Infantil,PADI) in the Service of Stomatology of Valencia University General Hospital (Valencia, Spain) after four years in operation (July 2003 - July 2007).Study design: The sample comprised 2626 children between 5-14 years of age, pertaining to department 9 of theValencian public health system. A clinical history was compiled in each case, a radiological study was made, and a treatment plan was elaborated including fillings, extractions, and control visits.Results: Of the 2626 designated children, 2369 visited our Service - mostly referred from the Preventive Dental Care Units. A total of 5784 fillings were carried out (93.3% with silver amalgam, 5.6% with composites and the rest as provisional fillings). The permanent first molars were the teeth with the largest number of fillings (70.2% of the total). These were followed in order of frequency by the second molars (19.1%). As regards composite resin fillings, most involved the upper central incisors, followed by the upper lateral incisors. A total of 644 extractions were performed, corresponding to 110 permanent teeth and 534 temporary teeth. In the case of the permanent dentition, the first molars were the most commonly removed teeth. In the temporary dentition, the most frequently removed teeth were the second molars.Conclusions: The response of the population to this program has been very good, and reinforces the preventivemeasures already in place, with the provision of restorative treatments to improve the oral and dental health of the pediatric population, and yielding good results in terms of the program quality indicators. The Service of Stomatology (Valencia University General Hospital) is able to address the demand and offers the public health network integrated and continuous patient care (AU)

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An update on the management of anticoagulated patients programmed for dental extractions and surgery.

Oral anticoagulants (OACs) antagonizing vitamin K - fundamentally sodium warfarin and acenocoumarol - are widely used for preventing arterial thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation and/or heart valve prostheses, and for the treatment and prevention of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The handling of these drugs requires correct monitorization and dose adjustment to obtain the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing the adverse effects associated both with excessive anticoagulation (which leads to bleeding) and with insufficient antithrombotic action (which can produce thrombosis). This is particularly important when patients must be subjected to surgical procedures such as tooth extractions. In this context, a number of management recommendations are available. The present study offers an update on the recommendations for the management of anticoagulated patients programmed for tooth extractions. In recent years, most studies do not recommend reducing or interrupting anticoagulation, or replacing it with heparin, prior to tooth extraction - provided therapeutic international normalized ration (INR) levels are maintained, with emphasis on the application of local measures such as antifibrinolytic agents, for the control of hemostasia.

A review of temporomandibular joint disease (TMJD). Part II: Clinical and radiological semiology. Morbidity processes

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The clinical signs and symptoms of greatest semiologic value in temporomandibular joint disease (TMJD) are muscle pain, joint pain, limitations in mandibular movement, and joint sounds. Imaging studies of the joint are very useful for establishing the diagnosis and for discarding other disease processes, though in many cases diagnostic error results from the detection of a large proportion of patients with alterations in the imaging studies but with no associated clinical manifestations. Panoramic X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging are the most commonly used complementary techniques for diagnosing TMJD. MRI may be regarded as the imaging technique of choice, particularly when studying the soft tissues. Biochemical evaluation of the joint synovial fluid has improved our understanding of TMJD pathogenesis, though to date such parameters have not been extended to clinical practice.Myofascial pain with positive painful palpation of the masticatory muscles; joint disc displacements with reduction characterized by the presence of opening or opening and closing clicks; disc displacements without reduction characterized by limitations in oral aperture; and osteoarthritis / osteoarthrosis characterized by the auscultation of friction sounds during mandibular movement, are the morbidity processes most often seen in the context of TMJD. The present study offers a review of the semiology and morbidity processes of the temporomandibular joint

A review of temporomandibular joint disease (TMJD). Part II: Clinical and radiological semiology. Morbidity processes.

The clinical signs and symptoms of greatest semiologic value in temporomandibular joint disease (TMJD) are muscle pain, joint pain, limitations in mandibular movement, and joint sounds. Imaging studies of the joint are very useful for establishing the diagnosis and for discarding other disease processes, though in many cases diagnostic error results from the detection of a large proportion of patients with alterations in the imaging studies but with no associated clinical manifestations. Panoramic X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging are the most commonly used complementary techniques for diagnosing TMJD. MRI may be regarded as the imaging technique of choice, particularly when studying the soft tissues. Biochemical evaluation of the joint synovial fluid has improved our understanding of TMJD pathogenesis, though to date such parameters have not been extended to clinical practice. Myofascial pain with positive painful palpation of the masticatory muscles; joint disc displacements with reduction characterized by the presence of opening or opening and closing clicks; disc displacements without reduction characterized by limitations in oral aperture; and osteoarthritis / osteoarthrosis characterized by the auscultation of friction sounds during mandibular movement, are the morbidity processes most often seen in the context of TMJD. The present study offers a review of the semiology and morbidity processes of the temporomandibular joint.