Are technology-based health education methods able to reduce oral health inequalities between the sexes in adolescents? A cluster randomized trial.

PURPOSE: Determine if different technology-based health education interventions can reduce oral health inequalities between the sexes in a sample of adolescents. METHODS: A cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted in three phases with an initial sample of 291 male and female adolescents 14-19 years of age. Phase I (n = 288) comprised a clinical examination performed by a calibrated examiner using the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) and gingival bleeding index (GBI). Phase II involved two educational interventions: video (VD; n = 147) or oral counselling (OR; n = 141) with standardized content. In phase III, an App was made available to half of the clusters (OR + App; n = 66/OR without App; n = 71/VD + App; n = 63/VD without App; n = 63), and the clinical examination was performed a second time. Data were evaluated using descriptive analysis and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: In phase I, boys had a lower standard of oral hygiene compared with girls, with higher mean OHI-S (p = 0.039) and GBI (p = 0.015). After VD and OR interventions, no significant difference between sexes was found regarding the mean OHI-S. However, males had a higher mean GBI compared with females in the OR group (p = 0.006). When the App was added to OR and VD groups, males in the 'OR without App' group had a higher mean GBI compared with females (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: This clinical trial demonstrated that educational interventions involving information technologies were effective at reducing oral health inequalities between the sexes among adolescents. However, oral counselling alone was not efficient in reducing GBI in male adolescents.

Epithelial-mesenchymal markers and their correlation with clinical aspects in odontogenic keratocysts / Marcadores epitélio-mesênquima e sua correlação com aspectos clínicos em lesões de ceratocisto odontogênico

ABSTRACT Objective: Odontogenic keratocysts have a high recurrence rate and aggressive clinical behavior. The event called epithelial-mesenchymal transition is a process in which the epithelial cell loses its epithelial characteristics and acquires properties typical of mesenchymal cells. Studies have already demonstrated that odontogenic keratocysts has expression of tumor markers, but the lack of clarification about its development mechanism and molecular composition makes the therapeutic options remain limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker proteins in these lesions, correlating the expression of these proteins with clinical aspects of each case. Methods: Patients with odontogenic keratocysts diagnoses, treated by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil in the period between 2016 and 2019 were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis, to assess the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers (Vimentin, beta-catenin and E-cadherin) by qualitative analysis. Results: Eighteen patients were included, with a mean age of 43 years, and most of them were male. The mandible was more affected than the maxilla. No association between the clinical characteristics of the cysts and the immunohistochemical profile for epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins was observed. Conclusion: The positivity of E-cadherin and negativity of vimentin demonstrates that its function is preserved. Loss of function of E-cadherin is associated with worse prognosis. The identification of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process as a prognostic marker for odontogenic cysts and tumors could be an important tool for defining treatment.

RESUMO Objetivo: O ceratocisto odontogênico têm uma alta taxa de recorrência e comportamento clínico agressivo. O evento chamado transição epitelial-mesênquima (TEM) é um processo no qual a célula epitelial perde suas características epiteliais e adquire propriedades típicas das células mesenquimais. Estudos já demonstraram que o ceratocisto odontogênico tem expressão de marcadores tumorais, mas a falta de esclarecimento sobre seu mecanismo de desenvolvimento e composição molecular faz com que as opções terapêuticas permaneçam limitadas. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a expressão das proteínas marcadoras de transição epitelial-mesênquima nestas lesões, correlacionando a expressão destas proteínas com os aspectos clínicos de cada caso. Métodos: Os pacientes com diagnóstico de ceratocisto odontogênico, tratados pelo Serviço de Cirurgia Bucomaxilofacial do Hospital Erasto Gaertner, Curitiba, Brasil, no período entre 2016 e 2019, foram avaliados por análise imunohistoquímica, para avaliar a expressão dos marcadores transição epitelial-mesênquima (Vimentina, beta-catenina e E-cadherina). Resultados: Foram incluídos 18 pacientes, com idade média de 43 anos, e a maioria deles eram do sexo masculino. A mandíbula foi mais afetada do que a maxila. Não foi observada associação entre as características clínicas dos cistos e o perfil imuno-histoquímico das proteínas transição epitelial-mesênquima. Conclusão: A positividade da E-caderina e a negatividade da vimentina demonstram que a sua função está preservada. A perda da função da E-caderina está associada a um pior prognóstico. Identificar o processo da transição epitelial-mesênquima como um marcador de prognóstico para cistos e tumores odontogênicos pode ser uma ferramenta importante para definir o tratamento dessas lesões.

Association Between Periodontal Health Knowledge and Oral Hygiene in Brazilian Adolescents

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the influence of oral health knowledge in adolescents' oral hygiene pattern. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 291 participants aged between 14 and 19 years old enrolled in a public school in Curitiba, Brazil. A self-administered questionnaire containing five affirmations about periodontal diseases and their forms of prevention was arranged on a three-point Likert scale. Correct answers were given a weight=1 and incorrect ones, weight=0. The knowledge score (KS) was determined by the sum. Socioeconomic and demographic data were obtained by a questionnaire sent to those responsible. The oral hygiene pattern was evaluated through the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) by a calibrated researcher (K=0.89). Mann-Whitney U test and univariate and multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance were used for data analysis (α=0.05). Results: There was an inversely proportional association between KS and OHI-S (p=0.018). The multiple model showed that adolescents with a lower KS (PR = 0.93, CI95%: 0.88-0.99), male gender (PR = 1.17, CI95%: 1.01-1.37) and whose caregivers presented a lower level of education (PR=1.30, CI95%: 1.03-1.64) showed a higher index of dental plaque. Conclusion: The level of oral health knowledge, the gender and the caregivers' level of education influences the adolescents' oral hygiene pattern.

Odontogenic abscess with severe and fast evolution in a young and healthy patient

Deep cervical abscesses are infections of the different spaces on the the neck that may have a mild or severe outcome and requires fast and assertive approach. The most usual cases of severe infections are associates with comorbidities and older patients, but sometimes, in rare cases, it may affect the younger and healthier. Aim: The purpose of this is to communicate shortly a case of a severe cervical abscess with fast evolution in a 28 years old patient, to highlight the possibility of this outcome even in unexpected cases