Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on periodontal practice: A questionnaire survey.

AIM: This cross-sectional study sought to investigate the factors possibly related to the impact caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the practice of periodontists, in two countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 254 periodontists with active periodontics licensing in Brazil and the United States participated in the survey. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and the dependent variable was the perceived impact of the pandemic on periodontists' practice routines. Odds ratios were assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Periodontists in private practice were 83% less likely to report a significant impact of the pandemic on their clinical routine as compared with professionals who work in the public sector or in academic institutions (CI 95%: 0.05-0.47). The financial impact of the pandemic was significantly associated with a perceived severe impact of the pandemic on their routines (OR: 1.36; CI 95%: 1.16-1.61). Professionals who have enhanced their hand-washing routine were more likely to report a significant impact of the pandemic by 3.41 times (CI 95%: 1.28-9.04) relative to those who have not altered their hand-washing protocols. CONCLUSION: The pandemic is associated with a negative impact on the practice of periodontists, especially those working in public sectors and academic institutions.

Prevalence of Orofacial Changes in Wind Instrumentalists: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence of orofacial changes and factors associated with the frequent playing of wind instruments by musicians in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 40 professional musicians who played wind instruments. The musicians filled out questionnaires about their habits and musical career. The Research Diagnostic Criteria were applied to investigate temporomandibular disorders. Other oral parameters examined included periodontal status, plaque index, and decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMF) index. A significance level of p<0.05 was adopted for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The population included 22 (55%) men and 18 (45%) women, with a mean age of 25.88 yrs. The most common instruments played were the saxophone (n=12, 30%), clarinet (n=9, 22.5%), and flute (n=6, 15%). The most frequent pain complaint after playing was numbness in the upper lip or no sensation (25% of musicians), and the most frequent dental change observed was inclination of the upper teeth (15% of musicians). There was no significant association between dental changes, pain, and classification of instrument type. CONCLUSION: The main oral change that affected musicians who played wind instruments was the inclination of anterior teeth.

Cyanoacrylate versus laser in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: a controlled, randomized, double-masked and non-inferiority clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a painful, exaggerated response to normal stimuli, such as cold, sweetness, and brushing. The aim of the present controlled, randomized, double-masked, non-inferiority clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of cyanoacrylate in the treatment of DH when compared to the application of low-intensity laser. METHODS: The study includes 434 sensitive teeth from 62 patients. A total of 216 teeth were treated with laser and 218 with cyanoacrylate. A numeric rating scale was used to record the parameters of pain related to the stimuli at baseline and after the treatment at intervals of 24 hours and 30, 90, and 180 days. RESULTS: Both groups had significant reductions in DH. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups ≤6 months. Intragroup analysis showed that the effect of cyanoacrylate obtained at 24 hours remained for 90 days in response to air-jet test and 30 days for cold-spray test. There was a statistically significant difference between all other intragroup comparisons at the time intervals (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that cyanoacrylate is as effective as low-intensity laser in reducing DH. In addition, it is a more accessible and low-cost procedure and can be safely used in the treatment of DH.