RESUMO
Objectives: Teledentistry could be effective in managing oral health through the provision of oral hygiene instruction and diagnostic services. This study aimed to assess the perception and usefulness of teledentistry in Japanese long-term care facilities. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey to compare related factors of the usefulness of teledentistry and identify issues in its implementation. We chose 1000 facilities using a stratified random sampling method. The questionnaires were sent to the facilities in August 2021 and collected in December of the same year. Responses to the questionnaire items regarding the usefulness of teledentistry for oral management were divided into three groups according to the answer: perceiving teledentistry as "useful," "not useful," or "neither," including facilities that do not currently use teledentistry. Results: In total, 26.1% (261) responded to the questionnaire, and among these, 184 facilities answered the question regarding the usefulness of teledentistry. Only two of these facilities implemented teledentistry. Facilities with dental hygienists (p = 0.040) and those that receive insured medical treatment: reimbursement for oral feeding maintenance II (p = 0.040) tended to perceive teledentistry as useful in the management of patients with coronavirus disease. The higher the number of services that responded to the question "what kind of services do you think can be provided via teledentistry?" the higher the percentage of "useful" responses. Conclusions: Although only a few facilities use teledentistry, many long-term care facilities perceive it as useful even without using it. The presence of dental hygienists and interprofessional work done with reimbursement for oral feeding maintenance II contributed to the perception of the usefulness of teledentistry in long-term care facilities.
RESUMO
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between postoperative reconstructed tongue flap volume (RTFV) and body mass index (BMI) and identify factors affecting the flap volume in patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Thirty-two patients were evaluated for RTFV from computed tomography images and BMI. The first and second evaluations were done at 6 months and 1.5 years after surgery respectively. RTFV rate changes and BMI differences from the first and second evaluations were calculated. The correlation between RTFV rate change and BMI difference was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Multiple regression analysis evaluated the relationship between the flap volume rate change and age, sex, flap type, and BMI difference to identify influencing factors. Results: The flap volume rate change and BMI difference correlated significantly (r = .594, p < .05). BMI difference and flap type were independent factors that affected reconstructed flap volume rate change in multiple regression analysis (p < .05). Conclusion: The flap volume of patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma correlates with the BMI change in the chronic phase. Patients after tongue reconstruction need to be well nourished to maintain BMI and thus postoperative tongue volume to maintain the quality of life. Level of Evidence: Level 3.
RESUMO
Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) is a genetic prion disease. Swallowing function evaluation in patients with GSS remains unclear. Here, we describe a case of videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF) to facilitate continued oral ingestion in a patient with P105L GSS. A 67-year-old woman developed gait disturbance and Parkinsonism symptoms at the age of 54 years. Since her family wanted her to continue oral ingestion, we performed VF, which revealed impairment and preservation of the oral and pharyngeal phases, respectively. Moreover, the impairment of the oral phase was improved by adjusting the patient's posture and food consistency. A swallowing function evaluation based on the condition of a patient with GSS may facilitate continued oral ingestion.