Development of Chlorhexidine Digluconate and Lippia sidoides Essential Oil Loaded in Microemulsion for Disinfection of Dental Root Canals: Substantivity Profile and Antimicrobial Activity.

The dental intracanal disinfection is crucial to achieve the success of endodontic treatment, avoiding the maintenance of endodontic infections. Chlorhexidine digluconate can act as an irrigating agent for it. However, it can cause tissue irritation in high concentrations. Therefore, combinations with other antimicrobial agents and more efficient therapeutic alternatives are studied, which make it possible to administer drugs more safely and with minimal adverse effects. Thus, the objective of this study was the development of a microemulsion containing chlorhexidine digluconate and essential oil of Lippia sidoides to be used for disinfection of dental root canals and to evaluate its profile of substantivity and antimicrobial activity. The microemulsions were obtained through phase diagrams, using the spontaneous formation method. We completed a physical-chemical characterization and evaluate the stability of the microemulsions, in addition to the substantivity profile in a bovine root dentin model, and in vitro antibacterial effect on Enterococcus faecalis. A method for quantifying chlorhexidine was developed using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The microemulsions showed acid pH, conductivity above 1.3 µScm-1, and dispersion index similar to water. The microemulsions showed antimicrobial inhibition halos similar to the commercial gel conventionally used, but with four times more substantivity to dentinal tissues. Microemulsions were obtained as a therapeutic alternative to formulations available on the market, presenting themselves as a system with great potential for the administration of drugs for disinfection of root canals.

Profile of Brazilian Dental Undergraduates who participated of Science Without Borders Program and their perceptions on sandwich course / Perfil dos estudantes de Odontologia brasileiros que participaram do Programa Ciência sem Fronteiras e suas percepções sobre a graduação

The Science without Borders (SwB) program was created in 2011 aiming to internationalizing education in Brazil and providing highly qualified training abroad. However, in 2015, it ended the offer of scholarships for undergraduates, which allowed several opportunities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of Dental undergraduate students who participated in the SwB program and their perceptions about this experience. This is an evaluative research developed with students who participated in SwB in the sandwich modality, in which the student continues being enrolled in his university of origin, while studying for period in another institution abroad. Semi structured questionnaire was developed using the GoogleDocs® digital platform, addressing the sociodemographic and academic profile of participants and aspects related to the organization and operation of the program. From 745 former SwB Dental students, 109 (14.6%) answered the questionnaire. Most of them were female (65.1%), from public institutions (89%), located in the Northeast (34.9%) and Southeast (26.6%), with proficiency in English (82.6%), and intention to become a researcher (51.4%). The fellows indicated that the program's objectives were partially fulfilled (59.63%). They considered themselves more qualified, professionally, due to the sandwich course offered by SwB. However, they pointed out several limitations: lack of organization of development institutions, use of disciplines and control and inspection mechanisms. It was possible to outline the profile of program participants, as well as to characterize the functioning of SwB for Dental students, according to their perceptions (AU).

O programa Ciência sem Fronteiras (CsF) foi criado em 2011 com o objetivo de internacionalizar a educação no Brasil e prover treinamento altamente qualificado no exterior. Entretanto, em 2015, encerrou a oferta de bolsas de estudo para alunos de graduação, que permitiam diversas oportunidades. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil de graduandos de Odontologia que participaram do programa CsF e suas percepções sobre essa experiência. Tratase de uma pesquisa avaliativa desenvolvida com estudantes que participaram do CsF na modalidade sanduíche, em que o estudante continua matriculado em sua universidade de origem enquanto estuda por período em outra instituição no exterior. Um questionário semiestruturado foi desenvolvido utilizando a plataforma digital GoogleDocs®, abordando o perfil sociodemográfico e acadêmico dos participantes e aspectos relacionados à organização e ao funcionamento do programa. Dos 745 estudantes de Odontologia participantes do CsF, 109 (14,6%) responderam ao questionário. A maioria era do sexo feminino (65,1%), oriundos de instituições públicas (89%), localizadas no Nordeste (34,9%) e Sudeste (26,6%), com proficiência em inglês (82,6%) e intenção de se tornar pesquisador (51,4%). Os bolsistas indicaram que os objetivos do programa foram parcialmente cumpridos (59,63%). Consideraram-se mais qualificados, profissionalmente, devido à graduação sanduíche oferecida pelo CsF. No entanto, apontaram várias limitações: a falta de organização das instituições de fomento, de aproveitamento de disciplinas e de mecanismos de controle e inspeção. Foi possível traçar o perfil dos participantes do programa, bem como caracterizar o funcionamento do CsF para os estudantes de Odontologia, de acordo com suas percepções (AU).