Dental decision-making for persons with dementia: A systematic narrative review.

Dental decision-making represents the establishment of a common understanding between the dental professional and the recipient of the intervention, which determines oral healthcare and dental treatment policies. Dental decision-making for persons with dementia can be challenging, and there have been no systematic reviews on this topic. Therefore, this systematic narrative review aimed to identify the current state of dental decision-making in persons with dementia. Literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Google Scholar databases. Through the process of research selection, 7 articles with a high risk of bias were included in this study. This review clarified that there is limited information on the dental decision-making processes for persons with dementia. In conclusion, although this may be difficult due to different medical and socioeconomic conditions, the dilemma between the need to establish evidence for dental decision-making and medical ethics that prioritize a patient-centered position should be discussed globally in the future.

A preliminary study on the assessment of pain using figures among patients administered with dental local anesthesia for mandibular third molar extraction.

The aim of this study was to clarify or determine any possible association between pain reports with a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a figures based scale. This research was a preliminary study aimed at developing a new pain scale without any verbal description. Healthy Japanese patients aged 20 to 39 years who received anesthetic injections for mandibular third molar extraction at our department were enrolled. Regarding pain from dental local anesthetic injections, we recorded figures selected by participants (among options of a circle, triangle, square, bar, and cross), and VAS scores. Overall, 29 men and 31 women participated in the study. Pain caused by local dental anesthesia tended to remind both men and women of the triangle among the suggested figures. Furthermore, patients who chose a cross also reported higher VAS scores than those who chose other figures. Acute pain caused by local dental anesthesia was associated with triangles, and patients who selected a cross were associated with higher VAS scores. The results of this study provide clinicians with important information for dental practice, and could prove useful in developing new pain scales.

A case report of hydrocephalus due to diffuse villous hyperplasia of the choroid plexus: surgical treatment by combination a flexible videoscope with a rigid endoscope.

PURPOSE: Diffuse villous hyperplasia of the choroid plexus (DVHCP) and choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) are rare benign tumors usually diagnosed as a result of progressive hydrocephalus, especially in childhood. We present the case of a Japanese boy diagnosed with progressive hydrocephalus due to DVHCP. METHODS: Case: A 2-year and 3-month-old Japanese boy was found to have delayed motor development (equivalent to 1 year and 2 months old), an enlarged head circumference of 51 cm within + 1.5 standard deviation (S.D.), and incomplete closure of the anterior fontanel. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lobular enlargement of the bilateral choroid plexuses extending from the trigone to the body and inferior horn of the lateral ventricle. The endoscopic choroid plexus coagulation surgery was performed to reduce the CSF formation rate. RESULTS: DVHCP was diagnosed both pathologically and clinically. Postoperatively, the patient progressed without complications, such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Although ventricular enlargement persisted, the anterior fontanel recessed, and the expansion of the head circumference stopped. CONCLUSION: Few cases of bilateral DVHCP and CPP have been reported in the literature. We encountered a case in which effective choroid plexus coagulation was performed for hydrocephalus due to DVHCP using less invasive endoscopic technique. It also represented an association between DVHCP and the gain of chromosome 9p.

Evidence-Based Policy Making during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this systematic review was to collect evidence and recommendations for the applicability of the concept of evidence-based policy making (EBPM) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to discuss the implementation of this concept from a medical science perspective. METHODS: This study was performed according to the guidelines, checklist, and flow diagram of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020. An electronic literature search was conducted on September 20, 2022 using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases with the following search terms: "evidence based policy making" and "infectious disease." Study eligibility assessment was performed based on the flow diagram of PRISMA 2020, and risk of bias assessment was performed using The Critical Appraisal Skills Program. RESULTS: Eleven eligible articles were included in this review and divided into three groups as follows: early, middle, and late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Basics of COVID-19 control were suggested in the early stage. The articles published in the middle stage discussed the importance of the collection and analysis of evidence of COVID-19 from around the world for the establishment of EBPM in the COVID-19 pandemic. The articles published in the late stage discussed the collection of large amounts of high-quality data and the development of methods to analyze them, as well as emerging issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the concept of EBPM applicable to emerging infectious disease pandemics changed between the early, middle, and late stages of the pandemic. The concept of EBPM will play an important role in medicine in the future.

Impact of natural disaster on oral health: A scoping review.

Natural disasters may affect oral health as a result of serious damage to social function and public health. However, no article has systematically summarized the impact of natural disasters on oral health. This review aimed to map the existing literature on the impact of natural disasters on oral health. Targeted literature was searched using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases with the keywords "disaster" and "oral health." Eligibility criteria were established based on the Participant-Concept-Context model, and eligible studies were identified based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 flow diagram. Eight eligible studies related to earthquakes were included in this review. Of these, 7 studies were related to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Oral health status of victims of disaster was analyzed by assessing the following parameters: questionnaire surveys; examination for fungal infection; and analyses of the teeth, periodontal, and oral hygiene condition. Six studies suggested that natural disasters had a negative impact on oral health. Two studies could not determine the impact of natural disasters on oral health. Only 1 study analyzed the impact of disasters on oral health based on pre- and postdisaster surveys. This scoping review found that there was insufficient evidence to suggest a relationship between natural disasters and oral health and that there are biases in geographical areas and types of natural disasters in this research field. Further research is needed to promote evidence-based support by dental professionals during different disaster phases.

Impact of oral health management on mental health and psychological disease: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between oral and mental health has been controversial. Few studies have assessed the direct effects of oral health management on mental health and psychological disease. Using evidence from the last 5 years, this scoping review aimed to map and discuss recent progress in understanding this relationship. METHODS: Electronic literature searches were performed using PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases. An additional manual search was performed using Google Scholar databases. Studies were selected using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 flow diagram. RESULTS: An eligibility review process identified three randomized controlled trials for inclusion in this review. The oral health interventions and participants' target age, mental health status, and psychological diseases varied across these studies. The only study that reported an improvement included psychosocial support integrated with educational components of oral health as the intervention. The remaining two studies detected no significant impact of oral health interventions on mental health and psychological disease. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of the impact of oral health management on mental health and psychological disease is insufficient in studies published between 2017 and 2021.

Droplets Adhesion to Surgical Masks during Standard Oral Surgery.

The most common routes of transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 are droplet and contact infections. During dental treatment, several instruments and procedures used generate droplets of saliva and blood, such as during the extraction of an impacted third molar (M3). Surgical masks are often used during tooth extraction. However, the surface structures of surgical masks against droplets are not fully understood. Therefore, we analyzed the droplets that adhered to the surgical masks during impacted M3 extraction using electron microscopy. The surgical mask was divided into three layers and observed using electron microscopy. The outer and inner layers had a similar mesh-like structure, whereas the middle layer had a denser three-dimensional structure. Droplets ranging from 20-100 µm in size, generated during the extraction, adhered to the fibers of the outer layer of the mask. Fewer droplets adhered to the middle layer than to the outer layer. Droplets did not reach the inner layer. In conclusion, we suggest that a surgical mask can prevent droplet infection when performing impacted M3 extraction. This study is expected to contribute to the study of infection control strategies during dental treatments in the future.

How should clinicians assess acute dental pain?: A review.

Pain is the most common complaint in the dental field and may have a significant impact on the patients' quality of life. However, objective pain assessment is sometimes difficult, and medical and dental clinicians may encounter cases of pain in the head and neck region, making it difficult to establish differential diagnoses. This study aimed to review acute pain in clinical dentistry at each phase of dental procedures and discuss the current status and issues in the development of acute dental pain assessment methods in the future. Acute pain in clinical dentistry may differ in nature and modifying conditions of pain at each stage: before dental procedures, while visiting dentists, and during and after dental procedures. They are related to actual or potential tissue damage, and may be modified and aided by personal experiences, including psychological and social factors. With respect to the aging and multinational population and pandemic of infectious diseases, significant breakthroughs in the development of new pain scales without verbal descriptions are desirable. Furthermore, it is expected that a new pain scale that can be applied to acute pain in the head and neck regions, including the oral cavity, will be developed.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oral health and nutritional status of Japanese older adults who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty: A 3-year single-institution retrospective cohort study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected the physical and mental health, socioeconomic status, and community behavior of people worldwide. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oral health and nutritional status of Japanese older adults based on the results of preoperative assessment in patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia. This study included older adults (≧65 years) who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty in whom orthopantomography was performed for preoperative oral health assessment, during January 2019 to December 2021. Gender, age, number of family members living together, number of teeth, body mass index, and serum total protein and serum albumin levels were collected for analysis of this study. A total of 201 patients aged 65 to 89 years participated in the study. While the COVID-19 pandemic has had no impact on the oral health status, there has been a drop in serum albumin level from the results of multivariable-adjusted regression analysis considering age, gender, number of family members, and time. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the serum albumin level of Japanese orthopedic patients aged 65 years or older.

Can malocclusion provide clinicians with information for differential diagnosis of temporomandibular joint diseases?: A review.

The aim of this literature review was to summarize the clinical characteristics and symptoms of temporomandibular joint diseases, and to discuss the associations between temporomandibular joint diseases and categorization of malocclusion. Electronic literature searches were performed using the PubMed database. The authors established a differential diagnostic method for temporomandibular joint diseases related to malocclusion. A literature search using PubMed yielded 213 texts, of which based on exclusion criteria, 28 were included in this study. Malocclusions were categorized into 5 types. The authors suggested a diagnostic tree of temporomandibular joint diseases based on the types of malocclusion and 4 variables in clinical characteristics and symptoms. Clinicians treating malocclusions must attempt to clarify the cause of the occlusal condition. If caused by temporomandibular joint disease, it is important to make a proper differential diagnosis at first, and not to overlook the causative disease. Further clinical knowledge of associations between temporomandibular joint diseases and malocclusions should be accumulated, and the diagnostic tree should be improved based on new information.

Therapy outcome measures in temporomandibular disorder: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Therapy outcome measures (TOMs) in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have not been systematically evaluated. We systematically explored the main TOM assessment methods for TMD TOMs used in previous studies. DESIGN: Scoping review. DATA SOURCES: According to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Review reporting guidelines, we systematically searched five key databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Epistemonikos and ClinicalTrials) and thoroughly scanned relevant grey literature using Medical Subject Headings, Emtree and index terms. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We considered primary research papers published from January 2010 to December 2020 that included patients with TMD aged ≥18 years, diagnosed according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Four reviewers extracted general information and information on study design and setting, target, interventions, and outcome type. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-two of the 3726 screened articles (3704 by search engines and 22 manually) were included. The TOMs analysed included pain (n=161 articles), maximal mouth opening (MMO) (91), jaw function (32), jaw movement (26), joint sound (16), quality of life (QOL) (15), depression/anxiety (14), oral QOL (10) or others (30). Evaluation periods were <4 weeks (111), <8 weeks (62), <12 weeks (59), >12 weeks (75) or 'not mentioned' (12). Pain outcomes (229) included general pain (115), tenderness (45), pain during functioning (44), resting pain (16) and others (8). Pain outcome evaluation methods included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; 121), Numerical Rating Scale (21) and other methods (21). Pain outcome indicators were binary (10) or continuous (158); only five studies reported the least significant difference in treatment efficacy. MMO evaluation using painless methods (19) and jaw function evaluation using methods assessing mandibular movement range (23) were the most frequent. CONCLUSIONS: TMD TOMs are diverse; the major outcomes were pain, MMO, jaw function and jaw movement. Most pain outcomes are evaluated by VAS Score changes.

Correction: Lingual bone thickness in the apical region of the horizontal mandibular third molar: A cross-sectional study in young Japanese.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201041.].

Relationship between infected tooth extraction and improvement of odontogenic maxillary sinusitis.

Objective: Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) is a well-recognized disease in otolaryngology and oral and maxillofacial surgery. It is diagnosed comprehensively based on the presence of dental disease and radiographic evaluation. Although the disease involves a combination of dental and otorhinolaryngological features, appropriate criteria have not been well established for prioritizing dental procedures in the initial treatment of OMS. We investigated whether computed tomography (CT) score, including the Lund-Mackay score, can help prioritize tooth extraction as the initial treatment for OMS. Methods: We also investigated the radiographic features of 32 patients with OMS treated by tooth extraction alone. Both pre-and post-extraction CT images of OMS cases were evaluated. Results: Lund-Mackay scores before tooth extraction were significantly lower in postoperatively healed patients than in non-healed patients. Furthermore, CT scores of the anterior and posterior ethmoid sinuses and frontal sinuses, obtained before tooth extraction, were significantly lower in postoperatively healed patients than in non-healed patients. Conclusions: Collectively, low Lund-Mackay and CT scores of the ethmoid and frontal sinuses are significantly associated with healing of OMS treated by tooth extraction alone. The sinus CT score can help identify a treatment strategy for OMS.

Possibilities and challenges in digital personal identification using teledentistry based on integration of telecommunication and dental information: a narrative review.

Personal identification using dental evidence is decisive in the case of unidentified bodies because dental features, including decayed, missing and filled teeth, are unique to every individual. This review explored the possibilities and problems associated with personal identification through digital methods by the integration of telecommunications and dentistry, also known as teledentistry. Establishment of a global, objective personal identification method using dental evidence through teledentistry is desirable. However, the review reports that there are various problems that need to be resolved first, in aspects such as changes in dentition over time, technology, individual privacy and ethics. It is suggested that solving such problems and constructing a worldwide dental database for personal identification from dental images, using teledentistry, as part of social services, is a new challenge for researchers in forensic odontology and dentistry.

Maxillary third molars with horizontal impaction: A cross-sectional study using computed tomography in young Japanese patients.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the anatomical characteristics of impacted maxillary third molars to help predict and prevent possible adverse events during extraction. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled young Japanese patients that were assessed for third molar extraction. Patients with maxillary third molar impaction presenting with no space between the maxillary second molar and the occlusal surface of the maxillary third molar were analysed using computed tomography data. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 663 patients aged 20-29 years were examined for third molar extraction and 26 teeth in 23 patients were analysed. The mean ± SD angle between the second and third molar axes was 54.2° ± 7.5° and the mean ± SD length of the maxillary third molar was 16.1 ± 1.9 mm. The maxillary third molars showed close or extensive contact with the maxillary sinus and computed tomography did not show any bone from the maxillary sinus floor. Furthermore, in all patients, the crowns of the third molars were not completely covered by the alveolar bone. CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary third molars with horizontal impaction showed close or extensive contact with the maxillary sinus and their crowns were not completely covered by the alveolar bone.

Lingual bone thickness in the apical region of the horizontal mandibular third molar: A cross-sectional study in young Japanese.

BACKGROUND: Perforation of the lingual plate in the apical region of mandibular third molars will increase the risk of aberration and migration of the root tip and the risk of lingual nerve injury. The aim of this study was to analyze anatomical information, including relationships between the apical region of horizontally impacted mandibular third molars and lingual plates, in young Japanese. METHODS: Japanese patients, with horizontally impacted third molars, who underwent CT examination as a preoperative assessment for mandibular third molar extraction were included, and anatomical characteristics in the apical region of the right mandibular third molar were analyzed, in this study. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study. The mean and standard deviation of the bone thickness on the lingual side of the mandibular third molar in the apical region was 1.5 ± 1.6 mm, and the absence of lingual cortical bone in the apical region, namely, "perforation", was observed in 44 patients. The statistical analysis revealed the predictors of cases with perforation as follows: gender, age, and the available space evaluated by Pell and Gregory classification. CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified that "perforation" was sometimes observed in young Japanese, and that the predictors of those cases were as follows: gender, age, and the available space evaluated by Pell and Gregory classification.

Personal identification with artificial intelligence under COVID-19 crisis: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence is useful for building objective and rapid personal identification systems. It is important to research and develop personal identification methods as social and institutional infrastructure. A critical consideration during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is that there is no contact between the subjects and personal identification systems. The aim of this study was to organize the recent 5-year development of contactless personal identification methods that use artificial intelligence. METHODS: This study used a scoping review approach to map the progression of contactless personal identification systems using artificial intelligence over the past 5 years. An electronic systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and IEEE Xplore databases. Studies published between January 2016 and December 2020 were included in the study. RESULTS: By performing an electronic literature search, 83 articles were extracted. Based on the PRISMA flow diagram, 8 eligible articles were included in this study. These eligible articles were divided based on the analysis targets as follows: (1) face and/or body, (2) eye, and (3) forearm and/or hand. Artificial intelligence, including convolutional neural networks, contributed to the progress of research on contactless personal identification methods. CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified that contactless personal identification methods using artificial intelligence have progressed and that they have used information obtained from the face and/or body, eyes, and forearm and/or hand.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the sublingual gland developing lung metastasis 20 years after primary treatment: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor that primarily occurs in the salivary glands. Distant metastases can develop despite favorable local control. Moreover, distant metastasis of ACC can occur after a long time interval without local recurrence. We report the first case of ACC of the sublingual gland that developed lung metastasis 20 years after primary treatment. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 52-year-old man was referred to our department with a 1-year history of painful swelling on the right oral floor. DIAGNOSIS: An incisional biopsy was performed, and histopathological examination revealed malignancy. INTERVENTIONS: Surgical excision of the right oral floor and right supra-omohyoid neck dissection with postoperative chemoradiation therapy were performed, and ACC of the sublingual gland was diagnosed. Left pulmonary metastasis was detected 20 years after the primary treatment. Metastasectomy was performed; however, subsequently, skin and bone metastases developed. OUTCOMES: After receiving palliative care, the patient died of multiple organ failure. LESSONS: As late distant metastasis of salivary ACC can develop, patients who undergo primary treatment need a long-term, strict follow-up plan even if locoregional control is favorable.

A Case of Synovial Chondromatosis of Temporomandibular Joint with Numerous Loose Bodies.

Here, we report a case of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with numerous loose bodies. A 56-year-old woman was examined in the oral surgery department for trismus and pain in the left TMJ when opening the mouth. Imaging indicated TMJ synovial chondromatosis, and the patient was referred to our department for further examination. Her facial features were symmetrical, and no occlusal abnormalities were found. The maximum mouth opening was 30 mm, and movement of the left mandibular condyle was restricted and accompanied by pain and joint sounds. Panoramic radiography showed deformation of the left mandibular condyle and radiopaque lesions surrounding it. Computed tomography showed numerous small granules around the left mandibular condyle, some of which were calcified. Magnetic resonance imaging showed anterior disc displacement without reduction in the left TMJ and hypointense lesions on T2-weighted images. Bone scintigraphy showed an accumulation in the area of the left TMJ. Based on the diagnosis of the left TMJ synovial chondromatosis, the lesions were removed, and plastic surgery on the mandibular condyle was performed under general anesthesia. We removed 386 white loose bodies. Histopathologically, the loose bodies were consistent with synovial chondromatosis lesions. The postoperative course was uneventful, with no recurrence or TMJ dysfunction approximately 5 years after the surgery, indicating that open surgery is the best course of intervention in such cases.

Has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the oral health and nutritional status of elderly patients with digestive cancer?: A retrospective study in Fukui, Japan.

ABSTRACT: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected various aspects, including socioeconomic status and health. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral health based on the number of teeth that contribute to mastication, and the nutritional status of elderly patients with digestive cancers.The authors defined the before and during COVID-19 periods in this study as January 2019 to December 2019 and January 2020 to December 2020, respectively. Patients with digestive cancer who underwent general, laboratory, and orthopantomograph examinations for preoperative oral health assessment before general anesthesia participated in this study. The authors investigated the following general characteristics: (1) sex, (2) age, and (3) the organ affected by disease and scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia. The authors collected information about (4) the number of teeth that could contribute to mastication as a clinical oral health parameter. The parameters: (5) body mass index, (6) serum total protein levels, and (7) serum albumin levels were used to indicate the nutritional status.A total of 233 elderly patients with digestive cancer participated in this study. There was no significant difference between the age of the patients with digestive cancer. There was also no significant difference in the number of teeth that could contribute to mastication. Additionally, there was no significant difference in nutritional status as indicated by the body mass index, serum total protein levels, and serum albumin levels.This study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 did not have a significant influence on the oral health and nutritional status of elderly patients with digestive cancer. However, the influence of COVID-19 on community oral health may become apparent in the future. Thus, dental professionals should continue further research regarding the effects of COVID-19 on oral health.