Anxiety and depression in keratotic oral lichen planus: a multicentric study from the SIPMO.

OBJECTIVES: Oral lichen planus with exclusive keratotic reticular, papular, and/or plaque-like lesions (K-OLP) is a clinical pattern of OLP that may be associated with a complex symptomatology and psychological alteration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety (A) and depression (D) in patients with K-OLP, analyzing the potential predictors which can affect mental health status. METHODS: Three hundred K-OLP patients versus 300 healthy controls (HC) were recruited in 15 Italian universities. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Total Pain Rating Index (T-PRI), and Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and for Anxiety (HAM-D and HAM-A) were administered. RESULTS: The K-OLP patients showed statistically higher scores in the NRS, T-PRI, HAM-D, and HAM-A compared with the HC (p-value < 0.001**). A and D were found in 158 (52.7%) and 148 (49.3%) K-OLP patients. Strong linear correlations were identified between HAM-A, HAM-D, NRS, T-PRI, and employment status and between HAM-D, HAM-A, NRS, T-PRI, employment status, and female gender. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that HAM-D and HAM-A showed the greatest increase in the R2 value for A and D in the K-OLP patients, respectively (DR2 = 55.5% p-value < 0.001**; DR2 = 56.5% p-value < 0.001**). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of A and D is higher in the K-OLP patients compared with the HC, also found in K-OLP subjects without pain, suggesting that the processing of pain may be in a certain way independent of the processing of mood. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mood disorders and pain assessment should be carefully performed in relation to K-OLP to obtain a complete analysis of the patients.

Assessment of sleep disturbance in oral lichen planus and validation of PSQI: A case-control multicenter study from the SIPMO (Italian Society of Oral Pathology and Medicine).

BACKGROUND: The wellbeing of oral lichen planus patients (OLPs) may be strongly influenced by a poor quality of sleep (QoS) and psychological impairment. The aims were to analyze the prevalence of sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression in OLPs and to validate the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in OLPs. METHODS: Three hundred keratotic OLPs (K-OLPs), 300 with predominant non-keratotic OLP (nK-OLPs), and 300 controls were recruited in 15 Italian universities. The PSQI, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and Anxiety (HAM-D and HAM-A), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and Total Pain Rating Index (T-PRI) were administered. RESULTS: Oral lichen planus patients had statistically higher scores than the controls in the majority of the PSQI sub-items (p-values < 0.001**). Moreover, OLPs had higher scores in the HAM-D, HAM-A, NRS, and T-PRI (p-values < 0.001**). No differences in the PSQI sub-items' scores were found between the K-OLPs and nK-OLPs, although nK-OLPs suffered from higher levels of anxiety, depression, and pain (p-values: HAM-A, 0.007**, HAM-D, 0.009**, NRS, <0.001**, T-PRI, <0.001**). The female gender, anxiety, depression (p-value: 0.007**, 0.001**, 0.020*) and the intensity of pain, anxiety, and depression (p-value: 0.006**, <0.001**, 0.014*) were independent predictors of poor sleep (PSQI > 5) in K-OLPs and nK-OLPs, respectively. The PSQI's validation demonstrated good internal consistency and reliability of both the total and subscale of the PSQI. CONCLUSIONS: The OLPs reported an overall impaired QoS, which seemed to be an independent parameter according to the regression analysis. Hence, clinicians should assess QoS in OLPs and treat sleep disturbances in order to improve OLPs management.

Chronic mechanical trauma/irritation and oral carcinoma: A systematic review showing low evidence to support an association.

BACKGROUND: Chronic trauma of oral mucosa, resulting from repeated and persistent mechanical irritative action of an intraoral injury agent, has repeatedly been reported to be possibly implicated in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). OBJECTIVES: The present systematic review aimed to assess whether chronic mechanical trauma can be considered a risk factor for OSCC. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), Scopus; EMBASE, Web of Science. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Cohort studies comparing OSCC incidence among subjects with/without chronic mechanical trauma or case-control or cross-sectional studies comparing chronic mechanical trauma among subjects with/without OSCC. RESULTS: Only one prospective case-control study fulfilled the inclusion criteria, but the quality of the evidence provided is not enough to define trauma as a risk factor for OSCC. The main limitation is the presence of only one case-control study at high risk of bias. In the absence of strong evidence supporting the role of trauma in OSCC, a thorough discussion on trauma and carcinogenesis has been performed. CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence does not support an active role for chronic trauma in oral carcinogenesis, neither as promoter nor as progressor factor. Prospective cohort studies able to better assess trauma in OSCC are needed.

Where do you live? North versus Central-South differences in relation to Italian patients with oral lichen planus: a cross-sectional study from the SIPMO (Italian Society of Oral Pathology and Medicine).

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an immune-mediated inflammatory chronic disease of the oral mucosa, with different patterns of clinical manifestations which range from keratotic manifestations (K-OLP) to predominantly non-keratotic lesions (nK-OLP). The aim of the study was to analyze the differences in the clinical, psychological profile and symptoms between Italian patients of the North and Central-South with K-OLP and nK-OLP. METHODS: 270 K-OLP and 270 nK-OLP patients were recruited in 15 Italian universities. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Total Pain Rating Index (T-PRI), Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and for Anxiety (HAM-D and HAM-A), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were administered. RESULTS: The Central-South K-OLP (CS-K-OLP) patients reported a higher frequency of pain/burning compared with the K-OLP patients of the North (N-K-OLP) with higher scores in the NRS and T-PRI (p value < 0.001**). The CS-K-OLP and the CS-nK-OLP patients showed higher scores in the HAM-D, HAM-A, PSQI and ESS compared with the Northern patients (p value < 0.001**). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the NRS and T-PRI showed the greatest increase in the R2 value for the CS-K-OLP (DR2 = 9.6%; p value < 0.001**; DR2 = 9.7% p value < 0.001**; respectively) and that the oral symptoms (globus, itching and intraoral foreign body sensation) and PSQI showed the greatest increase in the R2 value for the CS-nK-OLP (DR2 = 5.6%; p value < 0.001**; DR2 = 4.5% p value < 0.001** respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pain and mood disorders are predominant in patients with OLP in the Central-South of Italy. Clinicians should consider that the geographical living area may explain the differences in oral symptoms and psychological profile in OLP.

Imported SARS-CoV-2 Variant P.1 in Traveler Returning from Brazil to Italy.

We report an imported case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant P.1 detected in an asymptomatic traveler who arrived in Italy on an indirect flight from Brazil. This case shows the risk for introduction of SARS-CoV-2 variants from indirect flights and the need for continued SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.

Antibiotics to prevent complications following tooth extractions.

BACKGROUND: The most frequent indications for tooth extractions, generally performed by general dental practitioners, are dental caries and periodontal infections. Systemic antibiotics may be prescribed to patients undergoing extractions to prevent complications due to infection. This is an update of a review first published in 2012. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis on the prevention of infectious complications following tooth extractions. SEARCH METHODS: Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched the following databases: Cochrane Oral Health Trials Register (to 16 April 2020), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (the Cochrane Library, 2020, Issue 3), MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to 16 April 2020), Embase Ovid (1980 to 16 April 2020), and LILACS (1982 to 16 April 2020). The US National Institutes of Health Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched for ongoing trials. No restrictions were placed on the language or date of publication when searching the electronic databases. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing tooth extraction(s) for any indication. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: At least two review authors independently performed data extraction and 'Risk of bias' assessment for the included studies. We contacted trial authors for further details where these were unclear. For dichotomous outcomes, we calculated risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using random-effects models. For continuous outcomes, we used mean differences (MD) with 95% CI using random-effects models. We examined potential sources of heterogeneity. We assessed the certainty of the body of evidence for key outcomes as high, moderate, low, or very low, using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We included 23 trials that randomised approximately 3206 participants (2583 analysed) to prophylactic antibiotics or placebo. Although general dentists perform dental extractions because of severe dental caries or periodontal infection, only one of the trials evaluated the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in groups of patients affected by those clinical conditions. We assessed 16 trials as being at high risk of bias, three at low risk, and four as unclear.  Compared to placebo, antibiotics may reduce the risk of postsurgical infectious complications in patients undergoing third molar extractions by approximately 66% (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.64; 1728 participants; 12 studies; low-certainty evidence), which means that 19 people (95% CI 15 to 34) need to be treated with antibiotics to prevent one infection following extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Antibiotics may also reduce the risk of dry socket by 34% (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.97; 1882 participants; 13 studies; low-certainty evidence), which means that 46 people (95% CI 29 to 62) need to take antibiotics to prevent one case of dry socket following extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. The evidence for our other outcomes is uncertain: pain, whether measured dichotomously as presence or absence (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.12; 675 participants; 3 studies) or continuously using a visual analogue scale (0-to-10-centimetre scale, where 0 is no pain) (MD -0.26, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.07; 422 participants; 4 studies); fever (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.79; 475 participants; 4 studies); and adverse effects, which were mild and transient (RR 1.46, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.64; 1277 participants; 8 studies) (very low-certainty evidence).  We found no clear evidence that the timing of antibiotic administration (preoperative, postoperative, or both) was important. The included studies enrolled a subset of patients undergoing dental extractions, that is healthy people who had surgical extraction of third molars. Consequently, the results of this review may not be generalisable to all people undergoing tooth extractions. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority (21 out of 23) of the trials included in this review included only healthy patients undergoing extraction of impacted third molars, often performed by oral surgeons. None of the studies evaluated tooth extraction in immunocompromised patients. We found low-certainty evidence that prophylactic antibiotics may reduce the risk of infection and dry socket following third molar extraction when compared to placebo, and very low-certainty evidence of no increase in the risk of adverse effects. On average, treating 19 healthy patients with prophylactic antibiotics may stop one person from getting an infection. It is unclear whether the evidence in this review is generalisable to patients with concomitant illnesses or patients at a higher risk of infection. Due to the increasing prevalence of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic treatment, clinicians should evaluate if and when to prescribe prophylactic antibiotic therapy before a dental extraction for each patient on the basis of the patient's clinical conditions (healthy or affected by systemic pathology) and level of risk from infective complications. Immunocompromised patients, in particular, need an individualised approach in consultation with their treating medical specialist.

Two cases of COVID-19 with positive salivary and negative pharyngeal or respiratory swabs at hospital discharge: A rising concern.

We report two cases of COVID-19 showing negative respiratory swabs but positive salivary samples at the same time. These findings rise the concern about how to manage these patients before hospital discharging, thus avoiding contagion among their family members or a second coronavirus wave once the lockdown is over.

Psychological profile and unexpected pain in oral lichen planus: A case-control multicenter SIPMO studya.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze psychological profiles, pain, and oral symptoms in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 300 patients with keratotic OLP (K-OLP; reticular, papular, plaque-like subtypes), 300 patients with predominant non-keratotic OLP (nK-OLP; erythematosus atrophic, erosive, ulcerative, bullous subtypes), and 300 controls were recruited in 15 universities. The number of oral sites involved and oral symptoms were recorded. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Total Pain Rating Index (T-PRI), Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and for Anxiety (HAM-D and HAM-A), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were administered. RESULTS: The OLP patients, especially the nK-OLP, showed higher scores in the NRS, T-PRI, HAM-D, HAM-A and PSQI compared with the controls (p-value < .001** ). A positive correlation between the NRS, T-PRI, HAM-A, HAM-D, and PSQI was found with the number of oral symptoms and number of oral sites involved. Pain was reported in 67.3% of nK-OLP and 49.7% of K-OLP cases with poor correspondence between the site of lesions and the site of the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Mood disorders are frequently associated with OLP with an unexpected symptomatology correlated with the number of oral symptoms and with the extension of disease suggesting a peripheral neuropathy.

Performance Assessment of the LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay On Nasopharyngeal Swabs.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is ongoing worldwide, causing prolonged pressure on molecular diagnostics. Viral antigen (Ag) assays have several advantages, ranging from lower cost to shorter turnaround time to detection. Given the rare occurrence of low-load viremia, antigen assays for SARSCoV-2 have focused on nasopharyngeal swab and saliva as biological matrices, but their effectiveness must be validated. We assayed here the performances of the novel quantitative Liaison® SARSCoV-2 Ag assay on 119 nasopharyngeal swabs and obtained results were compared with Hologic Panther and Abbott m2000 RT-qPCR. The Ag assay demonstrated a good correlation with viral load, shorter turnaround time, and favorable economics. The best performance was obtained in the acute phase of disease.

Can transfer type and implant angulation affect impression accuracy? A 3D in vitro evaluation.

Impression accuracy is fundamental to achieve a passive fit between implants and the superstructure. Three transfer types were tested to evaluate the differences in impression accuracy and their efficiency in case of different implant angles. A master model with four implant analogues placed at 0°, 15° and 35° was used. 27 impressions were taken with three different types of impression coping: closed tray technique coping (CT), open tray technique coping (COT) and telescopic open tray coping (TOT). The impressions were poured. Analogues were matched with scan bodies to be scanned and exported in STL. An implant bar was designed from each STL and another one from the master model. A comparison between these bars was obtained. Linear and angular measurements for every type of coping were calculated for different angulations. The collected data were analyzed with ANOVA test (95% of confidence). Student's t test showed a significative discrepancy (p ≤ 0.001) on linear and angular measurements on Δx, Δy, Δz with different transfer types as well as diverse implant positioning angles (p ≤ 0.001). Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the coping type and the implants divergence may be significant parameters influencing the impression accuracy.

Influence of Bone Quality, Drilling Protocol, Implant Diameter/Length on Primary Stability: An In Vitro Comparative Study on Insertion Torque and Resonance Frequency Analysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of bone quality, drilling technique, implant diameter, and implant length on insertion torque (IT) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) of a prototype-tapered implant with knife-edge threads. The investigators hypothesized that IT would be affected by variations in bone quality and drilling protocol, whereas RFA would be less influenced by such variables. The investigators implemented an in vitro experiment in which a prototype implant was inserted with different testing conditions into rigid polyurethane foam blocks. The independent variables were: bone quality, drilling protocol, implant diameter, and implant length. Group A implants were inserted with a conventional drilling protocol, whereas Group B implants were inserted with an undersized drilling protocol. Values of IT and RFA were measured at implant installation. IT and RFA values were significantly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.54). A multivariable analysis showed a strong model. Higher IT values were associated with drilling protocol B vs A (mean difference: 71.7 Ncm), implant length (3.6 Ncm increase per mm in length), and substrate density (0.199 Ncm increase per mg/cm3 in density). Higher RFA values were associated with drilling protocol B vs A (mean difference: 3.9), implant length (1.0 increase per mm in length), and substrate density (0.032 increase per mg/cm3 in density). Implant diameter was not associated with RFA or IT. Within the limitations of an in vitro study, the results of this study suggest that the studied implant can achieve good level of primary stability in terms of IT and RFA. A strong correlation was found between values of IT and RFA. Both parameters are influenced by the drilling protocol, implant length, and substrate density. Further studies are required to investigate the clinical response in primary stability and marginal bone response.

Is there an association between drugs and burning mouth syndrome? A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case-control study was to compare the pharmacological anamnesis collected from a group of 150 burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients with that of a control group of 150 patients matched for age and sex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients' medical histories were reviewed, and data on drug therapy were collected. Drugs were classified on the basis of pharmacological effects; the classes were antihypertensives (i.e., ACE inhibitors/ARBs, calcium antagonists, diuretics and beta-blockers), antiaggregants, anticoagulants, antidiabetics, vitamin D integrators, bisphosphonates, psychotropics (i.e., anxiolytics and antidepressants), gastroprotectors, statins, thyroid hormone substitutes, corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. RESULTS: The BMS patients and the controls were matched for age (mean age: 69 years) and sex (128 females and 22 males). Antihypertensives, especially ACE inhibitors/ARBs (OR = 0.37, CI: 0.22-0.63, p = 0.0002) and beta-blockers (OR = 0.36, CI: 0.19-0.68 p = 002), revealed an inverse association with the presence of BMS, whereas anxiolytics (OR = 3.78, CI: 2.12-6.75 p < 0.0001), but neither antidepressants nor antipsychotics, were significantly associated with BMS. There were no correlations with other drug classes. CONCLUSION: Our study highlighted that ACE inhibitors, ARBs and beta-blockers were in inverse relation to BMS and found that anxiolytics, but neither antidepressants nor antipsychotics, were linked to the presence of the syndrome.

Chronic ulcerative stomatitis: A comprehensive review and proposal for diagnostic criteria.

Chronic ulcerative stomatitis (CUS) is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by oral erosions and ulcers usually refractory to conventional treatments. The disease often involves middle-aged and older women with painful lesions sometimes resembling those of erosive oral lichen planus (OLP). The most affected sites are the buccal mucosa, the gingiva and the tongue, but the skin is involved in 22.5% of cases. Histopathologic features in CUS are non-specific and indistinguishable from those of OLP, with the exception of the presence of a mixed infiltrate composed of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) analysis reveals the presence of stratified epithelium-specific antinuclear antibodies (SES-ANA) in the lower third of the epithelium. The IgG antibodies detected on DIF are directed against the ∆Np63α isoform of p63 expressed in the nuclei of the epithelial basal cells. A distinguishing feature of CUS is the low response to conventional corticosteroid therapy and the good outcome with hydroxychloroquine at the dosage of 200 mg/day or higher dosages. This paper presents a comprehensive review of CUS and is accompanied by a new case report (the 73rd case) and a proposal for updated diagnostic criteria.

Poly D,L-Lactide-Co-Glycolic Acid Grafting Material in Sinus Lift.

The poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) is a copolymer used in many therapeutic devices for its high rates of biodegradability and biocompatibility. The principal aim of the research was to evaluate the new bone formation, after 16 (T1) and 28 weeks (T2), in sheep maxillary sinus lift in vivo model using PLGA.Computerized tomography analysis, X-ray microanalysis, and scanning electron microscope analysis of secondary electrons (SE) and the backscattered electrons (BSE) of the samples were detected.After 28 weeks, the computed tomography analysis showed a 22% increase of UH density in the grafting areas. The X-ray microanalysis of the samples showed calcium and phosphorus increase at T1 and T2 follow-up period and the carbon and oxygen concentration decrease. The SE evaluation showed a rapid superficial resorption of the biomaterials at T1 and a completely bone reorganization of biomaterial at T2. The BSE analysis confirmed the SE data and showed the direct and intimate contact between bone and PLGA with a higher calcification in T2 compared to T1.Certainly, still other experiments and a larger number of samples will be necessary to be analyzed to determine the behavior of the PLGA in the bone regeneration; however, the PLGA used in maxillary sinus lift animal model, seem to promote new bone formation that continues increase at 28 weeks after grafting.

Low basal salivary flow and burning mouth syndrome: new evidence in this enigmatic pathology.

BACKGROUND: Burning mouth syndrome remains a puzzling condition. One symptom commonly associated with the burning sensation is xerostomia. The current study measured basal and stimulated salivary flow in a group of burning mouth syndrome patients. METHODS: Three groups of patients were recruited: 44 burning mouth syndrome patients, 27 oral lichen planus patients and 40 healthy patients. We chose to measure basal salivary flow and stimulated salivary flow in the three groups of patients using the 'spitting' method. Thus, the patients were asked to spit every minute for 5 min. Afterwards, they were asked to repeat the procedure a second time, but a drop of citric acid was positioned on their tongue every minute to stimulate salivary secretion. After 14 days, the same procedure was repeated for 15 min. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference between the burning mouth syndrome group and the other two groups regarding the stimulated volumes, an important difference was found in the basal volumes, with the burning mouth syndrome patients showing lower values. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of our research demonstrate the presence of very low basal salivary flow in burning mouth syndrome patients compared with the other two groups, but the stimulated salivary flow was equal, if not higher, in the burning mouth syndrome patients. This study contributes new topics for further investigation of a solution to the very mysterious pathology represented by burning mouth syndrome.

[Burning oral sensation: when is really BMS?]. / Az égo száj szindrómáról. Diagnózis és etiológia.

The aims and purposes of this systematic review of the international literature are to discuss and clarify some considerations on Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). Over the last 40 years, many researchers have addressed this disease clinically or experimentally. Thus, the etiology and pathogenesis of BMS remain unclear. We analyzed the etiopathogenesis of Burning Mouth Syndrome and of the burning oral sensation and currently, we could not find a consensus on the diagnosis and classification of BMS. Further studies are required to better understand the pathogenesis of BMS, and a "Gold Standard" classification is required because not every burning sensation in the mouth is BMS.

"A conservative technique for fractured implant abutment screw retrieval on an internal connection implant: proof of concept (PoC)".

INTRODUCTION: Broken screw removal from the implant connection is a common but challenging process. Several proposed methods and technical solutions may result in unsuccessful removal; thus, a novel, more conservative, risk-free method is proposed as a first attempt. DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE: The proposal is to use a silicon restoration holder to be twisted counterclockwise on the dried surface of the broken fragment inside the implant connection. This method, within the limitations of a minimal case series, yielded 100% results; however, despite previous attempts with less con- servative techniques, this approach showed no efficacy. CONCLUSION: This article aims to promote the use of silicon restoration holders as a minimally invasive first attempt at broken screw retrieval treatment before considering other options.