Oral cancer awareness among dental students in a private university setting.

INTRODUCTION: There is a great deal of research on the awareness of students and professionals regarding oral cancer. The aim of this study was to find out students' opinions in their final years of dental school training who have clinic time about the importance of correct mucosal examination of the oral cavity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out and a questionnaire was designed and distributed to fourth- and fifth-year dental students. The questionnaire included demographic aspects of the participants and five closed questions related to the importance given to the exploration of the soft tissues during patient visits, the importance of the university training received, their interest in continuing education on this subject, their role as dentists in early diagnosis and whether they consider themselves prepared to diagnose oral cancer. RESULTS: A total of 214 undergraduate dental students participated in the study, 24.3% fourth year and 75.7% fifth year. Moreover, 97.7% of the students considered soft tissue examination to be important or very important, 90.2% of the students surveyed considered the university training received to be important or very important and 66.4% of the students considered that the most qualified professional to diagnose an oral lesion is the dentist. CONCLUSION: In this study, most of the students felt that graduate training in oral cancer is important, as well as soft tissue examination. In addition, the majority considered that the professional most indicated to diagnose oral lesions is the dentist. However, a very small percentage felt prepared to diagnose oral cancer themselves.

Evaluation of the diagnostic ability of oral lesions on clinical images among undergraduate dental students.

INTRODUCTION: The dentist should be able to carry out systematic oral examinations of the mucosa of patients in order to diagnose any alterations at an early stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, analytical, prospective, and longitudinal study was carried out. 161 students were evaluated at the beginning of their clinical practice in their 4th year of dental school (September 2019), at the beginning and at the end of their 5th year of dental school (June 2021). Thirty oral lesions were projected, and the students were asked to provide an answer; if the lesions were benign, malignant, or potentially malignant, whether they should be biopsied and/or treated and a presumptive diagnosis. RESULTS: Significant improvement (p < .001) was obtained between the 2019 and 2021 results, in relation to the classification, need for biopsy and treatment of lesions. For differential diagnosis, no significant difference (p = .985) was obtained between the 2019 and 2021 responses. Malignant lesions and PMD obtained mixed results, with the best results corresponding to OSCC. DISCUSSION: In this study, a correct lesion classification by the students was over 50%. As for the OSCC, the results were superior to the rest of the images, reaching more than 95% correct. CONCLUSION: Theoretical-practical training from universities and continuing education for graduates in relation to oral mucosal pathologies should be further promoted.

Can Music Decrease Anxiety and Pain During Dental Implant Surgery? A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Music has proven to be an effective tool in the management of anxiety during some surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to test the effect of baroque (BM) and classical era music (CM) as a nonpharmacological therapy on the control of anxiety and pain levels among patients undergoing dental implant placement surgery. METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical trial of patients attending a dental clinic was conducted. Patients with psychiatric disorders were excluded. Twenty six patients of Spanish nationality requiring single-tooth dental implant were included. Each patient was assigned to 1 of the 3 experimental groups, which acted as an independent variable: Group I (n = 8) listened to BM; Group II (n = 10) listened to CM; and Group III (n = 8) did not listen to music and was the control group (C). The dependent variables were divided into physiological variables and psychological variables. The physiological dependent variables analysed were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation, recorded at 4 different times during surgery. The Kruskal-Wallis test compared each of these variables between the 3 experimental groups. The psychological dependent variable analyzed was the degree of anxiety, measured by the self-completed Modified Dental Anxiety Scale and Visual Analog Scale (measured before and after surgery). The Wilcoxon statistical test compared degree of anxiety before and after surgery. In all cases, the level of statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 46.5 ± 10.6 (range, 24-69 years), 50% male and 50% female. Statistically significant differences in degree of anxiety before and after surgery were found in the BM (P = .027, confidence interval [CI] = 0.146-6.104; BM before = 4.25 ± 3.91 and BM after = 1.13 ± 1.45) and CM groups (P = .044, CI = 0.161-3.039; CM before = 3.10 ± 2.88 and CM after = 1.50 ± 1.43) and were not found in group C (P = .180, CI = 1.104-3.604; C before = 2.63 ± 3.62 and C after = 1.38 ± 1.99). When comparing the perceived pain after the intervention among the 3 groups (C, BM, and CM), no significant differences were observed between them (P = .319; CI = -0.58-1.96; C = 0.75 ± 1.75, BM = 1.25 ± 1.75, and CM = 1.70 ± 1.70). CONCLUSION: Listening to BM and CM reduces anxiety in patients undergoing dental implant placement surgery. Musical flow should be applied in this practice.

Salivary LDH in oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are increased in patients with oral cancer (OC) or oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) when compared to a healthy control group (CG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of specialized databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and OpenGrey), including observational analytical studies evaluating the salivary LDH levels (in UI/L or µ/L) in OC or OPMD patients and compared them with a CG. RESULTS: Thirteen case-control studies were included. A total of 755 patients were evaluated, including 303 OC cases, 149 OPMD cases, and 303 controls. The meta-analysis showed that LDH levels were higher within the OC group than the CG (SMD 9.49; 95% CI 6.97-12; p = .00001). Patients with oral leucoplakia (SMD 11.67; 95% CI 1.01-22.33; p = .03) and oral submucous fibrosis (SMD 25.83; 95% CI -1.74-53.40; p = .07) also presented higher levels than the CG. In addition, OC patients had higher salivary LDH levels than oral leucoplakia patients (SMD 5.62; 95% CI 2.14-9.11; p = .002). Heterogeneity was high across all the evaluated studies. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of salivary LDH may be a useful method for screening and tracking OC and OPMD, but new protocolized studies are required to establish precise cutoff values.

Surgical Treatment of a Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma and Reconstruction with a Porcine Collagen Matrix: A Case Report.

A 35-year-old woman was referred to the Department of Oral Medicine and Orofacial Surgery after several recurrences of an ossifying fibroma (OF) that affected the free and attached gingiva of the maxillary right central incisor. Surgery was performed with a complete excision of the lesion together with the surrounding healthy tissue up to the bone. To guide the healing of the anterior esthetic framework and the excised tissues, a porcine collagen matrix as an alternative to connective tissue graft was used. After an 18-month follow-up, the lesion had not recurred and keratinized gingiva had formed around the area.

New Non-Bisphosphonate Drugs that Produce Osteonecrosis of the Jaws.

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper was to review the current literature associating the non-bisphosphonate cancer-treatment drugs Denosumab, Bevacizumab and Sunitinib (used with or without bisphosphonate [BP]) with the presence of osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) in patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review was conducted using the keywords osteonecrosis of the jaws, oral biphosphosnates, Denosumab, Bevacizumab and Sunitinib. Articles were obtained that reported cases of ONJ associated with the use of Denosumab, Bevacizumab and Sunitinib. RESULTS: The literature shows that Denosumab can cause ONJ associated with triggers such as microtraumas or dental extractions. The combination of the drug along with zoledronic acid may have a synergistic effect. Bevacizumab may cause ONJ; however, there is much controversy regarding its synergistic action when used with BP. Sunitinib causes ONJ, and together with BP could increase the risk of developing lesions. CONCLUSION: Denosumab, Sunitinib or Bevacizumab are causal agents in the development of ONJ. The combination of any of these along with BPs could increase the risk of developing ONJ over that posed by BP treatment alone.