An exploratory study of children with caries and its relationship to SARS-CoV-2

Abstract This exploratory study investigated whether children with dental decay were more likely to have COVID-19 than those without caries. The children underwent dental inspection and blood collection for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Fifty-four children aged 6 to 9 years participated in the survey, which was conducted between March and June 2020 in the municipality of Ipojuca, Pernambuco, Brazil. The diagnosis of caries was performed using the dmft and DMFT indices. Parents reported signs and symptoms of sickness in their children during this period. The serology test aimed to verify the immune response of the children to coronavirus by detecting IgM/IgG antibodies. Statistical analyses were performed at P < 0.05. The majority of the children presented caries (68.5%). Of the nine children who tested positive for COVID-19 (16.7%), eight presented IgG antibodies to the virus, and only one had IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV2. Children who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had a higher percentage of caries lesions than those who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (77.8% vs 65.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant.

Oral manifestations in hospitalized children with COVID-19

Abstract As the pandemic progressed, the incidence of viruses among children also increased. This study investigates the presence of oral lesions in hospitalized children by analyzing data collected from medical records of infants seen at the pediatric Infectious disease unit at the General Hospital of the University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil, from March to August 2020. This study includes children aged 0 to 12 years diagnosed with severe symptoms of COVID-19. The data describe the frequencies and percentages of categorical variables, expressed as mean, median, and standard deviation. The chi-square test evaluated the association of oral manifestations according to the presence of comorbidities. Of 89 children, 20.2% had oral manifestations, and mucositis was the most prevalent lesion (12.4%). Of the 18 children with oral manifestations, 12 did not present comorbidities, but 7.9% had multisystem inflammatory syndrome and 5.6% had Kawasaki disease. Results show that children with oral lesions had longer hospital stays. These findings indicate the need for further studies to clarify the relationship between the oral manifestations of COVID-19 in pediatric patients for screening of the virus by dentists.

Investigation of the Erosive Potential of Different Types of Alcoholic Beverages

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the erosive potential of different alcoholic beverages according to pH, titratable acidity and buffering capacity. Material and Methods: Thirteen industrialized alcoholic beverages of different brands were selected and divided into five groups according to their type and composition. The pH measurement and titratable acidity for pH 5.5 and 7.0 were performed in triplicate in 50 mL of each beverage. The buffering capacity was calculated based on pH and titratable acidity for pH 7.0. ANOVA, Tukey, and Pearson correlation, with p<0.05, were used for data analysis. Results: Data showed normal distribution by Shapiro-Wilk test. The pH of alcoholic beverages ranged from 2.49 (Miks Ice Tea - Green Fruits) to 7.64 (Smirnoff). The highest values of acid titration (4.68) and buffer capacity (19.97) were observed in Smirnoff Ice. The following correlations (p<0.01) were noted between: pH and titratable acidity; buffering capacity and pH; buffering capacity and titratable acidity. Conclusion: Some beers and alcopops presented erosive potential due to their lower pH associated with high acid titration values. The whisky and sugarcane liquor examined were not potentially erosive.