Intraoral management of odontogenic infection associated with severe trismus under local anesthesia.

Trismus is defined as a tonic contraction of the muscles of mastication. It can also refer to limited mouth opening of any cause. Trismus is a classical symptom of masticatory space infections and it can be a sign of an infection in the anterior compartment of lateral pharyngeal space. Common causes in clinical practice followed by trismus are odontogenic infection which can be periodontal or pericoronal. This article will present a clinical report on intraoral management of mandibular odontogenic infection accompanied by severe trismus under local anesthesia using modified Akinosi technique in an outpatient environment. Treatment and postoperative period were routine. This kind of approach provides access to the infection at an early stage without general anesthesia, it shortens the hospital treatment and it enables faster recovery. KEY WORDS: Local Anesthesia, Odontogenic infection, Trismus.

Comparison of intubation and tracheotomy in patients with deep neck infection.

Possible airway compromise further complicates treatment of deep neck infections (DNI). Airway management is crucial, but factors affecting the method of choice are unclear. We retrospectively evaluated adult DNIs in a single tertiary center covering 10 years, with special attention on airway management. Patient data were retrieved from electronic data files from 2007 to 2016, and included adult patients with DNI operated through the neck. Of the 202 patients, 127 (63%) were male, with a median age of 47 years. Odontogenic (n = 74; 35%) infection was the most common etiology. Intubation was the most common method of airway management (n = 165; 82%), and most patients (n = 102; 50%) were extubated immediately after surgery. Tracheotomy was performed primarily for 35 (17%) patients, and secondarily for 25 (15%). Two patients were managed in local anesthesia. Altogether 80 (40%) patients required care in the intensive care unit for a median of 7 days. Median hospital stay was 6 days for intubated patients and 10 days for primarily tracheotomized (p = 0.036). DNI extended to the mediastinal space in 25 (12%) patients, most of whom with odontogenic infection (48%), and necrotizing fasciitis (32%). Odontogenic infection was the most common etiology for DNI with increased risk for mediastinal involvement. Intubation was most common type of airway management with high success in immediate extubation after surgery. The need for tracheotomy seemed to lead to a longer hospital care and was associated with a more severe clinical course.

Local anesthesia selection algorithm in patients with concomitant somatic diseases. / Algoritm okazaniya stomatologicheskoi pomoshchi patsientam s soputstvuyushchei patologiei. Chast' 1.

The paper presents basic principles of local anesthesia selection in patients with concomitant somatic diseases. These principles are history taking; analysis of drugs interaction with local anesthetic and sedation agents; determination of the functional status of the patient; patient anxiety correction; dental care with monitoring of hemodynamics parameters. It was found that adhering to this algorithm promotes prevention of urgent conditions in patients in outpatient dentistry.

[The choice of local anesthesia for patients with hypertension in dental practice].

The study involved 153 patients (92 females, 61 males aged 30-75 years) with arterial pressure from 120/80 to 180/100 mm Hg. The role of dentist in primary diagnosis of hypertension was identified. The study highlights the need for functional status assessment before dental treatment and the importance of safe and effective local anesthesia for the patients with arterial hypertension. The paper presents rationale for the choice of local anesthetic agent for these patients.

A self-administered method of acute pressure block of sciatic nerves for short-term relief of dental pain: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVES: While stimulation of the peripheral nerves increases the pain threshold, chronic pressure stimulation of the sciatic nerve is associated with sciatica. We recently found that acute pressure block of the sciatic nerve inhibits pain. Therefore, we propose that, the pain pathology-causing pressure is chronic, not acute. Here, we report a novel self-administered method: acute pressure block of the sciatic nerves is applied by the patients themselves for short-term relief of pain from dental diseases. DESIGN: This was a randomized, single-blind study. SETTING: Hospital patients. PATIENTS: Patients aged 16-60 years with acute pulpitis, acute apical periodontitis, or pericoronitis of the third molar of the mandible experiencing pain ≥3 on the 11-point numerical pain rating scale. INTERVENTIONS: Three-minute pressure to sciatic nerves was applied by using the hands (hand pressure method) or by having the patients squat to force the thigh and shin as tightly as possible on the sandwiched sciatic nerve bundles (self-administered method). OUTCOMES: The primary efficacy variable was the mean difference in pain scores from the baseline. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-two dental patients were randomized. The self-administered method produced significant relief from pain associated with dental diseases (P ≤ 0.001). The analgesic effect of the self-administered method was similar to that of the hand pressure method. CONCLUSIONS: The self-administered method is easy to learn and can be applied at any time for pain relief. We believe that patients will benefit from this method.

[Odontogenic pain syndrome: integrated approach in analgesia].

The article deals with the study of 96 patients (69 women and 27 men) with odontogenic facial pain syndrome. All patients received complex neurodentist examination with radiological assessment of maxillofacial area and additional functional methods. Patients were divided into two groups, 48 patients in each group. All patients received usual therapy; mouth cavity sanitation, selective grinding of teeth, drug therapy (anticonvulsants, B vitamins) and physiotherapy. Patients in group 2 received corporeal acupuncture. Efficacy of the therapy was assessed by changes of basic subjective and objective significatives on 10th, 30th and 60th day of treatment. Reflective anaesthesia techniques using allowed to stop the pain faster and decreased the dosage of drugs in patients of group 2.

Views of pregnant women in South Western Sydney towards dental care and an oral-health program initiated by midwives.

ISSUES ADDRESSED: Oral health during pregnancy is important, yet is often neglected by women. A program is currently being developed for midwives in Australia to promote maternal oral health. The aim of this study was to record the views of pregnant women in Australia towards dental care and midwives promoting oral health. METHODS: Using convenience sampling, a cross-sectional survey was undertaken of 241 pregnant women attending a metropolitan hospital in South Western Sydney in 2010. RESULTS: Only 10% of women received oral-health promotional material during pregnancy. More than 50% reported dental problems, yet only 17% had discussed this with their midwives and less than half (44.6%) had sought dental treatment. The main barriers to obtaining dental care were: lack of awareness, safety concerns about dental treatment and dental costs. Pregnant women were more likely (P<0.05) to see a dentist if they had received information about oral health (odds ratio (OR) 3.25, 95% CI 1.34-7.90) and had private health insurance (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.26-4.85). Most women (>90%) were receptive to midwives providing oral-health education, assessments and referrals to affordable dental services. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that pregnant women are receiving limited dental advice and are concerned about dental costs. It has also confirmed for the first time in Australia that women are very positive about receiving oral-health advice from midwives during their pregnancy. SO WHAT?: Oral-health promotion programs during pregnancy should consider using midwives to increase dental awareness among women and provide pathways to affordable dental services.

Prosthetic knee arthritis due to Granulicatella adiacens after dental treatment.

We report prosthetic knee arthritis in a 55-year-old diabetic man due to Granulicatella adiacens, a micro-organism present in the oral flora, usually described in endocarditis but rarely in prosthesis joint infection. This patient had undergone a dental extraction without antibiotic prophylaxis one month before, and an aseptic loosening of the prosthesis had been diagnosed previously. If antimicrobial prophylaxis against infective endocarditis for dental procedures is well established, such an approach is still controversial for joint prosthesis and should be considered in some conditions.

Evaluation of student perception of the lecture "oral functional medical rehabilitation: balneophysiotherapy".

UNLABELLED: Th aim of the study was to assess this course as perceived by the 6th year dentistry students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Applying and validating the "Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM)" for the first time in Romania. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The reliability of the test according to Cronbach alpha method, which measures the internal consistency of a test, was 0.87 (Cronbach alpha coefficient should be above 0.70). As to the reliability coefficients (internal consistency) for each test subscale and for the entire test, DREEM proved a very good overall reliability, with alpha = 0.89. The reliability of each DREEM subscale was also analyzed. The DREEM test results, with a global score of 149, indicate a "more positive than negative" perception (score between 101 and 150). CONCLUSIONS: The DREEM test showed that the assessment and treatment of pain in dental-maxillary pathology and TMJ dysfunctions through medical rehabilitation by means of balneophysiotherapy is of interest to final year dental medicine students. As a student-teacher partnership, modern education cannot ignore the practical needs of students and should add to their theoretical training with courses and practical training programs necessary in their future profession.

[Comparison of analgetic effect of magnetic and laser stimulation before oral surgery procedures]. / Porównanie efektu przeciwbólowego lasero- i magnetostymulacji przed chirurgicznymi zabiegami stomatologicznymi.

Oral surgery procedures are often the cause of painful sensations because of their tissue invasiveness. To avoid these sensations a wide use of nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs is usually accepted. Because of plenty side effects of these drugs alternative antipain agents are desired. The goal of this study was to assess antipain effect of laser stimulation and alternating magnetic field in oral surgery procedures. Pain sensations in patients during: local anesthetics application, surgical procedure and after it were assessed according to VAS scale. Level of stomatological fear was assessed with the use of Corah's scale. Achieved results were analyzed statistically. Conclusion of this analysis is that laser stimulation and alternating magnetic field applied directly before oral surgery procedure are effective antipain agents that decrease intra and postoperative sensations. It was observed that patients with high level of stomatological fear had more pain sensations but even in this group laser and magnetic stimulation significantly lowered these complaints.