Clinical and demographic features of minor salivary gland tumors: A collaborative study of 480 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency, clinical, and demographic features of minor salivary gland tumors and possible associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Clinical and demographic data were collected from biopsy records of two oral pathology services. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and descriptive statistical analysis were performed. RESULTS: A total of 480 (0.89%) minor salivary gland tumors were retrieved, 272 (56.7%) benign and 147 (30.7%) malignant. Sixty-one (12.6%) had no subtype specification. Most patients were women (307/64.0%), in sixth decade of life (80/16.7%), with a mean age of 45.32 years. Palate was the most common site (336/70.1%). Pleomorphic adenoma (PA; 245/51.1%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC; 70/14.6%), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC; 43/8.9%) were the most frequent tumors. Symptomatic case, recurrence, and tobacco use were associated with malignancy (p < 0.05). PA and MEC were more frequent in palate (p < 0.05). No association between the three most frequent histological types and gender or age group was observed (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This represents one of the largest exclusive series of minor salivary gland tumors in Brazil and worldwide. PA, MEC, and ACC were the most frequent tumors. Clinical and demographic data are similar from Brazilian studies or from other countries.

A survey on brazilian dentists' awareness, perception, and knowledge of bisphosphonates

Aim: The purpose of the study was to analyze the knowledge of dentists in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, about bisphosphonates and their clinical implications. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted with a convenience sample of dentists in Belo Horizonte, in a period of 8 weeks. The questionnaire was self-applied and was structured with 10 items about the dentists' demographic characteristics, professional profile, and knowledge about bisphosphonates. Associations in the data were analyzed by with the Fischer's exact test with a significance level of 5%. Results: Of the 214 participating dentists, 163 (76.17%) were women, and 51 (23.83%) were men, with age ranged for 21 to 73 years (mean of 30 years) and mean of 6 years of professional activity. Nearly half (106/49.53%) reported having knowledge about bisphosphonates, and undergraduate courses were the primary source of such information (73/34.11%). Osteoporosis was the most identified indication for use (75/35.04%), although no participants correctly identified all indications. Regarding the drugs' side effects, only three dentists (1.40%) could correctly identify all responses, with bone necrosis being recognized by the majority (88/41.12%). Sodium alendronate (54/25.23%) and sodium ibandronate (15/7.01%) were the most identified examples of bisphosphonates. Last, only nine dentists (4.20%) could identify all examples of the drugs, and their capacity was associated with self-reported knowledge (p<0.05). Conclusions: More information about bisphosphonates should be disseminated in Belo Horizonte, ideally via better approaches in local undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Until then, knowledge of the basic aspects of bisphosphonates will remain limited

Assessment of screening programs as a strategy for early detection of oral cancer: a systematic review.

The present study is a systematic review of the evaluation of screening programs as a strategy for early detection of oral cancer. The aim of this study was to assess whether screening through visual inspection is able to identify injuries in early stages, to increase survival, and to decrease the incidence and mortality of oral cancer. Studies using visual inspection to screen for oral cancer and potentially malignant lesions in apparently healthy individuals over 18 years without previous diagnosis of the disease were included. The MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane databases Library, EMBASE, and LILACS, including manual search and gray literature, were searched through January 2021 with no language or date restrictions. The risk of bias and the methodological quality were evaluated according to the appropriate tool for each study design. The analysis of the results was narrative. Seventeen studies were reviewed that included cohort, accuracy, and randomized clinical trial studies. The tracking type performed was opportunistic and organized in a variety of environments. The age of participants ranged between 18 and 60 years old and, in some programs, only people with risk habits for oral cancer were included. The screeners were healthcare professionals, physicians, and dentists. Two studies reported data on the incidence rate of severe cases and mortality and showed a reduction when patients were at risk for the disease and participated in the program more than once. A limitation of this review was the great variability observed in the estimates of the screening effectiveness among the studies, which made comparisons difficult. If a screening program is continuous and able to ensure the inclusion of high-risk individuals, it can contribute to improvement in survival rates with a change of stage and can have a significant impact on incidence and mortality due to the disease. Registration in the Open Science Framebook (OSF) with the osf.io/zg8nr link.

Association between sleep bruxism, use of antidepressants, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep bruxism (SB) is a condition regulated centrally, with a multifactorial etiology, which can occur secondary to systemic disorders and the use of certain medications. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify associations between SB, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and the use of antidepressants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 240 individuals underwent full-night polysomnography for medical reasons. Anamnesis was performed to collect data about the use of antidepressants and general health conditions. Polysomnography was performed to analyse sleep data and assess respiratory-related events and apnea and hypopnea index (AHI). The polysomnographic assessment of SB was performed, from electrodes placed on masseter muscles and chin. SB was defined by the presence of more than two events of rhythmic masticatory muscles activity per hour of sleep. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the presence of SB and AHI, the severity of OSAHS, and the use of antidepressants. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between bruxers and non-bruxers when comparing AHI (48.28 ± 25.84; p = .001) and severity of OSAHS (p = .015). Regarding the use of antidepressants, comparative analyses did not show correlations with bruxism (p = .072). However, logistic regression suggests that the use of these medications may represent increased odds for SB development (OR =2.387; p = .005). CONCLUSION: The relationship between the use of antidepressants and SB remains inconclusive. SB is associated with OSAHS, mainly in its severe form. Therefore, identifying SB can raise the suspicion of the occurrence of other systemic disturbances.

Cartilaginous choristoma on the lateral surface of the tongue: a case report.

A cartilaginous choristoma is a nonneoplastic nodular growth of histologically normal cartilage in an abnormal site. This report describes a case of a cartilaginous choristoma on the lateral surface of the tongue in a 65-year-old woman. The entire lesion was excised, and histologic examination revealed mature cartilaginous tissue surrounded by dense connective tissue. Choristomas are rare findings in the oral cavity, easily confused with proliferative processes or soft tissue neoplasms. Nevertheless, choristomas may be part of the differential diagnosis for lesions similar to the one described in this case report.

The Correlation of Crack Lines and Definitive Restorations with the Survival and Success Rates of Cracked Teeth: A Long-term Retrospective Clinical Study.

INTRODUCTION: Cracked teeth frequently require protective adhesive restorations. This long-term, longitudinal retrospective clinical study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the success and survival rates of cracked teeth with crack lines (CLs) in different directions when restored early with onlays or full-coverage crowns. METHODS: The dental records of 71 patients with a total of 86 cracked teeth with different pulpal and periapical diagnoses and with follow-ups spanning over 1-11 years were included. Data regarding the demographics; clinical symptoms and signs; bruxism; occlusal interferences; eating habits; pulpal and periapical diagnoses; number, direction, location, and extent of CLs; probing depth; and coronary condition before and after the placement of definitive restorations were collected. Univariate associations between tooth survival and explanatory variables were assessed. The long-term survival rate was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test. A multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 93.0%, and the overall survival estimates of cracked teeth restored early were 98.6%, 94.9%, and 55.9% at the 1-, 5-, and 11-year follow-ups, respectively. The direction of the CLs did not influence the survival of the tooth. No significant association was observed between the type of tooth, probing depth, root canal treatment, and tooth loss (P > .05). The multivariate analysis showed that previously treated cracked teeth (P < .05), the provision of onlay restorations (P < .05), and the placement of posts (P < .05) had higher correlations with tooth loss. Additionally, the placement of full-coverage crowns resulted in lower tooth loss compared with the placement of onlays (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Previous endodontic treatment in teeth that subsequently develop CLs has a negative impact on the survival rate of the teeth. Moreover, early placement of full-coverage crowns should be implemented for cracked teeth regardless of the direction or the number of CLs because it is associated with a higher cracked tooth survival rate.

Knowledge of Oral Cancer by a Brazilian Population.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the knowledge about oral cancer in a Brazilian population, including initial clinical signs, causal factors, and the health professional of first choice when suspected of the disease. A total of 2261 participants were interviewed in a cross-sectional study, to investigate associations between sociodemographic descriptive variables and knowledge of oral cancer, risk factors, disease precursor lesions, and health professional of choice for diagnosis. The variables were descriptively analyzed and possible associations investigated considering p values < 0.05. A total of 83.4% of participants reported knowing about oral cancer, and 59.5% reported knowing about potentially malignant lesions; both variables were associated (p < 0.0001). Tobacco was identified as the main risk factor (83.6%), followed by family history (66.2%), and poor oral hygiene (54.5%). Interviewees with higher education level had greater knowledge about cancer (p < 0.0001), and the dentist was the health professional of choice for 43.1% of those who knew about the disease (p = 0.007), with the generalist being the most sought specialist. The population evaluated had a low knowledge of oral cancer given the lack of specific clarifications on etiological factors and risk situations. Health education initiatives are necessary to increase population awareness of potentially malignant oral lesions and improve early diagnosis and recognition of the dentist as a qualified professional for diagnosis of the disease.