Electronic Cigarettes, Oral Health, and COVID-19: What You Need to Know

ABSTRACT: Known as "vaping devices", electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been consumed more and more on a global scale, in addition to being considered another factor in the transmission of COVID-19. Electronic cigarettes use chemicals in liquid form, which are incorporated, heated and vaporized. Such solutions may or may not contain nicotine. For this reason, many users of conventional cigarettes rely on the idea of stopping their addiction by switching to electronic cigarettes, with the justification of reduced harm. Despite a scientific knowledge still in formation, unable to remedy all the consequences that these cigarettes cause on the individual's health, as well as their effects on the mouth, the purpose of this article is to discuss the main results that scientific studies have found on this topic and propose an awareness of the population about its harmful effects on health and transmission of COVID-19 by sharing among users.

RESUMEN: Conocidos como "dispositivos de vapeo", los cigarrillos electrónicos (e-cigarettes) se han consumido cada vez más a escala mundial, además de ser considerados un factor adicional en la transmisión del COVID-19. Los cigarrillos electrónicos utilizan productos químicos en forma líquida, que se incorporan, calientan y vaporizan. Tales soluciones pueden o no, contener nicotina. Por esta razón, muchos usuarios de cigarrillos convencionales confían en la idea de dejar su adicción pasándose a los cigarrillos electrónicos, con la justificación de la reducción del daño. A pesar de un conocimiento científico aún en formación es incapaz de remediar todas las consecuencias que estos cigarrillos provocan en la salud del individuo, así como sus efectos en la cavidad oral. El propósito de este artículo fue discutir los principales resultados que los estudios científicos han encontrado sobre este tema y proponer una concientización de la población sobre los efectos nocivos en la salud y transmisión del COVID-19 mediante el intercambio entre usuarios.

Structural complexity of the craniofacial trabecular bone in multiple myeloma assessed by fractal analysis.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the structural complexity of craniofacial trabecular bone in multiple myeloma by fractal analysis of panoramic and lateral skull radiography, and to compare the fractal dimension values of healthy patients (HPs), pre-treatment patients (PTPs), and patients during bisphosphonate treatment (DTPs). Materials and Methods: Pairs of digital panoramic and lateral skull radiographs of 84 PTPs and 72 DTPs were selected. After application of exclusion criteria, 43 panoramic and 84 lateral skull radiographs of PTPs, 56 panoramic and 72 lateral skull radiographs of DTPs, and 99 panoramic radiographs of age- and sex-matched HPs were selected. The fractal dimension values from panoramic radiographs were compared among HPs, PTPs, and DTPs and between anatomical locations within patient groups using analysis of variance with the Tukey test. Fractal dimension values from lateral skull radiographs were compared between PTPs and DTPs using the Student t-test. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between the mandible from panoramic radiographs and the skull from lateral skull radiographs. Intra-examiner agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (α=0.05). Results: The fractal dimension values were not significantly different among HPs, PTPs, and DTPs on panoramic radiographs or between PTPs and DTPs on lateral skull radiographs (P>0.05). The mandibular body presented the highest fractal dimension values (P≤0.05). The fractal dimension values of the mandible and skull in PTPs and DTPs were not correlated. Conclusion: Fractal analysis was not sensitive for distinguishing craniofacial trabecular bone complexity in multiple myeloma patients using panoramic and lateral skull radiography.

Dysgeusia and COVID-19: the Importance of the Dentist in the Diagnostic / Disgeusia y COVID-19: la Importancia del Dentista en el Diagnóstico

Dysgeusia is understood as changes in the perception of taste in patients infected with COVID-19 and has been frequently observed in the early stages of the disease. Along with the causes of dysgeusia, we can mention the correlation with infectious conditions, being of importance for the differential diagnosis. Dysgeusia can be considered one of the first manifestations of COVID-19, being an important contribution in the search for solutions regarding early diagnosis and treatment, in addition to its hospital and laboratory application.

La disgeusia se entiende como cambios en la percepción del gusto en pacientes infectados por COVID-19 y se ha observado con frecuencia en las primeras etapas de la enfermedad. Junto a las causas de la disgeusia, podemos mencionar la correlación con patologías infecciosas, siendo de importancia para el diagnóstico diferencial. La disgeusia se puede considerar como una de las primeras manifestaciones del COVID-19, siendo un aporte importante en la búsqueda de soluciones en cuanto al diagnóstico y tratamiento precoces, además de su aplicación hospitalaria y de laboratorio.

Influence of phosphor plate-based radiographic image specifications on fractal analysis of alveolar bone.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of spatial resolution, bit depth, and enhancement filters on the fractal dimension (FD) of photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plate-based intraoral radiographic images of alveolar bone. STUDY DESIGN: Periapical radiographs were obtained using PSP plates, which were scanned at 2 spatial resolutions: 1270 dpi and 2000 dpi. All images were subjected to 3 enhancement filters-Perio, Endo, and Fine-and exported in 8 and 16 bits. A region-of-interest was selected on alveolar bone and the FD value was calculated. The multiway analysis of variance test followed by the post hoc Tukey test compared the FD values between the different groups (α = 0.05). RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in FD values between the 8- and 16-bit images. Except for the Perio filter, FD values were significantly higher for images at 1270 dpi. FD values were significantly higher for the Perio filter, followed by the Endo filter, and the Fine filter. The FD values of the Fine filter did not differ significantly from the original image. CONCLUSIONS: Fractal analysis of alveolar bone obtained from PSP plate-based intraoral radiographic images is influenced by spatial resolution and some digital enhancement filters; therefore, for FD comparison purposes, images should have the same specifications.

Brightness and contrast adjustments influence the radiographic detection of soft tissue calcification.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of subjective enhancement of brightness and contrast of digital panoramic radiographs on the detection of soft tissue calcifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this observational study, 500 digital panoramic radiographs were evaluated by two examiners in consensus, who scored the images for the presence of calcifications for each right and left side of the image. After 30 days, all images were revaluated under subjective manipulation of digital brightness and contrast. Calcifications were classified based on the diagnostic hypothesis: sialolith, tonsillolith, calcified atheroma, phlebolith, rhinolith, maxillary sinus antrolith, synovial chondromatosis, lymph node calcification, stylohyoid ligament, triticeous cartilage, or/and upper horn of thyroid cartilage calcification. For intra-examiner agreement, 20% of the sample was reevaluated. The Kappa test and McNemar test were used (α = 0.05). RESULTS: In original images, calcifications were observed in 44.2% of the patients, and in enhanced images, this number was 70.8%. Many calcifications were detected only in enhanced images, mainly in the diagnostic hypotheses of calcified atheroma and stylohyoid ligament. Intra-examiner agreement was excellent for the detection of soft tissue calcifications (0.82) and for the classification (0.81). CONCLUSION: Subjective enhancement of brightness and contrast alters the detection of soft tissue calcifications in digital panoramic radiograph.

Automatic cephalometric analysis: is it time to switch to a hands-free method?

Aim: To evaluate the reliability of the automatic cephalometric analysis in relation to the semi-automatic method. Methods: Fifty lateral cephalometric radiographs were selected and two dental surgeons performed the Steiner and Tweed analyses independently using the semi-automatic method on the Radiocef Studio 2® software suite (Radiomemory, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil), and the automatic method on the Kodak Dental Imaging Software (Carestream Health, Rochester, NY, USA). After thirty days, 30% of the sample was re-evaluated to assess intra-observer agreement. Ten angular and linear measurements of both analyses were selected, averaged for both observers and compared using Student's t-test with a significance level of 5% (α=0.05). Intra and inter-observer agreement were assessed through Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. Results: Intra-observer reproducibility was excellent for all measurements and inter-observer reproducibility was excellent for most of them. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between automatic and semi-automatic methods for all measurements. Most of the measurements were significantly higher (p<0.05) with the automatic method. Conclusion: Semi-automatic cephalometric analysis can not be replaced with a completely automatic method