Halitosis Assessment and Changes in Volatile Sulfur Compounds After Chewing Gum: A Study Performed on Dentistry Students.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of halitosis (with subjective and objective methods), evaluate the immediate effect of chewing gum on volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), assess the perception of halitosis by dentistry students, and estimate the distribution of positive and negative frequencies, when comparing objective and subjective methods for the diagnosis of halitosis. METHODS: The study was performed on a sample of dentistry students attending the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Barcelona. A questionnaire about halitosis perception was provided and a clinical examination, organoleptic test (OT), and gas chromatography were performed to determine the presence of halitosis. The subjects were also given chewing gum to modify their breath, and gas chromatography was carried out to evaluate possible changes in VSCs. RESULTS: The sample comprised 80 individuals. Twenty-seven (33.75%) self-perceived halitosis during the period of evaluation; the OT was positive in 38 subjects (47.5%); and individuals positive for halitosis on gas chromatography were distributed as follows: H2S in 25 (31.25%), CH3SH in 28 (35%), and (CH3)2S in 70 individuals (87.5%). A statistical difference before and after chewing gum (P < .05) was found for each VSC; a difference in frequencies was observed between the variable OT and H2S (P < .05) and between the OT and (CH3)2S (P < .001). There was no significant difference (P > .05) between the positive and negative frequencies retrieved between the variable OT and CH3SH and between the OT and the student's halitosis perception. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of halitosis in the studied sample is high, considering that it comprised healthy individuals. The relationship between the OT and gas chromatography is not completely established. Chewing gum could be considered a therapeutic alternative to decrease or neutralize the amount of VSCs present in oral breath.

Epstein-Barr Virus and Peri-Implantitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The exponential growth in the use of dental implants in the last decades has been accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of peri-implant disease. It appears that viruses may have pathogenic potential for the development of this pathology. The objective of this systematic review is to study the possible association between the presence of Epstein-Barr virus and the development of peri-implantitis. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scielo and Embase databases for cross-sectional and case-control studies in humans published up to and including 4 January 2021. Five studies were included in the qualitative analysis. The meta-analysis did not show a statistically significant difference regarding the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in the peri-implant sulcus between implants with peri-implantitis and healthy implants. In conclusion, no association between the human herpesvirus 4 and peri-implantitis was found. Further research on this topic is essential to develop more effective treatments.

Evaluation of the quality of life and satisfaction in patients using complete dentures versus mandibular overdentures. Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes edentulism as a physical impairment that results in a negative impact in the daily activities. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to compare the satisfaction and the quality of life, in patients treated with implant retained overdentures with two mandibular implants (IOD) against those with mandibular conventional complete dentures (CCD). METHODS: Different search strategies were used to screen for articles in Pubmed/Medline, Cochrane Library and Scielo of the last 17 years (2003-2020). The keywords used were: "quality of life OR satisfaction" AND "complete denture OR conventional denture" AND "overdenture OR implant retained." RESULTS: Six articles and two more were added by manual search. The population was 400 in the CCD and 412 for IOD. The mean age was 64.3 ± 6.41 years. The group was comprised of 283 men and 427 women. The scores obtained in the visual analog scale (VAS) before and after the treatment were statistically significant in favor of the IOD for overall satisfaction, (WMD: 12.329; 95% CI: 4.873 to 19.784, p-value = 0.001), comfort, speech and stability. For esthetics and chewing there was non-significant improvement while hygiene worsened for the IOD. For the comparison after the treatment between both treatment modalities a statistically significant improvement was found in overall satisfaction (WMD: 14.408; 95% CI: 8.589 to 20.226, p-value < 0.001), comfort, speech, chewing and stability in favor of the IOD but not in esthetics or hygiene. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis show the superiority of the IOD, despite is not achieved in all aspects.

Correlation between mandibular bone density and skeletal bone density in a Catalonian postmenopausal population.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine if the mandible (MD) experiences reductions in bone mineral density (BMD) similar to the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) in a postmenopausal population. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 137 postmenopausal women underwent 3 types of densitometric examinations: LS, FN, and MD as measured in 3 regions (MD-R1, MD-R2, and MD-R3), as well as the entire mandible (MD-Net) using a dual photon bone X-ray densitometer. Densitometry of the LS and FN were performed according to the protocol of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Mandibular densitometry was performed using a modification of a previous technique, placing the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, with the head supported by a 13-cm-thick cushion above the temporomandibular joint. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between densitometry results for the LS and the MD, with P values of .021 at MD-R1 (ramus); .001 at MD-R2 (body); .050 at MD-R3 (symphysis), and .001 at MD-Net (total mandibular density). No correlation was found between mandibular and FN densitometry (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, for this population, it can be affirmed that the MD responds to osteoporosis in ways similar to the LS.

Dental pigmentation and hemochromatosis: A case report.

The causes of dental pigmentation are diverse. It can be classified in intrinsic or extrinsic depending on the origin and location of the stain in the affected tooth. This report presents an unusual case of dental pigmentation and enamel loss where the diagnosis of its origin revealed an underlying systemic pathology, unknown to the patient, which could have affected the development of the pigmentation.

Burning mouth syndrome and associated factors: A case-control retrospective study. / Síndrome de boca ardiente y factores asociados: estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) can be defined as burning pain or dysesthesia on the tongue and/or other sites of the oral mucosa without a causative identifiable lesion. The discomfort is usually of daily recurrence, with a higher incidence among people aged 50 to 60 years, affecting mostly the female sex and diminishing their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between several pathogenic factors and burning mouth syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 736 medical records of patients diagnosed of burning mouth syndrome and 132 medical records for the control group were studied retrospectively. The study time span was from January 1990 to December 2014. The protocol included: sex, age, type of oral discomfort and location, among other factors. RESULTS: Analysis of the association between pathogenic factors and BMS diagnosis revealed that only 3 factors showed a statistically significant association: triggers (P=.003), parafunctional habits (P=.006), and oral hygiene (P=.012). There were neither statistically significant differences in BMS incidence between sex groups (P=.408) nor association of BMS with the pathogenic factors of substance abuse (P=.915), systemic pathology (P=.685), and dietary habits (P=.904). CONCLUSIONS: Parafunctional habits like bruxism and abnormal movements of tongue and lips can explain the BMS main symptomatology. Psychological aspects and systemic factors should be always considered. As a multifactorial disorder, the treatment of BMS should be executed in a holistic way.