Smoking cessation counseling and treatment: An American Dental Association Clinical Evaluators Panel survey.

BACKGROUND: Given the oral health implications of smoking, vaping, and using smokeless tobacco products (STPs), the dental office can be an effective setting for clinicians to offer smoking cessation counseling and treatment (SCCT). METHODS: A survey tool was developed to assess dentists' approach and experience with SCCT. This survey was deployed electronically on May 21, 2021, to the American Dental Association Clinical Evaluators (ACE) Panel (N = 982), and 1 week later, nonresponders were sent reminders. Results were summarized in SAS Version 9.4. RESULTS: Of the 283 survey responders, one-half offered SCCT to their patients. Of those who offered SCCT, 69% would be willing to prescribe pharmacologic agents to help with cessation. Nine of 10 times, SCCT conversations included the dentist. Of the 49% of respondents who did not offer SCCT, one-quarter were current or past smokers, vapers, or STP users. Out of all of the survey respondents, 40% were aware that SCCT is part of most medical benefits. Most respondents (82%) perform surgeries on patients who smoke, vape, or use STPs. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of SCCT in the dental office was split among ACE panelists, but when it was offered, the dentist was almost always involved. Awareness about SCCT medical benefits and surgical protocols for current smokers, vapers, and STP users differed among this sample. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists can benefit from more formal training and resources around SCCT and access to reimbursement for having these crucial conversations with their patients.

The story of 12 Chachapoyan mummies through multidetector computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the imaging findings in Chachapoyan mummies of Peru through multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve human mummies and three burial objects from Laguna de los Cóndores, Peru, about 500-1000 years old, were studied, using a MDCT unit. In addition to the standard whole-body acquisitions, high-resolution scans from areas of particular interest were acquired individually (e.g., temporal bone, teeth). RESULTS: Eight mummies were female, three male, and sex was indeterminable in one mummy; the age of the mummies included newborn, 0.7 years, 2.5 years, 13 years, 13 years, 16 years, and six between 20 and 40 years old. The stature of the mummies was reconstructed (mean±standard deviation; adults: 145±14cm, adolescents: 116±17cm, 2.5 years old child: 72cm, newborns: 41±3cm). Dental conditions were compromised in seven and excellent in five mummies. Besides a dislocation of the ossicles, temporal bones and ears were normal in all mummies. An occipital osteoma, a tuberculous spondylodiscitis, and also probable tuberculous erosions at one tarsal joint and one sacral bone, osteoarthritis or tuberculous affection of a sacroiliac joint, as well as five cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were observed. Ten mummies were buried in the fetal position, two were found packaged in bundles; the burial technique was studied in detail. A necklace was found with one mummy. The added burial objects were identified as skeletal parts of two leopardis pardalis and one lagothrix flavicauda. CONCLUSIONS: MDCT non-invasively revealed information about age, sex, stature, diseases, burial practices and other cultural aspects of the Chachapoyas.