Oral mucositis in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: clinical outcomes in a context of specialized oral care using low-level laser therapy.

OM is a painful inflammatory condition of the oral mucosa, derived from the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. High OM severity is frequently present in HSCT pediatric patients, who exhibit multiple painful ulcers that limit their mastication and swallowing, leading to poor nutritional status. Few studies have demonstrated OM clinical outcomes in young patients undergoing HSCT. Feasibility of oral care and LLLT on OM prophylaxis and treatment is also poorly discussed. The aim of this study was to describe a specialized oral care protocol that included LLLT for pediatric patients undergoing transplantation and to demonstrate the clinical outcomes after OM prevention and treatment. Data from OM-related morbidity were collected from 51 HSCT pediatric patients treated daily with LLLT, followed by standard oral care protocols. All the patients, even infants and young children, accepted the daily oral care and LLLT well. The majority (80.0%) only exhibited erythema in the oral mucosa, and the maximum OM degree was WHO II. Patients who had undergone autologous and HLA-haploidentical transplants showed OM with the lowest severity. The frequency of total body irradiation and methotrexate prescriptions was higher in adolescents when compared with infants (p = 0.044), and adolescents also exhibited OM more severely than infants and young children. We found that good clinical outcomes were obtained using this therapy, mainly in regard to the control of OM severity and pain reduction in the oral cavity. Specialized oral care, including LLLT, is feasible and affordable for HSCT pediatric patients, although some adaptation in the patient's oral hygiene routine must be adopted with help from parents/companions and clinical staff.

Dental consensus on HSCT - Part II: dental Care during HSCT.

During the state of immune vulnerability in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the patient has an increased risk of developing a vast number of complications, including severe problems in the oral cavity. These situations require professional oral care to act in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, as well as to develop prevention protocols to minimize patient's complications. Oral mucositis, opportunistic infections, bleeding, specific microbiota, taste, and salivary alterations are complications that can occur during HSCT and interfere with various aspects, such as pain control, oral intake, nutrition, bacteremia and sepsis, days of hospitalization and morbidity. Several guidelines have been published to address the role of professional oral care during the HSCT, we describe a consensus regarding these recommendations.

Oral lesions and saliva alterations of COVID-19 patients in an intensive care unit: A retrospective study.

AIM: To detect the type and frequency of oral lesions and clinical conditions suggestive of saliva alterations in COVID-19 patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), as well as to describe the patient´s management in each case METHODS: Information about oral conditions and mechanical ventilation was collected from oral medicine records of COVID-19 patients in an ICU (n = 519) RESULTS: From the total collected, 472 patients (90.9%) were examined by the oral medicine staff. In 242/472 patients (51.3%), alterations in the oral cavity were noted. The most frequent changes were mechanical trauma (18.1%, derived mainly from intubation), vascular/coagulation disturbances (24.1%, petechiae, bruises, varicoses, and oral bleeding), and saliva alterations (24.4%, dry mouth, and sialorrhea). Infectious lesions were mentioned in the oral medicine records (16.9%), most associated with a viral infection (15.7%), mainly herpesvirus. Improved oral change protocols included oral hygiene, use of specific medications, and laser therapy CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients in the ICU often showed dryness in the oral and mucosa oral lesions related to vascular/coagulation disturbances, and mechanical trauma derived from orotracheal tube. An oral medicine staff must be aligned with the ICU multidisciplinary team to manage COVID-19 patients, as well as to establish diagnoses and oral cavity treatments.

Peripheral Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumour Mimicking a Gingival Inflammation: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour (CEOT) is an extremely rare benign neoplasia, accounting for approximately 1% of all odontogenic tumours. CEOT can have two clinical manifestations: central or intraosseous (94% of the cases) and peripheral or extraosseous (6% of the cases). Although the latter is less common, the peripheral variant has been described as an insidious lesion, since it is usually asymptomatic and may be erroneously mistaken with gingival hyperplasia, hamartomas, or even metastasis of malignant neoplasia. We report a case of a young male patient presenting with a peripheral CEOT in the mandibular posterior region, mimicking a located gingival inflammation.