Assessment of oral tissue alterations in patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate oral mucosal changes in patients with confirmed moderate-scale severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. METHODS: We analyzed 85 COVID-19 patients (50 males, 35 females) with an average age of 53.6 years, treated at the prehospital infectious disease center and Aldent University Clinic in Tirana, Albania, from May 2021 to June 2022. RESULTS: Elevated C-reactive protein levels were observed in 82 patients (±44.20), with 20 patients showing significant fibrinogen increase (mean ± 5.85 g/L), and 22 patients having elevated D-Dimer (mean ± 336.6 mg/mL). Despite the absence of anticoagulant history, 13 patients exhibited bleeding. Xerodermia, xerostomia, and angular cheilitis were noted, with 41 patients displaying angular cheilitis. In 82 patients, oral mucosal and tongue examinations revealed color changes from white to bright yellow, with brown edema. Pigmentation in the fixed gingiva of upper and lower front teeth was observed in 35 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Oral mucosal changes during COVID-19 appear more influenced by drug treatment and disease progression than the infection itself, suggesting that secondary factors play a significant role. Despite the oral cavity's potential for viral entry, these changes seem connected to other underlying causes.

The use of monophasic implants as an alternative of implant-prosthetic rehabilitation in the posterior maxilla with no sinus lift.

BACKGROUND: Over the years, numerous studies and advanced technologies about dental implants have been evolved from the traditional two-stage procedure to immediate loading. Implants located in the posterior maxillary region allow to achieve an appropriate prosthetic support. The aim of this work was to solve the atrophied posterior maxilla, through monophasic implants with flapless technique and intraoral electro-welding. METHODS: In this study were enrolled 120 patients between 20 and 68 years old (mean age of 34.2 years), where females predominate with 53.1% compared to 46.9% males. The patients were presented at the Oral Surgery Clinic of the Aldent University (Tirana, Albania), for a period 2009-2019. Briefly, 310 monophasic implants were placed, TRAMONTE type (Milan, Italy), to the posterior maxilla thus avoiding the sinus, with dense and wide threads, of different lengths and widths. The surgical technique was minimally invasive, flapless one. Data were expressed as mean + standard error (SEM) of all the radiographic outcomes obtained; and as statistical analysis was used the Student's t-test. P<0.5 and P<0.05, were considered significant. RESULTS: A part of the patients were hypertensive and type 2 diabetic, then a negligible part were smokers, also a lack of oral hygiene was observed in 40% of cases. After 5 years of observation, it appeared that 95.9% of the implants were successful. Furthermore, the mesial and distal bone loss during the first three years was 0.1 mm, while after 5 years no continuation of bone loss was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The application of monophasic implants must be performed according to approved protocols, considering the conditions of the posterior maxillary region, obtaining in this way a safe dental implantation.

Effectiveness of Two Different Fluoride-Based Agents in the Treatment of Dentin Hypersensitivity: A Prospective Clinical Trial.

Hyperesthesia is related to increased sensitivity of dental tissues to mechanical, chemical and thermal stimuli. The aim of this prospective clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of a calcium-fluoride-forming agent (Tiefenfluorid®, Humanchemie GmbH, Alfeld, Germany) with that of a fluoride varnish (EnamelastTM, Ultradent Inc., Cologne, Germany) in the treatment of dental hyperesthesia in adult patients. In total, 176 individuals (106 females and 70 males, aged 18-59 years old) diagnosed with dental hyperesthesia (DH) were enrolled. The main clinical symptoms were hyperesthesia from coldness and sweetness during chewing; the types of clinical lesions were also determined and recorded. The patients were selected randomly and divided into two groups: (i) the first group of 96 patients was treated with Tiefenfluorid® applied in three appointments at 7-day intervals; (ii) the second group of 80 patients was treated with EnamelastTM, applied seven times at 7-day intervals. All the patients were recalled 7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months from the last application. At the baseline and during every follow-up visit, the DH was measured with a pulp tester. A random intercept/random slope model was used to evaluate the effect of the treatment, at various times with respect to the initial diagnosis. Within the limits of the present study, Tiefenfluorid® was more effective than EnamelastTM against DH in that it provided long-lasting results, with a significant improvement still detected at the latest 6-month follow-up.

Copper-Calcium Hydroxide and Permanent Electrophoretic Current for Treatment of Apical Periodontitis.

Endodontic failure has been and continues to be a problem for endodontics-specialists. Complicated anatomy, numerous foramens, and accessory canals are an environment for microorganisms to infect the teeth. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the regeneration of copper-calcium hydroxide (Cupral)-endodontically treated teeth diagnosed with apical periodontitis using an electrophoresis technique. In total, 132 patients, aging from 19 to 65 years old, underwent endodontic treatment mono- and multi-radicular teeth, with complicated canals from January 2019 to June 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: (i) the control group-which included 54 patients (n = 62 teeth) receiving endodontic paste (Calcipast + 1) and, as final filling, the AH-PlusTM cement-and (ii) the Cupral group, which included 78 patients (n = 80 teeth) receiving Cupral paste plus the electrophoretic current and, as final filling, the Atacamit-alkaline cement. The clinical cases were periodically observed along an 18-month follow-up period via radiography. Data were expressed as focal size of the lesions (mean ± standard error (SEM) of all the radiographic outcomes) observed in each group at each interval point. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test that allowed us to compare the control and Cupral groups; the statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, where the latter was highly significant. Before treatments, the focal sizes were 4.8 mm and 4.95 mm for control and Cupral-treated groups, respectively. After 6 months, the mean focal sizes were 3.9 mm and 2.14 mm for the control and Cupral groups, respectively. After 12 months, in the control group, the mean focal size was measured at 2.8 mm, while, in Cupral group, the lesion size decreased down to 0.31 mm and a highly dynamic regeneration of the destructive focal-bone occurred. After 18 months, the lesions were further significantly reduced in the control group (mean values of 2.62 mm), while they were barely detectable in the Cupral group (0.2 mm). In conclusion, we provide initial evidence that the Cupral-electrophoresis methodology is effective in treating destructive periodontitis of teeth with problematic canals up to 18 months, thus allowing teeth preservation.