Tobacco consumption and quality of life among teachers: a bidirectional problem.

Objective: This study aimed to assess a bidirectional relationship between tobacco consumption and quality of life among Chilean teachers. Participants and methods: A total sample of 647 Chilean teachers was included in a cross-sectional study (71.8% female). Teachers completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, tobacco consumption habits, and the SF-36 questionnaire to assess quality of life. Logistic regression models were employed for statistical analysis of quality of life (physical component summary; mental component summary), and tobacco consumption habits, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics. Results: A total of 34.2% of teachers were smokers, with the majority (68.7%) being under 45 years old. Smoking teachers demonstrated lower quality of life scores, particularly mental health and emotional problems dimensions, and mental component summary (p < 0.05) versus nonsmoking teachers. Teachers with tobacco consumption had a higher risk of low mental component summary (OR: 1.74; p < 0.001), and those with low mental component summary were more likely to be smokers (OR: 1.77; p < 0.002). Conclusion: These findings indicate that tobacco consumption adversely affects the quality of life of Chilean teachers, especially their mental health. Psychological support should be provided to help teachers cope with work stress and tobacco consumption.

Uso de Hidróxido de Sodio como Alternativa en Técnica de Diafanización de Diente / Use of Sodium Hydroxide as an Alternative in Tooth Clearing Technique

Con el objetivo de conservar material cadavérico, se han creado diferentes técnicas y/o soluciones donde una técnica es la diafanización dental para estudiar la morfología interna del diente. Esta técnica consta en trasparentar el tejido calcificado del diente haciendo visible los conductos radiculares al inyectar una mezcla colorante en ellos. Se han descrito diferentes variantes de la técnica de diafanización como la técnica de Okumura y la técnica de Robertson, pero ambas técnicas utilizan reactivos tóxicos o de difícil acceso, por lo que se ha realizado una búsqueda de reactivos de bajo costo y fácil acceso para realizar la técnica de diafanización, reportándose que la técnica de diafanización por maceración con KOH es válida para diafanizar dientes. El objetivo del presente estudio fue utilizar NaOH en la técnica de diafanización dental por maceración, como una variante de KOH al ser una base de similar característica que el KOH. Se utilizaron 13 dientes (siete tercer molares, cinco premolares y un canino) para realizar tres variantes de la técnica de diafanización: técnica de Robertson, por maceración con KOH y por maceración con NaOH utilizando barra agitadora y agitador magnético en los dientes. Con la técnica de Robertson se obtuvo un diente completamente transparentado, mientras que los dientes diafanizados por maceración, tanto con KOH y NaOH, se transparentaron menos, aunque se hicieron visibles los conductos radiculares, por lo que el uso de NaOH en la técnica de diafanización por maceración es válida, aunque requiere más tiempo que la maceración por KOH.

SUMMARY: To preserve cadaveric material, different techniques, and solutions have been created where one technique is dental diaphanization to study the internal morphology of the tooth. This technique consists of making the calcified tooth tissue transparent and making the root canals visible by injecting a dye mixture into them. Different variants of the diaphanization technique have been described, such as the Okumura and the Robertson techniques. However, both techniques use toxic or difficult-to-access reagents, so a search has been made for low- cost and easily accessible reagents to perform the diaphanization technique, reporting that the diaphanization technique by maceration with KOH is valid for the diaphanization of teeth. This study aimed to use NaOH in the dental clearing technique by maceration as a variant of KOH since it is a base with similar characteristics to KOH. Thirteen teeth (seven third molars, five premolars, and one canine) were used to perform three variants of the diaphanization technique: Robertson technique, KOH maceration, and NaOH maceration using a stirring bar and magnetic stirrer on the teeth. With the Robertson technique, a completely transparent tooth was obtained, while the teeth cleared by maceration, with both KOH and NaOH, were less transparent, although the root canals became visible. Therefore, using NaOH in the diaphanization technique by maceration is valid, although it requires more time than KOH maceration.