Effect of Dental Course Cycle on Anatomical Knowledge and Dental Carving Ability of Dental Students.

This study assessed the effect of the course cycle on theoretical knowledge of dental morphology and the dental carving ability of dental students. Thirty-two dental students from the third semester (initial cycle) and 30 students from the eighth and tenth semesters of the dental course (end cycle) had their theoretical knowledge on dental morphology assessed using a questionnaire with ten closed questions. Their dental carving ability was also assessed using wax carvings in macro models of plaster (for the third [S3] and eight [S8] semesters) and natural-sized artificial teeth (for the tenth [S10] semester). The teeth chosen for the dental carving activity were #16 and #47. The scores were statistically analyzed using the t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney test (α = 0.05). Students from the initial cycle presented better theoretical knowledge than the other groups did (P < 0.007). No significant differences in carving score were found between the initial and end cycles (P > 0.05), although S10 students obtained a higher score for teeth #16 and #47 (P < 0.05). Natural-sized artificial teeth received a higher evaluation score in dental carvings than the macro models (P < 0.001). Within the limits of this study, it was possible to conclude that students from the initial cycle (S3) presented higher theoretical knowledge, whereas no difference in carving ability was observed between the initial and end cycles. The tenth semester (S10) students performed dental carvings with better quality. Furthermore, carvings in natural-sized artificial teeth presented better quality compared with the macro models.

Aspectos de interesse clínico sobre a síndrome PFAPA (febre periódica, estomatite aftosa faringite a adenite / Clinical aspects of PFAPA syndrome (periodic fever, aphthous somatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis

O objetivo do a artigo é apresentar uma revisão da literatura sobre síndrome PFAPA, enfocando suas características clínicas, métodos e diagnósticos e tratamento. Foram consultados artigos indexados no Medline, publicados no período de 1984 a 2003. A síndrome PFAPA é uma enfermidade benigna, que se caracteriza por episódios recorrentes de febre alta, estomatite aftosa, faringite e adenite cervical em crianças de faixa etária inferior a cinco anos. As crianças apresenta-se saudáveis entre episódios febris, cujo o interval é, classicamente, de 28 dias. A prednisona aborta os sinais e sintomas atenuam-se espontaneamente com o avanço da idade não são descritas sequelas a longo prazo. Após a análise da literatura, fica clara a importância do correto diagnóstico diferencial com a síndrome de Bechet, síndrome da imonuglobulinemiaD, febre familiar do mediterrâneo e neutropenia cíclica. Uma vez confirmado o diagnóstico, o profissional deve tranquilizar e orientar os familiares, esclarecendo-ossobre a diminuição da recorrência dos quadros com o avanço da idade ou mesmo completa remissão com a chegada da puberdade.