Oral medicine considerations for the older patient.

With the proportion of the world population aged over 60 years expected to nearly double to 22% by 2050, health care professionals are faced with the challenge of ensuring they are ready to address this demographic shift. As people age, they are more likely to develop comorbidities which have implications for their oral health. The effects of polypharmacy used to address these underlying health problems can also influence the oral health of older-aged patients. From a clinician's perspective, an awareness of the variety of conditions associated with old age, such as oral-mucosal disease, swellings and manifestations of underlying health conditions, are required to ensure appropriate referral, investigation and management, both in primary and secondary care settings. This article aims to provide the practitioner with an overview of orofacial and oral mucosal conditions commonly encountered with the older patient.

Working at the interface: lessons from a joined-up approach between oral medicine and paediatric dentistry.

Oral mucosal and other head and neck conditions in children have a variety of presentations. The joint oral medicine and paediatric (JOMP) dental clinic is a specialised unit within a London teaching hospital, developed to manage a wide range of oral conditions with an absolute commitment to a child-centred care approach. The authors present eight cases from the JOMP clinic experience at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation trust, over a nine-year period. Each case is unique in its presentation, diagnosis and bespoke management, tailored to the nuance of each individual patient and their unique position. The eight clinical cases demonstrate the success of the JOMP team in achieving good patient outcomes, in terms of providing accurate diagnoses for their oral conditions and for appropriately tailored management/ treatment. The cases also serve to raise awareness of some of the more unusual oral conditions affecting paediatric patients among our professional colleagues.

Immune-mediated oral mucosal pathology: a comprehensive review and update for clinicians - part II.

The oral mucosa can be involved in a wide variety of mucocutaneous conditions that may present primarily in the mouth or affect other cutaneous or mucosal sites. Many of these conditions are immune mediated and typically present as inflammatory mucosal pathology. Patients experiencing such conditions usually seek medical evaluation and treatment due to the associated pain and discomfort, and occasionally taste disturbance or dysphagia and the overall deterioration in the oral health-related quality of life. These conditions share some common features and there could be some overlap in their clinical presentation, which can lead to delays in diagnosis and proper management of patients. Clinicians dealing with such disorders, including dermatologists, need to be aware of the oral manifestations of mucocutaneous conditions, their clinical features, underlying mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options, as well as the recent advances in the research on these conditions. This review provides a comprehensive, evidence-based reference for clinicians, with updated insights into a group of immune mediated conditions known to cause oral mucosal pathology. Part one will cover oral lichen planus, erythema multiforme and systemic lupus erythematosus, while part two will cover recurrent aphthous stomatitis, pemphigus vulgaris and mucous membrane pemphigoid, in addition to the less common disorders linear IgA disease, dermatitis herpetiformis and epidermolysis bullosa.

Role of teledentistry in enabling improved oral care outcomes.

Nowadays, the link between oral health and general health is clearly understood and supported by many global bodies, including the World Health Organisation. Yet, oral diseases remain prevalent worldwide, necessitating a practical approach. This opinion paper seeks to clarify the role of teledentistry as an adjunct for improving oral health when access to oral care services is one of the major concerns.While prevention is the best option, many people lack regular oral care access, missing vital maintenance for mouth and body health. Limited evidence-based education further hinders effective oral hygiene routines. This holds true for remote/rural populations, low socioeconomic groups and individuals with physical/mental disabilities which could make visiting a dental practice more difficult.We examined recent teledentistry publications, highlighting outcomes and suggesting evidence-backed oral health guidance via tailored teledentistry models. Two virtual roundtables were conducted with a global working group experienced in teledentistry and dental access barriers. This panel was made up of representatives from the UK, Belgium, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Ghana and Tunisia.We conclude that teledentistry effectively aids dental referrals, early disease detection, treatment planning, compliance and viability, particularly in regions with limited dental access. The advantage of teledentistry lies in expanding the reach of care. Telehealth and teledentistry are value-driven, yet larger, standardised research is needed to fully harness the potential of teledentistry in bridging underserved populations with oral care experts, ultimately fostering optimal oral health. Education on the capabilities and benefits of teledentistry should become part of the curriculum of future dental professionals and broadly leveraged on continuing education platforms.

Secondary oral syphilis presenting as a tumor-like lesion on the lower lip.

This study presents a case of atypical manifestation of secondary syphilis. Diagnosis was initiated prompted by the patient's complaint of a lower lip lesion, present for three months, resembling a malignant neoplasm. The lesion, a 3 cm (diameter) ulcerated nodule, arising from conjunctive tissue, raised concern. However, further physical examination revealed additional clinical features, including cervical micropolyadenopathy and erythematous skin lesions, prompting a reevaluation of the diagnosis, most likely secondary syphilis. These findings led to a serological investigation, which, ultimately, confirmed the diagnosis of syphilis. The case underscores the importance of recognizing syphilis as a formidable imitator, posing challenges in establishing differential diagnoses of mucocutaneous diseases.

Variations of oral anatomy and common oral lesions.

Several topics related to the oral cavity are briefly addressed in this article, from anatomical variations that, when recognized, avoid unnecessary investigations, to diseases that affect exclusively the mouth, mucocutaneous diseases, as well as oral manifestations of systemic diseases. A complete clinical examination comprises the examination of the mouth, and this approach facilitates clinical practice, shortening the path to diagnosis in the outpatient clinic as well as with in-hospital patients. The objective of this article is to encourage the examination of the oral cavity as a useful tool in medical practice, helping to recognize diseases in this location.

Changes in oral health status in terminal cancer patients during the last weeks of life.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown deterioration of the oral health environment in palliative care patients; however, most of these studies are cross-sectional. In this longitudinal observational study, we aimed to determine the oral symptoms and how they change in palliative care patients. METHODS: The participants were 82 patients (37 men, 45 women) admitted to two palliative care units in Japan between January 2018 and December 2021. The oral condition was evaluated once a week from the time of admission using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) and performance status (PS). Friedman tests were performed on the OHAT and PS scores at 1, 2, and 3 weeks before the week of death. In addition, the Bonferroni method was used to determine how many weeks before death the changes occurred. RESULTS: PS continuously deteriorated from three weeks before death. The total OHAT score 2 weeks before death (3.44±2.10) was significantly different compared to that in the week of death (4.37±2.45). In terms of oral conditions, the properties of the saliva changed, and dry mouth became obvious. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed that the oral environment of palliative care patients became significantly dry 2 weeks before death, suggesting that it may be useful for predicting the stage of death.

Artificial intelligence in salivary biomarker discovery and validation for oral diseases.

Salivary biomarkers can improve the efficacy, efficiency, and timeliness of oral and maxillofacial disease diagnosis and monitoring. Oral and maxillofacial conditions in which salivary biomarkers have been utilized for disease-related outcomes include periodontal diseases, dental caries, oral cancer, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and salivary gland diseases. However, given the equivocal accuracy of salivary biomarkers during validation, incorporating contemporary analytical techniques for biomarker selection and operationalization from the abundant multi-omics data available may help improve biomarker performance. Artificial intelligence represents one such advanced approach that may optimize the potential of salivary biomarkers to diagnose and manage oral and maxillofacial diseases. Therefore, this review summarized the role and current application of techniques based on artificial intelligence for salivary biomarker discovery and validation in oral and maxillofacial diseases.

Immune-mediated oral mucosal pathology: a comprehensive review and update for clinicians. Part I.

The oral mucosa can be involved in a wide variety of mucocutaneous conditions that may present primarily in the mouth or affect other cutaneous or mucosal sites. Many of these conditions are immune mediated and typically present as inflammatory mucosal pathology. Patients experiencing such conditions usually seek medical evaluation and treatment due to the associated pain and discomfort and occasionally taste disturbance or dysphagia and the overall deterioration in the oral health-related quality of life. These conditions share some common features and there could be some overlapping in their clinical presentation, which can lead to delays in diagnosis and proper management of patients. Clinicians dealing with such disorders, including dermatologists, need to be aware of the oral manifestations of mucocutaneous conditions, their clinical features, underlying mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options, as well as the recent advances in the research on these conditions. This review provides a comprehensive, evidence-based reference for clinicians, with updated insights into a group of immune mediated conditions known to cause oral mucosal pathology. Part one will cover oral lichen planus, erythema multiforme and systemic lupus erythematosus, while part two will cover pemphigus vulgaris and mucous membrane pemphigoid, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, in addition to the less common disorders linear IgA disease, dermatitis herpetiformis and epidermolysis bullosa.

[A man with brown discolorations]. / Een man met bruine vlekjes.

A 58-year-old man presents with spontaneous brown discolorations of his mouth and hands. Our differential diagnosis included Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Laugier-Hunziker syndrome or Addison's disease. There were no polyps in a previously performed colonoscopy and no other systemic symptoms. We made the diagnosis Laugier-Hunziker syndrome, a benign skin disorder that doesn't require treatment, confirmed by skin biopsy.

Assessment of brush biopsy findings and salivary LDH levels in oral mucosal lesions of tobacco users.

Introduction: The oral brush cytology is an alternative method developed to improve the efficacy of conventional cytology in oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD), and salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) which is a cytoplasmic enzyme has been widely used as a marker for diagnosing various diseases. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the brush biopsy findings and salivary LDH levels for the early diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Materials and Methods: Patients with deleterious habits including tobacco-related lesions such as leukoplakia, tobacco pouch keratosis, and oral cancer were included in the study. For each patient, saliva sample was collected, brush biopsy was done and smears were prepared. Collected saliva samples were analysed for salivary LDH levels and prepared smears were analysed for dysplastic changes and statistical analysis was performed. Results: Out of 80 samples, 30 were leukoplakia, 45 were tobacco pouch keratosis and 5 were oral cancer, and 13 samples showed positive dysplastic changes, 26 samples showed atypical dysplastic changes and 41 samples showed no signs of dysplastic changes and concluded as negative. On comparing the results of brush biopsy findings and salivary LDH levels, the mean salivary LDH value for positive dysplasia was elevated and the P value was statistically significant (P value: 0.00). Conclusion: Brush biopsy showed good potential in detecting premalignant lesions and salivary LDH levels showed a marked increase which can be used as a diagnostic biomarker and serve as a potent diagnostic aid for early detection of malignancy.

Common soft tissue and hard tissue lesions in children and young people (Part 2).

Children and young people can present with a wide variety of symptomatic orofacial pathologies, which can often cause concern. As one presentation may masquerade in multiple pathologies, we start this chapter with a reminder of the surgical sieve used to form a differential diagnosis. An accurate history and examination are essential following which, multiple special investigations may be required. The role of the primary care clinician is recognising soft and hard tissue pathology, considering a differential diagnosis, arranging special investigations, and either initiating care for more straightforward conditions or referring for specialist input. This chapter covers common soft and hard tissue pathology, but is not an exhaustive list.This chapter aims to provide the reader with a practical guide to aid the diagnosis of orofacial pathology in the paediatric age group.

Manifestações orais e Covid-19: Revisão Sistemática da literatura / Oral Manifestations and Covid-19: Systematic literature review

A doença COVID-19, que se tornou uma pandemia em pouco espaço de tempo, apresenta uma ameaça grave para a saúde global. As condições bucais de pacientes com COVID-19 foram analisadas em vários estudos. Diante disso, observou-se que diversas manifestações bucais foram encontradas nesses pacientes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão de literatura sistemática sobre as manifestações bucais que podem estar associadas à doença COVID-19. A pesquisa foi realizada por meio de uma revisão sistemática nas bases de dados Bireme, PubMed e SciELO, no período de 30 de abril de 2021 a 11 de maio de 2023. A busca utilizou os descritores "COVID-19", "coronavirus" e "oral manifestations". Foram utilizados como critério de inclusão a presença do artigo completo disponível na íntegra e publicado nos anos de 2020 a 2023 e excluídos aqueles que não relatavam alguma manifestação da COVID-19 ou que não abordavam formas de tratamento. Foram incluídos 19 artigos. As informações foram compiladas de forma a compreender a importância de se investigar as manifestações orais em decorrência dessa doença, devido a sua importância internacional dadas às suas circunstâncias devastadoras. Concluiu-se que é notável a importância da anamnese e o exame intraoral para diagnosticar as manifestações orais nos pacientes sob suspeita ou confirmados com a COVID-19, e o diagnóstico precoce das alterações é fundamental para assegurar um suporte adequado ao paciente acometido. Mais estudos são necessários para comprovar a associação direta entre a COVID-19 e as manifestações orais relatadas.

COVID-19, which has become a pandemic in a short time, poses a serious threat to global health. The oral conditions of patients with COVID-19 have been analyzed in several studies. Therefore, it was observed that several manifestations were found in these patients. The objective of the work is to carry out a systematic literature review on the oral manifestations that may be associated with the disease COVID-19. The research was carried out through a systematic review in the databases Bireme, PubMed and SciELO, from April 30, 2021 o May 11, 2023. The search using the descriptors "COVID-19", "coronavirus" and "Oral manifestations". Inclusion criteria were the presence of the full article available in full and published in 2020 and 2023. Articles that did not report any manifestation of COVID-19 or those that did not address forms of treatment were excluded. 19 articles were included. The information was compiled in order to understand the importance of investigating oral manifestations as a result of this disease, due to its international importance given to its devastating entities. It was concluded that the importance of anamnesis and intraoral examination for the diagnosis of oral manifestations in patients suspected or confirmed with COVID-19 is remarkable, and the early diagnosis of alterations is essential to ensure adequate support for the affected patient. Further studies are needed to prove the direct association between COVID-19 and the reported oral manifestations.

Concordância entre agravos bucais autorreferidos durante e após a COVID-19 e condições clínicas de pacientes de um município do Sul do Brasil / Agreement between self-reported oral disorders during and after COVID-19 and clinical conditions of patients in municiplity in Southerm Brazil

O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar a concordância entre agravos bucais autorreferidos durante e após a COVID-19 e condições clínicas de pacientes do município de Palhoça-SC. Materiais e Método: Estudo exploratório, transversal de base quantitativa descritiva com 30 participantes que possuíram testagem positiva para COVID-19 no município de Palhoça-SC. Cada paciente participou de uma avaliação clínica, identificando os agravos bucais, nessa mesma oportunidade, foram registrados dados sociodemográficos e condições bucais autorreferidas. Todas as análises foram conduzidas pelo Software Stata® versão 13. Análises descritivas, inferenciais pelo teste de Qui-quadrado de Pearson (α=5%). Concordância entre presença dos agravos bucais autorreferidos e presença do agravo avaliado clinicamente, pelo coeficiente Kappa e classificadas como: fraca 0 a 0,20; razoável 0,41 a 0,60; boa 0,61 a 0,80; muito boa 0,81 a 0,92; e excelente 0,93 a 1,00. Resultados: A maioria da amostra foram de mulheres (70%), com idade entre 36-59 anos (56,6%) e de baixa renda (70%). Houve concordância boa entre presença de cárie e relato de dor (Kappa=0,70), e para o diagnóstico clínico de sangramento gengival e autopercepção ruim/péssima a classificação também foi boa (Kappa=0,72). Todavia, a concordância entre o relato de sintomas de boca seca e baixo fluxo salivar foi considerada razoável (Kappa=0,57), assim como, para a presença de bolsa periodontal e o relato de autopercepção ruim/péssima (Kappa=0,41). Conclusão: A autopercepção das condições de saúde bucal durante a pandemia foi concordante com determinadas condições clínicas que necessitam de atendimento odontológico, corrobando com as preocupações sobre o agravamento das condições bucais durante a pandemia.(AU)

Aim: To identify the concordance between self-reported oral health problems during and after COVID-19 and clinical conditions of patients in the city of Palhoça-SC. Materials and Method: Exploratory, cross-sectional study with a descriptive quantitative base, formatted by 30 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in the municipality of Palhoça-SC. Each patient participated in a clinical evaluation, identifying oral health problems. At the same time, sociodemographic data and self-reported oral conditions were recorded. All analyzes were performed using the Stata® Software, version 13. Descriptive and inferential analyzes were performed using Pearson's chi-square test (α=5%). Agreement between the presence of self-reported oral health problems and the presence of the clinically evaluated disease, by the Kappa coefficient and classified as: weak 0 to 0.20; take 0.21 to 0.40; reasonable 0.41 to 0.60; good 0.61 to 0.80; very good 0.81 to 0.92; and excellent 0.93 to 1.00. Results: Most of the sample were women (70%), aged between 36-59 years (56.6%) and low-income (70%). There was good agreement between the presence of caries and reported pain (Kappa=0.70), and for the clinical diagnosis of gingival bleeding and bad/very poor self-perception, the classification was also good (Kappa=0.72). However, the agreement between the report of symptoms of dry mouth and low salivary flow was considered reasonable (Kappa=0.57), as well as the presence of periodontal pockets and the report of poor/terrible self-perception (Kappa=0.41). Conclusion: The self-perception of oral health conditions during the pandemic was consistent with certain clinical conditions that require dental care, corroborating concerns about the worsening of oral conditions during the pandemic.(AU)

Knowledge of diagnosis and management of selected oral mucosal lesions among dentists in The Netherlands

Background: Knowledge of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) among dentists is relevant in diagnosing potentially malignant diseases and oral cancer at an early stage. The aim of this survey was to explore dentists' knowledge about OMLs. Material and methods: Respondents to a web-based questionnaire, containing 11 clinical vignettes representing patients with various OMLs, provided a (differential) diagnosis and management for each. Information about demographics and clinical experience of the participants was acquired as well. Descriptive statistics were performed and T-tests were used to test for significant (p<0.05) differences in mean scores for correct diagnosis and management between subgroups based on demographic variables. Results: Forty-four of 500 invited dentists completed the questionnaire. For (potentially) malignant OMLs, the number of correct diagnoses ranged from 14 to 93%, whilst the number of correct management decisions ranged from 43 to 86%. For benign OMLs, the number of correct diagnoses and management decisions ranged from 32 to 100% and 9 to 48%, respectively. For 11 clinical vignettes, mean scores for correct diagnosis, correct management and correct diagnosis and management were respectively 7.2 (±1.8), 5.7 (±1.5), and 3.8 (±1.7). Conclusions: The results show that dentists in the Netherlands do not have sufficient knowledge to accurately diagnose some OMLs and to select a correct management. This may result in over-referral of benign OMLs and under-referral for (potentially) malignant OMLs. Clinical guidelines, that include standardized criteria for referral, and continuing education, may improve dentists' ability to correctly diagnose and accurately manage OMLs. (AU)

Changes in the lesion surface suggesting transformation of oral potentially malignant disorders to malignancy - a report of eight cases.

BACKGROUND: In the case of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD), the possibility of malignant transformation of the lesion necessitates a decision on the need for an additional biopsy at each visit. Among many clinical characteristics, change on the lesion surface is one of the important factors that determine the need for additional biopsy at each visit. The purpose of the study was to provide information on the characteristics of lesions related to malignant transformation during the follow-up period of OPMD. METHODS: Eight patients (four men and four women) with OPMD that transformed into malignancy during long-term follow-up were included and their mean age was 65.8 ± 12.4 years. Clinical information and histopathological diagnosis were investigated at the initial visit and during the long-term follow-up period. The focus was on information on changes on the lesion surface at the time the lesion was confirmed to be malignant. The period from initial diagnosis to dysplasia and from dysplasia to malignancy was also investigated. RESULTS: The OPMD diagnoses were oral lichen planus or oral lichenoid lesions (n = 2), oral leukoplakia (n = 5), and hyperplastic candidiasis (n = 1). During the follow-up period of the lesions, when dysplasia was obtained by additional biopsy, changes in the lesions consisted of an increase in the size of the white or red area. The lesion surface of the OPMD showed verrucous, papillary, exophytic, corrugated, and ulcerative changes at the time of malignancy diagnosis. The period for the initial lesion to become dysplasia, from dysplasia to malignancy, and from the initial lesion to malignancy was very variable. CONCLUSIONS: Attention should be paid to verrucous, papillary, exophytic, corrugated, and ulcerative changes on the lesion surface of OPMD. Considering that the period for OPMD to become malignant is highly variable, a longer follow-up of the lesion is necessary.

Oral health in patients scheduled for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Orastem study.

Despite advances in transplant medicine, prevalence of complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains high. The impact of pre-HSCT oral health factors on the incidence and severity of complications post-HSCT is poorly understood. The aim of this prospective, observational study was to analyze oral health in patients planned for HSCT. Patients ≥18 years requiring HSCT were included from five sites between 2011-2018. General health, oral findings and patient-reported symptoms were registered in 272 patients. Oral symptoms around disease onset were reported by 43 patients (15.9%) and 153 patients (58.8%) reported oral complications during previous chemotherapy. One third of patients experienced oral symptoms at the oral examination before conditioning regimen and HSCT. In total, 124 (46.1%) patients had dental caries, 63 (29.0%) had ≥one tooth with deep periodontal pockets, 147 (75.0%) had ≥one tooth with bleeding on probing. Apical periodontitis was observed in almost 1/4 and partially impacted teeth in 17 (6.3%) patients. Oral mucosal lesions were observed in 84 patients (30.9%). A total of 45 (17.4%) of 259 patients had at least one acute issue to be managed prior to HSCT. In conclusion, oral symptoms and manifestations of oral disease were prevalent in patients planned for HSCT. The extent of oral and acute dental diseases calls for general oral screening of patients pre-HSCT.

General diseases and medications in 687 patients reporting on adverse effects from dental materials.

OBJECTIVES: Examination of patients claiming adverse effects from dental materials can be very challenging. Particularly, systemic aspects must be considered besides dental and orofacial diseases and allergies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate a cohort of 687 patients reporting on adverse effects from dental materials focusing on findings related to known general diseases or conditions or medication-related findings with relevance to their subjective complaints. METHODS: Six hundred eighty-seven patients visiting a specialized consultation on claimed adverse effects from dental materials were retrospectively investigated for their subjective complaints, findings related to known general diseases or conditions, medication-related findings, dental and orofacial findings, or allergies with relevance to their subjective complaints. RESULTS: The most frequent subjective complaints were burning mouth (44.1%), taste disorders (28.5%), and dry mouth (23.7%). In 58.4% of the patients, dental and orofacial findings relevant to their complaints could be found. Findings related to known general diseases or conditions or medication-related findings were found in 28.7% or 21.0% of the patients, respectively. Regarding medications, findings related to antihypertensives (10.0%) and psychotropic drugs (5.7%) were found most frequently. Relevant diagnosed allergies toward dental materials were found in 11.9%, hyposalivation in 9.6% of the patients. In 15.1% of the patients, no objectifiable causes for the expressed complaints could be found. CONCLUSIONS: For patients complaining of adverse effects from dental materials, findings related to known general diseases or conditions and medications should be given particular consideration, while still in some patients, no objectifiable causes for their complaints can be found. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For patients complaining about adverse effects from dental materials, specialized consultations and close collaboration with experts from other medical fields are eligible.