Poor oral health status and adverse COVID-19 outcomes: A preliminary study in hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND: Most of the common risk factors for severe outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are correlated with poor oral health, tooth loss, and periodontitis. This has pointed to a possible relationship between oral and systemic health in COVID-19 patients. Hence, this study aimed to assess the dental and periodontal status of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and their associations with the incidence of adverse COVID-19 outcomes. METHODS: We included 128 hospital patients aged between 20 and 97 years and with diagnoses of COVID-19 in this prospective observational study. Dental and periodontal status was assessed using in-hospital clinical examinations, including the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth index, periodontal status, and tooth loss patterns (Eichner index). Associations between oral health measures, the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, and hospitalization endpoints were tested using chi-square test and incidence rate ratio (IRR) estimation using a generalized linear model with log-Poisson regression. The regression models used a block-wise selection of predictors for oral health-related variables, comorbidities, and patients' ages. RESULTS: Overall, poor oral health conditions were highly prevalent and associated with critical COVID-19 symptoms, higher risk for admission in the intensive care unit (ICU), and death. Periodontitis was significantly associated with ICU admission (IRR = 1.44; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.07-1.95; P = 0.017), critical symptoms (IRR = 2.56; 95%CI = 1.44-4.55; P = 0.001), and risk of death (IRR = 2.05; 95%CI = 1.12-3.76; P = 0.020) when adjusted for age and comorbidities. The Eichner index (classes B and C) was associated with ICU admission. CONCLUSION: There was a positive association between deleterious oral health-related conditions, especially periodontitis, and severe COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Validity and reliability of immunochromatographic IgM/IgG rapid tests for COVID-19 salivary diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy of three immunochromatographic rapid tests for salivary detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigens and the reliability of these tests comparing saliva with plasma samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma and saliva samples from 62 patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 20 healthy volunteers were assayed. IgM/IgG antibody against SARS-COV-2 was detected using three immunochromatographic rapid tests and compared with real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: The tests' overall accuracy for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies ranged from 75.6 to 79.3 for saliva and 86.6-87.8 for plasma tests. The sensitivity of saliva and plasma tests increased with the severity of COVID-19 signs and symptoms. The chance of a positive plasma test in participants with a positive qRT-PCR test was 2.27 greater than a positive saliva test. CONCLUSIONS: Although rapid immunochromatographic tests are more accurate using plasma than saliva, which was expected considering its original use, our findings support the use of saliva as a straightforward supplementary method to assess seroconversion in patients with COVID-19, with important sensitivity and sensibility, especially in severe and critical cases.

Tratamento de cisto radicular de grande extensão: relato de caso clínico / Treatment of radicular cyst of extension: case report

Objetivo: Relatar o caso clínico de um cisto radicular extenso em maxila. Relato do caso: Paciente do sexo masculino, feoderma, 28 anos de idade, compareceu ao serviço de estomatologia queixando-se de "uma bolha no dente". O paciente relatou evolução da lesão há 15 dias e ter sido submetido a um tratamento endodôntico prévio no dente 21. No exame físico intraoral observou-se um discreto aumento de volume em palato anterior na região do dente 21. Os dentes ântero superiores responderam negativamente ao teste de vitalidade pulpar (TVP). A radiografia panorâmica e tomografia computadorizada odontológica revelaram uma imagem hipodensa expansiva unilocular, estendendo- -se da região do dente 16 até do dente 25, com limites parcialmente definidos e rechaçamento do soalho do seio maxilar direito e da cavidade nasal. Tratamento: Foi realizada biópsia incisional sendo o resultado do exame anatomopatológico sugestivo de um cisto radicular. A abordagem terapêutica inicial foi o tratamento endodôntico dos dentes que apresentaram necrose pulpar preconizando a utilização do hidróxido de cálcio como medicação intracanal. Posteriormente ao tratamento endodôntico foi feita a marsupialização da lesão objetivando a descompressão cística. Após 3 meses de descompressão cirúrgica novos exames imaginológicos revelaram uma pequena regressão da lesão, no entanto, não satisfatória. Optou-se por realizar a curetagem da lesão sob anestesia geral. Confirmou-se novamente o diagnóstico de cisto radicular. Conclusão: Atualmente, 18 meses após a cirurgia, novos exames radiográficos demonstraram o processo de neoformação óssea no local da lesão.

Objective: To present the case of a large radicular cyst in the maxilla. Case report: Male patient, feoderma, 28 years old, attended the stomatology service complaining of "a bubble in the tooth." The patient reported the evolution of the injury for 15 days and has undergone previous endodontic treatment on the tooth 21. In intraoral physical examination it was observed a mild increase in the volume on anterior palate in the tooth 21 region. The anterior superior teeth responded negatively the pulp sensitivity test (PST). The panoramic radiography and dental CT scan revealed a hypodense image expansive unilocular extending from the region of the tooth 16 to tooth 25 with partially defined limits and move away of the right maxillary sinus floor and the nasal cavity. Treatment: Incisional biopsy was performed and the result of the pathological examination suggested a radicular cyst. The initial therapeutic approach had been the endodontic treatment of teeth presented pulp necrosis prioritizing the use of calcium hydroxide as intracanal dressing. Histopathological analysis showed a cystic lesion of inflammatory origin. After the endodontic treatment was made marsupialization of the lesion, aiming the cystic decompression. After 3 months of surgical decompression new imaging examination revealed a small regression of the lesion, however, is not satisfactory. We chose to realize curettage of the lesion under general anesthesia, reconfirming the diagnosis of radicular cyst. Conclusion: Currently, 10 months after surgery, new radiographs demonstrated the process of bone formation at the site of injury.