Profile of cancer patients requiring dental and oral-maxillofacial prostheses in a Brazilian subpopulation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to identify the profile of cancer patients in need of rehabilitation with dental and/or oral-maxillofacial prostheses and evaluate possible reasons for not concluding the rehabilitation process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the Dentistry Department of the Mato Grosso Cancer Hospital in the city of Cuiabá, Brazil, involving the analysis of the medical records of patients under care from April 2017 to November 2019. RESULTS: The study population comprised 256 patients who met the inclusion criteria. A total of 30.90% of the patients were older adults, 65.6% were men, 70.3% had brown skin color, 27.3% were retired, 49.2% were married and 52% resided in municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso other than the capital. A total of 67.23% reported smoking and 53.9% reported alcohol consumption. The tumor was located in the head and neck region in 57.4%. The most frequent histological type was epidermoid carcinoma (55.1%). A total of 28.9% of cases were in disease stage IV. Most patients (60.2%) completed prosthetic rehabilitation, with a predominance of total prosthesis. The main reasons for not completing rehabilitation were the patient's death and weakness. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who started treatment in more advanced stages of cancer had a greater chance of not completing the prosthetic rehabilitation. The non-completion of treatment was directly related to death and the state of weakness. Key words:Cancer, dental prosthesis, epidemiology, maxillofacial prosthesis, oral rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation with Esthetic Functional Fixed Space Maintainer: A Report of Two Cases.

BACKGROUND: Early loss of anterior primary teeth occurs mainly due to dental caries and trauma and may cause functional changes and negatively impact children's quality of life and social interaction. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This article reports two cases in which pediatric patients with different dental losses were rehabilitated with esthetic functional fixed space maintainers with tube-bar system. CASES DESCRIPTION: In the first case, a 3-year-old boy with a missing upper central incisor due to dental trauma was rehabilitated with an esthetic functional fixed space maintainer with tube-bar system. In the second case, a 5-year-old boy lost three upper incisors, also due to dental trauma. He was likewise rehabilitated with an esthetic functional fixed space maintainer with tube-bar system. CONCLUSION: The rehabilitation of early losses of anterior primary teeth by fixed esthetic functional space maintainers with tube-bar system proved to be a favorable treatment option regardless of the age of the patient or the number of missing teeth. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Early loss of anterior primary teeth may have a major impact on the pediatric patient and is still a challenge in clinical practice. This article presents an effective and inexpensive alternative to this clinical situation. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Volpato LER, Crivelli ASB, Oliveira ETRT, et al. Rehabilitation with Esthetic Functional Fixed Space Maintainer: A Report of Two Cases. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):315-318.

Do Children and Adolescents Prefer Pediatric Attire over White Attire during Dental Appointments? A Meta-analysis of Prevalence Data.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the preferences of children and adolescents regarding the professional attire used by dentists (pediatric or white attire). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven electronic databases were searched without restriction regarding language and publication date. The primary outcome was the preference of patients regarding pediatric or white attire; secondary outcomes were preference for a female or male dentist and the use of personal protective equipment or not. We ran a meta-analysis of prevalence data of preferences, calculating effect estimate (ES), 95% CI, subgrouped by anxiety status and sex of the patient. Z-test of interactions was used to compare prevalence between groups (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Fourteen cross-sectional studies were included, consisting of 5,756 patients with ages ranging from 2 to 15 years. Anxious children preferred more pediatric attire (ES: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.03) than non-anxious children (ES: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.02) (p = 0.0085). Female dentists were preferred (ES: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.72) over male dentists (ES: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.49) (p = 0.003) in general and by the girls (ES: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.56) but not by boys (ES: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.30) (p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: There is no difference in the preferences of children and adolescents regarding a specific attire. Anxious children and adolescents preferred dentists using pediatric attire. In general, female dentists were preferred over male dentists and also were preference among girls. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kastelic DRA, Volpato LER, de Campos Neves ATS, et al. Do Children and Adolescents Prefer Pediatric Attire over White Attire during Dental Appointments? A Meta-analysis of Prevalence Data. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(1):14-29.

Technology Incorporation in Primary Teeth Endodontics: Case Reports.

BACKGROUND: Radical pulp therapy is an important and a relatively frequent procedure in pediatric dental offices. AIM: This study presents two clinical cases of pulpectomies in deciduous teeth using electronic apex locator and rotary instrumentation. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: In Case 1, pulpectomy was performed in a deciduous incisor with diagnosis of pulp necrosis in a 3-year-old patient using an electronic apical locator and manual instrumentation. In Case 2, it was performed in a primary molar with diagnosis of irreversible acute pulpitis in a 9-year-old patient with the use of electronic apical locator and rotational instrumentation. The used technologies contributed to favorable final result of the endodontic treatments in deciduous teeth in both cases. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of technology to the endodontic treatment of primary teeth favored the gain of time and conicity of the root canal preparation. However, studies still need to be performed to consolidate the technique. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Endodontic treatment of primary teeth still generates much discussion about the materials and techniques employed. The use of electronic apical locator and rotational instrumentation is successful treatment alternatives for teeth with pulp necrosis, with the advantage of limiting clinical time and presenting a favorable outcome. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Gomes LAS, Oliveira AA, de Campos Neves ATS, et al. Technology Incorporation in Primary Teeth Endodontics: Case Reports. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(2):180-185.

Unusual presentation of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a young woman.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral malignant neoplasm, mainly affecting individuals over 50 years old with a history of tobacco and alcohol use. The occurrence of this oral cancer in individuals under 40 years old is unusual and, when it does occur, shows a weaker relation to those risk factors and a more aggressive clinical course. Due to the paucity of reports in this population, it is difficult to prove its increasing trend. A case of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a 39-year-old woman with no history of tobacco or alcohol use is reported. Clinical and histopathological findings, aetiology, and treatment are discussed. The increasing trend of oral squamous cell carcinoma in young women without known risk factors highlights the need for clinicians to be prepared to diagnose this lesion quickly and precisely, providing a better prognosis, chance of survival, and quality of life for the patient.