Diagnosis and rehabilitation of an infant with palatal mucormycosis: A clinical report and systematic literature review.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Oral mucormycosis is uncommon in pediatric patients with hematolymphoid diseases. Prosthetic rehabilitation is challenging, and protocols are scarce in the literature. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical report and systematic literature review of case reports and case series was to describe the clinicopathologic aspects of oral mucormycosis and the interim prosthetic rehabilitation of an affected infant. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical lesions were ulcerative and necrotic with underlying bone exposure that affected the hard palate. The affected area underwent surgical debridement, and histopathologic analysis was performed. A literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science up to October 2023 was performed. RESULTS: The histopathological features were consistent with mucormycosis. Topical and systemic antifungals were prescribed. Tooth eruption was insufficient, and an acetate plate without clasp retention, but still with adequate retention, was fabricated. Articulatory, masticatory, and swallowing functions were restored, preventing the passage of food and fluids into the oroantral cavities. Twenty-five articles describing 26 patients with oral mucormycosis related to hematolymphoid disorders affecting the pediatric population were identified. None of the authors of these articles provided information about oral rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to increasing the chances of survival for infants affected by oral mucormycosis. Custom-made rehabilitation should be provided to restore oral function and improve the patient's general health.

Oral Rehabilitation of Marginal Maxillectomy Patient After Local Flap Reconstruction.

The treatment of oral cancer can lead to various oral complications, including oral defects, tissue deformation, and trismus in patients who have undergone oral cancer surgery with resection of any part of the maxillary. Restoring the ability to chew, swallow, and maintain esthetics is essential and a significant challenge. The aim of this study was to report a successful clinical case of preprosthetic surgery and prosthetic rehabilitation of a 65-year-old man who had undergone marginal maxillectomy, resulting in tissue scarring and a significant reduction in maximal mouth opening. The oral rehabilitation was achieved using a conventional removable prosthesis. This case demonstrates that preprosthetic surgery combined with conventional removable prosthesis is an effective strategy for complex rehabilitations providing functional and esthetic improvement in the affected area for patients with marginal maxillectomies resulting from oral cancer.

Marginal Mandibulectomy and Oral Rehabilitation of Xeroderma Pigmentosum Patient.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) may cause tissue deformation in patients who have undergone oral cancer surgery requiring resection of any part of the mandible. Oral rehabilitation is a pivotal factor in the restoration of function and esthetics. The aim of this study was to report a clinical case of successful prosthetic rehabilitation of a 57-year-old woman who presented with marginal mandibulectomy and a significant reduction in maximal mouth opening after treatment for XP. With her reduced opening and considerable loss of structure and tissue, she had difficulty speaking, swallowing, and altered esthetics. The oral rehabilitation was performed with complete maxilla denture and mandible overdenture retained by 2 implants. This case demonstrates that the rehabilitation with mandible overdentures and complete maxilla dentures provide function and esthetic improvement in the mutilated area for XP patients with marginal mandibulectomies.

Biosafety in Dental Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had quite an impact on dental health care. Concerns about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through contaminant fluids and droplet formation during several dental procedures highly impacted dental health care, drastically reducing the number of dental practices worldwide. To monitor SARS-CoV-2 contamination in dental clinics, a longitudinal study was carried out during the return of dental practice at university. Methods: Dental health care professionals [(DHCPs); teachers, undergraduate dental students, and dental assistants] and patients were screened for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a dental school clinic environment from 11th January to 12th March 2021 (9 weeks). Serological testing was performed on DHCPs in two-time points. Additionally, samples with low Ct values were sequenced to identify the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant and possible transmission clusters. Results: We found a low number of dental staff (5.8%), patients (0.9%), and environment sites (0.8%) positive for SARS-CoV-2. Most positive cases had asymptomatic to mild symptoms, and two asymptomatic DHCPs presented prolonged infection. In the first week after previous exposure to COVID-19, 16.2% of DHCPs had IgM or IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and 1/3 of them had undetected antibodies in the last weeks. The variant zeta (P.2) could be detected. No cross-infection was observed between participants. Conclusion: Our study suggests that dental practice can be safely executed when adequate control measures and biosafety protocols are applied. DHCP and patient testing, patient telemonitoring, proper use of personal protection equipment, and sanitization of surfaces are essential to avoid SARS-CoV-2 cross-infection in dental practice.

Comparison of instrumental methods for color change assessment of Giomer resins.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the color change of the Giomer resin composite (Beautifil-Bulk) by using photographs obtained with a smartphone (iPhone 6S) associated with Adobe Photoshop software (digital method), with the spectrophotometric method (Vita Easyshade) after immersion in different pigment solutions. Materials and Methods: Twenty resin composite samples with a diameter of 15.0 mm and thickness of 1.0 mm were confectioned in A2 color (n = 5). Photographs and initial color readings were performed with a smartphone and spectrophotometer, respectively. Then, samples were randomly divided and subjected to cycles of immersion in distilled water (control), açai, Coke, and tomato sauce, 3 times a day, 20 minutes for 7 days. Later, new photographs and color readings were taken. Results: The analysis (2-way analysis of variance, Holm-Sidak, p < 0.05) demonstrated no statistical difference (p < 0.005) between the methods in all groups. Similar color changes were observed for all pigment solutions when using the spectrophotometric method. For the digital method, all color changes were clinically unacceptable, with distilled water and tomato sauce similar to each other and with statistical differences (p < 0.005) for Coke and açai. Conclusions: Only the tomato sauce produced a color change above the acceptability threshold using both methods of color assessment. The spectrophotometric and digital methods produce different patterns of color change. According to our results, the spectrophotometric method is more recommended in color change assessment.