Comparison of knowledge, awareness, and behaviors toward oral cancer among dental students and dentists: an online cross-sectional questionnaire in Türkiye.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional online questionnaire-based study evaluated the knowledge, awareness, and behaviors of dentists and senior dental students regarding oral cancer (OC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 168 dentists and senior dental students who had completed all theoretical educations and clinical practices. An online survey was administered to all participants to assess their awareness of the risk factors for OC, clinical knowledge, and behaviors. The participants' demographic characteristics and knowledge of OC were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the participants, 48.8% were female and 51.2% were male. Their mean age was 27.04 ± 5.56 years (range: 21-51). In addition, 59.5% were dentists, and 40.5% were senior dental students. The dentists' mean time since graduation was 6.38 ± 5.64 years (range: 1-27). Routine oral mucosa examination for OC was significantly more frequent among the dentists than the senior dental students (p < 0.05). Among all participants, 33% of dentists and 51.5% of senior dental students had poor knowledge of OC-related or possibly predisposing factors. Routine evaluation of OC-related and predisposing risk factors, including human papillomavirus infection, smoking, alcohol use, trauma-related non-healing oral lesions caused by long-term incompatible prostheses, and poor oral hygiene, was significantly more frequent among the dentists than the senior dental students (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Educating dental students about a more comprehensive oral examination and early diagnosis of OC would help overcome the current lack of adequate knowledge and attitudes in OC prevention and early detection. A core curriculum compatible with the global standards on OC should be provided to dental students.

Is Low-level Laser Therapy a Candidate to Be a Good Alternative in the Treatment of Mucositis in Childhood Leukemia?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Oral mucositis (OM) is a common side effect of systemic chemotherapy (CT) in cancer patients. The aim was to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of CT-induced OM children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in 40 pediatric patients 3 to 18 years of age, who were hospitalized for the diagnosis of leukemia and underwent CT between June 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019. They were randomly divided into 2 groups with 20 cases in each group. The LLLT group was treated with GaAlAs diode laser (l): 830 nm (infrared), power: 150 mW, dose: 4.5 J/cm2 and the control group underwent bicarbonate treatment. Patients received intervention for 3 days. The grade of OM was clinically assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) Common Toxicity Criteria Scale. Visual Analog Scale was used on the same days with OM grade to evaluate the pain status. RESULTS: While there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of OM grade at the beginning of the treatment and on the first, second, fourth, and 11th days of the treatment, the average OM grade of the LLLT group was found to be statistically significantly lower on the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh days of the treatment. The Visual Analog Scale score of the LLLT group was statistically significantly lower compared with the control group at all examinations starting from the first day of treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the treatment of oral OM that occurs in children after CT, both standard care and LLLT treatment improve the grade and pain of OM.

Malpositioned canine treatment with autotransplantation and laser.

Children and young adults often have tooth loss due to congenital tooth deficiency, trauma, or caries. Autotransplantation has many benefits. The transplanted tooth can be moved orthodontically, maintains alveolar bone growth potential during eruption, and functional periodontal ligament function also permits tooth eruption, allows the defected areas to be filled with the bones; gingival contour is much more successful than the one obtained with prosthesis. In this paper, treatment steps and follow-up results of autotransplantation case supported with biostimulation are mentioned. A 14-year-old female patient was admitted to the clinic with a complaint of decayed tooth 53 and malposed tooth 13. Mobile primary tooth was pulled out, and the socket was shaped with surgical drills. By performing transplantation of ectopic canine, splint was applied with steel wire and composite. Diode laser was used to provide deep disinfection of canals. The patient underwent low-dose laser therapy for biostimulation immediately after these procedures. We did not encounter any ankylosis, root resorption, periodontal, or functional problems in our evaluation with computed tomography after 3 years follow-up of the patient.

Removal of epulis fissuratum by Er,Cr:YSGG laser in comparison with the conventional method.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to compare clinical outcomes during the recovery period after soft tissue surgery performed by an erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser with those after surgery with the conventional method, in which a scalpel was used. METHODS: A total of 44 epulis fissuratum removal surgeries were performed in 30 healthy volunteers using either an Er,Cr:YSGG laser (laser group) or a scalpel (conventional group), with the same number of lesions in each group. Both groups were controlled postoperatively on days 2, 7, 14, and 30. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores of the patients and healing, erythema, and suppuration in the surgical area were recorded with scores between 0 and 3. Total wound surface was measured by a ruler according to the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool. RESULTS: The results of the present study demonstrated that there were no significant differences between the conventional group using analgesic and the laser group in terms of the VAS scores (p = 0.744) and edema (p = 0.206). Evaluation of wound surface revealed healing without any problem as of the 2nd day at a rate of 82% in the laser group and 59% in the conventional group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Er,Cr:YSGG laser was superior to scalpel regarding clinical outcomes, and led to a difference in the use of analgesic and local anesthetic.