Evaluation of Dental Practices Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil.

Dentists are healthcare professionals who are at high risk of infection and transmission of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in clinical practice made by Brazilian dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic. From June 22 to July 13, 2020, an online questionnaire was sent to dentists using Google Forms. After providing consent, 1,178 dentists answered questions regarding their knowledge and clinical experiences related to COVID-19. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact, or Kruskal-Wallis tests, with a significance level of 5%. Brazilian dentists significantly changed their routine dental practices. Biosafety measures were added in their offices by 98% of the dentists, increasing operating costs for 88.3% of dentists. Greater discomfort due to the increase in personal protection equipment (PPE) worn during the pandemic was reported by 58.6%. Furthermore, 84.2% reduced heir hours of service. It was found that the dentists decreased their workload, used additional PPE, and took additional biosafety measures.

Efeitos da clindamicina e gentamicina sobre amostras isoladas de infecções odontogênicas graves: estudo piloto / Effects of clindamycin and gentamicin on strains isolated from severe dental infections: a pilot study

As infecções odontogênicas graves constituem um desafio de tratamento por parte dos Cirurgiões Bucomaxilofaciais, geralmente necessitando de intervenções cirúrgicas e administração de antibióticos endovenosos. A associação entre a clindamicina e a gentamicina vem apresentando resultados clínicos satisfatórios ao longo dos anos. Este estudo analisou, in vitro, o tipo de efeito promovido pela gentamicina e pela clindamicina sobre amostras isoladas de infecções odontogênicas graves. Foram utilizadas 20 amostras bacterianas, sendo 13 de Streptococcus do grupo Viridans e 7 de anaeróbios obrigatórios. Estas amostras foram inoculadas em meios de cultura contendo clindamicina e gentamicina, isoladamente e em associação. Utilizou-se a clindamicina em diferentes concentrações e manteve-se a gentamicina a 3 µg/mL em todo o estudo. As amostras de Streptococcus do grupo Viridans mostraram resistência a ambas as drogas e à associação das mesmas, exceto por uma amostra, que se mostrou sensível à gentamicina. Os anaeróbios apresentaram resultados diversos, variando entre sensibilidade ou resistência extremas. Pode-se concluir que não existe um efeito de sinergismo por potenciação entre a gentamicina e a clindamicina e que, de acordo com o espectro de ação de cada droga, esta combinação pode favorecer o tratamento hospitalar das infecções odontogênicas graves. Novos estudos, entretanto, são necessários, para verificar se os efeitos variáveis observados na pesquisa podem interferir nos resultados clínicos

Severe dental infections are a challenge to treatment by oral and maxillofacial surgeons, usually requiring surgical intervention and administration of intravenous antibiotics. The combination of clindamycin and gentamicin, has shown satisfactory results over the years. This study analyzed in vitro the type of effect caused by gentamicin and clindamycin on the strains isolated from severe dental infections. Twenty bacterial samples were used, 13 Streptococcus from Viridans group and 7 obligate anaerobes. These samples were inoculated in culture media containing clindamycin and gentamicin, singly and in combination. Utilizing the clindamycin in different concentrations and kept gentamicin 3 µg/mL throughout the study. Streptococcus from Viridans group were kept for 24 hours in microaerophilic and anaerobic were kept in anaerobic jar for 48 hours both under a 37 ° C temperature. After the incubation period, the reading of the results was performed. Samples of Streptococcus Viridans group showed resistance to both drugs and combination there of, except for one, which was sensitive to gentamicin. Anaerobes showed mixed results, ranging from sensitivity or extreme resistance to variable effects and synergism by adding between drugs. It can be concluded that there is no synergistic effect of potentiation between gentamicin and clindamycin and, according to the spectrum of action of each drug, this combination can enhance hospital treatment of severe dental infections. New studies, however, are required to check whether the variable effects observed in this study may interfere with clinical outcomes

Decayed, missing and filled teeth index and dental anomalies in long-term survivors leukaemic children: A prospective controlled study

Objective: The aim of this prospective controlled study is the comparison between long-term children survived leukaemia and a control group in terms of the decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth (DMFT) and dental anomalies. Study design: Fifty-two long term children survived leukaemia, aged from 8 to 15 years (27 females, 25 males; mean age 11.5 years) were evaluated for the possible effects of the anti-leukaemic therapy on dental development and compared to a control group of 52 healthy children (27 females, 25 males, mean age 11 years). All long-term children who survived were at least 24 months in continuous complete remission. The study of the dental status with a routine oral examination and panoramic radiographs was performed. The DMFT (recorded according to the WHO criteria) and dental anomalies were registered and evaluated. Results: The results of this study evidence that long-term children survived leukaemia, in comparison with the control group, have an higher risk to develop dental caries and show a greater severity of dental anomalies including V-shaped roots, dental agenesis, microdontia, enamel dysplasias. Conclusions: Paediatric patients with haemathological diseases require a special attentions in dental care in addition to the antineoplastic treatment. Therefore, oral hygiene and oral health can be maintained thanks to a close cooperation between the paediatric oncohaematologists, pediatrics dental surgeons and dental hygienists (AU)

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Dental unit waterline management: historical perspectives and current trends.

Interest in and concern about the biofilms that occur in dental waterlines have been increasing in recent years. Dental unit waterlines harbor considerable amounts of bacteria that are derived from the biofilm on the inner surface of these lines. This continuous reservoir of bacteria carries the potential of causing infection to patients and dental workers. The majority of dental procedures require the use of water for cooling instruments, irrigation, and oral rinsing, so it is extremely important that the water used in oral procedures is of a high quality. The present study illustrates the conditions in waterline tubing that favor development of biofilms, and discusses the level of risk that such microbial growth poses for both dental professionals and their patients. The different methods to circumvent this problem are reviewed, and the recent recommendations that should be adopted in the dental clinic to provide the patients with water of acceptable microbiological standards are discussed.

Why not revisiting tinidazole as potential treatment of odontogenic infections?

Tinidazole is a 5-nitroimidazole initially introduced intoclinical medicine in 1969 for the treatment of unicellular parasites.Tinidazole offers selective bactericidal activity, not influencedby the inoculum size, against anaerobic bacteria,that make it of theoretical interest against periodontopathogeninfections. This article reviews the required characteristicsof an antibiotic directed to odontogenic anaerobic infections,as well as the pharmacodynamic pitfalls of commonantibiotic treatments. In addition the in vitro, pharmacokineticand pharmacodynamic properties of tinidazole are reviewed,assessing the degree of its adhesion to the required characteristics,as well as identifying the gaps to be fulfilled priorto its use in this medical field. Tinidazole offers interestingcharacteristics making worthy investigations as a candidatefor the treatment of anaerobic odontogenic infections (AU)

El tinidazol es un 5-nitroimidazol que se introdujo en1969 en la clínica para el tratamiento de infestaciones porparásitos unicelulares. El tinidazol ofrece una actividadbactericida selectiva, no influida por el tamaño del inóculo,frente a bacterias anaerobias, por lo que presenta un interésteórico en infecciones producidas por odontopatógenos. Esteartículo revisa las características que requiere un antibióticodirigido al tratamiento de infecciones odontogénicas por bacterias anaerobias, así como las carencias farmacodinámicasde los antibióticos habitualmente utilizados en estetipo de infecciones. Asimismo se revisan las propiedades invitro, farmacocinéticas y farmacodinámicas de tinidazol,valorándose el grado de adhesión de este compuesto a lascaracterísticas requeridas para un antibiótico dirigido a estetipo de infecciones. También se identifican las lagunas deconocimiento sobre tinidazol que deben resolverse antes desu utilización en este campo. Tinidazol ofrece unas característicasinteresantes que posibilitan realizar investigacionescomo candidato al tratamiento de infecciones odontogénicasanaerobias (AU)

Improved compliance with recommended infection control practices in the dental office between 1994 and 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in Ontario dentists' infection control practices between 1994 and 1995. METHODS: Data from responses of 4003 dentists to a 1994 survey and responses of 987 dentists to a 1995 survey were compared by using descriptive statistics from all respondents and McNemar's test for paired data from those participating in both surveys. RESULTS: Response rates were 70% (1994) and 62% (1995). There were improvements in reports of routine use of gloves (92% to 94%); masks (73% to 79%); and protective eyewear (83% to 84%); vaccination for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or naturally acquired immunity of dentists (93% to 94%); HBV vaccination of clinical staff (64% to 77%); heat sterilization of handpieces (83% to 95%); and no extra precautions for patients with HIV (13% to 48%). Pairwise comparison of data for 788 dentists participating in both surveys showed statistically significant increases in reports of all practices except use of protective eyewear. The 1995 follow-up data also indicated low compliance with handwashing (74% before treating each patient; 62% after removing gloves); flushing water lines after treating each patient (54%); and using postexposure protocol for needlesticks and cuts (36%). CONCLUSIONS: Dentists' reports of compliance with recommended infection control practices and universal precautions against HBV and HIV infection increased between 1994 and 1995, but most dentists apparently have not adopted universal precautions. More education is needed to promote universal precautions, HBV vaccination for clinical staff, handwashing, and postexposure protocol.