Human Papillomavirus-Related Oral Cancer: Knowledge and Awareness Among Spanish Dental Students.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are responsible for a significant part of the global burden of cancer. Epidemiologic studies have shown increasing trends of HPV-related oral cancers worldwide. Dental professionals need comprehensive up-to-date HPV-related information to be able to provide correct advice to their patients. The aim of this paper is to describe knowledge and awareness levels of dental students from Spain on HPV infection, HPV vaccination, oral cancer prevention, and HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer. A survey was distributed to 240 dental students, of which 158 returned it. Most students reported not been vaccinated against HPV (n = 81, 51.3%) and believed that HPV infection was linked to oropharyngeal cancer (75%). Overall, advanced students showed better knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding this issue while novice students showed relevant shortcomings. However, their attitudes in relation to the diagnosis of oral cancer were adequate. These results suggest that there are important HPV-related knowledge deficits among Spanish dental students, which hinders their interventions in oropharyngeal primary prevention efforts. Findings of this study suggest the inclusion and standardization of HPV-related educational information to the dental curriculum.

Unnoticed swallowing of a unilateral removable partial denture.

OBJECTIVE: This paper presents a case report about an unnoticed swallowing of a partial denture impacted in the esophagus in a 74-year old man without serious complications. BACKGROUND DATA: Dental prostheses (removable/fixed dental prostheses or fragments of dentures) appear to constitute a significant proportion of swallowed of impacted foreign bodies in the orolaryngopharynx. CONCLUSION: This case emphazises that is advisable to contraindicate this type of unilateral removable partial denture to replace teeth as temporary or definitive dental prosthesis.

Scanning electron microscopic analysis of diode laser-treated titanium implant surfaces.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the possible morphological alterations of the surface implants after using 980-nm diode laser irradiation (InGalAsP) at various energies. BACKGROUND DATA: Laser-based protocols have been proposed for decontaminating dental implant surfaces when treating peri-implantitis, although few studies have addressed this topic directly. METHODS: Five smooth surface implants (TiOblast ST, Astra Tech AB, Mölndal, Sweden) were irradiated with 980-nm diode laser, and one implant that was not lased served as the control. The surface of each implant was treated for 60 sec on implant neck to apical threads. The experiment consisted of exposing the dental titanium implants to diode laser irradiation. Then the surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: SEM analysis demonstrated any damage or alteration of titanium surfaces. Regardless of the power setting, there was no visible difference between lased and non-lased titanium surfaces after irradiation with the 980-nm diode laser. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the InGalAsP diode laser (980 nm) does not damage titanium surfaces, and seems to be safe and useful of treating peri-implantitis, irrespective of power output.

Histological evaluation of the use of diode laser as an adjunct to traditional periodontal treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe in vivo effects of scaling and root planing associated with 980-nm diode laser irradiation on periodontally diseased root surfaces. BACKGROUND DATA: Rapid advances in the development of laser technologies used in dental offices demand careful evaluation of the respective histopathologic effects of each new system. There have been no reports of scaling and root planing associated with 980-nm diode laser effects on root surfaces after in vivo application. METHODS: Single rooted teeth and multiple rooted teeth considered for extraction due to severe periodontal disease were included in the study. For light microscopic investigation, a resin-embedding technique was used to cut the undecalcified teeth into 30-microm-thick cross-sections and stained. The following parameters were recorded by a blind examiner: remaining debris, root surface morphology, and thermal side effects. RESULTS: Root surfaces instrumented with hand instruments and diode laser in vivo did not show detectable surface alterations. There were no signs of thermal side effects in any of the teeth treated. CONCLUSION: The present in vivo study showed that associated therapy was suitable for non-surgical periodontal treatment. The results suggest that the diode laser may be routinely used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing without damage to the cementum tissue.

Late-life depression: its oral health significance.

Late-life depression (LLD) initially occurs after age 65 and is a major public health concern because elderly people who are at high risk constitute an ever-expanding segment of the population. LLD is a mental illness in which mood, thought content, and behavioural patterns are impaired, causing individual distress, compromising social function and impairing self-maintenance skills (e.g. bathing, dressing, hygiene). It is characterised by marked sadness, or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and may be accompanied by weight change, sleep disturbance, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and high suicide rate. Individuals under treatment for LLD and those whose illness has not been diagnosed or treated often present to the dentist with significant oral disease. LLD is frequently associated with a disinterest in performing oral hygiene, a cariogenic diet, diminished salivary flow, rampant dental decay, advanced periodontal disease, and oral dysesthesias. Many medications used to treat the disease magnify the xerostomia and increase the incidence of dental disease. Appropriate dental management necessitates a vigorous preventive dental education programme, the use of artificial salivary products, antiseptic mouthwash, daily fluoride mouthrinse and special precautions when administering local anaesthetics with vasoconstrictors and prescribing analgesics.

A study of pathology associated with short lingual frenum.

Ankyloglossia is a developmental anomaly of the tongue characterized by a short, thick, lingual frenum resulting in limitation of tongue movement. The frenum is attached to the tip of the tongue in varying degrees. This study evaluates short lingual frenum and other associated pathologies (dentofacial anomalies and lingual dysglossia) and investigates whether ankyloglossia is related to speech problems. A thorough intraoral examination was carried out using the WHO regulations for dentofacial anomalies and occlusion problems and a new scale of lingual mobility. This article also discusses the difficulty in diagnosing this condition and finally following to the results of our study, describes the indications for nonsurgical and surgical treatment of this anomaly.