Dentophobia and dental treatment: An umbrella review of the published literature.

AIMS: Dentophobia is a well-know kind of phobia and psychological problem in dentistry. Although patients might suffer from severe oral pain and have serious health complications, dentophobia is still posing a threat to oral healthcare and remains an unresolved worldwide phenomenon. According to estimates, up to 80% of the general population are affected by this condition. Dentophobia is an unpleasant problem with serious consequences not only for patients but also for dentists and the public health system in general. This umbrella review provides a comprehensive overview of the various aspects of dentophoia as addressed in the published literature, and the current level of knowledge concerning their treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on 35 reviews of the published literature, addressing various aspects of dentophobia and published between 2008 and 2021, this umbrella review was written. The search was based on the PubMed and PsycINFO databases. The extraction was structured by open coding and each aspect of the subject analyzed according to Ritchie and Lewis. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the evidence concerning the efficacy of the various interventions is still rather weak and there is an obvious need for further research, because of the yet and unresolved challenges and the lack of standardised guidelines to deal with patients with dentophobia.

Long-term persistent discomfort due to a giant frontoethmoidal osteoma despite complete surgical removal - A case report.

Introduction: Giant frontoethmoidal osteomas are rare, slow-growing, benign osseous tumours, frequently causing severe life impairing symptoms due to their proximity to noble structures. Initially, osteomas are often diagnosed on radiographs by chance. Their aetiology can be considered ambiguous. They may either be treated by active observation, medical therapy, radio and thermal therapy, or surgery. Case presentation: We report the case of a 56-year-old female patient with a giant osteoma spreading from the nasal cavity to the entire frontoethmoidal sinus, leading to headaches, respiratory problems, and nausea for several years. For a period of 20 years, a watch and wait approach was applied. Finally, the osteoma was removed using a combined open and endoscopic approach. One year after the operation, a secondary mucocele developed, accompanying headaches and facial pressure due to its continuous expansion. Despite numerous consultations, she refused surgical intervention until today. Discussion: Early detection and removal of frontoethmoidal osteomas improves the prognosis for a favourable treatment outcome. The smaller the osteoma, the easier it can be removed endoscopically. The decision to perform surgery was made when the condition drastically affected the patient's quality of life. To date, there is still no strong consent regarding the best surgical approach and the best time to do it. Conclusion: The combination of open and endoscopic surgery remains a safe and straightforward procedure for the removal of giant frontoethmoidal osteomas. Early detection and intervention are crucial for a predictable minimally invasive treatment with a favourable outcome for the patient.

A large maxillary cemento-ossifying fibroma superimposed with solitary bone cyst documented over 18 years: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Cemento-ossifying fibromas are rare, benign lesions of the head and neck regions. The origin of these lesions can be traced to the periodontal ligament, because its cells are able to form cement, lamellar bone, or fibrous tissue. CASE PRESENTATION: A rare case report of a young Caucasian female with a COF is described including follow-ups. She remained untreated for several years despite early radiographic findings of the lesion without a definitive diagnosis. The patient ultimately underwent radical surgery and the whole lesion was removed. The subsequent histological examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis of a COF. Since then, the patient has been under regular clinical and radiological follow-ups. DISCUSSION: This rare case report of a COF, documented over 18 years, shows the importance of consecutive therapy after radiologic and clinical findings, as such lesions continue growing and may subsequently lead to severe medical conditions. Therefore, complete surgical resection of COFs is advised to achieve good results in terms of health and recurrence. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up of patients is required as recurrences can occur for up to 10 years following treatment. Well-planned radical and wide surgical resection of these lesions has proven not only to be effective in eliminating the aetiological factors, but can also achieve decent bone regeneration and aesthetic results with almost no deformation in the surgical site.