Prevalence and Characteristics of Eagle's Syndrome in a Syrian Population: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

Objectives Elongation of the styloid process causes different symptoms with varying degrees of severity in some people. This elongation can be detected haply during routine reading of panoramic X-ray. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence rate of Eagle's syndrome among a population from Damascus, Syria, and to evaluate the accompanying clinical symptoms. Methods This is a descriptive epidemiological study including 3,962 patients who attended one of the many dental clinics of educational and/or healthcare institutions in Damascus. All digital panoramic radiographs were reviewed, and the styloid processes were measured and assessed for elongation. Patients with styloid process of more than 3 cm in length were contacted and their consents were obtained to participate in the study to assess the presence of clinical symptoms. Results Radiographic elongation of the styloid process was found in 179 out of the 3,962 assessed dental records (prevalence rate was 4.5%). Length ranged from 30 to 90 mm, with an average of 55.9 mm. Of the patients with elongated styloid process, 10.2% had undergone tonsillectomy. All patients who underwent tonsil surgeries were symptomatic with at least three of the studied symptoms. Symptoms included peri-orbital pain (40.9%), orbital pain (35.2%), neck and shoulders pain (52.3%), ipsilateral headache (58%), earache (30.7%), tinnitus (37.5%), articular clicking (29.5%), throat pain (31.8%), globus sensation (22.7%), and dysphagia (21.6%). Conclusions The prevalence of Eagle's syndrome according to this study was 4.5%. Patients who had undergone tonsillectomy were more likely to be more symptomatic. The most common symptom was severe headache (migraine) on the same side of styloid elongation. Panoramic radiography is a low-cost means that can be helpful in the diagnosis of vague pain and symptoms caused by Eagle's syndrome in the head and neck regions.

Factors associated with an increase in tobacco use and alcohol drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of data from 105 countries.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably led to monumental challenges, and alcohol drinking and tobacco use have unlikely been spared. This cross-sectional survey reports on factors associated with an increase in alcohol drinking and tobacco use during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An online survey conducted in 2020, generated data from 14899 adults residing in 105 countries. Dependent variables were changes in alcohol drinking and tobacco use. Independent variables were age, sex, education level, job loss, lost or reduced wages, investment/retirement benefits, interrupted substance addiction care, and income level of the countries. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was computed to explore the associations between dependent and independent variables in adjusted models using the backward stepwise method. The probability of including or excluding a covariate was set at p(in)<0.05 and p(out)>0.1, respectively. RESULTS: Of the regular alcohol consumers (N=4401), 22.9% reported an increase in their alcohol drinking. Of the regular tobacco users (N=2718), 31% reported an increase in their tobacco use. Job loss (Alcohol: AOR=1.26; Tobacco: AOR=1.32) and lost/reduced wages (Alcohol: AOR=1.52; Tobacco: AOR=1.52) were associated with higher odds of increased alcohol drinking and tobacco use. Many interruptions to addiction care (AOR=1.75) were associated with higher odds of increased alcohol drinking. Whereas no interruption to addiction care was associated with lower odds of increased alcohol drinking (AOR=0.77). Also, none (AOR=0.66) or some (AOR=0.70) interruptions to addiction care were associated with lower odds of increased tobacco use. CONCLUSIONS: This global survey alludes to the unintended consequences of the current COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol drinking and tobacco use. It is critical that the strategies for emergency responses should include support to ameliorate the impact of financial distress and disruption in substance dependence treatment services.

Arthrocentesis, Injectable Platelet-Rich Plasma and Combination of Both Protocols of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Management: A Single-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction Osteoarthritis is one of the most common disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The complex etiopathogenesis of the temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), and the variability of symptoms make it difficult to adopt standardized therapeutic protocols. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have been applied into the TMJ in patients with TMJ osteoarthritis. On the other hand, arthrocentesis has received a widespread acceptance, as a minimally-invasive surgical procedure for TMDs. This study aimed to assess and compare the effect of each of these protocols (arthrocentesis, PRP injection, combination of them) in the management of TMJ osteoarthritis. Methods A single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted on a sample of 33 participants with limited mouth opening, pain on function and joint sounds due to TMJ osteoarthritis. Participants were assigned randomly into three groups: Arthrocentesis with PRP group; PRP group; Arthrocentesis group. Maximum mouth opening (MMO), pain and joint sounds were re-evaluated during a six-month observation period. Intra- and inter-group comparisons regarding these variables were performed. Results Participants in all study groups showed statistically significant improvement in terms of MMO and pain during the six-month postoperative period (p<0.05), and showed no significant improvements regarding joint sounds (p>0.05). Pain evaluations showed better outcomes in arthrocentesis with PRP group in comparison to arthrocentesis or injectable PRP alone after six months of follow-up (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the outcomes of MMO and joint sounds evaluations between the three groups after six months. Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the three assessed treatment protocols were effective in improving limited mouth opening and pain in patients with TMJ osteoarthritis. A combination of TMJ arthrocentesis and PRP intra-articular injections showed the best outcomes regarding pain symptoms. None of the tested treatment protocols showed improvement in terms of articular sounds.

Unusual Indications of Teeth Transplantation: A Literature Review.

Dental implants are one of the best valid tooth replacement options, though these are not always appropriate in growing young patients. Tooth autotransplantation can be indicated then. However, this is not the only scenario where dental transplantation can be indicated. This comprehensive literature review discusses a wide range of unusual indications of dental transplantation as reported throughout the medical literature. Surprisingly, these indications include management of some developmental dental anomalies, hypodontia, oroantral communications, alveolar clefts, deficient alveolar ridges, ectopic teeth, and maxillofacial injuries. Limited high-quality evidence in this field regarding most of these unusual indications warrants further research of high-quality design.

Effect of Intrasocket Application of Manuka Honey on Postsurgical Pain of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars Surgery: Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sufficient evidence exists recommending the use of honey in the management of wounds. Studies revealed that the healing effect of honey could be classified by its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of its components. Since surgical extraction of impacted molars is one of the most common operations in the oral cavity and the postoperative pain disturbing the patient may reduce the quality of health service, this study aimed to assess the analgesic potential of Manuka honey application into the extraction socket of impacted mandibular third molars. METHODS: This randomized split-mouth controlled study included 33 patients undergoing impacted bilateral lower third molars surgery under local anesthesia (n = 66). Randomization was carried out by coin flipping. One of the two impacted third molars was assigned to treatment group (Manuka honey applied just before suturing), other side to control group (nothing applied). Postsurgical pain was evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS) of faces 7 days after extraction. The total analgesic dose used was also evaluated. RESULTS: In treatment group, postoperative VAS scores were significantly lower compared to that in control group regarding first and second days postoperatively (P < 0.05). Total analgesic intake in the control group was significantly higher (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that intrasocket application of Manuka honey after surgical extraction of impacted lower third molar is an effective method for reducing acute postsurgical pain.