Cláudia Borges Brasileiro

Critical review of topical management of oral hairy leukoplakia

Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is a disease associated with Epstein-Barr virus and human immunodeficiency virus infections. OHL is usually an asymptomatic lesion, but in some cases treatment is recommended to reestablish the normal characteristics of the tongue, to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms, to improve patient comfort and for cosmetic reasons. Proposed treatments for this condition include surgery, systemic antiviral treatment and topical management. Topical treatment is an inexpensive and safe therapy that is easy to apply, noninvasive, free of systemic adverse effects and effective over a long period of time. The aim of this study was to present a review of the literature for topical therapy for OHL. Gentian violet, retinoids, podophyllin, acyclovir and podophyllin associated with topical antiviral drugs were used to treat OHL. Reports with this focus are limited, and since 2010, no new studies have been published that discuss the efficacy of topical treatments for OHL. Podophyllin with acyclovir cream was found to be effective, causing regression of lesions with no recurrences. Additional searches are necessary to provide clinical evidence of topical management effectiveness.

Avaliação de processos inflamatórios na articulação temporomandibular empregando leucócitos autólogos marcados com tecnécio-99m em modelo animal

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at identifying temporomandibular joint inflammatory processes employing technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO)-labelled autonomous leukocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have utilized an experimental model of arthritis induction in ten adult male New Zealand rabbits by means of ovalbumin intra-articular injection into each left temporomandibular joint. For control purposes, saline solution was injected. After leukocytes radiolabelling with 99mTc-HMPAO and injection into rabbits, scintigraphic images were obtained. RESULTS: A higher 99mTcHMPAO-leukocytes uptake was observed in left temporomandibular joint in comparison with the contralateral joint. Wilcoxon non-parametric test was applied for statistical analysis. There was a statistically significant difference between counts of radioactivity per minute in the inflammed joint and the contralateral one (p = 0.0073). CONCLUSION: The method employing 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled autologous leukocytes allows an early and accurate detection of inflammatory processes, contributing to the adoption of a therapeutic conduct for patients before structural alterations have occurred.

Predictors Factors of Low Bone Mineral Density in Dental PanoramicRadiographs

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease that is considered a public health problem since it presents socioeconomic impacts. The disease results in micro architectural deterioration of bone tissue and decrease of bone mineral density (BMD) with consequent increase of bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is considered the gold standard for BMD evaluation, but investigations about several panoramic radiography indices have been done in order to seek a predictor of low BMD so that the dentist can play an important role in screening patients with low BMD and referring them properly for bone densitometry for osteoporosis investigation. The aim of this paper is to present a review of mandibular radio morphometric indices evaluated in dental panoramic radiographies and used to recognize patients with low BMD.

Digital panoramic radiography and cone-beam computed tomography as ancillary tools to detect low bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the usefulness of the mandibular cortical index (MCI) obtained by digital panoramic radiography (DPR) and by panoramic reconstruction (PR) of cone-beam CT (CBCT) with three different slice thicknesses for the screening of low bone mineral density (BMD) in post-menopausal women. METHODS Two trained oral and maxillofacial radiologists assessed the MCI based on the morphology of the mandibular bone cortex (classified as C1, C2 or C3). The DPR and PR of CBCT with slice thicknesses of 5, 15 or 25 mm were compared to the BMD obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in post-menopausal women. Measures related to accuracy were calculated with MedCalc software. The confidence interval was set at 95%. RESULTS 54 women (mean age 58.70 ± 7.35 years) participated in the study. The sensitivity and specificity values obtained for DPR were 52.6% and 56.2%, respectively, and values for PR of CBCT with 5, 15, and 25 mm slice thicknesses were 63.1% and 43.7%, 50.0% and 50.0%, and 52.6% and 62.5%, respectively. For the tools evaluated, the positive likelihood ratio ranged from 1.00 to 1.40 and negative likelihood ratio from 0.76 to 1.00. The positive predictive value (PPV) ranged from 70.4 to 76.9% and the negative predictive value (NPV) from 29.6 to 35.7%. Among the examinations, the highest value for area under the curve (AUC) was obtained for CBCT with 25 mm slice thickness (57.6%). CONCLUSIONS The MCI calculated by DPR and CBCT differed with regard to accuracy. Within the limitations of this study, the PR of CBCT with 25 mm slice thicknesses seems to be the most accurate among the examinations evaluated. Should the dentist be attentive, DPR and CBCT may be useful tools for the screening of low BMD in post-menopausal women, facilitating their timely referral for further assessment.

Extending Coronectomy Indications to Third Molars with Taurodontism to Prevent Paresthesia and Mandible Fracture

Taurodontism is considered a dental anomaly responsible for a morphoanatomical change in the shape of the tooth in which the roots are reduced in size but the body of the tooth is enlarged and bulky. The aim of this paper is to present a case of a 25-year-old female patient with taurodontism of mandibular partially erupted third molars, presenting a high risk of angle fracture and paresthesia in case of their removal, treated by means of coronectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient remained in follow-up for 12 months. In conclusion, the identification of third molars with higher risk of complications related to their extractions is the key to consider conservative measures to avoid problems. Coronectomy is a relatively simple technique that should be taken into account when considering bulky, deeply located third molars with a high risk of paresthesia or mandibular fracture, even in presence of taurodontism.