Euler Maciel Dantas

Clinical Efficacy of Fluoride Varnish and Low-Level Laser Radiation in Treating Dentin Hypersensitivity

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of fluoride varnish (Fluorniz(r)) and irradiation with a gallium-arsenide-aluminum diode laser in the treatment of cervical dentin hypersensitivity. Cervical dentin hypersensitivity (CDH) is a painful condition that is highly prevalent in the worlds adult population, with one in six patients presenting this symptom. Eighty-six teeth were divided into two groups: Group 1, teeth treated with Fluorniz; Group 2, teeth irradiated with a GaAlAs laser at a 4 J/cm2 dose. The two treatments were applied to the buccal cervical region in four sessions, at intervals of 72 to 96 h. The response of the patient to tactile and thermal-evaporative stimuli was rated on a visual analog scale. The results showed a reduction of hypersensitivity in response to tactile and thermal-evaporative stimulation at the end of treatment in both groups. In conclusion, short-term treatment with Fluorniz was found to be more effective than low-level laser radiation in reducing cervical dentin hypersensitivity.

Phenytoin-Induced Gingival Overgrowth Management with Periodontal Treatment

Phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth (PIGO) is a common complication of the continuous use of medications. This paper presents a case of PIGO hindering oral function and compromising oral hygiene and aesthetics, which was treated with a combination of nonsurgical and surgical periodontal therapies. A 39-year-old male patient was referred for dental treatment with several complaints, especially upper and lower gingival overgrowth that hindered speech and swallowing. Generalized deep probing pockets and bone loss were detected. Diagnosis of gingival overgrowth associated with phenytoin and chronic periodontitis was established. The treatment plan consisted of conservative therapy with education on oral health, motivation and meticulous oral hygiene instruction in combination with scaling and root planing. During the revaluation period, a marked reduction in the clinical parameters was noted, particularly probing pocket depth reduction. Surgical therapy for removal of gingival overgrowth was also performed to achieve pocket reduction. Supportive periodontal therapy was proposed and the patient is currently under follow-up for 4 years. Management of PIGO may be obtained by the use of periodontal procedures combined with good oral hygiene and periodontal supportive care.

Caracterização tomográfica das áreas edêntulas previamente à reabilitação com implantes unitários

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar as areas edentulas de pacientes que serao reabilitados com um implante dentario osseointegrado unitario em regiao este-tica da maxila por meio das tomografias computadorizadas. Os parâmetros avalia-dos em 14 tomografias foram: distância da Juncao Cemento-Esmalte (JCE) ate a crista ossea (CO), distância entre as CO e distância entre as coroas dentarias dos dentes adjacentes ao espaco protetico (EP), largura e altura ossea do EP, espessu-ra do palato na regiao dos segundos pre-molares e dos molares bem como a espes-sura vertical do tecido mole na regiao do EP. Os resultados foram analisados por meio de estatistica descritiva e teste de Correlacao de Spearman utilizando nivel de significância de 5%. A distribuicao dos dentes avaliados foi de 35,7 % para dentes anteriores e 64,3 % para dentes posteriores. Valores baixos e medios para o coefici-ente de correlacao (≤ 0.29 e ≥ 0.30 ≤ 0.49, respectivamente) e sem diferencas esta-tisticas significativas foram encontrados na maioria das comparacoes, indicando fra-cas correlacoes. Apenas para a correlacao espessura da mucosa do EP versus dis-tância entre JCE e CO no dente mesial ao EP foi encontrado diferenca estatistica significativa (p= 0.03) e correlacao moderada (r = 0.56). A tomografia computadori-zada de feixe conico e uma ferramenta viavel para a regiao maxilofacial pois permitiu a mensuracao de diversos parâmetros de tecido mole e duro da cavidades bucal uteis para o planejamento com implantes dentarios, aumentando a previsibilidade de sucesso dos tratamentos reabilitadores.