Francisco Jose de Souza Filho

A simple method for the analysis of root canal preparation.

The purpose of this article is to present a simple and easy method for in vitro analysis of root canal instrumentation that permits one to observe and measure the diameter of a root before and after instrumentation, using the teeth themselves as control.

Herpes zoster infection as a differential diagnosis of acute pulpitis

Many diseases can cause orofacial pain, and the diagnosis must be established before final treatment. This case report presents a patient with orofacial pain that was diagnosed as an acute pulpitis. However, there was no evidence of this problem on examination. After 4 days, the patient showed multiples vesicles on the face, and a herpes zoster viral infection was diagnosed. The patient was treated with acyclovir and, after 2 yr, she still complains of facial sensitivity.

HIV prevalence in dental outpatients in Brazil.

A series of dental outpatients in Brazil was anonymously screened for HIV antibodies in whole unstimulated saliva with an immunoglobulin G antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Salivary HIV antibodies were detected in 40 patients in the control group who were known to be HIV-seropositive but were not detected in any of a series of 40 known HIV-seronegative patients in the control group, confirming the very high sensitivity and specificity of the immunoglobulin G antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Only one patient from 84 consecutive dental outpatients of unknown HIV serostatus who were examined anonymously for HIV by immunoglobulin G antibody-capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay showed HIV positivity (1.2% of the population).