Perceived Job Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms Among Italian Dentists: The Moderating Role of Fear of COVID-19

Containment measures adopted to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have produced a general perception of job insecurity. Dentists have been highly affected by such measures, as they represent an easy source of contagion. As perceived job insecurity is associated with psychological distress and Italian dentists have been highly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of potential financial loss and the risk of being infected, this study aimed at assessing whether the fear of COVID-19 moderated the effect of perceived job insecurity on depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional online study has included 735 Italian dentists recruited during the lockdown and ranging in age from 27 to 70 years old (495 men and 240 women). A quantile regression model with an inference based on the median and with an interaction term between the fear of COVID-19 and perceived job insecurity has been used to estimate the hypothesized associations. The results indicated that both perceived job insecurity and fear of COVID-19 were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and that the effect of perceived job insecurity on depressive symptoms was weaker among those with a low fear of COVID-19. The findings may inform public health policies for dentists in relation to reducing the risk of developing negative mental health outcomes

Vertigine parossistica posizionale benigna conseguente alla procedure di mini-rialzo del pavimento del seno mascellare: osteotomi a percussione vs. osteotomi a vite. RCT a triplo cieco.

Obiettivo: Comparare l’insorgenza della vertigine parossistica posizionale benigna (VPPB) nelle metodiche di mini-rialzo del seno mascellare a seconda che impieghino osteotomi a vite o osteotomi a percussione. Materiali e Metodi: Questo RCT a triplo cieco ha coinvolto 196 pazienti (107 uomini e 89 donne; età media 62.05 anni ± 7.10, range 49-79 anni) con un’edentulia mascellare di un singolo elemento, che richiedesse una metodica di mini-rialzo del seno mascellare. I pazienti mediante una metodica di randomizzazione a blocchi sono allocati nel gruppo nel quale sono impiegati gli osteotomi a percussione (gruppo 1, n = 98) o nel gruppo in cui sono impiegati gli osteotomi a vite (Gruppo 2, n = 98). Due chirurghi diversi, inconsapevoli degli scopi dello studio, hanno eseguito la procedura di mini-rialzo. Un completo esame post-chirurgico, impiegando la manovra di Dix-Hallpike, è stato effettuato su tutti i196 pazienti prima e dopo l'intervento chirurgico. La diagnosi di BPPV era supportata dalla presenza dei sintomi secondo i criteri diagnostici di Dix e Hallpike. Risultati: Tre pazienti del gruppo 1 (3/98-3.06%) hanno mostrato una VPPB del canale semicircolare posteriore omolaterale al lato dell’immissione degli impianti 1 o 2 giorni dopo l'intervento chirurgico. I tre casi di VPPB sono stati trattati con la manovra di riposizionamento praticata dall’otorinolaringoiatra. Conclusioni: La preparazione del letto implantare con gli osteotomi martellati e trasmette forze vibratorie in grado di staccare gli otoliti dalla loro posizione normale, inoltre la posizione della testa del paziente durante l’intervento favorisce lo spostamento degli otoliti nel canale semicircolare posteriore. I Chirurghi Orali ed Implantari dovrebbero essere consapevoli dell’esistenza della VPPB quale complicanza delle procedure di rialzo del seno mascellare ed informare i loro pazienti circa la possibilità, seppur rara, di insorgenza di tale disordine prima di effettuare ogni intervento

Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin as a Therapeutic Option in the Treatment of Dry Socket: Literature Review and Case Series

Alveolar osteitis (AO) is one of the complications that occur after tooth extraction. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the efficacy of Advanced Platelet-rich Fibrin (A-PRF) in the management of pain and the acceleration of wound healing in the treatment of AO. Consecutive patients who were diagnosed with AO, recruited from patients referred to the Oral Surgery Department of the University of Naples Federico II, were enrolled. After local anesthesia, the dry socket was curetted and irrigated with saline. The Platelet-rich Fibrin (PRF) clot was placed in the socket and then covered with an A-PRF membrane. Clinical parameters, such as the degree of pain and rate of granulation tissue (GT) formation, were measured before treatment and after 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. The Friedman test for dependent samples was used to detect the treatment and time effect. Four patients with established AO were included. On all the examination days, the post-operative recovery was uneventful. The pain scores progressively reduced, from an average of 8.5 before treatment to 0.25 on the third day, and the GT formation improved over time. The use of A-PRF in the treatment of AO significantly reduced the pain level and enhanced the wound-healing process