Selfie dental plaque index : a new tool for dental plaque assessment

Plaque quantification indices are frequently used to evaluate personal oral hygiene. Education in self-care and self-diagnosis is effective in prevention and control of both dental and periodontal disease. Mobile technology has become a ubiquitous techno

Fragile X syndrome: panoramic radiographic evaluation of dental anomalies, dental mineralization stage, and mandibular angle

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a disorder linked to the chromosome X long arm (Xq27.3), which is identified by a constriction named fragile site. It determines various changes, such as behavioral or emotional problems, learning difficulties, and intellectual disabilities. Craniofacial abnormalities such as elongated and narrow face, prominent forehead, broad nose, large and prominent ear pavilions, strabismus, and myopia are frequent characteristics. Regarding the oral aspects, deep and high-arched palate, mandibular prognathism, and malocclusion are also observed. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dental radiographic characteristics as described in 40 records of patients with panoramic radiography. Material and Methods: The patients were in the range of 6–17 years old, and were divided into two groups (20 subjects who were compatible with the normality standard and 20 individuals diagnosed with the FXS), which were matched for gender and age. Analysis of the panoramic radiographic examination involved the evaluation of dental mineralization stage, mandibular angle size, and presence of dental anomalies in both deciduous and permanent dentitions. Results: The results of radiographic evaluation demonstrated that the chronology of tooth eruption of all third and second lower molars is anticipated in individuals with FXS (

Uso da Classificação Internacional de Doenças na análise do absenteísmo odontológico

OBJETIVO: Comparar el uso de las codificaciones de clasificación enfermedades y agravios en solicitudes de distanciamiento del trabajo por motivo odontológico. MÉTODOS: Se analizaron 240 solicitudes emitidas en un servicio público federal entre enero de 2008 y diciembre de 2009. El uso de la Clasificación Estadística Internacional de Enfermedades y Problemas relacionados a la Salud - Décima Revisión (CID-10) fue comparado con el Sistema de Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades en Odontología y Estomatología (CID-OE). Determinose la especificidad de las codificaciones de las atestaciones, así como la codificación atribuida por peritos oficiales en inspecciones indirectas, pericias y juntas odontológicas. RESULTADOS: Del total de atestaciones, 22,9% no presentaron la CID, 7,1% presentaron la CID-9, 3,3% la CID-OE y 66,7% la CID-10. La mayoría de las codificaciones fue concordante (55,1%), con mayor especificidad en las codificaciones atribuidas posterior a la evaluación de los cirujanos-dentistas peritos oficiales. CONCLUSIONES: Es necesario perfeccionar la utilización de la CID-10 entre los profesionales de Odontología y pericia odontológica en el trabajo. Se sugiere la incorporación del uso de la CID-OE y de la Clasificación Internacional de Funcionamiento, Incapacidad e Salud para el análisis de los distanciamientos del trabajo, suministrando datos relevantes para el monitoreo del absentismo por motivo odontológico.OBJETIVO: Comparar o uso das codificações da classificação de doenças e agravos em solicitações de afastamento do trabalho por motivo odontológico. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas 240 solicitações emitidas em um serviço público federal entre janeiro de 2008 e dezembro de 2009. O uso da Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde - Décima Revisão (CID-10) foi comparado ao sistema de Classificação Internacional de Doenças em Odontologia e Estomatologia (CID-OE). Foi determinada a especificidade da codificação nas solicitações de afastamento, bem como da codificação atribuída por peritos oficiais em inspeções indiretas, perícias e juntas odontológicas. RESULTADOS: Do total de atestados, 22,9% não apresentaram a CID, 7,1% apresentaram a CID-9, 3,3% a CID-OE e 66,7% a CID-10. A maioria das codificações foi concordante (55,1%), com maior especificidade nas codificações atribuídas após avaliação dos cirurgiões-dentistas peritos oficiais. CONCLUSÕES: É necessário aperfeiçoar a utilização da CID-10 entre os profissionais de Odontologia e perícia odontológica no trabalho. Sugere-se a incorporação do uso da CID-OE e da Classificação Internacional de Funcionamento, Incapacidade e Saúde para a análise dos afastamentos do trabalho, fornecendo dados relevantes para o monitoramento do absenteísmo por motivo odontológico.OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of disease and injury classification codes in workplace absences requests due to dental causes. METHODS: The study analyzed 240 requests in a federal public agency between January 2008 and December 2009. The use of the International Classification of Diseases - 10th Revision (ICD-10) was compared to the Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Dentistry and Stomatology (ICD-DA). The degree of specificity was determined for the codifications on workplace justifications, as well as for codifications assigned by official dental experts in indirect inspections and expert examinations. RESULTS: Of the total number of dental certificates, 22.9% did not present the ICD, 7.1% used ICD-9, 3.3% used ICD-DA and 66.7% used ICD-10. The majority of codifications were concordant (55.1%), and greater specificity was found in codifications assigned after evaluation by official dental experts. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the need to improve use of ICD-10 among dentists and official dental experts .For analysis of work absenteeism, it is suggested the use of ICD-DA and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, which provide relevant data for monitoring absenteeism due to dental reasons

Socioeconomic trends and differentials in mortality due to cervical cancer in the State of Paraná (Brazil), 1980-2000

O objetivo deste artigo é discutir a evolução da mortalidade por câncer de colo de útero no Estado do Paraná entre 1980 e 2000 e analisar seus diferenciais socioeconômicos em cada região. Taxas de mortalidade ajustadas por idade foram calculadas para as 22 regionais de saúde do Estado a cada ano. Análises comparativas avaliaram indicadores socioeconômicos associados com regiões que apresentaram tendência estacionária e crescente de mortalidade. A mortalidade por câncer de colo uterino cresceu no Estado como um todo a uma taxa de 1,68% (IC 1,20-2,17) ao ano. A maior parte das regiões apresentou tendência estacionária de mortalidade por câncer de colo de útero. As regionais com tendência de aumento na mortalidade apresentaram proporção significativamente mais elevada de analfabetismo (p<0,001) e de adultos (15 anos ou mais) com menos de 4 anos de estudo (p=0,001), e renda per capita (p=0,025) e IDH (p=0,023) inferiores. Houve tendência de aumento na mortalidade em todo o Estado; as regiões que contribuíram para o aumento experimentaram piores indicadores socioeconômicos.The scope of this paper is to discuss the evolution of mortality due to cervical cancer in the State of Paraná, Brazil, between 1980 and 2000 and analyze the socioeconomic differentials in each region of the State. Mortality data were gathered from the System for Information on Mortality by age and town of residence. Age-adjusted death rates were calculated for 22 regions of the state in each year. Comparative analysis evaluated socioeconomic indicators associated with regions that showed either stationary or increasing mortality trends. Cervical cancer deaths increased in the state of Paraná, with an annual percentage increase of 1.68% (1.20 to 2.17, 95% confidence interval). Most of the regions presented a stationary trend of cervical cancer deaths. The comparison of regions presenting an increasing trend indicated poorer socioeconomic indices for the former set: regions with an increase in cervical cancer mortality had a significantly higher illiteracy rate (p<0.001), percentage of individuals older than 15 years with less than 4 years schooling (p=0.001), and lower per-capita income (p=0.025) and human development index (p=0.023). An increasing mortality trend was thus observed throughout the State and areas with higher mortality rates had poorer socioeconomic indices

Influence of bethanechol on salivary parameters in irradiated patients

Some studies have shown evidence that the prophylactic use of bethanechol chloride (BC) may be useful in preventing the incidence and/or severity of xerostomia (XT). However, the indication of BC in irradiated patients with XT needs to be better characterized. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of BC on XT, salivary flow rate, and salivary composition in patients previously submitted to head and neck radiotherapy. Forty five irradiated patients complaining of XT used 50 mg/day of BC for 3 months, and the salivary parameters were evaluated in 4 Phases (Before BC therapy, after one month of BC, 2 months of BC, and 3 months of BC). Biochemical analysis included buffering capacity; pH; total protein concentration (TP); amylase concentration (AM); catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (PX) activities. In addition, unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates were determined and XT was classified. According to the XT grading system used, patients showed improvement in XT between Phase 1, and Phases 2, 3 and 4. In addition, some changes were observed in TP concentration (decreased); AM concentration (increased); and PX and CAT activities (decreased and increased, respectively) after Phase 2, for stimulated saliva collection (p<0.05). Our results suggested that when BC was used to treat salivary gland dysfunction induced by head and neck radiotherapy, improvement in XT symptoms, and some changes in saliva composition were shown

Translation and validation of the Brazilian version of the Dentist Satisfaction Survey

Objetivos: avaliar o nível de satisfação geral com o trabalho de um grupo de dentistas brasileiros e testar a validade de uma tradução transcultural para o português do Brasil da versão modificada do Dentist Satisfaction Survey (DSS). Métodos: Participaram deste estudo transversal 605 dentistas que prestavam à época serviços públicos de atendimento odontológico em São Paulo, SP, Brasil. A satisfação no trabalho foi medida por meio de uma versão modificada do DSS, que é baseado em respostas a 29 itens de um questionário auto-administrado, usando a escala de Likert de 5 pontos. Os itens foram traduzidos para o Português, retraduzidos e comparados com os itens da versão original. Foram calculadas as medidas de consistência interna e validade externa, respectivamente, por meio do coefi ciente de Cronbach e do coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. Resultados: O nível de satisfação geral com o trabalho foi de 2,86 (± 0,20) em 5 na escala de Likert. O α de Cronbach (0,83) mostrou uma boa consistência interna e homogeneidade entre os itens. As correlações de confiabilidade entre item e escala foram boas. Conclusão: O nível de satisfação geral com o trabalho foi neutro. Outras ações e políticas foram desenvolvidas para aumentar o nível de satisfação com o trabalho entre os dentistas brasileiros que trabalham no setor público. A versão em português do DSS modificado apresentou propriedades psicométricas satisfatórias quanto à sua confiabilidade, reprodutibilidade e validade para o Brasil.Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the level of overall job satisfaction among a group of Brazilian dentists and to test the validity of a cross-cultural translation to Brazilian Portuguese of the modifi ed version of the Dentist Satisfaction Survey (DSS). Methods: This cross-sectional study had the participation of 605 dentists practicing in public dental care services in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Job satisfaction was measured by a modifi ed version of the DSS, which is based on responses to a 29-item self-administrated questionnaire, using a 5-point Likert scale. The items were translated into Brazilian Portuguese, back-translated and compared with the original English version. Measures for internal consistency and concurrent validity were calculated, respectively, by Cronbach’s α coeffi cient and Spearman’s correlation coeffi cient. Results: The level of overall job satisfaction among the sample was 2.86 (± 0.20) out of 5 on the Likert scale. Cronbach’s α (0.83) showed a good internal consistency and homogeneity between items. Item-scale reliability correlations were good. Conclusion: The level of overall job satisfaction was neutral. Further actions and policies have been developed to increase the level of job satisfaction among Brazilian dentists working in the public sector. The Portuguese version of the modifi ed DSS showed satisfactory psychometric properties regarding its reliability, reproducibility and validity for the Brazilian culture

Estimation of age at death based on the analysis of third molar mineralization in individuals from Brazilian archaeological populations

Estimating the age at death of archaeological individuals is critical for the reconstruction of the demographic profile of past populations. Teeth are very resistant to mechanical, chemical and physical damage. Thus, dental age estimation methods have been proven remarkably useful, especially when the other available bone remains are poorly preserved. In this study, we estimated the age of subadult individuals from pre-colonial archaeological sites in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, which are under the curation of the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at the University of São Paulo (MAE-USP). Age estimation was based on the analysis of dental mineralization stages originally proposed by Demirjian et al. (7) and applied to third molars by Soares et al. (11). Teeth (n = 18) were radiographed on a portable X-ray device and the images were analyzed in DICOM extension. The intraexaminer reliability test showed excellent agreement regarding the classification of mineralization stages (Kappa value = 0.94). This age estimation method showed good agreement with the previously cataloged age estimates, which were used for comparison. Of the 18 teeth examined, 15 had their age correctly estimated within the comparative range and only three did not match, of which two were very close to the cataloged estimates and one was underestimated by several years. Collectively, our findings suggest this method can be accurately applied to archaeological individuals

Discussions about health and illness: revisiting Monteiro Lobato's adult work

As opiniões de Monteiro Lobato a respeito dos temas saúde e doença não se esgotaram na discussão sobre a situação do Jeca Tatu; ele foi além, e em diversos trechos de sua obra adulta observam-se suas opiniões, seus relatos sobre a experiência de adoecer. O presente artigo resgata as concepções de saúde e doença observadas nos escritos de Monteiro Lobato. Por meio da análise de sua obra adulta, pudemos destacar opiniões, relatos sobre a experiência de adoecer de pessoas próximas e queridas, a possibilidade que a doença oferece de socializar as pessoas, o corporativismo médico, a atuação na Liga Pró-Saneamento, o paternalismo das práticas de saúde e a vulnerabilidade daqueles que possuem condição social desfavorável, além de outros tópicos, ora com traços de comicidade, ora com resignação e até com revolta. Assim, o presente estudo analisou a obra adulta do autor, discutindo trechos que tratam da saúde e da doença como experiência vivenciada nas primeiras décadas do século XX