This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the prevalence of oral manifestations in a sample of the Brazilian population with COVID-19. Adults diagnosed with COVID-19 through real-time PCR/serological tests were invited to participate. The online questionnaires were distributed at different times to analyze and compare SARS-CoV-2 variants considering the period of prevalence of these variants in Brazil. A total of 846 participants were included, of whom 539 were diagnosed before the Omicron variant. In total, 47.28% were vaccinated with at least two doses. The prevalence of oral manifestations was 52.6% (95%CI: 49.23-55.95), and the most common manifestations included taste disorder (38.06%; 95%CI: 34.85-41.38), xerostomia (17.61%; 95%CI: 15.19-20.32), and halitosis (11.58%; 95%CI: 9.59-13.92). The prevalence of persistent symptoms in post-COVID-19 was 12.1% (95%CI: 10.0-14.4) for taste disorder and 5.4% (95%CI: 4.1-7.1) for xerostomia. A significant association was found between females and persistent taste disorder (p = 0.0084) and oral manifestation and depression/anxiety (OR = 1.855, 95%CI: 1.267-2.717, p = 0.002), worse oral hygiene (OR = 1.729, 95%CI: 1.189-2.516, p = 0.004), and medication use (OR = 1.630, 95%CI: 1.123-2.367, p = 0.010) (p < 0.0001). In the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants, compared with the Omicron variant, taste disorder and xerostomia were less present when toothbrushing habits remained unchanged or improved (p < 0.0001). Oral manifestations in patients with COVID-19 were associated with depression/anxiety, worse oral hygiene, and medication, all of which reinforce its multifactorial etiopathogenesis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the profile of the Brazilian population exposed to risk factors for oral cancer, as well as the profile of patients in the high-risk group for this disease in Brazil. This study relied on a cross-sectional design, utilizing secondary data from the 2020 National Health Survey (PNS). The database used contained information on 90,846 individuals aged 18 and older. The dependent variable was “High-risk group for oral cancer development” and the independent variables were grouped into biological characteristics, educational level, access to health services, and self-care practices. In the multivariate analysis, odds ratios of outcomes were assessed using a logistic regression model. Individuals of white ethnicity, with low levels of education, residing in rural areas, not registered in the Family Health Strategy program, who have rarely or never seen a dentist, self-assessing their general health as poor, and lacking regular physical exercise were more likely to be in the high-risk group for the development of oral cancer. The data from the 2020 National Health Survey (PNS) demonstrate that a large portion of the Brazilian population is exposed to risk factors for oral cancer. This highlights the disparities in access to medical and dental health services, as well as in the educational and preventive interventions by healthcare professionals regarding risk factors for oral cancer.

This methodological study presents the development and implementation of technological tools for the online training and calibration of dentists participating in the SB Brasil 2023 survey, using the Moodle® platform. The training and in-lux calibration process employed 10 and 25 sets of photographs, respectively. Conditions including dental crown status (dmft and DMFT indexes), caries consequences (pufa/PUFA index), malocclusion (canine relation, overjet, overbite, posterior crossbite, and Dental Aesthetic Index), and dental trauma were evaluated, based on WHO or SB Brasil 2010 criteria. Software was developed to record codes, automated calculations of agreement coefficients (overall percentage, score-specific, and simple and weighted kappa), and generate reports. Examiners were allowed to repeat calibration attempts until they achieved a minimum agreement (Kappa ≥ 0.61). In total, 1,513 examiners used the software, and 728 successfully completed the calibration with substantial or higher agreement across all conditions/indexes. Individual reports described discrepancies and monitored attempts. Occlusal conditions had the lowest percentages of almost perfect agreement and required more attempts to achieve calibration. The technological tools implemented in SB Brasil 2023 enabled online training and calibration, promoting consistency among examiners for fieldwork. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of remote strategies for calibration in epidemiological surveys, particularly in scenarios involving multiple geographically distributed examiners, with potential applications in other contexts and health areas.

To evaluate the pH, solubility and intratubular disinfection of the bioceramic intracanal drug Bio-C® Temp (BCT), calcium hydroxide-based paste Calen® (CAL) and their associations in different proportions: BCT 75% + CAL 25%; BCT 50% + CAL 50%; BCT 25% + CAL 75%. Polyethylene tubes containing the medication, were used. The pH was evaluated after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days and solubility after 14 days. Bovine dentin tubes were contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis to assess intratubular disinfection by using confocal laser scanning microscopy and use of Live/Dead BacLight Bacterial stain. Data were submitted to statistical tests of normality, then ANOVA and Tukey (α = 0.05). BCT showed a lower pH after 3 and 14 days (p < 0.05). CAL had the highest pH at all time intervals (p > 0.05). CAL and associations with BCT showed greater weight loss (p < 0.05). BCT showed intratubular disinfection similar to that of BCT/CAL 25% (p > 0.05). CAL and BCT/CAL at 50% and 75% were similar and had the highest intratubular disinfection values (p > 0.05). Combinations of Bio-C® Temp with 50% or more calcium hydroxide paste provide higher alkalinization, solubility and intratubular disinfection values of the bioceramic medication, favoring its potential for clinical application.

The use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) leads to an imbalance in bone remodeling and can cause osteoporosis. This study aimed to identify clinical, periodontal, nutritional, and biochemical determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) changes in patients using AIs. The sample consisted of 40 women using AIs and 32 controls. BMD was assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Data on nutritional, anthropometric, oral and periodontal status, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were collected. Cytokines and adipokines were quantified in saliva and serum. Thirty-nine of the 72 women had low BMD, with a similar distribution in the control and AIs groups. BMD was lower in older women using AIs (p = 0.009) and in smokers (p = 0.034). Anthropometric assessment demonstrated that women with low BMD who used AIs had lower weight (p = 0.028). Although the frequency of periodontitis was similar in all groups, higher IL-6 (p = 0.004), IL-1β (p = 0.002), and IL-33 (p = 0.006) levels were associated with poor periodontal status. Women who used AIs were 1.18 times more likely to report better OHRQoL than controls. While advanced age, smoking, and lower weight are factors associated with low BMD, the use of antiresorptive agents was a protective factor for maintaining BMD in women using AIs.

Pterygoid implants have been demonstrated to have a high success rate. Nevertheless, there are few biomechanical tests to evaluate the tensile forces induced by force dissipation in peri-implant tissues. This study employed photoelasticity and extensometry to demonstrate and compare the biomechanical behavior of non-axial implants in a pterygoid model and a conventional model of oral rehabilitation, thus allowing for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Two models received an implant measuring 3.75 x 13 mm in the canine pillar at a 90 ° angle to the Frankfurt plane. In the control group, an implant with a diameter of 3.75 mm and a length of 11 mm was placed in the maxillary tuberosity parallel the medial implant. In the study group, an implant with a diameter of 3.75 mm and a length of 11 mm was installed with an angulation of 45 degrees in the antero-posterior direction and 15 degrees in the buccal-palatal direction, with apical anchorage in the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. In the extensometric analysis, the models were subjected to five cycles of repeated axial tensile loading (100 N) at a rate of 0.5 mm/min. A computer was connected to the amplifier in order to record the output signal of the polyurethane surface, and the acquisition system software was employed to record the data. The data were analyzed in accordance with data distribution, as determined by the Shapiro-Wilk test and equality of variance. Subsequently, the data were classified according to the variables. The Student's t-test was employed when normal distribution of variances was identified, whereas the Mann-Whitney U test was utilized for data with non-normal distribution. A 5% significance level was employed. In the photoelastic analysis, replicas of both configurations were produced using photoelastic resin. The models were subjected to a single axial loading cycle, with a load of 100 N applied at a rate of 0.5 mm/min, and the resulting stress was observed under a circular polariscope. Photographs were taken at two time points: before and after loading. These images were then processed by the same operator using a computer graphics program, allowing for a more straightforward analysis of stress distribution. This was achieved by the formation of isochromatic fringes. The results of the strain gauge analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.37) or between the anterior (p = 0.08) and posterior (p = 0.74) implants. The photoelasticity analysis revealed the presence of high-intensity isochromatic fringes at the apex of the axial implant in the control model, as well as in the cervical-distal and apical regions of the pterygoid implant, where a high concentration was also observed. Although no statistically significant results were obtained from the quantitative analysis, our findings suggest that the favorable outcomes observed in the clinical studies are due to the high force dissipation observed in the pterygoid plate, which is composed of dense cortical bone.

Metrics derived from online social platforms indicate current interest in a specific topic. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics and social interest in scientific publications on bruxism using an altmetric analysis. A search was conducted in August 2024 in the Dimensions database. The following data were extracted: altmetric attention score (AAS), citations, year, language, access type, study design, topic (general objective and age group), journal, country, institution, and authors. VOSviewer was used to generate collaborative networks, whereas Google Trends was consulted to assess public interest in bruxism-related research. A Spearman correlation analysis was performed to establish the relationship between AAS and citations. A total of 196 studies published between 1992 and 2024 were included. The most widely accessed study had an AAS of 393. Significant interest in bruxism was observed among Mendeley, news outlets, and X users. Most studies were observational (n = 99), addressing the etiologic factors of bruxism (n = 75) and focusing primarily on the adult population (n = 148). The Journal of Oral Rehabilitation stood out as the most relevant journal (n = 36). Most articles were published in Brazil (n = 40), and Lobbezoo was the most frequent author (n = 27). VOSviewer revealed significant collaborations among authors. Most studies were not openly accessible (n = 105). A very weak positive correlation (r = 0.042) was observed between AAS and the number of citations. This study highlighted a social interest in scientific publications on bruxism, particularly those addressing etiologic factors.

In the modern world, cancer is a growing cause of mortality, but archeological studies have shown that it is not exclusive to modern populations. The aim of this study is to examine the epidemiologic, social, and clinicopathologic features of head and neck cancers in ancient populations. To do this, we extracted all records that described malignant lesions in the head and neck region available in the Cancer Research in Ancient Bodies Database (CRAB). The estimated age, sex, physical condition of the remains (skeletonized, mummified), anatomic location of tumors, geographic location, chronology, tumor type, and methods of tumor diagnosis were collected. One hundred and sixty-seven cases were found, mostly originating from Europe (51.5%). Most records were of adults between 35 and 49 years of age (37.7%). The most involved site was the skullcap (60.4%), and the most common malignancies were metastases to the bone (65.3%) and multiple myeloma (17.4%). No primary soft tissue malignancies were registered. The results of our study indicate that head and neck cancers were present in ancient civilizations, at least since 500,000 BCE. The available data can help to improve the current understanding of the global distribution of head and neck cancer and its multidimensional impacts on populations in the contemporary world.

This is a nonclinical, controlled, and triple-blind study to investigate the effects of codeine-associated geraniol on the modulation of orofacial nociception and its potential central nervous system depressing effect in an animal model. The orofacial antinociceptive activity of geraniol in combination with codeine was assessed through the following tests: (i) formalin-induced pain, (ii) glutamate-induced pain, and (iii) capsaicin-induced pain. Six animals were equally distributed into six groups and received the following treatments, given intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30 minutes before the experiments: a) geraniol/codeine 50/30 mg/kg; b) geraniol/codeine 50/15 mg/kg; c) geraniol/codeine 50/7.5 mg/kg; d) geraniol 50 mg/kg; e) codeine 30 mg/kg (positive control); or f) 0.9% sodium chloride (negative control). We performed pain behavior analysis after the injection of formalin (20 µL, 20%), glutamate (20 µL, 25 µM), and capsaicin (20 µL, 2.5 µg) into the paranasal region. Rubbing time of the paranasal region by the hind or front paw was used as a parameter. In the neurogenic phase of the formalin test, the geraniol/codeine at 50/7.5 mg/kg was able to promote the maximum antinociceptive effect, reducing nociception by 71.9% (p < 0.0001). In the inflammatory phase of the formalin test, geraniol/codeine at 50/30 mg/kg significantly reduced orofacial nociception (p < 0.005). In the glutamate test, geraniol/codeine at 50/30 mg/kg reduced the rubbing time by 54.2% and reduced nociception in the capsaicin test by 66.7% (p < 0.005). Geraniol alone or in combination does not promote nonspecific depressing effects on the central nervous system. Based on our findings, we suggest the possible synergy between geraniol and codeine in the modulation of orofacial pain.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of thermogenic supplementation on the bone tissue of rats subjected to orthodontic movement. A total of 38 male Wistar rats underwent orthodontic movement of the left permanent maxillary first molars for 21 days. The rats were assigned to three groups: Control group: water; Thermogenic 1: C4 Beta Pump thermogenic; or Thermogenic 2: PRE-HD/Pre-workout. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to investigate the dynamic changes in the microstructure of alveolar bone during orthodontic tooth movement in rats. Histopathologic analysis was performed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, whereas tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) was employed for osteoclast count. Maxillary tissue was collected and evaluated by immunohistochemistry for receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG). The Thermogenic 2 group exhibited a significantly lower percentage of bone volume fraction (BV/TV) (68.21% ± 17.70%) compared to the control (86.84% + 12.91%) and Thermogenic 1 groups (86.84% + 15.94%) (p < 0.05). The control group had a significantly higher mean orthodontic movement in the mesial direction (0.2143 mm + 0.1513 mm) than the Thermogenic 2 group (0.0420 mm + 0.05215 mm) (p < 0.05). The Thermogenic 2 and Thermogenic 1 groups showed a stronger immunostaining for RANKL when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The supplementation used in the Thermogenic 2 group (PRE-HD/Pre-workout) induced alveolar bone loss in rats subjected to orthodontic movement, which can be related to the regulation of the RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathway. This suggests the influence of thermogenic supplements on bone metabolism seems to depend on their composition.