Cárie oculta extensa: relato de caso clínico

The pattern of caries lesions has been modified over decades. If the presence or absence of a caries lesion is based upon only a visual examination, its diagnosis might become underestimated since dentinal lesions underneath non cavitated or minimally demineralized enamel is highly frequent in dental clinics. The aim of this paper is to report a clinical case of a child with an upper molar with questionable occlusal aspect, presenting asymptomatic pulpal hyperplasia on the distolingual pit. Periapical radiographic examination was essential for diagnosing hidden caries and elaborating the treatment plan. As part of the approach, removal of the decayed tissue and pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide were performed. The association of an accurate visual examination to an adequate oral radiographyis is extremely important in cases which the presence of hidden caries is doubtful. As a result, an early diagnosis and the reduction of more invasive interventions related to the oral health care of pediatric patients can be achieved as well.

Prevalência de alterações sistêmicas em pacientes atendidos na disciplina de cirurgia e traumatologia bucomaxilofacial do curso de Odontologia da UNIARA

Introduction: pre-operative assessment is of fundamental importance for the prevention of transoperative and of postoperative complications. Objective: to identify the prevalence of diseases and systemic conditions in patients undergoing surgical treatment in the discipline of surgery and Traumatology of University Center of Araraquara, in the period of 2004 to 2009. Material and method: for the development of this study, a survey in medical records of patients was performed and the factors considered included: age, sex, presence of vices, and systemic conditions that affect the world’s population. The data obtained were analyzed quantitatively and recorded in a table. Result:  Considering all patient records analyzed (693), 340 affirmative responses were detected (49,06%) to one or more diseases. Cardiovascular diseases were the most prevalent (22,34%). Considering the prevalence of diseases related to age, the age of less than 20 years represented 16,32%; of 20-29 years, 43,06%; 30-39 years, 45,16%; 40-44 years, 48,64%; 45-49 years, 56,25%; 50-54 years, 58,33%; 55-59 years, 57,74%; 60-64 years, 70,37%; 65-69 years, 66,66%; and 70 years or more, 68,75%. Conclusion: diseases and systemic alterations with higher prevalence were cardiovascular diseases, anemia, sinusitis and diabetes. The frequency of affirmative answers to systemic conditions was age-dependent and there was a predominance of females. The tobacco addiction was the most frequent. Thus, it was found that the preoperative assessment of the health of patients who will undergo surgical dental treatment is of fundamental importance.

O uso do beta-tricálcio fosfato como substituto ósseo em odontologia

The correction of bone defects is the restoration of lost structures which can be replaced by alloplastic implants or bone grafts. Due to the known disadvantages of removal of autogenous grafts, most researches in dentistry aim to develop alloplastic or non-alloplastic materials able to replace bone without these limitations. Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) is a synthetic granular bone substitute, biocompatible, osteoconductive, which can be used in the alveolar reconstruction. In this work, we perform a literature review on the β-TCP characteristics and discuss its application in dentistry.

Tecido ósseo homólogo para utilização em odontologia

The use of bone grafts from bone tissue banks, also known as bone allografts, has increased in the last years, although most of its users still have concerns on resources and processing protocols. The objective of this paper was to make a literature review about the use of bone allografts in Dentistry, and also about the legal considerations regarding this biomaterial. Studies regarding the donor selection, the cross-infection risks and processing protocols of this biomaterial are still rare but essential, and allied to those regarding its clinical application, can base its use.

Cariogenicidade do leite materno: mito ou evidência científica

Introduction: Breast-feeding has stood out as health care measure and is part of the Government’s National Health Policy, involving dental professionals. However, it has been suggested that breast milk could be a risk factor for the development of early childhood caries. Objective: The purpose of this report was to search for scientific evidence that would support or refute the statement that breastfeeding is associated with the development of early childhood caries. Method: Medline and SciELO databases were consulted to retrieve studies, ranging from laboratory investigations to epidemiological surveys, which relate breastfeeding to dental caries. The key words ‘breast-feeding’ and ‘dental caries’ were used on the reference search. There was no scientific evidence that could demonstrate a clear relationship between breast milk and cariogenicity. This is attributed to fact that dental caries is a multifactorial disease that is susceptible to multiple confusing factors, among which the early introduction of sucrose to the infant’s diet and late introduction of oral hygiene habits. The dentist should encourage exclusive breast-feeding because, in addition to the undeniable benefits to the child’s physical and psychological health, it contributes to a harmonic facial growth and prevents the development of atypical deglutition and malocclusions, in combination with early introduction of oral hygiene habits and noncariogenic diet. Conclusion: There is no scientific evidence to demonstrate an association between breast-feeding and early childhood caries.

Interação entre odontologia restauradora e periodontia - parte 1: planejamento e protocolo cirúrgico

Current dental treatments search for alternatives to achieve restablishment of esthetics and function. The increased demand for high esthetic patterns stimulates an interaction between the dental specialties towards a comprehensive treatment in order to solve slinical cases effectively. Knowing the components involved in the dental smile harmony is essential for treatment planning and implementation. It is also important to be aware of the changes that may impair suck harmony and become a patient's complaint. This article addresses a multidisciplinary treatment that involved the integration between Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. After the surgical-restorative planning, periodontal procedures were performed to obtain an adequate balance between the teeth and soft tiessues.

Interação entre odontologia restauradora e periodontia - parte 2: reanatomização dentária

The development of new dental materials has expanded dental therapeutic modalities ensuring excellence in aesthetic restorative treatments. Thus, the direct restorative procedures have been used in cases of dental reconstruction allowing an effective treatment with a low cost, while preserving healthy tooth structure. However, the clinician must be used to the techniques and the material in order to ensure longevity and success in the direct restorative procedure. The aim of this paper is to descrive, after completion of periodontal surgical procedures, the direct restorative step performed for dental reconstruction and diastema closure. The integration between Restorative Dentistry and periodontics enableb the restoration of a harmonious smile in a conservative manner, ensuring aesthetics and patient stisfaction.

Marketing em odontologia: uma ferramenta que faz a diferença

The large number of dentists in Brazilian job market has increased the competitiveness in the dentistry field, leading the professional to use different strategies in an attempt to attract more patients. This study aimed to report different forms of dental marketing, showing how they can strengthen the bond between professional and patient, making it an alternative to face the competitive market. It was concluded that there are various marketing tools that can be applied in an effective and simple manner; since supported on ethics, it can make the dentist be highlighted, attracting and retaining patients and ensuring their professional success.

Imageologia na odontologia e aspectos legais

The technology, through the advent of new equipments that allow imaging exams, has helped very much in the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases in Dentistry. The use of informatics, in general, in the manufacture of clinical reports is increasingly present in the dental offices. The legal validity of these systems is questioned, and is matter of discussion. This work makes considerations about Imageology or Diagnostic by image, a new area that is appearing on Dentistry. Among other exams, there are: digital radiography, tomography, computed tomography, artomography, magnetic resonance, computed cefalometry and ultra-sonography. It permits the professional to obtain a better diagnostic, and to the patient, the visualization of his problem and treatment. A survey on the possibilities of using informatics in Dentistry, particularly in Radiology, was also carried out, as well as the legal aspects, which are in accordance with the Law 8.935/94, what guarantees its practicability. Digital Certification is a mechanism that provides legal validity to documents and, as such, to radiographic images and others. It is a procedure that the dentist should take to ensure that he/she has safeguarded the judicial proofs that may be necessary in an eventual demand.

Elaboração de um curso interativo voltado ao aprendizado de um sistema aplicativo em Odontologia, utilizando a plataforma Moodle

In universities, in any type of faculty or research institute, it is possible to observe innumerable informatics applications: database management, organization of catalogues, expediting diagnoses and many other applications. Within this context, distance learning could facilitate the learning of various professions. Distance education is the process of teaching-learning and the professional has to be prepared to deal with the new tools that are made available, using them to his/her benefit, and consequently in his/her professional capacity, to guarantee greater productivity and interaction with the various spheres in the work field. Methods: The aim of this research is to develop a course on the use of the Dentistry software application EasyDental, using the teaching at a distance methodology by means of the Moodle platform. The proposed course was composed of 14 modules, in order to enable a progressive and a rational learning. Conclusion: It could be concluded that this platform allowed the preparation of the proposed distance course, in a practical and versatile manner, considering the resources and activities it has. However, to use this platform, one must have dominion of the basic concepts of informatics, and the tools of the Moodle platform.

Métodos de avaliação de risco de desordens músculo-esqueléticas nos membros superiores voltados para a odontologia

The dental professionals are exposed to many risks of development of occupational diseases and the musculoskeletal disorders in the upper limbs are the most common disease. This problem may result in lower productivity and / or early retirement. Therefore, early diagnosis should be done through a reliable and valid system of risk assessment. Because of that, this study set out to conduct a review of the literature on methods of risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders in the upper limbs in dental professionals. Conclusion: It was concluded that the available methods for assessing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in dentistry are self-reports, observational and direct. Among these methods, the self-reports were frequently used to detect the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among dentists, dental students and professionals from the dental team. Further studies should be performed in dentistry using observational and direct methods.

Dificuldades relatadas por estudantes de odontologia diante de procedimentos relacionados à periodontia

Objective: This study aimed at evaluating the difficulties reported by last-year dentistry course students regarding basic and surgical periodontal procedures. Methods: A proposed questionnaire with 24 questions, 14 related to basic periodontal procedures and 10 to surgical procedures, was applied to 45 undergraduate students with jobs involving these procedures, during the practical activities of the Integrated Clinic Discipline, a compulsory subject in the curriculum of the course, taught to last-year students. Students were asked about their own perceptions of the difficulties in implementing the various steps related to the treatments. The degree of individual difficulty was determined according to the Likert scale: 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = high, 4 = very high. Exploratory analysis of data was applied, and the difficulty level was also dichotomized into none to mild (scores 0 and 1) and moderate to very high (scores 2–4). Results: Regarding the basic periodontal treatment, bone level probing was the procedure with the highest number of student difficulties (57.5%). As for the difficulties reported by students regarding the stages of periodontal surgery, only the procedures related to anesthesia and suture removal had no report of doubts. Conclusion: Periodontal surgery was the procedure involving the most prevalent questions reported as moderate to very high, and the indication for the most suitable surgical technique was the stage with the highest percentage of questions (66.6%) among the undergraduates.

Extensão universitária e trabalho voluntário na formação do acadêmico em odontologia

The aim of the present study was to point out the importance of the experience of undergraduate dental students in extra-curricular activities and volunteer work, as a means through which to gain essential knowledge and abilities for their professional lives. A literature review of the Medline, Scielo, and Lilacs databases was carried out in an attempt to select articles related to the university extension and volunteer work of undergraduate dental students. It is still extremely difficult to include university extension and volunteer work as an important activity in Dentistry courses. However, the presentday work market demands professionals who have expertise not only in dental techniques, but also in the socio-cultural characteristics of communities, considering that people need to be comprehensive in their psychosocial aspects in order to be treated as a complete professional. Therefore, university dentistry courses should give equal consideration to both oral rehabilitation skills and the promotion of general healthcare, acquired mainly through extracurricular activities, in an attempt to redeem the integral education of the healthcare professional. Moreover, students should pay closer attention to the opportunities offered during their undergraduate courses, as the work market for dentists is becoming more and more competitive. Moreover, the dentist whose professional life is limited to the dental office will most certainly forgo the opportunity to act in other social areas as well as the recognition that comes with such acts.