Abstract The rapid and abrupt transmission pattern of the SARS-CoV-2 unleashed the current COVID-19 pandemic, as recognized by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Considering the high risk of transmission of the virus in dental environments and the specificities in clinical practice, COVID-19 posed immediate challenges for dental care and education. Due to the need to establish infection prevention and control guidance in dental health settings to enable a safe clinical practice, this review aims to list the challenges and perspectives in managing dental care in services and schools. This review employed materials collected from PubMed and the main guidelines and studies on the novel coronavirus to provide an overview of the clinical procedures and decisions made by health care personnel in dental offices and dental schools. We expect the COVID-19 scenario to promote significant changes in clinical practice and dental education; dentists should seek specific and particular regulations for dental practice established by their state or country. Biosafety checklists are strongly recommended for appointments at dental services and face-to-face activities in dental schools.

Resumo Introdução Recursos de imagem são indispensáveis para o diagnóstico e preparação de um plano de tratamento adequado, sendo imprescindível para o sucesso reabilitador com implantes dentários. Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo seccional foi caracterizar áreas edêntulas de pacientes candidatos à reabilitação com um implante dentário osseointegrado unitário em região estética da maxila por meio das tomografias computadorizadas de feixe cônico (TCFC) e correlacionar parâmetros de interesse. Material e método Catorze TCFC foram avaliadas em um programa de computador de acordo com os seguintes parâmetros: distância da Junção Cemento-Esmalte (JCE) até a crista óssea (CO), distância entre as CO e distância entre as coroas dentárias dos dentes adjacentes ao espaço protético (EP), largura e altura óssea do EP, espessura do palato na região dos segundos pré-molares e molares bem como a espessura horizontal e vertical do tecido mole na região do EP. Resultado e discussão os resultados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e do teste de Correlação de Spearman. Correlações fracas e moderadas e sem diferenças estatísticas significativas foram encontradas na maioria das comparações (≤ 0,29 e ≥ 0,30 ≤ 0,49, respectivamente). Apenas para a correlação espessura da mucosa do EP versus distância entre JCE e CO no dente mesial ao EP foi encontrada diferença estatística significativa (p= 0,03) e correlação moderada (r = 0,56). Conclusão A TCFC é uma ferramenta viável para a região maxilofacial, pois permitiu a mensuração de diversos parâmetros de tecido mole e duro da cavidade bucal úteis para o planejamento e previsibilidade de tratamento reabilitador com implantes dentários.

Abstract Introduction Imaging resources are indispensable to assist the professional dental surgeon in the formulation of the diagnosis and preparation of an adequate treatment plan for the patient, being essential for the successful rehabilitation with dental implants. Objective The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to characterize the edentulous areas of patients who will be rehabilitated with single osseointegrated dental implant in the aesthetic area of the maxilla by means of computerized tomography and correlate parameters of interest. Material and method Fourteen cone beam computerized tomographies were evaluated in a program according to the following parameters: distance from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the bone crest (BC), distance between the BC and distance between the dental crowns of the teeth adjacent to the prosthetic space (PS), bone width and height of PS, thickness of the palate in the region of the second premolars and molars as well as the horizontal and vertical thickness of the soft tissue in the PS region. Result and discussion The results were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and the Spearman Correlation test. Weak and moderate correlations and no statistically significant differences were found in most comparisons (≤ 0.29 and ≥ 0.30 ≤ 0.49, respectively). Only for the correlation between PS mucosa thickness versus distance between CEJ and BC in the mesial tooth to PS was found significant statistical difference (p = 0.03) and moderate correlation (r = 0.56). Conclusion Cone beam computerized tomography is a viable tool for the maxillofacial region because it allowed the measurement of several parameters of soft and hard tissue of the buccal cavity useful for planning with dental implants, which may increase the predictability of successful rehabilitation treatments.

Abstract The aim of this non-randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life and masticatory efficiency of patients rehabilitated with mandibular two-implant overdentures with immediate loading or conventional dentures. Fifty completely edentulous patients wearing bimaxillary conventional dentures, for at least one year, were recruited. The patients were then assigned to either two treatment groups: mandibular overdentures supported by two implants with bar-clip system and a maxillary conventional denture (n = 25), and new maxillary and mandibular conventional complete dentures (n = 25). Masticatory efficiency and oral health-related quality of life were assessed before and 3 months after denture insertion. The Brazilian version of OHIP-Edent questionnaire was used to assess the oral health-related quality of life. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated with chewing capsules through a colorimetric method. The results revealed fewer oral health–related quality of life problems in patients wearing mandibular two-implant overdentures compared to the conventional dentures group. In addition, the implant overdenture group presented statistically significant improvement in masticatory efficiency (p = 0.001). There was no correlation between masticatory efficiency and OHIP in the implant group (p > 0.05), however a correlation was found in the conventional denture group (p < 0.05). Therefore, these short-term results suggest that mandibular overdenture retained by 2 implants with immediate loading combined with maxillary conventional dentures provide better masticatory efficiency and oral health–related quality of life than mandibular conventional dentures.

OBJECTIVES:This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the influence of Primary Headache (PH) on efficacy of a Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) conservative therapy and its association with the presence of self-reported parafunctional habits.SAMPLE AND METHODS:Sample was composed of 400 medical records, divided into four groups: I) Muscular TMD (n=64); II) Muscular TMD+PH (n=48); III) Muscular TMD+Articular TMD (n=173); IV) Muscular TMD+Articular TMD+PH (n=115). All groups had undergone a TMD therapy for three months with a stabilization appliance and counseling for habits and behavioral changes, with no specific headache management. Current pain intensity and existence or not of self-reported bruxism were assessed. Repeated measures ANOVA and Chi-Square test followed by Odds were used for statistical analysis, with a significance level of 5%.RESULTS:results of this study showed that: (1) A conservative therapy with stabilization appliance and counseling for habits and behavioral changes was effective in the TMD pain relief; (2) Groups with an additional diagnosis of PH had worsened the pain improvement significantly; and (3) no association between the presence of self-reported bruxism and PH was found.CONCLUSIONS:this study could elucidate the important effect that headache may have on the TMD management.

The aim of this observational study was to assess the degree of patient satisfaction toward implant-supported prostheses. A questionnaire was used with two scales (one consisting of detailed adjectival and the other of numerical responses) regarding chewing, esthetics, speaking, comfort and overall satisfaction. The scales were administered to a sample of 147 patients treated with implants and prostheses. The data were submitted to the Kappa statistic and the Chi-square test to analyze the association between dependent and independent variables. High degrees of satisfaction (greater than 91%) were found for all categories evaluated, regardless of gender, age, number of implants or type of prosthesis. “Comfort” was associated significantly with the number of implants (p = 0.038), and “speaking” was associated significantly with the type of prosthesis (p = 0.029). Positive agreement was found between the scales for all categories evaluated, without statistically significant differences regarding respondent preference (p = 0.735). Patients treated with implant-supported prostheses were highly satisfied with the treatment.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationship among pain intensity and duration, presence of tinnitus and quality of life in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-nine female patients presenting with chronic TMD were selected from those seeking for treatment at the Bauru School of Dentistry Orofacial Pain Center. Patients were submitted to the Research Diagnostic Criteria anamnesis and physical examination. Visual analog scale was used to evaluate the pain intensity while pain duration was assessed by interview. Oral Health Impact Profile inventory modified for patients with orofacial pain was used to evaluate the patients' quality of life. The presence of tinnitus was assessed by self report. The patients were divided into: with or without self report of tinnitus. The data were analyzed statistically using the Student's t-test and Pearson's Chi-square test, with a level of significance of 5%. RESULTS: The mean age for the sample was 35.25 years, without statistically significant difference between groups. Thirty-two patients (54.24%) reported the presence of tinnitus. The mean pain intensity by visual analog scale was 77.10 and 73.74 for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. The mean pain duration was 76.12 months and 65.11 months for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. The mean OHIP score was 11.72 and 11.74 for the groups with and without tinnitus, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for pain intensity, pain duration and OHIP scoreS (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Chronic TMD pain seems to play a more significant role in patient 's quality of life than the presence of tinnitus.

O objetivo deste estudo piloto foi avaliar a eficácia do uso de uma terapia cognitivo comportamental (TCC) e da amitriptilina, um antidepressivo tricíclico, no tratamento de pacientes portadores de disfunções temporomandibulares (DTM) crônicas. Quarenta e sete mulheres (com 35,4 anos em média) diagnosticadas com DTM crônica foram selecionadas e divididas em 4 grupos: amitriptilina; amitriptilina + TCC; placebo + TCC; e placebo (controle) e controle. As pacientes foram submetidas às terapias por 7 semanas consecutivas. As reavaliações aconteceram 1, 7 e 11 semanas após o início da terapia (11 semanas de avaliações). Foram avaliados a presença e severidade de dor, o nível de depressão, a qualidade de vida e do sono. Os dados foram avaliados através de ANOVA, Qui-quadrado e teste de Cochran, considerando um nível de significância de 5%. Foram observadas melhoras significantes em todos os fatores avaliados para todos os grupos, porém não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos. Após o final da terapia, os resultados positivos persistiram apenas para o grupo amitriptilina + TCC. Os resultados sugerem que o uso associado de amitriptilina e TCC no tratamento de pacientes portadores de DTM crônicas pode ser efetivo na melhora da dor, nível de depressão, qualidade de vida e do sono.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and use of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Forty-seven women (mean age = 35.4 years old) with chronic TMD were enrolled in the study and divided into 4 groups: amitriptyline; amitriptyline and CBT; placebo and CBT; and placebo only (control). Patients were managed for 7 consecutive weeks. Follow-up evaluations were done at the 1st, 7th and 11th weeks of treatment. The presence and severity of pain, levels of depression, and quality of life and sleep were measured. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Chi-square and Cochran tests, considering a significance level of 5%. Improvements were found for all factors considered in the intragroup analysis, although no significant differences were detected among groups. However, at the end of the treatment (11 weeks of follow-up), these positive outcomes persisted only for the women treated with amitriptyline and CBT. The obtained results suggest that the combination of amitriptyline and CBT may be effective in reducing pain and depression levels as well as in improving the quality of life and sleep in patients with chronic TMD.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of gender and bruxism on the ability to discriminate minimum interdental threshold. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and fifteen individuals, representing both genders, bruxers and non-bruxers, with a mean age of 23.64 years, were selected for this study. For group allocation, every individual was subjected to a specific physical examination to detect bruxism (performed by three different examiners). Evaluation of the ability to discriminate minimum interdental threshold was performed using industrialized 0.010 mm-, 0.024 mm-, 0.030 mm-, 0.050 mm-, 0.080 mm- and 0.094 mm-thick aluminum foils that were placed between upper and lower premolars. Data were analyzed statistically by multiple linear regression analysis at 5% significance level. RESULTS: Neither gender nor bruxism influenced the ability to discriminate minimum interdental threshold (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gender and the presence of bruxism do not play a role in the minimum interdental threshold.

OBJETIVO: esta revisão de literatura visa avaliar, através de literatura específica, a sensibilidade e especificidade do exame de ressonância magnética (RM) para o diagnóstico dos desarranjos internos da articulação temporomandibular (ATM). METODOLOGIA: tanto artigos que utilizaram ATM de cadáveres para comparar achados anatômicos aos achados de ressonância magnética (RM), como artigos que compararam achados clínicos com achados de RM foram utilizados. Através dos achados desses artigos, as propriedades de sensibilidade e especificidade da RM para o diagnóstico de desarranjos internos da ATM foram calculadas. Com isso, a confiabilidade e a aplicabilidade do exame de RM no diagnóstico dos desarranjos internos da ATM foram discutidas. RESULTADOS: encontrou-se sensibilidade de 90% e especificidade de 88% da RM para desarranjos internos da ATM. CONCLUSÃO: o exame de RM de ATM possui ótima sensibilidade e especificidade para o diagnóstico dos desarranjos internos da ATM. Porém, tal exame deve ser solicitado com cautela, apenas nos casos onde a imagem seja indispensável para o plano de tratamento.

OBJECTIVE: the aim of this paper is to review the literature concerning the reliability and applicability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal disorders. METHODS: articles that have used TMJ from cadavers to compare MRI findings with anatomic findings, as well as some papers that have compared clinical findings with MRI findings were evaluated. According to the findings identified on these articles, the MRI sensitivity and specificity properties for the TMJ internal disorders diagnosis were calculated. Then, the MRI reliability and applicability for the TMJ internal disorders diagnosis were discussed. RESULTS: 90% of sensitivity and 88% of specificity were found. CONCLUSION: the TMJ MRI presents good sensitivity and specificity for the TMJ internal disorders diagnosis. But dentists should beware and request this exam only in cases where MRI will be essential to the treatment planning.

O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a influência do gênero e do bruxismo na força máxima de mordida. A concordância interexaminadores para o exame físico de bruxismo também foi avaliada. Cento e dezoito voluntários, com idade média de 24 anos, divididos por gênero e pela presença de bruxismo, foram selecionados. Para o estabelecimento da amostra todos os voluntários foram submetidos a um exame físico específico para bruxismo (realizado por três examinadores). Então, os voluntários foram divididos em quarto grupos de acordo com o gênero e a presença de bruxismo. A força máxima de mordida foi mensurada, com o auxílio de um gnatodinamômetro, na região de primeiro molar, três vezes de cada lado, em duas sessões distintas. As sessões foram separadas por um intervalo de 10 dias. O maior valor dentre os doze obtidos, foi utilizado como sendo a força máxima. A força máxima de mordida foi estatisticamente maior para o gênero masculino (587.2 N) quando comparado com o gênero feminino (424.9 N) (p<0.05), independentemente da presença de bruxismo. A presença de bruxismo não demonstrou influência na força máxima de mordida (média da força máxima de mordida para bruxômanos = 490.1 N, e para não bruxômanos = 522.1 N) (p>0.05). A concordância entre os examinadores para o exame físico de bruxismo foi considerada favorável.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of gender and bruxism on the maximum bite force. The concordance for the physical examination of bruxism between examiners was also evaluated. One hundred and eighteen individuals, from both genders, bruxists and non-bruxists, with an average age of 24 years, were selected for this purpose. For group establishment, every individual was submitted to a specific physical examination for bruxism (performed by three different examiners). Subjects were then divided into four groups according to gender and the presence of bruxism. The maximum bite force was measured using a gnathodynamometer at the first molar area, three times on each side, performed twice. The two measurements were made with a 10-day interval. The highest value was recorded. The mean maximum bite force was statistically higher for males (587.2 N) when compared to females (424.9 N) (p<0.05), regardless of the presence of bruxism. The presence of bruxism did not influence the bite force (mean maximum bite force value for bruxists: 490.1 N, and for non bruxists: 522.1 N) (p>0.05). The concordance between examiners for physical examination of bruxism was considered optimal.