OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the levels of glycemic control on the frequency of clinical complications following invasive dental treatments in type 2 diabetic patients and suggest appropriate levels of fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin considered to be safe to avoid these complications. METHOD: Type 2 diabetic patients and non-diabetic patients were selected and divided into three groups. Group I consisted of 13 type 2 diabetic patients with adequate glycemic control (fasting blood glucose levels <140 mg/dl and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels <7%). Group II consisted of 15 type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycemic control (fasting blood glucose levels >140 mg/dl and HbA1c levels >7%). Group III consisted of 18 non-diabetic patients (no symptoms and fasting blood glucose levels <100 mg/dl). The levels of fasting blood glucose, glycated HbA1c, and fingerstick capillary glycemia were evaluated in diabetic patients prior to performing dental procedures. Seven days after the dental procedure, the frequency of clinical complications (surgery site infections and systemic infections) was examined and compared between the three study groups. In addition, correlations between the occurrence of these outcomes and the glycemic control of diabetes mellitus were evaluated. RESULTS: The frequency of clinical outcomes was low (4/43; 8.6%), and no significant differences between the outcome frequencies of the various study groups were observed (p>0.05). However, a significant association was observed between clinical complications and dental extractions (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low frequency of clinical outcomes, it was not possible to determine whether fasting blood glucose or glycated HbA1c levels are important for these clinical outcomes.

The Lucia jig is a technique that promotes neuromuscular reprogramming of the masticatory system and allows the stabilization of the mandible without the interference of dental contacts, maintaining the mandible position in harmonic condition with the musculature in normal subjects or in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). This study aimed to electromyographically analyze the activity (RMS) of the masseter and temporal muscles in normal subjects (control group) during the use of an anterior programming device, the Lucia jig, in place for 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes to demonstrate its effect on the stomatognathic system. Forty-two healthy dentate individuals (aged 21 to 40 years) with normal occlusion and without parafunctional habits or temporomandibular dysfunction (RDC/TMD) were evaluated on the basis of the electromyographic activity of the masseter and temporal muscles before placement of a neuromuscular re-programming device, the Lucia jig, on the upper central incisors. There were no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles in the different time periods. The Lucia jig changed the electromyographic activity by promoting a neuromuscular reprogramming. In most of the time periods, it decreased the activation of the masticatory muscles, showing that this device has wide applicability in dentistry. The use of a Lucia jig over 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes did not promote any statistically significant increase in muscle activity despite differences in the data, thus showing that this intra-oral device can be used in dentistry.