AIM: To evaluate the dimensional stability of a new facial molding technique using thermoplastic custom molding tray. METHODS: The designs established demarcation of facial anthropometrics landmarks, making linear measurements with a digital caliper. Facial molding was carried out using thermoplastic custom trays, constructing a facial plaster cast with the anthropometric landmarks already transferred by measuring the linear dimensions on the plaster cast and statistical analysis. RESULTS: All linear measurements in the palpebral and labial regions presented statistically significant distortions. Only one of the linear measurements from the orbital region did not demonstrate any significant distortion. The nasal region presented the least amount of distortion. CONCLUSIONS: Although statistically significant, distortions were due to the method of breathing and were considered to be clinically irrelevant. The reduction in the working time, the comfort provided to the patient and the dimensional accuracy of the plaster cast obtained by the facial molding technique using custom perforated molding tray suggest that this technique should be employed for making facial prostheses.

Patients with cleft lip and palate usually present dental anomalies of number, shape, structure and position in the cleft area and the general dentist is frequently asked to restore or extract those teeth. Considering that several anatomic variations are expected in teeth adjacent to cleft areas and that knowledge of these variations by general dentists is required for optimal treatment, the objectives of this paper are: 1) to describe changes in the innervation pattern of anterior teeth and soft tissue caused by the presence of a cleft, 2) to describe a local anesthetic procedure in unilateral and bilateral clefts, and 3) to provide recommendations to improve anesthetic procedures in patients with cleft lip and palate. The cases of 2 patients are presented: one with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, and the other with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. The patients underwent local anesthesia in the cleft area in order to extract teeth with poor bone support. The modified anesthetic procedure, respecting the altered course of nerves in the cleft maxilla and soft tissue alterations at the cleft site, was accomplished successfully and the tooth extraction was performed with no pain to the patients. General dentists should be aware of the anatomic variations in nerve courses in the cleft area to offer high quality treatment to patients with cleft lip and palate.

Os pacientes portadores de prótese obturadora freqüentemente apresentam estomatite protética. Com o objetivo de detectar a presença de Candida albicans oral em pacientes com comunicação oronasal e avaliar a eficácia de um tratamento tópico antifúngico foi realizada citologia esfoliativa da mucosa palatina e jugal e da superfície acrílica nasal da prótese obturadora. O protocolo terapêutico consistiu de nistatina (Mycostatin®) para tratamento da mucosa oral e uma solução de hipoclorito de sódio para desinfecção da prótese. Sete pacientes (70%) apresentaram resultado positivo para C. albicans na mucosa, com um resultado negativo para a superfície protética neste grupo. A avaliação após o tratamento revelou ausência de C. albicans na mucosa oral de todos os pacientes, bem como na superfície protética. A infecção por C. albicans das mucosas jugal e palatina diferiram significantemente, enquanto que a mucosa palatina e a superfície protética apresentaram valores semelhantes. O grau de infecção da mucosa palatina foi significantemente maior quando comparado àquele da mucosa jugal e semelhante ao apresentado pela prótese, sugerindo que a mucosa subjacente à prótese é mais susceptível à infecção. O protocolo terapêutico foi efetivo em todos os casos, o que enfatiza a necessidade da desinfecção protética para se evitar a reinfecção da mucosa oral.

Patients using obturator prostheses often present denture-induced stomatitis. In order to detect the presence of oral Candida albicans in patients with oronasal communications and to evaluate the effectiveness of a topical antifungal treatment, cytological smears obtained from the buccal and palatal mucosa of 10 adult patients, and from the nasal acrylic surface of their obturator prostheses were examined. A therapeutic protocol comprising the use of oral nystatin (Mycostatin®) and prosthesis disinfection with sodium hypochlorite was prescribed for all patients. Seven patients were positive for C. albicans in the mucosa, with 1 negative result for the prosthetic surface in this group of patients. Post-treatment evaluation revealed the absence of C. albicans on prosthesis surface and on the oral mucosa of all patients. The severity of the candidal infection was significantly higher in the palatal mucosa than in the buccal mucosa, but similar in the palatal mucosa and prosthesis surface, indicating that the mucosa underlying the prosthesis is more susceptible to infection. The therapeutic protocol was effective in all cases, which emphasizes the need for denture disinfection in order to avoid reinfection of the mucosa.

A ausência congênita ou a perda do bulbo ocular na infância acarretam distúrbios estéticos e psico-sociais e comprometem o desenvolvimento normal da região orbitária. A literatura relacionada à etiologia congênita ou adquirida, devido a trauma ou doença, demonstra a necessidade da prevenção e da detecção precoce para minimizar as seqüelas e os distúrbios de crescimento orbital. A reabilitação implica a instalação de uma prótese ocular visando favorecer o desenvolvimento harmonioso da região. Com o objetivo de caracterizar o perfil do paciente infantil foi realizado um levantamento junto ao Setor de Prótese Ocular do Ambulatório da Disciplina de Prótese Bucomaxilofacial da FOUSP abrangendo o período de 1988 a 2003. As 124 (14,02%) crianças registradas encontravam-se distribuídas em 64 (51,62%) na faixa etária de 0 a 7 anos e 60 (48,38%) na de 8 a 13 anos de idade, sendo 59 meninas e 65 meninos. A análise estatística revelou que a variação das ocorrências dos gêneros masculino e feminino nas faixas etárias não é significante (p = 0.069). Entretanto, a etiologia da perda variou segundo as faixas etárias consideradas, com um nível de significância de 0,01, apresentando uma maior prevalência de distúrbios congênitos e patológicos na faixa etária mais jovem e trauma na mais velha. A etiologia alterou-se de acordo com os gêneros com uma significância de 0,05, tendo as meninas apresentado três vezes menos trauma que os meninos na faixa etária mais velha. A necessidade de tratamento protético apresentou-se igualmente distribuída ao longo da infância e as perdas oculares que implicam reabilitação protética ocorreram igualmente nos gêneros masculino e feminino. Entretanto, a etiologia da perda ocular variou em função do gênero e da faixa etária considerada.

Congenital absence or loss of the ocular globe during childhood causes psycho-social and cosmetic disorders and compromise the normal development of the orbital region. The literature relating to congenital or acquired etiology, due to trauma or disease, demonstrates the necessity of prevention and early detection in order to minimize the sequelae and disturbances in orbital growth. Installation of an eye prosthesis is essential to the rehabilitation process, so as to produce satisfactory development of the region. In order to characterize a profile of the child patient with this condition, a survey was carried out at the Prosthetic Eye sector, Out-patient Clinic, Discipline of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (FOUSP), during the period from 1988 to 2003. The 124 (14.02%) patients within the age group of 0-13 years registered for ocular prosthesis were divided into a first group of 64 patients (51.62%) with 0-7 years, and a second group of 60 patients (48.38%) with 8-13 years. Fifty nine were girls and 65 were boys. No statistical significance was observed regarding the distribution of genders in the two analyzed age groups (p = 0.069). However, there was statistical significance at the level of 0.01 in relation to etiology, with higher prevalence of congenital and pathological disturbances in the younger group and traumatic occurrences in the older group. The etiology also presented variation according to the gender, at the significance level of 0.05, where girls presented three times less trauma than boys in the older age group. The necessity of prosthetic ocular repair was evenly distributed along the childhood period and the eye losses that required prosthetic treatment equally affected both genders. However, the etiology of eye loss varied according to the considered gender and age bracket.

Os autores pesquisaram três marcas comerciais de silicones acéticos de fabricação nacional e os submeteram a testes de dureza "Shore A" e de resistência ao rasgamento, com o objetivo de verificar qual proporção desses materiais misturados ao silicone Silastic 4-4210 mais se aproximaria dos valores considerados ideais para as propriedades físicas dos silicones. Concluíram que, à medida em que a quantidade de Silastic 4-4210 era aumentada, as características físicas dos silicones acéticos estudados pioravam. Estes, porém, possuem certas vantagens sobre os materiais in natura, em função da maior sensação de textura de pele natural e da maior liberdade de escolha do profissional quanto às qualidades desejadas para a confecção de próteses faciais

The authors analyzed three commercial brands of acetic silicone made in Brazil, submitting them to tests for "Shore A" hardness and tear resistance, to ascertain which proportion of these materials should be mixed to the MDX 4 - 4210 Silastic rubber silicone in order to attain close to ideal physical properties. They conclude that physical properties of acetic silicones deteriorate with greater proportions of MDX 4 - 4210 Silastic. The latter, however, presents certain advantages when compared to the in natura materials due to a greater similarity with natural skin texture and to the greater flexibility of the material regarding the desired characteristics for use in the construction of facial prosthesis