Abstract Dentists are exposed to contamination by SARS-CoV-2 due to dental interventions, leading to a state of alert and potential risk of negative impact in mental health and sleep quality, associated with Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) and bruxism. Objective: to evaluate the psychosocial status, sleep quality, symptoms of TMD, and bruxism in Brazilian dentists (DSs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: The sample (n=641 DSs) was divided into three groups (quarantined DSs; DSs in outpatient care; and frontline professionals), which answered an electronic form containing the TMD Pain Screening Questionnaire (Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders – DC/TMD), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the sleep and awake bruxism questionnaire. ANOVA test and Mann Whitney post-test were used, with Bonferroni adjustment (p<0.016) and a 95% confidence level. Results: Probable TMD was found in 24.3% (n=156) of the participants, while possible sleep and awake bruxism were diagnosed in 58% (n=372) and 53.8% (n=345) of them, respectively. Among all variables evaluated, only symptoms of depression were significantly greater in the quarantined DSs group when compared to those who were working at the clinical care (p=0.002). Working DSs were significantly less likely (OR=0.630, p=0.001) to have depressive symptoms. Those who were not worried or less worried about the pandemic were less likely to experience stress (OR=0.360), anxiety (OR=0.255), and poor sleep quality (OR=0.256). Sleep had a strong positive and moderate correlation with psychological factors on frontline workers and DSs in outpatient care, respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest confinement may have a more negative impact on the life of DSs than the act of being actively working. The concern about Covid-19 and poor sleep quality was significantly prevalent and may negatively affect the quality of life of DSs. Thus, further research on the topic is needed.

Introdução:A Síndrome da Combinação (SC) é uma condição patológica associada aos pacientes usuários de prótese total maxilar e prótese parcial removível (PPR) mandibular.Objetivo:Observar e mensurar a prevalência dos sinais da Síndrome da Combinação encontrados em pacientes usuários de prótese total maxilar na presença ou ausência de PPR mandibular (Classe I de Kennedy); e averiguar uma possível associação entre a utilização de PPR e a prevalência dos sinais clínicos da síndrome.Material e método:A amostra foi composta por 62 pacientes atendidos no Departamento de Odontologia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). O exame clínico intrabucal foi realizado para a verificação da presença ou ausência dos sinais clínicos específicos da Síndrome da Combinação, descrita por Kelly (1972): reabsorção óssea na região anterior da maxila, aumento das tuberosidades, hiperplasia papilar palatina, extrusão dos dentes naturais inferiores anteriores e reabsorção óssea posterior mandibular (variáveis dependentes). Para determinação da associação entre as variáveis dependentes e independentes (uso de PPR inferior e tempo de edentulismo superior), foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado com significância de 95%.Resultado:A característica mais frequente foi a presença de reabsorção mandibular (93,5%). Quanto à associação entre o uso de PPR inferior e as características da Síndrome da Combinação, só houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre portadores e não portadores de PPR com relação à extrusão dos dentes inferiores anteriores (p = 0,045).Conclusão:Dentro das limitações deste estudo, verificou-se que os sinais clínicos da Síndrome da Combinação foram bastante prevalentes, e não foi observada associação entre o uso de PPR e as características da Síndrome.

Introduction:Combination Syndrome (CS) is a pathological condition observed in maxillary complete denture (CD) and mandibular removable partial denture (RPD) wearers.Purpose:The aim of this study was to observe and measure the prevalence of CS signs in treatment-seeking wearers of maxillary CD associated or not with RPD (mandibular Kennedy Class I). The association between RPD wearing and the number of CS clinical signs was also evaluated.Material and method:The sample included 62 patients seen at the Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). A clinical oral examination was conducted to assess the presence of specific clinical signs of CS as described by Kelly (1972): bone resorption in the maxillary anterior region, tuberosity overgrowth, palatal papillary hyperplasia, extrusion of mandibular anterior teeth and bone resorption in the mandibular posterior region. The chi-square test at the 95% level of significance was used to test the association between dependent and independent variables.Result:Mandibular resorption was the most frequent complication (93.5%). There was a statistically significant difference between RPD wearers and non-wearers with regard to extrusion of mandibular anterior teeth (p = 0.045).Conclusion:Within the limitations of the present study, a high prevalence of CS clinical signs was observed, but no association between RPD wearing and syndrome characteristics was found.

A terapia Watsu é uma técnica de terapia aquática para relaxamento realizada individualmente em piscina aquecida com música em ambiente tranquilo e harmonioso, envolvendo movimentos rotacionais, alongamento, trações nas articulações e pressões em pontos de tensão muscular. Este estudo avaliou o efeito da terapia Watsu nos aspectos psicológicos (ansiedade e distúrbios psiquiátricos menores) e a qualidade de vida de uma paciente com disfunção temporo-mandibular. A paciente respondeu a três questionários: Inventário de Ansiedade - Resumido - Estado e Questionário de Saúde Geral para avaliar ansiedade e distúrbios psiquiátricos menores, respectivamente e; o Questionário de Qualidade de Vida da Organização Mundial de Saúde. A terapia Watsu foi usada em paciente com disfunção temporo-mandibular, como dor miofascial diagnosticada pelos Critérios de diagnóstico em pesquisa para Disfunção Temporo-mandibular. Os aspectos psicológicos e qualidade de vida foram avaliados antes e após a terapia Watsu. Os resultados após o tratamento mostraram melhora relevante e significativa em todos os índices avaliados. Portanto, pode-se concluir que a terapia Watsu foi eficaz na redução de ansiedade e distúrbios psiquiátricos menores, bem como melhora da qualidade de vida em paciente com disfunção temporo-mandibular.

Watsu therapy is a water relaxation intervention technique performed individually in a warm pool with music and peaceful settings involving harmonious rotational movements, stretching, tractions on the joints and pressures at the points of muscle tension. This study evaluated the effect of Watsu therapy on psychological aspects (anxiety and minor psychiatric disorders) and on the quality of life of a patient with temporomandibular disorders. The patient answered three questionnaires: STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and GHQ (Goldberg Health Questionnaire) to assess anxiety and psychiatric disorders respectively, and WHOQOL- Brief (World Health Organization Quality of Life) to assess quality of life. Watsu therapy has been used in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) such as myofascial pain diagnosed by RDC/TMD (Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders). Psychological aspects and quality of life were assessed before and after Watsu therapy. The results after treatment showed relevant and significant improvement on all indices evaluated. Therefore, it was shown that Watsu therapy was effective in reducing anxiety and minor psychiatric disorders, as well as improved quality of life of patients with temporomandibular disorder.

The aim of this study was to associate minor psychiatric disorders (general health) and quality of life with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients diagnosed with different TMD classifications and subclassifications with varying levels of severity. Among 150 patients reporting TMD symptoms, 43 were included in the present study. Fonseca's anamnestic index was used for initial screening while axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC-TMD) was used for TMD diagnosis (muscle-related, joint-related or muscle and joint-related). Minor psychiatric disorders were evaluated through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality Of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). An association was found between minor psychiatric disorders and TMD severity, except for stress. A stronger association was found with mild TMD. Considering TMD classifications and severity together, only the item "death wish" from the GHQ was related to severe muscle-related TMD (p = 0.049). For quality of life, an association was found between disc displacement with reduction and social domain (p = 0.01). Physical domains were associated with TMD classifications and severity and the association was stronger for muscle and joint-related TMD (p = 0.37) and mild TMD (p = 0.042). It was concluded that patients with TMD require multiple focuses of attention since psychological indicators of general health and quality of life are likely associated with dysfunction.