Abstract This study evaluated dental students’ perceptions and adherence to an interactive web-based response system in the teaching of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Between 2018 and 2019, students from a single Brazilian dental school used the Poll Everywhere® app to answer questions on subjects taught during an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology course. At the end of the academic semester, the students completed a questionnaire containing 10 questions regarding the app’s use. The study included 123 students. Regarding the devices used to answer the questions on the app, 117 (95.1%) students used a smartphone and 3 (2.4%) used a laptop. Almost all students (121; 98.4%) agreed that this interactive web-based response system provided the teacher with a better overview of students’ understanding and improved their self-assessment of the acquired knowledge of the subjects. Most students (118; 95.9%) preferred classes using this technology and 122 (99.2%) stated that using the app made them feel more engaged in classes. In addition, all students agreed that the app improved student–teacher interactions. Most students (119; 96.7%) considered the digital interactive method more attractive than the conventional teaching approach, and 99 (80.5%) did not have any negative comments regarding the app. In conclusion, the Poll Everywhere® app provides a more dynamic and attractive educational environment for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology teaching.

Abstract: The osteolytic activity of odontogenic cysts and tumors is directly associated with their growth and aggressiveness. The influence of proteins expressed by epithelial and mesenchymal cells on this biological event differs between indolent cystic lesions, aggressive cystic lesions, and odontogenic tumors. The objective of this study was to compare the immunohistochemical expression of factors that stimulate (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand – RANKL, cathepsin K – CatK and matrix metallopeptidase 8 – MMP-8) and inhibit (osteoprotegerin – OPG) osteoclastogenesis between dentigerous cyst (DC), glandular odontogenic cyst (GOC), odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), and ameloblastoma (AB). Paraffin-embedded sections of nine DCs, nine GOCs, 20 OKCs, 21 ABs, and four dental follicles (DFs) were subjected to immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity was analyzed semiquantitatively and quantitatively in epithelium and connective tissue, respectively. The proteins were immunoexpressed in epithelial and mesenchymal cells of all lesions studied. The expression of RANKL and CatK was higher in OKC, AB, and GOC (p<0.005). Higher expression of OPG was found in DF and DC compared to the other markers (p<0.005). MMP-8 expression was high in GOC and OKC. This study demonstrated the differential expression of factors that inhibit and stimulate bone resorption during the development of DC, GOC, OKC, and AB. Higher expression of RANKL and CatK was observed in more aggressive lesions. OPG appears to be one of the molecules responsible for the slower growth of DC.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of patients using bisphosphonates (BP) regarding their risks and benefits. Sixty-five patients using BP were included. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 13 questions, including sociodemographic and general information on BP. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a binomial test was used to assess patient knowledge about BP, considering a 5% significance level. Fifty-nine (90.2%) patients were unaware or had never heard of BP drugs and only 3 (4.6%) knew their indications. Only 6 patients (9.2%) said they knew about the oral complications caused by BP. Sixty-three patients (96.9%) said they were not referred to the dentist before starting BP treatment. Patients using BP do not have satisfactory knowledge regarding the risks and benefits of BP. Physicians and dentists must be prepared to inform and counsel BP users about their adverse effects and possible risk factors. Our results emphasize the importance of public policies, whether individual or collective, to be taken to increase knowledge about BP to avoid medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyze the epidemiology of maxillofacial odontogenic and non-odontogenic cysts diagnosed for 30 years in a Brazilian population. A retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was performed. Biopsy records were obtained from the archives of a Brazilian referral center between 1989 and 2019. Data regarding age, gender, anatomical location, and histopathological diagnosis were collected and categorized. Further, a literature search for similar studies was performed. A total of 6.994 biopsy records were evaluated, but only 367 (5.24%) cases were classified as odontogenic cysts (OC) or non-odontogenic cysts (NOC). Among all cystic lesions, 341 cases (92.9%) were OC and 26 cases (7.1%) were NOC. These lesions were more common in females (n = 208 / 56.67%) and located mostly in the mandible (n = 195 / 53.1%). In patients with OC, the radicular cyst was the most frequent (n = 134 / 36.5%), followed by the dentigerous cyst (n = 101 / 27.5%) and the odontogenic keratocyst (n = 52 / 14.2%). Patients with NOC had a higher frequency of epidermoid cyst (n = 12 / 3.3%), oral lymphoepithelial cyst (n = 7 / 1.9%), and nasopalatine duct cyst (n = 4 / 1.1%). The OCs were more prevalent than NOCs, and inflammatory cysts were the most common among all the OCs.

Resumo Tumor glômico é uma neoplasia benigna composta de uma proliferação perivascular de células glômicas que lembram o corpo glômico normal. Usualmente, ele se apresenta como um nódulo pequeno, solitário, sintomático e azul-avermelhado, localizado na derme profunda ou subcutânea de extremidades superiores ou inferiores de adultos jovens e de meia-idade. Casos afetando a cavidade oral são muito raros, com apenas 23 casos bem documentados relatados na literatura de língua Inglesa. A seguir, nós apresentamos um caso raro de tumor glômico do lábio superior, e revisão da literatura dos casos envolvendo a boca.

Abstract Glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm composed of a perivascular proliferation of glomic cells that resembles the normal glomus body. Usually, it appears as a solitary, symptomatic small blue-red nodule, located in the deep dermis or subcutis of upper or lower extremities of young to middle-aged adults. Cases affecting the oral cavity are very rare, with only 23 well-documented cases reported in the English-language literature. Herein, we present a rare case of glomus tumor of the upper lip, and review the literature of cases involving the mouth.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Only a few studies have evaluated the clinicopathological features of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Brazil, and most were conducted in the most industrialized region of the country, i.e. the southeastern region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological features of this malignant neoplasm in northeastern Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study performed in an oral pathology laboratory in Recife, Brazil. METHODS: All cases of oral SCC that occurred between 2000 and 2015 were studied. Clinical data were recorded and histological slides were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test (P ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: A total of 194 cases were evaluated. The male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. The mean age was 65.4 years, and only 6.6% of the cases occurred in patients younger than 41 years. Most tumors consisted of well-differentiated SCC (54.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study highlight the higher prevalence of oral SCC among women and the increasing number of cases among young patients. Thus there is no specific risk group for oral SCC, as in the past. This fact needs to be taken into consideration in clinical routine care, so that apparently innocuous malignant lesions do not go unnoticed in these individuals.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as características histológicas e de imagem de lesões periapicais experimentais, incluindo o osso alveolar adjacente, em ratos sob tratamento com ácido zoledrônico. O estudo utilizou 40 ratos Wistar, machos, distribuídos em 8 grupos de animais cada: G1: indução de lesão periapical (LP) e administração intraperitoneal semanal (AIS) de solução salina (NaCl 0.9%) por 4 semanas; G2: indução de LP e AIS de ácido zoledrônico (0,15 mg/kg/week) por 4 semanas; G3: indução de LP e AIS de solução salina por 8 semanas; G4: indução de LP e AIS de ácido zoledrônico por 8 semanas; G5- AIS de solução salina por 4 semanas e subsequente indução de LP; G6- AIS de ácido zoledrônico por 4 semanas e subsequente indução de LP; G7: AIS de solução salina por 8 semanas e subsequente indução de LP; G8: AIS de ácido zoledrônico por 8 semanas e subsequente indução de LP. A administração de ácido zoledrônico ou solução salina continuou após indução de LP até a eutanásia. Após isso, tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico e análise histológica foram realizadas. Análises estatísticas foram realizadas por ANOVA e teste de Kruskal-Wallis. Os grupos tratados com ácido zoledrônico mostraram LPs significativamente menores que os grupos tratados com NaCl 0.9% (p <0.05). LPs eram formadas por inflamação crônica variando de leve a moderada, sem diferença entre os grupos. Em todos os espécimes, necrose mandibular não foi observada. Em conclusão, a presença de LPs aparentemente não representa um fator de risco importante para o desenvolvimento de osteonecrose relacionada ao uso de bisfosfonatos.

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the imaging and histological features of experimental periapical lesions, including the adjacent alveolar bone, in rats under zoledronic acid treatment. The study used 40 male Wistar rats distributed into 8 groups of 5 animals each: G1: induction of periapical lesion (PL) and weekly intraperitoneal administration (WIPA) of saline solution (0.9% NaCl) for 4 weeks; G2: PL induction and WIPA of zoledronic acid (0.15 mg/kg/week) for 4 weeks; G3: PL induction and WIPA of saline solution for 8 weeks; G4: PL induction and WIPA of zoledronic acid for 8 weeks; G5:WIPA of saline solution for 4 weeks and subsequent PL induction; G6: WIPA of zoledronic acid for 4 weeks and subsequent PL induction; G7: WIPA of saline solution for 8 weeks and subsequent PL induction; G8: WIPA of zoledronic acid for 8 weeks and subsequent PL induction. The administration of zoledronic acid or saline solution continued after PL induction until the euthanasia. Thus, cone beam computed tomography and histological analysis were performed. Statistical analyzes were performed by ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. Groups treated with zoledronic acid showed significantly smaller size of PL than the groups treated with 0.9% NaCl (p<0.05). PLs were formed by chronic inflammation ranging from mild to moderate, with no difference between groups. In all specimens, no mandibular necrosis was observed. In conclusion, the presence of PLs apparently does not represent an important risk factor for the development of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws.

O uso da luz laser de baixa intensidade vem sendo utilizado como terapia coadjuvante ou de forma terapêutica isolada em várias especialidades odontológicas. Suas principais indicações incluem ação anti-inflamatória, analgésica e indutora da reparação tecidual. O poder cicatrizante do laser de baixa potência é discutido neste trabalho assim como os mecanismos de biomodulação e estimulação da mitose. Estas propriedades, já estudadas em células benignas, quando aplicadas em células neoplásicas malignas, abrem espaço para discussões. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre os aspectos indutivos do laser no processo de proliferação celular principalmente no que se refere a estes mecanismos em células neoplásicas malignas.

Low energy laser has been used as an adjuvant therapy or as a therapeutic tool in many different areas of Dentistry. It is recognized by its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and also as a tissue repair inductor. Low intensity laser property in stimulate cell proliferation during wound healing and its biomodulation mechanisms are discussed in this paper. These properties have already been established for cultured benign cells, but there is a controversy when extended to the spectrum of the malignant neoplastic process, normally generating great discussions. The objective of this work was to perform a literature review about the low intensity laser capacity in induce cell proliferation. The discussion is specially concerned about its effects on malignant cells.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a prevalência das disgenesias dentárias em pacientes submetidos a tratamento ortodôntico na cidade do Recife, no período de 1991 a 1999, por meio da observação de dados contidos em prontuários e do exame radiográfico. Foram examinados 551 prontuários, dos quais 124 (22,5%) apresentaram essas alterações.Os resultados demonstraram que 44 (7,99%) das disgenesias estavam presentes no gênero masculino e que dois pacientes deste grupo apresentaram mais de um tipo das mesmas. Outras 80 (14,52%) pertenciam ao gênero feminino, sendo que 3 pacientes deste grupo apresentaram também mais de uma alteração; dessa forma ocorreram 130 disgenesias. A hipodontia foi a mais prevalente com (86,92%). As disgenesias diagnosticadas não mostraram diferenças de ocorrências entre os gêneros e localização nos arcos superior e inferior. O presente estudo mostra a importância da observação radiográfica para detecção de disgenesias e elaboração de um plano de tratamento baseado na ocorrência delas.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the dental disgenesis prevalence, in the patients submitted to orthodontic treatment in the city of Recife, between the years 1991 to 1999. This study was done by clinic handbooks analysis and also by radiographies. 551 clinic handbooks were checked up and 124 (22,5%) showed those disgenesis. The results showed that 44 (7,99%) of the anomalies were detected to the male sex, and 3 patients of this group also showed more than one type. Therefore 130 disgenesis were detected. The most detected prevalence was the hipodonty with 86,92%. The detected disgenesis did not show difference in occurrence between males and females patients; and also in the superior and inferior arches. The present study shows how important is the radiographic observation detecting disgenesis for a clinical schedule, according to the occurrence of them.