O objetivo foi identificar a evidência acerca da efetividade da laserterapia no tratamento de paralisia de Bell. Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos indexados na Pubmed, SciELO, Lilacs e na literatura cinzenta, sem limites de data. Foram incluídos 5 estudos, dos quais dois tinham nível de evidência I e três nível de evidência III. A laserterapia de baixa intensidade foi o tratamento mais frequente e as terapias associadas foram exercícios e massagens faciais, terapia magnética, bloqueio do gânglio estrelado e biofeedback/eletromiografia. Concluiu-se que há poucos estudos de boa qualidade metodológica e níveis de evidência para garantir a efetividade da laserterapia no tratamento de paralisia de Bell. Contudo, os resultados sugerem a redução ou a resolução das sequelas da paralisia de Bell dos pacientes tratados com laser, em combinação ou não com outras terapias.

Acrylic resin is widely used in removable dental prostheses due to its biocompatibility, low cost, and ease of handling; however, it presents mechanical limitations and a high susceptibility to microbial colonization, particularly by Candida albicans. The incorporation of nanoparticles into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has been investigated as a strategy to mitigate these drawbacks. This scoping review evaluated the impacts of incorporating chitosan (CTS) nanoparticles into PMMA on antimicrobial activity and mechanical properties. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and BVS databases resulted in the retrieval of 1912 records. After removing 557 duplicates and applying the eligibility criteria, 9 in vitro studies were included. Despite methodological heterogeneity, most studies reported enhanced antifungal activity against C. albicans and improvements in mechanical properties, such as microhardness and overall strength, when CTS was incorporated. Thus, CTS appears to be a promising additive for denture base resins, with the potential to reduce denture-associated infections and increase the longevity of prostheses. Nevertheless, standardized methodologies and well-designed in vivo and clinical investigations remain essential to determine optimal concentrations, incorporation techniques, and long-term clinical performance before implementation. A scoping review design was selected due to the exploratory nature of the study and the heterogeneity of available evidence, which precludes direct comparisons and quantitative synthesis.

IMPAIRED PHYSICAL MOBILITY IN INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between alcoholism, smoking, habits and daily practices on the salivary flow of 220 subjects aged 65 to 74 years. This is an exploratory, analytical, quantitative study. The subjects were selected through proportional stratified sampling. Stimulated salivary flow was measured using the Navazesh method. To assess alcohol dependence and smoking, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and Questionnaire of Smoking Urges Brief questionnaires were used. Data were analyzed using STATA software, using Pearson's Chi Square test, and logistic regression. A prevalence of 43.2% of individuals with hyposalivation was observed. Individuals aged 70 to 74 years had a greater chance of hyposalivation than those aged 65 to 69 years. There was an association between reduced salivary flow and those who drank less liquids and those who performed oral hygiene less frequently. The variables age, sex, fluid intake and craving for smoking explained an average of 43% of the occurrences of hyposalivation, with a statistically significant association with older age and the lower amount of liquid intake per day. Women, over the age of seventy, who drink little fluids during the day, are more susceptible to hyposalivation and need to be closely monitored by the healthcare team involved.

This study evaluated the effects of incorporating silk fibroin nanoparticles into self-curing polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) on the mechanical and Candida albicans responses of provisional dental prostheses. Rectangular specimens (64 × 10 × 3 mm) were fabricated and assigned to three groups (n = 10): G1 (control), PMMA without reinforcement; G2, PMMA with 0.5% silk nanoparticles; and G3, PMMA with 1% silk nanoparticleScheme4. 4 × 6 mm) were prepared. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess nanoparticle incorporation within the polymer matrix. No significant differences were observed in surface roughness (G1 = 0.4118 ± 0.100; G2 = 0.3245 ± 0.072; G3 = 0.3269 ± 0.076) or microhardness (G1 = 12.21 ± 0.351; G2 = 12.72 ± 0.213; G3 = 12.53 ± 0.177). Flexural strength differed significantly among the groups (p = 0.009), with higher values in nanoparticle-reinforced specimens (G1 = 79.142 ± 3.202; G2 = 87.089 ± 2.756; G3 = 92.412 ± 1.963). None of the tested concentrations exhibited antifungal activity against C. albicans. In conclusion, the incorporation of silk fibroin nanoparticles enhanced the flexural strength of self-curing PMMA without adversely affecting surface roughness or microhardness, although no antifungal effect was detected at the evaluated concentrations.