This study aimed to identify spatial clustering and maternal and birth-related factors associated with the incidence of orofacial clefts in Brazil from 2001 to 2022. A nationwide ecological study was conducted in Brazil using data from 2001 to 2022 obtained from the Brazilian Live Birth Information System (SINASC). The municipality was used as the spatial unit of analysis. Variables included maternal age and education, newborn sex, gestational age, birth weight, and skin color/ethnicity. Univariate and bivariate global and local Moran’s I indices were used to assess spatial autocorrelation. A total of 234 municipalities (4.2%) formed high–high spatial clusters, primarily in the South and Southeast, while 431 municipalities (7.7%) formed low–low clusters, mostly in the Northeast (Moran’s I = 0.121, 95% CI: 0.107 to 0.135). High–high clusters had a lower median proportion of adolescent mothers (≤19 years: 17.4%) and a higher proportion of mothers aged ≥ 35 years (12.9%) compared to low–low clusters (23.5% and 8.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). High–high clusters also had fewer mothers with less than seven years of education (31.0% vs. 45.9%, p < 0.001) and higher rates of preterm births and low birth weight (p < 0.001). The proportion of White newborns was higher in high–high clusters than in low–low clusters (82.8% vs. 13.6%, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that orofacial cleft incidence in Brazil is spatially associated with maternal sociodemographic characteristics, perinatal outcomes, and newborn race/ethnicity.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the provision of dental care to patients admitted to a public tertiary hospital due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: A chart review was conducted using medical records of patients admitted with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection at a public tertiary hospital. Patients hospitalized for at least 10 days were included, and data were collected on demographic variables, comorbidities, oral health status, and hospitalization outcomes. Results: A total of 295 patients were included (mean age 60.8 ± 17.4 years). Comorbidities were common, with 29.8% of patients diagnosed with diabetes and 53.3% with hypertension. Only 47.5% of patients received an oral health assessment upon admission, and 58% received oral hygiene care during hospitalization. Oral health evaluations revealed that older adults exhibited significantly higher rates of total edentulism, received more oral hygiene care during hospitalization, and were more likely to undergo oral evaluation at admission. Regarding clinical outcomes, patients with altered mouth opening had significantly lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores (p < 0.001), and those with altered oral mucosa showed reduced oxygen saturation levels (p = 0.006). Conclusions: These study findings highlight the importance of dental care in critically ill COVID-19 patients, particularly in ICU settings. It emphasizes the need for improved dental documentation and integration of dental professionals into hospital-care teams to reduce complications and enhance both oral and systemic health outcomes.

Objective: To investigate salivary pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their associations with glycaemic markers. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 20 adults with T2D and 20 age-matched controls. Unstimulated saliva was collected, and concentrations of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-22, TGF-α, and TNF-α were quantified using a multiplex immunoassay. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were obtained from clinical records. Results: T2D group exhibited higher salivary IL-6 and IL-10 levels compared with controls. Several pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine ratios, including IL-1β/IL-10, IL-8/IL-10, TGF-α/IL-10, and TNF-α/IL-10, were significantly altered in the T2D group. In the T2D group, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-22, TGF-α, and TNF-α were positively correlated with FBG, whereas specific ratios, such as IL-22/IL-4 and TNF-α/IL-4, were positively associated with HbA1c. Conclusion: Adults with T2D display a distinct salivary cytokine profile characterised by elevated IL-6 and IL-10 and altered pro-/anti-inflammatory ratios. Salivary cytokine levels are associated with both short- and long-term glycaemic control, suggesting that salivary biomarkers can reflect systemic metabolic and inflammatory status.