Background: An amount of cognition decline is normal with aging; however, intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors may exacerbate it, affecting social and occupational tasks. Masticatory dysfunction (MD), as a general term, refers to an impairment in the masticatory function triggered by a structural factor, such as tooth loss; functional factors, such as weaker bite force or a poorer masticatory performance; or both factors. MD acting as a source of chronic stress, promotes functional and morphological changes on the hippocampus, a brain area crucial for learning and memory abilities. This study aimed to synthesize evidence on the association between MD and cognitive deficit (CD), and demonstrate whether might be adequately considered as a risk factor. Methods: Observational studies were screened in seven online databases; the search strategy (PECO) was focused in observational studies with humans as a population (P), presenting groups exposed (E), and non-exposed (C) to tooth loss, in which cognition parameters were measured and compared between groups (O). The final selection included only those studies comparing the effect in cognition between subjects having ≥20 remaining teeth and <20 remaining teeth, considering the latter as a structural factor triggering MD by the literature. Searching and data extraction were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Qualitative and risk of bias evaluations were performed. The meta-analysis (MA) was constructed including the odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) comparing two groups—with/without MD. The level of evidence was rated by Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: In total, 5,666 citations were identified, 14 accomplished our eligibility criteria, and nine were include in the MA. The MA demonstrates that individuals with MD had 46% higher chance to presented CD (OR 2.24 [1.73, 2.90], p < 0.00001, I² = 46%). The level of evidence was rated as low by GRADE. Conclusion: Despite the low certainty in evidence, according to our MA, MD is positively associated with increased risk of CD. However, more studies including other factors underlying MD and similar measurements should be conducted to obtain a strong estimate of the risk.

In traditional communities of the Brazilian Amazon, the copaiba oleoresin (C. reticulata Ducke) is widely known for its therapeutic activity, especially its wound healing and anti-inflammatory actions. Our study aimed to evaluate these effects in oral lesions and the safety of the dosage proposed. A punch biopsy wound was induced on the ventral surface of the tongue of forty-five male Wistar rats under anesthesia. Animals were randomly allocated to one of three groups based on the treatment: control, corticoid and copaiba. A daily dose of each treatment and vehicle was administrated by oral gavage for three consecutive days. Sample collections took place on the third, seventh and 15th days post-wounding for clinical and histopathological analyses. Blood was collected on the third and seventh days for kidneys and liver function tests. Semi-quantitative analyses were performed based on scores of inflammation and reepithelization. Tissue collagen deposition was detected by PicroSirius red staining. Copaiba-treated wounds revealed a smaller wound area, decreased of acute inflammatory reaction and enhanced reepithelization. The levels of kidney and liver function tests did not reveal presence of damage post-treatments. Our findings suggest that copaiba oleoresin is a safe and effective alternative therapy for inflammation and tissue repair of oral wounds in this animal model.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a common microvascular complication in diabetic patients and is considered the main cause of visual loss worldwide. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition, which compromises dental supporting tissues. The chronic bacterial challenge in periodontitis is a persistent source of inflammatory mediators that may be associated with insulin resistance, increasing the risk of complications of diabetes mellitus. This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence in the association between diabetic retinopathy and periodontitis.Methods: This review was registered under the number CRD 42019142267. A search strategy in five electronic databases and a gray literature source was performed based on the PECO acronym. After data extraction, the qualitative synthesis and risk of bias analyses were performed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The level of evidence of all studies taken together was evaluated through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.Results: Out of the 253 citations screened, five cross-sectional studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis, in which two were judged to be of good quality, one as fair quality, and two as poor quality. Among the included studies, a significant relationship between the severity of periodontitis (CAL > 5 mm) and the severity of diabetic retinopathy (p < 0.05) was reported by four studies. Also, an association between both diseases in non-obese adults was found after adjustments [OR 2.206 (1.114–4.366); p = 0.0232). However, the analysis of evidence by GRADE assessment was rated as low.Conclusions: Although the results of individual studies suggest an association between diabetic retinopathy and periodontitis, the quality of the body of evidence was judged to be low by the GRADE approach. Further studies with larger sample sizes, adequate models of cofounders' adjustments, and prospective analysis of periodontitis and diabetes conditions ought to be conducted to clarify this association.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o estado geral dos diferentes aparelhos fotopolimerizadores utilizados em Clínica Escola de Odontologia da Uninassau-Recife/PE e sua eficácia na polimerização de resinas compostas. Para isto, foi avaliada a irradiância de 18 aparelhos e suas condições de uso quanto à integridade e higienização das ponteiras. Para a análise da eficácia foram confeccionados um total de 15 corpos de prova (Ꝋ 6 mm x 2 mm), com a resina composta Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA). Os corpos de provas foram divididos em 3 grupos (n=5), sendo dois grupos fotoativados com os aparelhos utilizados na instituição, o Biolux Plus (Bioart, São Carlos, Brasil) e o Optilight Max (Gnatus, Barretos, Brasil); e um grupo (controle), utilizado o aparelho Valo Grand Cordless (Ultradent, Indaiatuba, Brasil), sendo submetidos ao teste de microdureza após 24h. Na microdureza, todos os corpos de prova apresentaram maiores médias no topo, sendo mais elevada no grupo controle e menores no grupo Optilight Max, com diferença significativa entre os grupos em cada superfície (p<0,001). A irradiância da maioria dos aparelhos fotoativadores avaliados (72,22%) estava adequada para utilização, apesar da perceptível necessidade de manutenção, pois 44,44% estavam com material resinoso aderido nas ponteiras e 38,89% com ponteiras danificadas. De forma geral, os aparelhos se encontravam apropriados para utilização. As resinas fotoativadas pelos diferentes aparelhos apresentaram microdureza satisfatória em apenas um dos dois dos aparelhos fotopolimerizadores testados, ressaltando a importância da manutenção periódica, bem como da necessidade de esclarecimentos aos acadêmicos sobre sua utilização.