Dental management and treatment of xerostomic patients

Saliva is extremely important for the health and comfort of the oral cavity. Diminution in salivary flow is accompanied by a plethora of problems. A salivary flow inadequate to protect the oral cavity may be an occult condition. Dentists should evaluate those patients presenting with a high incidence or increased incidence of dental caries for a decreased salivary flow. We have presented diagnostic aids, management techniques and treatment modalities for these patients.     

Diagnosis and patient management of oral cancer

With an average age of 60 at diagnosis, oral cancer is largely a disease of older adults. This article reviews the incidence, risk factors, early detection and diagnosis of oral cancer, as well as the principles of multidisciplinary management. Considerations for dental treatment planning prior to radiation therapy and surgery for oral cancer are included.     

Itraconazole for treatment of oral candidosis in pediatric cancer patients

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency, degree of curvature, and the configuration of mesiobuccal and mesiolingual root canals of mandibular first molars. The degree of curvature and configuration of root canals creates some technical difficulties to the clinician during biomechanical preparation. Therefore this knowledge is essential for successful endodontic therapy. Six hundred and ninety-seven freshly extracted mandibular first molars were used in this study. After introducing 0.8 to 15 K reamers into the mesial root canals, the teeth were radiographed in buccolingual (clinical) and mesiodistal (proximal) directions. All samples showed curvatures at varying degrees in both views. There was a significant correlation between the degree of primary curvature of mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals in clinical directions for total samples. When the primary curvature values of the mesial root canals were evaluated in Vertucci classification, the mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals in Vertucci type VI were found as significantly correlated (r = 0.7173, p < 0.05). A significant correlation was seen between the secondary curvature values of clinical and proximal views of mesiolingual canal in Vertucci type VI (r = 0.9891, p < 0.05). The secondary curvature values in the clinical views of mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals were found as significantly correlated in Vertucci type II.     

Dental prosthetic reconstruction of osseointegrated implants placed in irradiated bone

Deficiency of the sixth component of human complement (C6) has been reported in a number of families from the western Cape, South Africa. Meningococcal disease is endemic in the Cape and almost all pedigrees of total C6 deficiency (C6Q0) have been ascertained because of recurrent disease. We have sequenced the expressed exons of the C6 gene from selected cases and have found three molecular defects leading to total deficiency: 879delG, which is the common defect in the Cape and hitherto unreported, and 1195delC and 1936delG, which have been previously reported in African-Americans. We also show that the 879delG and 1195delC defects are associated with characteristic C6/C7 region DNA marker haplotypes, although small variations were observed. The 1936delG defect was observed only once in the Cape, but its associated haplotype could be deduced. The data from the haplotypes indicate that these three molecular defects account for the defects in all the 38 unrelated C6Q0 individuals we have studied from the Cape. We have also observed the 879delG defect in two Dutch C6-deficient kindreds, but the 879delG defect in the Cape probably did not come from The Netherlands.     

Assessment of Swallowing Ability Scale for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients

The Swallowing Ability Scale (SAS) has been recently reported by us. This scale is a new method to assess dysphagia after therapy for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. The preliminary results on 23 patients showed that the scale was reliable and sensitive to functional differences across a broad spectrum of oropharyngeal dysphagia after therapy. This paper confirmed the above facts in 73 oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients who were treated in two hospitals between 1995 and 1996. As stated in the previous paper, SAS consists of a 2-step questionnaire: the MTF score and the Dysphagia score. The MTF score is a simple and practical assessment tool consisting of three subscales: 1) Method of intake, 2) Time of intake, and 3) Food. The Dysphagia score is a relevant assessment tool for defining patients' anatomic or physiologic swallowing disorders. In 40 patients with wide resection of the tongue, the Dysphagia score (p < 0.05) and the MTF score (p < 0.01) were significantly decreased. And we found a correlation between the MTF score and the Dysphagia score (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) in 73 patients. The usefulness of the SAS will be further studied for the assessment of rehabilitation to improve postoperative dysphagia.     

Dental prosthesis rehabilitation following oral carcinologic treatment

Following the different treatments applied on patients suffering of a mouth cancer, often these are confronted with a functional and esthetic handicap. Thanks to the prosthetic techniques and an eventual resort to implantation, it is possible to improve their quality of life. Different prosthetic reconstructions are considered.     

Antidiarrheal agents for the management of treatment-related diarrhea in cancer patients

The efficacy and use of antidiarrheal agents in patients who diarrhea associated with cancer treatments are reviewed. Diarrhea is common in cancer patients and may interfere with cancer treatment. Diarrhea may be induced by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, graft-versus-hot disease (GVHD) or infection after bone marrow transplantation, and other causes. The general goal of antidiarrheal therapy is to reduce fluid loss in the stool by inhibiting intestinal secretion, promoting absorption, and decreasing intestinal motility. Antidiarrheal agents may be classified as intestinal transit inhibitors, intraluminal agents, proabsorptive agents, and antisecretory drugs. Opiate agonists are the most commonly used intestinal transit inhibitors; they can be effective in treating cancer treatment-related diarrheas but must be used cautiously. Intraluminal agents include clays, activated charcoal, and cholestyramine; these adsorbents and other binding resins can interfere with the absorption of orally administered antidiarrheals and other drugs and are unlikely candidates for use in most cases of diarrhea in cancer patients. Clonidine, a proabsorptive agent, should be used only in patients with secretory diarrhea refractory to opiate agonist treatment. Octreotide is an antisecretory drug that has shown considerable efficacy in clinical trails as a treatment for diarrhea caused by chemotherapy of GVHD; its use for radiation therapy-induced diarrhea, although not studied clinically, is nevertheless an option. In general, opiate agonists and octreotide appears to offer the most efficacy and flexibility. Opiate agonists and octreotide are effective agents for cancer treatment-related diarrhea.     

Dental extractions in patients on an oral anticoagulant: a survey of practices in North America

PURPOSE: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) for reporting prothrombin time (PT) values. However, there are no scientifically based guidelines for performing dental extractions when using the INR. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons were surveyed to determine whether the INR is the method they use to monitor the level of anticoagulation and to determine what protocols are followed when anticoagulated patients require dental extractions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mail survey of academic oral and maxillofacial surgeons in North America was conducted to determine their choice of laboratory tests for assessing patients on oral anticoagulants and their protocol before proceeding to dental extractions. RESULTS: Fifty-three of 73 respondents (73%) routinely use the INR, but only 21% rely on this method alone. Twelve percent and 11% of respondents, respectively, also use the PT value and PT ratio. The level of anticoagulation at which surgeons would proceed with dental extractions was variable. For those using the INR, it was from 1.3 to 4.0, for those using PT ratios the perceived safe range was from 1.0 to 2.0, and for those using the PT value, the range was from 13 to 21 sec. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the support in the medical literature for use of the INR, many oral and maxillofacial surgeons still use the PT for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy. There is no consensus on the INR interval at which dental extractions can be safely performed. Prospective studies are needed in this area.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者戴用口腔矫治器6年以上牙(牙合)改变

目的:观察长期口腔矫治器治疗后阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome,OSAHS)患者牙(牙合)变化情况.方法:对7例接受口腔矫治器治疗OSAHS的患者,通过治疗前、后牙(牙合)模型资料的三维测量分析,观察患者牙弓宽度及各牙位的三维变化.结果:7例长期使用口腔矫治器的患者,经平均使用8.5年后,上第二磨牙远中颊尖处增宽(2.11±2.14)mm,P=0.040;上第一磨牙远中颊尖处增宽(0.56±0.61)mm,P=0.049;下第一磨牙远中颊尖处增宽(1.25±0.93)mm,P=0.040.在三维方向上,除上、下磨牙个别牙尖点出现(牙合)向压低外,其余测量结果差异无统计学意义.结论:患者使用口腔矫治器后,牙(牙合)有微小的改变趋势,医生应予以关注.     

A peculiar form of anemia in patients operated on for cancer of the oral cavity

The authors related about a peculiar form of anemia found in some patients operated on oral cancer; these patients had an almost normal hematic situation before their operation. 63 patients, operated in the course of a year for oral cancer, have been studied by the authors; they have found in 14 cases (22.2%) a light anemia which regressed after a self blood transfusion, during the first week after the operation; in other 8 cases (12.7%) the anemia, which was more serious, persisted beyond the 7th day after the operation. Those 8 patients, suffering from more serious and persistent anemia, were treated from 7th to 21st day after the operation with iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid without any improvement. The hematic situation improved about 10 days after the end of treatment, probably as a result of spontaneous renewal of medullar haemopoietic activity. This anemia, is characterized by normochromia, normocytosis, reduced response of reticulocytes, sideropenia and hyperferritinaemia. The authors think that the pathogenesis of anemia after operation in neoplastic patients is caused by medullary insufficiency existing before the operation, connected with reduced erythropoietin production and emphasized by an operation that sometimes cause bleeding. Consequently the authors hypothesis the use of erythropoietin in the therapy of most severe anemia in neoplastic operated patients.     

Cost-effectiveness in the management of patients with oesophageal cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between clinical outcome, quality of life and cost for treatment modalities commonly employed in the management of oesophageal carcinoma. METHODS: A series of 51 patients diagnosed with oesophageal carcinoma in a 6-month period was used to derive a cost analysis profile for their treatment. All patients underwent quality of life assessment. Patients diagnosed in 1993 and managed in Newcastle upon Tyne were identified from the Northern Cancer Registry and Hospital Episode Statistics. Intervention profiles were documented for a 3-year follow-up period and cost analysis was conducted. A further 51 patients were recruited prospectively for quality-of-life studies. RESULTS: Some 139 individuals were identified retrospectively. Median survival was significantly better in patients treated by resection (n=31; median 20 months) than in those receiving palliative treatments (n=108; median 6 months) (P < 00001). Median cost was significantly greater in individuals who underwent resection (8070 pound sterling) than for patients subjected to a palliative strategy (radiotherapy 4720 pound sterling, brachytherapy 1790 pound sterling, laser 3540 pound sterling, intubation 2450 pound sterling, no treatment 1390 pound sterling) (P < 0.01). When considering the median cost per month of life (after treatment) resection (457 pound sterling) compared favourably with the palliative options (range 342-1125 pound sterling). CONCLUSION: Surgical resection for oesophageal carcinoma confers greatest benefit in terms of survival. Costs are inherently greater in individuals undergoing resection but, allowing for time, resection is at least as cost-effective as other treatment modalities.     

Dental fear treatment outcomes for substance use disorder patients

In order to examine the clinical treatment outcome for dental fears, we compared the records of 18 phobics who had co-morbid substance use disorder (SUD) with those of 27 subjects who were phobic without concomitant SUD. Outcomes were determined by calculation of changes in the Dental Fear Survey (DFS) score. Subjects were classified by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. All subjects received exposure-based behavioral therapy with or without pharmacological adjuncts. All 27 subjects in the non-SUD group and 15 of 18 (83.3%) of subjects in the SUD group improved. Non-SUD subjects improved more than SUD's on the avoidance and specific fear, but not on the physiological upset, dimensions of the DFS.     

The management of diabetes in patients with advanced cancer

Although a form of eating disorders had been described by Kampo (Chinese traditional medicine) physicians during the last quarter of the 18th century, the modern study on eating disorders in Japan dates from the end of the 1950s. With the rapid increase in the number of cases, research activities have become very active recently. Both the past and present status of eating disorders and of research activities relating to them in Japan are not well known in other countries. This study concentrates on a review of the literature, with a focus on prevalence, etiology, and symptoms.