An unhealthy diet has been implicated as risk factors for several chronic diseases that are known to be associated with oral diseases. Studies investigating the relationship between oral diseases and diet are limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to describe the relationship between healthy eating habits and oral health status. The dentistry has an important role in the diagnosis of oral diseases correlated with diet. Consistent nutrition guidelines are essential to improve health. A poor diet was significantly associated with increased odds of oral disease. Dietary advice for the prevention of oral diseases has to be a part of routine patient education practices. Inconsistencies in dietary advice may be linked to inadequate training of professionals. Literature suggests that the nutrition training of dentists and oral health training of dietitians and nutritionists is limited.

Objective: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an autoimmune inflammatory pathogenesis. The aim of the research is to compare the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and adhesion of molecules in the biopsy samples of patients affected by OLP, in order to research the presence of the angiogenetic phenomenon and to understand its pathogenetic mechanism. Materials and Methods: Thirty OLP patients and thirty healthy subjects were enrolled in a study. The immunohistochemical analysis of the VEGF and vascularendothelial adhesion molecules was carried out by means of primary antibodies and anti-CD34, anti-VEGF, anti-CD106 antigen (VCAM-1) and anti-CD54 antigen (ICAM-1). The statistical significance of the differences was checked with the Mann-Whitney test (MW test). The level of significance was set to P<0.001. Data analysis was carried out with StatView 5.0.1 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Results: The results reveal the presence of a significant angiogenesis in OLP patients for the VEGF, CD34, CD106 and CD54 (P < 0.001).. The number of vessels in the biopsies of the patients with OLP (mean±SD: 21.27±4.85), compared with the healthy subjects (mean±SD: 4.74±0.97) was significantly more (Mann-Whitney test, P < 0.001). The positive expression rate of VEGF, CD34, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in oral lichen samples was 64.2%, 54.3%, 32.5% and 29.7%, respectively. Isolated endothelial cells and newly-formed micro-vessels and endothelial cells with high-immune-positivity to the antibodies anti-ICAM-1 and anti-VCAM-1 were observed. Conclusions: The results of our immunohistochemical research show that a significant neoangiogenesis occurs in oral lichen planus.

The decreased mouth opening (microstomia) represents a frequent finding in patients with systemic scleroderma (SSD), but little information is available about the efficacy of nonsurgical management of this condition. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of a nonsurgical exercise program on the decreased mouth opening in a group of 10 SSD patients with severe microstomia (maximal mouth opening < or =30 mm). The subjects were instructed to perform an exercise program including both mouth-stretching and oral augmentation exercises. The effects of such exercises were assessed after an 18-week period by measuring the maximal mouth opening of each subject. All patients completed the study and no adverse effects occurred, with the exception of transient muscular fatigue. The exercise program improved the mouth opening of all subjects (mean increase: 10.7+/-2.06 mm, P<0.005), without significant differences between dentate and edentulous ones (P>0.1). At the end of the 18-week period, all patients commented that eating, speaking and oral hygiene measures were easier. The edentulous subjects also experienced less difficulty inserting their own dentures. These findings suggest that regular application of the proposed exercise program may be useful in the management of microstomia in SSD patients.

The aim of our 10-year study was to test the effectiveness of topical therapy based on 0.18% isotretinoin, comparing it with that most frequently used, i.e. at 0.05% concentration. Seventy patients with an established diagnosis of oral lichen planus were involved in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, and the drug was administered topically at 0.05% and 0.18% concentrations. The drug at the higher concentration, according to the same protocol, was administered to the patients who did not benefit from the therapy at the lower concentration. None of the cases of reticular lichen planus showed clinical or histological improvement. In contrast, the atrophic-erosive forms showed a significant improvement, both clinical and histological: in 26 patients (at 0.18% concentration) and in nine patients (at 0.05% concentration), the symptoms, as well as the erosions or ulcers observed, disappeared. The disappearance of dysplasic phenomena was observed at 0.18% concentration. Topical application of the drug was accompanied by an increase in soreness and pain, as well as greater sensitivity to hot foods. However, these side effects were transitory, and considered acceptable by the patients. The proposed therapeutic protocol was effective towards highly active atrophic-erosive oral lichen planus with dysplasic phenomena, which is the form of the disease at higher risk of malignant evolution.

Objective: Healthcare workers in general are at a high risk of potential infections with COVID-19, especially those who work with aerosol generating procedures. Dentists fall in this category, as not only do they operate with aerosol generating procedures but also operate within a face-to-face contact area. Methods: A structured self-administered questionnaire was developed at Najran University and provided to the participants for data collection. The data collected included information on risk perception and incorporation of measures for protection against COVID-19 to gauge the attitude of dentists during this period. Also, clinical implementation of various protective measures was reviewed. Results: Of the n = 322 dentists that answered the questions, 50% were general dentists and 28.9% were dentists working at specialist clinics, while the remaining 21.1% of dentists were employed in academic institutions. Among the newer additions to the clinic, 36.3% of dentists answered that they had added atomizers to their practices, followed by 26.4% of dentists that had incorporated the use of UV lamps for sterilization. We found that 18.9% dentists were using HEPA filters in their clinics, while 9.9% of dentists were making use of fumigation devices to control the risk of infection. One-way ANOVA was also carried out to demonstrate that there was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.049) between groups of dentists utilizing HEPA filters, UV lamps, atomizers, and fumigation devices to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV2 across their workplaces. Conclusion: Dentists are aware of recently updated knowledge about the modes of transmission of COVID-19 and the recommended infection control measures in dental settings. A better understanding of the situation and methods to prevent it will ensure that the dental community is able to provide healthcare services to patients during the pandemic.

Oral microcirculation in post-menopause: a possible correlation with periodontitis Objectives: The reduction in the level of oestrogen, typical in menopause, has some effect on the health of the oral cavity. In fact, post-menopausal women present more severe periodontal disease than premenopausal women. Numerous factors can be held to be responsible for this increase, among which are the effects of oestrogens on the oral epithelium, on the salivary glands, on bone tissue and on the endothelium. Our double blind study aims to evaluate the possible variations in oral microcirculation in post-menopausal women. Methods: Twenty-seven women in post-menopause (age: Mean ± SD: 57.3 ± 8.73) and 27 women in pre-menopause (age: Mean ± SD: 27.77 ± 3.56) were examined. Oral microcirculation was investigated using oral videocapillaroscopy. Results: The study showed significant differences between cases and controls for the following parameters: decrease in diameter of loops (mean ± SD: 0.038 ± 0.008; 0.045 ± 0.005), increase in tortuosity (mean ± SD: 3.83 ± 1.13; 1.83 ± 1.06) in labial mucosa and decrease in density in periodontal mucosa (Mean ± SD: 28.86 ± 10.92; 89.62 ± 17.83). Conclusion:The decrease in periodontal density may compromise the epithelium tropism, making it prone to inflammation. The tortuosity may indicate a greater permanence of inflammatory factors, increased in post-menopausal women.

Capillary alterations in patients with SSc are not limited to the nailfold bed but also occur in periodontal mucosa microcirculation. Such evidence could be extremely important in the pathogenesis and treatment of periodontal diseases in patients with SSc.

Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive diagnostictechnique that is fundamental in viewing peripheral circulation and in studying microangiopathies. The morphological study of microcirculation is of fundamental importance, mainly because the microvascular bed is directly involved in the etiopathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and acute and chronic inflammatory pathological conditions. The value of capillaroscopic investigation as a diagnostic means in cases of peripheral microcirculation disorders has been confirmed by numerous studies. Other studies used capillaroscopic investigations to evaluate microcirculation damage not as a complication of disease (diabetes), but as its initial stage, and therefore to make a diagnosis. Capillaroscopy is an interesting method of studying microcirculation, because of the possibility of studying small vessels in vivo by means of a microscope. Today, it has become more reliable, thanks to the development of observation tools (photography, videomicroscopy). This review describes in detail various aspects of the microcirculation of the oral mucosa. (J Oral Sci 51, 1-10, 2009)