Nasal deformity in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients increases with time, tongue malposition being one of the causes. Some authors have emphasized the role of nasal and adjacent facial musculature as active extrinsic agents. Another cause of alar deformity can be the lack of a proper foundation because of a maxillary hypoplasia in the region of the pyriform foramen. If alar collapse occurs, the septum bends convexly toward the cleft side. Tissues are soft and plastic during the neonatal period. Once the infant is about 3 months of age, it becomes difficult to correct the nasal deformity. Therefore, any resource used from the first day, and mainly during the first 15 days of life, will be useful to prevent the increasing deformity and to avoid the surgical correction. A controlled clinical trial was planned to compare the anthropometric measurements of the nasal region in two series of patients with unilateral complete cleft lip. In the first group, we included 44 patients who came to our clinic during the first 2 days of life and the second group consisted of 47 patients who were more than 15 days of age at the time of the first consultation. To provide control data for the evaluation of the results after 6 years of follow-up in both series of cleft patients, we also included a third group of 48 healthy 6-year-old children. A nasal component added to the occlusal prostheses was only used in the first group up to the time of surgery. The same surgeon performed a Millard II procedure with muscular reposition as described by Delaire in all the patients. Nasal measurements taken with a caliper, obtained directly from plaster models by using surface impressions of the babies, were confirmed by a laser three-dimensional measuring device. The statistical comparison between both series showed a significant increase of the columellar length in the first group. A 6-year follow-up to compare growth and cosmetic results of the nose revealed a better and permanent nasal nostril symmetry and no alar cartilage luxation in the patients who had had the nasal component. These results highlight the importance of the early treatment and allow us to suggest the nasal prostheses as a way to prevent the increasing nasal deformity, to help nasal remodeling, to obtain columellar elongation, and to avoid or decrease the need for primary surgery of the cleft nose.

Coronavirus disease 2019 , caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Diagnostic methods for the detection of the virus and seroconversion of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in plasma have been developedspecifically, but some of them require a BSL3 facility. In this study, we used the SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test Kit to determine the presence or absence of NAbs anti-receptor binding domain of the viral spike (S) glycoprotein in a BSL2 facility. The sample population was chosen in Quito, Ecuador, with a total of 88 COVID-19 positive convalescent patients. We determined that 97.7% of the analyzed convalescent sera maintained the presence of NAbs with neutralizing activity, and this activity remained until 10 months after the infection in some cases.In addition, the relationship between the presence of NAbs and immunoglobulin G was significant compared to immunoglobulin M, which tended to be absent over time.

The aim of the study was to microbiologically analyze the root canal space prepared for prosthetic intracanal posts. Thus, a 2% chlorhexidine solution was used after the intraradicular preparation of ten teeth with endodontic treatment performed for prosthetic purposes and pulp vitality history. Two collections were performed for microbiological analysis: one before the use of the studied solution, showing positive microbiological culture in all cases; and another, after application for 3 minutes of 2% chlorhexidine solution. The results showed the effectiveness of the solution in nine of ten cases, presenting negative results in microbial culture.

The treatment of patients with atrophic maxillary alveolar ridge who need oral rehabilitation is a common problem in Implant Dentistry. One of the techniques used is the alveolar ridge splitting technique to expand alveolar ridges with a horizontal bone decrease. The palatal approach technique is also recommended in cases with an insufficient thickness of the alveolar ridge for the placement of implants in the bone envelope. The aim of this work is to describe the splitting expansion and palatal approach technique for the treatment of atrophic maxillary ridges with a horizontal bone deficit and rehabilitation with implant placement. This technique combines the alveolar ridge splitting/expansion technique and the palatal approach technique. It allows alveolar ridge expansion using piezosurgery and immediate placement of implants without thread exposure in the palatal aspect. With one surgical time, this technique avoids the fracture of the buccal bone plate due to the expansion, eliminates the need for bone graft and donor-site morbidity, is simple and effective, and shows great esthetic results and implant success.