Talia Becker

Background: Infant oral mutilation (IOM) is a traditional practice involving manipulation or removal of unerupted primary tooth buds during infancy. Although its developmental effects on the permanent dentition are well documented, the clinical presentation and management of affected teeth later in life remain insufficiently characterized. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical and radiographic findings and documented management of IOM‐affected teeth in a clinically identified cohort of young adults. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with documented IOM identified from institutional electronic dental records between 2010 and 2025. Potential cases were reviewed by four dental clinicians, and inclusion required consensus among all four reviewers. Demographic, clinical, radiographic, and management data were extracted from existing records, with the first encounter at the specialist dental clinic defined as the index encounter. Analyses were performed primarily at the tooth level. Results: Fifty patients with 58 IOM‐affected teeth were included (mean age, 21.5 ± 2.8 years; 38% female). A negative response to pulp sensibility testing was documented in 40 of 57 teeth with available data (70%). Spontaneous pain, localized swelling, and sinus tract were all documented as absent in 28 of 58 teeth (48%). Management data were available for 52 teeth; documented management included root canal treatment (RCT) in 32 (62%), extraction in 7 (13%), biopsy in 3 (5.8%), follow‐up in 6 (12%), and no treatment in 4 (7.7%). Conclusions: In this clinically identified cohort of young adults with IOM, affected teeth showed a range of late clinical manifestations, including frequent negative pulp sensibility responses, and many had documented dental management, most commonly RCT. Nearly half had spontaneous pain, localized swelling, and sinus tract all documented as absent at the index encounter. These findings characterize the clinical presentation and documented management of IOM‐affected teeth in young adulthood.

Introduction: Eleven dental practitioners, aged 25–33, participated in two successive Balint groups (BGs) at our tertiary institute. A mental health professional and an oral medicine specialist co‐led each session. Aims: To qualitatively assess the potential of a modified Balint group (BG) to serve as a reflective model for enhancing emotional resilience and professional growth among dental practitioners in the unique environment of dental practice. Materials and Methods: Data were collected via semi‐structured interviews conducted by a clinical psychologist. Interviews were audio‐recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. The analysis yielded several key themes and subthemes reflecting participants' attitudes towards the group and its facilitators. Results: The analysis revealed four key themes that characterised the participants' experiences: professional growth opportunities, shared experiences and emotional support, perceptions of group leadership and format, and suggestions for group improvement. Discussion: The unique framework of modified Balint groups displays the potential to contribute to dental practitioners' development in several key areas, including professional identity formation, peer‐to‐peer experiential learning, mental well‐being, and enhanced motivation. However, it is important to acknowledge that Balint groups may not be universally suitable, and they present inherent challenges and obstacles for both participants and facilitators. Conclusions: Careful consideration of the unique needs of group participants is essential to fostering a constructive environment conducive to achieving the intended goals of the intervention.

Aims To compare agreement of assumed diagnosis (prior to recommended biopsy) of oral pathological lesions with final diagnosis (post biopsy), between remote and frontal consultations with an oral medicine specialist. Design and setting: We examined 386 consultations, for which specialists recommended a biopsy, and compared assumed and final diagnoses. Materials and Methods The study group included 190 patients whose clinicians remotely consulted with specialists, sending relevant information via WhatsApp. The control group included 196 patients who had a frontal consultation with a clinician and specialist. Results Cohen’s Kappa for assessing agreement between differential and final diagnoses indicated that for remote consultations, (κ) = 0.815; for frontal consultations, (κ) = 0.698. Agreement between presumptive and final diagnoses decreased indirectly with patient age (p = 0.015). More patients avoided biopsy in the remote consultation group (p < 0.001). Fewer reports were received from the remote consultations regarding smoking status (p < 0.001). Discussion Our results suggest that remote consultations are an effective tool, with substantial reliability. However, other findings point to a more complex reality and should be considered. Conclusions The approach of patients and therapists to consultations may differ between frontal and remote settings, with more avoidance of biopsies after remote consultations and older patients posing a greater diagnostic challenge.

Aims: To assess and compare the effectiveness of pharmacological and cognitive‐behavioral modalities—behavioral methods (BM), nitrous oxide inhalation sedation (NOIS), and premedication with Diazepam—for alleviating anxiety during dental treatment, using completed treatment sessions and adverse outcomes as indicators. Methods and results: For 239 patients (515 dental records), 18–53 y/o, who underwent dental treatments under anxiety reduction measures, sessions under NOIS were categorized as “nitrous group” (456 sessions) versus premedication with Diazepam or behavioral strategies (control, 59 sessions). Outcomes were completed treatment sessions considering demographic and clinical parameters, and adverse outcomes during and between sessions. Adjusted logistic regression showed significantly higher odds of completing treatment sessions after NOIS ( p = 0.014) as compared to controls. Univariate analyses demonstrated failure of anesthesia was higher in the control versus the nitrous group ( p < 0.001). Adverse outcomes were more frequent in controls ( p = 0.005). No significant effects of age, gender, and general health condition on completion rates of treatment plans were demonstrated. The complexity of the treatment plan had a significant effect on its completion ( p = 0.03). Conclusions: NOIS modality yielded significantly superior outcomes as compared to BM and premedication with Diazepam, with no significant effects of age or gender on the completion of treatment plans.

The clinical features of syphilitic lesions in the oral mucosa are variable, and there are no specific guidelines in the scientific English literature for dental practitioners regarding oral signs and symptoms that mandate serological tests for syphilis. We performed an updated review of reports on protocols for managing acquired oral syphilis (AOS) and offer recommendations with an emphasis on clinical features. We also add two new cases from our own files. Our analyses of global reports revealed that males are significantly more often affected than females, and their mean age is higher. Young adults are most affected, with a peak in the third and fourth decades of life. Ulcers and mucous patches as manifestations of AOS are the most prevalent clinical features in the oral mucosa. Mucous patches are significantly more prevalent in females as compared to males and tend to present as multiple rather than isolated lesions, while ulcers frequently appear as a sole lesion. The tongue, lip, and palate are the most affected anatomical sites. New oral lesions in the context of unprotected sexual intercourse warrant serological testing for syphilis.

Infant oral mutilation (IOM) is a ritual ceremony practised mostly in African cultures, in which the primary tooth bud of the deciduous canine is extracted. Complications and risks of IOM include pain, heavy bleeding and infection that may deteriorate to life-threating conditions. The main long-term consequence of IOM is future dental abnormalities. The scientific literature lacks in-depth analyses of the dental sequelae of this practice among adults who underwent it, and particularly of the aspect of dental treatment. Eight new cases of IOM are presented in this case series, with emphasis on dental diagnosis and treatment modalities. We describe different outcomes of this practice, such as enamel hypoplasia and crown deformations with later necrosis and infection of the root canal system, severe discolouration, immature root apex, impaction of a canine, failure of development and missing lower permanent incisors and canines, an odontoma-like structure, severe periodontal defect and root dilaceration. Familiarity with the practice of IOM is vital in order to identify its manifestations and arrive at the correct diagnosis and optimal course of treatment.

Background and Objectives: Immediate implant placement (IIP) is a popular surgical procedure with a 94.9–98.4% survival rate and 97.8–100% success rate. In the posterior mandible, it poses a risk of injury to adjacent anatomical structures if the implant engages apical bone. This study sought to assess the implant dimensions that allow for circumferential bone engagement at each position in the posterior mandible without additional apical drilling. Materials and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study design was used. The pre-extraction cone beam computed tomography scans of 100 candidates for IIP were analyzed. Measurements of each root of the posterior mandibular second premolar, first molar, and second molar were taken from three aspects: buccolingual, mesiodistal, and vertical. Two-sided p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 478 mandibular teeth and 781 roots were assessed. Based on Straumann^® BLX/BLT implant-drilling protocols, predicted rates of radiological circumferential engagement (RCE) were 96% for implants 5 mm in diameter in the second premolar root position; 94% for implants 4.0–4.2 mm in diameter in the first molar root position; and 99% for implants 4.5–4.8 mm in diameter in the second molar root position. Corresponding rates of achieving an available implant length (AIL) of 10 mm were 99%, 90%, and 86%. Patients p < 0.005) than older patients for all roots measured. Conclusions: The high primary stability prediction rates based on the calculation of RCE and AIL support the use of IIPs without further apical drilling in the posterior mandible in most cases.

We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a support group in the management of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). The cohort included 22 adult patients with BMS who attended the oral and maxillofacial department of a tertiary medical center in 2014–2019 and agreed to participate in the study. Eleven patients were assigned to a support group and took part in 90 min sessions held once weekly for 4 weeks (a total of 4 sessions), and the remainder continued their previous individual BMS management routine (control group). All patients completed a life-quality questionnaire before and 3 months after the group sessions. Scores for each group were compared between the two time points with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. There was a significant decrease in scores for malaise (p = 0.041), total pain (p = 0.046), and difficulty enjoying food (p = 0.026) before and after the group sessions in the study group. No significant changes were found in the control group in any of the parameters examined. A group support can alleviate pain and other clinical symptoms of BMS. Further longer-term prospective studies are needed to corroborate our findings.