Tiago Carvalho dos Santos

Objective: Lymphangiomas are rare benign lymphatic malformations that most commonly affect the head and neck region. Their vascular nature may complicate surgical management because of the risks of bleeding, functional impairment, aesthetic deformity, and recurrence. Methods: This case report describes the surgical excision of a lingual lymphangioma in a 15-year-old male using a high-power diode laser under local anaesthesia. A brief review of the literature on oral lymphangiomas treated with laser devices is also presented. Results: Surgical excision was successfully performed under local anaesthesia using a high-power AlGaAs diode laser. At the 18-month follow-up, complete healing was observed, with no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: High-power diode laser-assisted surgery proved to be a safe and effective treatment for oral lymphangioma, representing a valuable alternative for lesions located in anatomically sensitive sites such as the tongue.

This study aimed to identify the profile of abstracts addressing the specialties of Special Care in Dentistry (SCD) and Hospital Dentistry (HD) published in the proceedings of the meetings of the Brazilian Society of Dental Research (Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica-SBPqO) between 2014 and 2023. Electronic access was provided to the proceedings. Abstracts were chosen using SCD/HD-related keywords. Two pairs of previously trained researchers independently reviewed the chosen content. After resolving any issues beforehand, each pair of researchers examined the same material. The data was analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 28.0. Among the 29,167 abstracts analyzed, 5.97% were from the SCD/HD areas (n=1742). A higher percentage of SCD/HD papers was identified in 2015 (12.6% / n=220) and in the Aspiring Panel and Effective Panel modalities (49.1%/n=856). Most SCD/HD abstracts were from public institutions (69.4%/n=1,209), without funding (57.9%/n=1,008), and from the southeastern region of Brazil (59.6%/n=1,039), with a higher concentration in the state of São Paulo (32.8%/n=572). The significant number of abstracts from the relevant categories identified in the SBPqO proceedings throughout the investigated period demonstrates the relevance of SCD/HD research. To prevent these works from being distributed across other fields, the SBPqO recognized and established an area of expertise dedicated to the SCD and HD specialties by 2025.

Innovative self-etching dental cements have been considered a versatile material with recent formulations incorporating bioactive additives. Objective This study analyzed the role of these ingredients in systems used for luting intracanal posts. Methodology Bond strength (BS), water sorption (WS), water solubility (WSB), and in situ zymography (IZ) were assessed. Three cements were tested: RelyX U200 (RU, bioactive-free control), RelyX Luting Plus (RL, fluoride-containing glass-ionomer), and BeautiCem SA (BC, S-PRG-based). Bond strength was evaluated in bovine root dentin (n=10) at the cervical, middle, and apical thirds at 7 days and 6 months. WS/WSB were assessed using 10 cement disks (10×1 mm) cycled through deionized water immersion (m1), desiccation (m2), and a second immersion (m3). For IZ, the specimens (n=3) were sectioned and incubated with fluorescein-conjugated gelatin for 48h at 37°C at both storage times (7 days and 6 months) for analysis by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. Fluorescence intensity was quantified using Image J. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p<0.05). Results RU presented the highest BS and the lowest WS/WSB, while RL showed the opposite trend. BC demonstrated intermediate performance with no statistical differences from the other materials. For all cements, the cervical third and the 6-month period yielded the highest BS values. WS/WSB were greater for the bioactive cements (BC, RL). IZ results aligned with BS findings, revealing suppressed enzymatic activity over time. Based on these results, it can be concluded that RU exhibited superior mechanical stability despite lacking bioactivity. Conclusion Among bioactive cements, BC emerged as an interesting alternative, offering improved bond strength, water stability, and bioactive potential compared to RL.

This study presents the findings of an academic extension project focused on promoting oral health and diagnosing oral lesions in institutionalized elderly individuals. The project involved visits by students and faculty to two nursing homes in southern Brazil. Data collection included extraoral and intraoral clinical examinations and educational activities such as lectures and the distribution of printed materials on oral and denture hygiene. According to caregiving staff, oral hygiene, including denture cleaning, was generally performed once daily during morning showers. A total of 118 older adults (68 males and 50 females; mean age 76.1 ± 8.6 years) were examined. Forty-nine used dentures, of whom only 24 (49%) reported satisfaction with their prostheses. In total, 42 oral lesions were identified, mainly angular cheilitis (8), inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (7), irritation fibroma (7), frictional hyperkeratosis (7), prosthetic stomatitis (5), actinic cheilitis (3), traumatic ulcers (3), and leukoplakia (2). Educational sessions also targeted caregivers, offering practical guidance for improving hygiene practices. The results underscore the need for better oral care and improved access to dental services for institutionalized elderly populations. Academic extension activities play a valuable role in health promotion and in training future professionals in elderly care.