Dentists are healthcare professionals who are at high risk of infection and transmission of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in clinical practice made by Brazilian dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic. From June 22 to July 13, 2020, an online questionnaire was sent to dentists using Google Forms. After providing consent, 1,178 dentists answered questions regarding their knowledge and clinical experiences related to COVID-19. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, or Kruskal–Wallis tests, with a significance level of 5%. Brazilian dentists significantly changed their routine dental practices. Biosafety measures were added in their offices by 98% of the dentists, increasing operating costs for 88.3% of dentists. Greater discomfort due to the increase in personal protection equipment (PPE) worn during the pandemic was reported by 58.6%. Furthermore, 84.2% reduced heir hours of service. It was found that the dentists decreased their workload, used additional PPE, and took additional biosafety measures.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the toothbrushing with a dentifrice containing antimicrobial phthalocyanine derivative (APD) for the intraoral reduction of viral load of SARS-CoV-2.Material and methods: Twenty COVID-19 positive dentate patients were selected and toothbrushes with a dentifrice containing APD for 2 minutes. Self-collected samples of unstimulated saliva were carried out three times: T0 (baseline, before toothbrushing), T5 (5 minutes after toothbrushing), and T30 (30 minutes after toothbrushing). The analysis of RNA viral was performed by RT-PCR using TaqPath™ COVID-19 multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR test for detection of three viral genes (ORF1ab, N and S genes). Evaluation of the effects was based on difference in cycle threshold (Ct) value. Friedman's test and pairwise comparison with Bonferroni corrections were used, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The Ct values were significantly higher (p=0.020) at T30 in comparison to T0 and T5. The greatest difference in the Ct values was between T30 and T0 (3.83). Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that oral hygiene action associated with an antimicrobial chemical dentifrice may be an important tool for SARS-CoV2 viral load reduction in oral cavity.

A COVID-19 foi declarada uma pandemia. A Odontologia é considerada uma profissão de alto risco. Dessa forma o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o conhecimento de cirurgiões dentistas, que atuam na cidade de Londrina, em relação à pandemia por meio da aplicação de questionários online. Os dados obtidos foram avaliados de forma descritiva. Participaram desse estudo 197 cirurgiões dentistas entre eles: 71 gênero masculino e 126 gênero feminino. A internet foi o meio mais utilizado para obtenção de informações 95,43%. A febre (96,95%) e a tosse (86,29%) foram as sintomatologias mais lembradas. Em relação aos equipamentos de proteção individual os mais utilizados durante os atendimentos foram: luvas de procedimento 93,40%, protetor facial 92,89, touca descartável 86,29% e máscaras N95/PFF2 79,69%. Nos consultórios odontológicos o uso obrigatório de máscaras e disponibilização de álcool 70% (96,44%) foi a medida adotada mais utilizadas para minimizar a contaminação. Em relação aos atendimentos 49,74% realizam procedimento a 4 mãos com bomba a vácuo quando utilizam caneta de alta rotação e 44,16% estão diminuindo uso de seringa tríplice, para redução de aerossóis e o álcool 70% foi o mais utilizado na limpeza do consultório (97,46%). Portanto, os cirurgiões dentistas de Londrina possuem conhecimento adequado sobre sintomas, modo de transmissão, período de incubação, controle de infecção e medidas de controle para minimizar a contaminação e disseminação do vírus em atendimentos odontológicos da doença COVID-19, sendo essas necessárias para sua proteção pessoal e dos seus pacientes.

Background This study evaluated the effects of the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (HN019) in the development of experimental periodontitis (EP) in rats submitted to chemotherapy (5‐fluorouracil [5FU]). Methods Eighty male rats were divided into the following groups: control (C); treated with 5FU (60 mg/kg at day 30 and 40 mg/kg at day 32); treated with probiotic (HN019) (daily, for 44 days, starting at day 0); treatment with 5FU and probiotic (5FU‐HN019); only EP (EP) (ligature placed on lower first molars at day 30, maintained for 14 days); EP and treatment with 5FU (EP‐5FU); EP and treatment with probiotic (EP‐HN019); and EP and treatment with 5FU and probiotic (EP‐5FU‐HN019). Euthanasia occurred at day 44. Morphometric, histomorphometric, microtomographic, immunohistochemical, immunoenzymatic, and gene expressions analyses were performed. The data obtained were statistically analyzed (p < 0.05). Results The EP‐5FU‐HN019 group showed less bone and connective tissue loss when compared with EP‐5FU group, while EP‐HN019 and EP‐5FU‐HN019 groups had greater bone volume than EP and EP‐5FU groups, respectively (p < 0.05). A decrease in immunostaining for tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase and RANKL, an increase for osteoprotegerin and lower interleukin‐1β levels were observed in EP‐5FU‐HN019 group, when compared with EP‐5FU group (p < 0.0001). Probiotic therapy led to an increase in the proportions of B. lactis in the feces (p = 0.0018), but not in the biofilm, and reduced the expression of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia in the biofilm (p < 0.0001). Conclusion B. lactis HN019 reduced the severity of EP in rats submitted to chemotherapy, modulating immunoinflammatory parameters in periodontal tissues and reducing periodontopathogens expression on biofilm in rats submitted to chemotherapy.