ResumoIntrodução: O uso do flúor sob a forma de fluoreto é o principal fator de proteção no controle da cárie dentária, em todo o mundo. O flúor pode ser oferecido à população de diversas formas, sendo as mais utilizadas a fluoretação da água de abastecimento e os dentifrícios fluoretados. Entretanto, a exposição ao flúor também pode ocorrer por meio das soluções para bochechos; de géis e materiais de uso odontológico, e da dieta, por meio de alimentos e bebidas industrializados. Objetivo: Este estudo objetivou verificar o conhecimento dos alunos de diferentes semestres do curso de Odontologia da Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia sobre o uso racional do flúor. Material e método: Realizou-se um estudo transversal, sendo a amostra composta por acadêmicos de diferentes semestres do curso de Odontologia, que responderam a um questionário para verificar seus conhecimentos em relação ao flúor. Resultado: Dos acadêmicos entrevistados, 58,16% consideraram o alto risco à cárie e a hipersensibilidade dentinária como os principais fatores para a indicação do flúor. Para 64,29%, o gel foi o produto fluoretado mais indicado na sua prática diária, e 67,35% indicaram o dentifrício fluoretado para crianças com idade superior a seis anos. Parte significativa da amostra afirmou saber sobre a presença de flúor em alimentos industrializados (91,84%) e reconhecer que o flúor é tóxico (93,88%). Conclusão: Apesar das informações sobre flúor adquiridas no decorrer do curso, expressiva parte dos alunos ainda não possui domínio sobre o assunto e mostrou-se insegura para poder recomendá-lo na sua prática clínica diária.Descritores: Flúor; fluorose dentária; estudantes de Odontologia. AbstractIntroduction: The use of fluorine in the form of fluoride is the main protective factor in the control of dental caries worldwide. Fluoride can be offered to the public in several ways, thus the most commonly used are the fluoridation of water supply and fluoridated dentifrice. However, exposure to fluorine may also occur through mouthwash solutions; by gels and materials for dental use; and through diet, by foods and industrialized beverages. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate students' knowledge from different semesters of State University of Southwest Bahia Dentistry course about the rational use of fluoride. Material and method: It was performed a cross-sectional study where the sample was composed by academics from different semesters of Dentistry course who answered a questionnaire in order to verify their knowledge of fluoride. Result: Among the interviewed academics, 58.16% considered high risk to caries and dentin hypersensitivity as the main factors for the fluoride indication. 64.29% stated that gel was the most suitable fluoridated product in their daily practice and 67.35% recommended fluoridated dentifrice for children older than six years. A Significant part of the sample claimed to know about the presence of fluoride in industrialized foods (91.84%) and recognized that fluoride is toxic (93.88%). Conclusion:Although the i...

Objective: awas to evaluate the influence of mentoplasty on esthetic perception of dental surgeons, dental students and lay persons. In addition, to determine whether the outstanding chin affects the perceived desire for orthognathic surgery. Material and Methods: An image of an ideal silhouette was created. This image was manipulated to create another six images with different degrees of retrogenia and progenia in increments, advancing and receding the chin on a scale of 5 mm (from +15 to -15 mm) in the anteroposterior and vertical directions. Once the images were obtained, a questionnaire was created, which was evaluated by lay persons, dental surgeons and dental students (n = 50). The evaluators used a visual analog scale to analyze the images, establishing a score ranging from 0 to 10. Associated with the scale, the evaluators were asked whether they wished to have some surgical correction performed if the image in question were a representation of their own facial profile. Results: demonstrated that image H (0 mm) was ranked as the most attractive by the dental surgeons, while the dental students and lay persons scored B (-5 mm) as the best image. In general, images A (+15 mm) and D (-15 mm) were those that most induced a desire for corrective surgery. Conclusion: the prognathic and retrognathic facial profiles were unpleasant and perceptible to the dentist, dental student and lay person. The more projected and retracted the chin was, the greater was the desire to have orthognathic surgery performed.KeywordsEsthetics; Mentoplasty; Face.