Journal - Canadian Dental Association = Journal de l'Association dentaire canadienne
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Review Case Reports
Pigmented lesions of the oral cavity: review, differential diagnosis, and case presentations.
Pigmented lesions are commonly found in the mouth. Such lesions represent a variety of clinical entities, ranging from physiologic changes to manifestations of systemic illnesses and malignant neoplasms. Evaluation of a patient presenting with a pigmented lesion should include a full medical and dental history, extraoral and intraoral examinations and, in some cases, biopsy and laboratory investigations. In this paper, an algorithm is proposed for the assessment of pigmented lesions of the oral cavity, and 3 patients with such lesions are described.
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This article presents the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment of 2 neuropathic conditions: trigeminal neuralgia and atypical odontalgia. A case report highlights the complexities involved in diagnosing neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is chronic, diverse in quality, difficult to localize and it occurs in the absence of obvious pathology. To avoid multiple, ineffective dental treatments, general practitioners must be familiar with the signs of nonodontogenic sources of tooth pain.
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This study examined Ontario dentists' and dental hygienists' attitudes to independent dental hygiene practice and changing the scope of practice. Data were collected from a mail survey of a systematic, stratified sample of Ontario dentists (483 respondents) and dental hygienists (437 respondents) conducted in the winter and spring of 2002 to assess what practising dentists and dental hygienists think about independent practice and other professional issues. ⋯ Dental hygienists were generally supportive of independent practice and of expanding their scope of practice. On some measures, however, sex and age differences in attitudes were evident: at times dental hygienists who were older or male seemed to be stronger advocates for professional change than others.
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Quid is a mixture of substances that is placed in the mouth or actively chewed over an extended period, thus remaining in contact with the mucosa. It usually contains one or both of 2 basic ingredients, tobacco and areca nut. Betel quid or paan is a mixture of areca nut and slaked lime, to which tobacco can be added, all wrapped in a betel leaf. ⋯ The recognition of the role of such products in the development of oral precancer and cancer is of great importance to the dental practitioner. A variety of oral mucosal lesions and conditions have been reported in association with quid and tobacco use, and the association of these conditions with the development of oral cancer emphasizes the importance of education to limit the use of quid. In most cases, cessation of the habit produces improvement in mucosal lesions as well as in clinical symptoms.
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Esthetic dentistry is among the most dynamic areas of contemporary clinical dentistry. Teaching programs in dental schools have a strong effect on the practice of dentistry, not only for recent graduates, but also for established clinicians, especially with respect to new techniques and concepts. The purpose of the study reported here was to assess the frequency and extent of the teaching of esthetic dentistry in North American dental schools and to report how it differs among the various schools. ⋯ The teaching of esthetic dentistry in North American dental schools is highly variable and in many schools is shared among different disciplines. Dental schools should work together to establish the parameters for teaching this subject and should formulate the necessary standards for education and research in this new field.