BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes mellitus have been associated with a number of changes in the oral cavity, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, mucosal diseases, salivary dysfunction, altered taste, and burning mouth. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study between August and October 2012 with a convenience sampling was performed for 51 patients with diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2). The study consisted of two phases: 1) a questionnaire application; 2) intraoral clinical examination. For the analysis of data, we used descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test in bivariate analysis (significance level of 0.05), and Poisson Regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of oral lesions was 78.4%. Traumatic ulcers (16.4%) and actinic cheilitis (12.7%) were the most prevalent lesions. The lips (35.3%) and tongue (23.5%) were the most common location. The bivariate analysis showed an association with the type of diabetes, and two variables (age and comorbidity) were quite close to the significance level. In the Poisson Regression analysis, only diabetes type 2 remained significant after adjusting the model. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show a high prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in diabetic patients. The oral mucosal lesions are mostly associated with diabetes type 2.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is a typical symptom
during early orthodontic treatment. This study aimed at
reviewing the literature on the use of low intensity laser to relieve
pain during orthodontic treatment.
CONTENTS: Titles, summaries and articles were searched in
the following databases: Pubmed/Medline, Cochrane Library,
LILACS and Scielo. Three researchers have independently
searched using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eight
clinical trials were included and six have observed significant
pain relief after therapeutic laser.
CONCLUSION: There are scientific evidences that low intensity
laser decreases pain symptoms during dental movements after
the placement of orthodontic elastics and after orthodontic adjustments.
Its use by dentists is a feasible alternative for inducing
less adverse effects as compared to anti-inflammatory analgesics,
being indicated for allergic patients, children and patients with
systemic impairment. However, there is the need for further scientific
investigations using well-defined protocols.
Keywords: Analgesia, Laser, Laser therapy, Low intensity laser,
Orthodontics, Pain.

Introduction Neoplasm of the head and neck can be treated surgically, by radiation, chemotherapy, or using combination
of these methods. In contrast to surgical and radiation treatment which mostly have a local effect, chemotherapy
in addition to local have also a systemic effect. Both XRT in oral region and chemotherapy can affect oral health. The
aim of this study was to assess the oral health status and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer after
receiving radiation therapy.
Material and Methods Quantitative, analytical and cross-sectional research methods along with the application of
UW-QOL questionnaire version 4, were used. Seventy one patients of the outpatient facilities at two cancer hospitals
in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, were included in the study. Oral health status was evaluated using the Lockhart and
Clark criteria. Linear Poisson and Logistic Regression tests were applied to assess associations between the variables
using a significance level of 5%.
Results Of the total number of patients, 71.83% were male, the average age was 62 years and 57.74% were non-Caucasian.
The group that received dental monitoring and follow-up attained the highest (830.13) Quality of life scores,
including: “pain” (93.13) and “taste” (83.07). The highest score for oral health in the group that did not receive dental
monitoring and follow-up treatment was 4.08 for “oral hygiene”.
Conclusion Dental monitoring and follow-up should begin before radiation therapy, given that both the illness and
methods used for the treatment negatively affect patients’ quality of life.
Keywords: neoplasm; radiotherapy; quality of life; head; neck; oral health

Brazil is on a phase that there is a great progress in the proportion of the elderly population, and this is made in an
accelerated way, as in other developing countries. The relative subjects to the binomial health-disease appear as a
true challenge to the cares with the health, not forgetting the oral conditions. In this aspect, the present article accomplishes
a revision about the conditions of oral health in elderly, looking for to understand the current situation
in Brazil. A bibliographical research was accomplished in primary, secondary sources and databases. The national
epidemiological study (SB Brazil 2003) showed a high percentage on use of prosthesis in the upper arch (66,54%)
and necessity of using prosthesis in the lower jaw (56,06%), and a mean DMFT for the country 27,79. The results
of the studies analyzed were: edentulous, prosthesis use, need of the prosthesis use, alterations periodontal and
high index of DMTF. It was found that the oral health status on elderly is poor. Thus, it is needed programs aimed at
seniors and adequate training of professionals for this population.