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Background: Oral biopsy is a fundamental surgical procedure used to obtain a histopathological result that assists clinicians in establishing a definitive diagnosis of oral mucosal lesions. The aim of this study was to asses the knowledge and attitudes of dental students, general dentists, and oral surgery experts regarding the detection of oral lesions and the use of biopsy as a diagnostic tool., Material and Methods: a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 26 questions and 3 clinical cases on oral lesions was distributed to general dentists, oral surgery specialists and final-year dentistry students at the University of Barcelona. A descriptive analysis of all variables included was performed. The chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables, and a multivariate logistic regression model was performed., Results: A total of 281 questionnaires were included in the study. In terms of diagnosing of oral lesions, 44.7% of students and 32.1% of general dentists were unable to make an accurate diagnosis, compared to 81.7% of specialists. Twelve students (15.8%) and twenty general dentists (14.9%) reported lacking the skills to perform a biopsy. Ninety general dentists (67.2%) reported feeling uncomfortable performing biopsies due to a lack of experience. Oral surgeons are 84.4 times more likely to identify lesions of the oral mucosa compared to students. General dentists experience 9.6 times more difficulty diagnosing oral lesions compared to students. General dentists are 0.43 times less likely to perform sample analysis compared to students., Conclusions: Oral biopsy is a procedure primarily performed by specialists in oral surgery, with its use among general dentists being limited, likely due to a lack of training in the field. To encourage the use of biopsy among general dentists, clinical training should be a fundamental component of the education of oral healthcare providers.

Background: Oncological therapy can trigger various complications and side effects in certain tissues, such as the oral cavity, inducing a direct or indirect impact on basic functions and the patient's quality of life. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of chronic oral complications of oncological treatments in patients with head and neck cancer and assess their possible relationship with risk indicators associated with the patient, the tumor, and the treatment., Material and Methods: A retrospective, single-center, observational pilot cohort study was designed at the Dental Hospital of the University of Barcelona, involving patients with head and neck cancer who underwent surgery, non-surgical oncological therapy (radiotherapy/chemotherapy/immunotherapy), or combined therapy. Medical histories were analyzed, and data related to demographics, toxic, hygienic, and dietary habits, systemic and oral health status, characteristics of cancer and its treatment, and registered chronic oral complications were collected. The results were expressed in descriptive measures (means, standard deviations, counts, prevalence, and 95% confidence intervals), and for statistical associations, parametric and non-parametric tests were used., Results: The overall prevalence of chronic oral complications was 92.57%. Dental disease (81.14%), periodontal disease (65.14%), and hyposalivation/xerostomia (62.86%) showed the highest prevalence. Advanced age, certain cancer locations, advanced cancer stages, and oncological therapy including radiotherapy were significantly associated with the presence and number of complications., Conclusions: The elevated noticed prevalence necessitates rigorous monitoring and preventive care. The combination of risk factors can significantly contribute to oral complications. Understanding these factors services dentists establish protocols for preventing, diagnosing, and treating oncology patients.

Background : Maxillary sinus lift is a well-documented and accepted technique in the rehabilitation of the posterior maxilla. Schneiderian membrane perforation is the most common complication and may occur in between 7% and 56% of cases. Different materials and techniques have been described to achieve reparation of the perforation. The aim of this study was to establish whether the perforation of the Schneiderian membrane and its repair during maxillary sinus lift surgery results in a lower implant survival rate compared to those cases where the membrane has not been perforated. Materials and methods : A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing the survival rate of implants placed in regenerated sinus using the lateral window approach, where the perforation of the Schneiderian membrane occur, was carried out. Statistical analysis was performed with Open Meta-Analyst, calculating the odds ratio of implants placed in perforated sinuses and non-perforated sinuses. Results : Ten articles were included in the qualitative analysis and seven articles in the quantitative analysis or meta-analysis. A total of 1224 maxillary sinus augmentation surgeries were performed without perforation of the Schneiderian membrane and 2725 implants were placed; 62 implants failed during the follow-up period with an overall survival rate of 97.7%. In 480 perforated sinuses, 1044 implants were placed, of which 30 failed; the overall survival rate was 97.1%. There were no significant differences between the implant survival rate of the implants in the two groups (OR = 0.78; CI = 0.49-2.23; p = 0.28 and I 2 heterogeneity: 0%, p = 0.44). Conclusions : Schneiderian membrane perforation, as long as it is repaired, does not appear to negatively influence implant survival rate. Membrane perforation should not be considered a reason to abort the procedure or an absolute contraindication to implant placement.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is gradually increasing its incidence in our society. Unfortunately, this entity is diagnosed at an advanced stage in most patients, a fact that implies greater difficulty in its treatment and a worse prognosis. This systematic review aims to assess whether the cytokines IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α are potential salivary biomarkers that allow early diagnosis of cancer., Material and Methods: An electronic search was performed in three databases (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science). We used the following keywords: "salivary cytokines", "saliva cytokines", "salivary interleukins", "biomarkers", "oral squamous cell carcinoma" and "diagnosis", combined with the Boolean operators "AND" and "OR"., Results: 128 publications were found and finally 23 articles were included in the review and 15 in the meta-analysis. It has been observed that the majority of OSCC patients express higher salivary concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α compared to the control (CL) and premalignant lesion (OPML) groups. It has also been observed that the different premalignant lesions do not have statistically significant differences in the salivary concentration of the cytokines, and on the other hand, differences have been observed between the different TNM stages. The meta-analysis has shown that the difference in concentration of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α is statistically significant between the CL group and the OSCC, and also between the CL group and OPML., Conclusions: There is sufficient evidence to affirm that IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α are useful salivary cytokines in the early diagnosis and prognosis of OSCC. Although future studies are necessary to establish greater reliability of these biomarkers and thus be able to develop a valid diagnostic test.