Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction: The study arises from the need to address an aspect frequently neglected in elite sport, considering that oral conditions can negatively impact performance through pain, inflammation and nutritional difficulties. Objective: to analyze the relationship between oral health status and sports performance in elite athletes of the Manabí Sports Federation, with the purpose of identifying potential interventions to optimize both oral health and athletic performance. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study with a mixed approach was developed, applying a questionnaire validated by experts to a population of 37 taekwondo athletes who train in the Manabí Federation, selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The research included an exhaustive bibliographic review of documents published between 2019-2023, using specialized databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and SciELO. Results: The results revealed that 34% of athletes experience high levels of oral discomfort (levels 8-10) during intensive training, while only 9% have suffered head and neck injuries. It is notable that 76% of athletes consider oral health as "very important" for sports performance, and the remaining 24% rate it as "important", evidencing a total consensus on its relevance in athletic performance. Conclusions: The findings confirm the significant influence of oral health on elite sports performance, identifying a considerable gap between the recognition of its importance and the implementation of adequate preventive practices. It is concluded that it is necessary to integrate oral health programs in the sports field, including education, periodic check-ups and promotion of effective hygiene habits, to optimize the performance and general well-being of athletes.

The success of treatment in primary teeth with extensive loss of tooth structure lies in the correct selection of biomaterials with aesthetic and mechanical characteristics suitable to withstand occlusal forces during physiological movements. Objective: To compare the fracture resistance of nanohybrid resin with zirconia particles vs Bulk Fill resin in pediatric crowns with acetate matrix. Methodology: Experimental in vitro study with a sample of 20 crowns with anterior acetate matrices filled with nanohybrid resin with zirconia particles and Bulk Fill resin, adapted to an ivorine die of 3.5mm vestibulolingual, 4mm mesiodistal and 4mm cervicoincisal dimensions. Once the acetate crowns were filled, seated and excesses were removed, they were polymerized for 40 seconds on each side, then removed and taken to the incubator immersed in isotonic solution for 24 hours at 37ºC, finally the resistance to fracture was evaluated in the universal testing machine with values in Newtons. The results of the Shapiro Wilk analysis showed normal distribution, using the t student test to evaluate the difference of means. Results: The crowns elaborated with nanohybrid resin with zirconia particles obtained a higher average fracture resistance of 696.610N, compared to the value presented by the crowns elaborated with Bulk Fill resin of 513.814N with a significance p:0.011. Conclusions: The fracture resistance of the crowns was statistically higher in the group of crowns elaborated with nanohybrid resin with zirconia particles compared to the crowns elaborated with Bulk Fill resin.   

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect both the bone, muscles and nervous components, with multifactorial etiology and a complex and interdisciplinary treatment. Our aim was to analyze the relationship between the temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and stress levels of preprofessional dentistry internships students. Internships are carried out during the last two years of the degree, and generate important stress levels, by the rule of completing a serial of dental procedures to get promoted to the next level in their career. Sometimes students must pay for those treatments only to meet these requirements. We applied two questionnaires to students of the last four semesters of dentistry at an Ecuadorian university. Scales applied were the Fonseca Amnestic Index for TMD, and the Global Stress Perception Scale. We found that the prevalence of TMD was 99,08%; with mild level in 15,61%. The moderate level was 63,90%; and severe level in 3,90%. In the other side, the moderate level of stress was in 91,71% of participants; 3,90% had mild stress level and 4,39% severe. The Chi-square was 0,001 between both variables, which indicates a relationship between the stress level and TMD of dentistry students.

Objectives: To present the clinical case of a female patient who underwent conservative and planned surgical extraction of the 33rd tooth included in the mandibular bone, highlighting the surgical technique, the results obtained and the importance of planning in tissue conservation. Materials and methods: This demonstrative research presents a clinical case in which the heterotopic position of the canine included in the dental arch can be identified and the early prevention therapeutic strategies that can be applied within the treatment plan, evaluating the dental pathologies and complications that can be generated by the inclusion of this tooth. In this case, surgical extraction of the 33rd tooth is performed. Results: Surgical treatment with a planned approach allows us to perform a minimally traumatic treatment, restoring dental functionality and helping to prevent dental anomalies caused by the poor position of the tooth included in the mandibular bone between the third and fourth quadrant, at the level of the apical third of the lateral incisor and the collateral canine. Conclusions: The clinical case presented demonstrated that surgical extraction was the most appropriate treatment option for the retained canine, due to its horizontal position, impaction and morphology. The careful evaluation and planning carried out allowed to minimize risks and preserve the tissues, achieving a successful extraction without complications.

Introduction: Dentoalveolar trauma in children aged 6 months to 10 years is common in pediatric dentistry and affects their oral health and development, making timely care crucial to avoid complications. This review analyzes the clinical manifestations, etiologies, and management strategies of these traumas. Materials and methods: 32 articles were reviewed between 2020 and 2024 in Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, and SciELO. Results: The most frequent causes of dentoalveolar trauma in children are falls, contact sports, and traffic accidents, mainly affecting the anterior part of the maxilla and mandible. Prompt intervention is essential to prevent tooth loss, and clinical and radiological classifications help categorize the severity of the trauma. Approximately one-third of preschool children experience dental trauma, highlighting the importance of immediate care and preventive education. Conclusions: Proper management of dental trauma is key to children's oral health and quality of life.  

Oral health is a key element in overall health and well-being of people. We expected that dental students will have a good attitude and behavior toward oral care. We aimed to evaluate the attitude and behavior regarding oral hygiene among dentistry students at public university in Ecuador, during the 2022-2022 period. To achieve this goal, we used the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory index (HU-DBI) to evaluate 277 students of first to ninth semesters. Between the main findings, we identified that the 57,76% of students had a good attitude and behavior, followed by 41,25% at a regular level and 0,72% at a poor level. Chi-square statistical analysis revealed significant findings among ninth-level students, who had favorable attitudes and behaviors. We conclude that more than 50% of surveyed students demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviors. There was not a statistical significance about gender, but we identified a statistical significance relationship with education level, indicating that higher educational levels are associated with better attitudes.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which impacted humanity between 2019 and 2022, significantly disrupted routine activities, and dentists were identified as a high-risk population. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended enhanced biosafety measures during dental care to mitigate the airborne transmission of SARS-Cov-2. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge among Ecuadorian dentists regarding recommended preventive measures for COVID-19 in 2022. A survey, adapted from the validated Cavazos, et al., used in Mexico, was administered to 280 Ecuadorian dentists. Results indicated a moderate level of knowledge about preventive measures, general care, and clinical care for SARS-CoV-2. While the knowledge of preventive measures to be implemented in dental clinical practice was considered adequate, continuous reinforcement remains essential.

Writing a scientific article can be daunting for dentists new to research. From crafting clear and concise prose to adhering to citation guidelines and addressing reviewer comments. We need to overcome numerous challenges. This guide aims to provide dentists with some tools and knowledge to write and publish scientific articles successfully, particularly in countries like Ecuador where scientific output is historically low. We offer general recommendations and a detailed breakdown of the IMRAD+TRPCBC structure to equipe dentists with the essential framework for producing high-quality manuscripts that contribute to the advancement of oral health research.

It is very important to capture the history, evolution and current state of Periodontology in the country, so that new generations know, value and continue to surpass the standards of clinical care with new technological advances, not forgetting the country's epidemiology, to establish public health programs guided by the academy, so as not to fall into the cold professional, robotized by Artificial Intelligence AI and forget about the patient, as a human being, with all their physical, mental and social health problems, taking into account the parameters of Dental Bioethics.

This case report describes the dental approach to an adult female patient diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, developmental disorders, visual impairment, intellectual disability, and other associated neurological conditions. The aim was to detail the behavioral and clinical management strategies implemented at the Clinic for Special Care Dentistry, at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. The treatment was planned and performed monthly starting in November 2024, focusing on adapted communication, reduction of sensory stimuli, positive reinforcement techniques, and oral hygiene education for the caregiver. Improved patient cooperation was achieved without the need for sedation or general anesthesia. It is concluded that an individualized and humanized approach allows for safe and effective treatment in patients with multiple comorbidities.