Levels of Empathy in Students and Professors with Patients in a Faculty of Dentistry.

Background: Empathy is an attribute that plays an essential role in the dentist-patient therapeutic relationship, clinical care, and treatment adherence, along with providing other benefits. The main objective of this research was to establish the validity, reliability, and invariance of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and then characterize the empathy levels of students and teachers at a dental school.

Materials And Methods: An observational and cross-sectional study analyzed a sample of undergraduate students and professors from the Universidad Andrés Bello Faculty of Dentistry (Chile) (n = 1727 and n = 267, respectively).

Efficacy of cannabis-based medications compared to placebo for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Chronic neuropathic pain (NP) presents therapeutic challenges. Interest in the use of cannabis-based medications has outpaced the knowledge of its efficacy and safety in treating NP. The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of cannabis-based medications in individuals with chronic NP.

Temporomandibular joint findings in CBCT images: A retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate radiological characteristics of the temporomandibular joint.

Methods: Retrospective study of images of 20-80 year-old patients. Two independent clinicians analyzed the images, and a radiological score was obtained, considering sclerosis, osteophites, cysts, and erosion.

Efficacy of medications in adult patients with trigeminal neuralgia compared to placebo intervention: a systematic review with meta-analyses.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterized by brief, unilateral, sharp, stabbing, and shooting pain of the fifth cranial nerve. The objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to determine the effect of medications compared to placebo in adult patients with TN.

Methods: Review authors identified randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and EMBASE up to February 2021.

Trigeminal neuralgia management after microvascular decompression surgery: two case reports.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) involves chronic neuropathic pain, characterized by attacks of repeating short episodes of unilateral shock-like pain, which are abrupt in onset and termination. Anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine, are the gold standard first-line drugs for pharmacological treatment. Microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery is often the course of action if pharmacological management with anticonvulsants is unsuccessful.

Efficacy of topical interventions for temporomandibular disorders compared to placebo or control therapy: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

This systematic review focused on the efficacy of topical products in reducing temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)-associated pain, in comparison to placebo or control interventions. The EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE via PubMed databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using topical interventions in adults diagnosed with TMD. The pain intensity was the primary outcome, and other clinical findings were the secondary outcomes.

Effects of respiratory muscle therapy on obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Study Objectives: The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of respiratory muscle therapy (ie, oropharyngeal exercises, speech therapy, breathing exercises, wind musical instruments) compared with control therapy or no treatment in improving apnea-hypopnea index ([AHI] primary outcome), sleepiness, and other polysomnographic outcomes for patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Only randomized controlled trials with a placebo therapy or no treatment searched using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science up to November 2018 were included, and assessment of risk of bias was completed using the Cochrane Handbook.

Results: Nine studies with 394 adults and children diagnosed with mild to severe OSA were included, all assessed at high risk of bias.

Efficacy of Antidepressants in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Compared to Placebo. A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses.

Purpose: To establish the efficacy of oral antidepressants compared to placebo in improving obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as measured on a polysomnography study. Secondary outcomes included self-reported sleepiness.

Methods: Authors identified prospective randomized placebo-controlled studies from MEDLINE through PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE up to February 2019 in English language.

Empathy Levels of Dental Faculty and Students: A Survey Study at an Academic Dental Institution in Chile.

A successful health care provider may be described as a clinician capable of establishing a comprehensive diagnosis including identifying related risk factors. However, an equally important quality a clinician should possess is the ability to understand the experiences and feelings of others to allow better communication for better outcomes. It is likely that faculty empathy levels influence students' ability to demonstrate this attribute.

Prevalence of trismus in patients with head and neck cancer: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence of trismus in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: Four electronic databases were searched: Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to April 2018. Level of evidence was assessed based on Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine.

Local Anesthetic Injections for the Short-Term Treatment of Head and Neck Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of local anesthetic trigger point injections in adults with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in the head, neck, and shoulder regions compared to dry needling, placebo, and other interventions.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials using local anesthetic injections in adults diagnosed with MPS were included. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE libraries were searched.

Use of platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich growth factor with arthrocentesis or arthroscopy to treat temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: Systematic review with meta-analyses.

Background: The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether arthrocentesis or arthroscopy combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or platelet-rich growth factor (PRGF) injection compared with no injection or saline injection (control group) or hyaluronic acid (HA) injection reduced pain and increased maximum mouth opening (MMO) in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA).

Types Of Studies Reviewed: The authors used the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases and hand searched reference lists through May 4, 2018, to identify randomized controlled trials and controlled trials including patients with TMJ OA receiving injections (PRP or PRGF versus other). The authors assessed the risk of bias according to the Cochrane guidelines.

Chilean Dentistry students, levels of empathy and empathic erosion: Necessary evaluation before a planned intervention: Levels of empathy, evaluation and intervention.

Objectives: To estimate the general empathy levels and the potential for empathic growth in Dentistry students and demonstrate that the empathic erosion model is not med.

Material And Methods: Exploratory and cross-sectional study. Population: First- to fifth-year Dentistry students at Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago Campus (Chile).

Reconsidering the 'Decline' of Dental Student Empathy within the Course in Latin America.

Introduction: The controversy over the presence of empathic decline within the course in students of medicine, dentistry and health sciences in general, has not fully been studied. This controversy could be partially solved if massive studies of empathy levels are made in similar cultural, social and economic contexts.

Material And Methods: Empathy levels within the course were studied in eighteen dental schools from six countries in Latin America (2013).

Effectiveness of Intra-Articular Injections of Sodium Hyaluronate or Corticosteroids for Intracapsular Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aims: To assess the effectiveness of intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate (NaH) or corticosteroids (CS) for treatment of intracapsular temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Methods: Single- or double-blinded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of NaH or CS injections, compared to each other or to placebo, for the treatment of intracapsular TMD due to osteoarthritis and/or internal joint derangement were analyzed in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Electronic searches of MEDLINE through the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were conducted on March 17, 2015, and an updated search was conducted on June 7, 2017.

Effects of CPAP and mandibular advancement device treatment in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this review is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with a mandibular advancement device (MAD) in improving the quality of life (sleepiness, cognitive, and functional outcomes) in patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Authors identified randomized, placebo-controlled studies from MEDLINE through PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Studies were assessed for inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as risk of bias.

Medication Treatment Efficacy and Chronic Orofacial Pain.

Chronic pain in the orofacial region has always been a vexing problem for dentists to diagnose and treat effectively. For trigeminal neuropathic pain, there are 3 medications (gabapentinoids, tricyclic antidepressants, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) to use plus topical anesthetics that have therapeutic efficacy. For chronic daily headaches (often migraine in origin), 3 prophylactic medications have reasonable therapeutic efficacy (β-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and antiepileptic drugs).