A comparative study of surgical drain placement and the use of kinesiologic tape to reduce postoperative morbidity after third molar surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to compare the effects of the surgical drain and kinesiotape applications on postoperative morbidity after mandibular third molar surgery in a split-mouth study design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre, split-mouth study was performed in 23 patients who needed surgical removal of bilateral mandibular third molars. Each patient was treated with a drain tube on one side of the mandible and Kinesio tape (KT) on the contralateral side. RESULTS: Swelling was significantly greater in the KT group than in the drain group throughout the study period. The groups did not differ significantly in the amount of trismus at any time point. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-measured pain intensity was significantly lower in the drainage group. Patients with KT had greater postoperative discomfort than those with a drain tube. All patients were generally satisfied with their treatments. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although both treatments were useful, a surgical drain was significantly more effective at reducing swelling and pain intensity than Kinesio tape. The effects of both on trismus were similar.

Acceleration of Fracture Healing in Experimental Model: Platelet-Rich Fibrin or Hyaluronic Acid?

In this study, we compared the bone-healing effects of the local application of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and hyaluronic acid (HA) to bilateral tibial fractures in rats. Twenty-three adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Twenty-two animals were randomly allocated to a control group (n = 6) and 2 study groups: PRF (n = 8) and HA (n = 8). The 23rd rat was used as a donor to obtain PRF. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups for histomorphometric and radiologic assessments at 2 and 6 weeks. Foreign body reaction, necrosis, inflammation, new bone formation, and fibrosis were investigated as bone healing parameters in terms of histopathologic analysis. The difference between the groups for these parameters was evaluated. The radiologic evaluation was performed by comparing the 3-dimensional reconstruction images of the fracture sites between the study and control groups. Histomorphometric evaluation showed that at 2 weeks postoperatively, the control group showed lesser bone formation (26.1 ±â€Š6.6%) when compared to the study (HA: 54.7 ±â€Š9.7%; PRF: 75.3 ±â€Š19.2%) groups and PRF group showed highest total ossification. At 6 weeks postoperatively the PRF group showed lesser total ossification (50.7 ±â€Š28.2%) when compared to control (76.3 ±â€Š21.7%) and HA group. The HA (88.8 ±â€Š13.3%) showed highest total ossification. In the control group, fibrosis was more prominent at week 6, whereas in the HA and PRF groups the amount of ossification increased. In contrast to histopathologic healing, radiologic bone healing did not differ significantly among the study and control groups 2 weeks after surgery, whereas at 6 weeks, the results of radiologic bone formation were in accordance with those of histopathologic bone healing.

Investigation of the risk factors associated with the survival rate of dental implants.

PURPOSE: The propose of this article was to evaluate the risk factors associated with the survival rate of the dental implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated the survival rate of 940 implants placed at the Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Istanbul University, from January 2003 to January 2011. The potential risk factors associated with the survival rate of the implants were investigated. RESULTS: Fifteen (1.5%) of the 940 implants failed during the follow-up period. Smoking did not affect the survival rate of the implants (log-rank, 1.5; P = 0.219). The survival rate of the implants placed in the maxilla was lower than that of the implants placed in the mandible (log-rank, 4.81; P = 0.028). The 5-year survival rate of the dental implants was 98.5%. CONCLUSIONS: There are still conflicting results about the risk factors associated with the survival rate of the implants. According to the results of this study, it is concluded that only the location of the implants is associated with the survival rates of the implants. All implant systems showed high survival rates.

Keratocystic odontogenic tumors: predictive factors of recurrence by Ki-67 and AgNOR labelling.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible role of Ki-67 and argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions (AgNOR) between the recurrent and nonrecurrent keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs). Another aim was to compare the correlation between these two markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 22 KCOTs were evaluated retrospectively. The actual proliferative activity of the KCOT was measured by Ki-67 labelling index and argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions AgNOR count per nucleus. RESULTS: Recurrence occurred in 3 patients (13.6%) during the follow-up period (mean follow-up, 37.8 months) The Ki-67 and AgNOR counts were significantly higher in the recurrent lesions comparing to the non-recurrent lesions. (p=0,045; p=0,049) The correlation between Ki-67 and AgNOR counts was found to be positive (r=0,853 p=0,0001). CONCLUSION: Within the limit of the present study, it is thought that Ki-67 and AgNOR might be helpful as a prognostic marker for the recurrences of KCOTs. These markers reinforced the meaning of the new classification of the lesion as an odontogenic tumor. Enucleation with curettage or decompression following enucleation with curettage is a simple and appropriate surgical model for the treatment of KCOT despite the relative high recurrence rate. On the other hand, the conservative treatment can be chosen only if there is no coronoid invasion, no interruptive cortical lysis and no tissular invasion.

Three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography for diagnosis of keratocystic odontogenic tumours; evaluation of four cases.

The keratocystic odontogenic tumour (KCOT), formerly known as the odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a benign intraosseous lesion that derives from remnants of the dental lamina. Due to its characteristics, clinical and histopathological features and various treatment approaches, this pathology is different comparing with other odontogenic cysts. Radiographically the KCOT appears as well-defined unilocular or multilocular radiolucency with thin radiopaque borders. In most cases, conventional radiographic imaging, such as panoramic views and intraoral periapical films, are adequate to determine the location and estimate the size of an KCOT. However, the clinical use for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in oral and maxillofacial surgery increases and provides additional information about the contents and borders of the large lesions. In the present cases, the diagnostic performances of CBCT versus panoramic radiograph for four KCOTs were evaluated. It was concluded that appearance of lesions in the maxillofacial region could be better documented in the correct dimensions by CBCT versus panoramic radiograph.

Evaluation of CT and MRI Imaging Results of Radicular Cysts, Odontogenic Keratocysts, and Dentigerous Cysts and their Contribution to the Differential Diagnosis.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of the MRI and CT results to the differential diagnosis of histopathologically different odontogenic cysts. BACKGROUND: Odontogenic cysts are commonly seen in the jaw bone and their surgical operations have an important place in the practice of maxillofacial surgery; treatment options for these cysts differ according to their histopathology. Differential results that can be obtained from the radiological evaluations of different cyst groups will allow the surgeon to plan a more accurate approach at the beginning of the operation. In this study, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of different cyst groups were interpreted together with their histopathological diagnosis. METHODS: CT and MRI results of 17 patients aged between 19-61 were evaluated, whose histopathological diagnosis consisted of 3 radicular cysts (RC), a total of 9 odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) of which 4 were inflamed, and a total of 5 dentigerous cysts (DC) of which one of them was inflammatory. RESULTS: In the CT scan, all cysts showed lytic, a sclerotic surrounding, and showed MRI peripheral enhancement, whereas solid nodular enhancement was only observed in OKCs. Edema and/or air in the surrounding bone medulla was observed in the infected lesions. OKC was heterogeneous, whereas RC and DC were more homogeneous. Diffusion restriction was observed to be frequent in OKCs. The OKCs were ellipsoidal in appearance and were located parallel to the long axis of the bone, and their dimensions were observed to be larger than the other cysts. OKCs may be accompanied by unerupted teeth. Radicular cysts were located perpendicular to the long axis of the bone and were globular in appearance, and their dimensions were smaller and more homogeneous compared to the OKCs. Dentigerous cysts are also accompanied by an unerupted tooth, and their peripheral enhancement is minimal and homogeneous. However, dentigerous cysts can be dense in content and smaller in size, and ellipsoidal localization is more common than OKCs. CONCLUSION: In addition to classic panoramic radiography in the evaluation and differential diagnosis of maxillary and mandibular lesions, CT and MRI evaluations can provide helpful information to the surgeon and pathologist in making the diagnosis and may further help plan the operation.

Iatrogenic mandibular fracture associated with third molar removal.

Third molar extraction is one of the most common procedures performed in oral and maxillofacial surgery units. It is sometimes accompanied by complications such as alveolar osteitis, secondary infection, hemorrhage, dysesthesia and, most severely, iatrogenic fracture. This article describes two mandibular angle fractures that occurred in two patients during the surgical extraction of one erupted and one unerupted third molar, including a brief review of the literature.

Delayed removal of a maxillary third molar accidentally displaced into the infratemporal fossa.

The removal of an impacted maxillary third molar is an easy procedure for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The most commonly seen complications associated with this type of surgery are excessive hemorrhage, infection, pain, swelling, trismus, and root fractures. Although rarely encountered, unexpected complications may also arise during this procedure, such as the displacement of the tooth into an anatomic space. In this article, a case of a maxillary left third molar accidentally displaced into the infratemporal fossa is presented, and the delayed removal of the tooth after 3 weeks from the initial unsuccessful attempt is described, along with the correlating reasons. The role of the radiologic analysis in determining the localization of the tooth, including the routine panoramic radiographs and more importantly the volumetric computed tomographic scans, is stated. The different surgical treatment options are classified, and the potential for morbidity in the surgical removal of the tooth from the infratemporal fossa is presented by ranging the vital anatomic structures running through it.

Decompression, enucleation, and implant placement in the management of a large dentigerous cyst.

The dentigerous cyst is a developmental odontogenic cyst, accounting for 10% of all cysts of the jaws. The treatment options are decompression, marsupialization, or enucleation regarding the features of the lesions. In this article, a case of a 17-year-old adolescent girl having a large mandibular dentigerous cyst associated with an unerupted third molar is presented. The treatment is composed of decompression for 6 months and enucleation. Decompression and enucleation are a predictable choice in the treatment of large cysts. Radiologic evaluation is mandatory to decide for the appropriate time for the removal of the decompression stents, the enucleation time, and also for the evaluation of the adequate new bone formation for implant placement. The present case emphasizes the success of a conservative approach in the management of a large dentigerous cyst in a young patient and also the maintenance of the new bone formation without using any graft materials for the placement of dental implants.

Complications associated with the ball, bar and Locator attachments for implant-supported overdentures.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the complications associated with the different attachments used in implant-supported overdentures, including prosthetic problems and implant failures. A comparison of ball, bar and Locator (Zest Anchors, Inc, homepage, Escondido, CA, USA) attachments, in completely edentulous patients with two, three or four implants, was conducted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 36 edentulous patients (20 female, 16 male) with a mean age of 66.3 years, were enrolled in the study. The patients were treated with 95 implants, for the prosthetic restoration of the maxilla or the mandible. The mean follow-up time was 41.17 months. Prosthetic complications including, fractured overdentures, replacements of O-ring attachment and retention clips, implant failures, hygiene problems, mucosal enlargements, attachment fractures, retention loss and dislodgement of the attachments were recorded and evaluated. The recall visits at 3, 6, 12 months and, annually thereafter. RESULTS: Fourteen complications in the ballattachment group and 7 complications in the bar group were observed. No complications were observed in the locator group. The difference was found to be as statistically significant (p=0,009). Six of the 95 implants had failed. Totally 39 implant overdentures were applied. Three prostheses were renewed because of fractures. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the present study, it was concluded that the locator system showed superior clinical results than the ball and the bar attachments, with regard to the rate of prosthodontic complications and the maintenance of the oral function.

Complication of polymethylmethacrylate bone cement in the mandible.

Polymethylmethacrylate bone cements have been widely used in orthopedic surgery as well as in maxillofacial area. Despite the advantages, it is well known that acrylic bone cements may cause bone or soft tissue necrosis because of the properties of its components and polymerization. This clinical report presents an extensive necrosis of the mandible after the use of the acrylic bone cement to fill the cyst cavity. The purpose of this article was to alert the clinicians about the complications that may occur after the use of the polymethylmethacrylate-based bone cements.

Peripheral facial nerve paralysis after upper third molar extraction.

Peripheral facial nerve paralysis (PFNP) after mandibular interventions has been reported in the literature. In most cases, paralysis begins immediately after the injection of the mandibular anesthesia, and duration of facial weakness is less than 12 hours. However, there are few documented cases of PFNP after maxillary dental or surgical procedures. A variety of mechanisms have been associated to PFNP, including viral reactivation, demyelination, edema, vasospasm, and trauma. The purpose of this presentation was to report a rare case of facial paralysis that occurred after an upper third molar extraction. The cause of the PFNP and the importance of the multidisciplinary approach in the management are emphasized.

A comparison of panoramic radiography and cone beam computed tomography in the detection of osteosynthesis complications in sheep mandibular angle fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of panoramic radiography (PANO) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting simulated complications of plate osteosynthesis applied to mandibular angle fractures (MAFs). STUDY DESIGN: Unfavorable MAFs were created in 100 fresh sheep hemimandibles. Fractures were fixed with 4-hole titanium miniplates and screws. Bone necrosis around the screws, penetration of the screw into the inferior alveolar canal, screw loosening, and plate breakage were simulated. The diagnostic efficacy of the imaging techniques was compared by using intra- and interobserver agreement scores and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values. Examination time (ET), confidence scores (CS), and planar preference (PP) in CBCT evaluation were assessed. RESULTS: Intra- and interobserver agreement scores varied between 0.61 and 0.91. AUCs for screw penetration into the inferior alveolar canal and screw loosening were significantly higher in CBCT than in PANO (P < .05). CBCT presented significantly higher ET and CS values compared with PANO (P < .05). PP showed significant differences among types of complications (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: PANO provided acceptable outcomes in the detection of bone necrosis and broken plates around the screw, but CBCT was more likely to enable detection of all simulated types of complications with higher confidence.

Management of the Bilateral Chronic Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation.

Temporomandibular jaw dislocation is an uncontrolled anterior movement of the condyle beyond the articular eminence. It can occur mostly in young adults, and the symptoms are mouth opening disturbance, preauricular skin depression, tense masticatory muscles, and pain. The main purpose of the eminectomy procedure is removal of a part of the articular eminence to maintain free movement of the condyle. The surgical procedure may be performed by conventional surgery or piezosurgery. The present case report describes the management of a recurrent mandibular dislocation in a 28-year-old patient who had also treated conservatively with autologous blood injection. In this report, bilateral eminectomy was performed by piezosurgery to provide soft-tissue protection, precise cut, and optimal view of the surgical area. The management technique is discussed within the current literature.

Treatment For The Large Aggressive Benign Lesions Of The Jaws.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the clinical outcome of the conservative management of the significantly large benign aggressive lesions of the jaws. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients were reviewed regarding the demographic, radiographic, and operative findings. Patients were treated by decompression followed by curettage or only with curettage. RESULTS: No bone grafts were used. Mean follow-up time was 56.2 months. The mandible was more affected than the maxilla. Two of the ameloblastoma, two of the keratocystic odontogenic tumours, and one odontogenic myxoma were recurred. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low number of the patients, it is concluded that the conservative management is predictable for the management of the benign aggressive lesions in order to reduce morbidity instead of directly performing radical surgery. The life during follow-up is mandatory in the situation of performing conservative surgery for the management of large aggressive lesions with high recurrence rate.

Autogenous Dermis-fat Graft in Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Surgery.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is fusion or a bony union of the head of the condyle and the glenoid fossa by bony or fibrotic tissues. Due to the immobility of the TMJ, all mandibular movements get affected. Treatment goals are to allow nearly normal TMJ movements, restore symmetry of the face and occlusion, and promote growth and correction of deformity in children. The surgical techniques used to treat TMJ ankylosis are a gap or interpositional arthroplasty, joint reconstruction, and distraction osteogenesis. Appropriate interposition materials include autogenous tissues, allogeneic tissues, and alloplastic and xenograft tissues. This report presents the treatment of a patient with a diagnosis of TMJ ankylosis, who had failed surgery. Interpositional autogenous dermis-fat graft was used to manage TMJ ankylosis of the right side. The technique is discussed within the current literature.

Does intravenous tranexamic acid reduce blood loss during surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing blood loss during surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) procedure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 34 patients (12 male, 22 female) who had been treated surgically under general anesthesia with SARPE including pterygoid disjunction for transverse maxillary deficiency (TMD) were included in this study. The study group (n=17) received intravenous (IV) TXA 10 mg/kg as a preoperative bolus; the control group (n=17) received normal saline solution. Preoperative and postoperative haemoglobin and haematocrit values, intraoperative blood loss, and any blood product transfusion were recorded. RESULTS: Blood loss during SARPE was statistically significantly less in the study group than the control group (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative IV administration of TXA can effectively control blood loss during when SARPE with pterygoid disjunction is performed.

Effects of different suture materials on tissue healing.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the healing differences in between four different widely used suture materials in the oral surgery practice, including silk (Perma- Hand; Ethicon, INC., Somerville, NJ, USA), polypropylene (Prolene; Ethicon, INC., Somerville, NJ, USA), coated polyglactin 910 (Ethicon, INC., Somerville, NJ, USA). and polyglecaprone 25 (Ethicon, INC., Somerville, NJ, USA ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 male rats were randomly allocated into two groups depending on their sacrification days (post-operative 1st and the 7th days). Four longitudinal incision wounds, each 1cm in size, were created on the dorsum of each animal which were then primarily closed with four different types of sutures. RESULTS: The effects of these suture materials on soft tissue healing were compared histopathologically, by means of density of the cells, necrosis, fibrosis, foreign body reaction, the presence of cells of acute and chronic infection. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups regarding the density of the cells, necrosis, fibrosis, foreign body reaction, and the presence of the cells of acute and chronic infections. Of note, propylene showed slightly less tissue reaction among the other materials. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed that there is no only one ideal suture material for surgical practice. The factors related to the patient, the type of the surgery and the quality of the tissue are important to decide an appropriate suture material.

Evaluation of the hemostatic effects of Ankaferd blood stopper during dental extractions in patients on antithrombotic therapy.

This study evaluated the early hemostatic effects of a novel hemostatic agent (Ankaferd blood stopper [ABS]) during dental extractions in patients on antithrombotic therapy, without interruption or diminution of the medication. In total, 25 patients, who are on antithrombotic therapy and in need of simple dental extractions, were randomized into 2 groups. In group I (control group), which consisted of 10 patients, local hemostasis was achieved with direct packing with gauze. In group II, which consisted of 15 patients, local hemostasis was achieved by the local application of ABS on the extraction sockets. The bleeding time was compared between 2 groups following the tooth extraction. The bleeding time in the dental sockets treated with ABS was statistically lower compared to the sockets of the control group (p = 0.0001). It is concluded that the dental extractions could be performed without interruption of the medication in patients on antithrombotic therapy. The ABS appears to be sufficient as an alternative hemostatic agent.

Effects of folk medicinal plant extract Ankaferd Blood Stopper on early bone healing.

OBJECTIVE: Several haemostatic agents are available for clinical use. Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), a mixture of five medicinal plant extracts, has been used historically as a haemostatic agent. The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the effects of ABS on early bone healing using a rat tibia defect model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixteen male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups of 8 animals each. After deep anesthesia with ketamine, bone defects (3 mm diameter and 2 mm deep) were created in the right and left tibiae of all animals and either treated with 1 cc of ABS (Group 1) or left untreated (Group 2; control). Surgical areas were closed primarily. The animals were sacrificed on the 7th postoperative day and bone samples were collected from the tibias. The samples were examined histopathologically for infection, necrosis, fibrosis, new bone formation and foreign body reaction. The histomorphometric results were analyzed statistically by the chi square test, with the level of significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in both groups in terms of inflammation, necrosis and new bone formation (p=0.001, p=0.0001, p=0.001). No foreign body reaction was observed in the experimental group. ABS application decreased fibrosis in the experimental group, but there were no statistically significant differences from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathologically, it was observed that the application of ABS decreased the occurrence of inflammation and necrosis, while increasing new bone formation in early bone healing period. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary for evaluating the benefits and possible adverse effects of the application of this herbal product on wound healing.