Comparative treatment outcomes of menopausal and nonmenopausal women after arthrocentesis.

OBJECTIVES: Most of the patients treated for temporomandibular joint disorders constituted from the female population, and this situation is generally hypothesized and demonstrated in several studies. Arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint is a minimally invasive and effective treatment method in the management of patients with stage III and stage IV Wilkes syndrome. This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of this method between menopausal and nonmenopausal female patients. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 59 patients (25 menopausal and 34 nonmenopausal) were evaluated according to the visual analog scale for pain and chewing function scores, joint sound, and maximum mouth opening. RESULTS: In both groups, the parameters were detected statistically significant according to follow-up periods. The menopausal group showed better results than the nonmenopausal group at 6-month controls. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, arthrocentesis is a satisfactory treatment modality in the management of temporomandibular joint derangements. Female reproductive hormone levels may affect the success of this procedure.

Short-term results of prolotherapy in the management of temporomandibular joint dislocation.

OBJECTIVE: Prolotherapy, the rehabilitation of ligaments or tendons by induced proliferation of cells by using dextrose, is a noninvasive and effective method for the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prolotherapy method for the management of acute or chronic dislocation of TMJ. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 10 patients with TMJ dislocation (2 acute, 8 chronic) were examined retrospectively. All patients consisted of female patients, with a mean age of 28.4, who were treated with prolotherapy procedure. Differences of visual analog scale scores in quality of life, pain on function, and chewing function efficacy between sessions were investigated using the Wilcoxon t test and median values of sessions were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The amount of change at the maximum mouth opening occurring between the preoperative and postoperative values and the frequency of locking episodes were calculated, with results considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Pain on function scores were significantly decreased in all patients, and TMJ locking were not observed during the follow-up period. Maximum mouth opening exhibited a tendency to decrease, but it was not statistically significant. Also, clicking sound on function presented no significant change (P > 0.05). On the other hand, the visual analog scale scores for quality of life showed significant improvement in all patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that prolotherapy can be used as an efficient, simple, and conservative method to treat TMJ dislocation.

Efficacy of prolotherapy and arthrocentesis in management of temporomandibular joint hypermobility.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of dextrose prolotherapy in conjunction with arthrocentesis and dextrose prolotherapy alone in the management of symptomatic TMJ hypermobility. METHODS: Twenty-four patients suffering from TMJ symptomatic hypermobility received 10% dextrose injections for three sessions at four-week intervals. Twelve patients (P group) received prolotherapy alone; the other 12 (PA group) also underwent a single arthrocentesis session. Patients were evaluated for maximal incisal opening, maximal incisal opening without pain, pain at rest, pain during chewing function, TMJ sound, and locking episode frequency. RESULTS: Pain scores were significantly reduced in both groups, and the locking episode frequency was decreased to a greater extent in the PA than the P group, at both the short and long terms. CONCLUSION: Prolotherapy is effective in the management of TMJ hypermobility. However, prolotherapy with arthrocentesis may be superior to prolotherapy alone in the management of TMJ hypermobility.

The effectiveness of the masseteric nerve block compared with trigger point injections and dry needling in myofascial pain.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of three different treatment methods in the management of myofascial pain: masseteric nerve block (MNB), trigger point injection with local anesthetic (LA), and dry needling (DN). METHODS: Forty-five patients diagnosed with myofascial pain and trigger points in masseter muscles were treated with MNB (n = 15), DN (n = 15), and trigger point injection with LA (n = 15). Pain on palpation (PoP), pain on function (PoF), and maximum mouth opening (MMO) scores were measured and compared before the injections and all follow-ups after the injections. RESULTS: MMO values were significantly increased in each group. The decrease in PoF values was statistically significant between the groups at 12 weeks (baseline time period). DISCUSSION: Results of the present study indicate that MNB was not as effective as trigger point injection with local anesthetic or dry-needling in the management of masticatory myofascial pain.

Comparing anxiety levels and patient comfort during single- and double-puncture arthrocentesis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the comfort and anxiety levels of patients undergoing two different temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrocentesis techniques. METHODS: Fifty female patients were randomly assigned into two groups of 25 based on the treatment modality: Group 1, single-puncture Type-1 arthrocentesis (SPA); Group 2, conventional double-puncture arthrocentesis (DPA). Preoperative and postoperative anxiety was scored with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S (STAI-S) questionnaire. Blood pressure and heart rate were assessed preoperatively during the application of local anesthesia and at needle insertion into the joint cavity, the 5th and 10th minute of the procedure, and end of the procedure. RESULTS: STAI-S scores were lower postoperative than preoperative in both groups. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were highest during anesthesia and needle insertion (p < 0.005). Changes in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and STAI-S scores were statistically similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: DPA and SPA were tolerated similarly by the patients.

Retrospective Evaluation of Two-Implant-Supported Mandibular Overdentures with Radiographic and Clinical Aspects.

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical performance of two implants supporting mandibular overdentures by means of clinical and radiologic parameters, and also to explore the relationship of marginal bone loss with implant-/patient-related factors and soft tissue parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of patients who had undergone insertion of two implants into the interforaminal region between November 2012 and December 2016 using three different implant systems were retrieved from the archival records. Age, sex, implant length, implant diameter, observation period, mobility, and soft tissue parameters were recorded. Marginal bone levels and interimplant distances were measured with computer software on panoramic radiographs obtained at 3 months and at the recall session. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients with 86 implants were included in the study. Patients were evaluated with an average observation period of 41.79 months. Among the evaluated parameters, Gingival Index, Bleeding Index, and implant diameter were found to have significant effects on the marginal bone loss (P < .05). However, no significant effects of sex, age, implant length, observation period, and interimplant distance were observed on the marginal bone loss. No implants showed peri-implantitis or mobility, while eight implants showed peri-implant mucositis. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that peri-implant soft tissue health and the diameter of the implant have an important effect on the marginal bone loss as well as the success of two-implant-supported mandibular overdentures.

Buccal vascular malformation with multiple giant phleboliths: a rare case presentation and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe a case and to review the diameters, symptoms, locations, and treatment methods for vascular malformations (VMs) with phleboliths. Our case report is probably the first to mention this observation because of sizes and large number of phleboliths in buccal region. CASE PRESENTATION: A 26-year-old male patient was referred to Ordu University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for the evaluation and management of a painless tender swelling in the left buccal region. Clinically, a bluish mucosal lesion of the posterior region of the left buccal mucosa and lip is apparent. Panoramic radiography and CT were obtained for radiographical examinations. Multiple giant phleboliths with the largest dimension of 32 mm were seen in this region. Left maxillary first molar teeth extraction was indicated. An aspiration was performed and revealed that there is a risk of severe hemorrhage. The patient did not want to take MRI and stated that he only wanted to have dental treatment. Therefore, it was decided that the maxillary first molar should be retained in the region and endodontic treatment should be done, if necessary. CONCLUSIONS: The clinic of phlebolith patients is painless swelling and can reach up to 6 cm. The localization is not specific but is found in the masseter and parotid regions generally. Treatment may be invasive or non-invasive depending on, location, accessibility, depth of invasion, age, cosmetic issues, and risk of severe hemorrhage, as with the current case.

Results of Combined, Single-Session Arthrocentesis and Dextrose Prolotherapy for Symptomatic Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome: A Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: Arthrocentesis and prolotherapy are nonsurgical treatments for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment of hypermobility, pain, and displacement of the TMJ by consecutively performing arthrocentesis and prolotherapy in the same session. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 10 adults with disc displacement and painful, hypermobile TMJ were selected. Arthrocentesis and prolotherapy were consecutively performed using a 30% dextrose solution that was simultaneously injected into five areas: posterior disc attachment, superior joint space, superior and inferior capsular attachments, and stylomandibular ligament. Paired t-test, McNemar test, and chi-square test were used to assess the maximum mouth opening, clicking sounds, pain, and subluxation of the TMJ. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and parafunctional habits such as teeth clenching and grinding and biting of the cheeks or any other objects and those who had undergone surgery were excluded from this study. RESULTS: A total of 10 participants (36.20 ± 7.06 years old, 7 women and 3 men) received a single treatment session of combined arthrocentesis and prolotherapy at the same office visit. Subluxation frequency and pain significantly decreased after the first week of treatment (p < 0.05). Subluxation also decreased at the 3-month follow-up (p < 0.05). Clicking sound values did not significantly change at any of the follow-up time points. Maximum mouth opening values decreased at all follow-up time points compared to baseline (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A single session of combined arthrocentesis and prolotherapy to treat symptomatic TMJ safely and significantly improved the subluxation and pain after 1 week and subluxation after 3 months compared to baseline status. The maximum mouth opening significantly decreased at all follow-up time points. Future studies assessing multiple treatment sessions are warranted.