Comparison of Lasers and Desensitizing Agents in Dentinal Hypersensitivity Therapy.

The main objective of this review is to verify the validity of laser therapy in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity, an extremely common problem in patients, with Nd: YAG lasers or high- and/or low-power diode lasers to obtain a definitive protocol for the treatment of hypersensitivity, given the multiplicity of laser treatments proposed by the numerous authors evaluated. The authors performed an electronic search on PubMed, favouring it as a search engine. Lasers represent a means of treating dentin hypersensitivity, used alone and/or in conjunction with specific products for the treatment of such a pathology. The selected articles that examined diode lasers were divided according to the wattage (w) used: low-level laser therapy protocols, i.e., those using a wattage of less than 1 W, and high-level laser therapy protocols, i.e., those using a wattage of 1 W or more. Regarding the Nd: YAG laser, it was not necessary to subdivide the studies in this way, as they used a wattage of 1 W or more. A total of 21 articles were included in the final selection. Laser therapy was found to be effective in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. However, the level of effectiveness depends on the laser used. The results obtained from this review show that both the Nd: YAG laser and the diode laser (high and low power) are effective in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. However, the high-power laser appears to be more effective in combination with fluoride varnish and the Nd: YAG laser achieved greater long-term benefits than the diode laser.

Bone Formation Following Sinus Augmentation with an Equine-Derived Bone Graft: A Retrospective Histologic and Histomorphometric Study with 36-Month Follow-up.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate bone formation over time following maxillary sinus augmentation with an enzyme-deantigenic, bone collagen-preserving equine bone graft by retrospective assessment of histomorphometric data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of patients with atrophic ridges who underwent maxillary sinus augmentation with the enzyme-deantigenic equine bone graft and two-step implant placement between 3 and 12 months after the sinus-augmentation surgery were assessed retrospectively. The histomorphometric data were clustered in three classes according to time of collection from the augmentation surgery and analyzed to assess newly formed bone deposition and residual biomaterial degradation rates. Data concerning the 36-month clinical follow-up were also assessed. RESULTS: Records of 77 patients and 115 biopsy specimens were retrieved, and histomorphometric data were clustered (3 to 5 months, n = 33; 6 to 8 months, n = 57; 9 to 12 months, n = 25). Mean minimum atrophic ridge thickness was 4.9 ± 0.5 mm (range, 4.0 to 7.1 mm). The amount of newly formed bone and residual biomaterial did not significantly differ among the three clusters. Qualitative analysis showed a denser trabecular structure in late (> 8 months) samples. At the 36-month clinical follow-up, no differences were found among the implant success rates in the three groups, according to the Albrektsson and Zarb criteria for success. The overall implant success rate was 98.3%. CONCLUSION: Based upon this retrospective human study of 77 patients with 4 to 7 mm of residual bone, when enzyme-deantigenic equine bone is used for sinus augmentation, new bone formation occurs at an early time (< 3 months) after the grafting, and implant placement can be safely carried out as soon as 3 to 5 months after the augmentation surgery.

Tissue remodeling after bone expansion in grafted and ungrafted sockets.

PURPOSE: The aim of this clinical study was to assess horizontal width changes in grafted and ungrafted sites after bone expansion and implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients were included in this prospective study. Each patient required extraction of two teeth and replacement with implants. After dental extraction in 23 alveoli (group 1), a collagen sponge was used to cover fresh sockets, and the remaining 23 alveoli (group 2) were grafted with corticocancellous porcine bone. Three months after extraction, bone expansion was performed in each site, and 46 dental implants were placed. To evaluate tissue volume changes, the variations in width of the buccal ridge were recorded with a periodontal probe immediately after tooth extraction, 3 months later (before implant placement), and 3 months after implant placement. RESULTS: In group 1, at 3 months after implant placement, mean volume changes of +1.6 ± 0.8 mm for incisors and canines, +1.4 ± 0.5 mm for premolars, and +0.8 ± 0.5 mm for molars were seen. In group 2, mean changes of +1.5 ± 0.8 mm for incisors and canines, +1.3 ± 0.3 mm for premolars, and +2.8 ± 0.6 mm for molars were observed. Statistically significant differences were found only for molars. CONCLUSIONS: In both groups, incisor, canine, and premolar sites showed no differences in volume changes, but statistically significant differences were found between molars in the two groups; the biomaterial graft prevented collapse of the large defects and significant volume loss.