The Accuracy of Bone Assessment Distal to Lower Second Molars Using Panoramic Radiography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Panoramic radiography (OPG) evaluates mandibular third molar impaction (MTMI). This systematic review aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of OPG in detecting bone loss distal to the lower second molars. The associated bone loss with different impaction positions and the most prevalent positions of MTMI were investigated as secondary outcomes. In January 2023, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane were searched to identify studies published between January 2012 and January 2023. Two examiners blindly selected the eligible studies for data extraction and quality assessment. Of 427 studies, 8 were suitable for data extraction. All studies reported bone loss distal to the second molar using OPG, ranging from 4.9 to 62.9%. The most frequent position of MTMI is mesioangular. The distal bone loss in the vertical and horizontal positions is statistically significant compared to typically positioned third molars and those that are fully erupted or impacted, but in a normal orientation (p-value 0.005 and 0.02, respectively). Bone loss was not statistically significant in the mesioangular position compared to other impacted positions (p-value 0.14). The risk of bias ranges between 66 and 88%. Despite its limitations, OPG is still considered a valuable tool to assess bone loss distal to the lower second molar in cases of an impacted mandibular third molar.

The prevalence of elongated styloid process in the population of Barcelona: a cross-sectional study & review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Styloid process (SP) is a cylindrical bony projection that originates from the inferior part of the petrous temporal bone just anteriorly to the stylomastoid foramen. Several nerves, muscles, and ligaments are related closely to the (SP). It is considered elongated when the measurement exceeds 30 mm. The overall prevalence of the styloid process is between 3.3% to 84.4%. The elongation of the styloid process (ESP) is associated with the manifestation of Eagle's Syndrome (ES) which is characterized by various types of pain in the head and neck region such as headache, tinnitus, otalgia, and trigeminal neuralgia. Eagle's syndrome occurs in 4-10.3% of individuals with an elongated styloid process (ESP). The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of (ESP) in the patients who were treated in the Dental Hospital University of Barcelona (HOUB), to review the literature to spot the light on the different demographic data worldwide. METHODS: The archived panoramic image in the University of Barcelona dental Hospital were consecutively retrieved to investigate the prevalence of (ESP). Of all digital panoramic radiographs (OPG), 400 met the inclusion criteria and were furtherly analyzed. The results are correlated with the participant's gender, age, and occurrence. Age is subcategorized into three groups. A chi-square test is used to measure the significant differences and the P-value is set at < 0.05 for the level of significance. RESULTS: Among the included 400, we found 291 demonstrating (ESP). The prevalence of (ESP) which exceeds 30 mm is 72.75%. It is found that the most common morphological type is type 1 which is regarded as the uninterrupted (ESP) regardless of gender and age group. Concerning the calcification pattern, the most prevalent is the partial calcified (ESP) despite genders and age groups. CONCLUSION: (OPG) is a sufficient tool for the screening of the elongated styloid process. Regarding the prevalence, our results are considered higher than previously reported prevalence in different populations using (OPG) radiography tool. A study on a wider spectrum of the Spanish population is recommended to further investigate the correlation between the elongated styloid process and the occurrence of Eagle's syndrome.

Comparison of Marginal Bone Loss Between Implants with Internal and External Connections: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The objective of this systematic review was to compare the loss of marginal bone between implants with internal and external connections by analyzing results reported in studies published after 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search in MEDLINE with the keywords "dental implant connections, external internal implant connection, bone loss implant designs, internal and external connection implant studies in humans" was conducted. Clinical trials on human beings, comparing both connections and published in English, from 2010 to 2016 were selected. Their methodologic quality was assessed using the Jadad scale. RESULTS: From the initial search, 415 articles were obtained; 32 were chosen as potentially relevant based on their titles and abstracts. Among them, only 10 finally met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1,523 patients with 3,965 implants were analyzed. Six out of 10 studies observed that internal connections showed significantly less bone loss compared with external connections. The remaining four articles did not find statistically significant differences between the two connections. CONCLUSION: According to this systematic review and considering its limitation due to the degree of heterogeneity between the included studies, both internal and external connections present high survival rates. To assess whether marginal bone loss differs significantly between the two connections, more homogenous clinical studies are needed with identical implant characteristics, larger samples, and longer follow-up periods. Studies included in this review and characterized by long-term follow-ups showed that the external connection is a reliable connection on a long-term basis.

Open flap versus flapless placement of dental implants. A randomized controlled pilot trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the immediate postoperative period of participants rehabilitated with dental implants placed with a conventional technique or with a minimally invasive technique, without a mucoperiosteal flap elevation (flapless). Participants who needed implant placement were divided into two groups: one group was operated using a mucoperiosteal flap elevation (G_A), and the other with a flapless surgical technique (G_B). Objective clinical parameters including oral hygiene, mouth opening, inflammation (facial perimeter), surgical time and analgesic consumption, as well as subjective parameters of pain and degree of satisfaction with the procedure, were evaluated. 48 implants were placed in 30 participants (15 participants per group). Oral hygiene index, maximum interincisal opening, pain and analgesic consumption values had a significant difference between groups favoring the flapless technique at 24 h and 7 days but at the 15 days' follow-up the differences were only significant for oral hygiene and pain (P < 0.05); there were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of facial perimeter values and surgical time (P > 0.05). Average on the degree of satisfaction was of 2.6 (SD 0.8) for G_A and 3.6 (SD 1.02) for G_B (P = 0.06). One implant placed in G_A (2.0%) failed before prosthetic loading due to mobility and pain at 3 months' follow-up. Participants operated for implant placement with flapless surgical technique go through less postoperative discomfort. Both techniques show high success rates, but to perform a flapless technique patients must be properly selected.

Relationship between oral cancer and implants: clinical cases and systematic literature review.

UNLABELLED: The use of implants for oral rehabilitation of edentulous spaces has recently been on the increase, which has also led to an increase in complications such as peri-implant inflammation or peri-implantitis. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for developing oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). OBJECTIVES: To review the literature of cases that associate implant placement with the development of oral cancer. STUDY DESIGN: We present two clinical cases and a systematic review of literature published on the relationship between oral cancer and implants. RESULTS: We found 13 articles published between the years 1996 and 2009, referencing 18 cases in which the osseointegrated implants are associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Of those, 6 articles were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Of the 18 cases reported, only 7 cases did not present a previous history of oral cancer or cancer in other parts of the body. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the review of these cases, a clear cause-effect relationship cannot be established, although it can be deduced that there is a possibility that implant treatment may constitute an irritant and/or inflammatory cofactor which contributes to the formation and/or development of OSCC.

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC): alcohol and tobacco consumption versus non-consumption. A study in a Portuguese population.

There has been an increase in the incidence of carcinoma of the tongue, particularly among alcohol and tobacco non-users. However, the number of studies that would allow a better understanding of etiological factors and clinical features, particularly in the Portuguese population, is very limited. This study was based on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two thirds of the tongue that were treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of the "Instituto Portugues de Oncologia de Lisboa - Francisco Gentil" (IPOLFG) in Lisbon, Portugal, between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2009. The patients were divided in alcohol and tobacco users and non-users in order to evaluate the differences between these 2 groups based on gender, age, tumor location, denture use, and tumor size, metastasis and stage. Of the 354 cases, 208 were users and 146 were non-users. The main location in both groups was the lateral border of the tongue. Denture use showed no significant effect in both study groups. It was possible to conclude that patients who did not drink or smoke were older and presented with smaller tumor size, lower incidence of ganglion metastasis and lower tumor stage compared with alcohol and tobacco users.

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC): alcohol and tobacco consumption versus non-consumption. A study in a Portuguese population

There has been an increase in the incidence of carcinoma of the tongue, particularly among alcohol and tobacco non-users. However, the number of studies that would allow a better understanding of etiological factors and clinical features, particularly in the Portuguese population, is very limited. This study was based on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two thirds of the tongue that were treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of the “Instituto Portugues de Oncologia de Lisboa - Francisco Gentil” (IPOLFG) in Lisbon, Portugal, between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2009. The patients were divided in alcohol and tobacco users and non-users in order to evaluate the differences between these 2 groups based on gender, age, tumor location, denture use, and tumor size, metastasis and stage. Of the 354 cases, 208 were users and 146 were non-users. The main location in both groups was the lateral border of the tongue. Denture use showed no significant effect in both study groups. It was possible to conclude that patients who did not drink or smoke were older and presented with smaller tumor size, lower incidence of ganglion metastasis and lower tumor stage compared with alcohol and tobacco users.

Um aumento do carcinoma da língua, particularmente entre os não consumidores de álcool e tabaco tem se verificado recentemente. No entanto, o número de estudos que permitam uma melhor compreensão dos fatores etiológicos e características clínicas, particularmente na população Portuguesa, é muito limitado. Este estudo foi baseado em pacientes com carcinoma de dois terços anteriores da lingual que foram atendidos e tratados no Departamento de Cabeça e Pescoço do “Instituto Portugues de Oncologia de Lisboa, Francisco Gentil” (IPOLFG), Portugal, entre 1 de janeiro de 2001 e 31 de dezembro de 2009. Eles foram divididos em usuários de álcool e tabaco e não usuários, a fim de avaliar as diferenças entre estes 2 grupos com base no sexo, idade, localização do tumor, o uso de prótese dentária, tamanho do tumor, metástase e estágio. Dos 354 casos estudados, 208 eram usuários de álcool e tabaco e 146 eram não-usuários. A localização principal, em ambos os grupos, foram a bordos laterais da língua. O uso de prótese dentária mostrou não ter um efeito significativo em ambos os grupos de estudo. Pode-se concluir que os não-usuários de álcool e tabaco eram mais velhos e apresentaram carcinoma de menores dimensões, menor incidência de metástases ganglionares e um estágio mais inicial da doença do que os etilistas e fumantes.

Bifid condyle: review of the literature of the last 10 years and report of two cases.

Bifid mandibular condyle is a rare anomaly; there are several theories about its etiology, and it has been studied in both prehistoric and historic skulls, as well as in living human beings. It is a frequent, although unexpected, finding in asymptomatic individuals during radiological treatment. Presented here is a review of the literature over the past 10 years and two new cases of unilateral bifid condyle. Computerized tomography is usually considered the test of choice for establishing the differential diagnosis, although in certain cases, its use seems questionable. The distinction between bifid condyle and condylar notch or cleft has been described in the literature, it is proposed a criteria for defining bifid condyle depending on the level of the two heads. It is suggested that further testing such as MRI or CT be carried out only in cases where the therapeutic approach involves an active treatment. It is proposed that bifid condyle is described as that which presents two condylar heads emerging from the neck of the condyle or further down.

Tuberous sclerosis and its oral manifestations. A clinical case.

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a congenital anomaly in the development of the embryo which is transmitted through the autosomal dominant gene. It has various forms of clinical expression. It is classified as one of what are known as Phacomatoses (phakos stain and oma tumour), which are development anomalies that can originate tumours and/or hamartomas in the nervous system. Lesions in the nervous system are nearly always accompanied by cutaneous anomalies. In this study we introduce the case of a woman patient aged 55, diagnosed several years earlier with Tuberous Sclerosis, who attended for intraoral lesions which were clinically compatible with fibromata. These lesions of fibrous appearance occurred above all on the lower lip and in both cheeks' mucous membranes, little mentioned in the literature as a site for such a manifestation of TS. The pathological anatomy suggested lesions compatible with Angiomyolipoma. In addition, the data referring to TS are reviewed; its implications for the mouth are described; and histopathological results are used to examine the significance of the word Angiomyolipoma.

Importance of diet in the prevention of oral cancer.

Oral cancer represents 2-4% of all diagnosed cancers, showing an annual increase of 5,000 new cases. Unfortunately, due to delays in diagnosis the 5-year survival rate is only 25%. For this reason, any measures to restrict the consumption of tobacco and alcohol and that will help preserve oral health and maintain a balanced diet will lead to benefits in terms of a reduction in the occurrence of this pathology. There are many articles that warn us of the implications of smoking, of oral infections from Candida or papillomavirus, of the consequences of iron or folic acid deficiencies, all elements considered to favour the development of oral cancer. On the other hand, less well known are dietary aspects, the study of which called our attention. In this article we summarize some of the more relevant knowledge on carcinogenesis and the phases in which certain groups of foods and nutrients act as preventive factors.

Appearance and culture: oral pathology associated with certain "fashions" (tattoos, piercings, etc.).

Humans are characterized by a compulsive tendency to distinguish themselves from the rest: differences in clothes, hairstyle or "decorative" details are used to this effect, based on highly diverse criteria. Such differentiating practices may be aimed at identification with a certain ideological group, for example, or with a concrete "fashion", and involve the use of jewelry, clothes, unusual attire, hairstyles, mutilations, etc. In this context, the present review addresses certain aspects of mutilation practices from both the general and specifically dental perspectives. Mutations imply permanent or lasting sectioning or lesions of a part of the body, and comprise skeletal deforming, dental mutilations, circumcision, ablation of the clitoris, scarification, tattoos, and perforations (particularly of the soft tissues). In this sense, tattoos and perforations or piercings are popular -- particularly among adolescents. This trend may be interpreted as a form of communication, identity expression, or as a type of body cult (i.e., so-called "body art"). Such mutilating practices reflect different motivations including fashion, rebelliousness, differentiation, sexual motives, the remembering of events, physical sensations, and ethnic or tribal influences. However, these practices can cause complications such as infections, laceration and soft and hard tissue damage, hypersensitivity reactions and other alterations of variable severity. Under these premises, questions are raised concerning the competence of those who perform these mutilations, the preventive measures adopted, and the legal conditions under which tattoos and piercings are made in our society.