Evaluation of alveolar bone grafting using limited cone beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the bone resorption of alveolar bone grafting using LCBCT scan. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective study. Nineteen patients with alveolar cleft were divided into 2 groups depending on the spontaneous eruption of the permanent tooth. All patients underwent alveolar bone grafting with iliac crest cancellous bone. LCBCT scans were taken 1 month and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: LCBCT scans obtained the length, width, and height of the bone grafts. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the bone grafts enabled a valuable objective assessment of the graft volume. The resorption ratio was 10.4% when the permanent tooth erupted spontaneously into the graft. In the group with absence of the permanent tooth, the resorption ratio was 36.6%. CONCLUSION: LCBCT scan and 3D reconstruction is a promising method for evaluation of the outcome of alveolar bone grafts. Bone grafts showed a high grade of resorption in patients lacking permanent tooth eruption.

Interdisciplinary treatment of an adult with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Interdisciplinary treatment was used for an adult patient born with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. He had a severe maxillary deficiency with a wide cleft involving the alveolar and maxillary bone and palate. Reconstruction of the arches and occlusion in patients who missed the optimal treatment time is a difficult task for orthodontists. The clinical examination showed severe hypogenesis of the maxillary bone with a total crossbite. The maxillary dental arch was extremely narrow, and the maxillary incisors showed extensive caries caused by improper oral hygiene. Fixed and removable expansion appliances were used to improve the lateral crossbite. Alveolar bone grafting and unilateral LeFort I maxillary osteotomy were performed on the right side for alignment of the maxillary arch. Mandibular setback with bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy was also performed to correct the anteroposterior skeletal discrepancy. After postsurgical orthodontic treatment, prosthetic treatment was carried out for final reconstruction of esthetics and orthognathic function. Interdisciplinary treatment was necessary for this patient to achieve a proper occlusion and better esthetics.

Reduction of bone resorption by the application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in bone grafting of the alveolar cleft.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the regeneration of autogenous cancellous bone and marrow grafted in the alveolar cleft. DESIGN: Twenty patients with alveolar clefts were examined; 6 were the control group and received cancellous bone and marrow grafts without PRP, while the remaining 14 comprised the PRP group and received grafts with PRP. Prior to surgery, 50 ml of blood was withdrawn and 5 ml of PRP gel produced through centrifugal separation. The bone graft mixed with PRP was then packed into the alveolar cleft. Postoperative bone density was assessed as the aluminium-equivalent value on occlusal X-ray films in a qualitative analysis. Quantitative evaluation of regenerated bone was made with computed tomography and panoramic radiographs at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Satisfactory bone bridging formation was observed in all patients without any complications. The bone density of the PRP group was lower than that of the control group at 1 week, but the same after 1 month. The added PRP reduced the resorption of regenerated bone postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Autogenous cancellous bone grafting with PRP, which significantly reduces postoperative bone resorption, is a reliable technique for alveolar bone grafting of cleft patients.

The frequency of bleeding complications after invasive dental treatment in patients receiving single and dual antiplatelet therapy.

BACKGROUND: The dental literature suggests that a patient's antiplatelet medication schedule should not be altered before invasive dental procedures. The authors conducted a study to examine the frequency of bleeding complications after invasive dental procedures in patients taking antiplatelet medications. METHODS: In a retrospective study of 43 dental patients who were receiving single or dual antiplatelet therapy, the authors conducted a chart review of patient records and examining documentation of the medical history. They collected demographic data; medical history; medication history; social history; presence of preoperative infection at any dental visit as evidenced by swelling, purulence or periapical radiolucency; number and type of invasive dental visits; emergency department visits; types of dental procedures performed; use of adjunctive perioperative local hemostatic measures (for example, topical thrombin, absorbable gelatin compressed sponge, sutures); blood products used preoperatively and postoperatively; and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (67 percent) were receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. There were 88 invasive-procedure visits consisting of extractions, periodontal surgery, and subgingival scaling and root planing. The authors found no differences between patients receiving single or dual antiplatelet therapy for all variables, most notably the number of invasive-procedure visits, total extractions and adjunctive hemostatic measures. There were no documented episodes of prolonged postoperative bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of oral bleeding complications after invasive dental procedures was low to negligible for patients who were receiving single or dual antiplatelet therapy. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The risks of altering or discontinuing use of antiplatelet medications far outweigh the low risk of postoperative oral bleeding complications resulting from dental procedures.

Change in grafted secondary alveolar bone in patients with UCLP and UCLA. A three-dimensional computed tomography study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in the grafted bone after secondary alveolar bone graft (ABG) with iliac bone using 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 10 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and 5 patients with unilateral cleft lip and alveolus (UCLA) (mean age = 10 years). 3D-CT data (Sensation 10, Siemens, Munchen, Germany), which was obtained 1 month before (T0), 3 months after (T1), and 12 months (T2) after ABG, were used to measure the height, labiolingual thickness (LLT), and volume of the grafted bone using V-Works 4.0 program (Cybermed Inc, Seoul, Korea). All of the UCLA patients showed the lingual process in the cleft area at T0, but the UCLP did not. RESULTS: During T1-T2, there was a significant decrease in height of the upper part of the grafted bone; however, volumes of both the upper and lower parts were decreased. Unilateral cleft type and presence of ULI in the cleft area did not affect the change in height and volume of the grafted bone. The resorption amount (RA) was significantly larger in the lower part than in the upper part, while the resorption rate (RR) exhibited an opposite result. In addition, there was significantly more RA in the labial side in UCLA than UCLP (P < .05). There was no correlation between the initial cleft width and changes in height, LLT, and volume of the grafted bone. CONCLUSION: Overpacking and/or excessive condensation of the grafted bone is not necessary in UCLA with the lingual process because of the greater chance of resorption on the labial side of the grafted bone.

Osseous response following resective therapy with piezosurgery.

A piezoelectric instrument vibrating in the ultrasonic frequency range was investigated for its potential use in periodontal resective therapy. The rate of postoperative wound healing (baseline and 14, 28, and 56 days after surgery) in a dog model following surgical ostectomy and osteoplasty was the marker used to compare the efficacy of this instrument (PS) with a commonly used carbide bur (CB) or a diamond bur (DB). The surgical sites treated by CB or DB lost bone, in comparison to baseline measurements, by the 14th day, while the surgical sites treated by PS revealed a gain in the bone level. By day 28, the surgical sites treated by all three instruments demonstrated an increased bone level and regeneration of cementum and periodontal ligament. However, by day 56, the surgical sites treated by CB or DB evidenced a loss of bone, versus a bone gain in the PS-treated sites. Thus, it appears that PS provided more favorable osseous repair and remodeling than CB or DB when surgical ostectomy and osteoplasty procedures were performed. Therefore, PS could be regarded as being efficacious for use in osseous surgery.

A preliminary morphologic classification of the alveolar ridge after distraction osteogenesis.

PURPOSE: We sought to develop and evaluate a preliminary morphologic classification of the alveolar ridge after distraction osteogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients (7 women and 5 men; mean age, 42.6 years; age range, 30 to 57 years) underwent a total of 17 alveolar ridge distractions before the placement of a total of 44 dental implants. Ridge bone morphology was evaluated and categorized at implant placement, with subsequent evaluation of the frequency and type of complications in each category. RESULTS: Four morphologic categories were identified, as follows. Category I consisted of wide alveolar rim and no bone defects; 7 (41.2%) of the 17 ridges were assigned to this category, and a total of 22 implants were placed with no complications. Category II consisted of wide alveolar rim, lateral bone surface concavity; 4 (24%) of the 17 ridges were assigned to this category, and a total of 8 implants were placed, with fenestration defects being the most frequent complication (2 of 8 implants [25%]). Category III consisted of narrow alveolar rim, lateral bone surface concavity; 5 (29.4%) of the 17 ridges were assigned to this category, and a total of 13 implants were placed, with dehiscence defects being the most frequent complication (4 of 13 implants [31%]). Category IV consisted of distraction transport segment forming a bridge, without bone formed beneath, necessitating guided bone regeneration; 1 (6%) of the 17 ridges was assigned to this category, and following bone regeneration 1 implant was placed, without complications. Subcategory D consisted of lingual deviation of the distraction axis, occurring in any of categories I to IV, and when severe requiring corrective osteotomy to free and reposition the transport segment and neoformed bone; 4 (24%) of the 17 ridges were assigned to this subcategory (ie, to subcategory ID, IID, IIID, or IVD); in 1 case, the deviation was severe, requiring corrective osteotomy; in this case 3 implants were placed, without complications. CONCLUSION: This preliminary morphologic classification of the postdistraction alveolar ridge effectively categorizes the variation observed in our patients and in our experience provides a useful basis for decision-making regarding implant placement. However, further studies are required to confirm the generality of this classification and incidences of complications in each category.

Alveolar bone grafting in patients with complete clefts: a comparative study between secondary and tertiary bone grafting.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation evaluated the results of alveolar bone grafting in patients with complete clefts, comparing secondary alveolar bone grafting (during the mixed stage of dentition) versus tertiary bone grafting (after completion of the second stage of dentition). DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. Of 140 osteoplasties, which all were operated according to the same standardized surgical technique, a clinical and roentgenological follow-up investigation was carried out in a collective of 85 osteoplasties. Clinically we searched for oronasal fistulae, assessed the periodontal status, determined the extent of the gingival attachment in the area of the osteoplasty, and searched for vertical growth disturbances in the area of the osteoplasty. Roentgenologically the height of the alveolar bone in the former clefted area was ascertained. SETTING: Records were obtained from a clinical and radiological study of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Medical University of Hannover (Germany). INTERVENTIONS: All patients were operated with the same standardized surgical method. The osteoplastic bridging of the alveolar cleft was performed via a vestibular gingival marginal incision and exclusively by grafting of cancellous bone from the iliac crest. RESULTS: The best results of alveolar bone grafting in cases of secondary osteoplasty were obtained when the lateral incisor or canine had grown into the transplant and had led to a functional stress of the transplanted bone. Approximately good results were to be found in tertiary osteoplasty when the transplanted bone had been stressed functionally through a dental implant. Comparing the secondary with the tertiary osteoplasty, there was a trend of lower resorption in secondary osteoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary osteoplasty should represent an integral component of any concept for the comprehensive treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate.

A comparison of two different bone-harvesting techniques for secondary alveolar bone grafting in patients with cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of the trephine with open hip surgery for alveolar bone grafting in cleft lip and palate surgery. DESIGN: The study was retrospective. The radiographs were assessed blindly and on two separate occasions 1 week apart. SETTING: University Teaching Hospital. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: In one group (group A), a trephine was used; in the other (group B), open hip surgery was employed. Group A was comprised of 16 patients (nine with unilateral and seven with bilateral clefts of the lip and palate) and group B, 13 patients (eight unilateral and five bilateral). The prime entry criterion for inclusion in the study was that the canine tooth had erupted into the graft site. INTERVENTIONS: A long cone periapical radiograph was taken of the erupted canine tooth in the graft site. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The radiographs were graded from type I to type IV, as described by Bergland et al. (1986a). A comparison was also made of the eruption of the canine, postoperative morbidity, and length of stay in hospital for each group. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the interdental bone height (p=.61, Mann-Whitney U test). In group A, all patients had a satisfactory clinical outcome (type I or II), and in group B, only one patient had an unsatisfactory result (type III). The spontaneous eruption of the canine and the number of nights spent in the hospital were also similar for both groups. However, no patients in group A suffered postoperative complications, whereas three patients in group B reported either a limp or postoperative infection of the hip. CONCLUSION: Both techniques produced satisfactory repair of the bony defect, but the open hip surgery resulted in greater postoperative morbidity.

Alveolar bone grafting: a review of 115 patients.

The results of alveolar bone grafting carried out at The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London, UK, between January 1982 and January 1989 were assessed. Cancellous bone from the iliac crest was grafted to alveolar cleft defects in 115 patients (63 male and 52 female). Eighty-seven unilateral (58 left and 29 right) and 28 bilateral clefts were operated on. The mean age at the time of operation was 11.5 years, with a range of 8.08-18.75 years. The cleft canine had erupted prior to bone grafting in 58.4 per cent. At the time of this study the cleft had erupted in 96.35 per cent and was unerupted in 3.65 per cent of sites. Radiographs were taken at regular intervals and assessed according to previously reported criteria. Eighty-six per cent were clinically successful (Type I and II). In Type III 10.95 per cent had less than three-quarters of the normal interdental septal height and 2.18 per cent failed (Type IV). In addition, 3.6 per cent of sites showed cervical root resorption affecting the adjacent incisor and 1.4 per cent internal resorption of the cleft canine.

Immediate labial contour restoration for improved esthetics: a radiographic study on bone splitting in anterior single-tooth replacement.

A bone-splitting technique used for anterior single-tooth replacement was evaluated in 54 patients and 68 sites. The cumulative rate of implant survival was 93.7% (SE 4.6%) after more than 4 years. The decrease in marginal bone height ranged from 0.8 to 1.3 mm. Some reaction of the bone levels around the adjacent teeth should be anticipated (0.3 to 0.5 mm). It was concluded that the bone-splitting procedure is a safe and predictable technique when performed carefully on selected patients and with the proper instrumentation. The procedure seeks to reconstruct the labial contour of the alveolar process, which is a prerequisite for optimal and lasting implant esthetics.

Alveolar reconstruction with splitting osteotomy and microfixation of implants.

This report describes a surgical technique for reconstruction of the buccolingually reduced alveolar process. The technique involves the preparation of an artificial socket with immediate implant placement, which reduces total treatment time compared with two-stage procedures. Alveolar preparation comprises lamellar cortical splitting of the alveolus, interlamellar implant placement, and primary stabilization based on a microfixation technique. It was used for a wide range of indications involving single and multiple alveoli related to the partially dentate and the edentulous alveolar process. The results of 24 Branemark standard implants and 97 ITI implants with 44 consecutively treated patients have been reviewed with a mean observation time of 34.3 months (range 6 to 68 months). The main indicator for alveolar reconstruction was the narrow anterior maxillary arch. The 5-year cumulated success rate was 86.2%. Twelve implants failed during the observation period. The mean marginal bone loss was 1.7 mm (range 0 to 7.5 mm). There was a low infection rate compared with membrane-based GTR techniques. Treatment costs were low as a result of shorter treatment time.

Bone grafting of the floor of the maxillary sinus for the placement of endosseous implants.

This study describes and evaluates a technique to augment the floor of the maxillary sinus and to widen the alveolar crest of the atrophic posterior maxilla with autogenous bone. The subjects were 43 patients whose maxillary alveolar crest was not high enough to permit reliable placement of endosseous implants in the posterior maxilla. Large autogenous cancellous bone grafts (n = 37) or smaller grafts from the mandibular symphyseal area (n = 5) or the maxillary tuberosity (n = 1) were harvested. The operations were done in either one stage (n = 20 patients, 36 sinuses) or two (bone grafting followed by placement of implants, n = 23, 45 sinuses). In 28 cases the sinus membrane was perforated with no subsequent problems. Nine of the 171 Brånemark implants that were inserted were lost during follow-up (mean 26 months, range 8-62 months). Augmentation of the maxillary sinus with autogenous bone is a reliable way of achieving placement of an implant.

Pain following iliac crest bone grafting of alveolar clefts.

The purpose of this study was to investigate pain following iliac crest bone grafting of alveolar clefts. The study involved 34 consecutive patients requiring secondary alveolar bone grafting. The study population consisted of 21 males and 13 females with a mean age of 11 years (SD = 3.4). Twenty-three patients had unilateral and 11 patients bilateral clefts. The patients were treated in a like manner with harvesting of an iliac crest cortico-cancellous block concurrently with the raising of flaps and cleft closure. All surgery was performed by combinations of the authors. Eighteen patients were placed on postoperative intravenous ketorolac and the remainder were not. All patients received patient controlled analgesia at a dose of 0.015 mg/kg of morphine with an 8 min exclusion period before re-dosing. Total narcotic usage averaged 0.18 mg/kg (SD = 0.19) with 31 patients using less than 0.4 mg/kg. Regular ketorolac did not influence narcotic usage, nor did sex, age or nature of the cleft. Thirty-one patients began ambulating on the first postoperative day and 27 were discharged within 2 days of surgery. No long-term donor site morbidity was observed. Our results suggest that pain following iliac crest bone grafting of alveolar clefts is not severe and is readily alleviated with small quantities of analgesic drugs. It would appear that short-term morbidity following these procedures is frequently overstated and is in itself not a valid reason to change to calvarial or mandibular donor sites.

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of floor of mouth treated with selective embolization: a case report.

False aneurysms may be caused by trauma to the floor of the mouth from surgical procedures. The condition is hazardous because of the potential for airway obstruction from hematoma. A case of pseudoaneurysm of the facial artery occurring in the floor of the mouth is described. Treatment with superselective percutaneous angiographic embolization is a novel and efficient alternative for dealing with aneurysms arising in this region, with low morbidity.

Pulpal and root sensitivity rated to periodontal therapy.

The purpose of this clinical investigation was to determine if periodontal treatment consisting of scaling, root planing, and periodontal surgery produced any change in pulpal or root sensitivity. Ten patients were tested, with a total of 84 observations. There were 42 periodontally treated teeth, with 42 contralateral teeth serving as control specimens. The teeth were evaluated with stimuli from an electric pulp tester, cold, and air. The electric pulp tester was found to be reliable in assessing the pulpal sensitivity. Neither the amount of periodontal destruction nor the extent of periodontal treatment had any effect on the pulp. Scaling and root planing had no significant effect on root sensitivity. Periodontal surgery was directly related to root sensitivity in terms of the extent of root surface exposure. An association was observed clinically between plaque accumulation after periodontal surgery and root sensitivity.

Long-term evaluation of porous hydroxyapatite blocks for alveolar ridge augmentation.

Eleven patients, with a combined total of 14 atrophic edentulous ridges, underwent subperiosteal ridge augmentation with porous hydroxyapatite blocks. Clinical evaluation was continued for 4.5 to 6.5 years. All patients suffered long-term complications. The authors recommend that this material not be used for this purpose in the future.

[Secondary osteoplasty in congenital clefts of the primary palate. Technic and results apropos of 43 cases]. / L'ostéoplastie secondaire dans les fentes congénitales du palais primaire. Technique et résultats à propos de 43 observations.

43 patients with primary palatal clefts (53 clefts) were treated by secondary osteoplasty. In 85% of cases the graft enabled closure of the bucco-nasal fistula and alveolar continuity was reestablished in 98% of cases. Complications were minimal and did not generally affect the final result. The ideal age for the procedure would seem to be between 8 and 11 years, thereby allowing eruption of the canine under normal conditions and the production of a continuous dental arcade.

Compartment syndrome following oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Compartment syndrome must be included in the differential diagnosis in any patient who complains of pain or neuromuscular deficit in an extremity. The etiology, differential diagnosis, clinical features, and treatment of compartment syndrome are reviewed to assist in proper diagnosis and management. Although the exact etiology in this case will never be ascertained, delay in diagnosis and treatment resulted in a neuromuscular deficit. It is therefore imperative that proper patient positioning during the perioperative period be closely monitored to avoid this complication.