[Soft laser and its application areas in oral surgery and stomatology]. / Der Low-Level-Laser in der Oralchirurgie und Stomatologie.

Low-level lasers (LLL) are used in the stomatology and oral surgery field of dentistry. Due to the biostimulation or biomodulation and photodynamic effect, the healing process of soft-tissue and bone wounds can be accelerated. The indication in oral surgery is to achieve a faster bone healing after tooth extraction, but also to improve the osseointegration in implants. The advantage in stomatology is pain alleviation and improved healing in aphthae and cold sores as well as symptom relief in mucositis. Due to the use free of side effects and low time effort, the LLL offers high patients' comfort.

Evaluation of Preventive Treatment Protocols for Patients under Antiresorptive Therapy Undergoing Tooth Extraction at a Swiss University Clinic.

Antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) is a dreaded complication in patients with compromised bone metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to examine the occurrence of ARONJ and its related factors among patients with a history of antiresorptive therapy undergoing tooth extraction using preventive protocols at a Swiss university clinic. Data were retrospectively pooled from health records of patients having received a surgical tooth extraction between January 2015 and April 2020 in the Clinic of Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oral surgery, University of Zurich. A total of 970 patients received an extraction with flap elevation or wound closure during this period. A total of 104 patients could be included in the study. Furthermore, variables including age, gender, smoking, risk profile, choice, indication and duration of antiresorptive therapy, number of extractions, extraction site, surgical technique, choice and duration of antibiotics as well as the presence of postoperative inflammatory complications were assessed. Overall, 4 patients developed ARONJ (incidence of 3.8%) after tooth extraction at the same location, without previous signs of osteonecrosis. Preventive methods included predominantly primary wound closure using a full thickness mucoperiosteal flap and prolonged perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. In accordance with current literature, the applied protocol showed a reliable outcome in preventing ARONJ when a tooth extraction is required.

Use of a xenogeneic collagen matrix on extraction sockets: a new approach in ARONJ prevention (in german) / Plastische Deckung von Extraktionsalveolen mit einem xenogenen Bindegewebstransplantat

Antiresorptive drugs are increasingly used for the treatment of osteoporosis, various bone pathologies and malignant tumors. Antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) is a relevant complication, especially in nonhealing extraction sockets. Prescription of antibiotics in combination with a safely guaranteed closure of the extraction socket is considerably reducing the risk of ARONJ development. Full mucosal coverage usually requires the formation of a full thickness flap, which involves periosteal disclosure of the remodeled bone. In this new approach, primary wound closure is performed by covering the extraction socket with a xenogeneic collagen matrix. Ultimately, elevation of a periosteal flap and additional exposure of the surrounding alveolar bone is avoidable. The technique is exemplified on a patient case with a perennial anti resorptive medication history.

A volumetric assessment and follow-up of a granuloma gravidarum in the anterior maxilla.

AIM: Granuloma gravidarum (GG) is a benign lesion of the soft tissue. The aim of this technical note is the volumetric assessment and follow-up 3D measurement of a GG in the anterior maxilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 35-year-old female patient who was 7 months pregnant was referred due to a soft tissue tumor in the papilla of tooth 21. A biopsy verified a pyogenic granuloma gravidarum. Initial and consecutive volumeatric measurements were made with an intraoral scanner during the patient's pregnancy and until 16 months postpartum. RESULTS: The volumetric assessment showed a continuous growth of the tumor and a consecutive volume reduction 16 months postpartum. In comparison with the level of the papilla of the contralateral incisor, there was an almost complete remission at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Intraoral scans can serve for the volumetric assessment of soft tissue tumors of the alveolar crest. Image superimposition enables the quantification of changes in morphology. This supports clinical follow-ups and enables the quantification of clinical observations.

The Effects of Preoperative Radiotherapy on Head and Neck Free Flap Anastomosis Success.

PURPOSE: The long-term survival benefit of neoadjuvant radiotherapy for oropharyngeal tumors is controversially discussed in the literature. To bring more light into this important debate, we evaluated our cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study the main focus was the relationship between neoadjuvant irradiation and anastomosis failure. Other influencing factors including previous operative treatment and tumor stage and type also were studied. RESULTS: In total, 7 anastomoses failed (total failure rate, 8.4%; n = 83); 1 of the 7 underwent neoadjuvant irradiation (failure rate, 3.1%; n = 32). All 7 anastomosis failures were in squamous cell carcinoma cases, with 5 of them staged as T4. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that neoadjuvant radiotherapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma does not increase the risk of postoperative anastomosis failure compared with surgical reconstruction alone. Furthermore, the data suggest a correlation between the stage and type of tumor.