Influence of two different surgical techniques on the difficulty of impacted lower third molar extraction and their post-operative complications.

BACKGROUND: Post-operative complications of various degrees of severity are commonly observed in third molar impaction surgery. For this reason, a surgical procedure that decreases the trauma of bone and soft tissues should be a priority for surgeons. In the present study, we compare the efficacy and the post-operative complications of patients to whom two different surgical techniques were applied for impacted lower third molar extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients of the first group underwent the classical bur technique, while patients of the second group underwent another technique, in which an elevator was placed on the buccal surface of the impacted molar in order to luxate the alveolar socket more easily. RESULTS: Comparing the two techniques, we observed a statistically significant decrease in the duration of the procedure and in the need for tooth sectioning when applying the second surgical technique, while the post-operative complications were similar in the two groups. We also found a statistically significant lower incidence of lingual nerve lesions and only a slightly higher frequency of sharp mandibular bone irregularities in the second group, which however was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate that the surgical technique using an elevator on the buccal surface of the tooth seems to be a reliable method to extract impacted third molars safely, easily, quickly and with the minimum trauma to the surrounding tissues.

Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the anterior region of the mandible: report of an unusual case and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare lesion, whose exact pathogenesis is still not fully understood. Generally, it is more frequently encountered in the mandible than in the maxilla and in the posterior than in the anterior aspect of the jaws. Cases of central mucoepidermoid carcinomas are rarely mentioned in the literature, and therefore, additional information concerning this type of lesion is needed. CASE REPORT: In the present paper, we report an extremely unusual case of a central mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the anterior region of the mandible of a 37-year-old female patient. The diagnosis and the surgical management of the tumor along with the reconstructive techniques utilized to restore the mandible and a 6-year follow-up are discussed. DISCUSSION: Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma is an unusual tumor of the jaws, especially in the anterior region. It is only locally aggressive and has most frequently a good prognosis if treated with wide surgical excision.

Accessory mental foramen: an anatomical study on dry mandibles and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Since numerous surgical procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery as well as several aspects of dental practice involve the mental region, the knowledge of its anatomical variations is essential for the clinician. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence and the anatomical features of the accessory mental foramen, which is occasionally traced additionally to the main mental foramen. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-six dry human mandibles of a Greek population and of unknown sex and age were examined in order to notice the presence of possible accessory mental foramina. The frequency of the accessory mental foramen was calculated, and its dimensions and its topographical relationship to the teeth of the mandible and the mental foramen were determined as well. RESULTS: A single accessory mental foramen was identified in 4.17% of the sample, while its mean transverse diameter was measured to be 1.09 mm and its mean distance from the mental foramen was 5.24 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed an appreciable incidence of the accessory mental foramen in the Greek population, recognizably higher than the discovered incidence of past studies involving the Greek population. Consequently, the clinician should always be prepared to deal with an accessory mental foramen during surgical procedures.