Hemostasis control in dental extractions in patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy: an approach with calcium sulfate.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of calcium sulfate (CaS) as a hemostatic agent after tooth extraction in patients with anticoagulant drug therapy. A total of 30 patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy (22 women and 8 men) with a mean age of 54.6 years (SD = 9.2 years), needing dental extractions, were selected for this study. They were divided into 2 groups, control (group 1) and test (group 2), in a randomized way. In group 1 patients, the postextraction socket was managed with obliterative suture only. Group 2 patients were treated with CaS placed into the postextraction sockets. All the patients did not interrupt the anticoagulant therapy during the dental treatment. The healing pattern was found to be approximately similar in all treatment groups, showing significant improvement at each consecutive visit. However, a statistically significant difference in the adequate hemostasis was evident between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.0056). The use of CaS helped to control the bleeding from inside the socket, producing instantly a very good hemostasis. Further studies are necessary to confirm the simplicity, possibilities, and limits of the proposed procedure.

Clinical evaluation of 209 all-ceramic single crowns cemented on natural and implant-supported abutments with different luting agents: a 6-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The Procera AllCeram™ system (Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) is a valid alternative to metal-ceramic restorations. However, limited long-term data of its use for single crowns on natural and implant-supported abutments are available. PURPOSE: The present study aimed at evaluating the clinical performances of Procera AllCeram single crowns in both anterior and posterior regions of the oral cavity either on natural tooth or implant abutments over a period of 6 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred nine single crowns were fabricated and used in 112 patients. Zinc phosphate and resin luting agents were used to cement the restorations. The crowns were evaluated according to the California Dental Association's quality assessment system. RESULTS: Three crowns were lost at follow-up. Of the 206 restorations, which completed the 6-year follow-up, 9 crowns were affected by mechanical complications and 7 crowns failed. All surviving crowns were ranked as either excellent or acceptable. Cumulative survival and success rates of 95.2 and 90.9%, respectively, were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the present study, Procera AllCeram crowns proved to be a reliable clinical option to restore both anterior and posterior missing teeth either on natural or implant abutments. The resin cement used in the present study performed better than the zinc phosphate luting agent.

An in vitro investigation on friction generated by ceramic brackets.

AIM: To compare friction (F) of conventional and ceramic brackets (0.022-inch slot) using a model that tests the sliding of the archwire through 10 aligned brackets. METHODS: Polycrystalline alumina brackets (PCAs), PCA brackets with a stainless steel slot (PCA-M), and monocrystalline sapphire brackets (MCS) were tested under elastic ligatures using various archwires in dry and wet (saliva) states. Conventional stainless steel brackets were used as controls. RESULTS: In both dry and wet states, PCA and MCS brackets expressed a statistically significant higher F value with respect to stainless steel and PCA-M brackets when combined with the rectangular archwires (P<.01). PCA brackets showed significantly higher friction than MCS brackets (P<.01) when coupled with 0.014 x 0.025-inch nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) archwire. SEM analysis showed differences in the surfaces among stainless steel, MCS, PCA-M, and PCA brackets. In the wet state, the mean F values were generally higher than in the dry state. CONCLUSION: PCA brackets showed significantly higher F than MCS brackets only when combined with 0.014 x 0.025-inch Ni-Ti archwires. Thus, in this study, a 10 aligned-brackets study model showed similar results when compared to a single bracket system except for friction level with 0.014 × 0.025-inch Ni-Ti archwires.

Surgical treatment of periodontal intrabony defects with calcium sulfate implant and barrier versus collagen barrier or open flap debridement alone: a 12-month randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of guided tissue regeneration with calcium sulfate graft and membrane (CS) versus guided tissue regeneration with collagen membrane (CM) or open flap debridement (OFD) only in terms of clinical attachment gain in periodontal intrabony defects. METHODS: Fifty-one systemically healthy, non-smoking subjects affected by moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were recruited. The subjects had one deep intrabony defect with a probing depth (PD) > or =6 mm and were randomly divided into three equal groups (17 subjects per group). Subjects were surgically treated with OFD (OFD group), OFD with CS (CS group), or OFD and CM (CM group). One year after surgical treatment, a complete clinical examination and a surgical reentry were performed. The pre- and post-therapy clinical parameters, including PD, clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR), and intrasurgical parameters (defect bone level [DBL]), were compared. RESULTS: After 1 year, the clinical and intrasurgical parameters showed statistically significant changes from baseline within each group for all of the evaluated parameters (PD and CAL, P <0.001; GR and DBL, P <0.05). Differences (PD, CAL, and DBL, P <0.001; GR, P <0.05) were also seen across the three groups. The CM and CS groups had significantly smaller PD, CAL, and DBL values than subjects treated with only OFD. Groups treated with regenerative techniques had a significantly greater PD reduction and CAL and DBL gain compared to the OFD group. No significant differences were seen between CM and CS. Conversely, the CM group showed a significantly greater GR increase compared to OFD and CS. CONCLUSIONS: Both regenerative treatments produced additional clinical benefits over OFD alone. Moreover, the use of CS may minimize post-surgical recession.

Role of flavonoids and vitamins in cancer.

Flavonoids are naturally occurring polyphenolic plant compounds that are capable of inhibiting histamine and cytokine release from several cells. Many studies suggest that flavonoids are anticancer agents with an apoptotic effect on tumor cells. Studies with animal tumour models have found vitamin deficiency to enhance susceptibility to chemical carcinogenesis and large doses of anti-oxidant vitamins and flavonoids to inhibit carcinogenesis. In some studies flavonoids and/or vitamins were found to reduce the predisposition to develop tumours in animals and humans. In conclusion, in this review we describe the role of flavonoids and vitamins in cancer.