Incidence of peri-implantitis and oral quality of life in patients rehabilitated with implants with different neck designs: A 10-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate peri-implant bone loss, the presence of peri-implantitis, aesthetic satisfaction, and quality of life in patients with implant-based prosthetic restorations using implants with or without smooth necks, placed in different bone positions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 400 patients received 1,244 implants: 515 with smooth neck monitored over an average of 6.44 ± 2.55 years and 729 without smooth neck monitored over 5.61 ± 2.52 years. Radiographic bone loss, presence of periimplantitis, implant loss, quality of life (OHIP-14), and patient satisfaction with prosthetic esthetics were evaluated, comparing groups. RESULTS: 120 implants developed peri-implantitis, 15 with a 2.5 mm smooth neck and 105 without smooth neck. Patients without smooth-necked implants showed a worse quality of life with statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction with prostheses was higher among the group without smooth neck. CONCLUSIONS: Implants with smooth polished necks would appear to suffer less bone loss and peri-implantitis, and lead to better patient quality of life. However, implants without smooth necks placed crestally led to higher patient satisfaction with aesthetics.

Efficacy of topical Aloe vera in patients with oral lichen planus: a randomized double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: Different treatments have been used in application to symptomatic oral lichen planus (OLP), with variable results, perhaps caused by the refractory nature of the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the topical application of aloe vera (AV) in OLP compared with placebo. METHODS: A total of 64 patients with OLP were randomized in a double-blind study to either AV (32 patients) or placebo (32 patients), at a dose of 0.4 ml (70% concentration) three times a day. A Visual Analog Scale was used for rating pain, with the application of a clinical scale for scoring the lesions, the Oral Health Impact Profile 49 (OHIP-49), and the Hospital Anxiety-Depression (HAD) scale. The patients were evaluated after 6 and 12 weeks. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were recorded between both groups in relation to pain after 6 and 12 weeks. In the AV group, complete pain remission was achieved in 31.2% of the cases after 6 weeks, and in 61% after 12 weeks. In the placebo group, these percentages were 17.2% and 41.6%, respectively. There were no adverse effects in any of the groups. In relation to quality of life, significant differences were observed between the two groups in the psychological disability domain and total OHIP-49 score. CONCLUSION: The topical application of AV improves the total quality of life score in patients with OLP.

A retrospective clinicopathological study of 550 patients with oral lichen planus in south-eastern Spain.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes the clinicopathological characteristics of a group of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) in south-eastern Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was made of 550 patients clinically and histopathologically diagnosed with OLP in the period 1991-2007. Patient gender, age, the prevalence of hepatitis C, symptoms and malignization were recorded. The clinical forms were classified as reticular-papular and atrophic-erosive. RESULTS: Of the 550 patients, 128 (23.3%) were men and 422 (76.7%) women. The mean age was 56.35 +/- 13.67 years (range 14-91). The prevalence of hepatitis C was 3.5%. The red clinical forms were the most frequent, with 359 cases (64.2%). The lesions were asymptomatic in 159 patients (28.9%). Five patients developed oral squamous cell carcinoma (0.9%); none of these subjects was smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OLP present different clinical manifestations. Women were more frequently affected by the disease, and the malignant transformation rate was under 1%.

Premalignant nature of oral lichen planus. A retrospective study of 550 oral lichen planus patients from south-eastern Spain.

The most important complication of oral lichen planus (OLP) is the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)--this being an association that remains subject to controversy. This study aims to examine the incidence and clinical presentation of oral malignancies associated with OLP. A retrospective study was made of 550 patients diagnosed with OLP according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, in the period between 1991 and 2007, in south-eastern Spain 128 males (23.3%) and 422 females (76.7%). A clinical protocol was applied in all cases (sociodemographic data, habits and hepatitis C markers), with histological confirmation of the disease. Five of the 550 patients (0.9%) developed SCC. The mean duration of follow-up was 24+/-20.83 months. The tongue was the most common location. The exact incidence of malignant transformation of OLP is difficult to establish, due to the possible contribution of external risk factors that may be of relevance in oral malignancy.