Postoperative maxillary cyst after maxillary sinus augmentation.

The posterior edentulous maxilla is a critical anatomic region for dental implant therapy. Because of severe alveolar bone resorption and maxillary sinus pneumatization, low bone volume is often presented clinically. Although maxillary sinus augmentation has been developed to promote bone reconstruction and oral rehabilitation, complications have been reported. Possible complications include paranasal sinusitis, loss of the graft, and displacement of an implant into the antrum. In this study, we present an observed rare complication of maxillary sinus augmentation, a postoperative maxillary cyst that occurred 10 years after treatment.

Comparative study between resorbable and nonresorbable plates in orthognathic surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical application of resorbable and nonresorbable plates for correction of facial asymmetry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 272 patients who had undergone orthognathic surgery were enrolled. The site of osteotomy was fixed using a nonresorbable plate in group I (n = 152) and using a resorbable plate in group II (n = 120). The postoperative complications included postoperative anterior open bite, infection, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and postoperative relapse. The incidence of all complications was examined. RESULTS: The surgical outcome was successful in 269 patients (98.89%). Of the 152 patients with a titanium plate, 13 (8.6%) developed complications. Of the 120 patients with a resorbable plate, 22 (18.3%) developed complications. A greater degree of postoperative open bite and a trend toward relapse were observed in patients' cases in which an absorbable fixation plate was used. Postoperative infection occurred in patients with an absorbable fixation plate. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these data, we have concluded that an absorbable fixation plate should be used instead of a titanium fixation plate in indicated patients.

Comparison of titanium and biodegradable miniplates for fixation of mandibular fractures.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to compare the use of biodegradable miniplates and titanium miniplates for the fixation of mandibular fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BioSorb FX biodegradable plates and screws and titanium miniplates were used in 91 patients (65 males and 26 females; age range 11 to 69 years) for the treatment of mandibular fractures. The clinical and radiographic findings were recorded at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 4.41%. In the biodegradable plate group, infection occurred in 2 cases (4.26%) and was resolved by incision and drainage and antibiotics. In the titanium plate group, infection occurred in 1 case and plate fracture in 1 case (4.56%). The fractured plate was removed, and a new titanium miniplate was applied using a trocar. The infection was resolved with antibiotics. No adverse tissue reactions, malocclusions, or malunions occurred during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: Our results have shown that the rate of morbidity is very low with the use of biodegradable plates and titanium plates, suggesting that biodegradable and titanium plates have the potential for successful use in the fixation of mandibular fractures.

Expression of amino acid transporter LAT1 and 4F2hc in the healing process after the implantation of a tooth ash and plaster of Paris mixture.

BACKGROUND: In order to elucidate the expression pattern of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) in the bone formation process, the expressions of LAT1 and its subunit 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) were investigated in the healing process after the implantation of a tooth ash-plaster of Paris mixture in rats with calvarial osseous defect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Circular calvarial defects (8 mm in diameter) were made midparietally. The rats were divided into 2 groups, 1 control group and 1 experimental group. In the control group, the defect was only covered with a soft tissue flap (control group); in the experimental group, it was filled with a mixture of tooth ash and plaster of Paris (2:1 by weight; mixture group). The rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after operation and RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. RESULTS: In the RT-PCR analysis, the expressions of the LAT1 and 4F2hc mRNAs were slightly stronger in the experimental group than in the control group. In the immunohistochemical analysis, at 1 week after operation, the LAT1 protein and its subunit 4F2hc protein were mainly expressed in the osteoblasts, osteocytes and interstitial tissues of the area around the defect and the inner part of newly forming bone in both groups. The expressions of LAT1 and 4F2hc proteins were decreased at 2 and 4 weeks after operation. The LAT1 and 4F2hc proteins were scarcely expressed at 8 weeks after operation in both groups. The expressions of LAT1 and 4F2hc proteins were slightly stronger in the mixture group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the LAT1 and its subunit 4F2hc are highly expressed in the early stage of new bone formation and may have an important role in providing cells with neutral amino acids, including several essential amino acids, at that stage.

Five-year retrospective radiographic follow-up study of dental implants with sandblasting with large grit, and acid etching-treated surfaces.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate five-year radiographic follow-up results of the Korean sandblasting with large grit, and acid etching (SLA)-treated implant system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of the study are 54 patients who have been followed-up to date, of the patients who underwent implant surgery from May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2011. In all, 176 implant placements were performed. Radiographs were taken before the first surgery, immediately after the first and second surgeries, immediately and six months after the final prosthesis installation, and every year after that. Bone loss was evaluated by the method suggested by Romanos and Nentwig. RESULTS: A total of 176 implant placements were performed-122 in men and 54 in women. These patients have been followed-up for an average of 4.9 years. In terms of prosthetic appliances, there were 156 bridges and 20 single prostheses. Nine implants installed in the maxillary molar area, three in the mandibular molar area and two in the maxillary premolar area were included in group M, with bone loss less than 2 mm at the crestal aspect of the implant. Of these, eight implants were single prostheses. In all, six implants failed-four in the mandible and two in the maxilla. All of these failures occurred in single-implant cases. The implant survival rate was 98.1% on the maxilla and 94.3% on the mandible, with an overall survival of 96.6%. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, implants with the SLA surface have a very superior survival rate in relatively poor bone environments such as the maxilla.

Effects of decortication in the treatment of bone defect around particulate dentin-coated implants: an experimental pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of decortication during bone grafting in defect areas surrounding particulate dentin-coated implants. STUDY DESIGN: Six dogs were randomly assigned to 3 groups, and each group was further divided into 2 subgroups. The subgroups consisted of dogs that received particulate dentin-coated implants after 4 or 8 weeks. The defects were treated as follows: control group, unfilled defect; experimental group 1, defect filled with Tutoplast without decortication; experimental group 2, defect filled with Tutoplast with decortication. Histologic sections and histomorphometric analysis were obtained 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: Compared to the 4-week subgroup, statistically significant new bone formation was observed in the 8-week subgroup. In the 4-week subgroup, the area of new bone formation was larger in the group that underwent cortical bone perforation with bone grafting; however, no significant difference was detected within the 8-week subgroup. CONCLUSION: According to these results, decortication increases early bone formation after implant placement.