Botulinum Toxin Injections as an Adjunct to Surgical Lip Repositioning For Gummy Smile Treatment.

BACKGROUND: An attractive smile depends on the proper proportion and arrangement of lip, teeth gingiva scaffold. The ideal smile is the exposure of the entire length of maxillary teeth with 1 mm gingiva. A gingival display exceeding 3 mm is unpleasant and termed ''gummy smile (GS).'' Lip repositioning is a simple surgical procedure intended to minimize the gingival display by removing a strip of mucosa and shortening the vestibular depth. Botulinum toxin injecting overactive muscles with measured quantities results in a reduction of muscle activity, relaxing the lip muscles and decreasing upward pull on the lip. There are some contraindications: patients with short lips and gingival exposures less than 3 mm. PURPOSE: This case report describes the successful management of GS of a young man. CASE REPORT: The procedures were performed and these techniques resulted in shortened vestibule and restricted the muscle pull of the elevator muscles of the lip, reducing gingival display when the patient smiles. Surgical lip repositioning can be a minimally invasive alternative to orthognathic surgery. Botulinum Toxin injections can be a useful adjunct to enhance the esthetics and improve patient satisfaction, being a more conservative and immediate nonsurgical treatment modality available. CONCLUSIONS: In this way, the clinical case report demonstrated that lip repositioning surgery combined to botulinum toxin injections promising outcomes in the GS correction. The effect showed a marked reduction in gingival display at the 4-years follow-up.

Raloxifene but not alendronate can compensate the impaired osseointegration in osteoporotic rats.

OBJECTIVES: Alendronate and raloxifene, a bisphosphonate and a selective estrogen modulator, respectively, are established osteoporosis therapies. Current evidence suggests that simultaneous application of osteoporosis therapies modulates osseointegration. However, alendronate shows inconsistent findings and raloxifene has not been studied comprehensively. This study aimed to evaluate the bone dynamics and molecular and microstructural features at the peri-implant bone interface in osteoporotic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty female rats underwent ovariectomy and were fed a diet low in calcium and phosphate and treated with alendronate or raloxifene for 30 days or underwent fictional ovariectomy surgery (SHAM) prior to implant insertion in the tibia; osteoporosis therapies continued thereafter. After 42 days, peri-implant bone was evaluated by histometric and micro-CT analysis. Fluorochrome incorporation and gene expression was determined to evaluate bone turnover. RESULTS: We report here that alendronate had no impact on bone-to-implant contacts and the mineral apposition rate. The RANKL/OPG ratio and local bone volume, however, were increased compared to the untreated osteoporotic rats. Even though signaling to bone resorption activity through RANKL production was observed in the alendronate group, the blockade of bone resorption activity that occurs in decorrence to alendronate activity took place and resulted in an increase in bone volume. Raloxifene significantly increased osseointegration in osteoporotic rats, as indicated by bone-to-implant contacts, mineral apposition, and local bone volume. Raloxifene, however, had no considerable impact on the RANKL/OPG ratio compared to untreated osteoporotic rats. As expected, the SH group showed higher bone-to-implant contacts and mineral apposition rates than the untreated osteoporotic rats. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that raloxifene but not alendronate can compensate for the impaired osseointegration in osteoporotic rats. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Regarding the superiority of raloxifene observed in the improvement of bone dynamics response, this statement suggests that raloxifene could be a good option for osteoporosis patients in oral rehabilitation procedures.

Effect of antiresorptive drugs in the alveolar bone healing. A histometric and immunohistochemical study in ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the alendronate and raloxifene influence in the alveolar healing process of osteoporotic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four female rats were divided in four groups: sham rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats and no medical treatment (OVX NT), ovariectomized rats and submitted to alendronate treatment (OVX ALE), and ovariectomized and submitted to raloxifene treatment (OVX RAL). The histomorphometrical and immunohistochemical analysis was performed. The quantitative data were analyzed through Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: In the longest period, SHAM and OVX RAL groups showed the better bone formation responses (P < 0.05). The worst bone formation response was observed in the group OVX NT. OVX RAL group showed the better response at 42 days. OVX ALE group showed a favorable response at 14 days, in comparison with OVX RAL group, but a reduced response at 42 days. It was possible to observe a mature bone in SHAM group at 14 days and an immature bone in the OVX NT group. An intermediate quality bone was observed in the groups OVX ALE and OVX RAL. CONCLUSION: Alendronate and raloxifene treatment improved the alveolar healing process in osteoporotic rats, but not enough to achieve the histometrical and protein expression values that were observed in the SHAM group. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Alendronate is largely used as a potent antiresorptive agent. Otherwise, considering the undesirable effects in relation to the alveolar healing, other antiosteoporosis medications should be studied. Raloxifene seems to be a good candidate once its action mechanism involves the activation of osteoblasts.

Evaluation of the Osteoinductive Effect of PDGF-BB Associated With Different Carriers in Bone Regeneration in Bone Surgical Defects in Rats.

PURPOSE: Extensive bone defects in maxillofacial region can be corrected with autograft. However the disadvantages of this type of therapy lead to the search for new bone substitutes. Thus, we evaluated the biological behavior and osteoinductive platelet-derived growth factor type BB (PDGF-BB) associated with different carriers, by histological analysis and immunohistochemical histometric critical defects performed in rat calvaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Critical defects were created with 5-mm diameter calvaria of rats. Each defect was randomly divided into 8 experimental groups, evaluated at 15 and 30 postoperative days for histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The results showed new bone formation in all groups, independent of postoperative time. At 30 days, the beta-tricalcium phosphate matrix (TCP) group just did not differ from bone matrix mineralized bovine (BIO) group in the new bone formation (P = 0.1403). In none of the groups' analyzed biomaterials, growth factor stimulated increase in bone formation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: With the methodology used, the growth factor associated with the tested biomaterials did not induce new bone formation.

Guided Surgery in Esthetic Region.

The placement of dental implants and subsequent placement of immediate temporary dentures after extractions has become a treatment modality accepted by the scientific community. In addition to the functional factor, the surgical procedure in a single stage in the anterior region of the maxilla offers an esthetic appearance, and relieves the psychological concerns of patients. To guarantee the success and longevity of treatments performed, the fabrication of surgical guides is a helpful method in these situations. Guided surgery has gained attention because it restores esthetics with immediate restoration, provides the patient with comfort in addition to dispensing with the need for performing surgical flaps. This auxiliary method allows the position and design of the implant, as well as the perforation sequence to be programmed, thus optimizing the clinical results. In this study, the authors present a clinical case of a patient who was submitted to extraction and subsequent implant placement with immediate loading in the anterior region of the maxilla, performed in a satisfactory manner.

Hypertension modifies OPG, RANK, and RANKL expression during the dental socket bone healing process in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dental socket bone healing process by histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κß (RANK), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κß ligand (RANKL) proteins in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under general anesthesia, 25 Wistar rats and 25 SHRs underwent upper right incisor extraction. Rats were euthanized after 7, 14, 21, 28, or 42 days of dental extractions. Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses of OPG, RANK, and RANKL proteins were performed. RESULTS: Histomorphometric results showed decreased bone healing and reduced bone trabecular thickness in SHRs. Immunohistochemical reactions showed intense RANKL and RANK immunolabeling at 14 and 28 postoperative days and mild OPG immunolabeling at 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery in SHRs. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that RANK, RANKL, and OPG immunolabeling was altered in SHRs, and these results are associated with bone healing delay and decreased trabecular thickness in SHRs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hypertension alters the expression of RANK, RANKL, and OPG and delays the socket bone healing process. These alterations could influence some dental procedures such as orthodontic treatment and implant placement.

Healing process of autogenous bone graft in spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with losartan: an immunohistochemical and histomorphometric study.

PURPOSE: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which has been related to such changes as gradual bone loss and a decrease in bone mass index. The cellular and molecular mechanisms that involve hypertension and osteoporosis are not fully understood. Many patients have high blood pressure, controlled or uncontrolled, and may use at least 1 antihypertensive drug, and an understanding of the interference of hypertension with bone healing is very important when considering oral rehabilitation with implants and bone grafts. This study investigated the interference of hypertension in bone metabolism during the repair process of autogenous bone grafting and analyzed the influence of losartan, an antihypertensive drug and angiotensin II receptor antagonist, through histometric and immunohistochemical analyses by examining the protein expressions of osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, vascular endothelial growth factor, and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The groups studied include 24 normotensive Wistar rats and 24 spontaneously hypertensive rats divided into groups treated and not treated with losartan. Rats were subjected to block bone graft surgery in the mandible and were sacrificed at 7, 14, and 28 days. RESULTS: Histometric analysis was performed to evaluate the amount of bone tissue formed at the interface of the recipient bed and bone graft. The total area of formed bone tissue was outlined and calculated. Immunohistochemical analysis was semi-quantitative and the significance of the differences between groups regarding the percentage of newly formed bone tissue interface and protein expression were determined by ANOVA analysis of variance and Kruskall-Wallis followed by Tukey test or Holm Sidak to detect differences between groups. The results were considered statistically significant when P<.05. CONCLUSION: The untreated hypertensive rats showed a delay in the repair of autogenous bone block grafts compared with untreated Wistar rats. Furthermore, the use of losartan for lowering blood pressure in these animals was shown to improve the healing process, despite not showing important statistical differences.

Importance of clinical examination in dentoalveolar trauma.

Dental injuries are often the result of direct trauma. The most affected teeth are the upper incisors, and the most frequent lesions are coronal fractures, contusions, and lip and alveolar mucosa lacerations. The objective of this study was to draw attention to the importance of the correct management of cases of crow fractures associated with soft tissue lacerations when the fragment is not located. This is a clinical case of crown fracture, the fragment of which remained lodged inside the lip. After fragment removal, the clinical case showed a satisfactory repair emphasizing the importance of a meticulous clinical examination to achieve a correct diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan, which is essential for a favorable prognosis.

Functional aesthetic treatment of patient with phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth.

Gingival overgrowth (GO) may be related to the frequent use of certain medications, such as cyclosporin, phenytoin (PHT), and nifedipine, and is therefore denominated drug-induced GO. This article reports a case of a patient who with chronic periodontitis made use of PHT and presented generalized GO. A 30-year-old man with GO was referred to the clinic of the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil. The complaint was poor aesthetics because of the GO. The patient had a medical history of a controlled epileptic state, and PHT was administered as an anticonvulsant medication. The clinical examination showed generalized edematous gingival tissues and presence of bacterial plaque and calculus on the surfaces of the teeth. The diagnosis was GO associated with PHT because no other risk factors were identified. Treatment consisted of meticulous oral hygiene instruction, scaling, root surface instrumentation, prophylaxis, and daily chlorhexidine mouth rinses. After this stage, periodontal surgery was performed, and histopathologic evaluation was made. The patient has been under control for 3 years after the periodontal surgery, and up to the present time, there has been no recurrence. It can be concluded that PHT associated with the presence of irritants favored gingival growth and that the association of nonsurgical and surgical periodontal therapies was effective in the treatment of GO. Besides, motivating the patient to maintain oral hygiene is a prerequisite for the maintenance of periodontal health.

Flabby ridge correction using an auxiliary technique with connective tissue graft.

A common finding in patients with edentulous maxilla and partially dentate mandible is mainly the presence of flabbiness in the anterior edentulous alveolar ridge that can compromise the retention and stability of a denture. Thus, this case report presents the correction of a flabby ridge, using an auxiliary technique combining surgical excision and autogenous connective tissue grafting. The technique improved the quality of the osteomucosal support of the alveolar ridge and increased the vestibule deepness, whose result increased the success rate of the new conventional total prosthesis.

Anterior tooth rehabilitation with frozen homogenous bone graft and immediately loaded titanium implant using computer-guided surgery.

Computed tomographic scanning is a precise, noinvasive surveying technique that enables the professionals to improve the precision of implant placement by building a prototype that allows the confection of surgical guides. The authors present a clinical case of anterior tooth rehabilitation with frozen homogenous bone graft and immediately loaded titanium implant using computer-guided surgery. A multislice computed tomography was realized, and a prototype was built. All the procedures were previously realized in the prototype before started in the patient. This technique allows a better surgical planning, makes the procedures more accurate, and reduces surgery time.

Compromised primary implant stability.

The aim of this study was to evaluate implants installed with compromised primary stability associated or not with polylactide and polyglycolide copolymer (PLA/PGA). Two 0.4-mm overdrilled defects (3 mm in diameter and 6 mm long) were produced in the right tibia of 25 rabbits. Half of the defects were left untreated, and the other half was filled with PLA/PGA. Implants of 2.6 mm in diameter and 6 mm long were placed into all defects. Animals were killed at 5, 15, 40, and 60 postoperative days, and biomechanical analysis (torque-reverse), histomorphometry, and immunohistochemistry (osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand [RANKL], osteocalcin, and collagen-1 [COL-I] staining) were performed. All the implants achieved osseointegration. There were no statistically significant differences in the torque-reverse and in linear contact extension between bone tissue and implant surface and no statistically significant difference in osteoprotegerin, RANKL, osteocalcin, and collagen-1 expression between the studied groups in all studied periods (P > 0.05). We can conclude that osseointegration can occur in compromised primary implant stability situations, and the addition of PLA/PGA did not improve the osseointegration process in this experimental model.

Intracanal dressing and root canal filling materials in tooth replantation: a literature review.

The prognosis of tooth replantation is usually related to the need of endodontic treatment, which has a direct relationship with the occurrence of root resorptions. Several studies have been undertaken in an attempt to prevent, delay, or treat these complications, which are the main causes of loss of replanted teeth. This literature review examines research evidence on intracanal dressings and root canal filling materials used in cases of tooth replantation. A comprehensive search was performed in the Medline/Pubmed, Bireme and Scielo full-text electronic journal databases to retrieve English-language articles referring to these topics that had been published between 1964 and 2010. Calcium hydroxide (CH) remains the usually recommended choice as an intracanal medicament in replanted teeth; however, there is evidence to support the initial use of a corticosteroid-antibiotic combination such as Ledermix paste to control potential early resorption, prior to the introduction of CH where the beneficial effect in the treatment of progressive root resorption has been well proven. Regarding root filling materials, CH-containing sealers are a good option because of their biological properties. Accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment plan may constitute very complex tasks, particularly in tooth avulsion because several variables are involved. In addition to the technical knowledge and clinical experience directed toward the quality of treatment, patient education may favorably influence the survival of replanted teeth.

Median palatine cyst.

The median palatine cyst is a rare benign nonodontogenic lesion that attacks the median palatine suture. There is controversy about its pathogenesis; however, its origin is generally attributed to the enclavement of epithelial remnants within the palatine suture between the 2 lateral maxillary processes during their fusion in the origin of the hard palate. The purpose of this report was to relate a case of a median palatine cyst, discussing the rarity of the lesion, its pathogenesis, and the different modalities that could be used for the correct treatment of this pathologic entity.

Calcium hydroxide mixed with camphoric p-monochlorophenol or chlorhexidine in delayed tooth replantation.

This study evaluated the repair process after delayed replantation of rat teeth, using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) mixed with camphorated p-monochlorophenol (CMCP), chlorhexidine 2% (CHX), or saline as temporary root canal dressing to prevent and/or control inflammatory radicular resorption. Thirty Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinos) had their right upper incisor extracted, which was bench-dried for 60 minutes. The dental papilla, the enamel organ, the dental pulp, and the periodontal ligament were removed. The teeth were immersed in 2% acidulated-phosphate sodium fluoride solution for 10 minutes. The root canals were dried with absorbent paper cones and divided into 3 groups of 10 animals according to root canal dressing used: group 1: Ca(OH)2 + saline, group 2: Ca(OH)2 + CMCP, and group 3: Ca(OH)2 + CHX 2%. Before replanting, the teeth sockets were irrigated with saline. Histological analysis revealed the presence of inflammatory resorption, replacement resorption, and ankylosis in all 3 groups. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between group 3 and the other groups. The use of Ca(OH)2 mixed with CMCP or CHX did not show an advantage over the use of Ca(OH)2 mixed with saline in preventing and/or controlling inflammatory resorption in delayed replantation of rat teeth.

Uncommon crown-root fracture treated with adhesive tooth fragment reattachment: 7 years of follow-up.

Crown-root fractures account for 5% of all fractures in permanent teeth and can involve enamel, dentin, and cementum. Depending on whether there is pulpal involvement, these problems may be classified as complicated (which are more common) or noncomplicated. The treatment depends on the level of the fracture line, root length and/or morphology, and esthetic needs. Several treatment strategies are available for esthetic and functional rehabilitation in crown-root fractures. Adhesive tooth fragment reattachment is the most conservative restorative option when the tooth fragment is available and the biological width has no or minimal violation. This article reports a case of an uncomplicated crown-root fracture in the permanent maxillary right central incisor of a young patient who received treatment with adhesive tooth fragment reattachment, preserving the anatomic characteristics of the fractured tooth after periodontal intervention. The fracture line of the fragment had an unusual shape, starting on the palatal side and extending to the buccal side subgingivally. After 7 years, the attached coronal fragment remained in position with good esthetics, as well as clinical and radiographic signs of pulpal vitality, periodontal health, and root integrity, thus indicating success.

Resolution of a titanium implant fracture after a recurrent trauma.

Post-traumatic complications occasionally lead to tooth loss as well as the need for future implants. However, rehabilitation with endosseous osseointegrated implants does not protect the patient from the risk of suffering a new trauma. Implant fracture and the damage of the hexagon are post-traumatic complications that guide the clinician to preparing a more intricate treatment plan. The authors present a clinical case of a recurrent trauma of maxillary implant fracture. The treatment plan was to remove the implants followed by autogenous bone grafting to correct the defect. Two titanium implants were replaced, followed by connective tissue graft after allowing complete the healing process of the bone graft to occur. In the postoperative period of 6 months, satisfactory results have been shown as regards soft and hard tissues wound healing.

Crown and crown-root fractures: an evaluation of the treatment plans for management proposed by 154 specialists in restorative dentistry.

Traumatic tooth injuries involve function and aesthetics and cause damage that range from minimal enamel loss to complex fractures involving the pulp tissue and even loss of the tooth crown. Technical knowledge and clinical experience are essential to establish an accurate diagnosis and provide a rational treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of Restorative Dentistry specialists about the management of crown and crown-root fractures based on treatment plans proposed by these professionals for these cases. A descriptive questionnaire was mailed to 245 Restorative Dentistry specialists with questions referring to their professional profile and the treatment plans they would propose for the management of crown and crow-root fractures resulting from dental trauma. One hundred and fifty-four questionnaires were returned properly filled. The data were subjected to descriptive statistics and the chi-square test was used to determine the frequency and the level of the significance among the variables. The analysis of data showed that in spite of having a specialist title, all interviewees had great difficulty in planning the treatments. As much as 42.8% of the participants were unable to treat all types of dental trauma. Complicated and uncomplicated crown-root fractures posed the greatest difficulties for the dentists to establish adequate treatment plans because these fractures require multidisciplinary knowledge and approach for a correct case planning and prognosis.

Integrated treatment to resolve a horizontal root fracture.

Root fractures are defined as those that involve cement, dentin and pulp, comprising from 0.5 to 7% of injuries in permanent dentition. Diagnosis is made through clinical and radiographic exams, the latter frequently being limited by the position of the fracture. Treatment varies according to the displacement and vitality of the fragments. The authors present a clinical case of recurrent trauma of tooth 21 causing a horizontal root fracture in the middle third. After several attempts at endodontic treatment, the option was to remove the apical fragment by surgery. The postoperative period of 4 years shows very satisfactory results with regard to wound repair and tooth mobility, or implantation of the coronal segment.