[Patients' experiences with the Forsus appliance].

PURPOSE: To investigate patients' experiences with the Forsus appliance. METHODS: This questionnaire survey was focused on patients' comprehensive experiences with Forsus, both initially and after several months of wearing, including the patients' overall impressions of the appliance. The survey was conducted in 64 patients wearing Forsus. RESULTS: A high percentage of patients(83.7%) reported neutral to favorable experience with Forsus. 85.4% of patients reported gradual adaption to the appliance within 4 weeks. Cheek irritation was the most serious side effect (about 52%). Cheek irritation and other side effect disappeared over time. CONCLUSIONS: The Forsus appliance is relatively well accepted by patients. Most patients experience some discomfort and functional limitations at first. However, the side effect gradually diminishes with time, and the patients adapt to the appliance finally. Practitioners should be especially vigilant about problems of cheek irritation.

Character of distracted bone in irradiated canine mandibles and electrophysiological changes in the inferior alveolar nerve.

Our aim was to explore the character of distracted bone in irradiated canine mandibles and the electrophysiological changes in the irradiated inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). Twelve Chinese dogs were studied, 10 of which were given unilateral irradiation of (60)Co in the mandible with a total dose of 22.8Gy in four 5.7Gy fractions (biologically equivalent to 50Gy/25 fractions) (experimental group). The other two dogs were not irradiated and served as controls. All had a bilateral corticotomy 3 months after irradiation. After a 1-week latency period distraction of the mandible was activated at a rate of 0.5mm twice daily for 10 days, followed by a consolidation phase of 8 weeks. New bone was assessed by radiographic, histological, and single-photon electron computed tomographic (SPECT) analysis. The IAN was analysed electrophysiologically. One dog in the experimental group was excluded from the study with anaesthetic problems. After 8 weeks of consolidation there was no difference between the percentage area of new bone in the two groups. New bone was more mature and organised in the control group than in the experimental group. SPECT analysis showed that there was active osteogenic activity in dogs in the experimental group. The action potential of the IAN showed corresponding changes during the irradiation and distraction processes. We conclude that distraction osteogenesis is feasible in previously irradiated canine mandibles and IAN.