Radionuclide bone scanning in the diagnosis and management of condylar hyperplasia.

Four patients with maxillo-mandibular facial dysharmony and four controls were evaluated by 99Tcm-MDP (methyl diphosphonate) scintiscanning. The scintiscans in all patients with dysharmony showed positive uptake of the tracer indicating the increased degree of activity in the condylar region of the mandible. The significance of this is discussed.

Atraumatic removal of teeth and root fragments in dental implantology.

A technique that facilitates the removal of teeth or retained root fragments without traumatizing the alveolar bone of the socket is described. This technique may be employed whenever such extractions are envisaged, but it is particularly important when the subsequent placement of dental implants is planned.

In vitro and in vivo studies with collagen/hydroxyapatite implants.

There is limited literature describing the early events that follow subperiosteal suprabony implantation of particulate hydroxyapatite (HA)/collagen composite grafts. This paper investigates, both in vitro and in vivo, the influence of a water-based environment on compressed collagen fiber cylinders and compressed HA/collagen blocks. Following subperiosteal extrabony implantation of an HA/collagen block, the HA particles were not retained within the original dimensions of the preformed dry block. The separation of the particles was related to the expansion of collagen on hydration and to the amount, degree of cross-linking, and degree of compression of the collagen.

Soft occlusal splint therapy in the treatment of migraine and other headaches.

Fifty-seven patients suffering from migraine, tension headache or tension vascular headache were prescribed a soft occlusal splint for night-time wear. Dental, psychosocial/psychiatric and neurological data were recorded prior to commencement of therapy and at the conclusion of a 3 month treatment period. A statistically significant number of patients presenting with migraine or tension vascular headache experienced marked improvement or complete relief of headache symptoms, but most patients suffering from tension headache failed to benefit from splint therapy. A majority of patients displaying intercurrent features of craniomandibular dysfunction experienced reduction in these symptoms also. There was a statistically significant association between TMJ improvement and headache type. Prior to treatment, patients who subsequently benefited from splint therapy in terms of headache improvement had experienced significantly fewer headaches than patients who failed to respond, although headache intensity and duration were similar in both groups. It is suggested that headache type and frequency may be prognostic indicators of the likely success of dental splint therapy in treatment of headache. Nevertheless, the use of occlusal splints in the treatment of patients complaining of headache in the absence of evidence of craniomandibular dysfunction should not be embarked upon until medical examination has excluded the possibility of organic neurological disorder.

Histopathological and scintigraphic features of condylar hyperplasia.

This investigation was undertaken to correlate the scintigraphic and histological features of condylar hyperplasia to identify consistent diagnostic findings. A series of 34 surgically excised condyles were examined from a 5 year period. Of these, 20 were diagnosed clinically and histologically as condylar hyperplasia. In 18 of these the presentation was one of increasing facial asymmetry. In all 20 cases there was an increased uptake of Technetium 99 as determined by gamma scintigraphy. The thickness of the fibrous articular layer, undifferentiated germinal mesenchyme layer and the hyperplastic cartilage layer were measured using an eyepiece graticule and the presence and frequency of islands of cartilage in the subchondral bone were noted. 7 patients received tetracycline hydrochloride 14 and 4 days pre-operatively in an attempt to quantify the calcification rate. An uninterrupted layer of undifferentiated germinal mesenchyme is a consistent feature of condylar hyperplasia. An increased uptake on scintigraphy is proportionally related to the thickness of the hypertrophic cartilage and not only to the presence but also the frequency of cartilage islands in the subchondral bone.

Alternative management of a crown root fractured tooth in a child.

A crown root fracture of a tooth in a young person may necessitate the removal of the root and the placement of a space-maintaining partial denture followed by provision of a bridge. A case is reported of an alternative approach to treatment, in which the root fragment is retained in situ until the end of the pubertal growth spurt, in order to preserve alveolar bone, following which it is removed and replaced by an implant.

A survey of oral implantology teaching in the university dental hospitals and schools of the United Kingdom and Eire.

AIM: To provide an overview of the currently available academic teaching and clinical training in oral implantology at the university dental schools and hospitals of the United Kingdom and Eire. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to the dean or director of dental studies and forwarded to the respective units involved in the academic teaching and clinical training of oral implantology. The setting was the university dental hospitals, and dental schools of the UK and Eire. Information was collected between July 1997 and March 1999. The main outcome measures were course availability, duration and emphasis for undergraduate and postgraduate study in the clinical discipline of oral implantology. The units or departments responsible for training and teaching were identified and formal degree courses were distinguished from non-degree courses. RESULTS: All institutions replied to the survey. All university dental schools provide undergraduate training in oral implantology in accordance with the guidelines provided by the General Dental Council. However, the courses vary with regard to the departments involved and the level of student participation. Thirteen centres provide informal postgraduate training with the duration ranging from one to eighteen days. Just eight centres provide formal academic graduate training based on oral implantology leading to recognised degrees. CONCLUSION: All university dental schools provide undergraduate teaching in oral implantology. Most centres also provide informal postgraduate training based on oral implantology. However, opportunities for academic graduate training, leading to recognised qualifications in this subject, appear limited at present.

A comparison of two splints in the treatment of TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome. Can occlusal analysis be used to predict success of splint therapy?

Controversy surrounds the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome (TMJPDS). This is also reflected in the widely divergent recommendations in splint design. A study was undertaken to examine the comparative success rates of treatment by two occlusal splints with apparently diametrically opposed modes of action and to determine whether there were any factors which could be utilised to predict the success of splint therapy. Sixty-eight TMJPDS patients were randomly distributed into one of two comparable groups and were treated solely with an occlusal splint for night time wear. One group was treated with a stabilisation splint (SS) and the other with a localised occlusal interference splint (LOIS). The success rate at review with the SS was 67.6% and with the LOIS was 80.9%. This difference was not statistically significant. Pretreatment occlusal analysis demonstrated three indicators of successful splint therapy which appeared to be independent of design. These were the absence of centric relation occlusion, the existence of non-working side interferences and an absence of ideal anterior guidance.

The immediate or delayed replacement of teeth by permucosal intra-osseous implants: the Tübingen implant system. Part 1. Implant design, rationale for use and pre-operative assessment.

No single implant system is applicable to all clinical problems which may be treated with implants. Clinicians who wish to develop expertise in the field of dental implantology should decide which clinical situations they wish to treat with implants and then receive an appropriate level of instruction in the use of systems which have been shown, in refereed literature, to be successful in the treatment of such problems. The Tübingen implant system has been in clinical use for more than 13 years, following preliminary basic research and animal studies, and is supported by an extensive literature. It is applicable primarily to the immediate or delayed replacement of individual teeth which are subsequently to be restored with a post crown. It may also be used in other situations, such as in combination with bridge restorations. This is the first of two papers which describe in detail the range of applications, patient selection and assessment, and the surgical and restorative techniques involved in its use.

The immediate or delayed replacement of teeth by permucosal intra-osseous implants: the Tübingen implant system. Part 2: Surgical and restorative techniques.

The previous paper emphasised the importance of case selection in determining success in the use of the Tübingen implant system. Adherence to strict clinical techniques has an equally important influence on implant success and failure. This paper describes the surgical and restorative techniques involved in the use of the Tübingen implant and comments on the authors' initial experiences with this system.

Physiotherapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders: a comparative study of four treatment methods.

Temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome (TMJPDS) comprises of a constellation of signs and symptoms including joint tenderness and pain on function, restricted jaw movement, clicking, jaw locking and tenderness in the muscles of mastication. Headache may also be a feature. Physiotherapy is commonly employed in the treatment of this condition but there is little published material reporting the relative efficacy of the different types of treatment currently available. Further, no attempt seems to have been made to compare the costs of physiotherapy with other forms of treatment of this disorder such as occlusal splint therapy. This paper reports a comparative evaluation of four different physiotherapy treatments and placebo in the management of TMJPDS and comments on their cost benefit aspects compared with that of splint therapy. The four methods of physiotherapy tested were short-wave diathermy, megapulse, ultrasound and soft laser. There was no statistically significant difference in success rate between any of the four tested (range 70.4-77.7%) although each individually was significantly better than placebo treatment. The time of improvement appeared to vary between the four methods.

The significance of small wounds of the eyelids.

A case of a small eyelid wound associated with a retained foreign body within the orbit is presented. The significance of small eyelid lacerations in relation to minor initial clinical signs and possible serious late complications is discussed, and suggestions are made for management of all such injuries.

Supplemental mandibular condyle.

A case of supplemental mandibular condyle is presented and possible aetiological factors are discussed. The value of computed tomography and of scintigraphy in the diagnosis of such cases is illustrated and surgical and histological details of an excised supplemental condyle are presented for the first time.

An unusual epithelial neoplasm of gingiva resembling the keratoacanthoma.

An unusual, tumour-like mass protruding from labial and palatal gingivae and surrounding the unerupted canine in a 12-year-old child is described. Clinically, the lesion was felt to be aggressive but histologically, the most likely diagnosis was keratoacanthoma, probably of the nodulovegetating type. Following excision of the mass, healing has been uneventful. Whether or not the histological diagnosis of keratoacanthoma is accepted, rather than an unusual odontogenic neoplasm, this case illustrates the existence of an entity comprising well-differentiated islands and cysts of squamous epithelium with a rapid growth pattern.

Clinical and experimental studies with a resorbable transosseous ligature.

Transosseous wire ligatures are used to oppose bone fragments during healing. Thereafter, such ligatures serve no function, and either remain permanently in the tissues or are removed by a second surgical procedure. This paper reports clinical and experimental studies with polydioxanone (PDS--Ethicon Ltd.), on the basis of which it is introduced as an alternative to stainless steel wire in some cases of transosseous fixation.

Organisms isolated from severe odontogenic soft tissue infections: their sensitivities to cefotetan and seven other antibiotics, and implications for therapy and prophylaxis.

Cefotetan is a new cephamycin antibiotic characterised by excellent B-lactamase stability and anti-anaerobe activity, coupled with a long half life of 3-4 h which permits twice daily dosage. A clinical trial of cefotetan in the treatment of severe oro-facial infections is presented, together with a detailed analysis of the causative organisms and their sensitivities to eight antibiotics. 50/50 patients achieved clinical cure with a treatment regime comprising cefotetan therapy and incision and drainage, with patients being transferred to oral cephradine for the final phase of therapy. Side effects were minimal and there were no instances of relapse. Significant resistance among alpha-haemolytic streptococci and bacteroides organisms to penicillin was observed. The streptococci were resistant due to mechanisms other than beta-lactamase production. In the light of these findings and the reports of other workers it is suggested that penicillin V may no longer be the most appropriate drug for endocarditis prophylaxis, despite the most recent recommendations of the American Heart Association. Furthermore, if penicillin V is used for this purpose, a penicillin free interval of 6-8 weeks may be inadequate before this drug is used. Cefotetan is not suitable for prophylaxis against endocarditis.

Alveolar ridge augmentation using a new design of inflatable tissue expander: surgical technique and preliminary results.

Ridge augmentation with particulate hydroxyapatite (HA) is compromised by the propensity for the HA particles to disseminate throughout any surgically created space within the tissues. Several techniques designed to overcome this problem have been described, including the use of inflatable tissue expanders. Some of the residual problems related to this technique are attributable to aspects of expander design and surgical technique. This paper which describes a new design of tissue expander which is completely submerged in use, also describes in detail the surgical technique associated with it. Preliminary results are discussed.

Three-dimensional CT reformations in the assessment of congenital and traumatic cranio-facial deformities.

Standard radiography and computed tomography (CT) produce two-dimensional representations of anatomical structures under investigation. Recent developments in computer software now enable the production, from a series of conventional CT sections, of three-dimensional images of complex anatomical structures thus providing an opportunity for improved diagnosis and treatment planning.

The effects of positioning variations in transcranial radiographs of the temporomandibular joint: a laboratory study.

The relationship of the mandibular condyle to the articular fossa and eminence as seen on transcranial oblique lateral (TOL) radiographs of the temporomandibular joint is used by some clinicians as an important diagnostic sign and indicator of treatment. The literature is divided on the validity of this. The aim of this study was to consider the effects of variations in both the position of the joint and the X-ray beam orientation on the image seen on TOL radiographs. TOL radiography of a mounted block specimen of a human temporomandibular joint and associated tissues was carried out using a range of specimen rotations (+20 degrees to -20 degrees with respect to the sagittal plane) and X-ray beam angulations (20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees). Analysis of tracings of the joint images showed that most of the parameters measured varied by statistically significant amounts with changes in either specimen rotation or beam angulation. It is concluded that any convention which purports to evaluate the position of the mandibular condyle in relation to the articular fossa from TOL radiographs is invalid when the orientation of the condyle to coronal and horizontal planes is unknown.

Experience with ITI osseointegrated implants at five centres in the UK.

Experience with the two-part ITI titanium implant system at five centres in the UK is reported. A total of 461 implants were inserted in 176 patients, who received 189 prostheses. Criteria for the assessment of success following implantation are listed. Results over a 3-year period showed a success rate of 94% when implants were used for mandibular overdentures and crown and bridge prosthetics. A lower success rate in the edentulous maxilla was recorded.