Effects of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Neurosensory Deficits on Quality of Life.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of temporary or persistent neurosensory disturbance of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) on the quality of life using Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. METHODS: The patients with the neurosensory deficit of the IAN that was confirmed by subjective and objective neurosensory tests formed the study group. The patients who had dental or oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures in the same unit and did not present neurosensory deficit were matched with the study group according to their gender and age and were presented as the control group. Both groups filled OHIP-14 questionnaire. RESULTS: This study included 200 patients (122 female and 78 male), aged between 18 and 75 years. Kolmogrov-Smirnov, Levene, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis. In study group, the average OHIP-14 scores were higher in women than in men in physical pain and handicap subgroups. There were significant differences between study and control groups in functional limitation, psychological discomfort, psychological disability, and handicap subgroups. The OHIP-14 scores were higher in study group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the patients with the neurosensory deficit of the IAN have a poorer quality of life than those without neurosensory deficits.

Is Low-level laser therapy and gaseous ozone application effective on osseointegration of immediately loaded implants?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of biostimulation lasers and ozone therapy on osseointegration of immediately loaded implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 100 implants (DTI Implant Systems) were applied to 25 patients evenly. Temporary crowns were applied to each patient on the same session as the surgery. Implants were divided into four treatment groups (Group 1: low-level laser therapy (LLLT) group, Group 2: ozone therapy group, Group 3: different protocol of ozone therapy group, and Group 4: control group) each with 25 implants. The irradiations were performed with a gallium-aluminum-arsenide diode low-level laser (Laser BTL-4000) to Group 1. Ozone therapy was performed using an ozone generator (OzoneDTA) with an intraoral probe to Group 2 and Group 3. RESULTS: In this study, the overall implant survival rate was 92% after a 6-month observation period. The implant stability quotient values were found significantly higher in Group 1 (LLLT group) and Group 3 (different protocol of ozone therapy group) than the other groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in Group 2 (ozone therapy group) and the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that both LLLT and ozone therapy with prolonged application time are promising methods to enhance bone healing around immediately loaded implants and increase implant stability; however, there is a need for more studies on this subject for these methods to become routine applications.