Tooth sectioning for coronectomy: how to perform?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the increase in heat production, preparation time, and cutting surface quality of conventional, high-speed rotating instruments and piezoelectric preparation for coronectomy procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred intact extracted molars were sectioned horizontally, sub-totally, 1 mm under the cemento-enamel line with five methods: (1) tungsten carbide torpedo (TcT), (2) round (TcR) drills using a conventional speed surgical straight handpiece (< 40,000 min-1), (3) tungsten carbide fissure (TcF), (4) diamond torpedo (DT) drills using a surgical high-speed, contra-angle handpiece (~ 120,000 min-1), or (5) a saw-like piezoelectric tip (PT). Temperatures, preparation times, and cutting surface irregularities were registered and the differences were analyzed with ANOVA, Tukey's HSD post hoc test (temperature, time) and with chi-square test (irregular surface). RESULTS: Rotating instruments produced a maximal temperature increase of less than 1 °C. TcF produced the least heat (ΔT = - 3.92 °C to the baseline), while PT produced significantly the highest temperature increases (ΔT = 12.38 °C, p < 0.001). Tungsten carbide drills were the fastest for coronectomy (from 55.9 to 64.3 s), while DT (169.7 s) while PT (146.8 s) were significantly slower. TcT and TcR drills produced an irregular root surface more frequently. CONCLUSIONS: During coronectomy, rotating instruments produced entirely acceptable heat, while PT produced unacceptable temperatures. Tungsten carbide drills performed coronectomies effectively, but the diamond torpedo and PT seemed clinically questionable. Considering heat, speed, and the cutting surface quality simultaneously, TcF in a surgical high-speed handpiece seems to be the best choice for coronectomy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The correct insert can significantly reduce excessive heat and operation time during coronectomy procedures.

Intraosseous Heat Production and Preparation Efficiency of Surgical Tungsten Carbide Round Drills: The Effect of Coronectomy on Drill Wear.

PURPOSE: The aim of this in vitro study was to examine the effects of surgical drill wear after coronectomy on bone temperature changes and preparation times for bone cavity drilling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tungsten carbide round drills were used to perform 10 (D_10), 20 (D_20), or 30 (D_30) coronectomies on extracted lower third molars to elicit drill wear, and then 5-mm-deep cavities were drilled in pig ribs with a testing apparatus-controlled surgical unit. Temperature changes and preparation times were measured. Differences in mean values were examined with analyses of variance and the Tukey honest significant difference post hoc test. RESULTS: The unused drills prepared the holes significantly faster (2.52 ± 1.6 seconds) than the D_20 (13.29 ± 5.76 seconds) and D_30 (31.48 ± 12.93 seconds) drills (P = .01 and P < .001, respectively). The D_10 (change, 2.33 ± 0.77°C), D_20 (change, 2.57 ± 0.57°C), and D_30 (change, 3.94 ± 0.62°C) drills produced significantly more heat than the D_0 drills (change, 1.18 ± 0.28°C; P < .001). At higher axial pressures of 25 N (to provoke ≤ 3-second preparation times in line with new drills), the D_30 drills produced a temperature change of 6.31 ± 1.23°C with 60 mL/minute and significantly more heat (change, 20.48 ± 8.84°C; P < .001) with 20 mL/minute of irrigation. CONCLUSIONS: Intraosseous heat produced by surgical tungsten carbide round drills remains under the threshold temperature of bone necrosis for up to 30 coronectomies; however, the use of increased axial pressure (∼ 25 N), especially with the combination of decreased irrigation (∼ 33%), can cause unacceptable temperatures during bone removal. Professionals should select drills and drilling parameters that generate an acceptable amount of heat during surgical tooth removal.

[Dental and oral surgical treatment of medication-induced bleeding patients: Audit of the national guideline in Hungary]. / A gyógyszer indukálta vérzékeny betegek fogorvosi, szájsebészeti ellátása: a 2015-ös hazai szakmai ajánlás alkalmazása és értékelése.

INTRODUCTION: In 2015 a new Hungarian guideline was published regarding dental treatment and management of anticoagulated patients in agreement of the Hungarian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Dental Implantology Association of Hungarian Dentists. AIM: The aim of the authors was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of local hemostatic measures recommended by the guideline in anticoagulated patients. METHOD: In these patients, postoperative bleeding episodes were examined after dental and oral surgical treatments, retrospectively. RESULTS: Overall 263 bleeding risk cases were treated; 138 patients with vitamin K antagonists, 97 patients with antiplatelet therapy and 6 patients with novel oral anticoagulants. Six patients (2.3%) had minor postoperative bleeding after the "one hour control", while one patient needed a night duty support (0.5%). In contrast, 86 patients who were treated in rural practices neglecting the guideline attended the night duty with postoperative bleeding (3 patients treated with vitamin K antagonists, 24 patients taking low molecular weight heparin, 30 patients receiving antiplatelet therapy and one patient on novel oral anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The Hungarian guideline can be applied safely, without increasing the risk of postoperative bleeding, however, rural dental practices are frequently unprepared for these treatments. Orv. hetil., 2016, 157(43), 1722-1728.

Proteomic and scanning electron microscopic analysis of submandibular sialoliths.

OBJECTIVES: Several theories have been proposed regarding the genesis of sialoliths, including the organic core theory, which suggests epithelial or bacterial etiology originating in the central core. Our aim was to use novel methodologies to analyze central areas (the core) of calculi from sialolithiasis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The structures of the halves of six submandibular salivary stones were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After structural analysis, from the other six halves, samples from the central parts of the core and peripheral parts of the core were digested with trypsin and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. The peptide mass fingerprints were compared with the results of in silico digestion. RESULTS: SEM analysis of the sialoliths showed that organic structures (collagen/fibrous-like structures, bacterial fragments) were visible only outside of the core in the concentric layers of external areas, but not in the core area. The mass spectrometry (MS)/MS post-source decay experiments were completed from the four, most intense signals observed in the MS spectrum and human defensin was proven to be present in three of the examined samples, originated from the peripheral region of three cores. CONCLUSIONS: Although proteomic analysis demonstrated defensin protein in the peripheral region of the core in three sialoliths, SEM failed to prove organic structures in the core. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: New investigation modalities still cannot prove organic structures in the core, henceforward challenging the organic core theory.

[Study of salivary biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma in patients with type-2 diabetes]. / Nyálból izolált szájüregi laphámkarcinóma biomarkerek vizsgálata 2-es típusú diabéteszes betegekben.

According to the latest epidemiological data the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma has increased recently in the last 4 decades. In spite of the great emphasis and effort in the field of prevention, novel medication therapy, our knowledge has to be enlarged in the development of this serious disease. Recent epidemiological studies and animal experiments have shown that there is a relationship between type-2 diabetes and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Our goal was to screen human saliva samples for possible biomarkers for oral malignancies in diabetic patients.

Digital versus conventional panoramic radiography in predicting inferior alveolar nerve injury after mandibular third molar removal.

The aim of the study was to compare the accuracy of conventional and digital panoramic radiography (OPG) in relation to 4 specific high-risk signs (interruption of the superior cortical line, diversion, narrowing of the canal, and dark band of the root), which would indicate a close anatomic relationship between third molar roots and the inferior alveolar canal.Four hundred mandibular third molar surgical removals after conventional and 272 after digital radiographs were evaluated in the study. The association between postoperative inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) paresthesia and the presence of any preoperative high-risk signs in the OPG was investigated. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were completed to compare the accuracy of conventional and digital radiographic techniques detecting high-risk signs predicting possible IAN paresthesia.Digital OPG results showed significantly higher sensitivity in diversion (P = 0.014) and narrowing (P < 0.002) of the canal, whereas the specificity of these signs was significantly lower (P < 0.001 and P = 0.035). The likelihood ratio analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis did not prove the significant difference between digital and conventional imaging according to the examined high-risk signs. Positive predictive values of the signs were found in conventional radiography between 3.6% and 10.9%, whereas in the digital images, it ranged from 2.9% to 7.9%.The results of this study failed to prove significant difference between the accuracy of digital and conventional OPG for predicting IAN paresthesia, whereas low positive predictive values indicate both imaging techniques as inadequate screening methods for predicting IAN paresthesia after mandibular third molar removal.

Induction chemotherapy response and recurrence rates in correlation with N0 or N+ stage in oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC).

The authors compared N0 with N+ cases in neoadjuvant chemotherapy regression and recurrence. During a 12-year period, 180 consecutive oral squamous cell cancer patients were observed. Of these patients, 78 were N0 and 102 N+ stages. The drugs used were as follows: bleomycin, vincristine, methotrexate, and mitolactol. After three courses of chemotherapy, the regression (complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and no response (NR)) and side effect rate were determined. All patients were operated on and observed for the number and localization of recurrences during 3 year follow-up time. The N0 cases came from T2-3, while N+ was from T2-4a (AJCC 2002). The regression in the N0 group was CR 46%, PR 53%, and NR 1%; but in the N+ group, it was CR 12%, PR 72%, and NR 16%. The regression rate was significantly higher (p = 0.00025) for N0 group than N+ group. The regression rate for T3 N0 was significantly higher (p = 0.055) than for T3 N+ cases. In the N0 stage, the regression rate was significantly higher (p = 0.0174) for T2 than T3. In N+ stage, there was no significant difference (p = 0.183) for T2-4a. The side effects were slight. The recurrence rate for the N0 group was significantly lower (15%, p = 0.000069), while for N+ group, it was 59%. The dependence in the T3 cases was also significant (p = 0.009) in the 3-year tumor-free survival. The N stage seems a more important prognostic factor for chemotherapy response and recurrence rate than the T stage. Stage III can be divided into subgroups without metastasis (III.a) and with metastasis (III.b.), based on significant difference in regression and recurrence rate.

Darkening of third molar roots: panoramic radiographic associations with inferior alveolar nerve exposure.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between the darkening of the root on the preoperative panoramic radiograph and intraoperative inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) exposure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present study, 116 mandibular third molar surgical extraction cases with darkening of the third molar roots on the preoperative panoramic radiographs were selected for a case group, and 193 patients with one or more of the following "high-risk" signs, indicating a close spatial relationship between the root and dental canal, were selected for the control group: interruption of the white line, diversion of the canal, and/or narrowing of the canal. The correlation between the radiographic markers and IAN exposure was estimated using bivariate analysis. RESULTS: The IAN was visible in 47 (15.2%) of 309 intraoperative extractions. Darkening of the third molar roots was significantly associated with IAN exposure (P < .001). Those with both darkening and adjacent "high-risk" radiographic markers present simultaneously had a significantly greater risk of IAN exposure than those with darkening only (P < .001) or any other combination of multiple high-risk factors (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Significant differentiation between isolated darkening and darkening with both adjacent and high-risk signs seems to be essential in predicting IAN exposure.

Application of platysma-based transpositional flap for through-and-through facial defect when the facial artery circulation is blocked or compromised.

PURPOSE: A novel use of site-limited platysma-based transpositional flap is demonstrated and discussed for the reconstruction of facial defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1985 and January 2001, 342 patients were operated on for advanced oral-oropharyngeal and orofacial cancers. In 6 cases, a platysma-based transpositional flap was used for external closure of facial through-and-through defects. Internally, the saved oral mucosa was used in 4 patients and fasciocutaneous forearm free flaps in 2 patients. The facial artery was blocked in all cases. RESULTS: The postoperative course was uneventful except in 1 case, when partial loss of the flap was observed intraorally. The externally used transpositional platysma-based flap showed cosmetic and functional advantages: its consistency, color, and texture were similar to those of the original facial tissues, the area of operation was the same, and the donor site was closed primarily. CONCLUSION: The site-limited platysma-based myocutaneous transpositional flap is usable and safe even in those cases in which circulation of the facial artery is damaged or local vascular compromise has occurred and the facial through-and-through defect is extended. The facial reconstruction described is one of several applicable reconstructive methods that may be chosen for special facial defects. The method is not applicable when the neck is radically operated on (radical neck dissection) and/or irradiated. No similar use of platysma-based transpositional flaps has been reported thus far.

[The specific panoramic radiographic signs and their relation with inferior alveolar nerve injuries after mandibular third molar surgery]. / A jellegzetes panorámaröntgen-jelek szerepe a nervus alveolaris inferior sérülések várható megítélésében alsó bölcsességfogak eltávolításakor.

The aim of the authors was to describe the classic specific panoramic signs (indicating a close spatial relationship between dental canal and third molar's root) on panoramic radiographic images and determine their role in the risk assessment, predicting inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) paresthesia after lower third molar removal. The authors represented an informative case, where the IAN was visible during the surgery. The exact knowledge of classic panoramic radiographic signs should help the determination of "high risk" cases predicting IAN paresthesia after mandibular third molar removal. The authors keep panoramic radiography rather a routine than the most superior diagnostic tool in third molar surgery.

The Influence of Genetic Syndromes on the Algorithm of Cleft Lip and Palate Repair - A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine if the treatment algorithm used for nonsyndromic cleft patients required alteration to manage syndromic cleft lip and/or palate patients. Methods: The records of patients managed by the Pécs Cleft Team between January 1999 and December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The sources of the data included clinical and genetic records. Results: A total of 607 patients were managed by the cleft team during the study. Sixteen patients (2.6%) were noted to be afflicted with a particular identifiable syndrome. Seven different genetic syndromes and one sequence were present in the study. The Pierre Robin sequence occurred most often, comprising 50% of the cohort. The treatment algorithm used in managing nonsyndromic clefts required modification in 13 of the 16 syndromic patients. Discussion: The presence of a genetic syndrome may notably affect the treatment algorithm in children born with cleft lip and/or palate. The surgical treatment of certain associated anomalies has by necessity, priority over the timing of the reconstruction of the cleft lip and/or cleft palate in syndromic patients.

[The role of panoramic radiography in assessing the risk of injury to the inferior alveolar nerve before the extraction of mandibular wisdom teeth. The effect of the extent of root curvature and inferior alveolar canal-root tip overlap on the risk assessment]. / A panorámaröntgen szerepe a nervus alveolaris inferior sérülések várható kockázatában alsó bölcsességfogak eltávolítása elôtt. A gyökérgörbület és a gyökércsúcs-canalis mandibulae átfedésének hatása a rizikóbecslésre.

The aim of the present study was to determine on panoramic radiographic images the effect of the distance between the root curvatures and inferior alveolar canal (IAC) root tip overlap on the surgeon's risk assessment predicting inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) paresthesia after lower third molar removal. In this case-control study 41 cases with postoperative IAN paresthesia and 359 controls without any postoperative complications were involved. Demographic data, root curvatures and the extent of IAC-root tip overlap were registered. The cases of major curvature--larger than 90 degrees (P=0.015; odds ratio [OR]=2.65), the "deepest" superimposition (P<0.001; OR=1.96), female gender (P=0.020) and increased age (P=0.008) were significantly associated with IAN paresthesia. Assessing root curvatures and the extent of IAC-root tip overlap for predicting IAN paresthesia after mandibular third molar removal should help to improve risk assessment.

Salivary IL-6 mRNA is a Robust Biomarker in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Salivary IL-6 mRNA was previously identified as a promising biomarker of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We performed a multi-center investigation covering all geographic areas of Hungary. Saliva from 95 patients with OSCC and 80 controls, all Caucasian, were collected together with demographic and clinicopathological data. Salivary IL-6 mRNA was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. Salivary IL-6 protein concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. IL-6 protein expression in tumor samples was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Normalized salivary IL-6 mRNA expression values were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with OSCC (mean ± SE: 3.301 ± 0.885) vs. controls (mean ± SE: 0.037 ± 0.012). Differences remained significant regardless of tumor stage and grade. AUC of the ROC curve was 0.9379 (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 0.8973-0.9795; sensitivity: 0.945; specificity: 0.819). Salivary IL-6 protein levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients (mean ± SE: 70.98 ± 14.06 pg/mL), than in controls (mean ± SE: 12.45 ± 3.29). Specificity and sensitivity of IL-6 protein were less favorable than that of IL-6 mRNA. Salivary IL-6 mRNA expression was significantly associated with age and dental status. IL-6 manifestation was detected in tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, suggesting the presence of a paracrine loop of stimulation. Salivary IL-6 mRNA is one of the best performing and clinically relevant biomarkers of OSCC.

[Submandibular sialolith: case report and review of the literature]. / Nagyméretü submandibularis nyálkö és sialo-oralis fistula Esetismertetés és irodalmi áttekintés.

Sialolithiasis is a common disease of the salivary glands and a major cause of salivary gland dysfunction. The dominance of submandibular sialoliths is widely investigated. Giant stones (>15 mm) are rare, approximately every tenth or twelfth of the stones belong to this category. Sialo-oral or sialo-cutaneous fistula formation promotes the growth of an excessive size. In their presentation, the authors would like to introduce the diagnostic and therapeutic process of a giant (27 mm) submandibular sialolith and give a review of the literature.

Recommended Drilling Parameters of Tungsten Carbide Round Drills for the Most Optimal Bone Removals in Oral Surgery.

BACKGROUND: High temperatures during drilling can cause thermal osteonecrosis and abnormal wound healing. According to our best knowledge, a widely accepted recommendation for optimal drilling parameters in routine oral surgery bone removals does not exist. PURPOSE: Our aim was to investigate the correlations of different drilling parameters, including axial load and revolution speed on drilling temperatures and preparation times. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standard, 5 mm deep cavities were drilled in 20 PCF (lb/ft3) dens polyurethane blocks with 3 mm (50PCF) cortical layer using new and worn, 3.1mm in diameter tungsten carbide round drills. Worn drills were used in 50 impacted third molar operations before. Axial loads of 3N, 10N, and 25N and speeds of 4.000-8.000-16.000-40.000 revolutions per minute (rpm) were tested. Temperature differences of drilling parameters were calculated by 1-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's HSD post hoc tests. Time differences and differences among "optimal" and "suboptimal" groups (with the cut-off value of 3°C and 3s) were estimated by Kruskal-Wallis test with pairwise comparisons. P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The highest mean temperatures with new and worn drills were 4.64±0.53°C and 6.89±1.16°C, while drilling times varied between 0.16±0.02s and 22.77±5.45s. A 3°C and 3s cut-off value classified drillings significantly to (1) optimal [3N and 8000-16000-40000 rpm or 10N and 4000-8000-16000-40000 rpm] or suboptimal due to (2) high temperatures or (3) long preparation times. Using worn drills, the following parameters should be avoided: 3N with 4.000-8.000 rpm, 10N with 40000 rpm, and 25N at any revolutions. DISCUSSION: The study extensively mapped the drilling temperatures and preparation times of tungsten carbide round drills. Temperatures did not exceed 10°C during drillings with maximal amount of cooling, as well as the drilling parameters, which kept temperatures and preparation times in the most optimal range which were clearly established.

[Diagnostic value of radiographic and ultrasonic examinations in patients with sialoadenitis and sialolithiasis]. / Röntgen- és ultrahang-vizsgálatok értékelése sialoadenitises és sialolithiasisos betegcsoportokban.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic role of the native x-ray and ultrasonography (US) in sialoadenitis and sialolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a period of 30 months 52 patients were selected in a study group with lithiasis and adenitis of the major salivary glands. Panoramic and either occlusal plain radiographs (sublingual and submandibular cases) or anteroposterior "blowed out" bucca and intraoral bucca radiographs (parotid cases), and US were taken of all patients. Further investigations, such as CT, MRI or FNAB were performed to discover probable differential diagnostic problems. RESULTS: The sensitivity of US for salivary stones was 75.0%, for inflammation was 77.4%. The sensitivity of x-ray for salivary stones was 60.7%. The cumulative effectiveness of x-ray and US for sialolithiasis was 91.3%. In the remaining two cases of sialolithiasis, CT supported the earlier diagnosis. In sialoadenitis, twice FNAB, four times MRI verified the supposed diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the advantages of CT and MR evaluations, sonography and native x-ray seems to keep their priorities as diagnostic methods, because they are cost-effective and easily available in dento-alveolar surgical practice. The lack of intraductal imaging ability might be considered as one of the major disadvantages in evaluation of possible diagnostic alternatives.

Intracanal temperature changes during bone preparations close to and penetrating the inferior alveolar canal: Drills versus piezosurgery.

PURPOSE: The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate temperature increases in the inferior alveolar canal (IAC), when different bone preparation methods approximate and penetrate the IAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In pig mandible, buccal bone removals were performed until the neurovascular bundle became visible. Temperatures were registered with thermocouple probes and with infrared thermometer. Preparations were performed with diamond drills (DD), tungsten carbide drills (TCD), piezoelectric diamond sphere (PT_D) and saw (PT_S) tips, and a combined preparation method was also performed whereby the superficial three-fourths of the bone was removed with TCD and the deepest one-fourth of the bone with PT_D (TCD + PT_D_7 °C) or PT_S (TCD + PT_S_7 °C), using cooled irrigation (7 °C). RESULTS: Preparations using room temperature irrigation caused significantly less heat on the bone surface than in the IAC. Piezosurgery in the IAC produced significantly higher temperatures (>13 °C) than the drills (<4 °C). Heat productions of the piezoelectric tips were reduced significantly by applying the combined bone removal methods. The speed of PT_S and TCD + PT_S_7 °C were comparable to the speed of TCD, whereas TCD + PT_D_7 °C was found to be significantly slower. CONCLUSION: The speed of piezosurgery is comparable to that of the drills; however, it produces the highest, potentially nerve-harming temperatures. To eliminate the heat consequences during piezosurgery in the IAC, the use of cooled irrigation at 7 °C and predrilling is recommended.

A randomized study to assess the effectiveness of orally administered pilocarpine during and after radiotherapy of head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: This prospective randomized study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of oral pilocarpine chloratum (Salagen) during and after radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 1999 and December 2003, 66 patients received 60 Gy of irradiation to their head and neck cancer. Half of the patients received 5 mg oral pilocarpine 3 times a day from the beginning of radiotherapy over a period of 12 weeks. The control group received similar doses of pilocarpine only in the second 6 weeks following irradiation. Patient saliva secretion was recorded, and a visual analog scale measuring overall and daily xerostomia, difficulty in sleeping, speaking, eating and wearing dentures was employed. RESULTS: Pilocarpine, given concomitantly with radiotherapy, statistically improved the salivary flow and induced better patient comfort by the end of radiotherapy. Patient comfort and symptoms related to xerostomia greatly decreased compared to patients receiving pilocarpine after irradiation in the second 6-week period of therapy. The patients' quality of life, saliva production and symptoms related to xerostomia showed significant progress by the end of the 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that stimulated salivary glands suffer less decrease in saliva production during radiotherapy. The stimulated saliva flow reduced the side-effects of irradiation.

Submental endotracheal intubation in concurrent orthognathic surgery: a technical note.

INTRODUCTION: Achieving the necessary occlusion for orthognathic surgery is not possible with conventional oral intubation since the tube interferes with the occluding teeth. Sometimes nasotracheal intubation is impossible due to developmental malformations requiring repair. Also, the oral or nasotracheal tube may interfere with the operation or may be damaged during the procedure. In 1986, Hernandez Altemir described a method of submental endotracheal intubation. His intentions were to avoid tracheostomy in maxillofacial trauma cases where short-term intermaxillary fixation was required. PATIENTS: Between January 2000 and May 2003, 13 patients were operated on, using submental intubation. Eight of these (three females and five males) had surgery for orthognathic malformations. METHODS: The Hernandez Altemir technique was modified to ease the procedure: a sterile nylon guiding tube and the '222 rule' incision were introduced. Eight cases with concurrent complex orthognathic surgery, using this modified technique are reported in this paper. RESULTS: There were no operative or postoperative complications related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: The technique is easy to use, rapid and free of complications compared to 'alternative' intubation methods (tracheostomy, retromolar location of tube, etc.). Submental scarring is acceptable. It is recommended for orthognathic procedures in selected cases.

[Age estimation of children in south-western Hungary using the modified Demirjian method]. / Dél-dunántúli gyermekek kormeghatározáisa a módosított demirjian-módszer alapján.

The biological age of a child, in contrast to his or her chronological age, may be described in terms of skeletal or dental maturity, the development of secondary sex characters etc. These factors can be applied separately or together to assess the degree of physiological maturity of a growing child. The determination of this physiological age and its correlation to the chronological age is of importance within many fields, such as archaeology, forensic medicine, endocrinology, orthodontics etc. Dental maturity was studied on 203 panoramic radiographs, taken between 1985 and 1995, of healthy Hungarian children aged 2.9 to 17.5 years from the south-west Transdanubian part of Hungary. The revised method of Demirjian was used for determination of the maturity score of each individual. For each tooth a score (on a scale A-H) was given according to the radiographic development, from first appearance of calcification to the closure of the apex. This score was then transformed into a self-weighted maturity score for the dental stages (0-19.3) as presented in the paper. The individual scores were then added giving a total maturity score (0-100). This total maturity score represents the biological maturity of the child and may then be compared with the known chronological age. The total maturity scores of the Hungarian population was plotted against the chronological (real) age, and a curve was fitted using the Lowess method of locally weighted least-square method. Our results show that each population needs its own standards. Hungarian boys and girls are approximately 1 year ahead of their French-Canadian counterparts at the age of 6-8. At older ages, the difference decreases. Similar to other studies, we found high individual variance up to 2 years, in tooth development, in the Hungarian population.