Why Is Mandibular Third Molar Coronectomy Successful Without Concurrent Root Canal Treatment?

PURPOSE: Coronectomy is performed to avoid injury to the inferior alveolar nerve when mandibular third molars (M3s) in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve are indicated for extraction. Concern has been raised regarding the fate of submerged roots with exposed pulp tissue and whether this will serve as a nidus for infection. The study purpose was to answer the following clinical question: Among patients undergoing coronectomy, do those treated with concurrent root canal treatment (RCT), when compared with those not treated with RCT, have a decreased frequency of postoperative infections? The specific aims of this study were to 1) perform a comprehensive review to compare postoperative infection rates in M3 coronectomies with and without concurrent RCT and 2) review relevant animal and human studies pertaining to pulpal physiology as it relates to coronectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a comprehensive review to identify controlled studies that compared outcomes of M3 coronectomies with and without concurrent RCT published through January 2020. Studies included in the sample needed to meet the following criteria: 1) studies published in English, 2) human studies, and 3) studies that reported the postoperative infection outcomes. The predictor variable was concurrent RCT at the time of coronectomy. The outcome variable was postoperative infection. RESULTS: The database search identified 107 publications for initial review. After application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final sample included only 1 publication. The frequencies of postoperative infection with and without concurrent RCT were 87.5% and 12.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The one study identified for detailed review showed that RCT at the time of coronectomy does not decrease the frequency of postoperative infections. This result supports the recommendation that it is unnecessary to perform concurrent RCT on M3 roots that are retained. The finding that intentional submersion of roots does not require RCT also is supported by multiple animal and human studies.

What is the risk of future extraction of asymptomatic third molars? A systematic review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our report was to determine clinically whether young adults who elect to retain their asymptomatic third molars (M3s) have a risk of undergoing 1 or more M3 extractions in the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address our clinical question, we designed and implemented a systematic review. The studies included in the present review were prospective, had a sample size of 50 subjects or more with at least 1 asymptomatic M3, and had at least 12 months of follow-up data available. The primary study variables were the follow-up duration (in years) and the number of M3s extracted by the end of the follow-up period or the number of subjects who required at least one M3 extraction. The annual and cumulative incidence rates of M3 removal were estimated. RESULTS: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The samples sizes ranged from 70 to 821 subjects, and the follow-up period ranged from 1 to 18 years. The mean incidence rate for M3 extraction of previously asymptomatic M3s was 3.0% annually (range 1 to 9%). The cumulative incidence rate for M3 removal ranged from 5% at 1 year to 64% at 18 years. The reasons for extraction were caries, periodontal disease, and other inflammatory conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative risk of M3 extraction for young adults with asymptomatic M3s is sufficiently high to warrant its consideration when reviewing the risks and benefits of M3 retention as a management strategy.

Corticosteroids decrease pain, swelling and trismus.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, Medline and Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, CENTRAL. Limited to English language. STUDY SELECTION: Randomised control trials comparing preoperative steroids (in any formulation, dose or route) with placebo or no treatment in patients of any age, having extraction of one or more impacted third molars (under local or general anaesthesia or with intravenous sedation). DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two authors reviewed titles and abstracts of all articles to select those that met the inclusion criteria. The studies were classified by active principles, doses and treatment administration route. No meta-analysis was conducted and a tabular descriptive summary was presented. RESULTS: There were 28 studies (one meta-analysis and 27 randomised control trials) included in the descriptive account and from which conclusions were drawn. CONCLUSIONS: The use of corticosteroids in third molar extractions reduces the degree of trismus and inflammation. Parenteral administration seems to be more effective than oral administration as does taking the corticosteroids before rather than after surgery. Further comparative studies using different corticosteroids, doses and administration routes are needed to establish the most effective regime for reducing pain, trismus and inflammation after extraction of third molars.

Buprenorphine therapy: an increasing challenge in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Suboxone is a 4:1 mixture of buprenorphine and naloxone and Subutex is buprenorphine alone. The high affinity µ-receptor binding of buprenorphine (Suboxone and Subutex) renders other opioids ineffective. Inadequate procedural sedation, inadequate analgesia, and significant drug interactions complicate the treatment of patients taking Suboxone or Subutex. Careful planning and an understanding of buprenorphine pharmacology can minimize potential perioperative complications in patients taking Suboxone or Subutex.

Radiographic tips on predicting inferior alveolar nerve exposure.

SUBJECTS: The study included 230 patients (60% female) with a total of 423 wisdom tooth extractions. The patients were treated by 2 oral surgeons between July 1998 and July 2002 in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. GOLD STANDARD: The authors reported that the extraction was inspected for evidence of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) exposure under direct vision using a headlight. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS: Each tooth was inspected for the presence of any of the following 5 radiographic signs: MAIN RESULTS: No IAN exposures occurred when all 5 radiographic signs were absent. Based on this study, where 189 M3 had such a radiographic presentation, we can conclude that the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for the IAN exposure is 1.6%. None of the 5 diagnostic markers, when used in isolation, had adequate sensitivity and specificity to accurately predict an IAN nerve exposure in a clinical setting.

The relationship of denosumab pharmacology and osteonecrosis of the jaws.

Denosumab is a new bone antiresorptive agent that has received approval by the Food and Drug Administration for use in patients with osteoporosis and metastatic cancer to the bones. Like the bisphosponates that are used as antiresorptive medications, denosumab has been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ). However, because the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of denosumab differ from that of the bisphosphonates, ONJ related to denosumab may resolve more rapidly with a drug holiday than bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). This paper describes the management of a patient who developed ONJ while receiving denosumab, reviews the incidence of ONJ associated with denosumab, and compares the pharmacology of denosumab and the bisphosphonates. Because the effects of denosumab on bone turnover are more rapidly reversible than the effects of the bisphosphonates, ONJ related to denosumab may resolve more quickly with a drug holiday than BRONJ.

Laryngeal mask airways have a lower risk of airway complications compared with endotracheal intubation: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether, in patients undergoing general anesthesia, those provided with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) have a lower risk of airway-related complications than those undergoing endotracheal intubation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of randomized prospective controlled trials was done to compare the risk of airway complications with an LMA versus an endotracheal tube (ETT) in patients receiving general anesthesia. Two independent reviewers identified 29 randomized prospective controlled trials that met the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data for each individual outcome measure were combined to analyze the relative risk ratios (RRs). The Cochrane RevMan software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: When an ETT was used to protect the airway, a statistically significant greater incidence of hoarse voice (RR 2.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55 to 4.34), a greater incidence of laryngospasm during emergence (RR 3.16, 95% CI 1.38 to 7.21), a greater incidence of coughing (RR 7.12, 95% CI 4.28 to 11.84), and a greater incidence of sore throat (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.11) was found compared with when an LMA was used to protect the airway. The differences in the risk of regurgitation (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.27 to 2.59), vomiting (RR 1.56, 95% CI 0.74 to 3.26), nausea (RR 1.59, 95% CI 0.91 to 2.78), and the success of insertion on the first attempt (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.18) were not statistically significant between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: For the patients receiving general anesthesia, the use of the LMA resulted in a statistically and clinically significant lower incidence of laryngospasm during emergence, postoperative hoarse voice, and coughing than when using an ETT. The risk of aspiration could not be determined because only 1 study reported a single case of aspiration, which was in the group using the ETT.

Open reduction with internal fixation of moderately displaced mandible fractures is not a cost-effective alternative to closed reduction with maxillomandibular fixation.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Do the benefits of rigid internal fixation of mandible fractures justify the added costs? Results from a randomized controlled trial. Shetty V, Atchison K, Leathers R, Black E, Zigler C, Belin TR. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2008;66(11):2203-12. REVIEWER: O. Ross Beirne, DMD, PhD. PURPOSE/QUESTION: In patients with moderately severe mandible fractures, does open reduction with internal fixation result in fewer complications than closed reduction with maxillomandibular fixation? SOURCE OF FUNDING: Government: National Institute of Drug Abuse and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1: Good-quality, patient-oriented evidence. STRENGTH OF RECOMMENDATION GRADE: Level B: Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence.

Off-label use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) for reconstruction of mandibular bone defects in humans.

PURPOSE: The off-label use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) for the treatment of mandibular bone defects was evaluated in 5 patients. The rhBMP-2 was used as an alternative to autogenous bone grafting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 5 patients had mandibular defects reconstructed with rhBMP-2, 1.5 mg/mL, soaked collagen sponges alone or in combination with bone marrow cells and allogenic cancellous bone chips. Four of the patients had mandibular continuity defects and the fifth patient had 2 large bone cavities following removal of dentigerous cysts. Radiographs and clinical examinations were used to evaluate healing. The longest patient follow-up was 22 months after reconstruction. RESULTS: Radiographic and clinical assessments revealed bone regeneration and restoration of the mandibular defects in 3 of the 5 patients. The rhBMP-2 failed in 2 patients with continuity defects. Both patients with failed rhBMP-2 grafts were successfully repaired using autogenous harvested from the iliac crest. CONCLUSION: Mandibular bone defects can be successfully reconstructed using rhBMP-2 soaked sponges with and without including bone marrow cells and allogenic bone. Further studies are needed to determine the ideal combination of components that will predictably and reliably regenerate bone in different types of bone defects.

Walker repair of the temporomandibular joint: a retrospective evaluation of 117 patients.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the outcome of a high condylar shave with meniscal repositioning (Walker repair) in patients with internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Changes in incisal opening, pain level, chewing ability, and preoperative TMJ symptoms (tinnitus, vertigo, and crepitus) were evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of 202 patients undergoing the Walker repair was completed using a questionnaire. A total of 117 patients responded to the questionnaire. Preoperative and postoperative examination findings, subjective questionnaire results, and panorex radiographs were analyzed. RESULTS: The Walker repair resulted in a statistically significant (P < .001) decrease in pain by an average of 5.6 points on a scale of 0 to 10. The procedure also improved incisal opening by an average of 5.8 mm (P < .001). Improvements of 69% in tinnitus, 72% in vertigo, and 66% in crepitus were documented. Patients evaluated their motion, diet, comfort, and overall improvement; each area was rated as good or excellent by more than 90% of patients. The overall success rate for the Walker repair was 86%. CONCLUSIONS: The Walker repair is an effective surgical treatment for internal derangement that significantly decreases pain level and increases incisal opening. No statistically significant difference in the success rate between unilateral and bilateral procedures was noted.

Prevention of alveolar osteitis with chlorhexidine: a meta-analytic review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess if chlorhexidine (CHX) rinse decreases the occurrence of alveolar osteitis (AO) following third molar removal. STUDY DESIGN: A literature search identified 7 randomized prospective clinical trials reporting incidence of AO following removal of mandibular third molars. Studies were combined into 2 groups and summary relative risks were calculated for each group. One group of studies evaluated rinsing on the day of surgery only and the second group of studies rinsed at least on the day of surgery and several days after surgery. RESULTS: The relative risk for the single rinse group was 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80, 2.33), P>.05, whereas for the multiple rinse group, the relative risk was 1.90 (95% CI 1.46, 2.47), P<.05. CONCLUSION: Rinsing with CHX on the day of surgery and several days after may reduce the incidence of AO.