Dental therapy before and after radiotherapy--an evaluation on patients with head and neck malignancies.

The present investigation evaluates the dental care situation of patients with head and neck cancer before and after radiotherapy. The situations of these patients in 1993 and 2005 were compared to detect similarities, differences and developments. In the years 1993 and 2005, 37 and 36 patients, respectively, with head and neck cancer treated by the local departments of otorhinolaryngology and of radiotherapy were examined consecutively according to their aftercare appointments. Time points of radiotherapy treatment of the patients evaluated in 1993 varied from 1984 to 1993. The patients evaluated in 2005 had received radiotherapy between 1998 and 2005. Therefore the applied radiotherapeutic regimen differed not only between the two groups of patients, but also within each group. The information for these investigations was provided anonymously. It was evaluated with descriptive statistics. The evaluation of the data shows distinct differences with respect to preventive and therapeutic dental care measures. In 2005, 35 out of 36 patients (97.2%) had a dental consultation before radiotherapy (1993, 65%). All 27 dentate patients (100%) obtained a splint for fluoride application (1993, none). 29% fewer edentulous patients were seen than in 1993. The number of teeth destroyed decreased from 19.2% (1993) to 7.8% in 2005. Mycoses due to Candida spp. and chronic failures in wound healing were rare (5.5%). In the course of the 12 years, prophylactic measures, such as the application of splints for fluoride treatment, were intensified. However, concepts for the dental care of patients undergoing radiotherapy, especially following the radiation, should be widened to avoid ruined teeth and long delayed wound healings.

Preoperative sterilization and disinfection of drill guide templates.

The aim of the in vitro study was to evaluate the decontamination potential of common antiseptic solutions for heat-sensitive implantological drill guide templates. One hundred implantologists were evaluated on the basis of a questionnaire for their measures of disinfection. On the basis of these results, 80% alcohol, Octenidine 0.1%, and Chlorhexidine 0.12% were tested in an in vitro model for their decontamination efficacy for heat-sensitive plastic material infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The microorganisms were selected on the basis of results of environmental testing of dental laboratories. The results of the questionnaire revealed that Chlorhexidine was used by 30%, 80% alcohol by 23%, and Octenidine by 7% of the dentists. Using the in vitro model, with the exception of S. aureus, Chlorhexidine was not able to completely eliminate the microorganisms after 15 min of application. In contrast, the treatment with Octenidine revealed no further growth of the tested microorganisms after that time. The 80% alcohol was more efficient. No growth of microorganisms could be detected in any of the tests after 5 min of incubation. On the basis of our results and due to the fact that suitable installations for sterilization were hardly used by the dental practitioners, the disinfection of templates should be preferentially performed with 80% alcohol or Octenidine using an incubation time of 15 min with ultrasonication.

Decontamination of rough titanium surfaces with diode lasers: microbiological findings on in vivo grown biofilms.

OBJECTIVES: The bactericidal efficacy of diode lasers has already been demonstrated in vitro. We investigated the reduction of aerobe bacteria - colonizing rough titanium samples in biofilms intraorally grown - by diode lasers of different wave lengths. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two volunteers participated in the trial. They were fitted for 10 days with custom-made intraoral plastic splints carrying titanium sleeves. A part of the sleeves was then irradiated with diode lasers in different modes. The other part remained non-irradiated and served as control. Directly after irradiation, the sleeves were swabbed and the gained bacteria were first examined microscopically and then were cultured under aerobic conditions. RESULTS: The bacteria in the controls and in the treated samples were quantified. A comparison with the controls revealed a marked overall reduction of bacterial colonization in all irradiated sleeves. Continuous irradiation for 20 s reduced bacteria counts by 99.67% at 810 nm and 99.58% at 980 nm. Repeating the 20 s exposure five times reduced counts by 99.98% at 810 nm and by 99.39% at 980 nm. A 98.86% reduction was seen after irradiation in pulsed mode. A further analysis in respect of different isolated bacteria revealed that the streptococci group was reduced by 99.29-99.99%, while the staphylococci group was reduced to a lesser extent in the range 94.67-99.99%. CONCLUSION: The results are of clinical relevance. In comparison with the mean bacterial counts of the untreated samples, all irradiation programs studied in this investigation reduced mean bacterial colonization in a biofilm on intraoral rough titanium surfaces by more than 98%. The actual extent of reduction was dependent on the bacteria species as well as on the irradiation mode.

Traumatic injuries to the primary dentition and effects on the permanent successors - a clinical follow-up study.

This study investigated problems in the permanent dentition that, according to history and records, were attributable to dental alveolar injuries of the primary dentition. 106 children have been involved in the study, who had experienced primary anterior tooth trauma affecting a total of 200 teeth. Thirty-nine patients (81 teeth) were available for follow-up examinations. In 25% of the cases followed up, damage was found on the successors in the secondary dentition (16 children/20 teeth). In half of the cases, a comparatively mild form of lesion like enamel discoloration was observed. This was the result of an injury during the tooth maturation process causing enamel hypoplasia. Clinically more relevant were the dental deformities: cessation of root formation or retention caused by ankylosis, which made up the remaining 50% of cases. This was confirmed by clinical long-term observation. The different effects on the permanent teeth can only be detected by radiography after an interval of several months or may even be clinically assessed only after the eruption of the clinical crown.

Subantroscopic laterobasal sinus floor augmentation (SALSA): an up-to-5-year clinical study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the article was to introduce a new subantroscopic laterobasal sinus augmentation (SALSA) tecnique as a minimally invasive approach to maxillary peri-implant surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SALSA technique consists of the following steps: (1) microsurgical opening of the subantral space (SAS) with detachment of the sinus membrane (SM) under supported videoendoscopy; (2) enlargement of the SAS by laterobasal tunnelling; (3) subantroscopic examination of the SAS with (4) optional reinforcement or repair of the SM; (5) implant site preparation with subantroscopic identification of the cavities; and (6) precise stepwise placement of graft material under endoscopic control. RESULTS: Since 1996, 118 sinus augmentations have been performed on 83 patients using particulate alloplastic augmentation material (tricalcium phosphate) with various amounts of autogenous bone and blood. Mean augmentation height was 8.6 mm (range, 1 to 15 mm). Twenty-eight perforations of sinus mucosa were observed without further complication (1 case of sinusitis was treated and re-augmented endoscopically). Of 211 titanium screw-type implants placed, 11 failures were observed. DISCUSSION: SALSA is a predictable surgical technique. With this minimally invasive method, adequate bone height can be achieved. CONCLUSION: SALSA may offer advantages related to lower morbidity, conservation of bone volume and blood supply, optimized view of the surgical field, and high acceptance by patients.