Antimicrobial photodynamic and photobiomodulation adjuvant therapies for prevention and treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws: Case series and long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) incidence are increasing among elderly. Treatment can be challenging. Prevent or treatment protocols that control evolution of the lesion are warranted. OBJECTIVE: To observe long-term outcomes of two protocols based on photonics [antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and photobiomodulation (PBM)] for prevention and treatment of MRONJ lesions. METHODS: In a prospective study, patients who needed oral surgery and had been exposed to antiresorptive drugs were long-term followed-up. For MRONJ prevention, immediately after tooth extraction aPDT was applied. For aPDT a 0.01 % methylene blue solution was applied inside socket for 5 min followed by irradiation with a diode laser [660 nm, 0.028cm2, 0.1 W, 3.57 W/cm2, 90 s and 9 J per point, 321 J/cm2, at least at in 3 points (laser probe was placed at central, and two equidistant points) and total energy of 27J]. Irradiation was repeated weekly until total tissue repair. MRONJ treatment included preoperative aPDT sessions until signs and symptoms of infection had reduced. Then, after necrotic bone removal, aPDT was applied inside surgical wounds and re-applied weekly until healing. Antibiotics were administered pre or postoperatively for no longer than 7 days. PBM therapy was applied with 808 nm diode laser, 0.028cm2, 0.1 W, 3.57 W/cm2, 30 s, 107 J/cm², 3 J and total energy of 12 J until evidence of remission. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent preventive protocol, and none presented signs of MRONJ after a follow-up of at least 6 months. Seventeen patients presented with MRONJ underwent aPDT protocol and sixteen of them showed total regression of lesions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: aPDT and PBM therapy protocols appear to be effective as adjuvant approach not only for preventing MRONJ development due to tooth extraction but for treating MRONJ lesions at early stages with no adverse effects.

Is low-level laser therapy (LLLT) effective in relieving the symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)? A systematic review / ¿La terapia láser de bajo nivel (LLLT) es eficaz para aliviar los síntomas de los trastornos temporomandibulares (TTM)? Revisión sistemática

ABSTRACT Introduction: LLLT is used in various clinical situations for the relief of postoperative inflammatory symptoms in TMD cases. Many treatment protocols use laser radiation, but there is still no evidence as to whether one of them is superior to all the other. The objective was to establish whether there is evidence that LLLT can reduce the main symptoms of TMDs and to determine the most effective application protocol. Methods: a systematic review of the literature was performed in the main databases: PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, by independent researchers who evaluated studies using different LLLT protocols to treat TMD symptoms, considering specific outcomes such as pain, mouth opening and jaw movements. Results: thirteen studies fully met the eligibility criteria. The most used laser type was GaAlAg, with a wavelength of 830 nm, number of applications ranging from 8 to 10, and 4 weeks of follow-up. Conclusions: LLLT may be considered as an alternative for the relief of TMD symptoms; however, scientific evidence of one of the protocols being superior to the others could not be found.

RESUMEN Introducción: la terapia láser de bajo nivel (LLLT por sus iniciales en inglés) se utiliza en diversas situaciones clínicas para el alivio de los síntomas inflamatorios posoperatorios en casos de trastornos temporomandibulares (TTM). Hay muchos protocolos de tratamiento que utilizan radiación láser, pero todavía no hay evidencia de que alguno sea superior a los demás. El objetivo de la presente revisión sistemática consistió en determiner si hay evidencia de que la LLLT pueda reducir los principales síntomas de los TTM y determinar el protocol de aplicación más eficaz. Métodos: se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura en las principales bases de datos, PubMed, Scopus y Web of Science, por parte de investigadores independientes que evaluaron los estudios utilizando diferentes protocolos de LLLT para tratar los síntomas de los TTM, considerando resultados específicos como dolor, apertura de la boca y movimientos de la mandíbula. Resultados: trece estudios cumplieron plenamente los criterios de elegibilidad. El tipo de láser más utilizado fue GaAlAg, con una longitud de onda de 830 nm, número de aplicaciones que oscilan entre 8 y 10, y 4 semanas de seguimiento. Conclusiones: la LLLT puede considerarse una alternativa para el alivio de los síntomas de los TTM; sin embargo, no se pudo encontrar evidencia científica de que un protocolo sea superior a los demás.

Epidemiology and complications of facial fractures: a 5-year retrospective study / Epidemiología y complicaciones de las fracturas faciales: un estudio retrospectivo de 5 años

ABSTRACT Introduction: regional epidemiological studies involving facial trauma are needed to develop more efficient ways of providing health care services. The time elapsed from the occurrence of facial trauma to its definitive treatment can affect clinical outcomes in terms of interventions, resolution, and complications. The aim of this study was to verify if there is a relationship between the different fracture types, their treatments or time intervals for clinical resolution and the onset of complications. Methods: a retrospective study was conducted by means of the clinical records of the Eugenio Espejo Hospital in Quito, verifying the epidemiological data on the clinical evolution of facial trauma patients between 2012 and 2016, and registering data such as age, gender, fracture type, time elapsed until its definitive treatment, and onset of complications. Clinical records lacking these data were excluded. Results: most cases occurred outside Quito (64%). There was no relationship between harmful habits, fracture displacement, type of access or fixation, or presence of comorbidities and the onset of complications. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for complications was OR = 0.301(0.170-0.536), so there is a 70% increased chance of developing some complications if treatment is performed one week after trauma occurs. Conclusion: reducing facial fractures before a week can decrease the onset of complications and sequelae.

RESUMEN Introducción: los estudios epidemiológicos regionales que involucren trauma facial son importantes para ayudar a desarrollar formas más eficientes de brindar cuidados en salud. El tiempo transcurrido desde que ocurre un traumatismo facial hasta su tratamiento definitivo puede afectar los resultados clínicos en términos de intervenciones, resolución y complicaciones. El objetivo del presente estudio consistió en verificar si existe una relación entre los diferentes tipos de fracturas, sus tratamientos y los intervalos de tiempo para su resolución clínica con la aparición de complicaciones. Métodos: se realizó un estudio retrospectivo con las historias clínicas del hospital Eugenio Espejo de Quito, verificando los datos epidemiológicos de la evolución clínica de pacientes con trauma facial entre el 2012 y 2016. Para ello se tomaron datos como edad, sexo, tipo de fractura, tiempo transcurrido hasta su tratamiento definitivo y aparición de complicaciones. Se descartaron las historias que no tuvieron todos los datos para este trabajo. Resultados: la mayoría de los casos ocurrió fuera de Quito (64%). Se observó que no existe relación entre hábitos nocivos, desplazamiento de fractura, tipo de abordaje o de fijación y presencia de comorbilidades con la aparición de complicaciones. El resultado de razones de probabilidad (intervalo de confianza) para las complicaciones fue de OR=0.301(0.170-0.536); por lo tanto, existe un 70% más de probabilidad de presentar alguna complicación si el tratamiento se realiza después de una semana de ocurrido el trauma. Conclusión: la reducción de las fracturas faciales antes de una semana puede disminuir la ocurrencia de complicaciones y secuelas.

Does Surgical Experience Influence Implant Survival Rate? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the evidence of a correlation between the expertise of surgeons and the survival rate of dental implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search in four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Library) was performed for publications from their inception to May 2016 and was supplemented by manual searches. Prospective and retrospective cohorts were included if they met the following criteria: (1) the presence of an exposed group (inexperienced surgeons); and (2) the presence of a control group (experienced surgeons). Meta-analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of expertise on implant failure. RESULTS: Of 609 potentially eligible articles, 8 were included in the qualitative analysis and 6 in the quantitative synthesis. Two meta-analyses were performed for different definitions of experienced surgeons. In the first meta-analysis, which included four retrospective comparative studies that defined experienced professionals as specialists, the experience of the surgeon did not significantly affect the implant failure rate (P = .54), with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.24 (95% CI, 0.62-2.48). In the second meta-analysis, which included two retrospective studies that defined experienced surgeons as professionals that had placed more than 50 implants, the expertise of the surgeon did significantly affect the implant failure rates (P = .0005), with an OR of 2.18 (95% CI, 1.40-3.39). CONCLUSION: The data from the included publications suggest that surgical experience did not significantly affect implant failure when considering experience based on specialty but were significantly affected when considering experience based on the number of implants placed. Further standardized prospective studies with a control of confounding factors are needed to clarify the role of surgical expertise on implant survival rates.

Mini-Implant Screws for Bone-Borne Anchorage: A Biomechanical In Vitro Study Comparing Three Diameters.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the maximum strength and the maximum aperture supported by mini-implant screws of three different diameters in an in vitro rapid maxillary expander model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen appliances were mounted in artificial bone polyurethane blocks. In each appliance, a Hyrax expander anchored by four mini-implant screw sets of three different diameters were divided into: group 1 (n = 5), 1.8-mm-diameter screws; group 2 (n = 5), 2.0-mm-diameter screws; and group 3 (n = 5), 2.2-mm-diameter screws. All sets (bone blocks + expander + four mini-implants) were inserted into a customized and standardized device that simulated a mid-palate disjunction. The expanders were activated to mechanically test the insertion of the mini-implant into the devices until breakage or deflection of screws occurred. The number of activations, the maximum supported strength, and the maximum expander aperture values until failure were recorded for each group. Data were subjected to a Student t test at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the number of activations up to the maximum supported strength. The expander achieved aperture values where differences were slightly significant just between groups 1 and 2 (P = .048). There was a significant difference between groups 1 and 3 regarding the maximum supported load (P = .039). CONCLUSION: Regardless of the mini-implant screw diameters, the expander device used in this anchorage system model withstood strengths and aperture rates beyond those that may be required during clinical rapid maxillary expansion.