Growth factor-mediated vertical mandibular ridge augmentation: a case report.

Posterior vertical alveolar ridge deficiencies are challenging defects to treat predictably and often require autogenous bone-harvesting procedures. Traditional treatment modalities, eg, guided bone regeneration, distraction osteogenesis, and autogenous grafts, present with a number of potential complications and limited success when used to restore vertical ridge height. Recent advances in recombinant growth factor technology may provide viable, alternative therapies for the treatment of significant alveolar ridge deficiencies. This proof-of-principle case report examines the utility and effectiveness of using a composite graft of freeze-dried bone allograft and recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor BB in conjunction with an overlying titanium mesh to regenerate well-vascularized bone in a significant posterior mandibular ridge defect prior to implant placement. The important role of the overlying periosteum as a possible key source of osteogenic cells during growth factor-enhanced regenerative procedures is emphasized.

Supramandibular canal portion superior to the fossa of the submaxillary gland: a tomographic evaluation of the cross-sectional dimension in the molar region.

PURPOSE: Within the fossa of the submaxillary gland (FSG), there is a portion superior to the mandibular canal (SMCP) that can affect implant placement. Our study evaluated this specific portion's prevalence and its average dimensional difference between the first and the second molar regions in a dental implant population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 112 patients' mandibular cone beam computerized tomography scans, the SMCPs of the FSG's horizontal and vertical dimensions in the first and second molar positions on both sides were digitally measured. RESULTS: The SMCP of the FSG is larger in the second molar region than in the first molar region in >90% of cases. Average differences were 2.3 mm horizontally and 2.7 mm vertically. Gender difference and intraindividual's left/right variation were both clinically less significant in magnitude than the difference between the molar regions. Taking the 2-mm safety margin above the mandibular canal into consideration, the SMCP of the FSG remained high in prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The SMCP of the FSG may complicate implant placement more in the second molar region than in the first. Implant planning in the posterior mandibular molar regions should include a SMCP of the FSG evaluation using computer tomography especially in the second molar region.

Laser raman spectroscopy as a potential chair-side microbiological diagnostic device.

INTRODUCTION: Culture-dependent and -independent techniques are time-consuming processes requiring highly trained personnel to identify microorganisms contained within a sample. Rapid chair-side identification of microorganisms could reduce the lag time between patient presentation and ideal treatment. As a first step toward this goal, this study aims to determine if laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS) can discern uniqueness among 10 different species of bacteria contained within a medium in unprocessed and processed samples. METHODS: Ten bacterial species were individually grown on blood agar plates for 3 days. Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization was used for species verification. For the unprocessed samples, a 1.0-cm diameter agar sample, with undisturbed bacterial growth, was transferred for each species to a barium fluoride crystal (BaF(2)) slide and laser scanned for a total of 15 seconds per sample. For the processed samples, bacterial cells were harvested, washed, and resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline buffer at 10(9) cells/mL concentration. Each suspension was laser scanned for 15 seconds on a BaF(2) slide. Select regions of Raman spectra for each species/agar and species/suspension combination were processed using a two-sided t test. RESULTS: For the 10 bacterial species, 45 bacteria pair combinations were tested for each group. In both groups, LRS was capable of statistically distinguishing among a majority of bacterial pairings based on RS signature differences of means. CONCLUSIONS: Results show each bacterial species generated restricted ranges of unique spectral signatures that were not masked by their containing medium. Chair-side LRS is a promising technique that differentiates among oral bacterial species with a high degree of specificity.