Surgical treatment of ankyloglossia using an ophthalmic topical anesthetic and a tentacannula for tongue elevation: a case report

Ankyloglossia is characterized by the presence of a short lingual frenum that can be inserted from the alveolar ridge to the lingual apex and, until promoting a true fusion of the tongue to the floor. A short lingual frenum can generate several problems such as phonetic disorders. Objective: To describe a surgical technique for the treatment of ankyloglossia using a topical ophthalmic anesthetic and a tentacannula for tongue elevation. Case report: A 15-year-old female was referred for lingual frenulum surgery due to speech impairment. Clinical examination revealed the presence of ankyloglossia which was both hindering the pronunciation of T, D, L phonemes and reducing tongue mobility. The surgical technique chosen was a lingual frenectomy. An ophthalmic topical anesthetic was initially applied to the lateral borders of the frenum with the patient in an upright position and in the presence of adequate aspiration. With the aid of a tentacannula the tongue was raised and the frenulum gradually released with a Goldman-Fox serrated scissor. The topical anesthetic was continuously trickled onto the surgical site during surgery. Results: No postoperative pain was reported by the patient, healing occurred normally and there was no recurrence of abnormal frenulum insertion. Conclusion: The advantages of this technique in comparison to conventional methods which use infiltrative anesthesia include less trauma and a more precise evaluation of tongue movements during surgery, because there will be better control of mobility for the patient when compared to infiltrative techniques.

Introdução: A anquiloglossia caracteriza-se pela presença de um freio lingual curto que pode inserir-se desde o rebordo alveolar até o ápice lingual e, até promover uma verdadeira fusão da língua ao assoalho. Um freio lingual curto poderá gerar vários problemas como distúrbios fonéticos. Objetivo: descrever uma técnica cirúrgica para tratamento da anquiloglossia utilizando um anestésico tópico oftálmico e uma tentacânula para elevação da língua. Relato do caso: Uma paciente com 15 anos de idade foi encaminhada para cirurgia do frênulo lingual devido ao comprometimento da fala. O exame clínico revelou a presença de anquiloglossia, dificultando a pronúncia dos fonemas T, D, L e, reduzindo a mobilidade da língua. A técnica cirúrgica escolhida foi a frenectomia lingual. Um anestésico tópico oftálmico foi aplicado inicialmente nas bordas laterais do freio com o paciente na posição vertical e na presença de aspiração adequada. Com o auxílio de uma tentacânula, a língua foi elevada e o frênulo foi gradualmente liberado com uma tesoura serrilhada Goldman-Fox. O anestésico tópico foi continuamente gotejado para o local cirúrgico durante a cirurgia. Resultados: Nenhuma dor pós-operatória foi relatada pelo paciente, a cicatrização ocorreu normalmente e não houve recorrência da inserção anormal do frênulo. Conclusão: As vantagens dessa técnica em comparação aos métodos convencionais que utilizam anestesia infiltrativa, incluem menor trauma e uma avaliação mais precisa dos movimentos da língua durante a cirurgia, pois haverá um melhor controle da mobilidade do paciente quando comparado às técnicas infiltrativas.

Cement-retained prostheses increase risk of peri-implantitis when compared to screw-retained prostheses

Peri-implantitis is a dental plaque-associated inflammatory process characterized by bone crest resorption and the formation of peri-implant pockets. Plaque accumulation around implants is influenced by the quality of adaptation between the implant and its prosthetic components, which, in turn, may be dependent on the type of prosthetic system used. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cement-retained implant prostheses are greater risk factors for peri-implantitis than screw-retained prostheses, due to cementation line, which is located in the subgingival portion, serving as a local secondary etiological factor. 107 implants of 25 patients (with 32 cement-retained and 75 screw-retained prostheses) in function for a minimum of 6 months were evaluated based on peri-implant probing depth, bleeding on probing and radiographic bone loss. Overall, peri-implantitis was diagnosed around 63 implants (58.88%) of which 81.2% with cement-retained prostheses and 49.3% with screw-retained prostheses. Chi-Square analysis revealed a significant ass ociation between the use of cement-retained prostheses and the presence of peri- implantitis (p=0.004). Moreover, radiographic bone loss was greater around implants with cement-retained prostheses than in those with screw-retained configurations (2.39 and 1.84mm respectively, p= 0.001, Student t test). These results suggest that cement-retained prostheses increase both radiographically detectable bone loss around implants and the risk of peri-implantitis.

Influence of light-curing units and restorative materials on the micro hardness of resin cements.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of indirect restorative materials (IRMs) and light-curing units (LCUs) on the micro hardness of dual-cured resin cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 36 cylindrical samples (2 mm thick) were prepared with dual-cured resin cement (Relyx ARC) photo-activated with either a QTH (Optilight Plus) for 40s or a LED (Radii) light-curing unit for 65s. Photo-activation was performed through the 2-mm- thick IRMs and the samples were divided into six groups (n=6) according to the combination of veneering materials (without, ceramic and indirect resin) and LCUs (QTH and LED). In the control group, the samples were light-cured with a QTH unit without the interposition of any restorative material. Vickers micro hardness test was performed on the top and bottom surfaces of each sample (load of 50 g for 15 secs). The data were statistically analyzed using a three-way ANOVA followed by Tukey x s post-hoc test ( P < 0.05). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences on the top surface between the light curing-units ( P > 0.05); however, the LED provided greater hardness on the bottom surface when a ceramic material was used ( P < 0.05). The mean hardness in photo-activated samples, in which there was no interposition of indirect materials, was significantly greater ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It may be concluded that the interposition of the restorative material decreased the micro hardness in the deeper cement layer. Such decrease, however, was lower when the ceramic was interposed and the cement light-cured with LED.

Evaluation of the buccal vestibule-palatal diffusion of 4% articaine hydrochloride in impacted maxillary third molar extractions.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vestibular-palatal diffusion of 4% Articaine with epinephrine 1:100,000 and 1:200,000, in impacted maxillary third molar extractions, without palatal injection. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Two hundred teeth were selected from patients age 15 to 46. Patients were divided into 4 groups: 1A, were anesthetized with 4% articaine 1:100,000 and the surgery was initiated 5 minutes following anesthesia. 1B, used 4% articaine 1:100,000 but the surgery was started 10 minutes after anesthesia. 2A, used 4% articaine 1:200,000 the surgery was started 5 minutes after. 2B, used 4% articaine 1:200,000 but 10 minutes was allowed for anesthetic diffusion before the initiation of in groups (50 extractions each) only buccal vestibule anesthesia was initially administered (i.e. no palatal injections were used). RESULTS: The rate of sufficient vestibule-palatal diffusion, as determined by the lack of necessity of supplemental palatal anesthesia, was: 1A(84%), 1B(98%), 2A(78%), 2B(82%). Chi-square (Chi2) and residual analyses showed that a higher vestibule-palatal diffusion was obtained using 4% articaine 1:100,000 with a period of 10 minutes (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the extractions could be performed only with vestibule anesthesia. However, vasoconstrictor concentration and the time interval between administration of the anesthetic and initiation of surgery did influence buccal vestibule-palatal diffusion of 4% articaine in the extraction models used.