Reduction of Bacterial Proliferation by Zirconium Collar in Dental Implants

The peri-implant bacterial colonization is one of the current major problems facing dental implants with no actual protocols for prevention. The use of zirconium for bacterial eradication has already been reported and discussed in the dental literature. In this study we evaluated for the first time the ability of a "hybrid" dental implant model \u2013 where the implant collar is made out of titanium and zirconium - to reduce the peri-implant bacterial colonization, using traditional implants from the same manufacturer as controls. The results of microbiological analysis and the evaluation of the classic parameters of an implant success confirmed that, in all the 30 patients in this study, the zirconium collar had a vital role in reducing peri-implant bacterial colonization, and that the "hybrid" implants show lower plaque index values, less bleeding and less marginal bone loss than the traditional implants. Our data therefore suggest that a zirconium collar can effectively reduce the bacterial colonization around a titanium implant favoring a better long-term prognosis

Drug Loaded Gingival Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (GinPa-MSCs) Inhibit In Vitro Proliferation of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been widely investigated both for regenerative medicine and their antinflammatory/immunomodulatory capacity. However, their ability to home pathological tissues suggested the development of strategies for using MSCs as carrier to deliver drug into tumor microenvironment. MSCs obtained from different tissues can be loaded in vitro with anti-cancer drugs by a simple procedures. In this report, we studied MSCs isolated and expanded from gingival papilla (GinPa-MSCs), by testing their ability to uptake and release three important anti-neoplastic drugs: Paclitaxel (PTX), Doxorubicin (DXR) and Gemcitabine (GCB). The efficacy of drugs releasing GinPa-MSCs was studied on a pancreatic cancer cell line and confirmed in vitro against a line of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC154). Our results demonstrated that GinPa-MSCs efficiently incorporate the drugs and then released them in active form and in sufficient amount to produce a dramatic inhibition of squamous cell carcinoma growth in vitro. If compared with other MSCs sources, the collection of GinPa-MSCs is poorly invasive and cells can be easily expanded and efficiently loaded with anti cancer drugs. In particular, gemcitabine loaded GinPa-MSCs provide a good "cell-mediated drug delivery system" for a future potential application in the context of the oral oncology

Case Report Dental Abnormalities in Pituitary Dwarfism: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Hypopituitarism is a disorder caused by a reduced level of trophic hormones that may be consequent on different destructive processes. The clinical manifestations depend on the type of hormone involved. A deficiency of growth hormone (GH) in children causes the lack of growth known as pituitary dwarfism. The case is reported of a patient with pituitary dwarfism, multiple dental anomalies, functional prosthetic problems, and a revision of the literature. She was subjected to prosthetic rehabilitation without surgical intervention, using zirconium substructures, thus eliminating the potential complications that may require trauma surgery. The therapeutic approach adopted led to excellent results and restored an aesthetic smile

In vitro determination of the mechanical and chemical properties of a fibre orthodontic retainer

The aim of this study was to analyse, in vitro, the chemical and mechanical properties of a new fibre retainer, Everstick, comparing its characteristics with the requirements for an orthodontic retainer. Chemical analysis was used to examine seven fibre bundles exposed to a photocuring lamp and then to different acids and resistance to corrosion by artificial saliva fortified with plaque acids. The mechanical properties examined were tensile strength and resistance to flexural force. Ten fibre samples were tested for each mechanical analysis and the mean value and standard deviation were calculated. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to evaluate change in weight after treatment in each group. To determine changes over time between the groups for each acid considered separately, both repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) on original data and on rank transformed data were used. If the results were different, ANOVA on rank-transformed data was considered. Acetic acid was found to be the most corrosive and caused the most substance loss: both pure and at the salivary pH value. Hydrofluoric acid was the most damaging. For all acids analysed in both groups (lactic, formic, acetic, propionic), changes after treatment were statistically different between two groups (P < 0.001 for lactic, acetic, propionic; P = 0.004 for formic acid).The mean Young's modulus value was 68 510 MPa. Deformation before the fibre separated into its constituent elements (glass fibre and composite) was 3.9 per cent, stress to rupture was 1546 MPa, and resistance to bending was 534 MPa. The deflection produced over a length of 12 mm was 1.4 mm. The fibre bundle was attacked by acids potentially present in the oral cavity; the degree of aggressiveness depending on the acid concentration. To preserve fibre bundles long term, careful plaque control is necessary, especially in the interproximal spaces, to avoid acid formation. The tested product was found to be sufficiently strong to oppose flexural and occlusal forces

Nonsebaceous lymphadenoma of salivary gland: report of a case with immunohistochemistry and review of the literature

Objective. Nonsebaceous lymphadenomas are rare, benign neoplasms. We emphasize the role of immunohistochemistry and attempt to elucidate the pathogenesis, investigating the distribution of two transcription factors, MYC and BLIMP1. Study Design. A 70-year-old man was evaluated for a 3 cm, left parotid mass. Ultrasound-guided fineneedle aspiration biopsy findings were suggestive of a diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma. A left superficial parotidectomy was performed and based on histopathology a diagnosis of lymphadenoma, nonsebaceous type, was rendered. Results. The tumor was positive for AE1/3, CKA, Bcl2, P63, CD79a, CD3 and MYC; focal positive for CK7 and EMA; negative for CD10, Calponin, CD117 and BLIMP1. Conclusions. The rarity and its superficial resemblance to commoner salivary-gland tumors may present a diagnostic challenge for pathologists. The expression of MYC in the ductal component and the differentiation-related expression of PRDM1 in the superficial keratinizing layers, point to a role for these two transcription factors in the pathogenesis of this neoplasm

Diode laser Surgery on Schwannoma of the tongue: Case Report

Schwannomas are neign neoplasms originating from neural sheath, occuring most often in the soft tissue of the head and neck region. We report a casee treated with laser 830-810 and describe the clinical microscopical and immunohistochemical feature

Dental Abnormalities in Pituitary Dwarfism: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Hypopituitarism is a disorder caused by a reduced level of trophic hormones that may be consequent on different destructive processes. The clinical manifestations depend on the type of hormone involved. A deficiency of growth hormone (GH) in children causes the lack of growth known as pituitary dwarfism. The case is reported of a patient with pituitary dwarfism, multiple dental anomalies, functional prosthetic problems, and a revision of the literature. She was subjected to prosthetic rehabilitation without surgical intervention, using zirconium substructures, thus eliminating the potential complications that may require trauma surgery. The therapeutic approach adopted led to excellent results and restored an aesthetic smile

Ameloblastic carcinoma in a young patient

Owing to the rarity of publications describing ameloblastic carcinoma, little is known about this entity in pediatric patients. To our knowledge, malignant transformation from an odontogenic cyst into an ameloblastic carcinoma in a pediatric patient has not been documented to date. We present the case of a 14-year-old boy in whom a large osteolytic lesion associated with an impacted right maxillary third molar germ was fortuitously detected by orthopanoramic radiography. With a preoperative clinical-radiographic diagnosis of odontogenic cyst, the patient underwent surgical enucleation of the lesion. Histologic evaluation rendered a diagnosis of follicular cyst with a focal area of ameloblastic carcinoma. The literature addressing ameloblastic carcinoma is reviewed

Zygomatic implant placement with flapless computer-guided surgery: A Proposed clinical protocol

PURPOSE: The aim of the present report is to describe a procedure for zygomatic implant placement using image-guided implant surgery. This is an innovative technique and includes a new clinical approach to provide the direction to guide drilling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethical committee of the University of Genoa approved the study. All patients had clinical indications of severe maxillary atrophy (Class 4 Cadwood-Howell). A total of 25 implants were placed, of which 17 were in the premaxilla, 7 in the zygomatic area, and 1 in the pterygoid bone. The treatment was performed in 2 phases. The first phase included cone-beam acquisition to exclude sinus disease and evaluate the anatomy of the residual premaxillary bone in 3 dimensions. The success of osseointegration achieved by the primary implants (PIs) was confirmed after temporary loading and before proceeding with the second phase, in which all patients were scheduled for zygomatic implants. A total of 3 or 4 regular platform MK III implants (17 in all) were placed in the premaxilla using conventional implant surgery. A model within the analogs of the PIs was prepared (master model), taking a conventional impression. Next, a radiologic template was prepared on the same master model and stabilized on the PIs, using dedicated prosthetic components. The guide was screwed onto the PIs during computed tomography acquisition to determine a fixed and repeatable position of the guide. In the second phase, after routine planning, a mucosa-supported stereolithographic SurgiGuide with sleeves for the zygomatic implants and the corresponding stereolithographic model, including the mucosa, were received from the manufacturers. The guide was repositioned on the master model to replace the sleeves for the PIs in the same position. With an original customized surgical kit, including an innovative intrasinus device, we next simulated surgery on the stereolithographic model to determine and control the direction of the osteotomies and the final depth of drilling. The SurgiGuide was anchored onto the PIs before the zygomatic osteotomy, after which flapless surgery was performed to place the zygomatic implants according to the plan. RESULTS: Two PIs in the premaxillary area failed (and were replaced before the zygomatic step). No zygomatic implants failed. The follow-up examinations at 4 to 39 months showed good esthetic, phonetic, and functional results. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the proposed surgical procedure appear to be encouraging. Although it is difficult to achieve the correct driven angle of osteotomies for zygomatic implants, in all patients we achieved correct zygomatic positioning, in agreement with previous planning. Additional research and randomized clinical trials are needed to assess the predictability of the procedure