Role of Autologous Platelet Gel (APG) in Bone Healing: A Rabbit Study

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence and efficacy of autologous platelets on bone regeneration in a rabbit defects model. Materials and Methods: A total of 12 critical size tibial defects were produced in six New Zealand rabbits: A total of six defects were filled with autologous platelet gel (APG) and six defects were maintained as untreated controls. No membranes were used to cover the bone osteotomies. The histology and histomorphometry were performed at four weeks on retrieved samples of both groups. Results: No complications were reported in any of the animals nor for the defects produced. A significantly higher lamellar and woven bone percentage was reported for the APG group with a lower level of marrow spaces (p < 0.05). Evidence of newly formed bone was found in the superficial portion of the bone defect of APG samples where no aspects of bone resorption were observed. Conclusions: The evidence of the present research revealed that APG increases new bone formation restricted to the cortical portion and induces more rapid healing in rabbit bone defects than in untreated defects

A Full Computerized Workflow for Planning Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion and Orthognathic Surgery in a Skeletal Class III Patient

: In the present case report, we present and discuss the digital workflow involved in the orthodontic/orthognathic combined treatment of a skeletal malocclusion correction in a 17-year-old male patient affected by a skeletal class III, facial asymmetry, sagittal and transversal deficiency of the medium third of the skull, dental crowding, and bilateral cross-bite. The first stage of the treatment involved surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion and occlusal decompensation, using fixed self-ligating appliance. An orthodontic software package (i.e., Dolphin 3D Surgery module) was used to perform virtual treatment objective evaluation by integrating data from cone beam computer tomography acquisition, intraoral scan, and extraoral photographs. The software allowed a comprehensive evaluation of skeletal, dento-alveolar, and soft-tissue disharmonies, qualitative and quantitative simulation of surgical procedure according to skeletal and aesthetic objectives, and, consequently, the treatment of the malocclusion. Using a specific function of the software, the surgical splint was designed according to the pre-programmed skeletal movements, and subsequently, the physical splint was generated with a three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. Once a proper occlusal decompensation was reached, a Le Fort I osteotomy of the maxilla and a bilateral sagittal surgical osteotomy of the mandible were executed to restore proper skeletal relations. The whole treatment time was 8 months. The orthodontic/orthognathic combined treatment allowed to correct the skeletal and the dental imbalance, as well as the improvement of facial aesthetics. Accordingly, the treatment objectives planned in the virtual environment were achieved. Virtual planning offers new possibilities for visualizing the relationship between dental arches and surrounding bone and soft structures in a single virtual 3D model, allowing the specialists to simulate different surgical and orthodontic procedures to achieve the best possible result for the patient and providing an accurate and predictable outcome in the treatment of challenging malocclusions

Diode Laser Clinical Efficacy and Mini-Invasivity in Surgical Exposure of Impacted Teeth

The gold standard to arrange impacted teeth in the dental arch is represented by a surgical approach followed by orthodontic traction force application. In literature, many surgical approaches are proposed to reach such scope. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate how laser technique could positively assist surgical approaches. Study population was composed by 16 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment of twenty impacted teeth. In ten cases (population A) surgical exposure of the impacted teeth was performed using a 980 nm diode laser, while in the other ten cases (population B), surgical incision was performed using a traditional lancet. Only three patients of the population A needed local anesthesia for surgical procedure while the remaining seven patients reported only faint pain during surgery. Two patients referred post-surgical pain (NRS scale average value = 2) and needed to take analgesics. None of the patients showed other post-surgical side effects (bleeding, edema). All population B patients needed infiltrative anesthesia and referred post surgical pain (NRS scale average value > 4) treated with analgesics. Moreover, in such population, four patients referred lips edema while four showed bleeding and six needed surgical sutures of soft tissues. The lack of side effects of laser surgical approach to expose impacted teeth must persuade dental practitioners to choose such clinical approach to closed surgical approach every time it is possible

A simple score for evaluation of the complexity of third-molar extractions

This article proposes a simple preoperative score to evaluate the complexity of tooth extractions of the third mandibular molar and to estimate the time involved

Eradication of hairy mouth after oncological resection of the tongue and floor mouth using a diode laser 808 nm. Postoperative pain assessment using thermal infrared imaging

Vascularized soft tissue flaps are often harvested from hair-bearing areas, such as the radial forearm or anterolateral thigh, making their use in oral reconstruction problematic due to postoperative hair growth. The presence of intact hair follicles in free tissue transfer and continued hair growth at the recipient site can result in difficulties with oral hygiene, intraoral irritation, food trapping, and patient distress. This study was to evaluate the intraoral efficacy and safety of a diode laser 808 nm when used for hair removal

Prosthetic Complications Affecting Single-Tooth Morse-Taper Connection Implants

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term cumulative implant survival rate (CISR%) and cumulative implant\u2013crown success rate (CICSR%) of single\u2013tooth Morse\u2013taper connection implants, with particular attention to documenting the incidence of prosthetic complications. Methods: The customized records of all patients who had been treated with single\u2013tooth Morse\u2013taper connection implants in two dental centers during the period between January 2002 and December 2012 were revisited. These records included patient\u2013related (gender, age at surgery, smoking, bruxism), implant\u2013related (date of insertion, site/location and length/diameter of the implant, previous/concomitant bone regeneration) and restoration\u2013related (date of delivery of the provisional and final crown) information. In addition, these records contained information about any implant failure and biologic and/or prosthetic complication that occurred during the follow\u2013up period as well as the radiographic documentation. The follow\u2013up period comprised between 5 and 15 years. The main outcomes were CISR% and CICSR%, with the latter being defined as the condition in which no complication had affected the surviving implant\u2013supported crown during the entire follow\u2013up. Life\u2013table analysis was used for the analysis of CISR% and CICSR%. Peri\u2013implant marginal bone resorption (PIMBR) at 5, 10, and 15 years was a secondary outcome of this study. Results: In total, 578 patients who had received 612 implants were included in this study. The overall CISR% at 15 years was 94.8% (94.2% maxilla, 95.3% mandible). Among the surviving crowns, the overall CICSR% at 15 years was 94.5% (93.1% and 94.9% for anterior and posterior crowns, respectively) and the incidence of prosthetic complications was low (1.5%). PIMBL amounted to 0.38 \ub1 0.29 mm, 0.49 \ub1 0.35 mm, and 0.94 \ub1 0.58 mm, at the 5\u2013, 10\u2013, and 15\u2013year follow\u2013ups, respectively. Conclusions: Morse\u2013taper connection implants represent a reliable treatment procedure for the restoration of single\u2013tooth gaps in the long term, with high CISR% (94.8%) at 15 years, a very low incidence of complications, and a high CICSR% (94.5%)

Short Implants: Analysis of 69 Implants Loaded in Mandible Compared With Longer Implants

OBJECTIVES: In the last decade, several studies have reported that short implants achieve excellent results with a 2-stage technique. According to the literature, short dental implants have often been used for the replacement of teeth. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 69 short implants (Bone System) were inserted in the posterior mandibular area (41 in males, 28 in females, with a median age of 55 years and an age ranging from 41 to 70 years). RESULTS: Mean loss of bone levels at 1 year was 0.20\u200a\ub1\u200a0.03\u200amm, mean changes in bone levels for periods longer than 1 year was 0.07\u200amm. Survival rate (SRR) of short implants was 98.5%. CONCLUSION: This study showed no complications in short implants and they could represent predictable solutions for the rehabilitation of atrophic posterior mandible to avoid complementary surgical procedures

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty With Voltaic Arc Dermabrasion

The aging to the upper eyelid complex includes skin laxity, resulting in rhytids, orbicularis oculi hypertrophy, and pseudohermitian of orbital fat and nowadays a high number of patients seeking cosmetic surgery. Excess and laxity of upper eyelid skin affect more than 90% of women, the impact of these problems on the patient's self-esteem can become important enough to affect quality of life in psychological and sociocultural terms.The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of blepharoplasty with an electrosurgical technology for treatment of skin laxity of upper eyelid, which produced a lid retraction and an elevation of the upper lid without complications.This retrospective evaluation was conducted from October 2008 to July 2015, where 80 patients (56 female and 24 male) were treated for excess and laxity of upper eyelid skin with voltaic arc dermabrasion.The outcome was that all patients displayed some aspects of tissue contraction that stretched the lax skin of the upper eyelids, resulting in cosmetic improvement.In conclusion this technique was predictable and useful to remove the laxity of upper eyelid skin minimal recurrence rates, and acceptable aesthetics

Patient-based assessment of tooth extraction with ultrasonic dental surgery

The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative period and healing of 2 methods used for simple tooth extraction: traditional and ultrasonic bone surgery. The clinical healing of the sockets and psychologic acceptance of the ultrasonic bone surgery were also evaluated