Histological Features and Biocompatibility of Bone and Soft Tissue Substitutes in the Atrophic Alveolar Ridge Reconstruction

The reconstruction of the atrophic alveolar ridges for implant placement is today a common procedure in dentistry daily practice. The surgical reconstruction provides for the optimization of the supporting bone for the implants and a restoration of the amount of keratinized gingiva for esthetic and functional reasons. In the past, tissue regeneration has been performed with autogenous bone and free gingival or connective tissue grafts. Nowadays, bone substitutes and specific collagen matrix allow for a complete restoration of the atrophic ridge without invasive harvesting procedures. A maxillary reconstruction of an atrophic ridge by means of tissue substitutes and its histological features are then presented

Reproducibility of a digital method to evaluate soft tissue modifications: A study of inter and intra-operative measurement concordance

Background: The soft tissue healing and quality around dental implant is a current debated topic in the recent literature. The free gingival margin and the quantity and quality of the mucosa around teeth and surrounding dental implants still determine the hard and soft tissue healing status. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess inter and intra-operative measurement concordance of a method aimed at evaluating the apicocoronal migration of free gingival margin, using intra-oral photography. Methods: The method was tested on peri-implant tissues that were treated with a connective tissue graft on the second stage surgery. Thirtyeight measurements on 13 implants in 8 patients were recorded. An intra-oral photograph was taken for the graft and the provisional crown, which enclosed a circular landmark with a previously determined diameter. The landmark was prepared with a red-resin by the same technician. Before crown cementation, the landmark was calibrated with a digital calibrator by the main investigator, to determine the precise diameter up to two decimal numbers. Results: On the intra-oral photograph, the distance was measured from the most apical point of the determined landmark to the zenith of the gingiva, using an image-processing program designed for scientific multidimensional images (Image J). Three independent examiners took these measurements. Conclusion: The main advantage of the present non-invasive technique is that the spatial plane of the prosthetic landmarks is the same of the tooth unlike the utilization of periodontal probe, which is generally positioned on different plans in the space (generally more vestibular)

Can oral infection be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a scourge of longevity that will drain enormous resources from public health budgets in the future. Currently, there is no diagnostic biomarker and/or treatment for this most common form of dementia in humans. AD can be of early familial-onset or sporadic with a late-onset. Apart from the two main hallmarks, amyloid-beta and neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation is a characteristic feature of AD neuropathology. Inflammation may be caused by a local central nervous system insult and/or by peripheral infections. Numerous microorganisms are suspected in AD brains ranging from bacteria (mainly oral and non-oral Treponema species), viruses (Herpes simplex type I) and yeasts (Candida species). A causal relationship between periodontal pathogens/non-oral Treponema species of bacteria has been proposed via the amyloid-beta and inflammatory links. Periodontitis constitutes a peripheral oral infection that can provide the brain with intact bacteria and virulence factors and inflammatory mediators due to daily, transient bacteraemias. If and when genetic risk factors meet environmental risk factors in the brain, disease is expressed, in which neurocognition may be impacted, leading to the development of dementia. To achieve the goal of finding a diagnostic biomarker and possible prophylactic treatment for AD, there is an initial need to solve the etiological puzzle contributing to its pathogenesis. This review therefore addresses oral infection as the plausible aetiology of late onset AD (LOAD)

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 promote and stabilize hard and soft tissue healing for large mandibular new bone reconstruction defects

Numerous autogenous bone-grafting procedures are available for the recovering of large continuity defects of the mandible. However, these surgical techniques present several limitations involving postoperative morbidity and pain. The development of new bone technique reconstruction not involving autogenous bone graft would offer new opportunities for facial bone reconstruction. This report highlights the possibility of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein type 2 (rhBMP-2) application without concomitant bone grafting material in the restoration of continuity critical-sized defects after tumor resection in the mandible. The presented case shows a large mandibular reconstruction after tumor removal in a 31-year-old white man affected by ameloblastoma. In this case, the rhBMP-2 application with a carrier consisted on absorbable collagen sponge gives excellent newly formed bone at 18 months of control clinical and radiologic follow-up. The results indicated that the use of rhBMP-2 without concomitant autogenous bone grafting materials in large critical-sized mandibular defects secondary to large mandibular tumor produced excellent regeneration of the treated area. Erratum in: J Craniofac Surg. 2014 Jul;25(4):1563. Scott, Alan[corrected to Herford, Alan Scott] and Cicci\uf9, Domenico[corrected to Cicci\uf9,Dominico]

Finite Element Method and Von Mises Investigation on Bone Response to Dynamic Stress with a Novel Conical Dental Implant Connection

The bioengineering and medical and biomedical fields are ever closer, and they manage to obtain surprising results for the development of new devices. The field of simulations and studies in silica has undergone considerable development in recent years, favoring the advancement of medicine. In this manuscript, a study was carried out to evaluate the force distribution on the implant components (In-Kone\uae Universal) and on the peri-implant tissues subjected to loading. With the finite element analysis and the Von Mises method, it was possible to evaluate this distribution of forces both at 0 degrees (occlusal force) and at 30 degrees; the applied force was 800N. The obtained results on this new type of connection and on all the implant components are satisfactory; the distribution of forces appears optimal even on the peri-implant tissues. Surely, studies like this help to obtain ever more performing devices, improving both the clinic and the predictability of rehabilitations

Treatment outcomes of early functional loading of a Toronto prosthesis after placement of postextractive dental implants : a case report

Aim: To report a case of early functional loading of a Toronto prosthesis after the placement of postextractive implants, analyzing aesthetic and functional outcomes; moreover an investigation of the recent literature is performed about the outcomes of immediately loaded Toronto prostheses, in order to provide information about success rates of this treatment and to define remaining questions for future research. Materials and methods: A case of immediate functional loading of a Toronto prosthesis after the placement of dental implants is reported. Teeth extractions and dental implants positioning were performed at the same time. The prosthetic procedures with dental implants loading have been completed after 24 hours. Results: The 18 months follow up radiograph showed no bone loss around the implants and the patient was satisfied with both the aesthetic and functional conditions. Clinical trials show that the respective overall implant survival and success rates are influenced by implant design, surface characteristic, bone properties, implant area placement (upper or lower jaw) and postextraction conditions. Before early loading of dental implants for Toronto prostheses all these parameters have to be considered. Conclusion: This case report and the literature review confirm that the influence of timing of loading on implant survival is rather debated. There are not yet clinical guidelines in order to obtain predictable results, though factors such as bone quality and post-extraction conditions should be analyzed before treatment. Future researches should analyze how immediate loading can influence the implant rehabilitation success

Antioxidant extraction and bioactivity preservation from winery by-products by natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES)

In recent times, the feasibility of sourcing the bioactivity and health-promoting activity of anthocyanins, flavanols, stilbenes and phenolic acids from viticulture and winery by-products was explored. In particular, pomace, wine lees, and pruning stalks attracted a great deal of interest among scientists, technologists, and businesses. Traditional solid-liquid extraction methods employ hazardous solvents, such as hydrocarbons, alcohols and chloro-alkanes. As an attempt to convey compliance to the pillars of Green Chemistry, the possibility to choose innovative eco-friendly solvents was evaluated. Furthermore, this approach could preserve the activity of the bioactive compounds for possible applications in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and phytosanitary domains. In this work, natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) were used to investigate Solid-Liquid Extraction of phenolic species from Merlot marc. Two different operating temperatures were tested and the influence of biomass grinding was investigated. Experimental results show that both kinetic and final anthocyanins extraction efficiency are positively affected by biomass grinding and by temperature increase