Recurrent plunging ranula of the neck

The reported case describes a mismanaged extensive recurrent plunging ranula that occupied a large portion of the neck. The ranula is usually clinically diagnosed. However, absence of visible intra-oral signs may mislead the diagnosis and leads to improper surgical management. Presence of amylase in the aspirated fluids is an important aid in the differential diagnosis. Thereby confirming the salivary origin of the fluids and thus avoiding extensive investigations. The recurrence rate varies according to the procedure performed. Diverse methods of treating ranula have been reported in the literature with variable results. These include marsuplization, excision of the ranula, incision of the ranula and drainage of the contents, excision of the sublingual gland and drainage. The successful procedure to treat plunging ranula depends on complete excision of the affected sublingual gland and drainage of its contents. In this paper, the useful diagnostic investigations and the recommended surgical intervention procedure were described

Augmentation of osseous-implant dehiscence with membrane alone or with a combination of bone graft and membrane

This investigation compared bone contour and the potential for new bone growth in osseous-implant defects grafted with demineralized xerographic bone particles [DXBP] and covered with guided tissue regeneration membrane [GTRM]. with defects covered with GTRM alone. In the study, each of seven goats received four implants. The implants were fixed in the buccal cortex of the left body of the mandible. Four types of GTRM were used. These were Capset[R], Biomend[R], P-BioBarrier[R], and NP-BioBarrier[R]. The grafting material used was Laddec[R]. Twenty-four osseous-implant defects were used as the test group. Twelve of these defects were grafted and covered with one of the GTRMS used, so that each GTRM covered 3 grafted defects. The remaining 12 test defects were covered with one of the GTRMS alone; again, each membrane was used for 3 defects. It was found that both resorbable and non-resorbable GTRMS augmented implant-osseous defects. The range of-bone contour In the ungrafted defects was between 550 and 1135 micro mm. Capset membrane produced the thickest bone in the ungrafted defects [1135 micro mm]. Grafting osseous-implant defects Increased the bone thickness. The increase ranged from 512 to 950 micro mm. Of the membranes tested, NP-BioBarrier produced the thickest bone in the grafted defects [1800 micro mm]. Control osseous-implant defects were not augmented with new bone