Replacement of missing maxillary anterior teeth: role of dental implants

Purpose: To evaluate the dental implants as a treatment option for replacement of missing maxillary anterior teeth

Patients and Method: Eleven patients seeking replacement of their missing maxillary anterior teeth were selected for this study. Screw-vent dental implants were used for such porpose. Surgery was performed under local anaesthesia at 2 stages with a six months latency period. Patients were recalled at 6 months and one year following crown cementation for clinical and radiographic evaluation

Results: Included patients were 7 males and 3 females with an average age range of 27.6 years. Trauma was the main reason for single tooth loss [80%]. Except for one implant, which failed to os-seoiniegrate, all the implants were successfully integrated and no failures have been reported both clinically and radiographically

Conclusion: From the results of the present paper, it could be concluded that, dental implants are good treatment option for replacement of missing maxillary anterior teeth

Cryosurgical treatment of oral hemangiomas

Purpose: To report the outcome of treatment of eleven cases of hemangioma of the oral cavity using cryosurgery, and to discuss the different modalities used for treating oral hemangiomas

Patients and Method: Eleven patients with hemangiomas of different sites of the oral cavity were treated using cryosurgery. The freezing session was performed using two consecutive freeze-thaw cycles. In each cycle, freezing was continued for 2 minutes and thawing proceeds spontaneously for 5 minutes. If any residual lesion remained, another course of cryosurgical treatment was performed after one week, and so on until complete resolution of the lesion

Results: Of the 11 included patients, there were 8 females and 3 males with an age range of 19.6 years. Healing was uneventful in all patients. Except for two cases, no recurrence of the lesions was recorded up to 18 months following treatment

Conclusion: Based on the results of the present paper, it could be concluded that, cryosurgery has been both effective and predictable method for the treatment of oral hemangiomas. Its conservative, vital tissue-sparing, non-hemorrhagic, non-infecive and painless nature gives it, in our opinion, clear prefrence over the other treatment modalities

Role of polylactic polyglycolic co-polymer [Fisiograft] in bone regeneration: an experimental study

Purpose: An animal study was earned out to evaluate the effect of locally implanted polylactic polyglycolic acid [Fisiograft] on bone repair in induced bone defects

Materials and Method: Eighteen, 2-3 months old, male guinea pigs weighing between 200 and 250 grams were used in this study. After anesthesia, each animal was subjected to implantation of Fisiograft in an induced bony cavity at the right side of the submental region. A similar bony cavity was induced on the left side to serve as a control. Animals were divided into 3 groups, each of 6. They were sacrificed at 2, 6 and 12 weeks following implantation. The mandibles were dissected out, fixed, decalcified and stained using both hematoxylin and eosin and Massqn's trichrome stains

Results: There was no evidence of adverse responses in any of the animals throughout the study. At 2 and 6 weeks, histological examination revealed that gradual new bone formation took place at the experimental sides in a more rapid rate than that occurred at the control sides. At 12 weeks, the level of reossirlcation had adjusted similarly in both study and control sides

Conclusion: Fisiograft is allowing fibro-vascular tissue ingrowth, permitting bone healing in a more rapid rate, completely reabsorbed, and do not cause foreign body reactions. These advantages make it a promising choice when the jaw bone augmentation is needed

Transnasal endoscopic enucleation of dentigerous cysts involving the maxillary sinus

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery [TESS] for enucleation of dentigerous cysts involving the maxillary sinus

Patients and Method: Ten patients with dentigerous cysts were treated between January 2001 and February 2004. Patients ranged in age between 14-50 years with an average age of 21.8 years. Preoperative evaluation included, clinical examination, panoramic and occipitomental radiographs, and computed tomography [CT] scan of the paranasal sinuses. The surgical technique included retrograde resection of the posteroinferior part of the uncinate process, enlargement of the natural maxillary ostium and enucleation of the cysts through the middle meatal antrostomy window

Results: TESS was sufficient for complete enucleation of the cysts and their associated teeth in 7 cases. In the other 3 cases, trials or removal of the cyst wall were failed as the cysts had partially destroyed the antral bony walls. Intinoral approach was used for enucleation of cysts in those 3 cases. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 8 to 15 months. All the patients had uneventful recovers and the presenting symptoms were completely relieved after surgery

Conclusion: Based on the results of the present paper, it could be concluded that TESS is a reliable, minimally invasive method or enucleation of dentigerous cysts involving the maxillary sinus, provided that the bony walk of the sinus are intact