Influence of surgical ultrasound used in the detachment of flaps, osteotomy and odontosection in lower third molar surgeries. A prospective, randomized, and "split-mouth" clinical study.

BACKGROUND: As third molar surgery is the most commonly procedure performed in Dentistry and has been accompanied by serious postoperative disorders such as pain, edema and trismus, the study aimed to evaluate if ultrasound device would be able to reduce such postoperative features. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of soft tissue flap elevation, osteotomy and odontosection using piezosurgery versus conventional technique in mandibular third molar extractions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with impacted mandibular third molars underwent tooth extractions using two different methods. Ten patients were included in the Piezo Flap Group (PFG - the flap was elevated using piezosurgery) and ten patients were part of the Piezo Ostectomy Group (POG - osteotomy and odontosection were carried out with ultrasound tips). The contralateral tooth was included in the Control Group (CG - conventional technique). The patients were evaluated at postoperative periods of 1, 3, 7 and 14-days. The measured parameters were duration of surgery, pain, trismus and swelling. RESULTS: The mean duration of surgery for the PFG was 17.21 minutes (CG 10.07 minutes) and POG was 40.09 minutes (CG 15.97 minutes). There was no statistically significant difference in pain and trismus for any of the postoperative periods evaluated in PFG and POG (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in swelling between the PFG and POG, presenting less swelling at the 3-day postoperative period (p=0.038; p<0,05). However, for the remaining analyzed periods there was no difference (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Piezosurgery for tissue elevation of the surgical flap, osteotomy and dental sectioning in mandibular third molar extraction surgery promoted less edema in the early postoperative stages in mandibular third molar extractions despite the longer surgical duration.

Comparative study of volumetric changes and trabecular microarchitecture in human maxillary sinus bone augmentation with bioactive glass and autogenous bone graft: a prospective and randomized assessment.

The aim of this study was to compare the volumetric changes and the new bone microarchitecture in human maxillary sinuses augmented with bioactive glass (Biogran) alone, bioactive glass combined with autogenous bone graft (1:1), or autogenous bone graft alone. Twelve maxillary sinuses were grafted with bioactive glass (group 1), nine with bioactive glass mixed with autogenous bone graft 1:1 (group 2), and 12 with autogenous bone graft (group 3). Patients underwent cone beam computed tomography 15days after the procedure to determine the initial volume of the graft (T1) and again 6 months later (T2). Biopsies were obtained at the time of dental implant placement and were subjected to micro-computed tomography. The volumetric change was 44.2% in group 1, 37.9% in group 2, and 45.7% in group 3 (P>0.05). The trabecular microarchitecture results showed that the materials used in groups 1 and 2 were good bone substitutes. However, the addition of 50% bioactive glass to autogenous bone graft improved the microarchitecture of the graft. Furthermore, the results for volumetric changes indicated that bioactive glass, its association with autogenous bone graft in a 1:1 ratio, and autogenous bone graft alone have similar resorption.

An unusual case of dental infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa causing a brain abscess: case report.

A brain abscess may result when dental infection reaches the brain through contiguous anatomic cavities such as the maxillary sinus, the ethmoid sinus and the orbital cavity. It is an important complication and should be treated aggressively. Such treatment would include the excision of the etiological factor, drainage and adjuvant antibiotic therapy. The present case concerns a 23 year old woman who presented at the General Hospital of Nova Iguaçu with complaints of pain in the right side of the face and was diagnosed with acute sinusitis. Antibiotics and analgesics were prescribed to treat the disease. However, after 10 days, she returned to the emergency room, presenting with proptosis of the right eyeball, subconjunctival haemorrhage, ophthalmoplegia and intense pain in the right orbit, in addition to headaches. After computed tomography was performed, she was diagnosed with a brain abscess in the frontal lobe with the involvement of the maxillary right first molar, the maxillary sinus, the ethmoid sinus and the orbital cavity. With culturing of the secretion, the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonies was evident. Treatment consisted of a craniotomy to drain the brain abscess, a Caldwell-Luc procedure to drain the right maxillary sinus, dental extraction and aggressive antibiotic therapy. After 6 weeks, the patient was discharged with no neurological sequelae.

Comparison between piezoelectric surgery and conventional saw in sagittal split osteotomies: a systematic review.

A systematic review of the advantages and disadvantages of piezoelectric surgery in comparison with conventional saws for sagittal split osteotomy (SSO) was performed. Relevant studies published in the last 10 years were identified through a search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct, and Embase databases and assessed against predetermined eligibility criteria. The initial search resulted in 1736 articles. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 articles remained. A total of 799 patients with an average age of 27.5 years underwent SSO performed using a saw or ultrasonic device. Results showed that it took longer to perform the osteotomies using an ultrasonic device than using a conventional saw. At ≥6 months of follow-up, neurosensory disturbance was seen in 4.7% of patients who underwent piezoelectric surgery versus 61.6% of patients who underwent surgery in which a conventional saw was used. It was found that the use of piezoelectric surgery in SSO leads to the best outcome regarding neurosensory disturbance when compared to conventional saws (P=0.04) at ≥6 months of follow-up. Further studies are required for the evaluation of the other clinical parameters assessed.

Late mandibular fracture occurring in the postoperative period after third molar removal: systematic review and analysis of 124 cases.

Factors associated with the diagnosis, aetiology, and treatment of mandibular fractures occurring during the postoperative period following the removal of a lower third molar are discussed. The following databases were searched using specific key words: PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Embase, and Scopus. The search yielded 124 cases. Sex, age, side, tooth position and angulation, bone impaction, relationship between the tooth and the inferior alveolar nerve, local pathological conditions, aetiology of the fracture, symptomatology, and time between surgery and fracture, as well as any displacement of the fracture and the treatment of the fracture, were evaluated. Data were tabulated and the χ2 statistical test was applied (P<0.05). Male patients aged >35 years, with teeth in positions II/III and B/C, complete bony impaction, and local bone-like alterations, were found to have a higher frequency of fracture and pericoronitis (P<0.05). Late fractures generally occurred between the second and fourth postoperative weeks (P<0.05). They were generally not displaced and the typical treatment was the non-surgical approach (P<0.05). It is concluded that the risk of mandibular fracture after extraction is associated with excessive ostectomy and/or local alterations. At-risk patients should be thoroughly briefed on the importance of a proper postoperative diet.