[Oroantral communication and its treatment]. / La communication bucco-sinusale et son traitement.

The most frequent cause of an oroantral perforation is the extraction of an upper molar. In this article, this for a dental practitioner important entity is discussed in detail. After the etiopathology, clinical and roentgenological diagnosis is discussed. As 6.5% of perforations closes spontaneously, the question is raised wether all perforations should be surgically treated. Those different surgical techniques are then described and emphasis is thereby laid on the difference between a mere perforation and a fistula.

[Are Ag-points, gutta percha and amalgam still useful as apical filling materials?]. / Zijn Ag-stiften, gutta percha en amalgaam nog te gebruiken voor apikale afsluiting.

Nowadays Ag-points, gutta percha and amalgam are widely used as orthograde or retrograde root canal filling materials. The biocompatibility of these materials however remains debatable. Ag-points are easy to manipulate and when used together with an appropriate cement, offer an adequate seal. Yet an important disadvantage is the susceptibility to corrosion resulting in argyrosis and inflammatory reaction. Tissue cultures proved these corrosion by products to be highly cytotoxic. Other investigations, reported that the inflammatory tissue response seen with gutta percha, may be due to small amounts of additives included in gutta percha. Equally, there is no unanimity concerning the biocompatibility of amalgam, and the extent of corrosion and inflammatory reaction is possibly related to the composition of the amalgam used. Nevertheless in vivo studies demonstrated that, when freshly mixed amalgam, gutta percha or Ag-points are implanted in the femur of rats, mature bone was formed in direct contact with these materials.

[The use of biocompatible materials in apicoectomy]. / Het gebruik van biocompatibele materialen voor de apicotomie.

The use of more biocompatible materials in comparison with silver, gutta-percha and amalgam was introduced a decade ago. First titanium was used, later followed by alumina. Both clinical as well as radiological results favor their use. Yet it appears that the system is mainly confined to the maxillary front teeth and mandibular canines.

[Are Ag-points, gutta percha and amalgam still applicable for apical sealing?]. / Zijn Ag-stiften, gutta percha en amalgaam nog te gebruiken voor apikale afsluiting.

Nowadays Ag-points, gutta percha and amalgam are widely used as orthograde or retrograde root-filling materials. The biocompatibility of these materials however remains debatable. Ag-points are easy to manipulate and when used together with an appropriate cement, offer an adequate seal. Yet an important disadvantage is the susceptibility to corrosion resulting in argyrosis and inflammatory reaction. Tissue cultures proved these corrosion by products to be highly cytotoxic. Other investigations, reported that the inflammatory tissue response seen with gutta percha, may be due to small amounts of additives included in gutta percha. Equally, there is no unanimity concerning the biocompatibility of amalgam, and the extent of corrosion and inflammatory reaction is possibly related to the composition of the amalgam used. Nevertheless in vivo studies demonstrated that, when freshly mixed amalgam, gutta percha or Ag-points are implanted in the femur of rats, mature bone was formed in direct contact with these materials.

[Biocompatible materials for use in apicotomy]. / Het gebruik van biocompatibele materialen voor de apicotomie.

The use of more biocompatible materials in comparison with silver, gutta-percha and amalgam was introduced a decade ago. First titanium was used, later followed by alumina. Both clinical as well as radiological results favor their use. Yet it appears that the system is mainly confined to the maxillary front teeth and mandibular canines.