Free microvascular transfer of segmental corticocancellous femur for reconstruction of the alveolar ridge.

In seven patients with deficiency of the alveolar ridge of the maxilla or mandible the defect was covered with the help of a microvascular corticocancellous transplant of femur. The defects to be corrected measured 3-10 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, and 1-1.5 cm high. The microvascular pedicle was between 4 and 10 cm long. The descending genicular artery was anastomosed to the facial or labial superior artery and the accompanying veins accordingly. There were no serious complications and no transplant was lost. In all patients the defect was covered by the correct size and design. All patients were treated with dental implants six months after successful reconstruction of the ridge. The microvascular osteoperiosteal femur transplant can be used successfully in individual reconstruction of segmental defects of the alveolar ridge.

Apical capping as a new technique for retrograde treatment of an infected root apex: introduction and first results.

INTRODUCTION: The success rate of surgical retrograde treatment of an infected root apex is limited by the existence of infected side canals which are not treatable by conventional retrograde preparation and filling techniques. This experimental study introduces a new technique of retrograde apex preparation followed by covering the apex with a titanium cap. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 10 extracted canines, retrograde circular preparation of the root apex was performed using a new ultrasonic preparation tip and a high-power ultrasound machine. The prepared stump was covered by a titanium cap fixed with glass ionomer cement. The teeth were examined clinically and radiologically for unevenness, steps or clefts in the border between the titanium cap and root surface. Furthermore, a histological work-up was performed to register the existence and number of side canals, as well as their covering by the titanium cap and the width of the cement layer. RESULTS: The clinical and radiological examinations revealed only a small degree of unevenness in one case. In all other teeth the border was without any unevenness. There were 0 - 4 side canals as noted in the histological cross sections, all of which were covered by the titanium cap. The mean width of the cement layer was 27.2microm. From a technical point of view there were no difficulties or complications. CLINICAL CASE REPORT: For demonstration of the clinical use, a case of a 32-old-patient with an apical cyst on an upper lateral incisor is reported. The patient was treated successfully by apical capping. CONCLUSIONS: Apical capping is a new technique for retrograde treatment of an infected root apex which seals all side canals effectively. The technique is easy to perform and can be carried out quickly without complications. The technique is suitable for clinical testing.

Local oxygen therapy for treating acute necrotizing periodontal disease in smokers.

BACKGROUND: The main aim of treatment for acute necrotizing periodontal disease is fast and effective reduction of anaerobic destructive microorganisms to avoid periodontal damage. The effect of adjunctive local oxygen therapy in the treatment of necrotizing periodontal disease was examined in this study. METHODS: Thirty patients with acute necrotizing periodontal disease were treated with the systemic antibiotics amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, and metronidazole. In 15 out of 30 patients, adjunctive local oxygen therapy was administered. The patients were followed from the first to 10th day of treatment with clinical and bacteriological examinations. The clinical examination registered gingival bleeding, periodontal probing depth, and attachment loss; to follow up microbiological colonization of the periodontal sulcus, five representative bacteria were registered by a semiquantitative DNA polymerase chain reaction test. RESULTS: In both groups of patients, colonization with Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, and Treponema denticola was initially positive. None of these three microorganisms were completely eradicated in any of the patients in the group without oxygen therapy within the first 10 days of treatment. In the group with adjunctive oxygen therapy, all patients either showed a reduction in or complete eradication of the microorganisms, resulting in more rapid clinical restitution with less periodontal destruction. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive oxygen therapy results in early eradication of pathogenic anaerobic microorganisms in cases of acute necrotizing periodontal disease. The damage to periodontal tissue is reduced.