Comparison of laser and ozone treatments on oral mucositis in an experimental model.

Oral mucositis (OM) induces severe pain and limits fundamental life behaviors such as eating, drinking, and talking for patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In addition, through opportunistic microorganisms, OM frequently leads to systemic infection which then leads to prolonged hospitalization. Severe lesions often adversely affect curative effects in cancer cases. Therefore, the control of OM is important for oral health quality of life and prognosis. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and ozone may be useful to accelerate wound healing. In this study, 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups as control, ozone, and laser groups. All groups received 5-fluorouracil intraperitoneally and trauma to the mouth pouch with a needle. After the formation of OM in the mouth, the control group had no treatment; the ozone group was administered ozone, and the laser group, LLLT. Then, all groups were sacrificed and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-ß), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were evaluated in all groups. LLLT was determined to be statistically significantly more effective than ozone on FGF and PDGF. However, in respect of TGF-ß, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. In conclusion, within the limitations of this study, LLLT is more effective than ozone. However, further studies on this subject are required.

Risk Factors Associated With Implant Marginal Bone Loss: A Retrospective 6-Year Follow-Up Study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the presented evidence behind suggested reasons for long-term marginal bone loss (MBL) around 600 endosseous titanium dental implants according to the radiological findings up to 60 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 151 patients are received from the prosthodontic department of a university clinic and analyzed for the effect of implant brand, location, implant diameter and length, implant occlusal table width, cantilever, and smoking on MBL in a 6-year period. RESULTS: MBL is significantly higher in Zimmer SwissPlus implant system. The bone loss in posterior region was higher than anterior region for maxilla. There was no significant difference in mandible. Kruskal-Wallis test showed that MBL was significantly higher when the crown/implant (C/I) ratio was 1.5/2 (P < 0.05). Occlusal table width/implant diameter (OT/I) ratio was analyzed and it showed that MBL was significantly higher when the ratio was 2.5 to 2.99 and higher than 3. There were no significant associations between smoking and nonsmoking groups. Mann-Whitney U test revealed that cantilever does not affect MBL. CONCLUSION: The marginal bone loss is affected by location of the implants (higher in the maxillary posterior region). In addition, excessive C/I and OT/I ratios increase marginal bone loss.

Evaluation of dental panoramic radiographic findings in edentulous jaws: A retrospective study of 743 patients "Radiographic features in edentulous jaws".

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of significant panoramic radiographic findings and eventual treatment requirements before conventional or implant supported prosthetic treatment in asymptomatic edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 743 asymptomatic edentulous patients were retrospectively evaluated using a digital panoramic system. We analyzed the radiographic findings, including impacted teeth, retained root fragments, foreign bodies, severe atrophy of the posterior maxillary alveolar bone, mucous retention cysts, soft tissue calcifications and radiopaque-radiolucent conditions. RESULTS: Four-hundred-eighty-seven (65.6%) patients had no radiographic finding. A total of 331 radiographic findings were detected in 256 (34%) patients. In 52.9% (n=175) of these conditions, surgical treatment was required before application of implant-supported fixed prosthesis. However, before application of conventional removable prosthesis surgical treatment was required for 6% (n=20) of these conditions. CONCLUSION: The edentulous patients who will have implant placement for implant-supported fixed prosthesis can frequently require additional surgical procedures to eliminate pathological conditions.

Recurrent cherubism in an adult patient.

Cherubism is an uncommon, nonneoplastic, fibro-osseous disorder of the jaws in childhood and adolescence. It affects the jaw bones by deforming the cortical shell. Clinical features include progressive painless and mostly bilateral expansion of the mandible and/or maxilla. Because fibrous connective tissue replaces osseous tissue, radiographic features generally include expansile osteolytic lesions and a ground-glass appearance. Several treatment protocols for cherubism have been recommended in the literature; however, despite surgical curettage treatment, recurrences may occur. Our aim was to emphasize the high recurrence rate of cherubic lesions. In this article, we present cherubism in a young girl that relapsed after 5 surgical operations before her appearance to our clinic.

Does watching a video on third molar surgery increase patients' anxiety level?

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of watching live taping of third molar removal on patients' anxiety levels before and after extraction. STUDY DESIGN: This study was based on a prospective, cross-sectional, observational investigation of the different patient education techniques about the effect of third molar removal on patients' anxiety level. A total of 333 patients were randomized into three groups: two study groups (for group 1, basic information was given verbally; for group 2, which was the study group, basic information was given verbally and through a movie on third molar extraction); and a control group (basic information was given verbally; it did not include information on operative procedures and recovery). Anxiety levels were assessed by using the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Pain was assessed with a visual analog scale. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: Group 2 patients were significantly more anxious before the surgical procedure, and the most significant decreases in DAS and STAI scores were observed in that group. The age, surgery time, and education level were not correlated with anxiety or pain levels; however, female patients had high levels of anxiety (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Preoperative multimedia information increases the anxiety of patients undergoing third molar surgery.

Ectopic tooth in the maxillary sinus diagnosed with an ophthalmic complication.

Ectopic teeth erupt into regions other than the natural position or should be impacted in unusual location. Etiology of these teeth includes trauma, infection, and developmental diseases; however, in many cases, it is idiopathic. In addition, dentigerous cysts that are related with ectopic teeth may also affect adjacent anatomic regions. The occurrence of ophthalmic complications related with ectopic teeth is a rare situation. In this article, we aimed to present a patient who had a blurred vision thought that resulted from the dentigerous cyst associated with the ectopic third molar in the maxillary sinus roof.

Comparison of the influence of ozone and laser therapies on pain, swelling, and trismus following impacted third-molar surgery.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the ozone and laser application in the management of pain, swelling, and trismus after third-molar surgery. Sixty consecutive patients with asymptomatic impacted mandibular third molars were recruited into the study. Patients were randomized into three treatment groups of 20 patients each: two study groups (group 1 = low-level laser therapy (LLLT), group 2 = ozone therapy) and a control group (no-LLLT or ozone therapy). Twenty teeth extractions were performed in each group. Evaluations of postoperative pain, the number of analgesics tablets taken, trismus, swelling, and quality of life (Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire) were made. The sample consisted of 28 female and 32 male patients, whose total mean age was 23.5 ± 3.4 (range, 18-25) years. The pain level and the number of analgesics tablets taken were lower in the ozonated and LLLT applied groups than in the control group. This study showed that ozone and low power laser therapies had a positive effect on the patients' quality of life. Trismus in the LLLT group was significantly less than in the ozonated and control groups (p = 0.033). Ozone application showed no superiority in regards of postoperative swelling; however, LLLT group had significantly lower postoperative swelling. This study demonstrates that ozone and laser therapies are useful for the reduction of postoperative pain and they increase quality of life after third-molar surgery. Although the ozone therapy had no effect on postoperative swelling and trismus after surgical removal of impacted lower third molars, LLLT had a positive effect.