The epidemiology and management of odontomas: a European multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Odontoma is the most commonly diagnosed odontogenic tumor of the oral cavity. The objective of the present study was to assess the demographic variables, patterns, diagnostic features, and management issues of odontomas treated at several European departments of maxillofacial and oral surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted at 8 European departments of oral surgery between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2018. Only patients with odontomas were included. The following data were recorded for each patient: gender, age, comorbidities, site, size of odontomas, radiographic features, type of odontoma, treatment of odontomas, treatment of associated teeth, complications, and recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (70 male and 57 female patients) with odontomas were included. The mean age was 22 years; 71 odontomas were found in the mandible, whereas 56 in the maxilla. In the mandible, the most frequently involved subsite was the parasymphysis, while in the maxilla, the most common subsite was the upper incisor region. The mean size of included odontomas was 15.3 mm. On the whole, 62 complex odontomas, 50 compound odontomas, and 15 mixed-type odontomas were observed. Complete excision of the odontomas was performed in 121 patients. In 24 patients, the extraction of deciduous teeth was performed, and in 43 patients, one or more permanent teeth were removed. Finally, in 9 patients, a partial excision of the odontoma was performed. Recurrence was observed in 4 cases out of 127 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dental practitioners should be aware of the distinct clinical and radiographic features of odontoma in order to perform an appropriate and early diagnosis. Conventional radiography, such as panoramic radiograph, is often sufficient technique for a diagnosis after clinical suspicion or for an incidental diagnosis to prevent later complications, such as impaction or failure of eruption of teeth.

Methylation of tumour suppressor genes in benign and malignant salivary gland tumours: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of the present systematic review was to critically analyse the relationship between tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) promoter methylation, a potent mechanism of gene silencing, and the development of salivary gland tumours, as well as the possible effect on clinical/histological characteristics. Review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (registration ID CRD42020218511). A comprehensive search of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed utilizing relevant key terms, supplemented by a search of grey literature. Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOQAS) was used for the quality assessment of included studies. Sixteen cross-sectional and 12 case-control studies were included in the review, predominantly dealing with methylation in TSGs related to DNA repair, cell cycle, and cell growth regulation and differentiation. Quantitative synthesis could be performed on P16 (inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 4a), RASSF1A (Ras association domain family 1 isoform A) and MGMT (O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase) genes only. It showed that P16 and RASSF1A genes were more frequently methylated in salivary gland tumours compared to controls (P = .0002 and P < .0001, respectively), while no significant difference was observed for MGMT. Additionally, P16 did not appear to be related to malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenomas (P = .330). In conclusion, TSG methylation is involved in salivary gland tumour pathogenesis and several genes might play a considerable role. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of complex epigenetic deregulation during salivary gland tumour development and progression.

Quality of life following maxillofacial trauma in the elderly: a multicenter, prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: When facial trauma involves elderly patients, the possible presence of frailty and comorbidities in victims of trauma may worsen the posttraumatic symptoms and decrease quality of life. The aim of this multicenter study was to assess the quality of life following surgical or non-operative management of maxillofacial trauma in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort study was based on the administration of validated self-administered questionnaires to all the geriatric patients (70 years or more) with facial fractures from the involved maxillofacial surgical units across Europe, since 1st January 2019 to 31st June 2019. The following questionnaires were administered: SF36 questionnaire; the VFQ-25 questionnaire; the Oral Health Impact Profile - 14 (OHIP14). Outcome variables were VFQ-25 and OHIP-14 results. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients (14 male and 23 female patients) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Elderly patients had an improvement in almost all the categories examined by the SF-36 questionnaire 6 months after trauma, with the only exception of a worsening as for role limitations due to physical health. An improvement was observed in almost all the categories at SF-36 test. A worsening of scores of OHIP-14 for all the considered dimensions in the whole study population was observed too. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients following facial trauma experience significant emotional, social, and functional disturbances. We observed that emotional problems, energy/fatigue, social functioning, and generally social limitations played a great role in the decrease of QoL in elderly patients following maxillofacial trauma.

Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: Two Center Retrospective Cohort Studies.

This retrospective cohort study aims to describe characteristics of patients with MRONJ, to identify factors associated with MRONJ development, and to examine variables associated with favourable outcome. Totally 32 patients were followed and observed: 21 females and 11 males, in the age range 35-84 in the period from 2009 to 2018. Clinical, radiological examination (Orthopantomograph and CBCT) and biopsy were performed in order to achieve diagnosis. Demographic and clinical variables were taken into consideration: sex, age, primary disease, medication type, mode of delivery, anatomic location, drug treatment duration, timing of tooth extraction, chemotherapy, presence of bone metastasis, aetiology of MRONJ, disease stage, and treatment modality. MRONJ developed under osteoporosis and malignant disease in 11 and 21 patients, respectively. MRONJ development was triggered by tooth extraction or trauma in 30 out of 32 cases, whereas the two patients developed MRONJ spontaneously. Stages I, II, and III were confirmed in 5 (16%), 18 (58%), and 9 (28%) patients, respectively. Mandible was affected in 23 (72%) patients. MRONJ was treated in our department by conservative and surgical modality. In this study we found that 65% of all patients were classified in the cured/improvement group and 35% in the stable/progression group. The female gender, osteoporosis as primary disease, oral regime intake, shorter period on BPs, earlier stage of disease, and specific anatomic localisation (frontal and premolar maxilla) were factors associated with better response to therapy and favourable clinical outcome. Comprehensive treatment protocol and further randomized studies are necessary for further improvements.

Real-time thermographic analysis of low-density bone during implant placement: a randomized parallel-group clinical study comparing lateral condensation with bone drilling surgical technique.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of two surgical techniques, lateral condensation and bone drilling, on changes in temperature of the adjacent low-density bone during implant placement into posterior maxilla and to investigate the influence of the host factors - age, gender, region of implantation, bone density, and thickness of the cortical bone at the recipient sites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Local bone temperature was measured thermographically during implant placement into posterior maxilla following lateral bone condensing (test group) or bone drilling (controls). The main study outcomes were baseline bone temperature prior to implantation and maximum bone temperature recorded during implantation. Early implant success was evaluated after 6 months of healing. RESULTS: A total of 40 implants were randomly allocated to test and control groups and placed into maxillary premolar and/or molar region of 18 participants of both genders and average age of 51.74 years. All recorded bone temperatures were below the threshold for thermal necrosis. Although both groups showed significant increase in bone temperature during implant placement procedure (P ≤ 0.0005), it was significantly higher for bone condensing compared with drilling (P ≤ 0.0005; 3.79 ± 1.54°C; 1.91 ± 0.70°C respectively). No host factor was singled out as a significant predictor of bone temperature changes, although trend of higher increase was observed in young patients, regardless of gender, during implant placement procedure into maxillary first premolar region with bone density type 3 and cortical layer thicker than 1 mm. Early implant success rate after 6 months follow-up was 100%. CONCLUSION: Although both surgical techniques, bone condensing and bone drilling, can be considered safe regarding their thermal effect on the bone of posterior maxilla, bone drilling is associated with fewer local bone heating during implantation. Host factors do not affect the bone thermal changes significantly.

Surgical management of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip: analysis of a 10-year experience in 223 patients.

BACKGROUND: The most common type of lip carcinoma is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), accounting for approximately 90% of all oral malignancies. Currently, surgery and/or radiotherapy are considered the standards of care for SCC of the lip. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients diagnosed with SCC of the lip at the Clinic for Maxillofacial surgery at University of Belgrade (Belgrade, Serbia) during a period between 1991 and 2000. RESULTS: A total of 223 patients with SCC of the lip were diagnosed and treated during a 10-year period. The overall male-to-female ratio was 5 to 0. The most frequently affected site was the lower lip (92.8%). Mean diameter of the tumor was 30.1 mm (range, 5 to 80 mm). Neck lymph node metastases at presentation was detected in 26.5% of patients, who subsequently underwent neck dissection. We observed a linear trend in the association between the size of the tumor and the clinical stage of the neck (chi2 = 15.1; df = 1; P < .0001). Different surgical techniques were used for reconstruction of the lip defect after tumor removal. After a median follow-up of 56 months (range, 15 to 78 months), local recurrence occurred in 10.8% of patients while regional metastases developed in 4.5% of patients. Mortality from SCC of the lip was only 2.2%. CONCLUSION: SCC of the lip generally has a favorable outcome. Recently, there have been no major advances in lip reconstruction but rather continued improvement on accepted techniques. Early detection is essential for the successful treatment of SCC of the lip, which requires a multidisciplinary approach.

[Use of the modified Fries technique in the reconstruction of the lower lip after the removal of a malignant tumor].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Lip carcinoma makes about 1/4 of all oral carcinomas. Primary treatment of the lower lip carcinoma means radical excision of the full thickness of the lower lip tissue together with the tumor. The reconstruction of the defect accomplished after the removal of the lower lip tumor is a challenge for the surgeon and requires a detailed preoperative planning, the right choice of the method for reconstruction and the knowledge of the adequate surgical techniques needed. The aim of this study was to presenta ten-year clinical results and experience concerning the reconstruction of lower lip defects longer than 4 cm by means of the modified Fries method in patients treated for the lower lip carcinoma. METHODS: The reconstruction of the lower lip by means of the modified Fries method was performed in 37 patients. The following parameters were analyzed: sex, age, the time elapsed from the occurrence of the first symptoms until the first consultation with the doctor, the size of tumors, the size of the postexcision defect, TNM classification, the application of side diagnostic procedures, pathohistological diagnosis of postoperative complications. The sensibility of the lower lip region was monitored, as well as the obtained esthetic effects. RESULTS: The results classified according to the mentioned parameters were processed, analyzed and displayed in detail. Clinical experience concerning the application of this reconstruction technique was presented and analyzed. CONCLUSION: The modified Fries technique can successfully be applied in the reconstruction of the lower lip defects longer than 4 cm because its application leads to satisfactory functional and acceptable esthetic results.

[Positional changes of the lower and upper anterior teeth after surgical correction of mandibular prognathism].

BACKGROUND/AIM: To establish the influence of surgical corrections of mandibular prognathism upon the position of the lower and upper anterior teeth (incisors). METHODS: The changes in position of the lower and upper anterior teeth (incisors) after the surgical correction of mandibular prognathism were analyzed by means of x-ray craniometry in 183 patients (female: n = 110, male: n = 73) in which the correction had been made in accordance with the principles of sagital osteotomy of the mandibular ramus. There were 4 angular and 2 linear parameters determined in the pre- and postoperative tele-x-ray-pictures. The changes of these parameters were tested by means of the parametric statistic tests. RESULTS: The performed surgical procedures did not cause statistically significant changes in the angular parameters. The changes of both linear parameters were thought highly statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Under the influence of the performed surgical procedures no changes were found in the position of anterior teeth (incisors) in relation to SN and the mandibular plane. They were actually moved along with the medium fragment of the lower jaw and that fragment was moved linearly backwards along the occlusal plane with a practically insignificant rotation in the cranial direction.