The effects of surgical preparation techniques and implant macro-geometry on primary stability: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: The attainment of a good primary stability is a necessary condition to ensure the success of osseointegration in implantology. In type IV cancellous bone, however, it is possible that a reduced primary stability can lead to an increased rate of failure. The aim of this study was therefore to determine, with the help of the resonance frequency (Osstell mentor), which technique of implant site preparation (piezo surgery, conventional, under-preparation, bone compaction, osteodistraction) and macro-geometry is able to improve implant stability in type IV cancellous bone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 10 pig ribs were prepared with a surgical pre-drilled guide, calibrated for a correct implant positioning. On each rib, 5 implant sites (one for each technique) were prepared. Successively, 50 conical implants (Tekka Global D) were inserted and measured with the resonance frequency to evaluate the primary stability. Data collected were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test whether the Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) values of the five techniques were significantly different. RESULTS: The results showed that no significant differences among the ISQ values of the five techniques used were found. Also, no significant differences in the macro-geometry of the two types of compared implants were observed. However, the macro-geometry of Tekka implants, characterized by a double condensing thread, seems to provide greater ISQ values than those of single thread implants when using the same technique. CONCLUSIONS: In light of these preliminary data, it is conceivable that in cases of reduced stability, such as those occurring with a type IV bone, all means ameliorating the primary stability and accelerating the osseointegration can be utilized.

The use of etanercept as a non-surgical treatment for temporomandibular joint psoriatric arthritis: a case report.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and joints characterized by extensive intra-articular bone resorption and silver-red scaly plaques most commonly found on extensor surfaces of the skin. When this arthritis affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and does not successfully halt in its early degenerative process, patients may undergo invasive joint reconstruction that irreversibly changes the TMJ physiologic joint dynamics. This study presents a case of TMJ PsA: anterior open bite, limited range of motion, and erythematous desquamative plaques of the upper limb extensors surfaces. The patient previously received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressors, and corticosteroids over a four-year period while suffering the idiosyncratic drug side effects from long-term therapy without improvement in joint function or rash resolution. The treatment team then chose etanercept, a synthetic fusion protein therapy that binds with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, to interrupt reactive inflammatory arthritis. The patient received the TNF-alpha inhibitor monthly for two years. This last treatment led to full remission of both joint symptomatology and skin lesions. Our results should encourage general dental practitioners' involvement in curing patients with psoriatic arthritis when it affects the TMJ.

Dense bone island of the jaw: a case report.

The "Dense Bone Island" (DBI) is a radiopaque lesion referred in leterature as idiopathic osteosclerosis, enostosis, focal osteosclerosis, periapical osteopetrosis, and bone scar. The DBI are accidentally found in routinary Xray of bone structures. In the maxillary bones, often localized in the mandible, especially in the molar region, with a reported incidence ranging from 2.3 to 9.7%. DBI does not seem to develop until the first phase of adolescence and it is usually found in adolescents and in young adults. In 40% of cases DBI seems to increase in size after a 10 year follow-up, because the DBI found in jaws and in long bones seem to increase proportionally to the bone growth. A case of a 26 years old patient and the surgical treatment is presented. This is the first reported case where complete X-ray Orthopantomography follow-up showed the evolution of the lesion since its onset.

Primary and exclusive gingival localization of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Case report.

A case of primary and exclusive gingival localization of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) personally observed at the Surgical Out-patients Unit of the Department of Dentistry at the Umberto I Hospital in Rome, is described. A 71 year-old caucasian male was referred by his private dentist because of a severe pain at the soft tissue of the mandible even after dental, neurologic and parodontal treatments. At clinical examination, a severe gingival swelling in the symphysis region with hard bleeding, palpable lymph nodes and no important evidence in radiographic and CT examinations were found. After incisional biopsy and its examination, a diagnosis of NHL was made. Further examinations did not show metastasis dissemination. The patient was referred to the Hematology Department and after 4 chemotherapy cycles over 12 months, he completely recovered. After an introduction on NHL, the clinical case is described as well as how to make a correct diagnosis; moreover, the importance of the dentist in identifying diseases even not strictly related to oral cavity but whose signs and manifestations appear over there, is stressed.

Subantral filling by deantigenated heterologous bone and immediate fixture placement.

AIM: A successful implant therapy depends on sufficient quantity of available bone. Latero-posterior maxillary area often represents a hardly useful zone for routine implant therapy in long time edentulous patients. Standard procedures of maxillary sinus lifting are the goals of implant-prosthetic rehabilitation. Among different grafting materials used in this kind of procedures, the deantigenated heterologous bone reliability has been tested. METHODS: In a clinical case of maxillary bone atrophy (Misch classification, SA3) a deantigenated heterologous bone grafting and immediate fixture placement has been performed; before prosthetic finalization a biopsy in the grafting site has been carried out in order to obtain an histological evaluation of the graft integration. RESULTS: The histological analysis and X-ray at 1 year follow-up show the formation of osteoid tissue integrated with the surrounding bone tissue, reaching bone maturity by calcification. In spite of a longer time for grafting integration, the advantages of a single-time surgery and the reduction of surgical timing are stressed. CONCLUSIONS: X-rays and histological results lead authors to consider the tested heterologous bone as a valid alternative to autologous bone, especially in those patients where it is preferable to avoid a second surgical site in order to take an inlay graft.