Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct treatment of periodontitis, MRONJ, and ONJ: a systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the available prospective literature on hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for periodontal conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive electronic and manual search was performed to identify clinical studies on adult patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy for periodontal treatments. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, and Dentistry Oral Sciences Source databases. RESULTS: Fourteen articles were included in the final literature review, of which five were RCTs and 11 were prospective clinical studies. Four studies discussed HBO as an adjunct to nonsurgical treatment of periodontitis, eight reported on HBO and osteoradionecrosis, and one examined HBO in bisphosphonate-related necrosis of the jaws. CONCLUSIONS: HBO has shown superior efficacy compared to antibiotics as a prophylactic measure in preventing osteoradionecrosis (ORN) in patients with a history of high mandibular irradiation. Clinicians should consider referring such patients for HBO therapy before and after tooth extractions. However, for the surgical excision of existing ORN lesions, HBO therapy does not yield significant benefits but does not negatively impact outcomes either. Regarding the treatment of periodontitis patients, the variability among studies prevents definitive conclusions. HBO therapy as an adjunct to SRP in periodontitis treatment produces mixed results. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study's clinical relevance lies in its exploration of the potential benefits of HBO for periodontal conditions. Also, it provides clinicians with insights into when and how to integrate HBO therapy into their treatment approaches, particularly for patients with a history of irradiation and those undergoing complex dental procedures.

Concrescence: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Imaging Perspective.

Concrescence is a form of twinning, formed by the confluence of cementum of two teeth at the root level. The diagnosis of concrescence has largely relied on the conventional 2D imaging. The 2D imaging has inherent limitations such as distortion and superimposition. Cone-Beam CT eliminates these limitations. The aim of this article was to describe a case of dental abnormality using Cone-Beam CT imaging modality. Volumetric data demonstrated confluence of left mandibular third molar with a paramolar, a supernumerary tooth. To our knowledge, this is the second case in the dental literature reported demonstrating the use of Cone-Beam CT in the diagnosis of concrescence.