Five-year outcome of bone remodelling around implants in the maxillary sinus: assessment of differences between implants placed in autogenous inlay bone blocks and in ungrafted maxilla.

The placement of implants in the posterior maxillary area is considered a reliable procedure, offering recognized rehabilitative advantages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of dental implants placed in the sinus floor augmented with a block autograft by comparing the outcomes over 5 years with those of dental implants positioned in non-augmented bone. This retrospective cohort study included 16 patients who had undergone prosthetic rehabilitation supported by dental implants between 2000 and 2006. One implant per patient was included and assigned to one of two predictor groups: grafted versus ungrafted maxillary sinus. Changes in marginal bone level (MBL) and apical bone level (ABL) over time, at 1, 3, and 5 years, were the primary outcome variables. Appropriate pair-wise comparison tests were performed. No significant differences were seen with regard to ABLs and among times between the grafted group (nine implants) and the ungrafted group (seven implants). Significant marginal bone resorption was found over time, primarily at the buccal aspect, in both study groups. The bone surrounding the apex of dental implants appeared stable after sinus augmentation in the grafted area. The behaviour of the two groups with regard to loss of MBLs over time was very similar.

Histological and clinical survey of polylactic-polyglycolic acid and dextrane copolymer in maxillary sinus lift: a pilot in vivo study.

Of various proposed alternatives to autogenous bone, a synthetic, degradable copolymer of PLA-GLA and dextrane seems to be a promising biomaterial for maxillary sinus lift. Consecutive partially edentulous patients showing severe monolateral posterior maxillary atrophy were treated via sinus lift using PLA-GLA-dextrane copolymer as the sole filler. Delayed implant positioning was performed and cores of regenerated tissues and native bone controls were retrieved and evaluated by light and electron microscopy, histomorphometry, microhardness and qualitative X-ray analysis. Seven sinuses in 7 patients were augmented with PLA-GLA-dextrane copolymer. Six to nine months after the copolymer 'graft', 17 bone cores were retrieved: all histological sections contained newly synthesized, mineralized material and new bone in various stages of development. Histomorphometry revealed average Trabecular Bone Volume (TBV) values ranging from 51% (6 months) to 77% (9 months). Backscattered scanning electron microscopy (BSE) in experimental and control samples confirmed histology findings. Microhardness values suggested newly formed bone at nine months was not as hard as native bone. Ca and P content was similar in 9-month regenerated and native bone. Seventeen implants were inserted in the second stage of surgery: resulting Implant Success (SR) and Cumulative Success (CSR) up to 3 years were 100% following Albrektssons criteria. Sinus lift augmentation using PLA-GLA-dextrane copolymer as the sole filler resulted in uneventful surgeries. New bone formation was evident histologically and its maturation was still in progress after 9 months. Successful, staged implant positioning was achieved in regenerated tissue.

[The role of LGL cells (NK and K) in periodontal disease]. / Il ruolo delle cellule "LGL" (NK e K) nella malattia parodontale.

The paper reports the morphological and functional aspects of NK and K cells in the light of the most recent advances in the field, and pays particular attention to their cytotoxic and suppressor capacities. The role of NK and K cells in periodontal disease is then described and it is observed how this cell population is absent in healthy gums, whereas it is found with increasing frequency at disease reaches the chronic stage. The presence of LGL cells is therefore thought to be associated with the development of plaque-induced inflammation.

[Environmental pathology and dentistry. Dental caries and periodontal disease]. / Patologia ambientale ed odontoiatria. La carie dentaria e la malattia parodontale.

Dental decay and periodontal disease are pathologies which are closely related to environmental factors. The study analyses the various etiopathological elements which influence the onset of these diseases and the different methods of prophylaxis which reduce their incidence.

[Radiologic risk and INAIL insurance]. / Rischio radiologico ed assicurazione INAIL.

The Authors examine in this scientific work the radiological risk to which the dentist is exposed during his daily professional activity. They underline, moreover, the partial interpretation of the regulation in force by INAIL and ANPEQ that bind the dentist to a series of accomplishments that seem unjustified as regards the laws in force.

[Environmental pathology and dentistry. III. Carcinogenic process of the soft tissues of the oral cavity]. / Patologia ambientale ed odontoiatria. Nota III. I processi cancerosi dei tessuti mobili della cavità orale.

The context in which a relationship between environmental pathologies and dentistry is most easily distinguished is with reference to the carcinogenic processes of soft tissues in the oral cavity. In this study, a distinction is made between potentially cancerous lesions and true carcinomas, and the relationship between tumour pathology of the oral cavity and the surrounding environment is analysed. Clinical aspects are also illustrated.

[The free subepithelial connective tissue graft]. / L'innesto connettivale libero subepiteliale.

After a description of advantages and disadvantages of traditional surgical techniques for the correction of gingival retractions, a new surgical techniques is indicated: the subepithelial connective tissue graft. The latter technique is assessed and described in detail and its relative efficacy in comparison with the traditional techniques is emphasized.

[Oral lichen planus and chronic hepatopathy. Clinico-statistical study]. / Lichen planus orale ed epatopatie croniche. Indagine clinico-statistica.

Recent researches on the aetiopathogenesis of lichen planus have revealed a significant physiopathological and clinical association of this disease with the chronic hepatopathies. A clinico-statistical investigation has been carried out for the purpose of ascertaining the real importance of oral LP in the economy of this association. The results substantially demonstrated that oral LP, particularly the erosive variety, rather than cutaneous or cutaneous-mucosa clinical forms, occupies a central role in relation to association with the chronic hepatopathies (an important factor for diagnosis and predictive purposes). It has also been found that the erosive variety presents a significantly higher frequency in forms of LP with an exclusively oral involvement. Hence the need to propose an interdisciplinary type clinico-diagnostic approach to LP patients, particularly those with erosive type oral LP.

[Periodontal diagnosis. Review of the literature]. / La diagnosi paradontale. Una review della letteratura.

The possible ways of diagnosis periodontal disease are examined in the light of what is reported in the literature. Particular stress is laid on the importance of the diagnosis of diseases "activity", a condition that is indispensable for the implementation of correct periodontal therapy.

[Alloplastic grafts in the treatment of infrabone lesions]. / Gli innesti alloplastici nel trattamento delle lesioni infraossee.

The possible treatment of periodontal infrabone defects is examined in the light of current developments. The possibility of using alloplastic grafts to create new periodontal structures is discussed in particular detail.

[New mucogingival surgical technics. 1. The subepithelial connective tissue graft. Review of the literature and report of a case]. / Nuove tecniche di chirurgia mucogengivale. Nota I: L'innesto connettivale sottoepiteliale. Revisione della letteratura e presentazione di un caso clinico.

The Authors refer in this note about a new technic to recover root recessions particularly those wide and deep: the subepithelial connective tissue graft.

[New mucogingival surgical technics. 2. The semilunar coronal flap. Review of the literature and report of a case]. / Nuove tecniche di chirurgia mucogengivale. Nota II: Il lembo coronale semilunare. Revisione della letteratura e presentazione di un caso clinico.

The Authors refer in this second note about the indications and surgery technic of the semilunar coronally repositioned flap.