[Evaluation of postoperative mucosa and skin temperature after surgery for impacted third molar]. / Rilevazioni di temperatura mucosa e cutanea nel decorso postoperatorio di terzi molari inclusi.

Surgery for impacted third molar is often characterized, in the postoperative period, by pain, trismus and swelling. The study evaluates temperature variations of mucosa and skin after application of ice packs, in three different modalities, to the region overlying the surgical site. The goal was to identify any correlation between variations of temperature and postoperative clinical symptoms. For this purpose we selected 54 patients programmed for impacted third molar surgery. The patients were divided into three groups of 18. Time and frequency of application of the ice pack varied in the three groups; 5'/30' (group 1); 10'/60' (group 2); 20'/60' (group 3). During the four hours following surgery, temperatures of mucosa and of skin at the surgical site were measured with high-precision thermocouples, maximum response 5". The results indicate that application of an ice pack for 5'/30' or for 10'/60' controls the temperature of the mucosa post-surgery more effectively, and that the duration of surgery appears not to influence temperature variations. In the postoperative phase we recommend a rational application of ice packs appropriate to the constitution of each patient.

Clinical-statistic survey regarding odontogenic keratocysts in a sample of population in Eastern Sicily.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to point out the frequency, histologically documented, of the odontogenic keratocysts in Eastern Sicily, through the study of a sample of 220 cystic neoformations. Of these, those presenting histopathological peculiarities of odontogenic keratocysts have been examined. METHODS: Fifteen keratocysts were histologically classified. The following characteristics were examined: histological character, age and sex, location of the lesion, association to unerupted teeth. RESULTS: Of the 220 cystic neoformations observed, at the histological examination, 15 were odontogenic keratocysts. The 53% were found in males, against the 47% in females. In the 67% of the cases the lesion involved lower-jaw, against the 33% of the jaw-bone. The greatest frequency was found in the angle of the mandible, followed by the frontal region of the jaw-bone, by the premolar/molar region of the mandible, by the lower frontal region and by the premolar/molar region of the jaw-bone. None odontogenic keratocysts relapsed following surgical operations. Patients are kept under observation and, to this point, elements of release have not emerged. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiologic data found, are in line with those of the literature. We confirm the necessity of a precocious diagnosis for programming a correct surgical treatment and for reducing the risk of relapse and of ameloblastomatouses transformation.

[Necrotizing sialometaplasia. A clinical case]. / La scialometaplasia necrotizzante.

In the present study, a rare pathology, described for the first time in 1973 has been examined. In particular, the nosologic picture of the disease, the etiopathogenetic hypotheses, symptoms and diagnostic procedures reported in the literature have been analysed. The case of a man showing a neo-formation, in the midline region of the hard palate, that appeared only following ingestion of very hot food is examined. The surgical procedure is reported and discussed in detail, and the histopathological analysis showing a necrotizing sialometaplasia is reported. Prognosis and possible therapeutic approaches are also discussed. Finally, the attention has been focused on the histological similitary between this pathology and squamous cell carcinoma or epidermoid carcinomas.

[Von Recklinghausen osteitis fibrosa cystica. A clinical case]. / Osteite fibroso cistica di Von Recklinghausen. Caso clinico.

In Recklinghausen's disease the skeleton lesions are often the first signal of the pathology. The main clinical manifestations are represented by bony lesions which appear as multicystic lesions with loss of the hard lamina and skull malformation and asymmetry. In this disease there is a relevant osteoclastic activity which prevails over the osteoblastic one associated to the fibrous substitution of the marrow, sometimes producing micro or macro cysts. The typical alteration consists of an increase along the endosteal and trabecular surfaces in the number of osteoclasts which can be found in small reabsorption gaps. This is the cause of a cortical and trabecular reduction which can appear as interrupted. Histologic lesions consist in the replacement of bone tissue with fibrous and osteoid tissue. These bony lesions are not characteristic of the disease but to be distinguished from other pathologies such as for example Paget's disease and other forms of fibrous dysplasia (Gardner's syndrome, Leontiasis ossea). A case personally observed is described: a women, 29 years old, suffering from Recklinghausen's disease with face and skull asymmetry, condyles and glenoid cavity deformation, abnormal face reduction. Observing the planigraphy on the right side of the temporomandibular articulation, flattened glenoid cavity and condyles with irregular outlines can be noticed, aplastic coronoid cuts, altered jaw. The patient was submitted to surgery for dental extraction followed by a biopsy which showed some regressive alterations on cellular level of the bony structure.

[The evaluation of the postoperative response in surgery on the lower third molar]. / Valutazione della risposta postoperatoria della chirurgia del terzo molare inferiore.

BACKGROUND: The impacted third molar is often excised in the absence of clear signs of disease. On this basis and taking also into account the usual surgical hazard, an analysis of the post-surgical behavior of 100 patients that had undergone excision of the impacted third molar, is made. METHODS: All patients were observed and treated by the same surgeon and were divided into two distinct groups based on the position and depth of the tooth in the bone as observed by orthopantomography. In the first group of patients, bone fenestration was carried out by the use of mallet and gouge and the tooth was excised without odontotomy. In contrast, in patients of the second group, odontotomy always preceded tooth excision. Patients of both groups were analyzed for several different parameters including age, sex, the reason for surgery, tooth position according to Pell and Gregory, the length of excision and, finally, swelling and the reduced mouth opening that occur after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Data reported indicate non-proportional results between the two groups; there is no apparent relation between post-surgical swelling and mouth opening, the latter being always present and very pronounced.

Epidemiology of oral cavity tumors.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to establish the incidence of neoplasias of the oral cavity in the area of Catania. For this purpose, the histological samples of tumors of the oral cavity examined in different centers of Pathology and Histology of the area of Catania in the period January 1990-December 1995 were analyzed. Particular attention has been given to several factors that include age, sex, anatomical site and histological type. METHODS: Eight hundred forty four tumors of the oral cavity were analyzed. RESULTS: Of these 65% were benign tumors but 35% were malignant neoplasias. Benign tumors were equally distributed between sex, with only a slight preponderance in women. In contrast, malignant tumors markedly prevailed in the males with an incidence that was about three times that observed in females. Benign neoplasias were more frequent between the third and the sixth decade of life, whereas malignant tumors appeared more often between the fifth and the seventh decade. Malignant tumors were preferentially localized in the lip, but also in the tongue, whereas benign tumors predominated at the gingiva. CONCLUSIONS: Finally, malignant and benign tumors differed also in their nature as the former were more frequently derived from epithelial tissue whereas the mesenchymal origin prevailed in the benign tumors.

[Prevalence of dental caries in a Catania school group]. / Ricerche sulla prevalenza della carie dentale in un campione della popolazione scolastica di Catania.

In order to evaluate the importance of information on dental caries prevention and to study variations of dental caries incidence in the years we have studied a children populations studying in some Catania's schools. It was made a screening test on 528 children between from 10 to 14 years old 62.14% of the group.

[Epidemiological survey of dental caries in 937 middle school students in Gravina, Catania]. / Ricerche epidemiologiche sulla carie dentale su 937 alunni delle scuole medie del comune di Gravina di Catania.

The AA. have carried out a transversal epidemiologic investigation on 937 children attending the school of Gravina. The age of the subjects range from 10 to 14 years. In these young subjects dental decays percentage, DMF/dmf were evaluated and compared to age and oral hygiene. Oral hygiene has been expressed with values ranging from 1 to 3, the point 1 showed the best situation and 3 the worst. It has been evaluated also the number of subjects with dental decay that have been cured by the dentist. No correlation between dental decay and weight has been found infact X analysis was not significative.

[Plasmatic value curves of mepivacaine in plexal anesthesia of the upper jaw, the spine of Spix and intraligamentary]. / Curve di valori ematici di mepivacaina dopo anestesia plessica del mascellare superiore, tronculare di Spix e intraligamentaria.

To extend previous, studies, the authors analyzed plasmatic values of mepivacaine 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes following administration of the drug. Three routes of administration were used: intraligamentary, plexal, at the supramaxillary level and troncular, into the Spix spine. The results of the present study suggest that absorption of mepivacaine varies from patient to patient, depending on individual factors as hepatic metabolism of the drug.