Bilaminar Palatal Connective Tissue Grafts Obtained With the Modified Double Blade Harvesting Technique: Technical Description and Case Series.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this case series is to present a technique to harvest palatal connective tissue grafts (CTGs) that concurrently provides several advantages over previously described techniques when applied to treat gingival recessions. CASE SERIES: Twenty patients were treated with root coverage procedures using CTGs harvested with the modified double blade harvesting technique (MDBHT). A double blade knife with two surgical blades set 1 mm apart was used in this case series. The palatal connective tissue was accessed through a horizontal incision and an envelope flap that was closed by primary intention. The grafts were measured immediately after harvesting with a periodontal probe. The overall mean length was 28.8 ± 7.8 mm and graft thickness was homogeneous and near to 1 mm in all the cases. Graft mean apicocoronal height was 5.0 ± 0.8 mm and 5.3 ± 1 mm at the molar and premolar levels, respectively. Clinical wound healing was evaluated at 7 days post-surgically and showed a modified early-wound healing index mean value of 3.0 ± 1.0. CONCLUSIONS: The introduced MDBHT consistently rendered grafts of uniform thickness and sufficient dimensions, while excluding epithelial tissue and the deeper aspects of the submucosa, thus avoiding rich fatty and glandular tissues. MDBHT allowed for donor site healing with minimal discomfort and without complications.

Treatment of an Advanced Gingival Recession Involving the Apex of the Tooth: Periodontal Plastic, Endodontic Surgical Approach With a Laterally Stretched Flap and a Connective Tissue Graft.

INTRODUCTION: This case report presents the successful multidisciplinary treatment of a maxillary lateral incisor with a deep and narrow recession involving the root apex associated with pulpal necrosis. The tooth initially considered with a hopeless prognosis, was treated with a combined periodontal plastic, regenerative, and endodontic surgical procedure. CASE PRESENTATION: A recently reported technique, the laterally stretched (LAST) flap with a connective tissue graft (CTG) technique for root coverage, was combined with enamel matrix derivative (EMD) for periodontal regeneration of the periapical lesion, that complemented an apicoectomy with retrograde sealing. The 6-year follow-up evidenced root coverage (RC) of 91.6% and increased keratinized tissue. Clinical and radiographic evaluation showed resolution of the periapical process. CONCLUSIONS: A severe gingival recession with endodontic involvement can be repaired if adequate control of the endodontic infection is obtained. The LAST flap, originally described for lower anterior teeth, was used successfully in a maxillary tooth, under extreme circumstances.

Laterally Stretched Flap With Connective Tissue Graft to Treat Single Narrow Deep Recession Defects on Lower Incisors.

INTRODUCTION: Gingival recession (GR) is one of the most common esthetic concerns for patients, and several surgical procedures have been developed for its treatment. It has been widely demonstrated that root coverage of shallow Miller class I and II areas of gingival recession is generally predictable, but the treatment of deep recessions associated with lack of attached keratinized tissue remains a challenge even for skilled surgeons. Although this type of recessions can be treated with tunneling procedures, because of their size, covering the connective tissue grafts (CTGs) with displaced flaps provide better graft nutrition and improve the outcome. The purpose of this case series is to present an alternative treatment to the traditional laterally displaced flap and tunneling techniques used for deep narrow recessions: The "laterally stretched flap" (LSF) with CTG. CASE PRESENTATION: Five healthy patients with isolated Miller Class II narrow deep gingival recessions were included in the case series. All the defects were treated with LSF and CTG. Complete root coverage (CRC) was achieved in 80% of the cases (4/5). Keratinized tissue increase was obtained in all the cases. The follow-up was between one and three years. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this case series, LSF + CTG demonstrated to be a promising technique for the treatment of narrow deep recessions. The lack of vertical incisions and an envelope approach renders a more stable wound with minimal scar formation and patient discomfort.

Histological evaluation of subepithelial connective tissue grafts harvested by two different techniques: Preliminary study in humans.

Subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) is an essential therapeutic tool in periodontal plastic surgery and implantology. The aim of this preliminary study was to observe and make a histological and histomorphometric comparison of the composition of subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTGs) harvested from the palatal mucosa by two different harvesting techniques: mucoperiosteal (lamina propria and complete submucosa including periosteum) and mucosal (lamina propria and a portion of the submucosa). The main hypothesis proposes that SCTG harvested with the mucosal technique contains a greater proportion of connective tissue proper (CTP) and a lower proportion of adipose tissue (AT) than the mucoperiosteal technique. Twenty healthy patients who required SCTG for different purposes were selected and assigned to one of the two following groups: group A (n=10; mucoperiosteal harvesting technique) and group B (n=10, mucosal harvesting technique). The histological sample was obtained by removing a 2 mm thick slice from the most distal portion of the graft. The proportions of adipose tissue (AT), connective tissue proper (CTP) and vascular tissue (VT) were evaluated. In group A, histomorphometric analysis showed that CTP accounted for 58.2% of the graft while AT accounted for 32.64%. In group B, the proportions of CTP and AT were 79.86% and 11.93%, respectively. The differences between groups were statistically significant for both tissues (p< .05). In contrast, no statistically significant difference was observed in the proportion of VT. Within the limitations of this study, the results show that the SCTGs harvested by the mucosal technique contain a greater proportion of CTP and a lower proportion of AT than those obtained by the mucoperiosteal technique, whereas the proportion of VT does not differ. Further long-term clinical and histological studies with more samples are needed to evaluate the clinical implications of SCTG composition.

El injerto de tejido conectivo subepitelial (ITCSE) es una herramienta indispensable en la cirugía plástica periodontal y la implantología. El objetivo del presente estudio preliminar fue observar y comparar histológica e histomorfometricamente la composición de los injertos de tejido conectivo subepitelial (ITCSE) obtenidos de la mucosa palatina mediante dos técnicas diferentes: mucoperióstica (lamina propia y submucosa incluyendo el periostio) y mucosa (lámina propia y parte de la submucosa). La principal hipótesis postula que el ITCSE obtenido mediante la técnica mucosa contiene mayor proporción de tejido conectivo propiamente dicho (TCP) y menor proporción de tejido adiposo (TA) que el obtenido mediante la técnica mucoperióstica. El presente estudio incluyó veinte pacientes sanos que requerían ITCSE por diferentes motivos, los cuales fueron distribuidos de forma equitativa en dos grupos: grupo A (n=10; técnica de obtención mucoperióstica) y grupo B (n=10; técnica de obtención mucosa). La muestra histológica se obtuvo removiendo una porción de 2 mm de ancho de la parte más distal del injerto. Se evaluó la proporción (%) de tejido adiposo (TA), tejido conectivo propiamente dicho (TCP) y tejido vascular (TV). En el grupo A, el análisis histomorfométrico mostró que el TCP constituía el 58.2% del tejido mientras que el tejido adiposo constituía el 32.64%. En el grupo B, la proporción de TCP y AT fue 79.86%y 11.93%, respectivamente. Las diferencias observadas entre los grupos fueron estadísticamente significativas para ambos tejidos (p< .05). En cambio, no se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la proporción de TV. Dentro de las limitaciones del presente estudio, los resultados mostraron que los ITCSE obtenidos mediante la técnica mucosa contienen mayor proporción de TCP y menor proporción de TA que los obtenidos con la técnica mucoperióstica, mientras que el TV permanece estable. Se requieren estudios longitudinales clínicos e histológicos a largo plazo con mayor cantidad de muestras para evaluar las implicancias clínicas de la composición del ITCSE.

Morphological characteristics of the facial bone wall related to the tooth position in the alveolar crest in the maxillary anterior.

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the position of the tooth in the alveolar ridge influences the thickness of the facial bone wall and the distance between the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and osseous zenith (OZ). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans from fifty four dentate patients were included in the study (22 male and 32 female, mean age 41. 5 years). The measurements taken included: (1). The Facial bone thickness at 7 different equidistant levels -measuring levels (ML 1-7) - between OZ and the root apex (A). (2) The CEJ -OZ distance. (3) Facial position of the tooth (FPT) relative to a straight line traced from mesial to distal interproximal depressions of the alveolar plate at the level of the CEJ. The Facial bone wall thickness ranged between 0 mm and 3. 8 mm, with greater values at more apical levels. Mean values were smaller than 1 mm at every level except ML7. The CEJ-OZ distance varied between 0. 5 mm and 6. 9 mm (mean 2. 9 mm). The Mean of FPT value was 0. 6 mm. No statistically significant correlation was found between FPT and the CEJ-OZ distance. Weak negative statistically significant correlations were found between FPT and the thickness of the facial bone wall at MP1 and MP3. Within the limits of this study, no clinically relevant correlation between FPT and facial bone thickness - CEJ-OZ distance was found. More studies should be conducted to evaluate a greater number of teeth, especially those that may present misalignment with greater FPT values.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar si la posición de la pieza dentaria en el reborde alveolar influencia el espesor de la tabla ósea vestibular y la distancia entre el limite amelo-cementario (LAC) y el cenit óseo (CO). Tomografías computadas haz de cono (TC) de 54 pacientes dentados fueron incluidas en el estudio (22 hombres y 32 mujeres, edad promedio 41. 5 anos). Las medidas registradas fueron: (1) espesor de la tabla ósea vestibular en 7 diferentes niveles de medición (NM1-7) entre CO y el ápice radicular (AR). (2) La distancia LAC-CO. (3) Posición vestibular de la pieza dentaria (PVD) en relación a una línea recta trazada desde la depresión interproximal mesial a la depresión interproximal distal de la tabla ósea a nivel del LAC. El espesor de la tabla ósea vestibular fue 0-3. 8mm, con valores mayores registrados a nivel más apical. El valor promedio fue menor a 1 mm excepto en NM7. La distancia LAC-CO varió entre 0. 5 y 6. 9mm (promedio 2. 9mm). El promedio de PVD fue de 0. 6mm. No se encontró correlación estadísticamente significativa entre la PVD y la distancia LAC-CO. Se halló una correlación débil negativa estadísticamente significativa entre la PVD y el espesor de la tabla ósea vestibular en NM1 y NM3. Dentro de las limitaciones de este estudio, no se encontró una correlación clínicamente significativa entre PVD y espesor de la tabla ósea vestibular - distancia LAC-CO. Se deben llevar a cabo más estudios para evaluar un mayor número de piezas dentarias, especialmente aquellas que se encuentran desalineadas con valores PVD mayores.

Alveolar dimensional changes relevant to implant placement after minimally traumatic tooth extraction with primary closure.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dimensional changes that occur in the alveolar ridge after minimally traumatic tooth extraction by means of computed tomography (CT), with special focus on the portion of bone supporting the gingival zenith. Twenty subjects with indication for singlerooted tooth extraction and preserved alveolar walls were selected for this study. After a minimally traumatic extraction, two CT scans were performed; the first within 24 hours postextraction (TC1) and the second 6 months (TC2) later. A radiographic guide with a radiopaque marker was used to obtain references that enabled accurate measurements over time, in both vertical and horizontal directions. The bone crest immediately apical to the gingival zenith was identified and termed "osseous zenith". The displacement of the osseous zenith in horizontal and vertical direction was analyzed and correlated with several alveolar anatomical variables with the aim of identifying possible predictors for bone remodeling. Dimensional changes that occur in postextraction sockets within a 6month period showed significant vertical and horizontal displacement of the osseous zenith (p<0.001). Mean vertical resorption was 2.1 ± 1.7 mm, with a median of 1.9 mm and a range of 0.2 to 7.5 mm. Mean horizontal resorption was 1.8 ± 0.8 mm with a median of 1.7 mm and a range of 0.6 to 4.4 mm. However, no correlation was found between the width of the facial alveolar crest and the displacement of the osseous zenith. The results of the present study showed that if the width of the facial crest at the apicalcoronal midpoint is less than 0.7 mm, a high degree of displacement of the osseous zenith (> 3 mm) should be expected. The present study suggests that the width of the alveolar crest at its midlevel, rather than crestal width, may be correlated with the displacement of the osseous zenith.

El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar los cambios dimen sio nales que ocurren en el reborde alveolar luego de realizar una exodoncia atraumática mediante tomografía computada, con especial atención en el tejido óseo que soporta el cénit gingival. Se seleccionaron 20 sujetos con indicación de exodoncia de piezas unirradiculares y que presentaban las paredes alveolares conservadas. Luego de llevar a cabo una exodoncia atraumática se realizaron dos tomografías computadas (TC); la primera dentro de las 24 hs postexodoncia (TC1) y la segunda a los 6 meses (TC2). Se utilizó una guía radiológica con un marcador radiopaco para obtener medidas precisas en el tiempo, tanto en el plano horizontal como vertical. Se identificó la cresta ósea inmediatamente apical al cénit gingival y se definió como "cénit óseo". Se realizó un análisis del desplazamiento del cénit óseo en el plano horizontal y vertical y se correlacionó con diferentes variables anatómicas con el objetivo de determinar posibles predictores del remo delado óseo. Los cambios dimensionales que ocurren 6 meses postexodoncia mostraron un desplazamiento significativo del cénit óseo (p<0.001) . La reabsorción vertical promedio fue de 2.1 ± 1.7 mm con una media de 1.9 mm y un rango de 0.2 a 7.5 mm. El promedio de reabsorción horizontal fue de 1.8 ± 0.8 mm con una media de 1.7 mm y un rango de 0.6 a 4.4 mm. No se halló correlación entre el ancho de la cresta vestibular y el desplazamiento del cénit óseo. Los resultados del presente estudio mostraron que si el ancho de la cresta vestibular en el punto medio (en sentido apicocoronal) es menor a 0.7mm se puede esperar un desplazamiento del cénit óseo (>3mm). Este estudio sugiere que el ancho de la cresta alveolar en su punto medio podría predecir el desplazamiento del cénit óseo.

Expresión de filamentos intermedios durante el desarrollo embrionario de cerdo sus scrofa y bovino bos taurus / Intermediate filaments expression during embryonic development of sus scrofa pig and bos taurus bovine

Utilizando la técnica de inmunoperoxidasa y un panel de anticuerpos monoclonales, se realizó un estudio para caracterizar la expresión de citoqueratinas y vimentina, proteínas constituyentes de los filamentos intermedios, en los tejidos en diferenciación de embriones de cerdo y bovino, en diferentes etapas de la embriogénesis. Ambas especies presentaron características similares en la expresión de citoqueratinas y vimentina. En los embriones prefetales, mayores de 18 mm de longitud cráneo-caudal, ya existe un patrón de citoqueratinas en la mayoría de las células epiteliales, ya que éstas se tiñeron intensamente con los anticuerpos antiqueratinas AE1/AE3 y AE1. En embriones menores, sólo reaccionaron moderadamente con estos anticuerpos, el mesonefros, tubo digestivo y epitelio celómico. La vimentina aparece en embriones más pequeños en el endotelio vascular, en el mesonefros y en algunas células conectivas y del tubo natural. En embriones mayores, además, aparece inmunotinción con este anticuerpo, en el endocardio, dermis, plexos coroídeos, osteoblastos y odontoblasto. La citoqueratina 18 y los controles negativos de las inmunotinciones empleadas, no mostraron reacción positiva en ninguna de las estructuras embrionarias de ambas especies. Nuestros resultados enfatizan la importancia de los filamentos intermedios, especialmente de las citoqueratinas, como marcadores de diferenciación de los tejidos embrionarios y sugieren que en aquellos órganos que comienzan a funcionar tempranamente en el embrión, como el mesonefros y la red vascular, el citoesqueleto se organiza más tempranamente