[Use of root-end filling materials in a surgical apical endodontic treatment in the Netherlands]. / Gebruik van vulmaterialen bij een chirurgische apicale endodontische behandeling in Nederland.

The material to be used for closing the root canal when carrying out a retrograde surgical apical endodontic treatment continues to be a subject of discussion. The aim of the present study was to inventory which materials are being used for this purpose at this moment by Dutch O&MF surgeons. All practicing Dutch OM&F surgeons (n = 195) were sent a questionnaire. The response rate was 77%. The results showed that at this moment intermediate restoration material (IRM) is the retrograde filling material most widely used by the Dutch O&MF surgeons (47.6%) in cases of surgical apical endodontic treatment. Amalgam, with 35%, was second, especially due to its plasticity and convenience. The choice of material is just as often determined by tradition, personal preference, individual experience or scientific results. There seems to be no relationship between the dental surgeon's number of years of experience and the type of retro grade filling material which he or she uses.

[A tooth located in a mandibular fracture line. Treatment by oral- and maxillofacial surgeons in The Netherlands]. / Mandibulafracturen met een gebitselement in de fractuurlijn. Behandelbeleid van kaakchirurgen in Nederland.

Mandibular fractures are among the most common facial bone injuries. Approximately 50% of the fractures occur in teeth bearing areas. Consequently, the likelihood that a tooth will be in the fracture line is substantial. A review of the literature reveals that there is not a clear guideline for preserving or removing a tooth in a mandibular fracture line. By means of a questionnaire, information was collected about how dental surgeons in The Netherlands deal with this problem. The research sample consisted of 194 active oral and maxillofacial surgeons in The Netherlands in 2005. One hundred and two surgeons responded (52.6%). The response rate was sufficient to allow for reliable deductions and statistical analysis. The results of the questionnaire showed that the respondents were in agreement. Generally, the respondents strove to preserve a tooth in the mandibular fracture line. The respondent's treatment of a mandibular fracture was in agreement with the state of the art as presented in the current literature. The respondent's choice of treatment did not depend on age, gender, university clinic at which the respondent was trained to be a dental surgeon, year of registration as a specialist, place of work and position. According to the respondents, the dentist's role in the aftercare of a mandibular fracture is treatment of the teeth injuries, follow-up of the posttraumatic oral self care, and regularly testing the vitality of the teeth in and around the mandibular fracture line.

[Osteomyelitis of the jaws]. / Osteomyelitis van de kaak.

In the western world osteomyelitis of the jaws is not frequently encountered these days. In order to establish the actual incidence a survey was conducted, based on the number of patients treated for osteomyelitis of the jaw at a Dutch university medical centre between 1996 and 2001. 44 patients were identified. Their symptoms, afflicted areas and specific types of osteomyelitis were recorded, and compared to the literature. The incidence of osteomyelitis at the university medical centre was found to be in line with other, similar medical centres in the western world (approximately 3-4 per 100.000 annually). However, since recent data from comparable centres are either of limited use or altogether lacking, no firm conclusions could be drawn. Although there appears to be a slight increase in incidence in recent years, there is no hard evidence to support this.