Gingival recession in mandibular incisors and symphysis morphology-a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate if the morphology of the mandibular symphysis is associated with the development of gingival recession. Materials and methods: A cohort of 177 patients was followed longitudinally for up to 5 years post-treatment. Based on the width of the symphysis, participants were divided into three groups: narrow (n = 57); average (n = 63), and wide symphysis (n = 57). Morphology of the symphysis and inclination of incisors were measured on lateral cephalometric radiographs before treatment (Ts), at the end of treatment (T0) and 5 years after treatment (T5). Gingival recession and the change of clinical crown heights in mandibular incisors were measured on plaster models made at TS, T0, and T5. Results: From TS to T5 the change in inclination was comparable in the narrow, average, and wide groups. At T5, gingival labial recession was present in 19.3 per cent of patients with narrow symphysis, 20.6 per cent with average symphysis, and 14 per cent of patients with wide symphysis. The difference was not significant. The mean change of clinical crown height was <1 mm (TS - T5). The regression model showed some evidence that incisor inclination at Ts might have been associated with the change of mean clinical crown height (-2.51, 95% CI: -4.6 to -0.4, P = 0.02). The logistic regression model demonstrated that H1 (Height 1) might be associated with the development of gingival recession (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.96, P = 0.03). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, there is no evidence that the overall morphology of the mandibular symphysis is associated with gingival recession development.

Microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck--current concepts of maxillofacial surgery in Europe.

INTRODUCTION: Microvascular surgery following tumour resection has become an important field of oral maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). This paper aims to evaluate current microsurgical practice in Europe. METHODS: The questionnaire of the DOESAK collaborative group for Microsurgical Reconstruction was translated into English, transformed into an online based survey and distributed to 200 OMFS units with the aid of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery (EACMFS). RESULTS: 65 complete and 72 incomplete questionnaires were returned. Hospitals from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Slovenia and Lithuania participated. 71% of contributing centres were university hospitals, 87% out of these perform microvascular tumour surgery at least on a two-weekly base. Overall complication rate was at around five percent. Most frequently used transplants were the radial forearm flap and the fibular flap. The perioperative management varied widely. Success factors for flap survival, however, were uniformly rated, with the surgical skill being the most important factor, followed by the quality of postoperative management. Medication seems to play a less important role. CONCLUSION: Within Europe microvascular surgery is a common and safe procedure for maxillofacial reconstructive surgery in the field of OMFS. While there is a major accordance for the surgical procedure itself and the most frequently used flaps, perioperative management shows a wide variety of protocols with low presumed impact on surgical outcome.