Evaluation of satisfaction of patients rehabilitated with zygomatic fixtures.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction of patients rehabilitated with zygomatic fixtures and prosthesis with immediate loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study selected patients who were rehabilitated with zygomatic implants at the clinic of the Latin American Institute for Dental Research and Education (ILAPEO. Curitiba-PR. Brasil) between 2005 and 2009. The patients were asked to answer a control-questionnaire during their follow-up visits. Data were collected regarding the level of patient satisfaction, reason for dissatisfaction, number of post-operative clinical sessions, and the type of complication. Sixteen patients were selected: 10 females and 6 males. RESULTS: Half of the patients were completely satisfied while the other half were satisfied with some complaints. The complaints were related to hygiene, esthetics, phonetics, and discomfort during chewing. Regarding the post-operative evaluation, 50% of the patients were attended due to the prosthesis (62.5%) and the implant (37.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment with zygomatic fixtures is predictable and reliable. The patients were satisfied both with implants and prosthesis.

Evaluation of the mesio-buccal gingival sulcus depth of the upper central incisors in patients submitted to surgically assisted maxillary expansion.

UNLABELLED: PROPOSITION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the modifications that occurred in the mesio-buccal gingival sulcus depth of the upper central incisors during a 3-year post-operative period. METHODS: The mesio-buccal gingival sulcus depth of the upper central incisors of patients submitted to surgically assisted maxillary expansion (SAME) was measured by using a periodontal probe, both in the pre-operative period and in the 2-, 6-, 24-, and 36-month post-operative period. The results were submitted for statistical analysis by using ANOVA and Tukey's test with level of significance of 5%. RESULTS: The mesial gingival sulcus depths were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in the comparison between the pre-operative and both the 2- and 6-month post-operative periods, between the 2- and 24-month post-operative periods, and between the 2- and 36-month periods. CONCLUSION: The gingival sulcus depths increased during the initial post-operative periods. The SAME procedure increased the gingival sulcus depth of the upper central incisors.

Comparative analysis of tissue reactions to anesthetic solutions: histological analysis in subcutaneous tissue of rats.

Postanesthetic pain is a relatively common complication after local anesthesia. This complication may be caused by the anesthetic technique or by the anesthetic solution used. Tissue reactions induced by the anesthetic solutions may be one of the factors resulting in pain after anesthesia. The objective of this study was to comparatively analyze tissue reactions induced by different anesthetic solutions in the subcutaneous tissue of rats. The following solutions were utilized: 2% lidocaine without vasoconstrictor; a 0.5% bupivacaine solution with 1:200,000 adrenaline; a 4% articaine solution and 2% mepivacaine, both with 1:100,000 adrenaline; and a 0.9% sodium chloride solution as a control. Sterilized absorbent paper cones packed inside polyethylene tubes were soaked in the solutions and implanted in the subcutaneous region. The sacrifice periods were 1, 2, 5, and 10 days after surgery. The specimens were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological analysis. The results showed that there is a difference in tissue irritability produced by the local anesthetic solutions. The results also showed that there is no relation between the concentration of the drug and the inflammatory intensity, that the mepivacaine and articaine solutions promoted less inflammatory reaction than the bupivacaine, and that the lidocaine solution produced the least intense inflammation.