Extraction of mandibular third molars: proposal of a new scale of difficulty.

We evaluated the accuracy of a new scale of surgical difficulty for the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars, which includes consideration of previously underestimated variables. Two hundred patients with impacted third molars were enrolled, and a preoperative clinical and radiographic assessment of difficulty was made by an oral surgeon using the new index. Five oral surgeons with similar degrees of experience then evaluated the surgical difficulty during operation. The kappa test and weighted kappa were used to evaluate the level of agreement between the preoperative and postoperative evaluations. This was 0.73, which indicated a substantial concordance between the preoperative and postoperative assessments of difficulty indicated by the new scale. The linear weight of kappa was 0.8 and the quadratic weight 0.87. We recommend this new scale of surgical difficulty for the extraction of impacted third molars for use in clinical practice.

The platform switching approach to optimize split crest technique.

The split crest technique is a reliable procedure used simultaneously in the implant positioning. In the literature some authors describe a secondary bone resorption as postoperative complication. The authors show how platform switching can be able to avoid secondary resorption as complication of split crest technique.

Use of piezosurgery device in management of oral surgery complications: clincal case and clinical experience report.

The root displacement into the maxillary sinus could be a complication of oral surgery in the upper jaw. In these cases, the root removal is needed in order to avoid the occurrence of sinus pathologies. Piezosurgery techniques could assure a safer management of such complications, because of the clear surgical visibility and the selective ability of cut. The aim of this article is to present a case of oral surgery complication (root displacement in the right maxillary sinus), in which piezosurgery technique helped for a correct and safe clinical management, allowing to reduce the soft tissue damage.

Adverse reaction to irrigation with povidone-iodine after deep-impacted, lower third molar extraction.

Povidone-iodine is most commonly used worldwide because of its germicidal activity, relatively low irritancy or toxicity and low cost. Frequently, povidone-iodine is used as a topical antiseptic for treating and preventing wound infection. In rare cases skin irritation or iododerma-like eruption could represent possible adverse effects due to the oxidative effects of iodine and allergic hypersensitivity reaction. In this report we describe a case of a massive adverse reaction to the irrigation of surgical wound dehiscence with 10 percent povidone-iodine solution after deep-impacted, lower third molar extraction. This reaction was related to a central neurotrophic reflex involving three trigeminal branches and probably due to peripheral chemical insult of mandible nerve. This adverse reaction determined a severe edema and diffuse skin lesions, involving the whole left side of the face mimicking an iododerma-like eruption. These violent symptoms were solved after 60 days. Furthermore, we report a small permanent skin scar in the zygomatic area and transient alterations of facial sensitivity on the affected side which completely disappeared in 6 months.