Kavas H. Thunthy

Bone maintenance 5 to 10 years after sinus grafting

PURPOSE This radiographic study determined the amount of bone around hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated dental implants that were placed into bone-grafted maxillary sinuses. PATIENTS AND METHODS Postoperative complex motion tomograms using the Grossman technique were taken on 16 patients who had 27 maxillary sinus grafts performed using particulate autogenous iliac bone with and without demineralized bone, autogenous iliac corticocancellous block with and without demineralized bone, and autogenous jaw bone with demineralized bone. Bone levels were measured from the new floor of the grafted sinus to the apex of the implant and to the alveolar crest. The resulting bone level measures were compared with the type of graft used. All patients had been restored for 5 to 10 years after simultaneous graft and implant placement. RESULTS For all patients summed together, the average amount of bone from the top of the graft to the apex of the implant was 3.3 +/- 3.1 mm, and the average amount of bone from the top of the graft to the alveolar crest was 17.6 +/- 3.1 mm. The average level of bone in the sinuses of patients grafted with autogenous iliac bone was greater than the average level of bone in those grafted with autogenous bone combined with demineralized bone. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that autogenous bone grafts are maintained in the maxillary sinus, but the results with autogenous bone alone are better than when demineralized bone is added. However, this difference may not be clinically significant.

Sensitometric comparison of dental films of Groups D and E

In early 1981 Kodak introduced into the market Ektaspeed dental film of speed group E, which is more sensitive than Ultra-Speed film of speed group D. This investigation compared the sensitometric properties of Kodak dental films of speed groups D and E. By plotting a graph of density against log relative exposure, the characteristic curves were drawn for the two types of films. The curves showed that film E was approximately twice as fast as film D. A table derived from a mathematical description of the characteristic curves permitted the formulation of exact exposure-multiplying factors for changing from one type of film to another. Both films had almost the same useful density range, but film D had higher average film contrast and lower latitude than film E.

Sensitometric comparison of Kodak EKTASPEED Plus, Ektaspeed, and Ultra-speed Dental Films

In 1994, Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, N.Y.) marketed EKTASPEED Plus dental film to combine the advantages of the contrast of Ultra-speed film and the speed of Ektaspeed film. EKTASPEED Plus film uses T-Grain Emulsion technology similar to that used in the manufacture of the light-sensitive indirect exposure Kodak T-Mat film. This study compared the sensitometric properties of Ultra-speed, Ektaspeed, and EKTASEED Plus dental films. EKTASPEED Plus film was faster than Ektaspeed film at all film densities. Ektaspeed film became slower at higher densities and around a density of 1.9 became even slower than the Ultra-speed film. EKTASPEED Plus film had high inherent contrast and narrow exposure latitude similar to that of Ultra-speed film, whereas Ektaspeed film had low inherent contrast and wide exposure latitude. In conclusion, EKTASPEED Plus film had the advantages of the high contrast of Ultra-speed film and the high speed of Ektaspeed film. It maintained its high speed at high densities.

Effects of developer exhaustion on Kodak EKTASPEED Plus, Ektaspeed, and ultra-speed dental films

In 1994, Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, N.Y.) replaced its Ektaspeed film with the EKTASPEED Plus film. The manufacturer claims that one of the advantages of the new film is that it is not strongly affected by exhausted (depleted plus aged) processing solutions. The objective of the experiment was to test this claim. In exhausted solutions, EKTASPEED Plus film lost its speed more rapidly than Ultra-speed film but less rapidly than Ektaspeed film; that is, Ultra-speed film had the most stable speed. EKTASPEED Plus film lost contrast for 2 weeks before stabilizing, whereas Ultra-speed and Ektaspeed films continued to lose contrast for 3 weeks. Overall, EKTASPEED Plus film held its contrast over the other two films. EKTASPEED Plus film stopped increasing its film latitude after 2 weeks, whereas Ultra-speed and Ektaspeed films continued to increase film latitudes. In conclusion, for the three films studied, EKTASPEED Plus maintained the most constant levels of contrast and latitude in progressively exhausted solutions. All three films lost speed in exhausted solutions; EKTASPEED Plus film was the fastest but Ultra-speed film had the most stable speed.

Maxillary sinus mucocele: Report of an unusual case

The maxillary sinus mucocele occupying the entire sinus is rarely reported by dentists. This article discusses one such case diagnosed as an exceptionally large maxillary sinus cyst occupying the whole sinus. Unlike their findings in the medical literature, the authors were unable to find many similar cases reported in the dental literature. The location of these mucoceles necessitates the use of diagnostic radiographs, especially those of the panoramic type. Because etiology is still not fully understood after almost 100 years, the authors suggest and discuss four possible mechanisms of sinus mucocele formation and growth.

Automatic processing: Effects of temperature and time changes on sensitometric properties of ULTRA-SPEED and EKTASPEED films

The effects of changes in the processing temperature and time of automatic processors were studied with Kodak ULTRA-SPEED and EKTASPEED dental x-ray films. Speeds and inherent contrasts were derived for the two films from sensitometric curves at seven different temperatures and at five different processing times. As opposed to manual processing, only a slight change in film fog was observed with increases in automatic processing temperature or time. Film speed and contrast could be increased by increasing the processing temperature or time. The EKTASPEED film was more sensitive to these changes than was the ULTRA-SPEED film. Temperature had a stronger influence than processing time. All films were of archival storage quality except those processed at the low processing times of 2.5 or 3.5 minutes, and at the low processing temperature of 21 degrees C.

An illustrative study of the role of tomograms for the placement of dental implants

Before dental implants are placed, an evaluation of a presurgical bone site with tomograms will reveal information not available from panoramic or periapical radiographs. This article illustrates the importance of making tomograms before the placement of dental implants to determine the actual height, width, inclination, and undercut of alveolar bone; the shape, cortication, and irregularities of crestal alveolar bone; the density of alveolar bone; the relative location of anatomical landmarks, such as mandibular canal, maxillary sinus, nasal fossa, incisive canal, submandibular gland fossa, etc.; the bucco-lingual view of dental pathosis; the bucco-lingual evaluation of sinus graft following sinus-lift surgery; and the evaluation of surgically placed dental implants.

Sensitometric and image analysis of T-grain film

The new Kodak T-grain film is the result of a new technology that makes fast films with high image resolution. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the sensitometric properties and image quality of a T-grain film (T-Mat G) and also to compare this film with a green-sensitive orthochromatic film (Ortho G) and a blue-sensitive film (XRP). The criteria for film evaluation were relative speed, average contrast, exposure latitude, and image resolution. The results showed that the T-Mat G film is twice as fast as the X-Omat RP film and, one and one-third times as fast as the Ortho G film. T-Mat G also produces high resolution and high contrast. This is contrary to the widely held notion that speed is inversely proportional to image quality.

A study of the resolution of dental films and screens.

From the study of the resolution produced by 156 screen-film combinations at a film density between 1.41 and 1.59, the following conclusions are drawn: 1. Resolution is affected by screens, films, and observers. 2. The effect of screens on resolution is much greater than the effect of films. 3. Screens varied greatly in resolving ability. 4. Films did not differ greatly in resolving ability. 5. Cronex Lightning Plus screen and Radelin super high-speed screen produced the lowest resolution and Cronex detail screen produced the highest resolution. 6. In general, the slower the screen, the higher is the resolution and vice versa. 7. There were two groups of films with significant resolution differences. 8. Films designed to be processed automatically did not differ significantly in their resolving ability when processed manually. 9. There is significant interaction effect of screens and films on resolution. 10. Individual visual resolving ability plays a significant role in measuring resolution.

Automatic processing: Effects of temperature and time changes on the sensitometric properties of light-sensitive films

The effects of changes in the processing temperature and time of automatic processors were studied with three light-sensitive Kodak films: (1) blue-sensitive X-Omat RP film, (2) green-sensitive T-Mat G film, and (3) ultraviolet-sensitive X-Omat duplicating film. Speed and inherent contrast were derived for each of the three films from sensitometric curves at six different temperatures and at five different processing times. The T-Mat G film (T-grain technology) was comparatively less sensitive than conventional films (X-Omat RP) to increases in processing temperature or time. Unlike dental intraoral films, which cannot be processed at low processing time or temperature, the light-sensitive films were of archival storage quality even at a low processing time of 2.5 minutes or at a low processing temperature of 21 degrees C. Therefore the processing time of an automatic processor may be decreased for light-sensitive films.