Nebojša Krunić

Assessment of the effectiveness of low level laser in the treatment of alveolar osteitis

BACKGROUND/AIM Alveolar osteitis (AO) is the extraction wound healing disorder with a presence of severe pain. Low level laser therapy stimulates cell metabolism and microcirculation, have has pronounced analgesic, antiedematous and anti-inflammatory effect and speeds up wound healing process. The aim of this study was to present results of clinical research that examined the effectiveness of low level laser in pain relief and healing of extraction wounds with alveolar osteitis in the lower jaw which was formed on the second day after tooth extraction. METHODS The study was conducted on 60 subjects divided into the study and the control group. In both groups extraction wounds were processed in similar way, except that in the study group was applied daily treatment of low level laser with a total of eight sessions of radiation, while in the control group extraction wounds were dressed with zinc oxide eugenol paste, which was changed every 48 hours up to the pain cessation. Measurement of pain intensity was done with a visual analogue scale (VAS) 10 min prior to processing of extraction wounds and daily for the next eight days. Assessment of the effectiveness of low level laser on healing of extraction wounds was performed on the day eight of the treatment. RESULTS On the day five after beginning of the treatment of extraction wounds with alveolar osteitis in the patients of the study group a lower average value of pain as compared to the control group was registered. This difference was increased within the following days. Extraction wounds healing in the study group was more successful and faster than in the control group. CONCLUSION This study suggested that the reduction of pain was more pronounced in the patients with alveolar osteitis whose extraction wounds were subjected to low level laser radiation in comparison to those in which extraction wounds were treated with zinc oxide eugenol paste.

Residual monomer content determination in some acrylic denture base materials and possibilities of its reduction

BACKGROUND/AIM Polymethyl methacrylate is used for producing a denture basis. It is a material made by the polymerization process of methyl methacrylate. Despite of the polymerization type, there is a certain amount of free methyl methacrylate (residual monomer) incorporated in the denture, which can cause irritation of the oral mucosa. The aim of this study was to determine the amount of residual monomer in four different denture base acrylic resins by liquid chromatography and the possibility of its reduction. METHODS After the polymerization, a postpolymerization treatment was performed in three different ways: in boiling water for thirty minutes, with 500 W microwaves for three minutes and in steam bath at 22 degrees C for one to thirty days. RESULTS The obtained results showed that the amount of residual monomer is significantly higher in cold polymerizing acrylates (9.1-11%). The amount of residual monomer after hot polymerization was in the tolerance range (0.59-0.86%). CONCLUSION The obtained results denote a low content of residual monomer in the samples which have undergone postpolymerization treatment. A lower percent of residual monomer is established in samples undergone a hot polymerization.

Application of biomaterials in experimentally induced alveolar bone osteoporosis

Rehabilitation of alveolar bone with tissue defect caused by advanced osteoporosis is a common problem in stomatology and maxillofacial surgery. One of therapeutic approaches is implantation of biomaterials. The aim of this study was to estimate biocompatibility, osteoconductive and reparative capabilities of biomaterials in wound healing of rats which are experimentally treated with corticosteroids during 12 weeks to produce osteoporosis. The syngenic Sprague Dolly female rats 6-8 weeks old were divided into the experimental and control groups. In the experimental group comprising 5 subgroups, the bone defects were made in the left mandible by 1.4 mm borer, in sterile conditions. In the first subgroup of rats healing wasspontaneous. In other four subgroups hydroxyapatite (HAp) composite, a mixture of HAp and autologous plasma, a mixture of HAp and fibrin glue, and glass jonomer bone cement were used, respectively. The best results were obtained with a mixture of HAp with plasma. Histologically, the new bone tissue was found in both spongious and compact mandibular parts. Our. results suggest that HAp can help in new bone tissue formation in animals treated with corticosteroids.