Onur Atalı

Hyaluronic Acid Versus Ultrasonic Resorbable Pin Fixation for Space Maintenance in Non-Grafted Sinus Lifting

PURPOSE An ultrasonic resorbable pin (SonicWeld, KLS Martin, Mühlheim, Germany) was compared with hyaluronic acid (Hyaloss Matrix, Anika Therapeutics, Bedford, MA) for their ability to maintain space in non-grafted sinus lifting. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comparative split-mouth study was designed and implemented. Six women and 4 men were included (mean age, 56.7 yr). The primary predictors hyaluronic acid (HA) application and ultrasonic resorbable pin fixation (URPF) were coded as binary variables. The primary outcome variables were height of alveolar bone (HAB) and reduction in sinus volume (RSV). Secondary outcomes were bone density and implant survival. RESULTS The postoperative mean HAB was significantly higher than the preoperative mean HAB on the 2 sides (P < .05). Mean increases in HAB and RSV on the URPF side were significantly greater than those on the HA side (P < .05). In total, patients were treated with 40 implants. No type I bone quality was identified; 14 (35%) implants were inserted in type II bone, 22 (50%) in type III bone, and 6 (15%) in type IV bone. There was no statistically meaningful difference between the 2 sides for implant survival or bone quality. At 6 months, all implants were clinically stable and the definitive prostheses were functional, resulting in a survival rate of 100%. CONCLUSIONS There was sufficient bone height to eventually place implants on the 2 sides in all patients. The 2 techniques yielded predictable outcomes in implant survival and bone quality. However, HAB and RSV were considerably greater on the URPF side.

Analyses of anatomical relationship between mandibular third molar roots and variations in lingual undercut of mandible using cone-beam computed tomography

Background/purpose Anatomical features of the lingual undercut region is a potential factor that might increase the risk of displacement of a tooth or fragment. The aim of this study was to report the normal anatomical relationship of impacted lower third molar roots to the lingual cortex and soft tissues of mandible and anatomical variations of lingual balcony in the impacted third molar region. Materials and methods One hundred impacted third molars (54 males, 46 females) from 65 (31 men, 34 women) patients were evaluated for this study using cone-beam computed tomography. Three measurements [bone thickness, angle (Ang) 1 and Ang 2] were recorded on the coronal section slices of cone-beam computed tomography images; in these images, the impacted third molar root was closest to the lingual soft tissues. Results The average distance between the tooth root and the lingual outer cortical bone layer (bone thickness) was 1.03 mm. The averages of Ang 1 and Ang 2 were 140.61° and 153.44°. Ang 1 and Ang 2 of female patients were larger than those of male patients. Conclusion The narrow angulation of the lingual balcony region and the relationship between roots and lingual soft tissues should be noted to avoid undesirable complication of displacement of a tooth or fragment into sublingual, submandibular, and pterygomandibular spaces. There was no relation in the floor of the mouth between the position of the impacted third molar roots and different lingual undercut angulation variations.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Panoramic Radiography and Three-Dimensional Dental Volumetric Tomography with Determination of Implant Size and Position of Bone in Undercuted Regions during Implant Planning

Amac: Dis hekimlerinin intraoral fotograf, alci model ve iki panoramik grafilerin (OPTG) tumunden yararlanip yaptiklari implant planlamalarindaki implant boy, cap ve pozisyon-acili uygulama kararlari ile sadece uc boyutlu dental volumetrik tomografilerde (3BDVT) yaptiklari inceleme sonucu tercih ettikleri implant boy, cap ve pozisyon (acili uygulama) kararlarindaki farkliliklar karsilastirilacaktir. Yontemler: Uc dis hekimligi uzmanlik ogrencisinden hastalarin intraoral fotograflari, alci modelleri ve OPTG’leri verilip bu hastalar icin negatifte basilmis radyolojik goruntuler uzerinde implant sablonu ile; ve sonrasinda hastalarin sadece 3BDVT’leri verilerek dijital ortamda 35 farkli bolgede implant tedavi planlamasi yapmalari istenmistir. Hastalarin yapilan onceki olcumleri ile sonraki olcumleri arasindaki farkliliklar, butunuyle ve calismaya katilimci olarak istirak eden hekimler (katilimcilar) ayri ayri tutularak istatistiksel olarak incelenmistir. Bulgular: OPTG kayitlari, alci modeller ve intraoral fotograflar ile yapilan degerlendirmeler ile 3BDVT kayitlari ile yapilan degerlendirmeler tumden ve katilimcilar arasinda ayri ayri karsilastirildiginda implant uzunluklari (p=0,028), kalinliklari (p=0,001) ve acili pozisyonlandirmalari (p=0,001) arasinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli farklilik gorulmektedir. Sonuc: Mandibula molar bolgedeki implant uygulamalarinda 3BDVT radyografilerinden yararlanilmasi onemlidir.

Subkondiler mandibula kırıklarına retromandibular transparotid yaklaşım: Geriye dönük bir çalışma

BACKGROUND The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of retromandibular transparotid approach performed for the reduction of dislocated subcondylar fractures. METHODS Fourteen patients with subcondylar mandibular fractures were evaluated (8 male, 6 female, age range 19-43 years). The primary predictor variable in the present study was time (preoperative vs postoperative). The primary outcome variables were inflammatory complication, facial nerve deficit (House and Brackmann classification), and presence of parotid fistula. The secondary outcome variables were occlusal disturbances, maximal interincisal opening (MIO), and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain (VAS). RESULTS Excellent occlusion and function was observed postoperatively. One salivary fistula occurred after surgery but was healed after 3 weeks. No inflammatory complication was observed. Three patients had grade III and one patient had grade II facial nerve deficit, all recovered in 6 weeks. All patients were free of pain and no malocclusion was observed. MIO was ranging from 34 to 58 mm (mean 44.4 mm) after 6 months. CONCLUSION The retromandibular transparotid approach is feasible and safe. It facilitates reduction and fixation of subcondylar fractures with functional outcomes and rare complications.

Implant Rehabilitation for Extremely Atrophic Maxillae (Cawood Type VI) with Le Fort I Downgrafting and Autogenous Iliac Block Grafts: A 4-year Follow-up Study.

PURPOSE The aim of this 4-year retrospective follow-up study was to investigate treatment outcomes, including implant survival rate and marginal bone loss, in patients with maxillary Cawood type VI atrophy pattern who underwent Le Fort I downgrafting and iliac block augmentations for implant rehabilitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrognathic edentulous Class III patients with severe maxillary resorption (Cawood VI) were enrolled. Reconstructive procedures performed included Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy, iliac block grafting, labial sulcoplasties, and dental implant placement. Panoramic radiographs were used to assess marginal bone loss. The Nobel Biocare Replace and GMI Frontier dental implant systems and fixed partial dentures were used for dental rehabilitation. Statistical analyses were made using NCSS 2007 statistical software, with significance set at P < .05. RESULTS Ten patients (six men and four women) with a mean age of 50.4 ± 12.55 years underwent maxillary osteotomy (advancement: 9 ± 1.4 mm; inferior repositioning: 8 ± 1.0 mm) and iliac block sandwich grafting (posterior ilium: n = 3; anterior ilium: n = 7) from 2009 to 2015. Nine patients were treated with a two-stage protocol. The mean graft healing period was 5.9 ± 0.73 months. A total of 98 implants were placed, 80 in maxillae and 18 in mandibles. The Nobel Biocare Replace system was used in two patients (n = 29 implants) and GMI Frontier system was used in eight patients (n = 69 implants). Implant numbers in the maxilla were: 6 implants in 2 patients, 8 implants in 6 patients, and 10 implants in 2 patients. The mean follow-up period was 47.8 ± 3.4 months. The success rate was 93.75%, with a 6.25% fail ratio (n = 9 implants) at a follow-up of 4 years. Marginal bone resorption was 1.8 ± 1.0 mm at the postoperative year 1 and 3.75 ± 0.85 mm at postoperative year 4. Marginal resorption in the 8-implant group was found to be higher than that in the 6-implant group and 10-implant group at the postoperative year 1 (P = .045, P = .026, P < .05, respectively). CONCLUSION Le Fort I osteotomy and simultaneous iliac block grafting (downgrafting) is a valuable option for implant rehabilitation in extremely atrophic maxillae (Cawood VI). It showed a high survival rate (93.75%) at 4 years of follow-up in this study.

Bone healing after biodegradable mini-plate fixation

PURPOSE To compare bone healing in mandibular vertical body osteotomies (MVBO) after fixation with a resorbable 2.0mm-profile fixation system in the first and third postoperative months in rabbits. METHODS Twenty hemimandibles of ten rabbits were divided into two groups according to duration of resorbable fixation-one or three months. The MVBOs were performed and one four-hole, resorbable, 2.0mm mini-plate fixation system was used on each side. The computed tomography (CT) scans, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and histomorphometric outcomes of groups I and II were compared. RESULTS Significant differences were found between the one- and three- month assessments in terms of newly formed bone ratio values (p<0.05). There was more new bone formation at the third month on both the CT and histomorphometric examinations. A better adaptation of the bone tissues to the resorbable mini-plate and screws was observed on SEM at three months. CONCLUSION The resorbable mini-plates provided a fixation stable enough to allow immediate oral alimentation and callus formation in both groups.