Ricardo Martínez-Rider

Use of Therapeutic Laser After Surgical Removal of Impacted Lower Third Molars

PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness of a therapeutic laser in the control of postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus associated with the surgical removal of impacted third molars. PATIENTS AND METHODS A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2 groups of 15 patients each undergoing surgical removal of impacted lower third molars under local anesthesia. The experimental group received 4 J/cm(2) of energy density intraorally and extraorally, with a laser with a diode wavelength of 810 nm and output power of 100 mW in a continuous wave. The control group received only standard management. The degree of postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus was registered for both groups. RESULTS The experimental group exhibited a lower intensity of postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus than the control group, without significant statistical differences. Patients of both groups required rescue medication; however, the time lapse between the end of the surgery and the administration of the medication was shorter for the control group. CONCLUSION The use of therapeutic laser in the postoperative management of patients having surgical removal of impacted third molars, using the protocol of this study, decreases postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus, without statistically significant differences.

Clinical and Radiographic Characteristics as Predictive Factors of Swelling and Trismus after Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Longitudinal Approach

Introduction Factors that contribute to swelling and trismus are complex, and they are originated by surgical trauma. The aim of the present study was to determine whether clinical and radiographic factors could predict the level of swelling and trismus after lower third molar surgery, through longitudinal approach. Methodology A prospective longitudinal trial was carried out. Forty-five patients of both genders with clinical and radiographic diagnosis of asymptomatic mandibular impacted third molar and with no intake of analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs 12 h prior to surgery were recruited and evaluated in a 72 h follow-up period. A mixed repeated measures model and backward and restricted maximal likelihood methods were used to analyze the data. Results Male gender, body mass index (BMI), the relation to the lingual and buccal walls, and age were determinants for predicting postoperative swelling and for exerting a significant influence (P < 0.05). Conclusions This study suggests the association of male gender, the relation to lingual and buccal walls, BMI, and age with measurement of swelling.

Non-syndromic craniosynostosis in children: scoping review

Background Craniosynostosis (CS) is a complex condition consisting of the early fusion of one or more cranial sutures in the intrauterine stage. The affected infant exhibits abnormal head shape at time of birth or shortly thereafter. It can be observed in normal individuals (non-syndromic CS or NSCS) or as a part of a multisystem syndrome. The purposes of the present article were to carry out a scoping review on Non-Syndromic CS and to discuss the most important findings retrieved. Material and Methods The steps of this scoping review were as follows: first, to pose a research question; second, to identify relevant studies to answer the research question; third, to select and retrieve the studies; fourth, to chart the critical data, and finally, to collate, summarize, and report the results from the most important articles. Relevant articles published over a 20-year period were identified and retrieved from five Internet databases: PubMed; EMBASE; Cochrane Library; Google Scholar, and EBSCO. Results Fourteen articles were finally included in the present scoping review. The following four most important clinical issues are discussed: (i) normal cranial development, clinical manifestations, and pathogenesis of NCSC; (ii) clinical evaluation of NCSC; (iii) treatment and post-surgical follow-up; and (iv) additional considerations. Conclusions NSCS may be present with associated head shapes. Multiple early surgical reconstructive options are currently available for the disorder. Pediatric Dentistry practitioners must be familiarized with this condition and form part of a multi-approach health team as those responsible for the opportune oral health care of the affected child. Key words:Craniosynostosis, cranial development, children, scoping review, dental management.

Prophylactic Extraction of Third Molars: Evidence-Based Dentistry

This new perspective article was performed to investigate the evidence from published dental literature about the prophylactic extraction of asymptomatic (or disease-free) impacted third molars (ITM) in adolescents and young adults. This clinical procedure is common until today and has been the origin of controversy among the dental community worldwide. However, evidence-based data from well-conducted clinical studies and systematic reviews are not sufficient to justify the routine prophylactic extraction of ITM. Active surveillance at regular intervals has been proposed as a better management strategy. As a conclusion, surgical removal of ITM is only justified in the presence of specific pathosis, independently of the patient’s age.

Dental Management of a Child with Incidentally Detected Hemophilia: Report of a Clinical Case

Children with hemophilia (A or B) are at risk for bleeding episodes, which rank from mild mucosal/soft tissues bleeding to life-threatening hemorrhages. This report describes the dental/medical management provided to an 8.10-year-old patient suffering from uncontrolled bleeding after a surgical procedure to expose both permanent upper central incisors, in which hemophilia was a pure incidental finding. Additionally, diverse precautions to be considered during the dental clinical treatment of hemophilic children are discussed.

Comparison of the analgesic efficacy of oral ketorolac versus intramuscular tramadol after third molar surgery: A parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background Preemptive analgesia is considered an alternative for treating the postsurgical pain of third molar removal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preemptive analgesic efficacy of oral ketorolac versus intramuscular tramadol after a mandibular third molar surgery. Material and Methods A parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out. Thirty patients were randomized into two treatment groups using a series of random numbers: Group A, oral ketorolac 10 mg plus intramuscular placebo (1 mL saline solution); or Group B, oral placebo (similar tablet to oral ketorolac) plus intramuscular tramadol 50 mg diluted in 1 mL saline solution. These treatments were given 30 min before the surgery. We evaluated the time of first analgesic rescue medication, pain intensity, total analgesic consumption and adverse effects. Results Patients taking oral ketorolac had longer time of analgesic covering and less postoperative pain when compared with patients receiving intramuscular tramadol. Conclusions According to the VAS and AUC results, this study suggests that 10 mg of oral ketorolac had superior analgesic effect than 50 mg of tramadol when administered before a mandibular third molar surgery. Key words:Ketorolac, tramadol, third molar surgery, pain, preemptive analgesia.