Implant-retained skull prosthesis to cover a large defect of the hairy skull resulting from treatment of a basal cell carcinoma: A clinical report

Skin carcinoma, particularly basal cell carcinoma, and its treatment can result in large defects of the hairy skull. A 53-year-old man is described who was surgically treated for a large basal cell carcinoma invading the skin and underlying tissue at the top of the hairy skull. Treatment consisted of resecting the tumor and external part of the skull bone. To protect the brain and to cover the defect of the hairy skull, an acrylic resin skull prosthesis with hair was designed to mask the defect. The skull prosthesis was retained on 8 extraoral implants placed at the margins of the defect in the skull bone. The patient was satisfied with the treatment outcome.     

Complications of locking and non-locking plate systems in mandibular fractures

This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to critically assess the methodological quality of the existing systematic reviews, and to evaluate the postoperative complications of the mandibular fractures treated with locking and non-locking plate systems. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library’s electronic databases and grey literate using a combination of Medical Subject Heading terms and key words, until September 2018. No restrictions were applied to the search strategy. In total, three relevant systematic reviews were included, and the quality of these studies was low. A total of 33 studies (20 randomized studies and 13 non-randomized studies) were included in this systematic review, and 16 of them were included in meta-analysis. Most of the included randomized studies had an unclear risk of bias (Cochrane Collaboration); the quality of non-randomized studies ranged between 6 and 17 (Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies ? MINORS). Based on the results of our meta-analysis, we conclude that locking plates are superior only with respect to the need for mandibulomaxillary fixation (MMF) in the early postoperative period.     

Spatial arrangement of collagen fibrils in the articular cartilage of the mandibular condyle: A light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic study

To determine the spatial arrangement of collagen fibrils in articular cartilage of the human mandibular condyle, ten healthy condyles obtained at necropsy were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Observations using light microscopy showed the existence of four different zones. The organization and alignment of the collagen fibrils were different in every zone and varied from layers to bundles of fibrils running parallel, obliquely, or radially to the articular surface. Observations using scanning electron microscopy revealed a thin, surface layer of disorganized small fibrils with a cotton-wool appearance and a well-organized architecture of collagen fibrils in every zone. It was concluded that the organization of collagen fibrils in articular cartilage shows a three-dimensional network with a special system in every zone.     

Implant treatment of two failing or missing central incisors in the aesthetic region: a treatment protocol and 1-year prospective study

Implant treatment for two central incisors in the maxillary aesthetic region is complex due to concerns regarding inter-implant hard and soft tissue stability. A treatment protocol was therefore developed and implemented in a 1-year prospective case series study involving 16 patients with two failing or missing central incisors in the maxillary aesthetic region. The protocol consists of five options depending on whether teeth are still present (options 1–3) or not (options 4 and 5) and on the amount of bone available at the start of treatment: (1) extraction followed by immediate implant placement and provisionalization, (2) extraction followed by immediate implant placement and delayed provisionalization, (3) extraction followed by ridge preservation, delayed implant placement and immediate provisionalization, (4) delayed implant placement and guided bone regeneration with delayed provisionalization, (5) guided bone regeneration (extensive bone augmentation of the alveolar ridge), delayed implant placement, and delayed provisionalization. The patients were assessed regarding peri-implant hard and soft tissue parameters, aesthetic index score, and patient satisfaction. All treatment options showed good clinical and radiographic results and high patient satisfaction.     

Complications after use of elastomeric pressure-indicating media at 24-hour follow-up visit for immediate maxillary complete removable dental prosthesis: A clinical report

Various pressure-indicating media are available to assess the adaptation of the intaglio surface of a removable dental prosthesis at the insertion and follow-up appointments. This clinical report describes the use of an elastomer that entered the maxillary sinus through an undetected oroantral communication at the 24-hour follow-up for an immediate maxillary complete removable dental prosthesis. A Caldwell-Luc sinusotomy procedure was required to remove the material, and the patient required over 1 year of healing time before his reported symptoms resolved.     

Improving oral health behavior: a social psychological approach

BACKGROUND: The authors describe social psychological research that has found consistent beneficial effects of framing health messages to be congruent with personality factors in encouraging preventive oral health behaviors. METHODS: The authors describe several studies in which they administered health messages to young adults who did not floss and who were classified as predominantly approach-oriented or avoidance-oriented on the basis of a short personality questionnaire. They framed the messages to emphasize the benefits of dental flossing or the costs of not flossing. The authors assessed the effectiveness in terms of flossing efficacy and flossing behavior. RESULTS: When patients received a dental health message that was congruent with their motivational orientation-approach or avoidance-they had a stronger belief that they were capable of flossing, expressed greater intentions to floss and exhibited increased flossing behavior (flossing 50 to 65 percent more often in the following week). CONCLUSIONS: Two factors that dental practitioners should consider when delivering information are whether the patient is more approach- or avoidance-oriented and whether to frame the message in terms of gains or losses. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Practitioners can use these theory-based findings in dental practice to promote positive oral health behaviors by administering brief personality assessments to patients and by framing the message accordingly.