Pacinian neuroma in adipose herniation of the buccal mucosa

An interesting case of a trauma-induced tender mass of the buccal mucosa in a 45-year-old man was presented. Following surgery, the patient was relieved from pain. Microscopically, the mature adipose tissue is unique in that it contained a single enlarged Pacinian corpuscle near the deep margin. This is the hitherto undescribed intraoral lesion of Pacinian neuroma in the herniated buccal fat pad.     

Trans-sinusal maxillary distraction for correction of midfacial hypoplasia: long-term clinical results

Maxillary distraction osteogenesis is indicated in severe angle class III malocclusions, and severe maxillary hypoplasia among some cleft patients and other craniofacial deformities. Twenty patients, aged 8-48 years (mean 17.8+/-10.5 SD) with maxillary and midfacial hypoplasia were treated. The follow-up period was 13-65 months (mean 35+/-16.3 SD). A trans-sinusal maxillary distractor was placed intraorally at each side of the maxilla. The distraction vector was predicted using specialist software, and was transferred to the patients using stereolithographic models and individual templates. A (high) Le Fort I type osteotomy was performed. The amount of activation varied from 8 to 17.5 mm (mean 13.1+/-2.9 SD). Soft and hard tissue formation resulted in complete healing across the distraction gaps. The distractors are almost completely submerged, and can be left in place as long as necessary to avoid relapse. Wit's appraisal was used to measure the stability of the long-term distraction results. Results up to 5 years after distraction showed considerable maxillary advancement with long-term stability. Ongoing growth of the facial skeleton must be considered when distraction osteogenesis is chosen in growing patients.     

Effects of systemic fluoride and in vitro fluoride treatment on enamel crystals

Systemically administered fluoride at a concentration of 75 ppm increases the surface roughness of developing enamel crystals in rats, which may be significant in advancing our understanding of the biological mechanism of fluorosis. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the increased surface roughness may be a result of surface restructuring by the direct action of fluoride at the crystal surface. We examined the fluoride dose-dependent roughening of enamel crystal surfaces in vivo, in the rat, and whether this roughening could be mimicked by the in vitro treatment of rat enamel crystals with neutral pH fluoride solutions. Our results showed that enamel crystal surface roughness increased after treatment with increasing fluoride ion concentrations, whether applied in vitro or administered systemically. This suggests a mechanism, alongside others, for the increased surface roughness of crystals in fluorotic enamel.     

Endosseous cylinder implants in severely atrophic mandibles.

A retrospective study was completed to assess the success rate of endosseous cylinder implants placed in mandibles that were 10 mm or less in maximum anterior height as measured from lateral cephalometric radiographs. Only implants that were located anteriorly between the mental foramina and loaded prosthetically for a minimum of 1 year were studied. Twenty-eight patients with a total of 130 Nobelpharma implants (forty-six 7 mm and eighty-four 10 mm) were included. The fixtures were evaluated following standard clinical criteria for success established for implants of this type. A total of 8 (two 7 mm and six 10 mm) of 130 implants failed, yielding an overall success rate of 94%. Major complications encountered included a complete mandibular fracture, a partial mandibular fracture, and a temporary bilateral mental nerve hypoesthesia.     

Amalgam and composite restorations: reasons for placement and replacement

A survey, in order to ascertain the reasons for placement and replacement of amalgam and composite restorations was made with the consent of the Italian Academy of Conservative Dentistry. 62 dentists answered the questionnaire, analysing their daily restorative work for two weeks: a total of 2,960 restorations were scored. The results show a prevalence of the primary caries over the replacements, and a prevalence of the secondary caries over the remaining reasons for replacement. Both data possibly mean the need for a more preventive approach to dental caries in Italy, even if the results fit fairly well into the values of the international research.