Publications by authors named "Hans Peter Howaldt"

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in the fair-skinned population and its incidence continues to rise. An update of the S2k guideline with the participation of all specialist societies familiar with the clinical picture and previous literature research is of great importance for the quality of care for affected patients. In addition to epidemiology, diagnostics and histology are discussed.

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Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) represents a serious health condition, impacting the lives of many patients worldwide. The condition challenges clinical care due to its complex etiology and limited therapeutic options. A thorough understanding of the pathophysiological and patient-related factors that promote disease development is essential.

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  • A study explored the occurrence of oral side effects (SEs) following COVID-19 vaccinations across Europe, using the EudraVigilance database to analyze data from August 2022.
  • The findings showed that dysgeusia (altered taste) was the most frequently reported oral SE, with women experiencing a higher prevalence of these side effects compared to men.
  • Overall, the study indicated a low prevalence of oral SEs, primarily involving taste-related and sensory issues, and suggested the need for further research to understand potential risk factors and causative links to the vaccines.
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(1) Background: Evaluation of impact of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity/oropharynx (OSCC) of up to 4 cm (pT1/pT2) and solitary ipsilateral lymph node metastasis (pN1). A non-irradiated group with clinical follow-up was chosen for control, and survival and quality of life (QL) were compared; (2) Methods: This prospective multicentric comprehensive cohort study included patients with resected OSCC (pT1/pT2, pN1, and cM0) who were allocated into adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) or observation. The primary endpoint was overall survival.

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This is a monocentric, retrospective study of patients who underwent successful immediate or delayed maxilla or mandible reconstructions with FFF from January 2005 to December 2021. Panoramic radiograph, computed tomography scans, and cone-beam CTs were analyzed concerning the osseous union of the intersegmental junctions between maxillary or mandibular native jaw and fibular bone. The primary parameter was to estimate the status of osseous union according to osteosynthesis type.

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Background: The administration of local anesthesia (LA) in dental practice requires an injection which is the leading cause of patients' fear and anxiety. Computer-controlled local anesthetic injector, designed to reduce the pain of performing local anesthesia by controlling the speed of injection. This single-blind randomised control trial aimed to compare the pain perception after computer-controlled local anesthesia (CCLA) and conventional LA.

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The aim of this monocentric, retrospective clinical study was to evaluate the status of osseous union in uni- and poly-segmental mandible reconstructions regarding conventional angle-stable manually bent osteosynthesis plates (Unilock 2.0 mm) versus titan laser-melted PSI patient-specific implant's (PSI). The clinical impact of PSI's high stiffness fixation methods on bone healing and regeneration is still not well addressed.

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  • The study examined COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy (VBH) among German university students and employees, highlighting it as a public health issue contributing to the ongoing pandemic.
  • Conducted in December 2021, the survey involved 930 participants, mostly students, assessing their demographics, COVID-19 history, and attitudes toward booster doses.
  • Results indicated a high acceptance rate (87.8%) for booster vaccines, driven by altruistic motives, though specific groups like previously infected individuals and certain student demographics showed lower acceptance rates.
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  • Germany's 2030 oral health agenda emphasizes the need for key behaviors like regular toothbrushing and dental check-ups, prompting an investigation into the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) of dental students.
  • A study surveyed 508 dental students, revealing high oral health KAB scores overall, with significant differences based on gender and clinical experience—clinical students scored higher than preclinical peers.
  • The results indicate that tobacco smoking is linked to poorer oral health KAB, suggesting a need for curriculum improvements that focus on preventive dentistry and better support for gender-diverse students in future studies.
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The strategic plan for dentistry and oral health in Estonia of 2030 focuses on oral health promotion and disease prevention through undergraduate dental curricula and fostering public health-oriented research among students. The present study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study to evaluate oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours (KAB) of dental students in Estonia. The study was carried out in the spring semester of 2020, and it used a modified version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI).

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  • The study investigates the impact of periosteal branches (PB) and septo-cutaneous perforators (SCP) of the fibular artery on the success of the free fibula flap (FFF) surgery for jaw reconstruction, using preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) data from 72 patients.
  • Results showed an 82% success rate for flap transfer, with a significant correlation between the number of PBs and successful flap outcomes, especially in the proximal segments of the fibula.
  • However, the presence of SCPs did not significantly affect wound healing at the donor site, indicating that PBs play a more critical role in flap viability.
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Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck is a rare, very severe disease, which, in most cases, originates from odontogenic infections and frequently ends with the death of the patient. Rapid surgical intervention in combination with a preferably pathogen-specific antibiotic therapy can ensure patients' survival. The question arises concerning which pathogens are causative for the necrotizing course of odontogenic inflammations.

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Background: Since the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the cases of COVID-19 co-infections have been increasingly reported worldwide. Mucormycosis, an opportunistic fungal infection caused by members of the Mucorales order, had been frequently isolated in severely and critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Initially, the anamnestic, clinical, and paraclinical features of seven COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases from Egypt were thoroughly reported.

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Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is widely used in preoperative evaluation of the lower limbs' vascular system for virtual surgical planning (VSP) of fibula free flap (FFF) for jaw reconstruction. The present retrospective clinical study analysed = 72 computed tomography angiographies (CTA) of lower limbs for virtual surgical planning (VSP) for jaw reconstruction. The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the morphology of the fibular bone and its vascular supply in CTA imaging, and further, the amount and distribution of periosteal branches (PB) and septo-cutaneous perforators (SCPs) of the fibular artery.

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  • - Odontogenic abscesses are primarily caused by oral bacteria, but traditional culture methods often fail to accurately identify these pathogens due to their complex nature and growth requirements.
  • - A study using 16S rRNA gene analysis and next-generation sequencing found that all tested patients with severe infections had identifiable pus microbiomes, revealing higher bacterial diversity compared to standard culture methods.
  • - This molecular approach showed that most infections were polymicrobial and predominantly anaerobic, suggesting that using advanced diagnostic techniques could greatly improve the detection and treatment of these infections in clinical settings.
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Craniofacial anomaly including deformational plagiocephaly as a result of deformities in head and facial bones evolution is a serious health problem in newbies. The impact of such condition on the affected infants is profound from both medical and social viewpoint. Indeed, timely diagnosing through different medical examinations like anthropometric measurements of the skull or even Computer Tomography (CT) image modality followed by a periodical screening and monitoring plays a vital role in treatment phase.

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the increasing number of COVID-19 vaccines available to the public may trigger hesitancy or selectivity towards vaccination. This study aimed to evaluate the post-vaccination side effects of the different vaccines approved in Germany; Methods: a cross-sectional survey-based study was carried out using an online questionnaire validated and tested for a priori reliability. The questionnaire inquired about demographic data, medical and COVID-19-related anamneses, and local, systemic, oral, and skin-related side effects following COVID-19 vaccination; Results: out of the 599 participating healthcare workers, 72.

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  • Virtual surgical planning (VSP) combined with patient-specific implants is becoming more common for immediate jaw reconstruction following cancer surgery, allowing for better preoperative planning and reduced surgery time.
  • A study analyzed 104 cases of immediate jaw reconstruction, comparing VSP and traditional methods, revealing that VSP resulted in a 42-day delay for therapy initiation, while not significantly impacting the safety of tissue margins.
  • No notable differences in local tumor recurrence or metastasis rates were found between VSP and non-VSP methods, suggesting that VSP is a safe option for oncological jaw reconstruction.
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Severe odontogenic abscesses are regularly caused by bacteria of the physiological oral microbiome. However, the culture of these bacteria is often prone to errors and sometimes does not result in any bacterial growth. Furthermore, various authors found completely different bacterial spectra in odontogenic abscesses.

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Dental care has been affected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) worldwide. In contrast to other dental clinics, the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Germany) decided not to limit dental treatment to emergencies alone, but to continue dental care for all patients, with increased safety measures. As such, health care professionals may be exposed to additional physical and mental stress.

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Fibula free flap (FFF) is widely used in head and neck reconstructive surgery and is considered as a standard and therapy of choice after ablative cancer surgery. The aim of this retrospective monocenter study was to determine the success rates of fibula free flaps for jaw reconstruction after ablative tumor surgery. The disease course of patients who underwent jaw reconstructive surgery with FFF from January 2002 to June 2020 was evaluated regarding the flap success rate.

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Dental academic institutions are affected by COVID-19. We assessed the perceived COVID-19 preparedness of these institutions and the characteristics of institutions with greater perceived preparedness. An international cross-sectional survey of dental academics was conducted from March to August 2020 to assess academics' and institutional attributes, perceived preparedness, and availability of infection prevention and control (IPC) equipment.

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One year has passed with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact is still evident everywhere on the globe and in all fields and domains [...

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Heterotopic ossification (HO) is one of the described phenomena after maxillofacial reconstructive surgery using fibular free flap (FFF) at the reception-site. The aim of this study was to determine the radiological incidence and form of HO along the fibular vascular pedicle as well as the rate of clinical symptoms if present. CT-scans of 102 patients who underwent jaw reconstructive surgery by using FFF from January 2005 to December 2019 were evaluated concerning the presence of HO.

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Article Synopsis
  • Biofeedback is an effective method for treating bruxism by increasing patient awareness of their grinding habits, which can be monitored using an in-ear device.
  • This device tightens in response to bruxing, causing discomfort that encourages users to stop grinding.
  • Although only seven female patients participated in this early controlled study, results indicate that the in-ear device may significantly reduce bruxism symptoms, with one patient experiencing up to 80% improvement in pain after six months.
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