Posterior dislocation of the mandibular condyle is a rare disorder caused by trauma to the chin accompanied by damage to the external auditory canal. Treatment of posterior condylar dislocation (PCD) is directed at repositioning the condyle into the glenoid fossa, preventing recurrent dislocations, and maintaining patency of the ear canal. With early intervention, closed reduction with manual manipulation is successful but could be ineffective for chronic protracted PCD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo date, there is no objective or reliable means of assessing the severity of degenerative joint disease (DJD) and need for joint replacement surgery. Hence, it is difficult to know when an individual with DJD has reached a point where total arthroplasty is indicated. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether serum levels of Alpha-2 HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) as well as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2, 4, 7) can be used to predict the presence of severe DJD of the hip and/or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) (specifically: joints that require replacement).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe general dentist is usually the first health care practitioner to evaluate oral disease, initiate treatment and manage complications. Although rare, devastating outcomes of dental surgery can include Ludwig angina, mediastinitis, hemorrhage, necrotizing fasciitis, Lemierre syndrome and osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is a well known, but rare complication of dental extractions that can mimic multiple benign and malignant processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLemierre syndrome, which can result from a recent oropharyngeal or odontogenic infection, is characterized by clinical or radiographic signs of thrombosis of the internal jugular vein, distant infected emboli and the presence of anaerobic pathogens, usually Fusobacterium necrophorum. The septic emboli resulting from the infected thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein give the syndrome its constellation of central nervous system, pulmonary and many other manifestations including septic shock. This condition was so rare that, historically, it became known as the "forgotten disease," but an increasing frequency of reports indicates that Lemierre syndrome may not be so uncommon.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScleroderma, or progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), an autoimmune rheumatic condition affecting the connective tissues, has a profound impact on oral health. Common orofacial findings include xerostomia, gastroesophageal reflux disease and limited mouth opening. This review article describes scleroderma, or PSS, and its various manifestations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease with far-reaching systemic implications. The hallmark feature in SLE is chronic inflammation. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, serous membranes such as the pleura and pericardium, mucous membranes and other organs of the body.
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