An Efficient and Cost-Effective Technique to Construct an Intraoral Central Bearing Tracing Device.

Intraoral central bearing tracing has been shown to be a predictable way of recording and verifying centric relation position for patients. Existing tracing devices are challenging to use due to several significant clinical limitations. In comparison to commercially available counterparts, this article presents a technique that simplifies instrumentation and clinical steps to make an intraoral tracer for making centric relation records, determining occlusal vertical dimension, and detecting deflective occlusal contacts in edentulous patients.

Assessing fit at the implant-abutment junction with a radiographic device that does not require access to the implant body.

Statement Of Problem: Radiograph paralleling devices provide an excellent means of obtaining orthogonal radiographs for the evaluation of the fit of implant restorations. Unfortunately, the clinical applicability of such devices is a significant issue because access to the implant body must be obtained at each radiographic appointment.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the fit or microgap at the implant-abutment junction could be more accurately and confidently assessed with a novel radiograph paralleling device that did not require access to the implant body once a proper registration index was made.

A radiograph positioning technique to evaluate prosthetic misfit and bone loss around implants.

A radiograph positioning device was developed to fit with commercially available film holders and implant systems. The device is indexed to the dental implant body and the adjacent dentition by using an implant placement driver and polyvinyl siloxane occlusal registration material. By fitting the device to a conventional film holder, accurate orthogonal radiographs can monitor changes in bone architecture and prosthetic misfit.

Oromandibular reconstruction: the history, operative options and strategies, and our experience.

Oromandibular reconstruction resulting from resection of benign tumor, malignant cancer, osteomyelitic or osteoradionecrotic mandible remains a challenge for plastic surgeons today. At present, fibula osteocutaneous flap is the perhaps most commonly used technique for oromandibular reconstruction because of its potential for contouring, immediate dental implant placement, and favorable donor site morbidity. In this study, we review the history of oromandibular reconstruction, summarize the characteristics of different osteocutaneous flaps, offer surgical options of different osteocutaneous flaps, and provide reconstructive strategies for different locations of mandibular defects.

Behavior-associated self-report items in patient charts as predictors of dental appointment avoidance.

Dentally anxious patients with long-term avoidance behavior may experience treatment complications and induce stress in the dentist. Since dental anxiety scales are seldom used clinically, it is valuable to investigate the strength of behavior-associated items in the current patient chart in predicting canceled or missed appointments. Charts from a sample of patients (N=357) who visited the UCLA Dental Center January 2006 to June 2006 were examined for self-reports of depression, moodiness, nervousness, and anxiety.

Household dust metal levels in the Sydney metropolitan area.

Household dust was collected from 82 residential homes within the Sydney metropolitan area. The geometric mean concentrations of metals in the household dust were Cd, 1.9 microg/g; Cr, 64.