Social demand in ambulatory oral surgery. Experience in the Master of Oral Surgery of Madrid Complutense University (Spain).

Objectives: An evaluation is made of the surgical activity in the context of the Master of Oral Surgery (Madrid Complutense University, Madrid, Spain), together with an analysis of social demand in ambulatory oral surgery.

Study Design: A descriptive statistical analysis (frequency and contingency tables) is made of the different parameters relating to the activity carried out in this postgraduate master during two academic years.

Results: A total of 6750 interventions were carried out in 5877 patients.

Clinical and radiological course in apicoectomies with the Erbium:YAG laser.

Objective: A study is made of the efficacy of the Erbium:YAG laser in granulomatous periapical lesions, based on clinical and radiographic controls.

Material And Methods: The study comprised a series of 45 patients amenable to periapical surgical treatment of incisors, canines and premolars. A conventional surgical technique was used, with silver amalgam retrograde filling and irradiation of the bone defect and remnant root cement with the Erbium:YAG laser.

Variations of interleukin-6 after surgical removal of lower third molars.

Objectives: To determine if there is a release of IL-6 after surgical removal of lower third molars and to compare the amount of IL-6 in patients treated with NSAID and in those treated with glucocorticoids.

Study Design: Prospective study on 73 patients who attended the Oral Surgery Unit (Department of Medicine and Oral Surgery) in the Faculty of Odontology of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid for the surgical removal of their lower third molars. These patients were separated into two groups: the diclofenac group and the methylprednisolone group.

The use of methylprednisolone versus diclofenac in the treatment of inflammation and trismus after surgical removal of lower third molars.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of methylprednisolone (corticoid) versus diclofenac (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory--NSAID) in the treatment of inflammation and trismus after the surgical removal of lower third molars.

Study Design: Prospective study on 73 patients for the surgical removal of their lower third molars. These patients were separated in two groups at random: the diclofenac group and the methylprednisolone group.

Sterilizing effects of the Erbium:Yag laser upon dental structures: an in vitro study.

Aim: An evaluation was made of the sterilizing effects of the Erbium:YAG laser at different power ratings upon dental structures in vitro.

Design: An in vitro study was made of 47 single-root teeth removed for periodontal reasons in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Teaching Unit (Department of Medicine and Orofacial Surgery, Madrid Complutense University Dental School, Spain). The teeth were divided into three laser irradiation groups (250, 350 and 450 mJ) and a non-irradiated control group.

Influence of smoking upon the postoperative course of lower third molar surgery.

Objectives: To determine whether smoking influences the postoperative course (pain and trismus) of lower third molar surgery, with a clinical evaluation of surgical wound condition and analysis of the possible differences between smokers and nonsmokers.

Design: The study subjects were randomly distributed into two groups (smokers and nonsmokers) and subjected to lower third molar extraction in the Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Madrid Complutense University, Spain). The study variables were trismus after 7 days, the intensity of pain and the need for rescue medication during a period of one week.

Analgesic efficacy of diclofenac versus methylprednisolone in the control of postoperative pain after surgical removal of lower third molars.

Objective: To compare the analgesic efficacy of methylprednisolone (corticoid) versus diclofenac (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory-NSAID-) after surgical removal of lower third molars.

Study Design: Prospective study on 73 patients for the surgical removal of their lower third molars. These patients were separated in two groups at random: a diclofenac group and a methylprednisolone group.