Use of titanium dental implants as an integrated part of a CLP protocol.

The problem of edentulousness in the cleft area of patients with cleft lip and palate was formerly resolved with a conventional fixed bridge construction, but this approach did not always prove optimal. Nowadays, in these patients the bridge can be substituted by a crown on an osseointegrated titanium implant fixture. The concept of dental rehabilitation using titanium implants has gradually merged into our routine treatment for patients with cleft lip and palate.

Potential side effects of dental amalgam restorations. (I). An oral and medical investigation.

The aim of this study was to explore a possible association between health status and self-reported adverse effects related to dental amalgam restorations. A group of 50 consecutive patients (index group), referred for complaints self-related to dental amalgam restorations, was compared with a control group of individuals matched by age, sex and postal zip code. The patients underwent an oral, stomatognathic, medical and clinical chemistry examination.

Long-term observations of extensive fixed partial dentures on mandibular canine teeth.

Twelve patients were followed for 15 years after treatment with a 12-unit cantilever fixed partial denture on the mandibular canines opposite to a complete maxillary denture. Four constructions failed and had to be removed but four were still in function after 15 years. Four patients died during the observation period still wearing their constructions.

Masticatory function in patients with congenital and acquired maxillofacial defects.

Ninety-eight patients who received prosthodontic treatment for maxillofacial defects were examined clinically and by means of questionnaires and registration of chewing efficiency and occlusal force. Although 30% of the patients stated that they could chew soft food, and one third could not chew the test food (almonds), only 14% said they had a poor chewing ability. The mean occlusal force was small (80 N) but the individual variation was great (median 49 N, maximum 327 N).

Masticatory function in patients with extensive fixed cantilever prostheses.

Eleven patients with complete maxillary dentures and 12-unit fixed partial dentures that included the mandibular canines were studied before and during specific intervals after prosthodontic treatment. Established methods for evaluation of oral function were used and the last examination was performed 30 months after treatment. All patients reported that their masticatory function had been substantially improved and there were no symptoms of dysfunction in the masticatory system.

Long-term follow-up of patients with orofacial discomfort complaints.

To a group of 113 patients who exhibited wide variation in orofacial and general complaints, which they related to the effects of dental material, a new questionnaire was sent 8-10 years after the first examination. Eight patients had died, and 23 individuals could not be contacted. Of the remaining 82 patients, 62 (76%) individuals completed the questionnaire.

Orofacial functions in patients with congenital and acquired maxillary defects: a fluoroscopic study.

By means of videofluoroscopic recordings, chewing, swallowing and speech were monitored in nine patients with congenital and acquired maxillary defects. All of them were rehabilitated with a maxillary obturator prosthesis. The defective region was seldom used for chewing.

Cinefluoroscopic study of long-term changes of bolus position and chewing cycle duration after fixed prosthetic treatment.

Some chewing parameters were studied in 12 patients with a complete maxillary denture and a 12-unit fixed mandibular denture anchored to the two canines. Registration by means of fluoroscopy were made before, 1 month after, and in four patients 13 yr after treatment. The mean velocity of the mandible during chewing increased after the prosthetic treatment and remained stable for meat during the observation period.

Dietary pattern, energy and nutrient intake in patients with oro-facial discomfort complaints.

In ninety-six patients with oro-facial and general complaints, which the patients assumed were caused by galvanic currents and/or metallic restorations, the recording and analysis of dietary pattern, energy and nutrient intake were performed. The records, in household measures, of the intake of food and beverages during 7 consecutive days according to a written instruction were collected. Sixty-eight out of the ninety-six records were sufficiently complete for calculation of nutrient intake.

Extensive fixed partial dentures on mandibular canine teeth: a 5-year recall study.

Twelve patients were followed for 5 years after treatment with a 12-unit cantilever fixed partial denture on the mandibular canines opposed by a complete maxillary denture. Two fixed dentures had to be removed, one because of an abutment tooth root-fracture and one because of rapid marginal bone loss in a terminal stage of leukemia. Caries and periodontal lesions were rare, but other complications, principally related to endodontics, occurred.

Outcome of treatment of patients with orofacial discomfort complaints.

In 113 patients with a wide variation of orofacial and general complaints, which they assumed were caused by galvanic currents and/or metallic restorations, the initial and long-term development (3 years) after treatment was studied. Many treatment procedures were tried; besides information and follow-ups, each patient underwent in average of 6.6 different measures.

Clinical findings in patients with orofacial discomfort complaints.

In 113 patients with orofacial and general complaints, which they assumed were caused by galvanic currents and/or metallic restorations, clinical dental and medical examinations were performed. Most of the patients had natural teeth with dental metallic restorations. A number of dental diagnoses, such as caries, pulpitis, periapical osteitis and periodontitis, were found.

Reported symptoms, diseases, and medication of patients with orofacial discomfort complaints.

This paper is a part of a series of studies of 113 patients with orofacial and general complaints which they assumed were caused by metallic dental restorations and/or oral galvanic currents. An extensive case history was taken by means of a questionnaire and an interview. The results showed that the patients reported widely varying symptoms, both oral and general, such that the polysymptomatic character of the patients cannot be explained by a single etiologic factor.

Salivary and microbial conditions in patients with orofacial discomfort complaints.

Secretion rate, pH, and buffer capacity of paraffin-stimulated saliva and the prevalence of salivary Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli were examined in 98 consecutive patients (22 men, 76 women) referred for orofacial discomfort complaints related to 'oral galvanism'. The results of this investigation were compared with those of a group of 100 patients without symptoms and complaints. The patients with orofacial symptoms and complaints had significantly fewer teeth with amalgam fillings than patients without, despite equal mean number of teeth in the two groups.

An examination of the surface corrosion state of dental fillings and constructions. II. A clinical study on patients with orofacial complaints.

A group of 115 patients with orofacial complaints has been examined. A new method for intraoral measurement of electrode potentials on the surface of the amalgam fillings and prosthetic constructions has been developed and applied. The possible connections between the measured electrode potentials and patients' saliva properties and their complaints have been discussed.

An examination of the surface corrosion state of dental fillings and constructions. I. A laboratory investigation of the corrosion behaviour of dental alloys in natural saliva and saline solutions.

Electrochemical measurements on amalgams and gold alloys in natural saliva and saline solutions have been performed. The results show strong inhibiting effects of some components in natural saliva on the surface corrosion behaviour of amalgams. For the gold alloys the cathodic reduction of oxygen was notably lower in natural saliva than in saline solutions.

Contact allergy to dental materials in patients with orofacial complaints.

Two groups of individuals were patch tested for frequencies of contact allergy to dental materials. The patient group with orofacial and distant symptoms and complaints referred to the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry were compared with an age-sex matched control group of individuals referred to the Department of Dermatology. The results did not show any differences in patch test reactions between the patient and control groups.

Studies of individuals with orofacial discomfort complaints. An investigation of a group of patients who related their sufferings to effects of dental materials and constructions.

This thesis is based on seven studies. The aims of these studies were to investigate a series of consecutive patients with orofacial and general sensations and complaints of discomfort, which the patients assumed to be caused by galvanic currents created by metallic dental fillings and restorations, as well as contact allergy to both metallic and non-metallic substances in dental materials. Studies I and II described the patients' symptoms and complaints, as well as the clinical findings of many odontological and medical examinations.

Five years' experience with bone-anchored auricular prostheses.

A prosthetic device might be indicated in craniofacial reconstruction when plastic surgery is impossible or when the final cosmetic result is unsatisfactory. However, the attachment of a prosthesis is often very difficult. Bone-anchored, skin-penetrating titanium implants have been used for retention of auricular prostheses in 38 patients.