Altered passive eruption (APE): a little-known clinical situation.

Gummy smile constitutes a relatively frequent aesthetic alteration characterized by excessive exhibition of the gums during smiling movements of the upper lip. It is the result of an inadequate relation between the lower edge of the upper lip, the positioning of the anterosuperior teeth, the location of the upper jaw, and the gingival margin position with respect to the dental crown. Altered Passive Eruption (APE) is a clinical situation produced by excessive gum overlapping over the enamel limits, resulting in a short clinical crown appearance, that gives the sensation of hidden teeth.

Maximum use of the anterior maxillary buttress in severe maxillary atrophy with tilted, palatally positioned implants: a preliminary study.

Purpose: To evaluate an alternative treatment for rehabilitation of the atrophic maxilla with palatal and tilted implants and to assess patient satisfaction with the results.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective case study was made of completely edentulous subjects with tilted, palatally positioned implants in the anterior maxillary buttress placed and loaded between January 2005 and January 2007. Patients with severely resorbed edentulous maxillae (Class V according to Cawood and Howell) who requested overdentures and were followed for 12 months after implant loading were included.

Radiographic signs associated with inferior alveolar nerve damage following lower third molar extraction.

The aim was to carry out a literature review of preoperative radiographic signs in orthopantomography (OPG) and computed tomography (CT) related with the risk of inferior alveolar nerve damage during the surgical extraction of lower third molar (LTM). A search was made on PubMed for literature published between the years 2000 and 2009. In the reviewed literature, radiographic signs in the OPG that indicate a relationship between the LTM and the inferior alveolar canal are considered a risk factor for nerve damage.

Distal probing depth and attachment level of lower second molars following surgical extraction of lower third molars: a literature review.

A review of the literature is made to evaluate factors that influence probing depth and attachment level on the distal aspect of the lower second molar (L2M) following extraction of a lower third molar (L3M). The PubMed database was searched for studies published between 1997 and March 2009 using the following keywords: mandibular third molar, distal periodontal defect, distal probing depth, distal attachment level, flap design. Randomized prospective studies, with a minimum follow-up of three months for which the full text could be obtained, and that indicated the attachment level and/or probing depth on the distal surface of the L2M in both the preoperative and postoperative periods were included.

Dental implants placed simultaneously with bone grafts in horizontal defects: a clinical retrospective study with 37 patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the 1-year success rate and marginal bone loss for dental implants placed simultaneously with bone grafts.

Materials And Methods: The study sample comprised 37 patients treated with dental implants placed simultaneous with intraoral block bone grafts. The block grafts were harvested from the chin, retromolar area, or maxillary tuberosity.

Probiotic treatment in the oral cavity: an update.

Probiotics have been found to be beneficial to host health. Their primary use in medicine has been for the management of intestinal tract problems. In recent years, probiotics have been used as a treatment to promote oral health.

Immunohistochemical study of Langerhans cells in periapical lesions: correlation with inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial cell proliferation.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the presence and distribution of Langerhans cells in periapical lesions, and correlate this with inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial cell proliferation.

Material And Methods: Seventy chronic dental periradicular lesions, obtained during periapical surgery from 70 patients, were included in this study, including: 46 granulomas, 18 scar tissue and 6 periradicular cysts. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using the following markers: CD3 to analyze the inflammatory infiltrate, CD1a to determine the presence of Langerhans cells and Ki67 to analyze the epithelial cell proliferation.

Influence of oral hygiene and smoking on pain and swelling after surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars.

Purpose: To assess the pain and swelling during the first week after surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars and the relationship with oral hygiene and smoking before surgery and during the postoperative period.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study was performed on patients undergoing surgical extractions of impacted mandibular third molars. Pain was recorded on a visual analog scale from 1 to 10 and swelling on a 4-point descriptive scale at 2, 6, and 12 hours after surgery and daily during the first postoperative week.

Retrospective study of 68 implants placed in the pterygomaxillary region using drills and osteotomes.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate of implants placed in the pterygomaxillary region using drills and osteotomes with a minimum of 12 months' follow-up. Bone loss after 1 year of loading and patient satisfaction with the prosthesis were evaluated.

Material And Methods: A retrospective case study was made.

The nasopalatine canal as an anatomic buttress for implant placement in the severely atrophic maxilla: a pilot study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to present an alternative treatment concept for the rehabilitation of the atrophic maxilla that used the nasopalatine canal as an anatomic buttress for dental implant insertion and to assess patient satisfaction with this treatment.

Materials And Methods: The inclusion criterion for the study consisted of the presence of severe resorption of the edentulous maxilla (Class V according to the Cawood and Howell classification). In each patient, one implant was positioned in the nasopalatine canal.

Idiopathic trigeminal neuropathies: a presentation of 15 cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to present a clinical series of patients with trigeminal neuropathy and their treatment.

Patients And Methods: We present a retrospective study of 15 cases of idiopathic trigeminal neuropathies, with unilateral involvement of 1 or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve. The clinical, radiologic, and laboratory data of the patients, in addition to the treatment and clinical evolution, were reviewed.

Maxillary sinus lift performed using ultrasound. Evaluation of 21 patients.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sinus membrane perforations that occurred during a sinus lift procedure using the ultrasound technique, and to evaluate the bone gain obtained.

Materials And Methods: In 21 patients, 26 sinus lifts were performed using ultrasound and filled with bone graft material. The bone height and the bone gain obtained were observed in postoperative orthopantomographs, correcting for previous distortion.

Relationship between preoperative anxiety and postoperative satisfaction in dental implant surgery with intravenous conscious sedation.

Purpose: To study if patient preoperative anxiety is related to age and gender and to compare preoperative anxiety with postoperative patient and surgeon satisfaction in dental implant surgery under intravenous conscious sedation.

Materials And Methods: Dental implants were placed in 102 patients under local anesthesia and intravenous conscious sedation. The procedures were performed with or without dental extractions, and with or without bone regeneration.

Maxillary sinus septa: a systematic review.

This review analyzes articles published on the presence of septa in maxillary sinuses. An automated search was conducted on PubMed using different key words. This search resulted in 11 papers in which the presence of antral septa was assessed.

Oromandibular dystonia: a dental approach.

Oromandibular dystonia consists of prolonged spasms of contraction of the muscles of the mouth and jaw. Primary idiopathic forms and secondary forms exist. Secondary dystonia develops due to environmental factors; some cases of cranial dystonia after dental procedure have been reported, but the causal relationship between these procedures and dystonia remains unclear.

Foreign body granulomatous reactions to cosmetic fillers: a clinical study of 15 cases.

Introduction: Subcutaneous or submucosal infiltration of cosmetic materials is a very common practice, because of the ease with which such materials can be deposited, and their presumed innocuousness. However, in recent years there have been reports of foreign body granulomatous reactions occurring many years after infiltration.

Method: Data were collected on the clinical manifestations, histopathological findings, treatment, and course of the lesions of 15 patients.

Palatal positioning of implants in severely resorbed edentulous maxillae.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate implant-supported restorations supported by palatally positioned implants as an alternative treatment for rehabilitation of the atrophic maxilla and to assess the satisfaction of patients with the results.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective case study was conducted on completely edentulous subjects who received palatally positioned implants (placed and loaded) between January 2000 and January 2004. Inclusion criteria were patients with severely resorbed edentulous maxillae (Class IV or V maxillary atrophy, according to the Cawood and Howell classification) who requested implant-supported restorations and had a follow-up period of at least 24 months after implant loading.

Oral rehabilitation with bone graft and simultaneous dental implants in a patient with epidermolysis bullosa: a clinical case report.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) represents a group of mainly hereditary skin disorders, manifested by an exceptional tendency of the skin and mucosa to form bullae and vesicles after minor friction and trauma. Oral features include repeated blistering, scar formation, elimination of buccal and vestibular sulci, and alveolar bone resorption. The use of endosseous implants in the fixed prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with recessive dystrophic EB might provide a considerably better outcome than conventional removable prosthetic methods.

Immediate implants after the removal of maxillary impacted canines: a clinical series of nine patients.

Purpose: When impacted maxillary canines are not amenable to orthodontic traction or reimplantation, extraction is the only solution available, followed by the option of implant placement. The aim of this study was to present a surgical technique that allows placement of immediate implants following extraction of impacted maxillary canines.

Materials And Methods: Included in the study were patients with impacted maxillary canines who refused orthodontic treatment or transplantation and/or in whom the position of the canine teeth did not allow fenestration and orthodontic traction.

Immediate loading of immediate mandibular implants with a full-arch fixed prosthesis: a preliminary study.

Purpose: To determine the survival of immediate dental implants with immediate loading in the partially edentulous mandible, by use of a full-arch screw-retained provisional restoration.

Materials And Methods: Patients who were partially edentulous in the mandible with indications for extraction of the remaining teeth and with a minimum follow-up of 12 months after implant placement were included in the study. They were treated in chronologic order by the insertion of 6 Defcon dental implants (Impladent, Sentmenat, Spain) subjected to immediate loading (4 interforaminal and 2 posterior placements).

Augmentation procedures for deficient edentulous ridges, using onlay autologous grafts: an update.

The purpose of this review was to analyze publications related to augmentation procedures using autologous onlay grafts and to evaluate the survival/success rates of implants placed in the augmented areas. An automated search was made in Medline, of clinical publications from 2002 to 2007, including at least 5 patients and with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Ten papers were included.

Radiographic morphometric study of 37 periapical lesions in 30 patients: validation of success criteria.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the midterm prognosis of periapical surgery by use of the ultrasound technique, comparing a scale obtained by image analysis with the success rates according to other prognostic scales.

Materials And Methods: A clinical follow-up study was performed between September 2004 and September 2005. Thirty-six patients with chronic periapical lesions were treated with periapical surgery via the ultrasound technique and root-end filling with silver amalgam.

Influence of perforation of the sinus membrane on the survival rate of implants placed after direct sinus lift. Literature update.

The aim of this paper was to review the procedures adopted when a perforation of the sinus membrane takes place during a direct sinus lift for filling with bone graft; and the survival of implants in those cases in which perforation of the sinus membrane occurred. A bibliographical search in PUBMED was carried out of articles published from 1997 to 2008, with the key words "sinus perforation" and "membrane perforation". All articles specifying the two following criteria were included: (a) procedure in the case of perforation of the sinus membrane during direct sinus lift; and (b) the number and survival rate of implants placed in direct sinus lift with perforated and non perforated membrane.