Surgical apical repair with super-EBA cement: a one-visit alternative treatment to apexification

This article presents an alternative one-visit treatment to conventional apexification. Time, patient compliance, and multiple office visits are required to complete an apexification successfully. In the technique described, the root canal system is instrumented and filled followed by immediate periradicular manipulation and apical repair with Super-EBA cement. Cases presented in this pilot study have a recall period ranging from 5 to 14 months. It is our contention that the results of this technique are highly predictable, with the added advantage that unsalvageable situations (e.g., vertical root fracture) can be assessed right away. In both instances, the patient will receive the precise prognostic assessment and treatment. Thus, patients are returned to their restorative dentists with minimal delay.

Mucocele: a potential complication to endodontic surgery

Mucocele is not a commonly observed complication of endodontic surgery. A case is reported of a mucocele forming in the incision line following periapical surgery.

Endodontic treatment in taurodontism

This case report presents the successful endodontic treatment of a taurodontic mandibular second molar with five root canals (four in the mesial root, one in the distal root).

Dens invaginatus: complications and treatment of non-vital infected tooth

A case of non-vital infected dens invaginatus of the maxillary right lateral incisor with open apex, which presented with pain and swelling is presented. Although root growth and apical closure was achieved using calcium hydroxide, the periapical infection persisted and resolution was only achieved after apical curettage and apicectomy.

Management of maxillofacial infections: a review of 50 cases

Maxillofacial infections often place the oral and maxillofacial surgeon in situations where timely decisions have to be made. These decisions can be life-saving. This study reviews 50 infections treated over a 3-year period. The results reveal rapid resolution of the infections by adhering to fundamental principles in their management: recognition of airway compromise, surgical intervention, and the administration of the appropriate antibiotic. A protocol for the management of maxillofacial infections is described.

Oral mucosal soft tissue necrosis caused by superinfection. Report of three cases

Three patients in whom flap necrosis developed after oral surgeries and antibiotic therapies were studied microbiologically by routine aerobic and anaerobic methods. In all cases the bacteria Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Escherichia coli, and coagulase-negative penicillinase-producing staphylococci were resistant to the antibiotics used. These bacteria are frequent microorganisms of superinfection and were not found after the necrotic tissues had repaired.

Attainment of hermetic seal with decalcified allogenic bone matrix grafts--surgical vs. conservative approach

Twenty four non vital upper anterior teeth from twelve healthy patients, between the ages of 18-30 years, having definite radiolucent areas at the periapex, were taken for this study. A comparison was made between the surgical and conservative approach, using decalcified allogenic bone matrix (DABM) grafts to achieve a physiologic seal at the root apex. The period of observation were 60 days, 120 days and 180 days. The clinical and radiological finding of this study strongly support the observation that DABM accelerates osteogenesis and cementogenesis which seal the root apex through a physiological process. The process of healing was quicker when the surgical approach was used. However a longer period of observation and histological study is required before any conclusion can be drawn, as regard the choice of a surgical or conservative approach.

A large frontonasal bone flap for sinus surgery in the horse

A large frontonasal bone flap was created to treat diseases of the paranasal sinuses in 14 horses. The bone flap was made as wide as possible within the confines of the nasolacrimal duct so the floor of the frontal sinus and the dorsal and ventral conchae could be opened. These openings exposed the nasal passages, maxillary sinuses, and ventral conchal sinus thereby facilitating removal of diffuse and localized lesions from these sites. Diseases treated were ethmoid hematomas (4 horses), sinus cysts (5 horses), cryptococcal granuloma, osteoma, hemangiosarcoma, pus in the ventral conchal sinus, and periapical infection of a second molar. Four horses were euthanatized during or after surgery, one because of postsurgical pleuritis and pneumonia (horse with osteoma) and three because of their primary problems (cryptococcal granuloma, hemangiosarcoma, pus in the ventral conchal sinus). Skin suture abscesses that responded to treatment developed in four horses. Ten horses returned to their intended uses, the sinus flaps healed without blemish, and the original problems did not recur. The frontonasal flap technique provided greater access to all paranasal sinuses than methods described previously.

[Two case reports of extraction with the upper central incisors]

Although extraction of the upper central incisors is very rare because of their esthetical importance, they are sometimes extracted when impaction, root resorption, abnormal morphology, severe caries and/or trauma are involved. When extracted, tooth size adjustment, crown-bridge and/or orthodontic treatment are proposed for functional and/or esthetic improvement. Two present cases were reported of Angle class I crowding with root resorption of the upper central incisors caused by apical abscess (case 1) and impacted canines (case 2). The above central incisors were extracted and orthodontic tooth alignment was performed on both cases prior to final occlusal adjustment. Problems we encountered in through these cases were tooth size ratio between the upper and lower teeth causing spacing arch and/or disharmony of occlusion. In case 1, edge to edge anterior relationship was established because the over-all tooth ratio was 93.30% which was out side one standard deviation although the upper lateral incisors were tipped mesially to create some spaces. The over-all tooth ratio in case 2, however, was 92.13% which was inside one standard deviation and normal occlusion was restored. It is suggested that final tooth size adjustment is necessary for good occlusion in extraction cases of upper central incisors.