Use of intra-operative ultrasonography to detect a small foreign body in the soft tissue of the upper lip

The applications of ultrasound, and ultrasonography in dentistry: a scoping review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review aims to summarize the available literature on the clinical applications of ultrasonography and ultrasound in diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional dental applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and conducted a protocol-driven scoping review of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, and case series that assessed ultrasonography or ultrasound use as a stand-alone diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional tool in dentistry. We included studies published after 1980, study samples ≥ 10, with diagnostic, concordance, or therapeutic outcomes. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and others (up to April 2021) and extracted information regarding study level, patient level, test or treatment level, and outcome level data.

RESULTS

Five interventional studies (related to oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders, and dental anesthesia), eight therapeutic studies (related to surgery and orthodontics), and seventy-five diagnostic studies (related to orthodontics, surgery, endodontics, oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders, restorative dentistry, and periodontology) were identified and presented in this review.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonography has a well-established niche in diagnostic dentistry, while therapeutic and interventional ultrasounds have a smaller, yet present, niche in dentistry. However, further research is needed to report the precise estimates of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional effects.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Dentists are mostly unfamiliar with ultrasonography and ultrasound and their potential uses. This review maps the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ultrasonography and ultrasound technology in dentistry and highlights the current challenges, gaps of knowledge, and research status of ultrasound technology in this regard.

Broken dental needle retrieval using a surgical navigation system: a case report and literature review

This paper reports a case of fractured needle retrieval in the pterygomandibular space using the Medtronic surgical navigation system. Current literature on needle fracture and retrieval in the oral cavity was also reviewed. A literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, MDConsult, The Cochrane Library, and Google. A variety of keywords were used, including "needle fracture," "broken dental needle," "needle injuries in dentistry," "foreign body retrieval," and "dental needle retrieval." Articles published after 1980 were reviewed. Seventeen articles that involved broken dental needle retrieval were selected.

Management of needle breakage using intraoperative navigation following inferior alveolar nerve block

This report describes a peculiar case of needle breakage during inferior alveolar nerve block to perform third molar extraction that was removed with the aid of a BrainLAB VectorVision neuronavigation system. This report adds to the currently limited scientific literature on the image-guided removal of foreign bodies from the oral cavity.

Needle breakage following inferior alveolar nerve block: implications and management

Needle breakage following inferior alveolar nerve block is a rare complication in current dental practice. We report a case of delayed retrieval of a broken needle with the use of modern imaging modalities. In addition, possible causes of needle breakage and preventative measures, indications and timing of removal, localisation techniques and surgical approaches are discussed.

Retained foreign bodies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the frequency of occurrence and outcome of patients having retained foreign bodies after treatment in an urgent-care setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Closed case records from the files of the Medical Professional Mutual Insurance Company involving claims of retained foreign body were reviewed for a 7-year period.

MAIN RESULTS

Thirty-two patients filed 54 claims against 32 physicians and 22 health care institutions. Defense costs were $298,906, and indemnity payments were $1,279,171. Glass was the most frequent retained foreign body, constituting 53% of claims. Despite the fact that glass is radiopaque, x-ray films were ordered for only 35% of these patients. Retention of glass fragments when no radiologic study was obtained resulted in unsuccessful defense of 60% of the claims and higher indemnity payments. Radiologic studies were ordered for only 31% of all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

All wounds should be considered to be at risk for foreign body entry. Documentation in the medical record of wound exploration and patient follow-up, and ordering of plain films and other diagnostic imaging studies should be used more frequently toward this end.