SMALL THINGS HAVE A BIG IMPACT: NEW TRENDS IN IMPLANT DENTISTRY

In the twenty first century, nanotechnology has already offered numerous possibilities in implant dentistry. One nano step for man has resulted in a giant leap in implant dentistry. The advent of nanotechnology had created an opportunity for the engineering of new dental implant materials. This technology has also been used to enhance osseointegration by surface modifications of dental implants. Nanometre-controlled surfaces have ultimately directed the nature of peril-implant tissues and improved the clinical success rate of implant therapy. The possibilities introduced by nanotechnology now permit the tailoring of implant chemistry and structure. Nanotechnology in dental implantology has emerged as a frontier research area of interest in this decade. Long thought to be commercially uninhabitable, the once-barren nanotechnology landscape suddenly looks fertile. With the support of some brightest minds in science and engineering, this emerging field of super small is now firmly on the shortlist of technologies poised to produce big things in implant dentistry. In this article, we have made an attempt to review the current trends and future prospects on the impact of nanotechnology in implant dentistry.

BIOMEDICAL PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTIVITY OF ORAL AND DENTAL MEDICINE FROM LIBYA (PUBMED 2003-2013)

The purpose of this short communication study was to investigation the trends of biomedical publications productivity of oral and dentistry field from Libya using the most popular biomedical search engine PubMed with focus on Libyan academic institutions. This search was performed on articles that were related to dentistry and oral medicine using the affiliation of Libya for the period 2003-2013. A total of 358 biomedical published articles were retrieved of which only 40 were related to oral and dentistry medicine. In conclusion, this investigation shows a very low productivity and weak distribution of biomedical research in oral and dentistry medicine productivity throughout Libya.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SATISFACTION WITH COMPLETE DENTURES AND BASAL SEAT CHARACTERISTICS

Aim: To investigate the relationship between patients self perceived satisfaction and basal seat characteristics in edentulous patients attending a teaching hospital in Lagos.Materials and Methods: Consecutive edentulous patient seen for 6 months in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos were recruited for this longitudinal study. The data collected were basal seat characteristics and self perceived satisfaction.Results: A total of 30 patients were seen but only 24 complied with the study protocol. The use of objective assessment in classifying maxillary residual ridge showed that there was a significant association (P=0.045) between the ridge and self perceived satisfaction. There was no significant association between self perceived satisfaction and shape of mandibular ridge, palatal vault and vestibular depth.Conclusion: There was a significant association between shape of maxillary residual ridge and self perceived satisfaction. Objective preclinical assessment of residual ridge may help to project satisfaction and determine treatment option.

THE ROLE OF DIGITAL TREATMENT PLANNING IN MAXILLOFACIAL PROSTHETICS

Advances in treatment planning have changed patients’ expectations of the functional and aesthetic outcomes of maxillofacial prosthetic treatments. This case report describes and discusses the role of digital technology in the treatment planning of a facial prosthesis for a patient with complex maxillofacial prosthetic needs. A 75-year-old man was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the left maxillary sinus. The tumor was surgically resected and resulted in extensive tissue loss. The four key elements of visualization, design, manufacture, and evaluation were considered in digital treatment planning of the facial prosthesis; the first two are discussed in this report. The defect areas were three-dimensionally digitized using computed tomography and stereophotogrammetry. The scanned data were saved as a standard tessellation language file. From these data, virtual three-dimensional models were created for treatment planning options. With the aid of computer-aided design software, two types of facial prostheses were designed: an open-eyeprosthesis and a closed-eye prosthesis. These designs were discussed with the patient to determine the one most suitable to meet his aesthetic expectations. Patients’ expectations of treatment options can be improved through the virtual visualization and design offered by digital treatment planning. This case report confirms the applicability of digital treatment planning in managing patients with complex maxillofacial prosthetic needs.

THE ROLE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN OVERSEAS MAXILLOFACIAL PROSTHETIC COLLABORATION

Digital technologies have a great role in revolutionized prosthodontics in general, and more specifically in maxillofacial prosthetics. Digitized prosthetic rehabilitation modalities are becoming an essential approach for the maxillofacial prosthetic field. This article reviews the role of digital technology in overseas maxillofacial prosthetic collaboration and introduces a model of prospective collaboration in the field of maxillofacial prosthetics using digital technology. Various intraoral and extraoral maxillofacial prostheses were briefly reviewed. Numerous digital technologies in prosthetics were also concisely reviewed in perspective of digitization and visualization, modeling and designing, and fabrication. Internet-based audiovisual synchronous and asynchronous technologies were also reviewed. In addition, a model of future collaboration in the field of maxillofacial prosthetics using digital technology was introduced.

A MIXED RADIOPAQUE - RADIOLUCENT LESION IN THE ANTERIOR MANDIBLE ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIPLE IMPACTED TEETH

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) is an unusual variant of ameloblastoma characterized by abundant dense collagenous stroma (desmoplasia) with small nests and strands of an odontogenic epithelium. The stroma dominates over the epithelial neoplastic component. The case report of Desmoplastic variant we are presenting is unique and noteworthy in that it exhibited unusual radiographic features; a mixed radiopaque-radiolucent lesion that resembled a benign fibro-osseous lesion. It was seen in the anterior mandible and it was also associated with multiple impacted teethwhich is quite a rarity.

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATES OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING A PUBLIC DENTAL CLINIC IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Aim: Dental anxiety is a subjective state of feelings that is associated with impending danger even when the stimulus or threat is not immediately present or readily identifiable. It has been ranked fifth among commonly feared situations. In Nigeria however, limited studies have been conducted in this field thus far with only one identified study using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the level of dental anxiety in dental patients attending the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja (LASUTH) using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS).Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at LASUTH. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection.Results: The prevalence of dental anxiety was 20.5% while the prevalence of extreme anxiety of 4.1%. Having a local anaesthetic (MDAS≥15 =24.6%) and having a tooth drilled (MDAS≥15=21.3%) were most associated with dental anxiety. The best predictors for dental anxiety from this study were, in descending order, age, education, marital status and gender.Conclusion: A rapid screening tool such as the MDAS could be routinely applied on prospective dental patients to determine their level of anxiety. Appropriate non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic strategies could then be targeted at vulnerable respondents to make their dental experience as pleasant as possible.

PROSTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS: A CASE REPORT AN INNOVATIVE METHOD FOR FABRICATION OF SECTIONAL DENTURES

Prosthetic rehabilitation of microstomia patients due to oral submucous fibrosis presents difficulties at all stages as the maximal oral opening is smaller than the size of a complete denture. Several techniques have been described for use when either standard impression trays or the denture itself becomes too difficult to place and remove from the mouth. This article describes a different design for the fabrication of maxillary and mandibular sectional trays to enable easier and efficient impression making in a patient with limited oral opening.