This study evaluated the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) on bone repair of human dental sockets. Thirty-two lower first premolars were extracted from 16 patients (2 per patient) for orthodontic reasons. Following the extractions, one socket was randomly filled with 1% HA gel, while the other was allowed to naturally fill with blood clot. After 30 and 90 days of surgery, patients underwent cone beam computed tomography. Five central orthoradial slices were captured from each socket. The gray intensity was measured in each image and results were reported as mean percentage of bone formation. The buccolingual alveolar ridge width was measured and dimensional changes were compared between the postoperative intervals. The pattern of alveolar trabecular bone was evaluated through the fractal dimension. Treated sockets showed a higher percentage of bone formation and fractal dimension values (58.17% and 1.098, respectively) compared with controls (48.97% and 1.074, respectively) in the 30-day postoperative period (p < 0.05). After 90 days, there was no significant difference between groups. Additionally, no significant difference was found between groups regarding the alveolar dimensions (p > 0.05). Use of 1% HA gel after tooth extraction accelerates bone repair in human dental sockets.

Viscosupplementation (VS) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) aims to treat temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) by stimulating synovial cells to improve intracapsular lubrication. The purpose of the present study was to assess a VS protocol planned with the aid of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and checked by ultrasonography (US). The study was carried out in 3 stages. The first was to check the correspondence between the proposed facial reference points and the osseous components of the joint by means of CBCT. In the second stage, the upper and lower compartments of 20 TMJs of fresh frozen cadavers were injected with coloured liquids, and the accuracy of the technique was confirmed by dissecting the anatomical specimens. The third stage consisted of VS in 10 patients (20 TMJs), with real-time verification of the location of the needle tip by means of ultrasonography. CBCT confirmed the correct locations of the marked points used in the proposed VS protocol. The dissections showed that 13 of the 14 injections effectively reached the upper and lower compartments. The location of the needle tip was effectively verified by ultrasonography, confirming the correct access to both compartments. The proposed protocol was effective for accessing the upper and lower compartments of the TMJ. The evaluated protocol proved to be accurate, safe and clinically reproducible means of VS in the upper and lower compartments of the TMJ.

Mandibular canal branching presented a high prevalence in CBCT imagery, more frequently located in regions of the premolar and retromolar. An adequate diagnosis of the MCB is necessary to perform dental procedures and verify possible associated pathologies.

Three-dimensional exams appear to be the best method to view mandibular canal branching. Further studies are warranted to determine its true prevalence and questions concerning to associations.

Background: During oral rehabilitation, dental implants in the posterior maxilla can penetrate the maxillary sinus. The aim was to evaluate the presence of maxillary sinus abnormalities in patients with dental implants in the posterior maxillary region using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study, and CBCT scans of 199 patients (459 dental implants) were evaluated. Implants were assessed according to their relative location to the maxillary sinus floor (up to 2 mm from the maxillary sinus cortex, within 2 mm to intimate contact with the maxillary sinus cortex, apical third inside the maxillary sinus, two-thirds or more inside the maxillary sinus) and bone-fixation tissue (Alveolar ridge or Bone graft). Maxillary sinus abnormalities were classified. Kappa and Weighted Kappa and the Kruskal–Wallis test were applied. Results: A higher prevalence of mucosal thickening and non-specific opacification were observed in implants located within 2 mm to intimate contact with the cortex of the maxillary sinus floor. Of the 66 implants with apical thirds located inside the maxillary sinus, 31 (46.7%) were associated with sinus abnormalities and of all implants (n = 5) with two-thirds or more located inside the maxillary sinus, all of these were associated with sinus abnormalities. No association was observed in relation to implant bone-fixation tissue. Conclusions: This study found a significant association between dental implant placement near or within the sinus and sinus abnormalities, mainly mucosal thickening and non-specific opacification.