Aim of the study: The present preliminary study aims to evaluate the possible positive outcomes of ultrasonography-guided sialolithotomies and duct stricture dilations utilizing stone retrieval baskets and guide wires. Case description: A total of 6 cases in an ongoing study (4 cases of sialolithiasis and 2 cases of duct strictures with intraluminal adhesion) were analyzed. All sialoliths were <5 mm in diameter. Stone removals and duct dilations were performed under ultrasonography guidance with two different types of linear probes. Edema measurements were carried out, and the area of edema was evaluated via the echogenicity changes. Patient satisfaction was also evaluated by the patients themselves using a Visual Analog Scale questionnaire on postoperative day 0, and on days 1, 2, and 3. Conclusions: There were no postoperative complications, and mouth openings returned to normal at 7-day follow-up. The pain scores decreased after 6 hours, and pain subsided completely after 12 hours in all the patients. Edema also resolved gradually after the operation. The patient satisfaction levels were high.
Background. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is used to provide multiplanar views of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) bone components as well as TMJ pathologies without superposition, magnification or distortion.Objectives. The study aimed to analyze degenerative changes in the condylar surface, and their relationship with patient age and gender, and the TMJ space measurements by using CBCT images.
Material and methods.A total of 258 individuals were retrospectively analyzed. The degenerative bone changes of the condylar head were evaluated and classified on the right and left sides. The shortest distances from the anterior, superior and posterior parts of the condylar head to the glenoid fossa were measured to represent the TMJ space. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses then evaluated the effect of age and gender on the presence of degenerative changes.Results. Condylar flattening was most frequently observed (413 TMJs, 53.5%). However, the presence or absence of the change types did not differ according to the sides. The mean values of the TMJ space measurements on the right and left sides were narrower in the group with changes than in the group without changes. Nonetheless, no statistically significant difference in the TMJ space was found between the groups (p > 0.05).Conclusions. An increased risk of radiographically detectable degenerative alterations in left TMJs was detected for males and for increasing age. Degenerative changes in the condylar surface may affect the dimensions of the TMJ space.
Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of intraoral and extraoral ultrasonography evaluations performed with two different types of probes (linear and “hockey stick”) for the visibility of peri-implant bone defects. Material and methods: Fourteen implants were inserted into sheep heads. Peri-implant bone defects were created without knowing the depth, which served as the gold standard for the defects. The defects were scanned with two different probe types (linear and hockey stick probes) extraorally and intraorally, using two different ultrasonography systems. For intra- and interobserver agreements for each probe types, Kappa coefficients were calculated. Results: The lowest ICC values were found in both intra- (ICC = 0.696) and interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.762) obtained with the extraorally used linear probe. There was a high agreement with the gold standard when using hockey sticky probes intraorally. For both linear probes, there were no significant differences in agreement among the two observers and the gold standard (p >0.05). Conclusions: High agreement was found when using high-frequency hockey stick probes intraorally, which means that they can be used with good effect for the evaluation of the visibility of peri-implant bone defects. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first one on this subject. Thus, it can be stated that US can be an alternative method of examining defects. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of US in visualizing peri-implant bone defects.
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