Injury to peripheral nerves can occur as a result of various surgical procedures, including oral and maxillofacial surgery. In the case of nerve transaction, the gold standard treatment is the end-to-end reconnection of the two nerve stumps. When it cannot be performed, the actual strategies consist of the positioning of a nerve graft between the two stumps. Guided nerve regeneration using nano-structured scaffolds is a promising strategy to promote axon regeneration. Biodegradable electrospun conduits composed of aligned nanofibers is a new class of devices used to improve neurite extension and axon outgrowth. Self assembled peptide nanofibrous scaffolds (SAPNSs) demonstrated promising results in animal models for central nervous system injuries, and, more recently, for peripheral nerve injury. Aims of this work are (1) to review electrospun and self-assembled nanofibrous scaffolds use in vitro and in vivo for peripheral nerve regeneration; and (2) its application in peripheral nerve injuries treatment. The review focused on nanofibrous scaffolds with a diameter of less than approximately 250 nm. The conjugation in a nano scale of a natural bioactive factor with a resorbable synthetic or natural material may represent the best compromise providing both biological and mechanical cues for guided nerve regeneration. Injured peripheral nerves, such as trigeminal and facial, may benefit from these treatments.

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The purpose was to predict the crown-to-implant ratio variation in the edentulous posterior mandibles rehabilitated with short dental implants. Hence, vertical and horizontal dimensions of dentulous posterior mandibles in a sample of 18- to 25-year-olds were measured, and correlations of these dimensions with sex and site were investigated. Mandibular computed tomography scans from 100 subjects were considered. Vertical and horizontal bone and tooth measurements were taken at the sites of the second premolar (PM), and the mesial and distal roots of the first and second molars (M1m, M1d, M2m and M2d, respectively). A hypothetical crown-to-implant ratio (C/I R) was calculated assuming the insertion of short and extra short implants (5, 6 or 7 mm), at 1.5 mm from the inferior alveolar canal, maintaining the position of the existing occlusal plane. All vertical bone dimensions decreased from the PM to the M2d. Width measurements increased from the mesial (PM) to the distal sites (M1m, M1d, M2m and M2d). Males had significantly greater vertical and horizontal measurements than females at all sites. The mean C/I R was higher than 2 for all sizes of implant. The C/I R was lower for the second molar than for the second premolar, while it was similar for the first molar and the second premolar. Males had a higher C/I R than females. Computed tomography can be used to study the anatomical features of alveolar bone, and to predict some clinical aspects of prosthetic rehabilitation with implants, such as the crown-to-implant ratio in conditions of serious bone atrophy.

BH decreased from mesial to distal, whereas BW showed an increase. Sex showed a significant impact on BH, with males having on average a 2.8 mm greater height than females, but not on BW. Age did not significantly influence the dimensions of the residual bone crest.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.