Background: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the complications associated with the different attachments used in implant-supported overdentures, including prosthetic problems and implant failures. A comparison of ball, bar and Locator (Zest Anchors, Inc, homepage, Escondido, CA, USA) attachments, in completely edentulous patients with two, three or four implants, was conducted. Material and methods: A total of 36 edentulous patients (20 female, 16 male) with a mean age of 66.3 years, were enrolled in the study. The patients were treated with 95 implants, for the prosthetic restoration of the maxilla or the mandible. The mean follow-up time was 41.17 months. Prosthetic complications including, fractured overdentures, replacements of O-ring attachment and retention clips, implant failures, hygiene problems, mucosal enlargements, attachment fractures, retention loss and dislodgement of the attachments were recorded and evaluated. The recall visits at 3, 6, 12 months and, annually thereafter. Results: Fourteen complications in the ball attachment group and 7 complications in the bar group were observed. No complications were observed in the locator group. The difference was found to be as statistically significant (p=0,009). Six of the 95 implants had failed. Totally 39 implant overdentures were applied. Three prostheses were renewed because of fractures. Conclusion: Within the limits of the present study, it was concluded that the locator system showed superior clinical results than the ball and the bar attachments, with regard to the rate of prosthodontic complications and the maintenance of the oral function.

ObjectiveSeveral haemostatic agents are available for clinical use. Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS), a mixture of five medicinal plant extracts, has been used historically as a haemostatic agent. The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the effects of ABS on early bone healing using a rat tibia defect model.Material and MethodsSixteen male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups of 8 animals each. After deep anesthesia with ketamine, bone defects (3 mm diameter and 2 mm deep) were created in the right and left tibiae of all animals and either treated with 1 cc of ABS (Group 1) or left untreated (Group 2; control). Surgical areas were closed primarily. The animals were sacrificed on the 7th postoperative day and bone samples were collected from the tibias. The samples were examined histopathologically for infection, necrosis, fibrosis, new bone formation and foreign body reaction. The histomorphometric results were analyzed statistically by the chi square test, with the level of significance set at p<0.05.ResultsSignificant differences were found in both groups in terms of inflammation, necrosis and new bone formation (p=0.001, p=0.0001, p=0.001). No foreign body reaction was observed in the experimental group. ABS application decreased fibrosis in the experimental group, but there were no statistically significant differences from the control group.ConclusionsHistopathologically, it was observed that the application of ABS decreased the occurrence of inflammation and necrosis, while increasing new bone formation in early bone healing period. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary for evaluating the benefits and possible adverse effects of the application of this herbal product on wound healing.

Hyperparathyroidism is nowadays diagnosed early and asymptomatically with the improvements in routine biochemical tests and radiological procedures. The late bony complications of the disease have therefore started to decline rapidly. Brown tumours are one of the bony complications of hyperparathyroidism. The mandible is the predominantly affected site in the maxillofacial area. Maxillary involvement is rare. Here, an extremely rare case of a 19-year-old male patient with brown tumours in his maxilla and mandible associated with tertiary hyperparathyroidism is presented. A thorough diagnostic work-up was carried out and treatment options for both hyperparathyroidism and brown tumours were discussed. The importance of different radiological evaluation methods and the consultation between the oral and maxillofacial surgeons, general practitioner dentists, endocrinologists and radiologists are emphasised.

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This study evaluated the early hemostatic effects of a novel hemostatic agent (Ankaferd blood stopper [ABS]) during dental extractions in patients on antithrombotic therapy, without interruption or diminution of the medication. In total, 25 patients, who are on antithrombotic therapy and in need of simple dental extractions, were randomized into 2 groups. In group I (control group), which consisted of 10 patients, local hemostasis was achieved with direct packing with gauze. In group II, which consisted of 15 patients, local hemostasis was achieved by the local application of ABS on the extraction sockets. The bleeding time was compared between 2 groups following the tooth extraction. The bleeding time in the dental sockets treated with ABS was statistically lower compared to the sockets of the control group (p = 0.0001). It is concluded that the dental extractions could be performed without interruption of the medication in patients on antithrombotic therapy. The ABS appears to be sufficient as an alternative hemostatic agent.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible role of Ki-67 and argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions (AgNOR) between the recurrent and nonrecurrent keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs). Another aim was to compare the correlation between these two markers.Materials and Methods: 22 KCOTs were evaluated retrospectively. The actual proliferative activity of the KCOT was measured by Ki-67 labelling index and argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions AgNOR count per nucleus. Results: Recurrence occurred in 3 patients (13.6%) during the follow-up period (mean follow-up, 37.8 months) The Ki-67 and AgNOR counts were significantly higher in the recurrent lesions comparing to the non-recurrent lesions. (p=0,045; p=0,049) The correlation between Ki-67 and AgNOR counts was found to be positive (r=0,853 p=0,0001).Conclusion: Within the limit of the present study, it is thought that Ki-67 and AgNOR might be helpful as a prognostic marker for the recurrences of KCOTs. These markers reinforced the meaning of the new classification of the lesion as an odontogenic tumor. Enucleation with curettage or decompression following enucleation with curettage is a simple and appropriate surgical model for the treatment of KCOT despite the relative high recurrence rate. On the other hand, the conservative treatment can be chosen only if there is no coronoid invasion, no interruptive cortical lysis and no tissular invasion.

Although both treatments were useful, a surgical drain was significantly more effective at reducing swelling and pain intensity than Kinesio tape. The effects of both on trismus were similar.

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