This assignment applies to all translations of the Work as well as to preliminary display/posting of the abstract of the accepted article in electronic form before publication. If any changes in authorship (order, deletions, or additions) occur after the manuscript is submitted, agreement by all authors for such changes must be on file with the Publisher. An author's name may be removed only at his/her written request. (Note: Material prepared by employees of the US government in the course of their official duties cannot be copyrighted.

No abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, radiographic and histologic results when a highly purified xenogenic bone (Laddec®) was used as grafting material in maxillary sinuses.Material and MethodsIn fifteen patients requiring unilateral maxillary sinus augmentation, the grafting procedure was performed with Laddec®. Forty-two implants were installed after a 6 month healing period. The height of the augmented sinus was measured radiographically immediately after augmentation and postoperatively up to 36 months. At the time of implant placement, a bone core was harvested in each patient for histological examination.ResultsThe cumulative implant survival rate was 97.6%. The original height was 3.65 (SD 0.7) mm and the augmented sinus height was 13.8 (SD 1.4) mm after the surgery. The reduced height of grafted xenogenic material (RDL) at the implant insertion was 0.83 (SD 0.38) mm, and at the final postoperative visit was 0.91 (SD 0.25) mm, showing no significant correlation with the follow-up periods by Spearman’s test (P = 0.118). In addition, no significant difference in the RDL was observed according to the site of implantation (P = 0.682). The mean implant marginal bone loss was 0.38 (SD 0.24) mm. Histological analysis showed the bone cores were composed of 64.72 (SD 3.44)% newly formed bone, 17.41 (SD 2.02)% connective tissue, 16.93 (SD 2.83)% residual graft particles, and 0.94 (SD 0.11)% inflammatory cells.ConclusionsAccording to our data, the highly purified xenogenic bone (Laddec®), used as graft material in the sinus lift procedure, may create adequate bone volume, and appropriate osseointegration of dental implants.

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is an adverse drug reaction described as the progressive destruction and death of bone tissue of the mandible or maxilla, in the course of bisphosphonate therapy. Orally administered bisphosphonates, widely used for the treatment of osteoporosis, are rarely associated with BRONJ. Instead, the risk greatly increases whether the patient is concomitantly taking steroid and/or immunosuppressant agents. The aims of this paper are to briefly discuss the evidence of the associations between bisphosphonate therapy and BRONJ, and the effects of co-occurring factors such as the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, dental surgery, and concomitant corticosteroid therapy. In particular, we present the case of an elderly woman with BRONJ suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, with a recent dental extraction and with a very unusual complication: a temporal abscess, who was successfully treated.

No abstract