• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.332-338
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a hybrid arch bar (hAB) with the conventional Erich arch bar (EAB) for the management of jaw fractures, focusing on their use for temporary fixation in patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Materials and Methods: Patients presenting with maxillary and mandibular fractures at our institution were included in this prospective, comparative study. Placement time and ease of occlusal reproducibility were recorded intraoperatively for Group A (hAB patients) and Group B (EAB patients). The primary outcome was comparison of the postoperative stability of the two arch bars. Postoperative measurements also included mucosal overgrowth, screw loosening or wire retightening, and replacement rates. The data were tabulated and computed with a P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 41 patients. A statistically significant difference was observed in postoperative stability scores (3) between Group A and Group B (85.0% vs 9.5%, P=0.001). The mean placement time in Group A (23.3 minutes) significantly differed from that in Group B (86.4 minutes) (P<0.001). The ease of intraoperative occlusion was not different between the two groups (P=0.413). Mucosal overgrowth was observed in 75.0% of patients (15 of 20) in Group A. Conclusion: The hAB was superior to EAB in clinical efficiency, maxillomandibular fixation time reduction, stability, versatility, and safety. Despite temporary mucosal overgrowth, the benefits of hAB outweigh the disadvantages. The choice between hAB and EAB should be based on specific clinical requirements.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.347-353
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• 2023

This case report presents inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) repositioning as a viable approach for implant placement in the mandibular molar region, where challenges of severe alveolar bone width and height deficiencies can exist. Two patients requiring implant placement in the right mandibular molar region underwent nerve transposition and lateralization. In both cases, inadequate alveolar bone height above the IAN precluded the use of short implants. The first patient exhibited an overall low alveolar ridge from the anterior to posterior regions, with a complex relationship with adjacent implant bone level and the mental nerve, complicating vertical augmentation. In the second case, although vertical bone resorption was not severe, the high positioning of the IAN within the alveolar bone due to orthognathic surgery raised concerns regarding adequate height of the implant prosthesis. Therefore, instead of onlay bone grafting, nerve transposition and lateralization were employed for implant placement. In both cases, the follow-up results demonstrated successful osseointegration of all implants and complete recovery of postoperative numbness in the lower lip and mentum area. IAN repositioning is a valuable surgical technique that allows implant placement in severely compromised posterior mandibular regions, promoting patient comfort and successful implant placement without permanent IAN damage.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.339-346
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• 2023

Objectives: This analysis details the characteristics of dental trauma in South Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (DC) pandemic and compares them in patients before and after COVID-19 (BC and AC, respectively). Materials and Methods: Data were collected from medical records of patients who visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital's Emergency Dental Care Center during three 12-month periods: BC, DC, and AC (BC from March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020; DC from March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021; AC from March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023). A retrospective review was conducted to investigate patient age, sex, time of visit, cause, and diagnosis. The study included 1,544 patients: 660 BC, 374 DC, and 510 AC. Results: Significant difference in age and sex was not observed among the three periods; 1-9 years of age was the largest group (38.3% in BC, 29.6% in DC, and 27.8% in AC), and the percentage of male patients was greater than of female patients (male proportion as 63.5% in BC, 67.4% in DC, and 64.9% in AC). The number of patients generally peaked at a Saturday night in spring (for BC: May, Saturday, 18:00-19:59; for DC: March, Saturday, 18:00-19:59; for AC: April as the second most (October as the most peaked), Saturday, 20:00-21:59). The primary etiology of the dental trauma was identical in the three periods: falls, followed by sports. The most frequent diagnosis was laceration, followed by tooth avulsion and jaw fracture. Conclusion: Significant differences were not found between the characteristics and patterns of dental trauma in the BC, DC, and AC periods. However, due to the pandemic and social distancing, activities decreased and associated dental trauma-related incidents declined.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.262-269
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• 2023

Objectives: Anterior maxillary sinus wall fractures are common in all types of maxillofacial trauma. They can result in various complications, including injury to the surrounding nerves. Owing to its anatomy, trauma to the maxillary antrum can result in injury to the middle superior alveolar nerve (MSAN) and the anterior superior alveolar nerve (ASAN). The purpose of this study is to evaluate neurosensory deficits (NSD) present in maxillary gingiva, incisors, and premolars after injury to the anterior wall of the maxillary antrum. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted among 39 patients sustaining unilateral fractures of the anterior maxillary sinus wall. Clinical neurosensory tests including two-point discrimination and fine touch discrimination were performed to classify the extent of nerve injuries as mild, moderate, severe, or anesthetic. Additional temperature discrimination and pulpal sensibility tests (electric pulp testing and cold testing) were carried out. A comparison of radiographic fracture patterns and severity of nerve injury was done. Testing was carried out immediately after trauma and at 2-month follow-up. Results: More than half of the patients assessed in the study group presented with NSD of the teeth and gingiva after trauma. The incidence of deficits varied with the type of test used to measure them. Most frequently, patients presented with both loss of two point as well as fine touch discrimination thresholds. Severe nerve injuries were associated with loss of temperature discrimination clinically and displaced fractures radiographically. There was no significant relationship between the recovery of pulpal and gingival sensation. The patterns of injury and recovery in ASAN and MSAN were similar. Conclusion: NSD after trauma to the maxillary antrum is relatively common. Clinical loss of temperature discrimination and radiographic signs of fracture lines passing through the canalis sinuosus are predictors of persistent and severe oral NSD.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.243-251
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• 2023

Objectives: Although a few studies have investigated the relationship between kidney and oral function (number of remaining teeth), their results remain inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between kidney function and oral health in community-dwelling healthy elderlies and examine the factors associated with kidney function. Materials and Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the Shimane prefecture cohort recruited by the Center for Community-Based Health Research and Education in 2019. We collected clinical data on dental status, background factors and kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], mL/min/1.73 m² and creatinine levels, mg/dL). Results: The study enrolled 481 participants, whose mean age was 66.7±7.4 years, and 223 (46.4%) participants were men. Multivariate analysis revealed significant correlations between eGFR (B=0.17, P=0.04), creatinine (B=-0.54, P<0.01), and the number of remaining teeth. The number of remaining teeth was associated with creatinine and eGFR, which are indicators of kidney function. Conclusion: This study suggests that preserving the teeth may prevent decline in kidney function. Dental professionals should provide instructions and professional care to reduce the risk of systemic diseases such as kidney dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.278-286
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• 2023

Objectives: This review assessed the performance of implant-supported fixed hybrid prostheses in 21 patients who received a total of 137 implants between 2003 and 2010. The implants were evaluated for marginal bone resorption, complications, success rate, and survival rate based on their vertical angularity, type of bone graft, and measured implant stability. Materials and Methods: One-way ANOVA and chi-square tests were used to analyze the relationships among long-term evaluation factors and these variables. The mean initial bone resorption in the implant group with a vertical angle of more than 20° was 0.33 mm and mean final bone resorption was 0.76 mm. In contrast, the mean initial bone resorption in the implant group with a vertical angle of less than 10° was 1.19 mm and mean final bone resorption was 2.17 mm. Results: The results showed that mean bone resorption decreased with an increase in the vertical placement angle of the implants used in fixed hybrid prostheses, as well as in the group without additional bone grafts and those with high implant stability. The success rate of implants placed after bone grafting was found to be higher than those placed simultaneously. Conclusion: These results suggest that implant-supported fixed hybrid prostheses may be an effective treatment option for edentulous patients, and intentionally placing implants with high angularity may improve outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.70-79
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• 2024

Objectives: The surgical guide is a static computer-assisted device used for implant surgery planning and guidance. By taking an impression and referring to the patients' three-dimensional computed tomography scan of the desired implant site, a surgical guide can be created. During surgery, the surgical guide aids in achieving the designed implant placement position and direction. We examined and evaluated the long-term clinical outcomes of implant surgery using surgical guides. Materials and Methods: This study investigated a total of 15 patients with 32 implants that were placed using surgical guides from 2009 to 2011 with a mean follow-up period extended beyond 10 years. Patient demographics and implant survival rates were recorded. We analyzed marginal bone loss (MBL) by assessing the radiographs acquired at installation, three months after installation, and one month, one, two, and five years after prosthesis delivery. Results: The mean patient age was 57.33 years at implant placement. Of the 32 implants, five implants were placed in the anterior region and 27 implants were in the posterior region. Six implants failed and three of them were replaced, resulting in an 81.25% survival rate. The mean follow-up period was 10 years and nine months. Mean MBL compared to post-installation was significantly higher than at three months after installation, and one month, one, two, and five years after prosthesis delivery. Mean MBL at three months after installation, and one month, one year, and two years were significantly higher compared to the previous visit (P<0.05). However, MBL at five years after prosthesis delivery did not differ significantly compared to at two years. Conclusion: In this study, implant rehabilitation assisted by surgical guides exhibited favorable survival rates. With the limitation of the sample amount in this study, further research and more samples are required to evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness of surgical guides.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.86-93
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• 2024

Objectives: Orthognathic surgery is a surgical procedure performed by intraoral approach with established and safe techniques; however, excessive blood loss has been reported in rare cases. In response, investigative efforts to identify methods to reduce the amount of blood loss have been made. Among such methods, the administration of tranexamic acid was reported to reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss. However, few studies to date have reported the effect of tranexamic acid in orthognathic surgery under hypotensive anesthesia. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the administration of tranexamic acid on intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing bimaxillary (maxillary and mandibular) orthognathic surgery under hypotensive anesthesia. Patients and Methods: A total of 156 patients (mean age, 27.0±10.8 years) who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery under hypotensive anesthesia performed by the same surgeon between June 2013 and February 2022 were included in this study. The following data were collected from the medical records of each patient: background factors (age, sex, and body mass index), use of tranexamic acid, surgical procedures, previous medical history, duration of surgery, American Society of Anesthesiology physical status findings before surgery, intraoperative blood loss as a primary outcome, in-out balance, and blood test results. Descriptive statistics were calculated for statistical analysis, and a t-test and the chi-squared test were used for between-group comparisons. Group comparisons were performed after 1:1 propensity score matching to adjust for confounding factors. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results: Comparison between the groups based on the use of tranexamic acid revealed a significant difference in operation time. Propensity score matching analysis revealed that intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the tranexamic acid group. Conclusion: The administration of tranexamic acid was effective in reducing intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery under hypotensive anesthesia.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2024

Teriparatide has been effective in treating people diagnosed with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). However, its efficacy is not well established to be accepted as a standard of care. The objective of this paper was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human parathyroid hormone for the treatment of MRONJ. We report three cases of MRONJ patients with osteoporosis as the primary disease who were treated with a teriparatide agent along with other adjunctive measures. Each patient was administered a teriparatide injection subcutaneously for 16 weeks, 36 weeks, or 60 weeks. Surgical intervention including partial resection, sequestrectomy, decortication, and saucerization took place during the teriparatide administration. Complete lesion resolution was identified clinically and radiographically in all three patients. In patients diagnosed with MRONJ, teriparatide therapy is an efficacious and safe therapeutic option to improve healing of bone lesions. These findings demonstrate that teriparatide in combination with another therapy, especially bone morphogenetic protein, platelet-rich fibrin, or antibiotic therapy, can be an effective protocol for MRONJ.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2024

The exact mechanism of sialolith formation has yet to be determined. Recurrence of sialolithiasis is rare, affecting only 1%-10% of patients. The current study presents a case of recurrent stones that occurred twice on the right submandibular gland 6 months postoperative and 7 months after reoperation in a 48-year-old female patient. The stones were analyzed using histology, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The first stone showed a three-layered structure with a poorly mineralized peripheral multilayered zone, highly mineralized middle layer, and the central nidus. The stones were composed of Ca, C, O, Cu, F, N, P, Si, Zn, and Zr. In TEM, compact bi-layered bacterial cell membrane was found on the peripheral layer and the central nidus of the stone as well as exosomes in the central nidus. The results demonstrated the essential components of sialolith formation, including bacteria, inflammatory exosomes, and exfoliated salivary epithelial cells that cooperatively underwent the pathogenetic progresses of central nidus formation, induction of compact zone calcification of the middle layer, and repeated subsequent deposition in the peripheral multilayer zone. The rapid recurrence could have resulted from residual pieces of a sialolith acting as the nidus of bacterial infection.