• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2023

Purpose: Maxillofacial trauma predominantly affects young adults between 20 and 40 years of age. Although radioprotection is a legal requirement, the significant potential of dose reduction in computed tomography (CT) is still underused in the clinical routine. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether maxillofacial fractures can be reliably detected and classified using ultra-low-dose CT. Materials and Methods: CT images of 123 clinical cases with maxillofacial fractures were classified by two readers using the AOCOIAC software and compared with the corresponding results from post-treatment images. In group 1, consisting of 97 patients with isolated facial trauma, pre-treatment CT images at different dose levels (volumetric computed tomography dose index: ultra-low dose, 2.6 mGy; low dose, <10 mGy; and regular dose, <20 mGy) were compared with post-treatment cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). In group 2, consisting of 31 patients with complex midface fractures, pre-treatment shock room CT images were compared with post-treatment CT at different dose levels or CBCT. All images were presented in random order and classified by 2 readers blinded to the clinical results. All cases with an unequal classification were re-evaluated. Results: In both groups, ultra-low-dose CT had no clinically relevant effect on fracture classification. Fourteen cases in group 2 showed minor differences in the classification code, which were no longer obvious after comparing the images directly to each other. Conclusion: Ultra-low-dose CT images allowed the correct diagnosis and classification of maxillofacial fractures. These results might lead to a substantial reconsideration of current reference dose levels.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2018

Background: The facial bone has a complex structure compared to other bones, and various types of fractures can occur due to its characteristics. Among them, in comminuted fractures of anterior maxillary wall, multiple depressed and impacted bony segments cannot be reduced easily when performing internal fixation using plates and screws or wires, and inadequate restoration leads to a range of complications. This paper introduces an alternative technique using a resorbable mesh with fibrin glue to restore comminuted fractures of anterior maxillary wall. Methods: Thirteen patients were diagnosed with comminuted fractures of anterior maxillary wall between March 2017 and February 2018 in the authors' hospital. All patients with comminuted fractures of anterior maxillary wall underwent restoration using resorbable mesh with fibrin glue. The patients' demographics, causes of facial trauma, mean operation time, length of hospital stay, follow-up period, and complications were recorded. Results: No major complications and only one hypoesthesia of the skin area was noted. Three months after surgery, the hypoesthesia recovered completely. After surgery (mean, 3.9 months; range, 2-12 months), computed tomography showed that the bone fragments in all patients were fixed successfully in their anatomical places. Conclusion: In comminuted fractures of anterior maxillary wall, the use of a resorbable mesh with fibrin glue can be an advantageous and effective method for a successful restoration without complications.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.439-447
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• 2011

Introduction: In today's society, the rapid and appropriate care of the dental emergency patients is much more important. So, a retrospective study on the characteristics of emergency dental injuries and diseases will be very meaningful. Materials and Methods: This retrospective clinical study was carried by reviewing the radiographic films and emergency chart of 11,493 patients who had visited the emergency room of Hallym Sacred heart Hospital and were treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from January 2006 to December 2010. Results: The male to female ratio was 1.9:1. The highest monthly incidence was observed in May (10.4%) and June (8.9%) and the peak age distribution was the first decade (56.0%), followed by the second decade (16.0%). Trauma was the most common cause in dental emergency patients, followed in order by toothache, odontogenic infection, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder and oral hemorrhage. Soft tissue injury was most prevalent in the trauma group, followed by tooth injury and facial bone fractures. In the tooth injury group, tooth fracture (56.7%) showed the highest incidence followed in order by tooth subluxation (18.2%), tooth concussion (16.9%), tooth avulsion (11.5%) and alveolar bone fractures (3.7%). In the facial bone fracture group, mandibular fractures (81.8%) showed the highest incidence followed in order by maxilla fractures (15.7%), nasal bone fractures (9.0%), zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures (5.4%), orbital bone fractures (2.5%). In mandibular bone fractures, the most common location was the symphysis (70.1%), followed in order by the mandibular angle (33.0%), mandibular condyle (22.8%) and mandibular body (13.6%). In the infection group, a submandibular space abscess (46.2%) was most common followed in order by a buccal space abscess (17.4%), canine space abscess (16.9%) and submental space abscess (12.3%). TMJ dislocation (89.3%) showed the highest incidence in the TMJ disorder group, followed by TMJ derangement (10.7%). In the other group, a range of specific symptoms due to post operation complications, trigeminal neuralgia, chemical burns and foreign body aspiration were reported. Conclusion: For the rapid and appropriate care of the dental emergency patients, well-organized system should be presented in oral and maxillofacial surgery. And it is possible under analysis of pattern and the variation of the dental emergency patients.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.27.1-27.8
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• 2018

Purpose: Various complications occur when a maxillofacial fracture is malunionized or improperly resolved. Malocclusion is the most common complication, followed by facial deformity, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and neurological symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dental treatment of postoperative complications after maxillofacial fracture. Materials and methods: In this study, nine patients with a postoperative complication after maxillofacial fracture who had been performed the initial operation from other units and were referred to the authors' department had been included. Of the nine patients, six had mandibular fractures, one had maxillary fractures, one had maxillary and mandibular complex fractures, and one had multiple facial fractures. All the patients had tooth fractures, dislocations, displacements, and alveolar bone fractures at the time of trauma, but complications occurred because none of the patients underwent preoperative and postoperative dental treatment. Malocclusion and TMD are the most common complications, followed by dental problems (pulp necrosis, tooth extrusion, osteomyelitis, etc.) due to improper treatment of teeth and alveolar bone injuries. The patients were referred to the department of dentistry to undergo treatment for the complications. One of the nine patients underwent orthognathic surgery for a severe open bite. Another patient underwent bone reconstruction using an iliac bone graft and vestibuloplasty with extensive bone loss. The other patients, who complained of moderate occlusal abnormalities and TMDs such as mouth-opening limitation, underwent occlusal treatment by prosthodontic repair and temporomandibular joint treatment instead of surgery. Results: One patient who underwent orthognathic surgery had complete loss of open bite and TMD after surgery. One patient who underwent reconstruction using an iliac bone graft had a good healing process. Other patients were treated with splint, injection, and physical therapy for mouth-opening limitation and temporomandibular joint pain. After treatment, the TMDs were resolved, but the remaining occlusal abnormalities were resolved with prosthetic restoration. Conclusions: Considering the severity of malocclusion and TMJ symptom and the feasibillity of reoperation, nonsurgical methods such as orthodontic and prosthodontic treatments and splint therapy can be used to manage the dental and TMD complication after the trauma surgery. However, reoperation needs to be strongly considered for severe malocclusion and TMD problem.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.127-133
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• 1998

An impacted tooth is defined pathologically as a tooth that remains under the mucosa of inside bone without eruption of the crown after a specific period of eruption. Clinically, the term includes those teeth, even before eruption period, that are not expected to erupt due to shape, position and alignment of tooth and lack of space. Canine is prone to impaction more than other teeth because it has the longest time to develop and a complex route from the place of formation to the site of eruption. The impaction incidence of maxillary canine is repoted 0.92$\sim$3.3% (Ferguson, 1990). In 1995 Orton reported that the incidence was 0.92$\sim$2.2% and palatal impaction was more frequent than labial impaction(85%:15%). In 1969 Johnston presented it was more common to woman than to man(3:1). The etiology includes systemic disease such as endocrine disorder, cleidocranial dysostosis, irradiation, Crouzon syndrome, ricketts, facial hemihypertrophy and hereditary and local problems such as ectopic position of the tooth, distance of tooth from its place of eruption, malformation of the tooth, presence of supernumerary teeth, trauma of tooth germ, infection of tooth germ, displacement of tooth germ or tooth by a neoplasm, ankylosis, overretention of deciduous predecessor, lack of space for the tooth in the dental arch and mucosal barrier due to gingival fibrosis. The maxillary canine is especially important as it has the longest root, provides guidance for lateral movement of the mandible and masticatory function and assumes an important role esthetically as it is located at mouth angle. If left untreated, it may cause migration and external, internal resorption of adjacent teeth, loss of arch length, formation of dentigerous cyst or tumors, infection and referred pain as well as malposition of the tooth. Therefore, periodic examination of the development and eruption of the maxillary canine is especially important in a growing child. This case study presents the results of treatment of palatally impacted maxillary canine utilizing surgical exposure and orthodontic tooth movement on patients visiting SNUDH dept. of pediatric dentistry.