• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.177-193
• /
• 2004

Several experimental studies showed that the application of small amounts of electric current to bone stimulated osteogenesis at the site of the cathode and suggested that electrical currents promote osseointegration around dental implants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of direct microcurrent to endosseous titanium implants placed in bone defects. The right and left 2nd, 3rd and 4th mandibular premolars in ten mongrel dogs (15Kg of weight) were extracted. One monthe later, Ti-machined screw type implants(3.8 mm diameter x 8.5 mm length, $AVANA^{(R)}$, Ostem) were placed in surgically created circumferential defect area(width 5mm, depth 4mm). The implants were divided into three groups according to the treatment modalities: Control group- implants without electrical stimulation; Experimental group I- implants with allogenic demineralized freeze dried bone grafting; and Experimental group II-implants allogenic demineralized freeze dried bone grafting and electric stimulation. The animals were sacrificed in the 4th and 8th week after implant placement and un-decalcified specimens were prepared for histological and histometrical evaluation of bone-implant contact ratio (BIC) and bone formation area ratio (BFA) in defect area. Some specimens at 8 weeks after implantation were used for removal torque testing. Histologically, there was connective tissue infiltration in the coronal part of defect area in control and the experimental group I, whereas direct bone contact was found in the experimental group II without connective tissue invasion. Average BIC ratios at 4 weeks of healing were 60.1% in the experimental group II, 47.4% in the experimental group I and 42.7% in the control. Average BIC ratios at 8 weeks after implantation were 67.6% in the experimental group II, 55.9% in the experimental group I and 54.6% in the control. The average BFA ratio was 84.0% in the experimental group II, 71.8% in the experimental group I and 58.8% in the control at 4 weeks, and the BFA ratios were 89.6% in the experimental group II, 81.4% in the experimental group I and 70.5% in the control at 8 weeks after implantation. The experimental group II showed also significantly greater BIC and BFA ratios compared to the control and the experimental group I (p<0.05). The removal torque values at 8 weeks after implantation were 56 Ncm in the experimental group II, 49 Ncm in the experimental group I and 43 Ncm in the control. There was a statistically significant difference among 3 groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that electrical stimulation improve and accelerate bone healing around endosseous titanium implants in bone defect.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.276-283
• /
• 2011

Recently, undifferentiated stem cells which exist in dental papillae of immature permanent teeth were newly discovered and these stem cells appear to be the origin of ameloblasts associated with the formation of root dentin. When treating immature permanent teeth, the preservation of these stem cells induce the continuous formation of the root. Therefore, it is reported that minimal invasion to periapical region in immature permanent teeth with periapical inflammation resulted in good-healing pattern in clinical and radiographic examination. In this case, a 10 year-old boy(mandibular right premolar) and a 8 year-old girl(maxillary left premolar) who visited the department of pediatric dentistry at Chosun University Dental Hospital were diagnosed with pulp necrosis and periapical abscess in clinical and radiographic examination. Endodontic instrumentation to the periapical region was limited and MTA(Mineral Trioxide Aggregate) was applied into the pulp canal. The periodic checks showed healing of periapical abscess and the development and growth pattern of roots. In permanent teeth with pulp necrosis and periapical abscess, preservation of pulp and dental papillae in the periapical region showed good prognosis during the periodic examinations. Therefore, a lot of clinical examination and long-term evaluation of conservative pulp treatment in immature permanent teeth are expected to be necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.61 no.1
• /
• pp.18-25
• /
• 2023

We present the case of a 65-year-old man with maxillary and mandibular complete dentures prepared using neutral zone technique after undergoing mandibulotomy due to tonsil cancer 10 years ago. The patient had a short edentulous period; hence, there was minimal absorption of the alveolar ridge and no abnormality in the motor function of the tongue. However, the retromolar pad was located inside the hamular notch, and the posterior alveolar ridge was relatively turned inward. If the artificial teeth would have been aligned conventionally, the functional space of the tongue would have been invaded, which would have moved the tongue posteriorly thereby reducing the stability of the denture. Therefore, applying the concept of the neutral zone can be a good reference point in such cases. The neutral zone was registered using tissue conditioner, and tooth alignment was performed by making a silicone putty index. The biggest advantage of using neutral zone concept is denture stability. In this case, the neutral zone technique was applied to obtain the lingual alignment limit of the posterior teeth to avoid invasion of the tongue space by the left posterior part of the mandible. Particularly, in case of a patient in which denture stability is difficult to obtain due to absorption of the alveolar ridge, it is believed that better results can be obtained using neutral zone technique.