Alveolar bone necrosis and spontaneous tooth exfoliation associated with trigeminal herpes zoster: a report of three cases.

Herpes zoster is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, an infection most commonly affecting the thoracolumbar trunk. Herpes Zoster Infection (HZI) may affect the cranial nerves, most frequently the trigeminal. HZI of the trigeminal nerve distribution network manifests as multiple, painful vesicular eruptions of the skin and mucosa which are innervated by the infected nerves. Oral vesicles usually appear after the skin manifestations. The vesicles rupture and coalesce, leaving mucosal erosions without subsequent scarring in most cases. The worst complication of HZI is post-herpetic neuralgia; other complications include facial scarring, motor nerve palsy and optic neuropathy. Osteonecrosis with spontaneous exfoliation of the teeth is an uncommon complication associated with HZI of the trigeminal nerve. We report several cases of osteomyelitis appearing on the mandible, caused by HZI, and triggering osteonecrosis or spontaneous tooth exfoliation.ope

Surgical management of edentulous/atrophic mandibular fracture: a report of two cases

According to Luhr's classification, a fracture in the mandible with a width of less than 15-20 mm is considered to be an atrophic mandibular fracture and its incidence is very rare. Because of the reduced cross-sectional area and smaller contact area of the fractured ends as well as the poorly vascularized bony structure and delayed bone healing, an atrophic mandibular fracture is a great challenge for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Surgeons tend to perform closed reduction, because open reduction is considered a non-life-saving surgery among elderly patients. Thus, most of them have limited experience in surgical management. According to recent reports, open reduction yields a good result, and the Association for Osteosynthesis (AO) group has recommended open reduction. This is a case report of our two experiences of open reduction and rigid fixation of atrophic mandibular fractures by the AO principle. Articles were also reviewed here.ope

Reconsideration of decision making for third molar extraction

Introduction: Third molar extraction is one of the most common procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The impacted third molar causes many pathological conditions, such as pericoronitis, caries, periodontitis, resorption of adjacent teeth, and cyst or tumors associated with impacted teeth. Extraction is often considered the treatment of choice for impacted lower third molars. On the other hand, imprudent extraction of deeply impacted third molars can cause permanent complications, such as inferior alveolar nerve damage. Therefore, guidelines for the extraction of lower third molars should be set to prevent embarrassing complications. This study examined the indication and current trends of the extracted lower third molars in the dental hospital of a dental college. Materials and Methods: 557 extracted third molars were evaluated at the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery of Yonsei University. The chief complaint, diagnosis, age and degree of impaction were analyzed to determine the tendency for the extraction of asymptomatic lower third molars. Results: The percentage of asymptomatic third molars was 40.8%. In cases of full impacted tooth or full erupted tooth, the percentage of asymptomatic teeth was more than 50% (52.4% and 54.3, respectively). Among those partially impacted teeth, 73.1% of them showed symptoms, such as pain, tenderness and swelling. In terms of age, pericoronitis was evident at a younger age, and dental caries/periodontitis was the main cause of removal in those aged over 50. Twenty nine cases (1.6%) had teeth associated with pathological changes Conclusion: The incidence of pathological changes to the lower third molar was relatively low. Surgical extraction is recommended in cases of partially impacted teeth. In Korea, the incidence of asymptomatic third molar extraction was relatively higher than in European countries. More careful attention would be desirable to consider the risks and benefits of lower third molar extraction.ope