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The present study describes a clinical case in which the buccal fat pad (BFP) was used to improve the contour of the peri-implant mucosa. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of such an application in the literature. A 58-year-old woman presented with teeth #2 and #3 missing and an indication for extraction of tooth #4. After clinical examination and CBCT analysis, immediate implants were placed in the region of the extracted tooth and that of tooth #2 for prosthetic rehabilitation using a three-unit fixed partial denture. There was an extensive mucosal defect in the region of tooth #3, with vertical and horizontal changes in the contour of the mucosa. As an alternative to the use of a subepithelial connective tissue graft, we opted for displacement of the BFP and its accommodation on the alveolar ridge of tooth #3 to improve the buccal tissue contour. After 5 years of follow-up, satisfactory gain and maintenance of mucosal volume were observed in the treated area, as well as improvement of buccal tissue contour. The use of BFP seems to be a feasible alternative for filling and treating peri-implant mucosal defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate and qualitatively describe autogenous bone graft healing with or without an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membrane in ovariectomized rats. Materials and Methods: Eighty Wistar rats, weighing approximately 300 g each, were used. A graft was obtained from the parietal bone and fixed to the sidewall of each animal's left mandibular ramus. The animals were randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 20 in each group): group 1, sham operated and autogenous bone graft only; group 2, sham operated and autogenous bone graft covered by e-PTFE membrane; group 3, ovariectomized (OVX) and autogenous bone graft only; group 4, OVX and autogenous bone graft covered by e-PTFE membrane. The animals were sacrificed at five different time points: immediately after grafting or at 7, 21, 45, or 60 days after grafting. Histologic examination and morphometric measurement of the sections were performed, and values were submitted to statistical analyses. Results: Both groups (sham and OVX) experienced loss of the original graft volume when it was not covered by the membrane, whereas use of the membrane resulted in additional bone formation beyond the edges of the graft and under the membrane. Histologic analysis showed integration of the grafts in all animals, although a larger number of marrow spaces was found in OVX groups. Conclusions: Association of bone graft with an e-PTFE membrane resulted in maintenance of its original volume as well as formation of new bone that filled the space under the membrane. Osteopenia did not influence bone graft repair, regardless of whether or not it was associated with e-PTFE membrane, but descriptive histologic analysis showed larger numbers of marrow spaces in the bone graft and receptor bed and formation of new bone in the OVX animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This aim of the present study was to evaluate the pulp chamber penetration of 35% hydrogen peroxide activated by LED (lightemitting diode) or Nd:YAG laser in bovine teeth, after an in-office bleaching technique. Forty-eight bovine lateral incisors were divided into four groups, acetate buffer was placed into the pulp chamber and bleaching agent was applied as follows: for group A (n = 12), activation was performed by LED; for group B (n = 12), activation was performed by Nd:YAG laser (60 mJ, 20 Hz); group C (n = 12) received no light or laser activation; and the control group (n = 12) received no bleaching gel application or light or laser activation. The acetate buffer solution was transferred to a glass tube and Leuco Crystal Violet and horseradish peroxidase were added, producing a blue solution. The optical density of this solution was determined spectrophotometrically and converted into microgram equivalents of hydrogen peroxide. The results were analysed using ANOVA and Tukey's test (5%). It was verified that the effect of activation was significant, as groups activated by LED or laser presented greater hydrogen peroxide penetration into the pulp chamber (0.499 ± 0.622 μg) compared with groups that were not (0.198 ± 0.218 μg). There was no statistically significant difference in the penetration of hydrogen peroxide into the pulp chamber between the two types of activation (LED or laser). The results suggest that activation by laser or LED caused an increase in hydrogen peroxide penetration into the pulp chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To quantify the amount of peroxide penetration from the pulp chamber to the external surface of teeth during the walking bleaching technique. Methods: Seventy-two bovine lateral incisors were randomly divided over five experimental groups and one control (n= 12 per group): (1) 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP); (2) 35% carbamide peroxide (CP); (3) sodium perborate (SP); (4) (HP+SP); (5) (CP+SP) and (6) Control (CG), deionized water. All groups were treated according to the walking bleach technique. After 7 days at 37°C in an acetate buffer solution, 100 jd violet leukocrystal coloring and 50 p1 peroxidase was added, producing a blue stain that could be measured in a spectrophotometer and then converted into peroxide μg/ml. Results: G5 exhibited the greatest penetration, while G2 and G3 produced the lowest values. All bleaching agents penetrated from the pulp chamber to the external root surface. There was a direct correlation between the presence of oxidative agents and penetration potential. Sodium perborate in distilled water was less oxidative and appeared to be the least aggressive bleaching agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]