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Introduction/Objective. The correct choice of local anesthesia should imply choosing the simplest technique, with maximum anesthesia and minimal discomfort for the patient. The objectives of this research were to determine the efficacy of the modified Vazirani–Akinosi technique (mVAt) in comparison to the standard one (VAt) and to compare the techniques regarding clinically relevant parameters. Methods. The research was conducted at the Clinic for Oral Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade. A prospective, randomized, single-blinded clinical trial included 60 patients scheduled for surgical extraction of mandibular third molars. The first group of patients was anesthetized using mVAt, while the second group received anesthesia using VAt. Pain during injection, onset time, duration of anesthesia, and width of the anesthetized area were the evaluated parameters. Results. Out of 60 performed injections, 42 were successful, which proved to be statistically significant in comparison to 18 unsuccessful injections (p = 0.047). The failure rate of the buccal nerve (BN) anesthesia was statistically significantly lower in the mVAt group (p = 0.030). There was no statistically significant difference among the groups considering pain (p = 0.114), onset time (p = 0.370), and duration of anesthesia (p = 0.628). Conclusion. mVAt proved to be more successful regarding BN anesthesia. Considering other examined clinical parameters, both techniques showed similar performance.

Introduction. Oroantral communication (OAC) closure may be accompanied by hard and soft tissue defects. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is the second-generation platelet concentrate that can be an effective therapeutic option for the closure of defects up to 5 mm in diameter. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate whether PRF could be a viable therapeutic option for OAC closure and provide sufficient bone quality/quantity for the forthcoming implant placement. Outlines of cases. The case series included eight patients treated with PRF due to the presence of OAC less than 3 mm in diameter. Three months after the surgery, at the time of implant placement, bone samples were harvested and taken for histological analysis. The results demonstrated success in all eight cases, obtaining both hard and soft tissue healing. Histological analysis showed that newly formed bone was present on all histological samples, without visible signs of inflammation and necrosis. Conclusion. PRF could be a viable therapeutic option for OAC closure in specific clinical cases, but future randomized, controlled, clinical studies are required for more conclusive results.

Introduction. Osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare heritable connective tissue disorder characterized by increased fragility of the bony tissue. The incidence of orofacial alterations associated with osteogenesis imperfecta is variable and includes dentinogenesis imperfecta, malocclusions, hypoplasia of the jaws, delayed dental development and structural abnormalities of the teeth. Case outline. A 22-year-old female was referred to the Clinic for Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry for dental treatment. Enlarged head, triangular-shaped face, mandibular prognathism with excessive maxillary hypoplasia, lowered vertical occlusal dimension were present features. The intraoral findings included dentinogenesis imperfecta with Kennedy’s class IV in the upper jaw and class II in the lower jaw. Panoramic radiograph revealed abnormalities in the crown and root shape, obliteration of the pulp chamber and severe deficiency of alveolar bone mass. Overall treatment involved five phases: I – preventive and prophylactic treatment, II – direct restauration of five teeth with glass ionomer cement, III – extraction of severely damaged teeth, IV – prosthodontic rehabilitation with removable partial dentures, V – maintenance and follow-up phase. Conclusion. Low prevalence and wide variety of signs and symptoms make dental treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta overly complex and challenging. Nevertheless, it is essential to improve craniofacial and dental function along with facial aesthetic.

Introduction. Surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molar can lead to the periodontal defect on distal aspect of the mandibular second molar causing pocket formation, tooth sensitivity, food retention, postoperative infections. Different surgical techniques have been proposed to reduce periodontal complications. Case outline. We presented five cases treated with Vestibular Bone Window Technique. Considering data from the literature review, benefits and limitations of the technique are discussed and compared to the Standard Surgical Technique. Conclusion. Vestibular Bone Window Technique might be recommended surgical procedure for the extraction of impacted mandibular third molar when bucco-distal bone wall is present preoperatively. Taking into account only five cases, future work should consider a randomized clinical trial with the larger stratified samples.