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Introduction: Dental follicle (DF) is an ectomesenchymal tissue that surrounds the developing tooth germ and contains precursor cells for cementoblasts, periodontal ligaments and osteoblasts. Radiographically, the DFs are seen as semicircular radiolucencies around unerupted teeth. However, if the DFs are larger than 2.5 mm, they are considered to be a pathological change., Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the cell proliferation activity of DF surrounding an asymptomatic impacted third molar teeth using the Ki 67 proliferation marker and to evaluate the variation of cell proliferation depending on the age factor., Materials and Methods: Forty-four specimens of DFs associated with impacted mandibular third molars fully covered by mucosa or bone were surgically removed from 44 patients. The patients were divided into 2 age groups. Twenty of forty-four DFs were between 18 and 29 years (Group 1) and 24 were 30 years and above (Group 2). Ki-67 immunostaining was evaluated in epithelial component of the DFs., Results: Ki 67 expression was found to be 60% in Group 1 and 75% in Group 2. Statistically significant differences were found among the two groups in both the basal layer and the supra-basal layer., Conclusion: This study shows that DFs have more proliferative potential in older people as compared to the young and squamous metaplasia may be an early sign of developing lesions of odontogenic origin. Therefore, clinicians should be aware that histopathological changes could be found in DFs without clinical and radiographic alterations.

This article evaluates the use of distraction osteogenesis in the treatment of mandibular retrognathia and laterognathia and the long term treatment results of the patients treated with this technique. The procedure was carried out in 5 subjects (3 males and 2 females, mean age 18.4 years) aged between 14 years and 27 years. In patients treated with bilateral mandibular distraction, it was observed that the ANB angle decreased by a mean of 5 degrees , the mandibular corpus length increased by a mean of 14.5 mm and the overjet decreased by a mean of 12.2 mm after treatment. In patients treated with unilateral mandibular distraction, a mean of 3.5 degrees reduction was achieved in ANB angle, the mandibular corpus length increased by a mean of 5.5 mm and a mean of 7 mm correction was achieved in relation to craniofacial midline with treatment. One of these patients showed an increase of 10 mm in ramus height on the affected side and a decrease of 5 degrees in gonial angle whereas the other one showed an increase of 12.5 degrees in gonial angle and an increase of 11 mm in ramus height on the affected side after treatment. The most significant long term relapse was observed in one of the patients treated with bilateral mandibular distraction. Long term relapse seen in the rest of the patients was within clinically acceptable limits. It can be concluded that distraction of the deformed mandible is a feasible and effective technique for treating mandibular retrognathia and laterognathia. However, it must be borne in mind that accurate placement of the distractors and determining the correct distraction vector are crucial factors that have an influence on long term clinical success.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of bioactive glass (BG), natural hydroxyapatite (HA), and demineralized freeze-dried bone (DFDB) in bone defects., Methods: All animal experiments were conducted in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey, under the Selcuk University Guidelines for Animal Experimentation, in 2005. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits were used for the experiment. Four cavities were prepared on right and left tibias. The cavities on the right tibia were filled with either BG, HA or DFDB. One cavity was left empty as a control. The cavities on the other tibial bone were grafted with HA(+)BG, HA(+)DFDB, BG(+)DFDB and HA(+)BG(+)DFDB composites. Histological examinations were performed at first, third, and sixth postoperative months., Results: According to histomorphometric findings, the mixture containing HA(+)BG(+)DFDB obtained the best histological results (p<0.05)., Conclusion: The composite graft of HA, BG and DFDB is more effective than when used as individual agents.

Orocutaneous fistulas or cutaneous sinus tracts of dental origin are pathologic communications between the cutaneous surface of the face and the oral cavity. They are relatively uncommon and may be easily misdiagnosed. In this report, management of an orocutaneous fistula of dental origin, which endured for 20 years, by using an extraoral bilobed skin flap, an intraoral buccal rotational mucosal flap and allogenic bone graft, is presented.