The aim of this study was to comprehensively review our experience with odontogenic infections in the head and neck region requiring treatment at a national referral center. We retrospectively reviewed 85 patients treated at the Chair and Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital in Wrocław between January 2018 and June 2019. We excluded patients with nonondontogenic infections or other than purulent clinical forms of dentivitis in the head and neck region. Several demographic, clinicopathological, and treatment variables were assessed. The majority of patients were men who were referred for inpatient treatment by a dentist or family doctor, presented to the Hospital Emergency Ward (SOR) by themselves, or transported to the SOR by paramedics SOR from their home or another hospital. All patients were treated in accordance with the current guidelines for head and neck region odontogenic infections. An incision was made and the abscess was drained. The odontogenic cause was removed followed by the collection of tissue for microbiological examination. The course of infection was monitored by means of laboratory parameters such as leukocyte counts and c‐reactive protein levels. Odontogenic infections in the head and neck region are a persistent and common problem. Rapid, accurate diagnosis and treatment minimizes the risk of life‐threatening complications, shortens the hospitalization period, and lowers treatment costs.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive, highly selective method for the treatment of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation. It was clinically approved more than 30 years ago. PDT involves the selective uptake of a photosensitizer (PS) by neoplastic tissue, which is able to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon irradiation with visible or near-infrared (NIR) light. ROS induce destruction of target cells and damage of tumor-associated vasculature and activate an antitumor immune response, leading to tumor regression. The execution of this process is attained by different mechanisms, including host immune responses and activation of cell death pathways: apoptosis and necrosis.

The aim of this study was to compare the reduced stresses according to Huber’s hypothesis and the displacement pattern in the region of the facial skeleton using a tooth- or bone-borne appliance in surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME). In the current literature, the lack of updated reports about biomechanical effects in bone-borne appliances used in SARME is noticeable. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used for this study. Six facial skeleton models were created, five with various variants of osteotomy and one without osteotomy. Two different appliances for maxillary expansion were used for each model. The three-dimensional (3D) model of the facial skeleton was created on the basis of spiral computed tomography (CT) scans of a 32-year-old patient with maxillary constriction. The finite element model was built using ANSYS 15.0 software, in which the computations were carried out. Stress distributions and displacement values along the 3D axes were found for each osteotomy variant with the expansion of the tooth- and the bone-borne devices at a level of 0.5 mm. The investigation showed that in the case of a full osteotomy of the maxilla, as described by Bell and Epker in 1976, the method of fixing the appliance for maxillary expansion had no impact on the distribution of the reduced stresses according to Huber’s hypothesis in the facial skeleton. In the case of the bone-borne appliance, the load on the teeth, which may lead to periodontal and orthodontic complications, was eliminated. In the case of a full osteotomy of the maxilla, displacements in the buccolingual direction for all the variables of the bone-borne appliance were slightly bigger than for the tooth-borne appliance.

Background. In orthodontics, erbium (Er:YAG) lasers can be used for bracket debonding. Objectives. To assess the changes in temperature of pulp and enamel during laser debonding of brackets. Material and methods. A total of 13 brackets (n = 13; 2 metal and 11 ceramic brackets) were bonded to 13 caries-free premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons. Brackets were irradiated with 2 lasers. Laser No. 1 was an erbium-chromium (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser (Waterlase Express; Biolase, Irvine, USA) with a wavelength of 2,780 nm at a power of 2.78-2.85 W, energy of 185-190 mJ, fluence of 10 ns, frequency of 25 Hz, pulse duration of 300 mu s, tip diameter of 0.6 mm, air/fluid cooling of 3.5 mL/s, and time of irradiation of 5-25 s. Laser No. 2 was an Er:YAG laser (LiteTouch; Light Instruments Ltd., Yokneam, Israel) with a wavelength of 2,940 nm at a power of 4 W, energy of 200 mJ, fluence of 10 ns, frequency of 20 Hz, pulse duration of 300 mu s, tip diameter of 0.8 mm, air/fluid cooling of 3.5 mL/s, and time of irradiation of 5-15 s. Two thermographic cameras (FLIR Zenmuse XT and FLIR P65; FLIR Systems, Wilsonville, USA) and type K thermocouple (Zhang-zhou Weihua Electronic Co., Fujian, China) were used for precise temperature measurement on the surface of the teeth and inside them. Results. When laser No. 1 was in use, the mean difference between the inner and outer temperature of the examined teeth (1.4 degrees C) was higher than when the laser No. 2 was in use (0.6 degrees C) (p = 0.0974). The study found that the temperature inside the tooth did not increase, and it even decreased during treatment with Er:YAG laser using water cooling, provided that appropriate proportion of water and air was used. For laser No. 1, confidence interval (CI) was between 0.7 and 2.2 and for laser No. 2 it was between 0.500 and 1.23. Only experiment for ceramic brackets was described. Conclusions. These findings confirm that the use of Er:YAG family lasers for orthodontic bracket debonding in an in vitro study is safe and effective.

Objectives: The study aims to assess and classify complications in patients treated for maxillary transverse deficiency using surgically assisted rapid maxillary/palatal expansion (SARME/SARPE) under general anesthesia. The classification of the complications aimed to assess the difficulty of their treatment as well as estimate its real cost. Methods: The retrospective study covered 185 patients who underwent surgery for a skeletal deformity in the form of maxillary constriction or in which maxillary constriction was one of its components treated by a team of maxillofacial surgeons at one center (97 females and 88 males, aged 15 to 47 years, mean age 26.1 years). Complications were divided into two groups: early complications (up to 3 weeks after surgery) and late complications (>3 weeks after surgery). In relation to the occurrence of complications, we analyzed the demographic characteristics of the group, type of skeletal deformity (class I, II, III), presence of open bite and asymmetry, surgical technique, type and size of appliance used for maxillary expansion, as well as the duration of surgery. Results: In the study group, complications were found in 18 patients (9.73%). Early complications were found in nine patients, while late complications were also found in nine patients. Early complications include no possibility of distraction, palatal mucosa necrosis, perforation of the maxillary alveolar process caused by the distractor and asymmetric distraction. Late complications include maxillary incisor root resorption, no bone formation in the distraction gap, and maxillary incisor necrosis. None of the patients required prolonged hospitalization and only one required reoperation. Conclusions: Complications were found in 18 patients (9.73%). All challenges were classified as minor difficulties since they did not suppress the final outcome of the treatment of skeletal malocclusion. However, the complications that did occur required additional corrective measures. Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion, when performed properly and in correlation with the correct orthodontic treatment protocol, is an effective and predictable technique for treating maxillary constriction.

The analysis aimed at studying stresses reduced according to Huber’s hypothesis and displacement patterns at selected sites of the facial skeleton using a tooth-borne appliance in surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. Five different variants of osteotomy of the midface and a variant without surgical intervention were compared to determine the best model for making an incision in the maxilla. The finite element analysis (FEA) was used for the study. Five osteotomy variants and a variant without osteotomy were modelled using a tooth-borne appliance on a facial skeleton model of a 23-year-old woman with skeletal malocclusion. The finite element mesh was constructed based on the geometry imported into the ANSYS 15.0 (Swanson Analysis System of USA) software, in which calculations were performed using the finite element analysis. Stress distributions and displacement patterns along the X, Y and Z axes are presented for each osteotomy variant with the expansion of the tooth-borne appliance at a level of 0.5 mm. As a result of the analysis it was found that osteotomy of the palatal suture in conjunction with Le Fort I osteotomy has the biggest impact on the course of maxillary expansion. If no osteotomy is performed, an increase in stresses reduced according to Huber occurs in the entire facial skeleton with a simultaneous absence of maxillary expansion.