Objectives: This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to present a new method for secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) assessment and to qualitatively evaluate the SABG results in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients. Materials and methods: Research was conducted according to the STROBE guidelines. The study group consisted of 21 patients with a mean age of 16 years. High-resolution cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed at least 1 year after grafting. The experimental side was the cleft side, and the contralateral side without a congenital cleft was the control. Measurements were performed at four levels of the maxillary central incisors’ roots according to the new scale with scores from 0 to 3. The sum of the scores provided a general assessment of bone architecture. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for intergroup comparisons, and a Kappa coefficient was used for reproducibility measurements. Results: High individual variability was found, and the bone architecture was significantly worse on the cleft side than on the noncleft side. The results showed 28.57% failure, 33.33% poor, 19.05% moderate, and 19.05% good results from the surgical procedure. Kappa coefficients produced results from 0.92 to 1.00 for intra-rater and from 0.81 to 1.00 for inter-rater reproducibility. Conclusions: CBCT provides detailed information about alveolar bone morphology. The new assessment method is useful at every treatment stage and provides excellent repeatability. SABG did not provide good bone morphology, in most cases. Clinical relevance: This research presents a new universal alternative for the assessment of SABG by utilizing CBCT.

There is no unequivocal scientific consensus for the temporary anchorage device (TAD) positioning in the infrazygomatic crest area (IZC). The two principal aims of this systematic review were to assess bone availability in the IZC and to establish both the target site and the need for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) prior to miniscrew placement. The study was performed following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42023411650). The inclusion criteria were: at least 10 patients, three-dimensional radiological examination, and IZC assessment for the TAD placement. ROBINS-I tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used for quality evaluation. No funding was obtained. The study was based on the information coming from: PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science Core Collection, MDPI, Wiley, and Cochrane Libraries. The last search was carried out on 1 August 2023. Fourteen studies were identified for analysis. A narrative synthesis was performed to synthesize the findings of the different studies. Unfortunately, it is not possible to establish the generally recommended target site for IZC TAD placement. The reasons for this are the following: heterogeneity of available studies, inconsistent results, and significant risk of bias. The high variability of bone measurements and the lack of reliable predictors of bone availability justify the use of CBCT for TAD trajectory planning. There is a need for more high-quality studies aiming three-dimensional bone analysis of the IZC.

The gradual movement of a tooth away from the occlusal plane is called infraocclusion or reinclusion. Reincluded teeth are most often deciduous molars, and permanent teeth are less frequently affected. Depending on the level of the infraocclusion, the severity of the disorder is classified as mild, moderate, or severe. The etiology of the phenomenon is not fully known. Tooth submerging can lead to serious complications, such as abnormal position of adjacent teeth, displacement of the bud of the permanent successor, shortening of the dental arch, or developmental disturbances of alveolar process. Early diagnosis of the tooth infraocclusion and regular monitoring of its progression help to avoid serious permanent sequelae. The treatment of reinclusion often involves only observation. However, in some cases, the therapeutic procedure requires interdisciplinary treatment by specialists from various fields of dentistry. This study presents current methods of diagnosis and treatment of patients with submerged teeth.

The formation of an oroantral communication (OAC) or fistula (OAF) is a rare complication resulting from the presence of processes in the lateral parts of the maxilla or for iatrogenic reasons. The most common causes of OAC or OAF are tooth extraction with periapical lesions. The aims of this systematic review were to assess the use of platelet-derived preparations rich in growth factors in the treatment of OAC or OAF, to determine the success of treating the communication or fistula, as well as impact on postoperative complications and the course of healing. The study was performed following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024570758). The inclusion criteria were as follows: at least ten patients, the presence of oroantral communication or oroantral fistula, treatment with platelet-derived preparations rich in growth factors, and information regarding the response to treatment. In order to find relevant studies, international databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science Core Collection, MDPI, Wiley, and Cochrane Library were searched. The last search was performed on 31 August 2024. Seven articles were included in the systematic review. In total, platelet-derived preparations rich in growth factors were used in 164 patients. Only studies in which OAC was treated and with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) met the inclusion criteria. Only PRF was used as the sole treatment method in three studies. When OAC is greater than 5 mm, platelet-derived preparations rich in growth factors should be considered adjuncts to treatment, not the sole treatment method. The success rate of OAC treatment was 90–100%. The use of blood products to close OAC may be an effective therapeutic alternative. Proper patient qualification and the use of an appropriate protocol are crucial. There is a need for future well-designed case-control or cohort studies as well as randomized controlled trials to provide the required level of evidence.

Background: Tooth infraocclusion is a process in which a completely or partially erupted tooth gradually moves away from the occlusal plane. Submerged teeth can lead to serious complications. Treating teeth with infraocclusion is very challenging. One of the procedures allowing for the replacement of a missing tooth is autotransplantation. The aim of this paper is to review the literature on teeth autotransplantation, supported by a case report involving the autotransplantation of a third mandibular molar into the site of an extracted infraoccluded first mandibular molar, as well as the utilization of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) alongside autogenous dentin grafts for bone tissue regeneration. Methods: A severely infraoccluded first permanent right mandibular molar was extracted and then ground to obtain the dentin graft. A-PRF clots (collected from the patient’s peripheral blood) were added to the autogenous dentin graft, to create the A-PRF membrane. An atraumatic extraction of the lower left third molar was performed and then it was transplanted into the socket of tooth no. 46. Immediately after transplantation, tooth no. 38 was stabilized with orthodontic bracket splints for 3 months. The patient attended regular follow-up visits within 12 months. Results: After one year, the patient did not report any pain. In the clinical examination, the tooth and surrounding tissues did not show any signs of infection. However, radiographically, cervical inflammatory resorption, unchanged pulp canal dimensions, absent root growth, periapical radiolucency, and lack of apical and marginal healing were observed. Reconstruction of the bone defect was obtained and the alveolar ridge of the mandible was preserved. Due to poor stability of the tooth and severe resorption, the tooth needed to be extracted. Conclusions: This study is designed to critically evaluate the efficacy of autotransplantation, the application of growth factors, and the integration of autogenous dentin grafts in remedying dental deficiencies resulting from reinclusion. We aim to point out the possible causes of treatment failure.