Oral Surg Oral Med O
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Oral Surg Oral Med O · Oct 2001
Prevalence of cervical spine injuries in patients with facial trauma.
Injuries to the spine may accompany facial trauma. By using a large computerized database the goal of this case control study was to assess the association between facial and cervical spine injuries among patients sustaining facial trauma. ⋯ The results of this study underline the importance of proper clinical and computed tomographic evaluation in cases of facial fractures for recognition of additional cervical spine trauma. Detection of cervical spine trauma can be missed, especially when pain or symptoms from other parts of the body dominate. The typical patient with concomitant neck and facial trauma is male, 40 years old, and usually involved in a traffic accident.
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The Oral Health Science Institute at the University of Pittsburgh has completed a cross-sectional epidemiologic study of 406 subjects with type 1 diabetes and 268 control subjects without diabetes that assessed the associations between oral health and diabetes. This report describes the prevalence of dry-mouth symptoms (xerostomia), the prevalence of hyposalivation in this population, and the possible interrelationships between salivary dysfunction and diabetic complications. ⋯ Subjects with type 1 diabetes who had developed neuropathy more often reported symptoms of dry mouth as well as symptoms of decreased salivary flow rates. Because of the importance of saliva in the maintenance and the preservation of oral health, management of oral diseases in diabetic patients should include a comprehensive evaluation of salivary function.
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Oral Surg Oral Med O · Sep 2001
Retreatment versus initial root canal treatment: factors affecting posttreatment pain.
The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with posttreatment pain in patients receiving root canal retreatment (RCR) and in those receiving initial root canal treatment (IRCT). ⋯ Pretreatment pain level influenced posttreatment pain more than RCR or IRCT, the type of original obturating material, or the pretreatment diagnosis.
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Oral Surg Oral Med O · Sep 2001
Clinical significance of the length of the pterygopalatine fissure in dental anesthesia.
This study determined the average length of the pterygopalatine fissure by using human cadavers. Recommendations are made to improve the success of maxillary nerve block injections. ⋯ Depth of penetration with a needle that is longer than that normally available is necessary to predictably ensure a successful maxillary nerve block.