Faculty Bibliography

Salivary gland infections arise from a wide variety of etiologies: bacteria, localized viruses, systemic viruses, autoimmune diseases, secondary to sialoliths and strictures, and congenital disorders. When dealing with these entities, the diagnosis of the majority of them can be made quickly, although some of the rarer diseases are more difficult to recognize, particularly when they have a more obvious secondary bacterial infection. This article presents six cases and describes their management.

Incorporation of bioceramics on the surface of dental implants has been utilized in an attempt to increase biological response of bone to materials. This paper reports the in vitro biological evaluation of Ca/P-based nanothickness bioceramic coated alumina-blasted/acid-etched titanium implants (AB/AE nanotite implant) and compare its performance to the untreated and uncoated implants, Ca/P-based nanothickness bioceramic coated untreated implants (untreated nanotite implant), alumina-blasted/acid-etched titanium implants (AB/AE implant) and hydroxyapatite plasma-sprayed implants (PSHA Implant). Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts were used to asses the cytocompatibility of implant materials according to ISO-10993-5 protocols. Osteablasts from Balb/c femurs seeded onto different implant surfaces showed the effect of surface topography and chemistry on cell adhesion. The results showed that all implants were not cytotoxic and that PSHA and AB/AE nanotite implants favored osteoblasts adhesion.

The objective of this series of experiments was to evaluate the effect of bioceramic coatings/ incorporations on implant surfaces as a function of implant and surgical drilling design. Methods: A series of four in vivo studies were conducted utilizing the dog proximal tibia model. The models provided implants that remained from 2 to 5 weeks implantation time. The different studies comprised the placement of implants with intimate contact with bone following placement and implant designs that resulted in healing chambers. The various implant types presented surfaces with and without Ca- and P-based bioceramic incorporations. Biomechanical and histomorphometric measurements along with qualitative bone-implant interface morphology evaluation were performed. For all studies, one-way ANOVA at 95% level of significance was employed along with Tukey's post-hoc multiple comparisons. Results: Close contact between cortical and trabecular bone and all the different implant surfaces irrespective of implant fit (with and without healing chambers) showed that all surfaces were biocompatible and osteoconductive. In general, appositional bone healing was observed at all implant regions that were in intimate contact with bone immediately after placement, and an intramembranous-like healing occurred throughout the whole volume of the healing chambers. Irrespective of implant + surgical drilling design, the presence of Ca- and P resulted in a bone morphology that showed primary osteonic structures at earlier times than uncoated surfaces. Conclusion: Irrespective of implant design and surgical drilling combination, the presence of Ca and P on the implant surface positively modulated early healing around endosseous implants.

Among surface modifications commercially available for dental implants, the incorporation of bioceramic coatings is one of the most popular. However, concerns regarding the effectiveness of the bond between the metallic Surface and the coating have led to the development of thin-film Ca- and P- based bioceramic coatings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early bone response to a thin ion bean deposited (Test) bioceramic implant surface compared to an alumina-blasted/acid-etched (Control) surface in a canine model. Results showed that although no difference in bone-to-implant (BIC) could be noted between the two different surfaces, more organized bone architecture was present around the Test implants in 4 weeks. Based on this observation, the incorporation of a thin- film bioceramic coating positively influenced bone healing around dental implants at early times.

This study aimed to physico/chemically characterize and evaluate the in vivo performance of a beta-TCP particulate grafting material. SEM/TEM, and EDS and XPS were used for morphology and chemistry assessment, respectively. FTIR was used to determine Ca-P phases characteristic bands. Rietveld refinement/XRD spectra was performed for secondary phase detection. Particle size distribution and specific surface were assessed by a scattering-laser based technique and BET, respectively. Mercury porosimetry was employed to determine pore-size distribution. For in vivo evaluation, the grafting material was used in 12 patients' sinus lifts, and biopsies were obtained at post-operative times of 3, 6, and 9 months. SEM/TEM revealed multigrained particles with interconnected pores. EDS showed Ca, P, and O, with stoichiometry close to theoretical values. XRD/Rietveld showed that the material presented crystalline beta-TCP with similar to 9% beta-Ca(2)O(7) secondary phase. FTIR did not detect the presence of bands related to alpha-TCR Human histologic assessment showed that newly formed bone was present at 3 months, and degrees of bone organization increased as time elapsed in vivo. Human histology showed that the material is suitable for bone regeneration in a maxillofacial complex region. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The objective of this study was to physico/chemically characterize a commercially available and a newly developed Bioglass and also to evaluate their degradation properties. Materials and Method: Two bioresorbable glasses were utilized, a bioglass synthesized at Chemical Engineering College (University of Sao Paulo, Lorena, Sao Paulo) (BG1), and the other bioglass utilized was Biogran (BG2) (3i Implant Innovations, Brazil). Particles size distribution histograms were developed for both materials, and then they were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XR-D) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) before and after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 30, 60, and 90 days. Results: The particle size distribution showed that the mean particle diameters at 10%, 50%, and 90% of the total volume were 17.65, 66.18, and 114.71 mu m for BG1, and 354.54, 437.5, 525.00 mu m for BG2. SEM images of BG1 showed that the as-received material had a rough Surface and as the time of degradation elapsed, this surface became smooth. The images of BG2 showed that the as-received material also had a rough surface, and after immersion in SBF, the material's crystalline content/morphology could be observed. The X-ray diffraction recorded that BG1 showed a silica peak, not seen at BG2. FTIR revealed that both bioglasses were of similar composition, except for the CO3-carbonate minor peak, present at the BG2 sample. Conclusions: 1. The particle size distribution showed a polydispersed pattern for both materials. 2. The material Suffered degradation, and the decomposition increased as a function of immersion in SBF. 3. Both bioglasses had similar composition.