PurposeTo evaluate osseous changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to correlate the imaging findings with the severity of TMJ dysfunction, clinical findings, and laboratory findings.Materials and MethodsThis study consisted of 28 subjects, including 14 RA patients and 14 controls, who were scheduled to undergo CBCT imaging for the diagnosis of a complaint not related to or affecting the TMJ. The Fonseca's questionnaire was used to assess the severity of TMJ dysfunction. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were assessed in the RA patients. CBCT was then performed in all subjects and osseous TMJ abnormalities were assessed.ResultsAccording to the Fonseca's questionnaire, 14.3% of the patients had no TMJ dysfunction, while 50%, 21.4%, and 14.3% had mild, moderate, and severe dysfunction, respectively. RF was positive in 64.3% of patients, and the ESR level was high in 100%. Imaging findings revealed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of erosion (85.7%), flattening (89.3%), osteophyte formation (32.1%), subchondral cyst (32.1%), sclerosis (64.3%), and condylar irregularities (28.6%) in the RA patients than in the controls. No correlations were found between CBCT findings and the clinical findings, the severity of TMJ dysfunction, disease duration, or laboratory results.ConclusionRA patients might show extensive osseous abnormalities with no/mild clinical signs or symptoms of TMJ dysfunction that necessitate TMJ imaging for these patients. CBCT is a valuable and efficient modality that can assess osseous TMJ changes in RA patients.

Statement of Problem: This review investigates laser benefits in second stage dental implant surgery as compared to conventional methods. Methods of Study: An electronic database search on PubMed, Cochrane library and LILACS for clinical studies in which laser was used for the second-stage implant surgery were selected and evaluated. Results: initial search yielded 136 studies, 15 were considered potentially relevant, out of which only three were finally selected. They studied the effect of laser on postoperative pain, the need for anesthesia and analgesia, hemostasis, time needed before impression and quality of it, duration of surgery and peri-implant soft tissue conditions. The results shows that the assessed studies are too limited in number beside exhibiting small sample sizes. They are clinically heterogeneous so that a solid conclusion cannot be reached. Conclusions: Researchers should be attracted to laser use to close a very obvious research gap. Randomized clinical trials are strongly recommended.