Oral rehabilitation by dental implants is a routine treatment in the common dental practice, and volume reconstruction in cases of advanced alveolar ridge atrophy using bone autografts has become a frequently used therapeutic procedure. The study presents a histological evaluation of autogenous mandibular bone grafts integration in surgically created maxillary bone defects. Seven domestic adult dogs, Canis Familiaris were used in the study. Work methodology was established through maxillary and mandibular morphometry, the donor region being the posterior mandibular body, and the recipient region being the lateral body of the maxilla. In the experimental study, we simulated two bilateral maxillary bone defects, which were augmented with mandibular corticocancellous bone grafts. Biological samples containing the target areas were collected 90-100 days after grafting and the subsequent preparation method of the samples for histological analysis was the standard one.The histological results showed the successful integration and the beneficial effect of corticocancellous autogenous mandibular bone grafts applied in maxillary sites.

Background: The mental foramen (MnF) is the anatomic landmark where the mental neurovascular bundle exits the mandible. Precisely determining the position of the MnF is necessary before all dentoalveolar therapeutic procedures performed in the mandibular premolar area. Materials and Methods: For the study, we performed two ex vivo direct morphometric determinations on dry human dentate and edentate mandibles, and two in vivo imaging morphometric determinations through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and orthopantomography (OPG) in dentate human patients. The following landmarks were used to locate the MnF: the distance between the MnF and the superior border of the mandible (MnF-SB), the distance between the MnF and the inferior border of the mandible (MnF-IB), and the position of the MnF in relation to the root apices of the posterior teeth. The results obtained from these data were processed statistically using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: By direct morphometry on dentate mandibles, the MnF was situated closer to the IB and by direct morphometry on completely edentulous mandibles, the MnF was located closer to the SB. In both direct morphometry studies, the MnF transverse diameter was larger than the vertical one, with the MnF having an oval shape. ANOVA for both direct morphometry studies showed that the distances MnF-IB and MnF-SB significantly vary statistically with interactions and depending on age (p<0.00001). The vertical diameter of the MnF significantly varies statistically depending on age, interactions and between studies, and its transverse diameter varies statistically significantly with interactions and depending on age (p<0.00001). According to OPG and CBCT imaging studies, the MnF was located closer to the IB, and the transverse diameter of the MnF was larger than the vertical diameter; such results are similar to the direct morphometry study performed on dry dentate human mandibles. Regarding the position of the MnF in relation to the root apices, it was most frequently located inferior to the root apices in 79.45% of cases, in 19.23% of cases it was located at the root apices level and in 1.31% of cases it was located superior (coronal) to the root apices. ANOVA for both imaging morphometry studies showed that the MnF-IB distance varies statistically significantly with the interactions, the study, the sex of the patients and their age, the MnF-SB distance varies statistically significantly with the interactions, the study and the patients' age (p<0.05), and the MnF diameters vary statistically significantly with interactions and patient age (p<0.05). Conclusions:The results of this study can help dental practitioners in improving dentoalveolar surgery procedures in the posterior mandible.

Alveolar ridge augmentation with autogenous bone grafts is a frequent procedure used in Implant Dentistry. This paper presents an immunohistochemical assessment of the integration of mandibular autografts, applied in maxillary bone defects. Seven adult dogs were used in the study. The work methodology was established through maxillary and mandibular morphometry. The posterior mandibular body was considered the donor region and the lateral region of the maxilla the recipient area. Bilateral maxillary bone defects were performed on the predetermined receiving sites, which were later augmented with mandibular grafts. Fragments of hard tissue from the grafted sites were harvested 90-100 days after the surgical interventions and immunohistochemically evaluated. The immunohistochemical study proved the existence of bone regeneration in the case of mandibular corticocancellous autografts applied at the maxillary level, being an efficient procedure for assessing their integration.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the most complex and evolved joint in humans, presents two articular surfaces: the condyle of the mandible and the articular eminence (AE) of the temporal bone. AE is the anterior root of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone and has an anterior and a posterior slope, the latter being also known as the articular surface. AE is utterly important in the biomechanics of the TMJ, as the mandibular condyle slides along the posterior slope of the AE while the mandible moves. The aim of this review was to assess significant factors influencing the inclination of the AE, especially modifications caused by aging, biological sex or edentulism. Studies have reported variations in the angles of the slopes of the AE between medieval and recent human dry skulls, as well as between subjects of different racial origin. Recent articles have emphasized the significant role that tooth loss has on the flattening of the AE. Although some papers have described biological sex or age as factors which could be associated with differences in AE angulations, edentulism seems to be a significant factor impacting on the inclination of the AE.

Background : The mandibular foramen (MF) is the anatomic landmark where the interior alveolar nerve enters the mandibular ramus, and the area of choice where anesthesia of this nerve is performed. The position of the MF can vary, and accurately establishing its location and topographic variations is of great importance for the successful anesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve. Materials and Methods : We carried out two morphometric ex vivo studies concerning the topography of the MF, on dry human mandibles coming from dentate and completely edentulous human subjects of known age and gender and an in vivo morphometric study, through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, concerning the topography of the MF in human subjects having Kennedy Class I mandibular edentulism. The morphological characteristics we investigated were: the distance between the MF and the anterior margin of the mandibular ramus (MF–AM distance), the distance between the MF and the posterior margin of the mandibular ramus (MF–PM distance), the distance between the MF and the inferior margin of the mandibular ramus (MF–IM distance), the distance between the MF and the temporal crest of the mandibular ramus (MF–TC distance), the distance between the MF and the superior margin of the mandibular ramus (MF–SM distance), and the vertical and transverse diameters of the MF. The results were statistically processed in Stata/MP13 software package using Student’s t -test and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results : Through direct morphometry on dentate dry human mandibles, the MF–AM and the MF–SM distances showed statistically significant differences for age, gender and for interactions, while the MF–PM and MF–IM distances showed statistically significant differences for age and for interactions. In the case of the MF–TC distance, the only significant difference observed was for the gender. No statistical significance was found for side, age, gender, and interactions in the cases of MF vertical and transverse diameters. Through direct morphometry on completely edentulous dry human mandibles, the MF–PM and MF–SM distances showed statistically significant differences for age, gender and for interactions, while the MF–AM, MF–IM, and MF–TC distances, as well as the MF vertical and transverse diameters showed statistically significant differences for age and for model (interactions). The results showed that MF is 2 mm closer to the anterior margin of the mandibular ramus after having lost teeth. Through imaging morphometry, the MF–PM distance and the vertical diameter of MF showed statistically significant differences for age, gender and for interactions, while the MF–AM, MF–IM, MF–SM and MF–TC distances, as well as the transverse diameter of MF showed statistically significant differences for age and for interactions. Comparing the results obtained by the three studies, we found no statistically significant diff...