Louis Napolitano, DMD, shares a case in which a hard- and soft-tissue laser was used for granuloma removal and apicoectomy with a bone graft.

These may or may not be included in an actual appointment book. These slots are prep and seating, dismissal of the patient, and disinfection of the operatory. The dental assistant is primarily responsible for these required functions. Operatory appointment booking. Implant Dentistry. 3 Intracoronal Attachment Intracoronal attachments are incorporated entirely within the contour of the crown. Root preparation. Steps Of Cavity Preparation 1. STEPS OF CAVITY PREPARATION MADE BY: ABHINAV FINAL YEAR 2010-2011 2. DEFINITION OF CAVITY PREPARATION Cavity preparation is the mechanical alternation of a tooth to receive a restorative material, which will return the tooth to proper anatomical form, function, and esthetics.

Figure 1: Pre-op x-ray

At a time in history, traditional dentistry had a place in all aspects of practice simply because that is what dentists knew. However, it is a new day, and the profession is in a different place. Now everyone is fortunate to have dental technologies at the ready that make everyday procedures—and those we might not have been able to perform before—much easier and more efficient.

One procedure that no longer has to be referred out or looked at as a burden is fibroma removal. With traditional instruments, such as the scalpel, these surgeries are not favored by most dentists. They can be very messy due to blood and are laborious. Additionally, suturing the surgical site adds an extra step and can be difficult. The patient experience also suffers as a result of prolonged time spent in the chair and postoperative discomfort.

Some technologies currently on the market can help erase the stigma surrounding fibroma removals and other tedious soft-tissue surgeries. One is Solea, a 9.3 µm CO₂ dental laser that cuts bone, dentin, enamel, and gingiva. Below is a case in which the laser was used during an extensive granuloma removal and apicoectomy with a bone graft procedure.

Case summary

The patient, a 63-year-old female, presented for an emergency visit. She explained her situation, complaining of pain and a lump on the top-left quadrant of her mouth. After an oral evaluation and x-ray (figure 1), it was discovered that she had a large draining granuloma with swelling in the mucobuccal fold near teeth Nos. 12–14 due to a chronic periapical abscess (figure 2).

Figure 2: Pre-op

Clinical objective

The objective was to remove the granuloma at the junction of keratinized and elastic tissue, as well as the periapical pathology, without perforating the sinus on tooth No. 13.

Technique

Aiming the laser at the affected area at a 45-degree angle, the first step was to remove the fibroma (figure 3). This was done easily after choosing the appropriate spot size, mist, and power. Following removal, the selections were adjusted for the next step, which was to make an incision in the gingiva. Keep in mind that it was vital to leave approximately 2 mm of keratinized tissue and raise the flap at this time. The laser’s precision allowed for the precise cutting that was needed.

Figure 3: Immediately post-op

Continuing to adjust spot size, mist, and power as necessary, the laser was used to enlarge the fenestration in the buccal plate (figure 4). The granulation tissue from the abscess then had to be removed in order to expose the root for amputation. Simultaneously, a slot prep was cut for retrograde bioceramic restoration (figure 5).

Figure 4: Immediately post-op

Figure 5: Immediately post-op

After using a round burnisher and blow test to determine that there was no perforation to the sinus and the membrane was still intact, the laser was used at a spot size of 1.25 mm, on low power mode, and without mist or air to debride the medial superior area of the bony defect. X-rays were taken following immediate placement of bone-graft material to display the site after using Solea to remove bone and granulation tissue (figures 6 and 7). The entire procedure, including the bone graft, took approximately 40 minutes from start to finish.

Figure 6: X-ray immediately after placement of bone-graft material

Figure 7: X-ray immediately after placement of bone-graft material

Advantages of using a 9.3 µm CO₂ dental laser

Setting aside the scalpel and using a 9.3 µm CO₂ laser for this type of hard- and soft-tissue surgery offers advantages in procedural convenience, safety, and patient experience. In this case, the procedure was performed virtually blood-free, which allowed for a clean site that made treatment simple.

The laser also made ablation of the bony structure easy. If a conventional handpiece or piezo had been used, the cutting would have been nowhere near as seamless or precise. The infected granulation tissue was removed quickly and safely. Another issue that could have occurred was perforation of the patient’s sinus. With traditional instruments, this would have been more likely to happen, causing adverse effects. Using the laser, perforation was not a concern.

From a patient perspective, a 9.3 µm CO₂ laser can dramatically change the dental experience. In this case, chair time was reduced (compare 40 minutes using the laser to the 60–90 minutes required by traditional dentistry), and the patient did not have to worry about excessive blood or postoperative pain. Healing was also rapid without any gingival defects.

Slot Prep In Dentistry

During post-op visits, final results at the three- and eight-month marks and x-rays taken at eight months revealed optimal outcomes that met the clinical objective (figures 8–10).

Figure 8: Soft tissue at three months post-opFigure 9: Soft tissue at eight months post-opFigure 10: X-ray at eight months post-op

Louis Napolitano, DMD, graduated from Georgetown University in 1977 with a BS in chemistry and earned his doctor of dental medicine degree from Rutgers Dental School in 1982. He completed his general practice residence at Jersey Shore University Hospital and has been in private practice in Jackson, New Jersey, since 1983. Dr. Napolitano has been performing laser dentistry with Solea for four and a half years. He can be contacted at (732) 905-2488 or info@louisnapolitanodmd.com.

OUTLINE FORM:

G .V. Black has described the outline form as being “the form of the area of the tooth surface to be included within the outline or enamel margins of the finished cavity”. It is the placement of cavity margins in the positions they will occupy in the final preparation, except for finishing enamel walls and margins and preparing an initial depth of 0.2 – 0.8mm pulpally of DEJ or normal root surface position.

Two outline forms can be appreciated

External outline form-which dictates the external perimeter of the outline form.
Internal outline form-which dictates the inner dimension and detail of the cavity.

The factors that determine outline form are the following:

Extent of the carious lesion.
Extend the cavity margin until sound tooth structures obtained and no unsupported enamel remains.
Margins should be paced in easily cleansable areas.
Average depth of the cavity should be 0.5 mm into dentin.
Extend the cavity margins into fissures that cannot be eliminated by appropriate enameloplasty.

PIT AND FISSURE CAVITIES

The general factors mentioned above are to be followed. In addition the following are considered:
Avoid terminating the margin on extreme eminences such as cusp heights and ridge crests.
Circumventing of cusps should be followed resulting in a smooth free flowing outline form.
In case of conservative cavity preparation shallow supplemental grooves and fissure crossing lingual or facial ridge can be eliminated by enameloplasty.
When two pit and fissure cavities have been separated by less than 0.5 mm of sound tooth structure, they should be joined to eliminate a weak enamel wall between them.

PROXIMAL SMOOTH SURFACE CAVITIES

Slot Prep Dental

Occlusal cavity outline is same as above.

Gingival margins

Slot Prep Dentistry