During the past few years several techniques have been developed for placing gutta percha into the root canal system. Thus, researchers have been engaged looking into the efficiency of such techniques.

So far, published studies could not provide substantial evidence of the superiority of one particular technique over others. Moreover, we are often presented with controversial opinions.

Comparative evaluation of these techniques will be presented.
Saudi Dental Journal 1994;6(SI)-Abstr.016:p18

  017. A retrospective study of 620 mandibular fractures

The aim of this study is to highlight the changing trends in the incidence, causes and treatment of 620 mandibular fractures treated at Riyadh Medical Complex.

The cases of 620 mandibular fractures treated during the last 5 years were evaluated (Isolated dentoalveolar fractures were excluded). Factors considered were age, sex, cause of injury, anatomic site of fractures, associated injuries and treatment modalities. Complications met and their management will also be presented.
Saudi Dental Journal 1994;6(SI)-Abstr.017:p19

Those are tumors or tumor-like malformations that consist mainly of blood vessels. They appear in the oral cavity at any age and in either sex. However, most are congenital and become clinically apparent at an early age. They present as elevated, or submerged lesions of varying .size, and when bone is affected they appear as osteolytic lesions that mimic a cyst, ameloblastoma or giant cell lesion. Those on the soft tissue are usually soft and compressible. They can produce considerable enlargement of the involve site. The danger of profuse bleeding that occurred when dealing with such lesion has always been a real possibility. A variety of methods have been used over the years to diagnose and treat haemangiomas of the oral cavity.

In this paper, the different methods used to manage those lesions over the years will be discussed. Special emphasis will be put on angiography and embolization prior to surgery. Some clinical cases demonstrating those methods will be presented.
Saudi Dental Journal 1994;6(SI)-Abstr.018:p20

Studies have been performed to demonstrate the effects of photon and electron beams directed at mandibular reconstruction plates. The purpose of this rabbit study was to identify the tissue changes adjacent to titanium miniplates following radiation therapy (RT). Twelve New Zealand white rabbits (6 males, 6 females) were operated in pairs; five experimental groups and one control group. Each group consisted of 2 animals (1 male, 1 female). Mock surgery was performed on the control group. One experimental group had surgery and no RT and the remaining four experimental groups had resection of the inferior border of the 7andible; titanium miniplates were placed over the resulting gap in the bone followed by RT. Following the plating, three 7.5 Gy doses of photon beam therapy were administered (on alternating days) to each experimental animal. Total dose per animal was 22.5 Gy. The experiment was conducted according to the following schedule: Group I (control)-mock surgery, no RT; Group II - mock surgery with bilateral port RT; Group III - surgery with single port RT; Groups IV & V - surgery with bilateral port RT; Group VI - surgery with no RT. The Group I rabbits were killed 3 and 6 weeks post mock surgery, Groups II, III, IV and V were killed 3 and 6 weeks post RT and Group VI were killed 3 and 6 weeks post surgery. Tissue blocks were submitted and stained with H & E. Microscopic examination showed minimal to no changes in all groups. The radiated specimens showed slight muscle necrosis, intimal proliferation of some blood vessels and signs of regenerating muscle. Although, a phantom study has shown a net increase of 7.5 Gy on both sides when using two parallel opposed beams this did not produce significant tissue changes under our experimental conditions. Within the confines of this study we conclude that RT to mandibular miniplates causes minimal tissue changes in rabbits.

Castillo, M.H.etal., AM. J. Surg. 156:261-263, 1988. Delacroix, S., et.al., Br. J. Radiol. 63:642-645, 1990.
Saudi Dental Journal 1994;6(SI)-Abstr.019:p21

The number of patients suffering from cleft lips and palates is increasing. In view of the negative functional and plastic results to the patients, in addition to the shock to the parents, the subject has attracted wide attention in the medical circles. This study concentrated on a number of patients of all forms of injuries (monolateral and bilateral cleft lips and cleft palates).

In most of those cases the Tenison method was used and Professor Pfeifer, a Consultant from Germany, was invited to apply his method (Waves Method) which leaves a linear rather than a zigzag scar. A difficulty was noticed when the Pfeifer method was applied on cases of wide clefts. This prompted the author to reconsider the methods as whole and a compromise solution was reached where the Pfeifer waves method was performed whereby a lateral incision half of the Tennison's incision was made. This gave a good result: a scar half of the scar left by Tennison's method. To get the best results, concentration was made on: traction of the nasal wing medially, length equalization of the two lips, concentration on the symmetry of the labium and its exact connection with the skin (which is mostly neglected by our colleagues).

In the base of the palate, cleft operations was performed in the third year of age. Now, to reconcile among the requirements of early speech, the soft palate was closed at the age of one and a half year while the hard palate was closed at the age of 5 year in order to allow the jaw to grow. Lateral incisions were done leaving the front connection. Hamular process was not broken for the sake of articulation.

The author made wide studies on the best method for closing the relapse holes in the palate and initiated the double sections method which relies on connecting sections surface to surface instead of border to border as illustrated in the slides.
Saudi Dental Journal 1994;6(SI)-Abstr.020:p22