Orofacial granulomatosis treated with low-level laser therapy: a case report

Gingival Orofacial Granulomatosis Clinical and 2D/3D Microscopy Features after Orthodontic Therapy: A Pediatric Case Report

Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) represents a heterogeneous group of rare orofacial diseases. When affecting gingiva, it appears as a chronic soft tissue inflammation, sometimes combined with the enlargement and swelling of other intraoral sites, including the lips. Gingival biopsy highlights noncaseating granulomatous inflammation, similar to that observed in Crohn’s disease and sarcoidosis. At present, the etiology of OFG remains uncertain, although the involvement of the genetic background and environmental triggers, such as oral conditions or therapies (including orthodontic treatment), has been suggested. The present study reports the results of a detailed clinical and 2D/3D microscopy investigation of a case of gingival orofacial granulomatosis in an 8-year-old male patient after orthodontic therapy. Intraoral examination showed an erythematous hyperplasia of the whole gingiva with a granular appearance occurring a few weeks after the installation of a quad-helix. Peri-oral inspection revealed upper labial swelling and angular cheilitis. General investigations did not report ongoing extra-oral disturbances with the exception of a weakly positive anti-Saccharomyces cerevicae IgG auto-antibody. Two- and three-dimensional microscopic investigations confirmed the presence of gingival orofacial granulomatosis. Daily corticoid mouthwashes over a period of 3 months resulted in a slight improvement in clinical signs, despite an intermittent inflammation recurrence. This study brings new insights into the microscopic features of gingival orofacial granulomatosis, thus providing key elements to oral practitioners to ensure accurate and timely OFG diagnosis. The accurate diagnosis of OFG allows targeted management of symptoms and patient monitoring over time, along with early detection and treatment of extra-oral manifestations, such as Crohn’s disease.

Management of orofacial granulomatosis

Orofacial granulomatosis is a chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory condition that shares a similar phenotypic presentation to some other granulomatous diseases, particularly Crohn's disease. However, subtle clinical and pathological differences justify it as a separate disease entity. Previous studies have assessed the effectiveness of interventions used in the management of orofacial granulomatosis. This article reviews the management options available. A literature search was conducted to identify studies, in English, which assessed the effect of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions in the treatment of orofacial granulomatosis. The interventions were categorised into dietary modification, pharmacological (topical, intralesional and systemic therapy), surgery and psychological. A combination of interventions is often required to effectively manage each patient. There is convincing evidence that diet plays a role in disease severity. In patients where dietary manipulation alone is unsuccessful, topical, intralesional and/or systemic treatment may be considered to manage the condition.

Photobiomodulation Therapy in Oral Medicine: A Guide for the Practitioner with Focus on New Possible Protocols

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is the term to define the wide range of laser applications using low-energy densities and based on photochemical mechanisms where the energy is transferred to the intracellular mitochondrial chromophores and respiratory chain components. In literature, a great number of works are reported showing the advantages of PBM use in many oral diseases such as recurrent aphthous stomatitis, herpes infections, mucositis, and burning mouth syndrome. Different factors may explain the increasing reported use of PBM in oral medicine: the absence of side effects, the possibility of safely treating compromised patients such as oncologic patients, the possibility of a noninvasive approach not associated with pain or discomfort, and the possibility of performing short sessions. The review's aim is to describe the possible applications of PBM in oral medicine, giving practitioners simple guide for practice together with the information of a new treatment possibility "at home" performed by the patient himself under supervision.

Applications of Laser Welding in Dentistry: A State-of-the-Art Review

The dental industry without lasers is inconceivable right now. This captivating technology has outlasted other possible alternative technologies applied in dentistry in the past due to its precision, accuracy, minimal invasive effect as well as faster operating time. Other alternatives such as soldering, resistance (spot) welding, plasma (torch) welding, and single pulse tungsten inert gas welding have their pros and cons; nevertheless, laser welding remains the most suitable option so far for dental application. This paper attempts to give an insight into the laser principle and types of lasers used for dental purposes, types of dental alloys used by the dentist, and effect of laser parameters on prosthesis/implants. It is apparent from the literature review that laser assisted dental welding will continue to grow and will become an unparalleled technology for dental arena.

Management of orofacial granulomatosis: a case report

Introduction: Orofacial granulomatosis is characterized by recurrent swelling affecting the lips, cheeks, and tongue. The rarity of this pathology and the lack of consensus in therapeutic management make the reporting of this clinical case relevant. Observation: A 48-year-old man consulted for labial and gingival orofacial granulomatosis. The treatment consisted of 40 mg/L injections of triamcinolone acetonide once weekly for 3 weeks. The symptoms improved after 1 week of treatment. Comments: The usual treatment for this condition targets the inflammation caused by the lesion. Corticosteroids (clobetasol, triamcinolone acetonide, prednisolone), monoclonal antibodies (infliximab, adalimumab), or TNF-α inhibitors are commonly used. Symptom recurrenceis frequently observed after treatment with corticosteroids. Biotherapies are often used as a second-line treatment. Conclusion: Orofacial granulomatosis symptoms are rare and difficult to diagnose due to its varying manifestations. Common treatments target one of the steps of the inflammatory response. The detection of specific cellular markers is a way to enable a more precise etiological diagnosis and allows for a more targeted therapy.

450 nm Blue Laser and Oral Surgery: Preliminary ex vivo Study

INTRODUCTION

Dental diode lasers were started to be used at the end of the 1990s and were shown to possess several important characteristics, such as small size and low cost, as well as the advantage of optic fibers delivering system. Although only two wavelengths (810 and 980 nm) had been the most used dental diode lasers, a wavelength emitting in the blue portion of the spectrum has recently been proposed.

AIM

The aim of this ex vivo study was to compare the effectiveness of five different fiber-delivered laser wavelengths (450, 532, 808, 1064, and 1340 nm) in the oral soft tissue ablation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Specimens were surgically collected from the dorsal surface of four bovine tongues and, while deep thermal increase was measured by two thermocouples at 0.5 and 2 mm depth, surface temperature was recorded by an infrared thermometer. Subsequently, specimens were fixed in 10% buffered formalin solution, cut into slices, and embedded in paraffin blocks, and a pathologist made a morphological analysis by optic microscope assigning a score based on the quality of the cut and tissue damage.

RESULTS

The analysis showed the best quality of the cut and the lowest temperature increase on the specimens obtained with the shortest laser wavelength (450 nm).

CONCLUSION

Even considering this as preliminary study, the use of 450 nm blue diode laser in oral surgery may be suggested to the clinician in their daily practice.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This study opens a new perspective in oral surgery. Blue diode laser has demonstrated a good quality of the cut with a low energy causing a minimal thermal damage to the tissue, promising a better comfort to patients.

Four different diode lasers comparison on soft tissues surgery: a preliminary ex vivo study

Objectives: The introduction of diode lasers in dentistry had several advantages, principally consisting on the reduced size, reduced cost and possibility to beam delivering by optical fibbers. Up today only the wavelengths around 810 and 980 nm were the most utilized in oral surgery but recently more different lasers had been proposed. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of four diode laser wavelengths (810, 980, 1470 and 1950 nm) for the ablation of soft tissues. Material and methods: Specimens were surgically collected from the dorsal surface of four bovine tongues and irradiated by four different diode wavelengths. Thermal increase was measured by two thermocouples, the first at a depth of 0.5 mm, and the second at a depth of 2 mm. Initial and final surface temperatures were recorded by IR thermometer. Epithelial changes, connective tissue modifications, presence of vascular modification and incision morphology were histologically evaluated by two blind pathologists. Results: The time necessary to perform the excision varied between 271 seconds (808 nm, 2W) and 112 seconds (1950 nm, 4W). Temperature increase superficial level varied from 16.3° (980 nm, 4W) and 9.2° (1950 nm, 2 W). The most significant deep temperature increase was recorded by 980 nm, 4 W (17.3°) and the lowest by 1950 nm, 2 W (9.7°). The width of epithelial tissue injuries varied between 74 pm from 1950 nm diode laser at 2 W to 540 pm for 1470 nm diode laser at 4 W. Conclusion: The quality of incision was better and the width of overall tissue injuries was minor in the specimens obtained with higher wavelength (1950 nm) at lower power (2W).

Orofacial Granulomatosis

Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is an uncommon chronic inflammatory disorder of the orofacial region. It is characterized by subepithelial noncaseating granulomas and has a spectrum of possible clinical manifestations ranging from subtle oral mucosal swelling to permanent disfiguring fibrous swelling of the lips and face. Etiopathogenesis is unknown. A range of systemic granulomatous disorders, including Crohn disease and sarcoidosis, may cause orofacial manifestations that cannot be distinguished from those of OFG. Treatment of OFG has proven difficult and unsatisfactory, with no single therapeutic model showing consistent efficacy in reducing orofacial swelling and mucosal inflammation.