Insufficient Width Research Articles

Pre-yielding and necking process of double network hydrogels revealed by sample geometry effects

Understanding the yielding and necking mechanisms of double network (DN) materials is crucial for establishing structure-property correlations. While previous studies have primarily focused on how macro-yielding behavior changes with network structure and swelling, in this work, we study the local internal damage in the pre-yielding process to unveil the yielding and necking mechanisms for typical DN gels. Through birefringence retardation imaging during tensile deformation on DN gels of various sample geometries, our findings reveal the following key points: 1) Initiation and Growth of Damage Zones: Prior to macroscopic yielding, damage zones initiate from the sample edges and gradually grow towards the sample center with elongation. 2) Rapid Propagation and Yielding: Beyond a certain stress threshold, damage zones rapidly propagate under constant loading. Two damage zones eventually merge at the sample center, resulting in yielding. 3) Intrinsic Stress Determination: The stress at this point is intrinsic and determined by the structure of the two networks. 4) Pseudo Size-Dependency: Samples with insufficient width exhibit a pseudo size-dependency of yielding stress, as yielding occurs before reaching the critical stress. To explain the origin of intrinsic yielding stress, we introduce an intrinsic effective crack length (cI) as a measure of stress concentration around the internal crack tip of the damaged zone in the first network. Beyond this length, the influence on internal stress concentration around the damage zone is effectively screened by the load-bearing effect of the stretchable second network. The estimated cI, dependent on the microstructure of the two networks, was approximately 10 times the mesh size of the first network for typical DN gels.

Common issues regarding the churches of Banat

Banat is a south-western region of Romania in which all villages contain orthodox churches. The churches in question were constructed during the end of the 18th century – beginning of the 19th. It is important mentioning that the religious activity was uninterrupted during this time. The churches are located in the following villages: Poganesti, Voiteg, Zgribesti, Balint, Sanmihaiu Roman, Hezeris, Unip, Capat, Saravale, Hodoni, Igris, Babsa, Ficatari, jebel, Visma, Cadar, Hodos, Olosag. The aim of the study is to identify the primary issues, deteriorations, which became apparent with time and present during evaluation and identifying the cause of this. The observations were made during 2022-2023. The majority of the orthodox churches from Banat consist of a central area (naos), sometimes accompanied by transepts on both sides, a sanctuary in the eastern part and a bell tower in the western part. The primary structural degradation consists of cracks in the walls, the arches and domes. The causes of all this are unequal leaning of the walls, uneven weight exerted by the structure, foundations with insufficient width and depth, and the effects of earthquakes from the past. In addition, there is an overall exfoliation and peeling of the plaster, also excessive humidity among the lower part of the walls. This has happened due to capillary ascent of water and the frosting-defrosting process. Most of the time, improper interventions and the use of cementbased materials have accelerated the process of deterioration. Sometimes, local destructions of the roof and wooden extremities are present because of ageing and lack of maintenance of the roof’s cover, the effects can be noticed on the sheets of metal or ceramic tiles. All of this inevitably leads to a partial or complete destruction of internal mural pictures, often times of great artistic value. The major conclusion represents a centralization of the damaging factors and the proposal of few measures of mitigating the effects of them.

Implications of Arch Warp Altitudes on an Ancient Masonry Bridge under Ground Movements

Although only a few of the ancient masonry arch bridges (MABs) are in fairly good condition today, many ancient arch bridges are still in use. Over time, the condition of the masonry bridges declines and the safety requirements change. Therefore, it is important to examine these bridges under different influences. The strengthening of MABs is generally not essential. The major cause of damage to MABs is their insufficient width and height, and thus, it is not the safety but the usability that has restricted the life-time of the MABs. Therefore, in this investigation, the effect of the arch height on the static and dynamic behavior of a single-span MAB was investigated. For this aim, the Ancient Tokatlı Bridge, built in Karabük, Türkiye, was selected for investigation under near-fault (NF) and far-fault (FF) ground motions (GMs). To observe the altitude of the arch warp on the ancient MAB, first, the finite element model (FEM) was utilized, using ANSYS and SAP 2000. Furthermore, to constitute the arch warp’s influence on a MAB, the FEM was remodeled considering the different arch warps between 7.0 and 9.0 m. Moreover, GMs were applied to the FEM to investigate the effect of dynamic behavior. Under these GMs, stresses and strains (compression and tensile) were observed and compared with each other. Consequently, at the end of these investigations, it was observed that the maximum motions were reduced, while the height of the one-span MAB was increased under NF and FF GMs, and this was also true for the contrary situations. The compression stresses were not observed to be hazardous at the point of destruction, while the altitude of the one-span MAB increased.

Redesign of Four-leg Urban Intersection with Light Rail in a Street Corridor: Case Study in Zagreb

In the Croatian capital, Zagreb, there is a constant need for reconstruction of existing road infrastructure or construction of new infrastructure in accordance with current regulations and requirements due to its spatial expansion and increasing number of inhabitants and cars. The lack of uniform national guidelines and the insufficient width of corridors for the design of urban streets and intersections often lead to different and inconsistent solutions. Poorly constructed or reconstructed intersections in urban areas are becoming an increasing problem in the street network. Large cities have a complex traffic system due to the high traffic volume and different road users, so great attention should be paid to the geometric design of intersections. In this work, the existing intersection of Grad Vukovar and Donje Svetice streets in the city of Zagreb with a light rail corridor was analyzed, and two preliminary design variants for the reconstruction of the intersection were proposed to show the design problems and their solution.

An Appendage to Alveolar Ridge Augmentation Using Allograft Bone Block – A Case Report

Patients with insufficient width of ridge for implant rehabilitation can go for block grafting prior to implant placement. Block grafting gives volume for Guided bone regeneration along the ridge.

Combination of A-PRF and A Strip Free Keratinized Mucosal Graft for Increasing the Width of Keratinized Tissue Around Dental Implants: A Case Series

<p>Abstract: Background: Insufficient width of keratinized tissue (KT) around dental implants is a potential contributing factor of peri-implant diseases, and soft tissue grafting procedures are recommended for long-term maintenance of dental implants. A bulk free keratinized mucosal graft (FKMG) from the hard palate in conjunction with an apically positioned flap (APF) is the gold standard for KT augmentation. However, the major shortcomings are limited sources of the grafts and risks of donor wound morbidity. This case series proposed an alternative approach for KT augmentation by the combination of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) with a strip FKMG. Material and methods: Two patients with insufficient peri-implant KT width (< 2mm) bilaterally were enrolled for the split-mouth observation. Two different surgical methods were utilized to augment KT in the same patient. The recipient bed was fully covered by a bulk FKMG on one side, and topical hemostatic agents were applied to the donor wound. A strip FKMG was placed at the apical border on the other side with the remaining recipient bed being covered by an A-PRF membrane, and the donor wound was protected by another A-PRF membrane. Results: All four treated sites exhibited 4-5 mm significant gain in KT width, and the width was maintained for 12 months. Compared with the surgeries using a bulk FKMG, patients reported lower postoperative pain scores with a strip FKMG and A-PRF combination. Conclusion: The combination of an A-PRF membrane and a FKMG strip demonstrated satisfactory short-term outcomes for peri-implant KT augmentation, and donor wound morbidity was reduced.</p> <p> </p>

Carving the Niche for Implant Placement in Narrow Alveolar Ridges: A Case Report

Insufficient width of the alveolar ridge often prevents ideal implant placement. Guided bone regeneration, bone grafting, alveolar ridge splitting and combinations of these techniques are used for the lateral augmentation of the alveolar ridge. Ridge splitting is a minimally invasive technique
 indicated for alveolar ridges with adequate height, which enables immediate implant placement and eliminates morbidity and overall treatment time. The classical approach of the technique involves splitting the alveolar ridge into two parts with use of ostetomes and chisels. Modifications of this technique include the use of rotating instrument, screw spreaders, horizontal spreaders and ultrasonic device. The purpose of this article is to thoroughly describe all the different approaches in ridge splitting technique. Procedures in Dental implantology have witnessed significant advancement in the recent times. A plethora of options have opened these days owing to improved surgical techniques and wider criteria for patient selection. Ridge-expansion technique has gained immense popularity in patients with limited crestal bone width yielding improved outcomes. The procedure entails implant placement in narrow alveolar ridges following splitting and expanding the existing bone. This article illustrates this approach with a fascinating clinical case of insufficient mandibular alveolar ridge.

Understanding Thai Urban Pedestrian Culture During Noon Break: How Sidewalk Users Experience the Walking Infrastructure in Bangkok, Thailand

The noon break or lunch hour in Bangkok’s central business district (CBD) is when pedestrians wander around for various activities and purposes, in addition to having a meal, within a limited time frame. It is the only break from their daily working routines for energy recovery or socializing, which, in turn, increases readiness to continue working in the afternoon. Commercial activities preferred by pedestrians during this break contribute to increased economic activity. Since pedestrian behavior depends on the cultural context, this research aims to understand Thai urban pedestrian culture that benefits the public, both socially and economically, and to investigate pedestrians’ experience of the physical quality of their walking infrastructure, reflecting their preferences. 
 According to the information gained from observation, a field survey of four hundred thirty observations, and descriptive statistics, the urban pedestrian culture in the CBD of Bangkok is a combination of various activities related to a way of life; 69.4% and 44.9% of observed pedestrians have secondary and tertiary purposes. These multi-purpose trips during lunch hours include having meals, shopping, recovery from work, socializing, and taking care of business or running errands. The routine of lunch outings declined only slightly after the start of the pandemic in early 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic level (81.8% compared to 94.9%). Socializing has strong presence in the culture; 90.5% of group outings occur at least once or twice a week. 
 On the physical side, the walking infrastructure, mainly comprising sidewalks, is used for circulation and as a place for social and economic settings. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, pedestrians’ concerns about the physical environment were divided into five groups, as follows: Cluster 1, people concerned about thermal comfort, surface conditions, and sidewalk obstructions. Cluster 2, people concerned about thermal comfort and walking distance. Cluster 3, people concerned about level changes and walking distance. Cluster 4, people concerned about surface conditions and sidewalk obstructions. Lastly, cluster 5, people concerned about sidewalk obstructions, traffic safety, and level changes. 
 In conclusion. significant problems experienced or causing concern to pedestrians include sidewalk obstructions of flow due to insufficient width of the walking space as well as blockages caused by utility infrastructure, or social or economic activities, walking distance, surface conditions of sidewalks, level changes, thermal comfort, and traffic safety, respectively. These experiences and concerns reflect pedestrians’ preference for better quality of walking infrastructure. Therefore, inducing walkability is a promising physical strategy for promoting and sustaining Thai urban pedestrian culture.

Creeping attachment after gingival augmentation using a free gingival graft. A case report

Introduction: Gingival recession presents an apical proliferation of the gingival margin to the cemento-enamel junction of the tooth and can be accompanied by aesthetics dissatisfaction and be associated with insufficient width of keratinized gingiva. Some surgical interventions are proposed for augmentation of gingival tissues when there is an insufficient width of keratinized gingival tissues. Such surgical approach is the use of a free gingival graft. This technique shows good results in gingival augmentation and treatment of shallow recessions with depth less than 3 mm. Aim: The aim of this case report is to demonstrate the creeping attachment of the gingival margin after use of a free gingival graft for augmentation of the width of keratinized gingival tissues on the vestibular side of the mandibular anterior area. Case Presentation: Lack of keratinized attached gingival tissues apically to the mandibular central incisors is established. A free gingival graft is used for augmentation of the width of the insufficient keratinized gingiva. Results : Three months after gingival augmentation with a free gingival graft, the reduction of the depth of gingival recessions was not significant. Compared to baseline, a significant increase in the width of keratinized attached gingiva was reported 6 months later. The depth of gingival recessions was reduced and gain of clinical attachment level was achieved on the vestibular side in both lower central incisors. Conclusion: The presented case report confirmed that, due to creeping attachment, a reduction of depth of gingival recessions and vestibular clinical attachment level gain were recorded after gingival augmentation with a free gingival graft.

Pelvic bone surgery and natural delivery: absolute and relative contraindications

Objective. The gynecologist often involves the orthopaedic surgeon in the evaluation of pregnant women with previous medical history of pelvic surgery who will give birth. Young women can receive pelvic surgery for proximal femoral fractures, sacro-iliac or pelvic ring fractures, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, hip dysplasia and severe ankylosing spondylitis. The aim of this study is to determine whether such women can accomplish a natural delivery or should have caesarean delivery (C-section). Methods. Pubmed and the Cochrane Database of Reviews were searched for manuscripts including the years 1970 to present. Results. It is important to discriminate between pathological and/or post-surgical conditions affecting the coxo-femoral joint which constitute an absolute contraindication to vaginal delivery from other circumstances that may have a relative contraindication. Orthopaedic relative indications for C-section may include coxo-femoral pathologies where coxo-femoral joint range of motion is limited and women cannot assume a given position that is deemed necessary by the obstetric specialist for natural delivery. Conditions requiring C-section are those producing an insufficient width of the bony birth canal; when the transverse mid-pelvis diameter is <9.5 cm, then the probability of C-section is increased. Conclusions. It is not mandatory to perform a C-section in all women with a past medical history of pelvic surgery; accurate medical history collection, imaging technologies and ultrasound make it possible decide if a C-section is compulsory.

Radiological and histological evaluation of horizontal ridge augmentation using corticocancellous freeze-dried bone allograft with and without autogenous bone: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

The purpose of this study was radiological and histological evaluation of horizontal ridge augmentation using corticocancellous freeze-dried bone allograft (FDBA) with and without autogenous bone (AB). The present research was conducted on 42 patients (27 females and 15 males) with insufficient width of edentulous ridge. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups, FDBA alone + collagen membrane (n = 21) and the combined FDBA and AB + collagen membrane (n = 21). The horizontal alveolar ridge dimensions were measured using cone-beam computerized tomography before and 6 months after alveolar ridge augmentation. At the time of insertion of implants, biopsy of new bone was taken from 11 patients in each group and was analyzed histologically. The obtained data were statistically analyzed with paired t test and two-sample t test. The registration number was IRCT201109165305N3. The mean ± SD ridge width gain after 6 months at the distance of 0, 2, 4, and 6 mm from crest of alveolar ridge was 2.78 ± 1.44, 3.05 ± 1.21, 2.82 ± 1.62, and 2.23 ± 1.95 mm in the FDBA group and 2.40 ± 1.60, 3.10 ± 1.80, 3.60 ± 1.87, and 2.65 ± 2.39 mm in the combined group, respectively, which was statistically significant in both groups using paired t test (P < .001). However, the difference between two groups analyzed by two-sample t test was not statistically significant (P > .05). Amount of new bone generation, remained particles, and connective tissue was not statistically different between two groups (P = .367, P = .428, and P = .598, respectively). Based on the results of this study, corticocancellous FDBA granules along with collagen membrane can successfully be used for horizontal augmentation of edentulous ridge, and adding AB to the granules of FDBA does not significantly increase the quality and quantity of regenerated bone.

The Mechanism of Effect of Flux Bands on The Arc Behavior in Flux Bands Constricting Arc Welding Process.

A new welding method, flux bands constricting arc (FBCA) welding, is proposed to compensate for the shortage of insufficient weld width of laser welding T-joints in high steel sandwich panels. The arc behavior (arc burning position, arc shape, arc heat, and arc stability) before and after sticking the flux bands (GMAW and FBCA welding) to the ultra-narrow gap groove was tested. Results indicate that flux bands have solid-wall constricting effect (SWCE) and thermo-compression effect (TCE) on the arc and self-producing slag and gas function in FBCA welding. In ultra-narrow gap groove, the arc burning position climbing up phenomenon (APCP) occurs without flux bands. The SWCE of flux bands on the arc effectively suppresses the APCP because of the insulation of flux bands. In the FBCA welding process, the effective heating area of the arc is increased by at least 5 mm2 compared with that in GMAW. When the groove gap decreases, flux bands not only compress the arc from an inverted bell shape to a rectangular shape, but also make the 660 °C isotherm on the core-plate to increase from 3 mm to 8 mm. In the end, the proportion of unstable arc burning time is reduced by 86.85%, the fluctuation of arc voltage and welding current are also significantly reduced by the flux bands because of their SWCE on the arc.

Сравнительный анализ методик расширения верхней челюсти с использованием ортодонтических аппаратов

Palatal dilation techniques were developed as a method of applying significant force to the upper jaw in a horizontal plane to rupture the median palatal suture. To achieve this goal, various designs of devices have been developed over the years. The subject of the study of many authors were changes in the bone and dental system, as well as the duration of treatment results obtained due to the use of functional devices with different rates of action. The rate of expansion depends on the level of applied forces and the mode of activation of the device. There are 3 rates of expansion of the upper jaw: slow, semi-rapid and rapid. An alternative to rapid palatal expansion with the activation of the screw 1-2 times a day is a slow expansion with the activation of the screw 1 every 2 days or using of another type of apparatus, where the source of activation is the spring. The study, which compared the device with a spring and the device for rapid palatal expansion of adolescents, showed that they have a similar effect. The available data indicate that histological examination of sutures after palatal dilation confirmed the presence of pronounced activity of both apposition and resorption [25,26]. Devices for rapid palatal expansion (RPE/RME-rapid palatal/maxillary expansion), as well as semi-rapid and slow expansion are traditionally used as a method of correction of cross bite. In addition, they are used to increase the perimeter of the dentition of the upper jaw, normalize the level of the Wilson curve, expand the smile and to increase the patency of the respiratory tract. Maxillofacial anatomy is a critical factor influencing the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea. In combination with decreased oral volume, transverse maxillary deficiency is known to be a key contributor to obstructive sleep apnoe. After GNE, there is an increase in the volume of the nasal cavity and a decrease in the resistance of the nasal airflow. RME also allows the tongue to protrude forward and upward, expanding the space of the posterior pharyngeal airway during sleep [31, 32]. With regard to the pathology of the bite, the cross bite is much more common because of the narrow upper jaw than because of the insufficient width of the lower jaw. The most popular way to treat this pathology is rapid expansion of the jaw (RME).

Developing Standards for Mosque Design in Lahore, Pakistan

Mosque has always been the most prestigious and important building for the Muslims.However, no standards or guidelines are available in Pakistan for the design and details of Mosque, therefore, mosques are being designed and built as per the existing examples or personal wisdom of the architects, financers,decision makers, and individuals or groups responsible for its execution. It has been generally observed that there are many flaws found everywhere in terms of plot orientation, placement of different functions of mosque, planning layout , interior spaces , opening of doors/windows, design of ablution area, adequate no. of toilets and shoe storage racks etc. The major problem that worshipers face are related to insufficient width of row (saff) and clearance from walls to perform physical actions of prayer and to carryout ablution in comfortable manner. The aim of this research is to set- out the planning and design guidelines and to develop standards for a religiously and socially acceptable, efficient and comfortable design for all features of a mosque. The methodology includes study of religious literature and survey of existing mosques selected in different localities of Lahore to obtain standards being practiced and comments of end users. Methodology also included physical demonstration to experiment the actual space needed during performance of prayer by worshippers. The paper suggests solutions to some of the issues related to this topic. The developed guidelines/standards would be a source of information for students, practicing architects and academicians. Mosques constructed on the basis of these standards will provide better utilization of space and more comfortable environment to the end users

The accuracy of ridge mapping procedure in determining the alveolar ridge width

Background: Post-extraction alveolar ridge resorption is unavoidable phenomenon ending with insufficient ridge width. Measuring the physical dimensions of the available bone before implant surgery is an important aspect of diagnosis and treatment planning. Bone height can be calculated from radiographs, while bucco-lingual ridge width can be measured by conventional tomography, CT scanning and ridge mapping.&#x0D; Radiographic techniques have certain disadvantages. Therefore the ridge mapping technique was used as an option for determining alveolar ridge width.&#x0D; The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of alveolar ridge width measurements obtained with ridge mapping technique before surgical flap reflection against direct caliper measurement following surgical exposure of the bone.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This prospective observational clinical study included 21 patients; 9 males (42.9%) and 12 females (57.1%) with mean age of 40.8. A vacuum formed acrylic stent was fabricated for each subject. The stent provided two buccal/lingual pairs of consistent measurement points to provide a reference of measurement for each implant site located 3 and 6 mm from the crest of alveolar soft tissue. Measurements (n=216) were made at 54 implant sites, the measurements obtained from the two techniques were compared and then accuracy of these methods was assessed. The mean, standard deviation, standard error of mean were calculated and subjected to statistical analysis using Student’s unpaired t- test, values &lt;0.05 were considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: There was no statistically significant difference between ridge mapping technique and intra-operative measurement in determining alveolar ridge width.&#x0D; Conclusion: The ridge mapping technique is a useful method in determining alveolar ridge width for its exactitude, low cost, the immediate result and no need of radiation.

Correction of Transverse Discrepancy with Slowly Maxillary Expansion by Hyrax type expander in Adult Patient

Approximately 30% of adult patients who want orthodontic treatment have transverse discrepancy with insufficient width of the maxilla. Particularly, in Class III patients requiring orthognathic surgery, the frequency of insufficient width of the maxillary arch related to respiratory problems is high. We report a case of non-surgical maxillary expansion using a Hyrax type expander with an orthognathic surgery, based on the reports that the ratio of non-fused midpalatal suture is not high in adults. A 30 years and 2 months old woman with a long face showed an Angle Class III with a vertical growth pattern. Class III molar and canine relation, anterior edge bite, and mandibular incisor compensatory lingual inclination were observed. The posterior buccal overjet seemed to be appropriate, but I diagnosed that there was a transverse discrepancy, for the following reasons. The inter-canine and inter-molar widths were sufficient but excessive lingual inclination of the mandibular molars was observed when assessing the bucco-lingual inclination based on the center of resistance of the maxillary and mandibular first molar. For this reason, it was expected that intercuspal interference would occur during orthodontic decompensation. Therefore, slow maxillary expansion using Hyrax type expander was performed and 2-jaw rotation surgery was performed to improve aesthetic and occlusion. Adults can also improve width discrepancy by non-surgical methods, which can avoid SARPE requiring additional surgery or segmental surgery lacking stability and predictability.

Clinical evaluation of the effects of free gingival and extracellular matrix grafts to increase the width of the keratinized tissue around dental implants

Inadequate keratinized mucosa around dental implants can lead to more plaque accumulation, tissue inflammation, marginal recession and attachment loss. We evaluated the effects of free gingival and extracellular matrix membrane grafts performed to increase the insufficient width of keratinized tissue around dental implants in the posterior mandible. A 47-year-old female patient presented with discomfort due to swelling of the lower right second premolar area. Due to severe destruction of alveolar bone, the tooth was extracted. After 3 months, a guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedure was performed and then a dental implant was placed 6 months later. During the second-stage implant surgery, free gingival grafting was performed to increase the width of the keratinized tissue. After 12 months, a clinical evaluation was performed. A 64-year-old female patient had a missing tooth area of bilateral lower molar region with narrow zone of keratinized gingiva and horizontal alveolar bone loss. Simultaneous implant placement and GBR were performed. Five months after the first-stage implant surgery, a gingival augmentation procedure was performed with an extracellular matrix membrane graft to improve the width of the keratinized tissue in the second-stage implant surgery. After 12 months, a clinical evaluation was performed. In these two clinical cases, 12 months of follow-up, revealed that the increased width of the keratinized tissue and the deepened oral vestibule was well maintained. A patient showed a good oral hygiene status. In conclusion, increased width of keratinized tissue around dental implants could improve oral hygiene and could have positive effects on the long-term stability and survival rate of dental implants. When planning a keratinized tissue augmentation procedure, clinicians should consider patient-reported outcomes.

On the calculation of solubilities via direct coexistence simulations: Investigation of NaCl aqueous solutions and Lennard-Jones binary mixtures.

Direct coexistence molecular dynamics simulations of NaCl solutions and Lennard-Jones binary mixtures were performed to explore the origin of reported discrepancies between solubilities obtained by direct interfacial simulations and values obtained from the chemical potentials of the crystal and solution phases. We find that the key cause of these discrepancies is the use of crystal slabs of insufficient width to eliminate finite-size effects. We observe that for NaCl crystal slabs thicker than 4 nm (in the direction perpendicular to the interface), the same solubility values are obtained from the direct coexistence and chemical potential routes, namely, 3.7 ± 0.2 molal at T = 298.15 K and p = 1 bar for the JC-SPC/E model. Such finite-size effects are absent in the Lennard-Jones system and are likely caused by surface dipoles present in the salt crystals. We confirmed that μs-long molecular dynamics runs are required to obtain reliable solubility values from direct coexistence calculations, provided that the initial solution conditions are near the equilibrium solubility values; even longer runs are needed for equilibration of significantly different concentrations. We do not observe any effects of the exposed crystal face on the solubility values or equilibration times. For both the NaCl and Lennard-Jones systems, the use of a spherical crystallite embedded in the solution leads to significantly higher apparent solubility values relative to the flat-interface direct coexistence calculations and the chemical potential values. Our results have broad implications for the determination of solubilities of molecular models of ionic systems.

Evaluation of Patient Perceptions After Vestibuloplasty Procedure: A Comparison of Diode Laser and Scalpel Techniques.

Inadequate vestibular depth results in poor plaque control owing to an insufficient width of keratinized gingiva. Vestibuloplasty provides the necessary vestibular depth and can be performed either with a scalpel, electrocautery or lasers. To evaluate the patient perceptions related to pain and discomfort on the 1(st), 3(rd) and the 7(th) day post vestibuloplasty and also assess the healing outcomes related to the treatment of inadequate vestibular depth either with the diode laser or the scalpel. Twenty patients who had inadequate vestibular depth and required vestibuloplasty were assigned randomly to undergo the procedure either with the scalpel or the laser. The data obtained was analysed for intergroup comparison with an independent paired t-test and intragroup comparison was determined by a paired t-test. Intragroup comparison within the laser group for VAS scores of pain and discomfort within all the reported days exhibited a significant difference (p<0.05). Inter group comparison revealed that the patients in the laser group had lower VAS cores for pain and discomfort compared to the scalpel group (p<0.05). Analysis of the three pointer scale for healing revealed that the patients in the laser group exhibited better healing outcomes on the 1(st), 3(rd) and the 7(th) day compared to the scalpel group. Observations from the study highlight the opinion that laser can be a safe and effective alternative to traditional vestibuloplasty performed with the scalpel.

Ridge splitting technique for horizontal augmentation and immediate implant placement

Insufficient width of the alveolar ridge often prevents ideal implant placement. Guided bone regeneration, bone grafting, alveolar ridge splitting and combinations of these techniques are used for the lateral augmentation of the alveolar ridge. Ridge splitting is a minimally invasive technique indicated for alveolar ridges with adequate height, which enables immediate implant placement and eliminates morbidity and overall treatment time. The classical approach of the technique involves splitting the alveolar ridge into 2 parts with use of ostetomes and chisels. Modifications of this technique include the use of rotating instrument, screw spreaders, horizontal spreaders and ultrasonic device. The purpose of this article is to thoroughly describe all the different approaches in ridge splitting technique. 2 interesting clinical cases of narrow alveolar ridges treated with ridge splitting and immediate implant placement are also presented.