Clinical Research Directory

Oral Flap Outline and Local Blood Supply After Surgical Removal of Lower Third Molar Teeth

Wisdom teeth in the lower jaw are frequently buried in bone and must be taken out surgically. To reach the tooth, the surgeon lifts the gum away from the bone as a flap, and the shape of that flap is left to the surgeon's judgement. Two outlines are in everyday use. The first runs only along the necks of the teeth, so the gum is lifted without any additional cut. The second adds a short downward cut in front, which opens the field more widely but also divides some of the small vessels that run within the gum. Because the tissues around a wound rely on a rich network of tiny vessels while they repair themselves, it is worth knowing whether these two outlines leave the local circulation in a different state. This project measured that circulation directly. A laser probe was placed against the tooth in front of the extraction site and against three points on the cheek-side gum, and the amount of moving blood beneath the probe was recorded. To make sure the probe returned to exactly the same spots at every visit, a thin clear plastic guide with prepared openings was made for each participant from a plaster model of the mouth. Measurements were taken before the operation and again on the third and the seventh day afterwards. Facial swelling and how widely the mouth could be opened were recorded on the same occasions. Participants were assigned to one of the two flap outlines in turn, and every operation was carried out by the same surgeon so that the comparison depended on the flap outline alone.

Oral Biopsy Bleeding in Patients on Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs)

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly used, but evidence on bleeding risk during oral soft tissue biopsy is limited. This prospective case-control study compared intraoperative, perioperative, and postoperative bleeding in 50 patients on uninterrupted DOAC therapy versus 50 anticoagulant-naive controls undergoing standardized oral soft tissue biopsy with suturing. All bleeding events were managed with local haemostatic measures. The study aims to determine whether DOAC continuation is safe for this procedure.

Use of Augmented Reality Glasses and Noise-Cancelling Headphones to Reduce Dental Anxiety in Adult Patients

This study investigates whether new audiovisual technologies can help reduce anxiety and stress experienced by adult patients during dental procedures. Dental fear and anxiety are common barriers to receiving proper oral care. This randomized controlled trial aims to explore whether the use of specific devices-augmented reality (AR) glasses and noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones-can improve patient comfort and decrease physiological signs of stress during dental treatment. Participants in this study will undergo a standard dental procedure. In addition, they will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group (no audiovisual intervention), a group using ANC headphones that play relaxing music during the procedure, or a group using AR glasses that display relaxing visual scenes along with the same music. Before the procedure, each participant will complete a psychological questionnaire (STAI) to assess their level of anxiety. During the procedure, physiological stress will be monitored using sensors that track parameters such as skin conductance (GSR) and heart rate. After the treatment, patients will be asked to rate their pain level and describe their experience with or without the audiovisual intervention. The goal is to better understand the effectiveness of non-pharmacological methods in reducing anxiety and stress in adult dental patients. Participation in the study is entirely voluntary and will not affect the quality or availability of dental care. Patients may withdraw at any time without consequences. The study also collects basic demographic information and patient feedback to evaluate potential factors that may influence anxiety levels. By testing new immersive tools such as AR glasses and ANC headphones in a real clinical setting, this research may contribute to improving patient well-being and enhancing the dental care experience.

Standardized Osteotomy Guides for Free Flap Reconstruction of Continuous Defects of the Jaws - a Simplified Method

The aim of the present project is to evaluate the outcome from reconstruction of the jaws, with a standardized simplified technique, after a continuous defect. The primary objective is to measure recurrence of the tumour is present as a marking for insufficient resection margins. Secondary objectives are measures of survival of transplanted tissues, registered complications at follow-up and measures of healing between segments of transplanted bone (bone bridging).