Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the prevalence, three-dimensional positions and supplementary findings of the presence of a mesiodens by using cone-beam computed tomography.
Material and Methods: A total of 5000 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, taken between December 2015 and March 2018, from the archive of Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, were screened. In sum, 2003 CBCT scans fulfilled inclusion criteria in this study. In addition to number of mesiodens, age and sex of the patients, shape, eruption status and direction, findings of the presence of a mesiodens were also recorded. Mesiodentes were classified according to their positions in frontal, sagittal and axial planes.
Results: In this study, the prevalence of mesiodens was found 5.04% and to be more frequent in males than in females with the ratio of 1.9 : 1. One hundred thirty maxillary mesiodentes were detected in 101 cases out of 2003 CBCT scans. In 77 cases (76.2%), single mesiodens; in 19 cases (18.8%), two mesiodentes; and in 5 cases (4.9%), three mesiodentes were found. According to our classification, mesiodentes were mostly found in between midlines of central incisors (both the crown and root of mesiodens) in frontal plane, impacted and in contact with central incisors in sagittal plane, anterior to nasopalatine canal and in contact with nasopalatine canal in axial plane.
Conclusions: Cone-beam computed tomography provides more detailed information about position, neighbouring anatomic structures, and local findings of the presence of mesiodentes in multiplanar sections.
Objectives: To determine the approximate location, shape and dimensions of the mental foramen in African subjects using panoramic radiographs.
Material and Methods: This study analysed 320 orthopantomograms of subjects from two centres. The analysis was done using the radiographic software tools (SIDEXIS, Bensheim, Germany) which allowed for determination of the position, shape and dimensions of the foramen. Furthermore, the right and left mental foramina were compared to ascertain both shape and positional symmetry.
Results: Most of the foramina analysed were horizontally positioned between the mandibular first and second premolars (65.9%) and vertically positioned greater than 2 mm below the apex of the second mandibular premolars. The average vertical dimension and horizontal dimension of the foramen is 2.87 (SD 1) mm and 3.56 (SD 1.23) mm respectively with 55.2% of the foramen analysed being ovoid in shape. Asymmetrical mental foramina were seen in 164 subjects (51.3%) while 156 subjects had symmetrical mental foramina (48.7%).
Conclusions: The mental foramen is most commonly located between the mandibular premolars, greater than 2 mm below the apex of the second mandibular premolars. They are usually ovoid in shape with an almost equal distribution of asymmetry and symmetry.
Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of kinesio taping on pain and swelling after surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion.
Material and Methods: A total of 21 (12 male and 9 female) patients with transverse maxillary deficiency were enrolled in the study. Kinesio taping (KT) was applied unilaterally in each patient, whereby sides of the face with KT application were included into the (a) KT group and the other sides were included into the (b) non-KT group. Changes in facial volume were evaluated on digital images using the 3dMD Face System. Pain scores were assessed at postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 using the visual analog scale (VAS). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and Mann Whitney U test were used for statistical analyses.
Results: Swelling was significantly lower in the KT group compared to the non-KT group from T0 to T1 (36.42 [SD 19.71] mm3 vs. 183.84 [SD 49.33] mm3) and was significantly greater in the non-KT group compared to the KT group from T0 to T2 (70.88 [SD 15.73] mm3 vs. 21.46 [SD 13.39] mm3) (P < 0.001 for both). The VAS scores were significantly lower in the KT group compared to the non-KT group at all time points (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The application of kinesio taping after maxillofacial surgery reduced the pain and swelling in the postoperative period. Kinesio taping can be used as an alternative to other methods that are used for the reduction of postoperative complaints.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of strontium ranelate on ligature-induced periodontitis in rats and assess the putative involvement of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway in these effects.
Material and Methods: Male Wistar rats underwent nylon ligature placement around maxillary molars and were treated (v.o.) with strontium ranelate (20 or 100 mg/kg) for 7 days. After that, rats were euthanized and histomorphometric/histopathological analyses and RT-PCR for HO-1 expression were performed.
Results: Strontium ranelate (20 or 100 mg/kg) prevented bone resorption by 28% and 38%, respectively. Strontium ranelate treatment (100 mg/kg) up-regulated (P < 0.05) heme oxygenase-1 mRNA levels in the gingival tissues in comparison to control groups.
Conclusions: Strontium ranelate prevented periodontal bone loss in experimental periodontitis in rats while heme oxygenase-1 mRNA levels increased after treatment.
Denosumab Related Osteonecrosis of Jaw: a Case Report
Marco Vinícius de Sales Lima, Jaqueline Rizzato, Daniella Varzea Gracindo Marques, Dárcio Kitakawa, Felipe da Silva Peralta, Alexandre Prado Scherma, Luis Felipe C. S. Carvalho
Background: This case report shows an affected postmenopausal patient with medicaments related osteonecrosis of the jaw injury associated with increased use of bisphosphonates and Prolia® (denosumab) for the treatment of osteoporosis. The mechanism of action of the receptor activates the denosumab of the nuclear-kB factor binding and makes nuclear-kB Factor, reducing bone volume and reabsorption in the trabecular and cortical bones and, consequently, decreasing an incidence of fractures and maintaining a bone formation. The bone physiology regulated by the hormones calcitonin, parathormone and vitamin D also undergoes interference.
Methods: The injury was located around a dental implant in region #24 and #25 and the patient complained of pain, bleeding, oedema, and halitosis for more than two months, that the dental implant had been installed five years before. According to the clinical findings, the patient presented the exposed and necrotic bone in the region of #24 and #25 and with the radiographs found, it was observed as extensive bone destruction adjacent to the dental implant.
Results: Patient was referred to the maxillofacial surgeon that performed the removal of bone sequestration and dental implant in the region affected. After that, the patient has been accompanied for a year.
Conclusions: Patients taking medications for osteoporosis or cancer need to receive special attention from the dentist. Invasive procedures on the jaw bone of patients taking these medications may cause osteonecrosis of the jaw. When diagnosed, osteonecrosis of the jaw should be treated surgically in conjunction with antibiotic therapy and patients should be monitored.
