ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of two toothbrushing techniques on the amount of plaque accumulation and to evaluate how the changes were correlated to the anatomical characteristics of the anterior maxillary arch. METHODS: Thirty subjects of both genders were included, they were asked not to brush for 12â¯h. Afterwards, they were asked to manually brush the left side of their maxillary arch with the modified Bass technique and the right side adopting the roll technique. The comparison of photographs taken before and after the manoeuvres, using a plaque disclosing agent, allowed the researchers to measure the changes in plaque accumulation measured using the Quigley and Hein plaque scoring classification. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between such changes and the teeth and arch anatomical characteristics. RESULTS: A mean reduction of 9.6⯱â¯5.2% considering both arches after brushing was observed. The changes in plaque accumulation were not different between the two techniques. The length of the line obtained joining the contact point between the central incisors and the contact point between the second premolar and the first molar on the left side and the distance between that line and the lateral incisor on the same side positively correlated to the decrease in the plaque scores (Pâ¯=â¯0.046 and Pâ¯=â¯0.044, respectively). CONCLUSION: Both tested techniques were effective in plaque removal in the anterior maxillary arches. However, the research for the anatomical factors influencing the amount of efficacy of the toothbrushing manoeuvres was inconclusive. We can hypothesise that the adoption of one adequate technique could be more important than the teeth characteristics.
ABSTRACT
Diabetes is an important modifying factor of periodontitis, but its association with peri-implant diseases has not been fully explored and the existing literature reports controversial results. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of diabetes on peri-implantitis and implant failure. Smoking status, history of periodontal disease, presence of diabetes, diabetes type, therapy and glycaemia levels were collected in a total of 204 subjects treated with 929 implants, with a mean follow-up time of 5.7 ± 3.82 years after loading. Odds ratio (OR) for diabetes as a direct cause of peri-implantitis and implant failure were calculated, adjusted for smoking status and history of periodontitis. Nineteen patients were diabetic and most of them presented a good control of the disease at the time of surgery. The overall patient-level prevalence of peri-implantitis was 11.3%. Among diabetic patients, one developed peri-implantitis, whereas one experienced multiple implant failures. The calculated ORs, adjusted for smoking status and periodontitis, were not statistically significant. The results revealed no association between diabetes and peri-implantitis or implant failure coherently with the existing scientific literature. The actual influence of hyperglycemia on implant failure is still uncertain and new studies with larger cohorts of patients are needed.
ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this research was to evaluate the possibility of identifying the sex of 1 subject through visual assessment of a frontal photograph of dentition, and to investigate if some morphological characteristics are related to sex determination. METHODS: 5 expert dentists, 5 non-expert dentists and 5 laypeople were made to watch 100 intraoral photographs for 5 seconds each and to establish their sex. The responses of the participants and the baseline characteristics of photographed dentitions were analyzed. RESULTS: The proportion of right answers was 56.0% ± 8.2% in the group of expert dentists, 65.0% ± 6.0% in the group of non-expert dentists and 58.6% ± 4.5% in the group of non-expert people. The round shape of maxillary central incisors was related to the female gender (P = .006). The male condition was correlated with poor oral hygiene for 4 observers. Female sex perception was correlated with round morphology of upper central incisors for 3 observers. CONCLUSION: No difference in the ability to determine the sex was registered among groups, suggesting that sex perception is not strongly influenced by the characteristics of dentition.
Subject(s)
Esthetics, Dental , Incisor , Dentists , Dentition , Female , Humans , Male , MaxillaABSTRACT
A palatal radicular groove (PRG) is a morphological deformity, occurring during tooth development. It is usually located on the palatal aspect of maxillary incisors and frequently associated with periodontal or endodontic-periodontal lesions. Some treatment options were described for such lesions, including primary endodontic treatment and periodontal surgery and extraction with intentional replantation after removal of a PRG and endodontic treatment. The present paper reported two cases of PRG-associated deep intrabony defects, successfully treated with periodontal surgery with enamel matrix derivative (EMD) application and mechanical removal of PRGs, avoiding endodontic treatment or retreatment. The complexity of the diagnostic process was also discussed.