Dental Caries in the First Permanent Molar during the Mixed Dentition Stage.

Background: The early eruption of the first permanent molar (FPM) favors its exposure to the risk factors for dental caries specific to the mixed dentition stage of dental development. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and distribution pattern of FPM dental caries and of the consequences of this pathology - caries with pulp involvement in the FPM and missing FPM (FPM extraction) in a sample of Romanian children during the mixed dentition stage. Objective: To evaluate the effect of asanas in Yoga on the IOP of practicing individuals. Materials and methods: Eighty-seven children aged between five and 13 years, who attended a private dental clinic, were enrolled in the present study. The investigations were carried out as part of the comprehensive dental examinations. Written informed consent was obtained from one of the subjects' parents prior to his/her child's participation in this research. The collected data were statistically analyzed with STATA/MP13 software using the Chi square test. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results:The prevalence of FPM dental caries was 60.9%. There were statistically significant differences (p = 0.004) in the number of FPMs affected by dental caries per subject in relation to age. No statistically significant differences regarding the number of FPMs affected by dental caries per subject in relation to gender were found. With respect to the distribution pattern of FPM dental caries by location at tooth level, the mesial surface had the highest prevalence (in 36.8% of all investigated subjects), followed by the occlusal surface (33.3%). The prevalence of caries with pulp involvement in the FPM was 19.5% and children in the 10-11-year age group were the most affected (55.5%). There were statistically significant differences regarding the distribution pattern of caries with pulp involvement in the FPM by age (p = 0.0001). The prevalence of FPM extraction was 6.9% and, according to dental history and examination, loss of FPM was due to caries. Among children with missing FPM, five were older than the age recommended for achieving spontaneous space closure, which indicated the need for immediate intervention. Conclusions:Considering the results of the present study, it can be stated that FPM dental caries represents a highly prevalent pathology during the mixed dentition stage. The findings are relevant and useful for the current clinical dental practice, emphasizing the importance of caries detection and diagnosis in developing a comprehensive dental treatment plan tailored to the specific needs of pediatric patients.

A clinical and statistical study on enamel hypomineralization of the first permanent molar in the period of mixed dentition.

BACKGROUND: The first permanent molar (FPM) is the first tooth in the permanent dentition that emerges in the oral cavity, at around the age of six and behind the deciduous teeth, thus converting the primary dentition into a mixed dentition. Its early formation represents a risk factor for the onset of hard dental tissues disorders, the most common being the molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH). AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the hypomineralization type of developmental defects of enamel at FPM level during the mixed dentition stage, in a group of Romanian children. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was conducted on 87 patients, 44 females and 43 males, divided into the following age groups: 5-6 years, 6-7 years, 7-8 years, 8-9 years, 9-10 years, 10-11 years, 11-12 years and older than 12 years. All children were examined in the dental office by a pediatric dentist. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 40.2% presented hypomineralization lesions on the FPM. Among the affected children, 62.9% were girls and 37.1% were boys. Mild forms were the most prevalent, being found in 71.4% of the affected subjects. Moderate forms were present in 22.9% and severe forms in 5.7% of the affected children. MIH prevalence significantly decreased with increasing age. Only two children belonging to the group 8-9 years and 10-11 years, respectively, showed severe MIH lesions. Statistically significant differences were determined in what regards the distribution of MIH children according to the severity of the lesions in relation to age (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Children 6- to 7-year-old have been the most affected by FPM hypomineralization, which indicates the need for early management of the disease, through a thorough diagnosis, and preventive and interceptive therapeutic approaches.

Morphological assessment of the mandibular canal trajectory in edentate subjects.

BACKGROUND: The mandibular canal and its content represent the vital structure, which can complicate dentoalveolar surgical procedures in the posterior region of the mandible. The purpose of the present study was to determine the path the mandibular canal takes in relation to the horizontal and the vertical anatomical reference planes in edentate subjects, in order to minimize the risk of affecting its neurovascular content during various oral surgery procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morphometric evaluations were performed on 12 dried fully edentulous human mandibles and on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) cross-sectional images of the mandible, from 20 patients with either partial or complete edentulism. Both methods were utilized, in three target areas (corresponding to the second premolar, to the first molar and to the second molar regions), in order to measure the distance between the mandibular canal and the following reference points: (i) the lateral (buccal) surface of the mandible (MC-BS distance); (ii) the medial (lingual) surface of the mandible (MC-LS distance); (iii) the alveolar surface of the mandible (MC-AS distance). The results were statistically processed in Stata MP/13 software package using analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. RESULTS: The mandibular canal crossed the trabecular bone from the posterior towards the anterior, and from the lingual towards the buccal, reaching the premolar region, distal to the mental foramen, where it was located in the centre of the trabecular bone, main topographic pattern encountered in 27 (84.37%) of the cases. In five (15.63%) of the cases, in the premolar region, the mandibular canal was located near the buccal cortical plate. The mandibular canal descended from the second molar region towards the premolar region, main topographic pattern found in 28 (87.5%) of the cases. In four (12.5%) cases, the mandibular canal had a descending trajectory in the molar regions and it took a slightly ascending course in the premolar region. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, the second molar region represents the highest risk area in the accidental injury to the content of the mandibular canal, during various oral surgery procedures.