Dental late effects of antineoplastic treatment on childhood cancer survivors: Radiographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Dental anomalies are common late side effects of childhood cancer therapy and may lead to anatomical, functional, and aesthetic sequelae. AIM: The study aimed to record dental late effects of antineoplastic treatment and associate them with disease and treatment characteristics in order to identify possible risk factors. DESIGN: Orthopantomograms of 70 survivors aged 4-21 years, who were treated at ages 0-10 years for any type of malignancy and completed antineoplastic treatment at least one year before, were examined. Incidence of developmental disturbances was recorded. Their severity was calculated, and odds ratios for the development of severe defects were estimated. RESULTS: Root defects presented in 62% of the participants, with impaired root growth being the most common (58%). Increased incidence was associated with combination treatment protocols, irradiation to the head and neck region, and administration of antimetabolites, steroids, and vincristine. Mean DeI value was 17.46 with risk factors for the development of severe root defects being diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, combination treatment protocols, administration of cyclophosphamide and steroids, and hemopoietic stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Root defects are common among childhood cancer survivors, with their incidence and severity being affected by multiple disease and treatment characteristics.

Prevalence of sealants in relation to dental caries on the permanent molars of 12 and 15-year-old Greek adolescents. A national pathfinder survey.

BACKGROUND: The use of sealants as an effective measure for the prevention of pit and fissure caries in children has been well documented by several studies; either they are used on an individual or on a public health basis. In order to plan and establish a national preventive program with sealants in a community, it is mandatory to know the epidemiological pattern of caries along with other variables influencing their use and effectiveness. AIMS: To assess the utilization and distribution pattern of pit and fissure sealants on the first and second permanent molars of Greek adolescents and to evaluate whether the existing usage of sealants and some socio-demographic factors are correlated to caries prevalence on the population examined METHODS: A stratified cluster sample of 2481 Greek adolescents was selected according to WHO guidelines (1224 twelve and 1,257 fifteen-year-old), living in urban and rural areas in 11 districts within the country. Five calibrated examiners carried out clinical examinations, recording caries experience at the dentine threshold (BASCD criteria) and presence or absence of sealants along with Socio-demographic indicators associated with oral health. Mann Whitney and Pearson's chi-square non parametric tests were utilized for assessing the data. The level of significance was p < 0.05. RESULTS: Sealants utilization varied considerably within the different districts, with 8,3% of the 12 and 8,0% of the 15-year-old adolescents having at least one sealed molar. Sealants reduced DMFS scores by 11% in the 12-year-olds and by 24% in the 15-year-olds, while 15-year-old adolescents from rural areas had a statistically significant (p = 0.002) less chance of having sealants (71%) compared to children from urban areas. Girls had higher chance to receive sealants in both age groups (26% for the 12 and 19% for the 15-year-old) as well as patients that visited the dentist for prevention compared to those visiting the dentist because they thought they needed a restoration or because they were in pain. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that sealants reduced DMFS scores despite their very low utilization, along with the high prevalence of dental caries found on the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth of Greek adolescents, is calling for a national preventive program with sealants which could eliminate caries to a larger extent.

A comparative assessment of the failure rate of molar tubes bonded with a self-etching primer and conventional acid-etching.

OBJECTIVES: Comparative assessment of the failure rate of molar tubes bonded to first and second molars with a self-etching primer and conventional acid-etching. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four hundred forty-four molar tubes (246 first molar tubes and 198 second molar tubes) were bonded, using a split-mouth design, on 62 patients (23 male, 39 female; mean age 13.7 years) with the 3M Transbond Plus self-etching primer combined with Transbond XT paste; or with conventional acid-etching, Orthosolo primer, and Enlight adhesive paste. First-time failures were recorded over a period of 15 months. RESULTS: Bond failure per adhesive system, arch (maxilla-mandible), quadrant (left, right) and tooth (first or second molar) were studied. Statistical analysis using logistic regression modeling (alpha = .05) showed that the overall failure rate for the first and second molar tubes was 11% (8% with self-etching primer and 13% with conventional acid-etching). No significant difference was found between the 2 bonding methods. Tooth location and type showed statistically significant associations. Mandibular tubes showed a 3:1 probability for failure compared to maxillary tubes. Right-sided tubes demonstrated 3 times more failures when compared to left-sided tubes, and second molar tubes showed a 3-fold increase in failure. CONCLUSION: Molar tube bonding with self-etching primer shows similar success rates to conventional acid-etching, whereas the mandibular right second molar presents the highest failure incidence.

Failure rate of self-ligating and edgewise brackets bonded with conventional acid etching and a self-etching primer: a prospective in vivo study.

The purpose of this study was to comparatively assess the failure rate of self-ligating and edgewise brackets bonded with a self-etching adhesive and conventional phosphoric acid in patients followed for 12 months of active treatment. Sixty-two patients with complete permanent dentitions, similar treatment plans, and mechanotherapy were selected for the study. GAC Microarch edgewise brackets and ORMCO Damon2 brackets were bonded using a split mouth design, using the 3M Transbond Plus Self-etching primer (SEP) and Transbond XT paste; and conventional acid etching, with Orthosolo primer and Enlight paste, applied at an alternate sequence so that the adhesives were equally distributed on the maxillary and mandibular right and left quadrants. Data analysis was conducted with the use of logistic regression modeling. No difference in failure incidence was noted for either bracket-adhesive and mandibular or maxillary arch combinations, whereas a statistically significant difference was shown for right-sided appliances. On the basis of the results of this study, bonding of self-ligating brackets with SEP does not demonstrate higher probability for failure relative to standard bonding procedures and conventional brackets.