Scanning Electron Microscopy Evaluation of Dental Root Resorption Associated With Granuloma.

The inflammatory resorption of dental root apex (i.e., the process of removal of cementum and/or dentine through the activity of resorbing cells) may show different configurations and damage the apical root structure. As knowing the morphology of resorption areas of human teeth is essential for the success of endodontic treatments, we investigated the apical resorption by scanning electron microscopy, focusing on roots with granulomas. A total of 30 teeth (with penetrating carious lesions and chronic periapical lesions) were examined, the apical third of the roots were removed and analyzed to estimate periforaminal and foraminal resorption, shape and morphology of foramen resorption, centering of the periforaminal resorption area, and diameters of each apical foramen. Periforaminal resorption was present in all samples, whereas foraminal resorption was present in 92% of cases (mainly funnel shaped). Lacunae were observed in the foraminal resorption area with an average diameter of 35±14 µm. The major and minor diameters of the foramina in teeth with resorption were 443 and 313 µm, respectively (higher than in healthy teeth). This result indicates an expansion of the apical diameters caused by the pathology, which could encourage a different clinical instrumentation for these teeth.

Methamphetamine abuse and "meth mouth" in Europe.

With easy chemical synthesis from its precursor, methamphetamine (MA) is now widespread in many countries. The abuse of methamphetamine is associated with several negative effects on health, because MA is a neurotoxin and a dangerous central nervous system stimulant. It changes levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, releasing dopamine and inhibiting nor epinephrine uptake which increases sympathetic nervous system activity and can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension and tachypnea. The consequences of MA abuse are clearly manifested in oral diseases (like "meth mouth") which is characterised by extensive caries, teeth grinding with ensuing dental wear and trismus. The present review was designed to fill the gap in knowledge about methamphetamine abuse in the European Union (EU) and to illustrate the main clinical effects of prolonged use. After describing the pharmacology and systemic effects of methamphetamine and concentrating on its effects on the mouth, the present review compares the epidemiology and incidence of abuse in the world, particularly the USA and the EU.

Johann Baptist Spix and the "lingula mandibularis".

Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix (1781-1826), a German zoologist, was famous in his time and highly honored after making one of the first exploration voyages in the wildest part of Brazil. He was almost forgotten in the annals of history for nearly two centuries after his birth, at which time some enlightened biographers brought him back into prominence in both the biological and zoological fields. On the contrary though, he had never been forgotten in the science of odontostomatology thanks to his discovery of the "Lingula Mandibularis" also known as "Spine of Spix". Johannes Baptist Spix was born in Hoechstadt, Germany in 1781. He was the Conservator of the Museum of Natural History in Munich and was a distinguished Comparative Anatomist. He died Munich inl 1826. The purposes of this work are to present some biographical notes on J.B. Ritter von Spix, to explain whythe "Lingula Mandibularis" has been called by the name of Spix and why this eponym has been used as such.

Classical music and the teeth.

Teeth and their pathologies are frequent themes in classical music. The teeth have inspired popular songwriters such as Thomas Crecquillon, Carl Loewe, Amilcare Ponchielli & Christian Sinding; as well as composers whose works are still played all over the world, such as Robert Schumann and Jacques Offenbach. This paper examines several selections in which the inspiring theme is the teeth and the pain they can cause, from the suffering of toothache, to the happier occasion of a baby's first tooth.

The morphological effect of the acquired pellicle on acid-etched enamel: a scanning electron microscopy analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the acquired pellicle on enamel etching. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred teeth were sectioned in the buccal-lingual direction at the half crown. One-hundred half-crowns were polished with pumice powder and rotating brushes (group B) and one-hundred half-crowns were not polished on the buccal surface (group A). The samples were etched by 37% orthophosphoric acid gel for 30 seconds in a 2 mm diameter circular area at the middle upper section of the crown, rinsed with distilled water for 20 s, air dried for 20 s and observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Three independent operators determined the quality of enamel etching on a four-point scale using 200 images, which were computed by digital Image Analysis software. It analyses the grey values and converts them to three-dimensional graphics to value the surface extension. Analysis Of Variance test was used for comparisons between and within groups. RESULTS: The mean of the operator values for the A samples is 2 ("Poorly defined etch") and for the B samples is 3 ("Defined etch"). The Image Analysis showed a significant difference (Analysis of Variance test) in the extension of the etched areas between groups A and B. The samples from group B had 11.7% more effectively etched enamel surfaces than the samples from group A. CONCLUSION: Acquired pellicle removal by dental prophylaxis is necessary before enamel etching because it improves the effectiveness of the etching procedure.

[The 1562 De dentibus by Girolamo Cardano]. / IL "De Dentibus" (1562) Di Girolamo Cardano.

"In the year 1562, having noticed that none of the ancient or modern physicians had treated the subject of dental care, I wrote this first book on the teeth". So begins the preface to the five books of the Opuscula medica senilia by Girolamo Cardano, the first organic text on dentistry in history. It competed with the famous Libellus de dentibus by Bartolomeo Eustachio that appeared in 1563 (but was written in 1562). However, our intention is not to establish precedence but bring to reader's attention Cardano's work that complemented Eustachio's anatomy and physiology of the teeth with their pathology and therapy. This article summarises Cardano's biography and gives a brief review of literature on the De dentibus and of his first complete translation from Latin into Italian. De dentibus is the first of the five books of the Opuscula and is divided into three chapters, as described below. Chapter one, De dentibus, recalls briefly the anatomy and embryology of human teeth as bones and compares them with the teeth of some animals. Follows a description of systemic and local procedures, to preserve, protect, and cure the teeth. Preservation and protection are related to diet, sleep, physical activity, systemic and local medicaments, and amulets., whereas therapy involves remedies taken over from the Ancient Greek and Roman medicine (Hippocrates, Archigenes, Galen, Scribonius, Pliny the Younger, Ezio, Marcellus Empiricus ) and Arabic medicine (Avicenna in particular). The chapter continues with guidelines and procedures for shedding teeth that are damaged beyond repair using a special saltpetre and alum distillate of Cardano's own invention, which he finds very effective. The chapter concludes with tooth extraction tools and methods, especially the one by Scribonius Largo with red-hot iron. Chapter two, -De morbis dentium in specie, describes diseases that affect the teeth and that can cause ache, mobility, weakness, numbness, or deformity (dolor, commotio, imbecillitas, stupor, deformitas). All these conditions may interact, creating a wide range of situations. Ache has seven possible causes that include altered humour, a cavity, a nerve injury, an abscess, breath (flatus), worms, and cold, and Cardano describes the remedies at physician's disposal that even include spells. The causes of mobility are the same as for the ache plus periodontal problems such as dry root or alveolar laxity, and the author discusses local and systemic treatment options. Weakness is considered the worst of the dental pathologies, as it can easily require extraction. Stupor is caused by the corruption of the tooth or a nerve injury, and Cardano refers to it as a life-threatening condition (quoad vitam) in older people if untreated, but also easy to remedy if detected early. Cardano then identifies a whole series of deformities: tooth colour, roughness, fracture, position, number, absence, length, calculus, bad smell, and porosity, and for each of them he offers a wide variety of remedies, in part original and in part borrowed from the ancients. In the last part, Cardano stresses the need to extract as few teeth as possible: "I've never seen anyone die from the diseases of the teeth, except for a tooth extracted inappropriately" To emphasize the dichotomy between medicine and surgery, he explains that tooth care is medical, but extraction requires an experienced surgeon. Chapter three, De fluxione, frequentissima causa morborum dentium, identifies gumboil as a frequent cause of dental disease, and describes the pathogenesis and therapy of gumboil-related diseases, gout in particular.

[Arturo Beretta and the "trophomicrobic theory of the caries"]. / Arturo Beretta e la "teoria trofomicrobica della carie".

The most original contribution made by the Italian School to the study of caries aetiology is undoubtedly the "trophomicrobic theory" proposed by Arturo Beretta, the first teacher of dentistry at the University of Bologna in 1918. This article brings biographical and bibliographical notes about Beretta (who was, among other things, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Bologna and Senator), and summarises the principles of his theory, which adds to Miller's "chemical-parasitic" theory of caries-predisposing properties of the enamel and host saliva. It also recalls the work of major Italian and non-Italian researchers who have used or modified Beretta's idea.

Methamphetamine abuse and "meth mouth" in Europe

With easy chemical synthesis from its precursor, methamphetamine (MA) is now widespread in many countries. The abuse of methamphetamine is associated with several negative effects on health, because MA is a neurotoxin and a dangerous central nervous system stimulant. It changes levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, releasing dopamine and inhibiting nor epinephrine uptake which increases sympathetic nervous system activity and can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension and tachypnea. The consequences of MA abuse are clearly manifested in oral diseases (like “meth mouth”) which is characterised by extensive caries, teeth grinding with ensuing dental wear and trismus. The present review was designed to fill the gap in knowledge about methamphetamine abuse in the European Union (EU) and to illustrate the main clinical effects of prolonged use. After describing the pharmacology and systemic effects of methamphetamine and concentrating on its effects on the mouth, the present review compares the epidemiology and incidence of abuse in the world, particularly the USA and the EU