Changes in periodontal and microbial parameters after the space maintainers application.

AIM: This study aims to evaluate the clinical and microbiological changes accompanying the inflammatory process of periodontal tissues during treatment with space maintainers (SMs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The children were separated into fixed (Group 1, n = 20) and removable (Group 2, n = 20) appliance groups. A full periodontal examination, including probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque index (PI), was performed. Anaerobic microorganisms in the crevicular fluid were detected with the culture method. Clinical and microbial evaluations were performed before (T0) applications. as well as at three (T1), and 9 months intervals (T2) after the application of the fixed or removable appliances. RESULTS: The PI, PPD, and BOP scores at the testing sites of both groups increased significantly from before treatment (T0) to the 9 months' time frame (T2) (P < 0.05), The presence of anaerobic bacteria in the subgingival dental plaque increased from T0 (n = 13, 65%) to T1 (n = 16, 80%) in the fixed SM group, but not statistically significant. The same values were obtained in T1 and T2 (n = 16, 80%). CONCLUSION: Although, the results of this study demonstrate that the application of fixed or removable SM appliances in children induced an increase of clinical periodontal parameters, anaerobic microbiota consisting of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forshia were not observed in any of the samples in short-term. Further long-term and comprehensive investigations are necessary.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of double teeth in primary dentition and associated anomalies in the permanent successors.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding potential problems associated with primary double teeth (PDT) are important to provide prophylactic measures, thereby preventing or minimizing possible complications. The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of PDT in a group of Turkish children and to compare the distribution of the different types of double primary teeth and their relationship to permanent successors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 17,268 children underwent a clinical examination to determine the presence of PDT. One hundred fifty-two PDT of 128 children were included in this study. All the 128 children with PDT underwent a clinical examination and had photographs taken at the time of the examination. The children underwent a further periapical or panoramic radiographic examination to determine the status of the underlying permanent successors. The PDT was classified according to Aguilo's classification. RESULTS: The prevalence of PDT was 0.74%, with no significant statistical difference between the sexes. PDT was most frequently observed between the mandibular lateral incisors and canines. Of the 152 PDT, 10.7% were Type I, 15.3% were Type II, 26.1% were Type III, and 47.9% were Type IV. Dental anomalies on the succedaneous permanent teeth were diagnosed in 69.4% of the children with affected primary dentition. Aplasia of the permanent lateral incisor was observed most frequently in association with Type I (52.7%) PDT. Caries involvement was observed most frequently in Type III (56.2%) PDT. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study have clinical relevance for the diagnosis of children with PDT. Early clinical and radiographic identification of PDT can help the clinician to evaluate the number and condition of permanent successors and draw up a proper treatment plan.