A comparison of estimated age based on pulp volume from cone beam computed tomography (CT) images and panoramic radiography data with chronological age.

This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate different methods for dental age estimation in children and to examine the feasibility of using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data for age estimation. A total of 200 radiographic records (both digital panoramic radiographs and CBCTs) were acquired from 100 children aged 9 to 16 years, all taken on the same dates. Radiographic data was acquired from archived records and included both panoramic radiography and CBCT data belonging to the same individual. CBCT was used when panoramic radiographic data was insufficient. The pulp volume and pulp/tooth volume ratio of the left first molar teeth in the mandible were calculated from the CBCT data using MIMICS software. In addition, age was estimated by the Demirjian and Willems methods from data obtained from panoramic radiography images. Statistical analyses and linear regression analysis were performed as necessary. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean difference between the Demirjian method and chronological age, and between the Willems method and chronological age (p < 0.001). Statistically significance was achieved in a linear regression model created from pulp volume (R2 = 0.098) and pulp/tooth volume ratio (R2 = 0.395) data for the estimated dental age analysis (p < 0.001) and a negative correlation was observed with chronological age. When compared estimated dental age from CBCT data with chronological age, the pulp/tooth volume ratio method yielded results closer to chronological age than using only pulp volume data. When considering both panoramic radiographic age estimation methods and age estimation methods using CBCT data, we found that the results obtained with the Willems method, a panoramic radiographic age estimation technique, provided the closest results to the chronological age. More contributions should be made to the literature regarding the feasibility of age estimation using pulp and tooth volume as an alternative method.

Comparison of Antibacterial Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Fluoride Release of Glass Ionomer Restorative Dental Cements in Dentistry.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare the antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity, and fluoride release of 4 different glass ionomer cements (GIC). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 200 samples were prepared: Riva Silver, a silver-reinforced GIC; Equia Forte HT, a glass hybrid GIC; ChemFil Rock, a zinc-added GIC; and Ketac™ Molar Easymix. Using the agar diffusion test for antibacterial activity, 30 samples from each group were analyzed for Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Actinomyces naeslundii. The areas around the samples where no bacterial growth occurred were digitally measured and recorded. For cytotoxicity analysis, the WST-1 test was performed on 10 samples from each group using the L929 mouse fibroblast cell line. The fluoride release property was evaluated using an ion-selective electrode method on 10 samples from each group. RESULTS The group that used Ketac™ Molar Easymix showed the lowest antibacterial activity against S. mutans, L. acidophilus, and A. naeslundii. In all 3 days of cytotoxicity testing, the group that used Riva Silver was found to be the least toxic material, while the group that used ChemFil Rock did not have viable cells after the 1st day. In all 4 materials, fluoride release values gradually increased since the first day, with Ketac™ Molar Easymix having the highest fluoride release. CONCLUSIONS Of all the GICs tested, Ketac™ Molar Easymix demonstrated the least antibacterial activity despite having the highest fluoride release, while Riva Silver was found to be the least cytotoxic material.

Comparison of the clinical efficacy of two different types of post systems which were restored with composite restorations.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of resin composite restorations, retained with either polyethylene or zirconia-rich glass fiber posts. METHODS: Sixty-two single rooted maxillary and mandibular central incisor teeth in forty-four patients (15 males and 29 females; age range 15-32 years) were restored either with an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWP) fiber post (Bondable Reinforcement Ribbon, DENSE, Ribbond, Seattle, WA, United States) or a zircon-rich glass fiber post (Snowpost, Lot H 040; Carbotech, Ganges, France). Then, direct resin composite restoration (Clearfil AP-X, Kuraray) was performed for both post systems in tooth color suitable. Patients were recalled for routine inspections at 6 mo, 1, 2 and 3 years. RESULTS: The restorations were assessed during each recall evaluation according to predetermined clinical and radiographic criteria (periapical lesion; marginal leakage and integrity; color stability; surface stain and loss of retention of the post or the composite build-up material). The follow-up data showed no significant difference in these criteria between polyethylene fibre posts and zirconia-rich glass fibre posts. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of resin composite restorations, retained with either polyethylene or zirconia-rich glass fiber posts were similar, suggesting that both types of fiber post can be used successfully to help retain resin composite restorations.

Restoring aesthetics and function in a young boy with hypomature amelogenesis imperfecta: a case report.

Amelogenesis imperfecta has been described as a complex group of inherited conditions that disturbs the developing enamel structure and exists independent of any related systemic disorder. It is a rare dental disease but represents a great restorative challenge for dentists. A 12-year-old boy presented with sensitive, discolored, and mutilated teeth and decreased vertical dimension of occlusion. Direct composite resin restorations were applied to all teeth to modify the occlusion, to restore mild crowding, and to improve aesthetics. The 24-month recall examination revealed no pathology associated with the rehabilitation, and the patient's aesthetic and functional expectations were satisfied. The rehabilitation included multiple anterior and posterior composite resins to eliminate tooth sensitivity, improve the aesthetics and occlusion, and restore function.

Endodontic and prosthetic treatment of teeth with periapical lesions in a 16-year-old-girl.

This paper reports the nonsurgical endodontic therapy using calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing and prosthetic treatment of 9 teeth with periapical lesions in a 16-year-old female patient. The periodontal treatment plan included oral hygiene instructions, mechanical debridement and gingivectomy in the maxillary incisors to improve gingival contouring. Root canal treatment was indicated for teeth 11-13, 21, 22, 42-45. After successive changes of a calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing during 6 weeks, the size of the periapical radiolucencies decreased and lesion remission occurred after root canal obturation. The endodontically treated teeth received a bondable polyethylene reinforcement fiber (Ribbond) in the prepared canal space and crown buildup was done with composite resin. Prosthetic rehabilitation was planned with single-unit metal-ceramic crowns and fixed partial dentures. Clinical and radiographic evaluation after 6 months showed successful results. The outcomes of this case showed that chronic periapical lesions can respond favorably to nonsurgical endodontic treatment in adolescent patients and that, with proper indication, polyethylene fibers can provide an effective conservative and esthetic option for reinforcing endodontically treated teeth undergoing prosthetic rehabilitation.

Endodontic and prosthetic treatment of teeth with periapical lesions in a 16-year-old-girl

This paper reports the nonsurgical endodontic therapy using calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing and prosthetic treatment of 9 teeth with periapical lesions in a 16-year-old female patient. The periodontal treatment plan included oral hygiene instructions, mechanical debridement and gingivectomy in the maxillary incisors to improve gingival contouring. Root canal treatment was indicated for teeth 11-13, 21, 22, 42-45. After successive changes of a calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing during 6 weeks, the size of the periapical radiolucencies decreased and lesion remission occurred after root canal obturation. The endodontically treated teeth received a bondable polyethylene reinforcement fiber (Ribbond) in the prepared canal space and crown buildup was done with composite resin. Prosthetic rehabilitation was planned with single-unit metal-ceramic crowns and fixed partial dentures. Clinical and radiographic evaluation after 6 months showed successful results. The outcomes of this case showed that chronic periapical lesions can respond favorably to nonsurgical endodontic treatment in adolescent patients and that, with proper indication, polyethylene fibers can provide an effective conservative and esthetic option for reinforcing endodontically treated teeth undergoing prosthetic rehabilitation.

Autotransplantation of an intruded lateral incisor replacing an avulsed central incisor--a case report.

UNLABELLED: Oral injuries cause aesthetic, psychological, social, and therapeutic problems and also affect a large number of people, causing irreparable dental loss not only at the accident time but also during post-treatment. Missing permanent teeth by trauma in children is a particular challenge, especially in the anterior region of the maxilla. In the past few decades, tooth transplantation has been successfully researched for the treatment of anterior tooth loss in young individuals. OBJECTIVE: The present case describes transplantation of an excessive intrusive maxillary left lateral incisor into the socket of avulsed maxillary left central incisor STUDY DESIGN: The lateral incisor tooth was extracted and placed into the socket of avulsed tooth. Splinting was maintained for 2 weeks. After the root canal treatment, the crown of the lateral incisor tooth was reshaped with composite resin in central tooth form and performed an interim prosthesis both preventing movement of the canine tooth into the space of the transplanted lateral incisor tooth and providing aesthetic. CONCLUSION: The treatment provided is considered to be an interim solution for space maintenance, with time the child patient may reach an age that allows alternative, more definitive treatment as implant.

Bilateral twinned teeth and multiple supernumerary teeth: a case report.

Dental twinning can result from the fusion of the developing dental germinal elements or the gemination of a single germ. In bilateral anterior and posterior dental twinning, problems such as poor esthetics, dental caries, arch-length problems, and periodontal disease often occur as a result of the irregular morphology. Several treatment methods have been described in the literature with respect to the different types and morphologic variations of twinned teeth, including endodontic, restorative, surgical, periodontal, and orthodontic treatment. This report documents the case of a young patient with an exceedingly rare phenomenon of permanent twinned teeth and multiple supernumerary teeth in both sides of the mandibular and maxillary arches, as a result of combined fusion and gemination.

Restoring function and esthetics in 2 patients with amelogenesis imperfecta: case report.

This case report describes the prosthodontic treatment for a 28-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy diagnosed with amelogenesis imperfecta. The aim of treatment was to reduce dental sensitivity and to restore esthetics and masticatory function. Because of the socioeconomic status of the patients, direct resin composite laminate veneers were used to improve the esthetics of their maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth. Clinical examination 12 months after treatment revealed no evidence of disorders associated with the restored teeth or their supporting structures. Definitive treatment outcomes in terms of function and esthetics satisfied the expectations of both the patient and the interdisciplinary team.

Multiple root fracture: a case report.

An 11-year-old boy was diagnosed with a horizontal root fracture in the maxillary right lateral incisor and a crown fracture in the maxillary right central incisor. This patient was treated endodontically and conservatively. At a follow-up examination 36 months after treatment, the teeth were functionally and esthetically normal. Radiographically, no pathosis was evident in periapical or fracture areas.

Use of an alternative pontic foundation technique for a fiber-reinforced composite fixed partial denture: a clinical report.

This article describes the treatment of a patient for whom a fiber-composite laminate dowel and core and polyethylene fiber were used as a conservative alternative to provide a dowel-and-core and fixed partial denture foundation. The treatment plan included removing the existing restoration on the maxillary right first molar, placing a fiber-reinforced resin dowel and core for retention and reinforcement of the maxillary first premolar, and fabricating a definitive restoration using polyethylene fiber to reinforce the fixed partial denture.

Polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay fixed partial dentures: two-year preliminary results.

PURPOSE: Polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay fixed partial dentures (FPDs) have been under development for some time. There is a lack of data on the clinical performance of such prostheses. This prospective clinical study evaluated the clinical performance of polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite FPDs over two years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay FPDs were fabricated for 19 patients. The treatment plan included removal of the existing restorations, placement of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWP) fiber ribbon, and final restoration with a light-curing hybrid resin. The 28 polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay FPDs were examined clinically after 2 years. RESULTS: All 28 FPDs were intact at the 2-year examination. There were no signs of fracture, debonding, or discoloration. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this descriptive study, the polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite inlay FPDs were considered clinically successful at the 2-year examination.

Prevalence of Hepatitis C in adults in the south-eastern region of Anatolia: a community-based study.

Aim: There is a limited number of studies on the general population about prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Turkey. The estimated prevalence of HCV in the Southeastern region of the country was obtained from the data of the blood donors. There is no study reflecting the general population of this region, leading us to plan this study. Material and method: Four provinces in the Southeastern Anatolia were randomly selected and sample sizes were determined by Epi Info Programme, and blood samples were collected from 2888 individuals. Questionnaires in which demographic information and probable risk factors for Hepatitis C were investigated and were applied on subjects who gave their consent to participate in the study. Anti-HCV was examined by using Cobas Core II immunochemistry system (Roche). All positive samples were further tested for the presence of HCV RNA by RT-PCR. Crude odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and Chi-square analyses were performed. Epi Info 2000 Programme was used to perform the analysis. Results: Of the 2888 individuals, 17 (0.6%) were anti-HCV positive and 13 (82%) of them were confirmed as positive for HCV-RNA. No difference was found between rural and urban regions with respect to HCV prevalence ( [Formula: see text] ). The prevalence of HCV in 35-44 years of age group was found to be different from those of the other age groups ( [Formula: see text] ). It was determined that the risk for HCV in this age group was 4.23 times ( [Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text];1.02-20.15; CI 95%:) higher with a prevalence rate of 1.6%. In this age group, anti-HCV was positive in 6 male (2.4%) and 2 female (0.8%), of whom 7 were living in urban (2.2%) and 1 in rural area (0.5%). The overall prevalence of HCV was not found to be different for sex ( [Formula: see text] ). Similarly, there was no difference between the married and single individuals for the prevalence ( [Formula: see text] ). Anti-HCV positivity did not change for the level of education. We could not determine any factor that might play a role in transmission of HCV. Conclusion: This is the first population-based study to be performed in order to determine the prevalence of HCV in the south-eastern region of Anatolia (Turkey). This region has a low prevalence of HCV. The extremely rare prevalence of homosexuality and intravenous drug addiction might have a role in this low prevalence.

Evaluation of caries risk factors and effects of a fluoride-releasing adhesive material in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM): initial first-year results.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of dental caries, and to determine whether there is any relationship between a fluoride-releasing adhesive material and the development of dental caries in the first year in children with insulin-dependent diabetics (IDDM). The average age of the subjects was 4-15 years, and they had been suffering from IDDM for at least 2 years. The DMF/df(t) indices of 70 patients were calculated and total HbA1 (%) (glucose levels of blood) values were recorded from the medical records after clinical examination. The mean DMF/df(t) values of poorly controlled subjects (HbA1 values over 13%) were significantly higher than those of moderately (HbA1, 10.0-12.9%) and well-controlled (HbA1 values, <10%) subjects. The levels of salivary mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) and the pH of paraffin-stimulated whole saliva were measured in diabetic patients. Salivary MS and LB scores of the poorly controlled subjects were significantly higher (2.5+/-0.7 and 2.1+/-1.0) than those of the moderately (1.6+/-0.9 and 1.1+/-0.8) and well-controlled (1.2+/-1.0 and 0.8+/-0.8) subjects. The mean pH values among all subjects were not statistically significant. All dental caries were restored with a fluoride-releasing adhesive material. At the end of the first year, no new caries or lost restorations were observed in these patients. Moreover, the rate of MS in the poorly and moderately controlled subjects was considerably reduced. However, no significant statistical reduction of MS was determined in the well-controlled subjects. The level of lactobacilli in the poorly controlled, moderately controlled, and well-controlled subjects was reduced.

Evaluation of clinical and microbiological features of deep carious lesions in primary molars.

PURPOSE: Concern about the survival of microorganisms in deep carious lesions may often lead to unnecessary exposure of the pulp during excavation. This study evaluated the relationship between microbiological and clinical results of deep carious lesions in primary molars. METHODS: Clinical evaluation was performed on 72 deep carious lesions considered to have pulp perforation after traditional excavation. The dentin color and consistency were assessed by means of standardized scales using the technique of Bjorndal et al before restoration. For microbiological examination, dentin samples were taken by a sterile bur and transferred to transport fluid, then plated on tryptic soy agar for growth of total colony forming units. Samples werethen transferred on Rogosa SL agar for growth of oral lactobacilli and on mitis salivarius agar for growth of mutans streptococci. RESULTS: The proportion of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, and total colony forming units increased when the dentin color and consistency increased. However, the proportion of lactobacilli was smaller than that of mutans streptococci in carious dentin samples. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to expectations, the findings showed that the number of bacteria in carious dentin of primary molars was not significantly excessive.

Causes of dental fractures in the early permanent dentition: a retrospective study.

Two hundred eight patients, who applied to the Department of Pedodontics, Dental School, Dicle University between 1995 and 1998, were evaluated in terms of permanent teeth fracture. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the probable causes of the trauma, the effects of age and gender on dental trauma, prevalence of fracture types, and distribution of fracture type according to arch. It was observed that the falls or collisions were the main causes. It was also determined that the age group most frequently suffering fractures was ages 9 to 11 years. The majority of the patients were male. The enamel-dentin-pulp-type fracture and those causing the tooth to become nonvital were the most prevalent, and the majority of the fractures were observed in maxillary central teeth.