Application of cryopreservation to tooth germ transplantation for root development and tooth eruption.

We cryopreserved mouse tooth germs with widely open cervical margins of the enamel organ to overcome difficulties in cryoprotectant permeation and tested their efficacy by transplanting them into recipient mice. The upper right first molar germs of 8-day-old donor mice were extracted and categorized into the following four groups according to cryopreservation time: no cryopreservation, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. The donor tooth germs were transplanted into the upper right first molar germ sockets of the 8-day-old recipient mice. The upper left first molars of the recipient mice were used as controls. The outcome of the transplantation was assessed at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after transplantation. Stereomicroscopic evaluation revealed that most of the transplanted teeth erupted by 3 weeks after transplantation. Micro-computed tomography analysis revealed root elongation in the transplanted groups as well as in the controls. There was no significant difference between the cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved transplanted teeth, but the roots of the cryopreserved teeth were significantly shorter than those of the control teeth. Histological examination revealed root and periodontal ligament formations in all the transplanted groups. These results suggest that the transplantation of cryopreserved tooth germs facilitates subsequent root elongation and tooth eruption.

Predicción del tercer molar e indicaciones de germenectomía: reporte de un caso / Prediction of the third molar and indications of germectomy: report of a case

Los factores ambientales y evolutivos, los cambios en los hábitos dietéticos, entre otros, pueden desencadenar un papel etiológico en la aparición de anomalías dentales llevando a la especie humana a una disminución en la función masticatoria que trae como consecuencia una reducción en el tamaño de los maxilares originando la falta de espacio para la correcta posición de los dientes en el arco dental, lo que provoca un aumento en la incidencia de casos de segundos y terceros molares retenidos con su consecuente patología multisintomática ocasionando de esta manera un problema de salud pública. Diversos autores han utilizado las imágenes radiográficas para realizar análisis específicamente del tercer molar, basándose en una proyección lateral y panorámica para, mediante marcas y referencias, establecer un diagnóstico y determinar el riesgo y la necesidad de su extracción. La imagenología presenta una nueva herramienta que es la tomografía Cone Beam que nos permite adaptar los conocimientos clásicos del análisis del tercer molar a una imagen en tres dimensiones, aportando el factor profundidad (AU)

Environmental factors, evolutionary changes in dietary habits, among others can trigger an etiological role in the appearance of dental anomalies. Taking the human species to a decrease in masticatory function resulting in a reduction in the size of the jaws, resulting in a lack of space for the correct position of the teeth in the dental arch. Causing an increase in the incidence of second and third molars retained. Its eruption restriction consequent multisymptomatic pathology causing a public health problem in this way. Several authors have used the radiographic images to perform analyzes of the third molar. Based on a lateral and a panoramic radiographic projection, to establish a diagnosis and determine the risk and the need to extract it. Imaging diagnostic presents a new tool that is Cone Beam tomography that allows us to adapt the classical knowledge of the third molar analysis to an image in three dimensions, providing the depth factor (AU)

Changing the Angulation of the Tooth Germ in the Bony Crypt: A Case Report.

An ankylosed primary molar may cause rotation or ectopic impaction of succedaneous premolar. When conventional treatment modalities such as observation, surgical exposure with or without orthodontic traction, and autotransplantation are not possible, the simple surgical relocation method could be an alternative treatment option for a lingually rotated premolar during the tooth germ stage before opting to extraction. In the case reported herein, the lingually rotated permanent mandibular second premolar tooth germ was surgically relocated within its bony crypt. Continued root development and spontaneous eruption were observed without complications during the 3.5-year follow-up period.

Infant oral mutilation (IOM) related to traditional practices among inner city pre-school children in Sudan.

BACKGROUND: The term Infant Oral Mutilation (IOM) refers to the aggressive cultural rituals where primary canine tooth germs of infants are enucleated for therapeutic reasons. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for IOM among inner city pre-school children in Khartoum. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 212 randomly selected children from twelve government pre-schools in Khartoum were examined for the presence of IOM. Socio-demographic, feeding and teething-related data were collected by self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 4.7 years. The prevalence of clinical IOM was 10.8%. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that children who suffered from diarrhea during teething were 7.15 times more likely to have clinical IOM over their counterparts (p<0.0001). Mothers who were educated below elementary school level were 2.69 times more likely to have children showing clinical IOM (p= 0.0369). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the practice of IOM is common among inner city children. Certain teething-related symptoms especially diarrhea and maternal education could be strong determinants of the malpractice of IOM.

Remoção de terceiro molar superior deslocado para o espaço bucal / Removal of upper third molar displaced to the buccal space

Os autores descrevem um caso clínico de deslocamento de germe dentário de terceiro molar superior esquerdo para o espaço bucal em um paciente de 13 anos de idade. A localização do dente em posição profunda com envolvimento do corpo adiposo do bucinador dificultou a sua localização, ainda não descrita, nas condições em questão, na literatura. Com a Tomografia Computadorizada de Feixe Cônico (TCFC), foi possível localizar o dente deslocado e planejar a sua remoção. Os riscos e benefícios das extrações de germes de terceiros molares precisam ser avaliados devido ao grande risco de deslocamentos... (AU)

The authors describe a case of displacement of left upper third molar tooth germ to the buccal space in a patient 13 years old. The deep position of the tooth with involvement of the fat body of the buccinator made it difficult its location, still not described, under the concerned conditions, in the literature. With the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), it was possible determine the location of the tooth and plan his removal. The risks and benefits of third molar tooth germ extraction should be evaluated because there is a greater chance of displacement... (AU)

Noma as a complication of false teeth (Ebiino) extraction: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ebiino, also known as false tooth extraction, is a traditional practice done mainly in the remote areas of African countries, including Uganda. It involves the extraction of tooth buds in babies with common childhood illnesses such as fever, cough, and diarrhea. It is thought that the tooth buds are responsible for the ailments seen in these infants. The practice is performed by traditional healers using unsterile instruments. The complications associated with this dangerous practice have been mentioned in the literature and include anemia and septicemia, among others. This case report describes a baby with noma, an orofacial gangrenous infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 16-month-old girl from western Uganda belonging to the Banyankole ethnic group was admitted to Mbarara University Teaching Hospital with a 5-day history of a dark lesion on the left cheek. The lesion had started from the left upper gum at the site where a tooth bud had been extracted 1 week prior to admission. The child had experienced occasional cough and fever and also had erupting tooth buds. These tooth buds had been seen as the cause of the cough and fever by the traditional herbalist; hence, they were extracted. An unsterile instrument had been used for the procedure. At the hospital, a local examination showed necrotic tissue involving the left cheek and extending into the left upper gingival area of the girl's mouth. A clinical diagnosis of orofacial gangrene (noma) was then made. CONCLUSIONS: Ebiino, or false tooth extraction, is still practiced in some remote areas of Uganda. Noma has been mentioned as a possible complication of this traditional practice; however, case reports in the literature are scant. Public awareness of the dangers of this practice is therefore still required to prevent this dangerous complication.

Functional tooth restoration utilising split germs through re-regionalisation of the tooth-forming field.

The tooth is an ectodermal organ that arises from a tooth germ under the regulation of reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Tooth morphogenesis occurs in the tooth-forming field as a result of reaction-diffusion waves of specific gene expression patterns. Here, we developed a novel mechanical ligation method for splitting tooth germs to artificially regulate the molecules that control tooth morphology. The split tooth germs successfully developed into multiple correct teeth through the re-regionalisation of the tooth-forming field, which is regulated by reaction-diffusion waves in response to mechanical force. Furthermore, split teeth erupted into the oral cavity and restored physiological tooth function, including mastication, periodontal ligament function and responsiveness to noxious stimuli. Thus, this study presents a novel tooth regenerative technology based on split tooth germs and the re-regionalisation of the tooth-forming field by artificial mechanical force.

The traditional practice of canine bud removal in the offspring of Ethiopian immigrants.

BACKGROUND: The custom of canine bud removal has detrimental consequences on children's general health and dental care. The objective of this study was to assess whether the prevalence of missing primary canines and dental defects in offspring of emigrants from Ethiopia is greater than in offspring of native Israeli parents of similar socioeconomic class. METHODS: 477 children of Ethiopian descent and 317 offspring of native Israeli parents, from 21 nursery schools and kindergartens, underwent dental examinations aimed to determine the presence or absence of primary canines and of developmental enamel defects on adjacent teeth to the primary canines. For purposes of analysis, children were classified into two age groups: younger (ages 18-48 months) and older (ages 49-82 months). RESULTS: Canines were present in more Israeli than Ethiopian younger children, 87.5% vs. 42.3%, p=0.0001; and in more Israeli than Ethiopian older children, 92.6% vs. 40.4%, p=0.0001. More dental defects were detected in Ethiopian than in Israeli younger children, 32% vs. 3.9%, p=0.0001; and in more Ethiopian than Israeli older children, 31.2% vs. 5.8%, p=0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of missing primary canines and dental defects was greater among offspring of parents who had emigrated from Ethiopia 15-20 years earlier than among offspring of native Israeli parents living in the same low socioeconomic neighborhoods.

An unusual association of extraoral sinus tract with unerupted permanent tooth.

Cases have been reported in the literature in which extraoral sinus tracts of dental origin have been diagnosed and successfully treated. Similarly, the presence of an intracoronal radiolucency in unerupted permanent teeth has been found in the dental literature. The association of one with the other, however, is a rare occurrence. The purpose of this case report was to describe the treatment of a 7-year-old child who presented with an extraoral draining sinus originating from a carious, developing tooth bud of the unerupted permanent mandibular left second molar. After a thorough clinical and radiographic examination, a conclusive diagnosis was determined and surgical treatment was performed. The patient responded well, and the cutaneous lesion healed uneventfully.

Interim prosthodontic management of surgery-induced dental agenesis: a clinical report of 8 years of treatment.

The prosthodontic management of a 7-year-old girl with induced dental agenesis is described. The mandibular posterior tooth germs had been removed during surgical excision of a melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy, at the age of 2 months. The ongoing prosthodontic treatment, now in its eighth year, was implemented by regular follow-up of the operation outcome and by targeted orthodontic intervention. The treatment plan included the provision of four successive interim removable partial dentures. Care was taken to preserve the oral structures, adapt to the morphological changes, and satisfy the needs of the child. Due to the unfavorable biomechanical conditions, retention and stability problems were encountered. These were resolved by engaging the mechanism of neuromuscular adaptation through optimization of the shape of the denture base. For children and adolescents with extensive dental agenesis, prosthodontic management with interim removable dentures supports function, restores esthetics, and provides a solid basis for the definitive treatment.

Continued root development of a surgically repositioned human incisor tooth germ.

Conventional orthodontic traction may not be the treatment of choice in cases of inverted impaction of a maxillary incisor, especially when located near the alveolar crest. Poor prognosis is associated with the limited space for proper root development, resulting in a root too short for normal function and/or a severely dilacerated root interrupting the force-induced positioning. The surgical repositioning of ectopic impacted toothgerm before the development of root could be a valuable alternative choice of treatment before the decision of extraction. In this case report, an impacted immature incisor toothgerm in complete inversion was surgically repositioned using a closed-flap technique in a boy who was 6 years 8 months old. Continued root formation and spontaneous eruption were observed after surgery over the 51-month follow-up period, without pulpal or periodontal complications.

Ameloblastoma in children: should we be radical?

Ameloblastoma is the most common aggressive benign odontogenic tumor of the jaws. The tumor is often asymptomatic, presenting as a slowly enlarging facial swelling. The physical presence of the tumor may cause symptoms such as pain, ulceration, loosening of teeth, or malocclusion. Ameloblastoma is a locally destructive tumor with a propensity for recurrence if not entirely excised. It is seen in all age groups, but the lesion is most commonly diagnosed in the third and fourth decades. The tumor is considered a rarity in the young age group. The treatment of ameloblastoma is still controversial and presents some special problems in children like the growth of the jaw, the different incidence, behavior and prognosis of the tumor in children, which make the surgical considerations different from adults. Some reports have encouraged conservative treatment for ameloblastoma in children.

[Histological analysis of dental follicles after unerupted mandibular third molar extraction]. / Analyse histologique des follicules dentaires après germectomies des troisièmes molaires mandibulaires.

INTRODUCTION: The extraction of third mandibular tooth germ (M3) is often prophylactic to avoid orthodontic treatment relapse and to prevent infectious or tumoral diseases developing from the dental sac. The purpose of this study was to screen for early histopathological modification of dental follicles (inflammatory, infiltration, or epithelial metaplasia) after extraction of third mandibular tooth germ (M3) on asymptomatic patients. The secondary objective was to study the proliferative activity of the epithelium by dosing the anti Ki-67 antibody. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty dental follicles extracted from 12 boys and eight girls between 14 and 18 years of age were examined under phototonic microscopy. The proliferative activity of the epithelium was assessed by immuno-histochemistry. RESULTS: Three dental follicles presented with focal epidermoid metaplasia of the epithelium, without odontogenic tumoral proliferation. In all other cases, the cylindrical epithelial cell structure was normal. A mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate was present in 30% of the cases. Immuno-histochemical analysis revealed labeling of very rare epithelial lining cells, slightly more in cases presenting with metaplasia. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of early morphological changes of dental sac is low. This histo-morphological study does not support the systematic extraction of asymptomatic mandibular tooth germs (M3).

Infant oral mutilation: a New Zealand case series.

Infant oral mutilation is a practice performed by traditional healers in many Eastern African countries. The sequelae of this practice have been recognised and reported on in many developed countries due to the migration of populations, customs and beliefs. This article describes three cases of infant oral mutilation that have been diagnosed in the Dental Department at Hutt Hospital, Lower Hutt.

Osteotomy for lower third molar germectomy: randomized prospective crossover clinical study comparing piezosurgery and conventional rotatory osteotomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to compare piezoelectric surgery and conventional rotatory osteotomy for mandibular third molar germ extraction to determine the 2 methods' suitability and the postoperative outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Mandibular third molar germectomy was performed bilaterally, randomly choosing 1 side for rotatory osteotomy (rotatory group) and the other for piezoelectric surgery (piezo group). The predictor variable was the duration of the surgical procedure. The outcome variables were the suitability of the method used, bleeding, and the postoperative parameters (ie, mouth opening range, clinical appearance of soft tissues, exudate, abscess, wound dehiscence, locoregional lymphadenopathy, pain on palpation at the extraction site, persistent edema) at 7 and 30 days postoperatively. The patients recorded their subjective postoperative pain daily for 7 days using a visual analog scale. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test and stepwise logistic regression model with binary variables were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients (mean age 15.4 ± 1.29 years) were enrolled in the present study. The time needed to complete the osteotomy and extraction was significantly greater for the piezo group (15.77 ± 6.56 minutes) than for the rotatory group (11.77 ± 6.24 minutes; P = .028). No statistically significant differences emerged between the 2 methods for the other outcome variables considered. CONCLUSIONS: Piezoelectric osteotomy proved comparable to the rotatory method in terms of the surgeon's perception of the suitability of the 2 methods and the related postoperative sequelae. However, piezoelectric osteotomy took longer to complete than the rotatory method.

Intra-oral bone harvesting: two methods compared using histological and histomorphometric assessments.

AIM: This study used morphometric analyses to compare two methods for the intra-oral harvesting of particulate bone: Mectron Piezosurgery® and the Meta Micross®. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients requiring bilateral germectomy of the lower third molars for orthodontic reasons were selected and a sample was harvested from each patient from a standardised donor site (the cortical bone in the area of the retromolar triangle). Ten samples were obtained for each method. The particulate collected were subjected to a histological examination and the samples were analysed considering the following parameters: the mean surface area of fragments, the mean surface area considered vital and the mean surface area considered non-vital, the mean percentage of area considered vital and the mean percentage of area considered non-vital, the mean number of normal osteocytes and the mean number of osteocytes with morphological changes identified per unit area (600,000 µm(2)). The results were analysed, calculating the mean and the corresponding standard deviations, and testing their significance using Student's t-test, and plotted in graphs. RESULTS: Mectron Piezosurgery® produced significantly larger particles (P<0.05) than the Meta Micross®, with a larger mean surface area considered vital and a significantly larger (P<0.05) surface area considered non-vital. Mectron Piezosurgery® also produced a smaller mean percentage of area considered vital (64.83%) and a larger mean percentage of area considered non-vital (35.17%) by comparison with the Meta Micross® (75.34% and 24.66%, respectively). The data also showed that the two methods produce a similar quantity of empty lacunae, and that the Mectron Piezosurgery® produces a larger quantity of osteocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The analyses conducted demonstrated that the particulate collected with the Meta Micross® had a smaller mean surface area of the fragments and a smaller surface area of bone considered non-vital than in the particulate collected using Mectron Piezosurgery®.

Bilateral lower second molar impaction in teenagers: an emergent problem?

The frequency of simultaneously impacted second and third molars in teenagers is increasing and becoming a common occurrence in adolescent oral surgery practice. The traditional treatment is the removal of the third molar by conventional access but repositioning of the surgical flap to the distal face of the first molar can predispose to complications such as pericoronitis and delayed healing of the attached gingiva. We present a case in which we use the germectomy approach to remove the impacted third molar for the eruption of the second molar through a vestibular incision. This incision offers excellent bone exposure and exit route for the third molar without disturbing the gingiva attached architecture on the distal face of the first molar providing good healing environment.