Radiographic assessment of the alveolar bone height in children and adolescents with familial dysautonomia.

PURPOSE: Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a progressive neuropathy, characterized by somatic and skeletal abnormalities, and by a variety of oral and diet disturbances. The purpose of the study was to assess the alveolar bone height at the molar areas of children and adolescents with FD. METHODS: The distance from the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar bone crest (ABC) was measured on routine diagnostic bitewing radiographs of nine males and seven females with FD (mean age = 122 months) and in those of two matching groups (C1 = 119 months; C2 = 122 months). RESULTS: The mean values for the maxilla were significantly larger than those in the mandible. A positive significant correlation was found between the CEJ-ABC measurements of the primary and the permanent teeth, and between the CEJ-ABC measurements and age. The mean values per patient for the CEJ-ABC distances of the FD group were smaller than the control groups, but the difference was not statistically significant. The CEJ-ABC measurements in the primary and the permanent molars were smaller in the FD group, and in the premolars and permanent cuspids they were larger than those in the two control groups. These differences were not statistically significant. No differences were found between the FD and the control groups in the primary cuspids. CONCLUSIONS: The alveolar bone height of children and adolescent with familial dysautonomia does not differ from that of healthy controls.

Assessment of compomer proximal restorations in primary molars: a retrospective study in children.

The aim of the present retrospective study was to observe the clinical and radiographic performances of a compomer (Dyract) in proximal restorations of primary molars as compared to amalgam restorations. The study was performed at the principal investigator's office. Children between three to eleven years old, who had at least two primary molars with a small to moderate approximal caries lesion were included in the study. The assessed material consisted of 107 proximal restorations (63 Dyract and 44 amalgam) placed in primary molars during the years 1994 to 1997 in forty-two children who were available for follow-up examinations. All the evaluated restorations were clinically acceptable, with smooth surface appearance, satisfactory color match, neither secondary caries nor fracture. The margins of two Dyract restorations presented minimal stain. Of the 63 Dyract restorations evaluated radiographically, two presented with bubbles, one with an overhang, and nine had pooling at the tooth-restoration interface. Minimal overhangs were disclosed in six amalgam restorations, and neither bubbles nor defects were seen at the tooth-restoration interface. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Based on the clinical performance of the material and on the radiographic findings, the authors conclude that Dyract can be a suitable alternative for restoring primary teeth that need to be retained up to two years. More extensive follow-up is needed to assess longer-term performance.