Comparison of Frequency of Congenitally Missing Upper Lateral Incisors among Skeletal Class I, II and III Malocclusions.

AIM: The present investigation aims to find out the frequency of congenitally missing upper lateral incisors among skeletal class I, II, and III malocclusions and to find out its variability among different genders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample included orthopantomograms (OPGs) and a lateral cephalogram of 1,000 patients retrieved from previous records. Of the selected samples, 290 were males and 710 were females. Orthopantomograms helped diagnose the presence of unilateral/bilateral maxillary lateral incisors. Results and statistics: Of the 1,000 samples, 710 (71%) were female and 290 (29%) were male patients. An estimated 37 (3.77%) patients were found to have missing maxillary lateral incisors. Of the female patients, 4.04% were having missing laterals, whereas 3.10% of the male patients were having agenesis of maxillary incisors. Totally, 0.9% of missing upper laterals were recorded in males, whereas 2.8% of missing lateral incisors in upper arch were found in females. A total of 54.16% of skeletal class I, 33.33% of skeletal class II, and 12.5% of skeletal class III cases were found to have missing upper lateral incisors. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate for congenitally missing upper lateral incisors in orthodontic adolescent Odia population in Bhubaneswar is 3.77%. The females had a greater percentage of agenesis of the upper lateral incisor when compared to males. An estimated 54.16% of skeletal class I, 33.33% of skeletal class II, and 12.5% of skeletal class III cases were found to have missing upper lateral incisors. This difference might be due to genetic variations or different environmental conditions. A multidisciplinary treatment protocol must be planned to manage the missing maxillary lateral incisor and to restore the impaired esthetics and function.

Gingival Zenith Positions and Levels of Maxillary Anterior Dentition in Cases of Bimaxillary Protrusion: A Morphometric Analysis.

AIM: To investigate the two clinical parameters, such as gingival zenith positions (GZPs) and gingival zenith levels (GZLs), of maxillary anterior dentition in bimaxillary protrusion cases and collate it with severiety of crown inclination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gingival zenith position and GZL in 40 healthy patients (29 females and 11 males) with an average age of 21.5 years were assessed. Inclusion criteria involved absence of periodontal diseases, Angle's class I molar relationship, and upper anterior proclination within 25 to 45° based on Steiner's analysis; exclusion criteria included spacing, crowding, anterior restoration and teeth with incisor attrition or rotation. The GZP was evaluated using digital calipers from voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and GZL was assessed from the tangent drawn from GZP of central incisor and canines to the linear vertical distance of GZP of lateral incisor. RESULTS: All the central incisors showed a GZP distal to VBM with a mean average of 1 mm. Severe proclination between 40 and 45° showed a statistically significant variation. Lateral incisors displayed a mean of 0.5 mm deviation of GZP from the vertically bisected midline. In 80% of canine population, GZP was centralized. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the degree of proclination of maxillary anterior dentition was correlated to the gingival contour in bimaxillary cases. The investigation revealed that there is a variation in the location of GZP as the severity of proclination increases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the importance of microesthetics in fixed orthodontic treatment. The gingival contour should be unaltered while retraction during management of bimaxillary protrusion.

Denture Hygiene Knowledge and Practices among Complete Denture Wearers attending a Postgraduate Dental Institute.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the denture hygiene knowledge and practices among patients using complete dentures attending a postgraduate dental hospital in Jabalpur city. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between hygiene knowledge and practices to the denture wearer's gender, education, and income. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire involving the complete denture patients attending the Department of Prosthodontics. The study subjects were randomly selected by recruiting old dentures wearers visiting the Department of Prosthodontics for a recall visit or for new dentures on the odd dates of the month. All subjects signed an informed consent before filling the questionnaire. The institutional review committee approved the study. Descriptive statistics included computation of frequencies and percentages. Nonparametric test, namely, chi-square test, was used for further data analysis; p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 530 individuals were approached for participation in our survey, 30 (5.66%) subjects declined to participate. The results showed that 195 (39%) subjects were wearing the same dentures for more than 5 years. In this study, 51 (10.2%) subjects reported never having been advised by their dentists as to how to clean their dentures. Among all the subjects interviewed, 264 (52.8%) reported to clean the oral tissues daily. This study disclosed that 66 (13.2%) of the subjects usually slept with their dentures. Maximum subjects in illiterate group had experienced bad breath sometimes when compared with subjects in postgraduate group (χ2 = 47.452, p < 0.001). There was a significant difference for method of denture cleaning according to gender (χ2 = 101.076, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The majority of the denture wearers have limited knowledge of denture cleansing and oral hygiene practices. Hygiene habits and practices may not always present a positive correlation with the gender, educational level, and income of the subjects. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Periodic recall for evaluation of denture and mucosal surfaces along with reinforcement of denture hygiene instructions will go a long way in helping the patients reap maximum benefits out of their prostheses.

A comparative evaluation of the dimensional accuracy of heat polymerized acrylic resin denture base clamped by the conventional method and by new-press technique and cured by long curing cycle: an in vitro study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the dimensional accuracy of heat polymerized acrylic resin denture base clamped by the conventional method and by new-press technique and cured by long curing cycle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a total of 60 standardized maxillary record bases were fabricated with seven reference points as follows: Point A: Incisive papilla, Point B and C: Canine region on either side Point E and G: Midpoint of tuberosities on either side Point F: Midpoint of the line joining the two tuberosities Point D: Midpoint between the line joining A and F. GROUP A: Ten maxillary record bases were fabricated by conventional clamping method and cured by long curing cycle. GROUP A': Ten maxillary record bases were fabricated by New Press or RS tension clamping method and cured by long curing cycle. The distances between the reference points, i.e. A-B, A-C, A-D, D-F, B-E, C-G, E-F, F-G, B-D, D-G, C-D, D-E of all three thermoplastic denture base plates were measured and recorded with the help of travelling microscope and were used for comparison with the measured and recorded readings of processed acrylic denture bases. The data obtained was analyzed by using the one-way analysis of variance and HSD Multiple Comparison Test. RESULTS: The overall results of the study indicate that among all the denture bases cured by the two clamping systems and the long curing cycle, group A' were the most dimensionally stable, followed by control group A. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the denture bases fabricated by the New Press method using the long curing cycle would produce the most dimensionally stable denture bases.

Nonthermal Plasma in Dentistry: An Update.

The recent enormous progress in understanding of plasma physics and development of plasma jet has attracted focus on the application of plasma in medicine and dentistry. Active plasma ions, electrons, and photons have the ability to activate and control various biochemical procedures. Nonthermal plasma (NTP) is widely used for various therapeutic applications in health care. Particularly in dentistry, NTP holds big potential such as for bacterial inactivation, efficient sterilization, and treatment of dental caries. This review intends to provide information on potential NTP applications in dentistry.

A Comparative Evaluation of Mixed Dentition Analysis on Reliability of Cone Beam Computed Tomography Image Compared to Plaster Model.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) obtained image over plaster model for the assessment of mixed dentition analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty CBCT-derived images and thirty plaster models were derived from the dental archives, and Moyer's and Tanaka-Johnston analyses were performed. The data obtained were interpreted and analyzed statistically using SPSS 10.0/PC (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive and analytical analysis along with Student's t-test was performed to qualitatively evaluate the data and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Statistically, significant results were obtained on data comparison between CBCT-derived images and plaster model; the mean for Moyer's analysis in the left and right lower arch for CBCT and plaster model was 21.2 mm, 21.1 mm and 22.5 mm, 22.5 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: CBCT-derived images were less reliable as compared to data obtained directly from plaster model for mixed dentition analysis.