Enamel growth rates of anterior teeth in males and females from modern and ancient British populations.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored biological sex differences in the regional daily growth rates of human anterior enamel from modern and ancient populations in Britain. METHODS: Maxillary permanent incisors (n = 80) and canines (n = 69) from Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, and Modern day populations were analyzed using histological methods. Daily secretion rates (DSRs) were collected for inner, mid, and outer regions of cuspal and lateral enamel. Modern day samples were of known sex, archeological individuals had sex determined using standard osteological methods. Variation in DSRs between the sexes, both between and within populations, was sought using parametric and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: When all samples were pooled, there was no significant difference between males and females. Similarly no significant differences in DSRs were identified between male and females within each population. When DSRs were compared between the populations, DSRs decreased from the more ancient to the more recent populations for males, and for females. More interpopulation differences were observed in males. DISCUSSION: This study presents evidence for the relative consistency of enamel DSRs between male and female groups within each British population. Interpopulation analyses found DSRs slowed significantly between Roman and modern day populations for both sexes, with male DSRs showing the greatest variation between populations.

Uso do instrumento XP-Endo Finisher no tratamento endodôntico em um dente com reabsorção dentinária interna / Use of XP-Endo Finisher file in endodontic treatment in a tooth with internal dentin resorption

De acordo com a Associação Americana de Endodontistas (AAE), reabsorção dentinária é definida como uma condição fisiológica ou patológica resultante de perda de dentina, cemento e/ou osso. As reabsorções internas, quando detectadas precocemente, apresentam um bom prognóstico a longo prazo, sendo indicada a realização do tratamento endodôntico de forma imediata para limitar seu avanço. A área de reabsorção torna difícil a completa limpeza e obturação hermética do espaço do canal. O instrumento XP-Endo Finisher é indicado em protocolos finais de desinfecção, pois respeita a anatomia original do canal radicular e promove a limpeza de suas irregularidades. Neste sentido, o objetivo do presente trabalho é relatar o tratamento endodôntico em um incisivo central inferior com reabsorção dentinária interna, no qual o instrumento XP-Endo Finisher foi utilizado. Paciente PMS, gênero masculino, 78 anos, foi encaminhado para fazer o tratamento endodôntico no dente 41 que apresentava uma reabsorção dentinária interna e lesão periapical. O tratamento endodôntico incluiu a instrumentação do canal radicular com os instrumentos Reciproc, irrigação com NaOCl 2,5%, medicação com hidróxido de cálcio e ativação complementar com o instrumento XP-Endo Finisher. Após 1 ano de acompanhamento, verifica-se que o dente apresenta função mastigatória normal, estando o paciente assintomático. Radiograficamente, observa-se reparo ósseo periapical, indicando sucesso na terapia endodôntica adotada. A partir do presente relato de caso, concluiu-se que a utilização do instrumento XP-Endo Finisher é uma alternativa viável para complementar o preparo dos canais radiculares em dentes com reabsorção dentinária interna (AU).

According to the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), dentin resorption is defined as a physiological or pathological condition resulting from loss of dentin, cementum and/or bone. Internal resorptions, when detected early, present good long-term prognosis, and endodontic treatment is indicated immediately to limit its progress. The reabsorption area makes it difficult to complete root canal cleaning and hermetic sealing. The XP-Endo Finisher file is indicated for final disinfection protocols, since it respects root canal original anatomy and promotes cleaning of its irregularities. In this sense, the objective of the present study is to report the endodontic treatment in a lower central incisor with internal dentin resorption in which XP-Endo Finisher file was used. Patient PMS, male, 78 years old, was referred to perform endodontic treatment on tooth 41 that presented internal dentin resorption and periapical lesion. The endodontic treatment included root canal instrumentation with Reciproc files, irrigation with NaOCl 2.5%, calcium hydroxide medication, and complementary activation with the XP-Endo Finisher file. After 1-year follow-up, the tooth presented normal masticatory function, and the patient was asymptomatic. Radiographically, periapical bone repair was observed, indicating success in the adopted endodontic therapy. From the present case report, we may conclude that the use of the XP-Endo Finisher file is a viable alternative to complement root canals preparation in teeth with internal dentin resorption (AU).

Transition to agriculture in South-Eastern Arabia: Insights from oral conditions.

OBJECTIVES: In Southeast (SE) Arabia, agriculture is supposed to expand around 3000 BC, but its tempo and its actual role in populations' subsistence is still debated by archaeologists. Here, we compare dental health conditions of 11 skeletal samples from coastal and inland sites, dated from the Late Neolithic (ca. 4500-3100 BC) to the Early Bronze Age (EBA), conventionally divided into Hafit (ca. 3100-2700 BC) and Umm an-Nar period (ca. 2700-2000 BC). The goal is to assess long-term trends in subsistence patterns and regional variability during the local transition to agriculture. METHODS: Seven indicators of oral health and childhood stress were analyzed, including dental wear, calculus, caries, alveolar resorption, periapical lesions, ante-mortem tooth loss (AMTL), and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH). RESULTS: Neolithic coastal populations are globally characterized by high dental wear, high calculus frequency, high LEH frequency, and frequent periodontal disease, whereas they exhibit low abscesses and AMTL frequencies and a total absence of carious lesions. Samples from the Hafit period present high dental wear, low rates of calculus and LEH, frequent periodontal disease, combined with low abscess and AMTL frequencies and absence of caries. By contrast, samples from the Umm an-Nar period exhibit much lower dental wear, calculus and LEH rates, whereas caries, periapical lesions and AMTL frequencies increase significantly. Marked differences were observed between coastal and inland Umm an-Nar groups, the latter presenting significantly higher frequencies of caries, periapical lesions, alveolar resorption and AMTL. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Oral conditions from the Neolithic coastal populations denote a diet mainly composed of unprocessed and abrasive food, with high protein and low carbohydrate intakes, and frequent stress episodes. Although Hafit populations display some changes in oral pathologies, which indicate modifications in their lifestyle and a diversification of the diet, no markers of high carbohydrate intakes were observed in our samples. The impact of agriculture on oral health appears clearly only from the Umm an-Nar period, and is more intense inland than on the coast, where marine resources are still a main component of the diet.

Crown heights in the permanent teeth of 47,XYY males.

OBJECTIVE: The results in human sex chromosome aneuploidies had shown that the extra Y chromosome increases permanent and deciduous tooth crown sizes in the mesiodistal and labiolingual directions. The hypothesis of the study was that the additional Y chromosome increases the permanent tooth crown growth in a vertical dimension. We also aimed to observe possible sex difference in the permanent tooth crown height. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on 15 47,XYY males or males with an extra Y chromosome, nine male relatives (five brothers and four fathers) and 45 male and 48 female population controls had been gathered previously for Professor Lassi Alvesalo's KVANTTI Research Project. The measurements from panoramic radiographs were performed of all the applicable teeth, except the third molars on both sides of the jaws with a sliding digital calliper. RESULTS: All the mean tooth crown heights in the 47,XYY males were larger than in the male population controls and the differences were statistically significant in six teeth in the maxilla and 10 teeth in the mandible. Apart from few teeth, the crown heights in the 47,XYY males were larger than in their male relatives, but the difference between these groups was significant only in one tooth. The differences between sexes were statistically significant in eight teeth in the maxilla. CONCLUSIONS: Based on previous investigations and this work, it is evident that the impact of the extra Y chromosome during tooth crown development is holistic, increasing permanent tooth sizes in three dimensions in a balanced manner.

Odontometric sex estimation in humans using measurements on permanent canines. A comparison of an early Neolithic and an early medieval assemblage from Germany.

SUMMARY: This study analyzed whether cervical canine dimensions measured at the enamel-cement junction can provide a basis for sex estimation in human skeletal remains and whether discriminant functions developed for one assemblage can be successfully applied also to others. Cervical canine dimensions were recorded for an Early Neolithic (Linear Pottery Culture) and an early medieval skeletal assemblage from Germany. Only individuals in whom sex estimation based on standard diagnostic criteria could be performed with a high degree of certainty were included. Sexual dimorphism in cervical canine dimensions was higher in the early medieval assemblage. Values in females of the Early Neolithic assemblage exceeded those of the early medieval assemblage, while there were no significant differences in males. Discriminant analysis led to a maximum correct classification of sex (cross validation results) of 94.0% in the early medieval and of 79.2% in the Early Neolithic assemblage. Applying the discriminant functions developed on one assemblage to the other led to poor classification results. Cervical canine dimensions are highly correlated with sexually dimorphic skeletal traits and may provide a good basis for sexing archaeological individuals. It is suggested that due to population differences in canine dimensions, either assemblage specific discriminant functions should be developed or the applicability of existing formulae obtained on other assemblages to the assemblage under study should be carefully checked.

An Invitro Evaluation of the Accuracy of Two Electronic Apex Locators to Determine Working Length in the Presence of Various Irrigants.

BACKGROUND: Cleaning and shaping of root canal system requires various irrigating solutions. The question is whether the presence of irrigation solution alters working length determination using apex locators. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of Root ZX and i-Root apex locator for determining working length in the presence of different irrigating solution. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Eighty extracted single rooted human teeth were used. The teeth were sectioned at Cemento Enamel Junction (CEJ) and actual canal length determined. Then, working length measurements were obtained using Root ZX and i-Root apex locator in the presence of irrigating solutions namely 0.9% saline, 3% of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine digluconate(CHX) and 17% Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid (EDTA). The measurements obtained with Root ZX and i-Root apex locator were compared with actual canal length and subjected to statistical analysis using Post Hoc Test Tukey's Method. RESULTS: This study revealed that both the tested Electronic apex locators (EAL) were able to measure the canal length in the presence of tested irrigating solutions. The presence of irrigating solutions of saline, NaOCl, chlorhexidine and EDTA in the root canal marginally influenced the accuracy of the Root ZX or i-Root (P < 0.36), but with no clinical significance. CONCLUSION: Root ZX and i-Root can be used safely to determine working length in the presence of various irrigants. The content of the root canal did not influence the accuracy while measuring working length using Electronic apex locators (EAL).

Timing of maxillofacial-oral injuries in an individual of the ancient city of Herculaneum (79 AD, Naples, Italy): a case report.

BACKGROUND: This study is based on the skeletal remains of an adult female from the ancient city of Herculaneum (Naples, Italy), who was a victim of the eruption of the nearby Vesuvius Volcano on 24-25 August, AD 79. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Examination of the maxillofacial region revealed evidence of unilateral condylar fracture and dislocation, as well as traumatic dental injuries. The injuries observed might have been the consequence of a direct blow to the mental region that was transmitted in a direction that raised the mandible, causing an indirect fracture in the right condylar neck when the condylar head collided directly with the temporal glenoid fossa. This indirect impact also resulted in partial fracture of three dental crowns due to the violent impact of the arches between them, and the sharp impact together of the upper and lower teeth. It is suggested that these injuries were sustained due to an accidental fall when the individual was between 7 and 15 years old, which is supported by the morphology, location and extension of the injuries, and the characterization of the impact. CONCLUSION: These results are an illustration of how dental anthropology and forensic approaches can be applied with great benefit to archaeological skeletal remains.

Odontometric sex estimation on three populations of the Iron Age from Abruzzo region (central-southern Italy).

BACKGROUND: In archaeological contexts, sex identification is a necessary step for a complete reconstruction of the biological profile of the individuals and to know demographic patterns of the population, nutritional stress, diseases, growth and development, and distribution of pathological conditions. METHODS: This study is based on the skeletal remains of 149 individuals from three protohistoric populations in close temporal and geographic proximity in Abruzzo region (central-southern Italy): Opi, Alfedena and Bazzano. It has been possible to develop logistic regression equations based on dental measurements of permanent teeth of adult individuals whose sex had previously been estimated based on pelvic and cranial features. These equations were subsequently applied to the permanent dentition of immature individuals and adult individuals whose sex was estimated as uncertain or unknown in order to estimate their sex. RESULTS: The mandibular canine is the tooth with the greatest sexual dimorphism in adults, followed by both maxillary and mandibular first and second molars, providing a correct assignment of sex ranging from 83.7% and 95.9% of cases, depending on the dimensions used for the construction of these equations. Of the 29 individuals in the target sample (14 adultus, 10 juvenilis and 5 infans), sex estimation was possible for 23 (10 adultus, 8 juvenilis and 5 infans), representing an applicability rate of 79.31% of the individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that odontometrics is a useful tool for sex estimation and allows to increase the data to perform more complete paleodemographic studies on archaeological populations.

Comparability of multiple data types from the Bering Strait region: cranial and dental metrics and nonmetrics, mtDNA, and Y-chromosome DNA.

Different data types have previously been shown to have the same microevolutionary patterns in worldwide data sets. However, peopling of the New World studies have shown a difference in migration paths and timings using multiple types of data, spurring research to understand why this is the case. This study was designed to test the degree of similarity in evolutionary patterns by using cranial and dental metric and nonmetric data, along with Y-chromosome DNA and mtDNA. The populations used included Inuits from Alaska, Canada, Siberia, Greenland, and the Aleutian Islands. For comparability, the populations used for the cranial and molecular data were from similar geographic regions or had a shared population history. Distance, R and kinship matrices were generated for use in running Mantel tests, PROTEST analyses, and Procrustes analyses. A clear patterning was seen, with the craniometric data being most highly correlated to the mtDNA data and the cranial nonmetric data being most highly correlated with the Y-chromosome data, while the phenotypic data were also linked. This patterning is suggestive of a possible male or female inheritance, or the correlated data types are affected by the same or similar evolutionary forces. The results of this study indicate cranial traits have some degree of heritability. Moreover, combining data types leads to a richer knowledge of biological affinity. This understanding is important for bioarchaeological contexts, in particular, peopling of the New World studies where focusing on reconciling the results from comparing multiple data types is necessary to move forward.

Avaliação da influência do laser de baixa intensidade na movimentação ortodôntica e supressão da dor / Influence of low-level laser irradiation on orthodontic movement and pain level

Analisou-se a velocidade de movimentação ortodôntica e sensibilidade dolorosa de caninos superiores e inferiores submetidos à irradiação com o laser de baixa intensidade (LBI) em dose única mensal, comparados aos caninos contralaterais não irradiados (controle). Foram selecionados 11 indivíduos, portadores de má oclusão de Classe I com indicação de extração dos primeiros pré-molares superiores e inferiores. O laser de baixa intensidade foi aplicado após a ativação da retração inicial dos caninos, realizada através de mola Niti com uma força de 150g. A aplicação do laser foi realizada em 10 pontos (5 por vestibular e 5 por lingual) nos caninos superiores e inferiores, utilizando o seguinte protocolo: Canino inferior por vestibular e lingual e canino superior por vestibular: Potência de 40mW; densidade de energia de 10J/cm2; 10 segundos por ponto; energia por ponto de 0,4J, uma energia total de aplicação de 4J para o canino inferior e 2J por vestibular dos caninos superiores e para o canino superior por palatino o protocolo foi: Potência de 70mW; densidade de energia de 35J/cm2; 20 segundos por ponto; 1,4J de energia por ponto, energia total de 7J. A retração durou 3 meses, num total de 3 aplicações de laser. Foi obtido um par de modelo de gesso inicial após as extrações dentárias e mensalmente antes da aplicação do laser que posteriormente foram escaneados com scanner 3Shape Ortho SystemTM "(3ShapeTM Copenhagen, Dinamarca) e as imagens tridimensionais avaliadas por meio do software OrthoAnalyzer (3Shape) para mensuração da quantidade de movimentação dos caninos retraídos. Os pacientes preencheram uma escala visual após 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas da ativação da retração inicial dos caninos para avaliação da sensibilidade dolorosa. Para comparação da velocidade da movimentação ortodôntica e o nível de dor entre os lados irradiado e não irradiado nos três períodos avaliados, foi utilizado a Análise de Variância a um critério de medidas repetidas...

It was analyzed the orthodontic tooth movement and painful sensibility of maxilary and mandibular canine teeth submitted to irradiation with low-level laser (LLL) in an only monthly dose, compared to the non-irradiated contralateral canines (control). Eleven individuals with Class I malocclusion with indication of extraction of the first maxillary and mandibular premolars were selected. The low-level laser was applied after the activation of initial retraction of the canine teeth, performed with Niti coil springs with force of 150g. The laser application was performed in 10 points (5 buccal and 5 lingual) in the maxillary and mandibular canines, using the following protocol: Mandibular canine buccal and lingual and maxillary canine buccal: 40mW power; an energy density of 10 J/cm2; 10 seconds per point; energy per point 0,4J, a total energy of 4J applying to the mandibular canine and 2J the buccal of the maxillary canines and maxillary canine palatally: 70mW of power; an energy density of 35J/cm2; 20 seconds per point; 1,4J energy per point, the total energy 7J. The retraction lasted three months, a total of three laser applications. It was obtained a couple of dental casts after dental extractions and monthly model before applying the laser which were subsequently scanned with scanner "3Shape's Ortho SystemTM" (3ShapeTM - Copenhagen, Denmark) and three-dimensional images evaluated through OrthoAnalyzer software (3Shape) to measure the amount of movement of canines retracted. Patients completed a visual scale after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of initial activation of canine retraction for evaluation of pain sensitivity. To compare the speed of orthodontic tooth movement and the level of pain between the irradiated and non-irradiated sides at the three movement stages, repeated measures one-way analysis of variance was used. In all tests we adopted a significance level of 5%. The results showed statistically significant difference between the amount...

Avaliação da influência do laser de baixa intensidade na movimentação ortodôntica e supressão da dor / Influence of low-level laser irradiation on orthodontic movement and pain level

Analisou-se a velocidade de movimentação ortodôntica e sensibilidade dolorosa de caninos superiores e inferiores submetidos à irradiação com o laser de baixa intensidade (LBI) em dose única mensal, comparados aos caninos contralaterais não irradiados (controle). Foram selecionados 11 indivíduos, portadores de má oclusão de Classe I com indicação de extração dos primeiros pré-molares superiores e inferiores. O laser de baixa intensidade foi aplicado após a ativação da retração inicial dos caninos, realizada através de mola Niti com uma força de 150g. A aplicação do laser foi realizada em 10 pontos (5 por vestibular e 5 por lingual) nos caninos superiores e inferiores, utilizando o seguinte protocolo: Canino inferior por vestibular e lingual e canino superior por vestibular: Potência de 40mW; densidade de energia de 10J/cm2; 10 segundos por ponto; energia por ponto de 0,4J, uma energia total de aplicação de 4J para o canino inferior e 2J por vestibular dos caninos superiores e para o canino superior por palatino o protocolo foi: Potência de 70mW; densidade de energia de 35J/cm2; 20 segundos por ponto; 1,4J de energia por ponto, energia total de 7J. A retração durou 3 meses, num total de 3 aplicações de laser. Foi obtido um par de modelo de gesso inicial após as extrações dentárias e mensalmente antes da aplicação do laser que posteriormente foram escaneados com scanner 3Shape Ortho SystemTM "(3ShapeTM Copenhagen, Dinamarca) e as imagens tridimensionais avaliadas por meio do software OrthoAnalyzer (3Shape) para mensuração da quantidade de movimentação dos caninos retraídos. Os pacientes preencheram uma escala visual após 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas da ativação da retração inicial dos caninos para avaliação da sensibilidade dolorosa. Para comparação da velocidade da movimentação ortodôntica e o nível de dor entre os lados irradiado e não irradiado nos três períodos avaliados, foi utilizado a Análise de Variância a um critério de medidas repetidas...

It was analyzed the orthodontic tooth movement and painful sensibility of maxilary and mandibular canine teeth submitted to irradiation with low-level laser (LLL) in an only monthly dose, compared to the non-irradiated contralateral canines (control). Eleven individuals with Class I malocclusion with indication of extraction of the first maxillary and mandibular premolars were selected. The low-level laser was applied after the activation of initial retraction of the canine teeth, performed with Niti coil springs with force of 150g. The laser application was performed in 10 points (5 buccal and 5 lingual) in the maxillary and mandibular canines, using the following protocol: Mandibular canine buccal and lingual and maxillary canine buccal: 40mW power; an energy density of 10 J/cm2; 10 seconds per point; energy per point 0,4J, a total energy of 4J applying to the mandibular canine and 2J the buccal of the maxillary canines and maxillary canine palatally: 70mW of power; an energy density of 35J/cm2; 20 seconds per point; 1,4J energy per point, the total energy 7J. The retraction lasted three months, a total of three laser applications. It was obtained a couple of dental casts after dental extractions and monthly model before applying the laser which were subsequently scanned with scanner "3Shape's Ortho SystemTM" (3ShapeTM - Copenhagen, Denmark) and three-dimensional images evaluated through OrthoAnalyzer software (3Shape) to measure the amount of movement of canines retracted. Patients completed a visual scale after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of initial activation of canine retraction for evaluation of pain sensitivity. To compare the speed of orthodontic tooth movement and the level of pain between the irradiated and non-irradiated sides at the three movement stages, repeated measures one-way analysis of variance was used. In all tests we adopted a significance level of 5%. The results showed statistically significant difference between the amount...

Accuracy of electronic apex locator in enlarged root canals with different root canal irrigants: an in vitro study.

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of Root ZX-II (J Morita Corp) apex locator in enlarged root canals with different root canal irrigants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 48 freshly extracted single rooted mandibular premolar teeth were used. The apical enlargement was done up to #45 K-file as the master apical file (MAF). The teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups and mounted in an experimental apparatus. The following irrigants were used during electronic canal measurements: group 1: saline; group 2: 3% NaOCl; group 3: 2% chlorhexidine; group 4: 17% EDTA. The canal measurement was done with Root ZX-II apex locator using #10 and #45 K-file. Data were analyzed by two way ANOVA and Bonferroni multiple comparison test. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that there was statistically significant difference between #10 and #45 K-file for group 1 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Root ZX-II was accurate in the presence of 3% NaOCl and 17% EDTA when measured with smaller and larger files. However, it was accurate in the presence of saline and 2% CHX when larger files were used.

[Teeth size reduction in the prehistoric populations in Serbia].

INTRODUCTION: Anthropological studies show craniofacial changes with a reduction in teeth size during evolution of the human population. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to measure and compare the sizes of teeth in the population of the Mesolithic-Neolithic sites in the Iron Gate Gorge and the population from the Early Bronze Age site of Mokrin. METHODS: The study included teeth without advanced wear near the pulp. The material was divided according to the site of the skeletal population in two groups. Group 1 comprised 107 teeth from the Mesolithic-Neolithic sites Lepenski Vir and Vlasac. Group 2 included 158 teeth from the Mokrin graveyard dated in the Early Bronze Age. The mesio-distal diameter was measured in all teeth, while the vestibulo-oral diameter was measured in the molars only. Using the two-factor analysis of variance, the influence of sex, site and their interaction on the size of the teeth were investigated. RESULTS: The vestibulo-oral diameter of the upper third molar was significantly higher in males compared to females. The comparison between the groups showed that the vestibulooral diameter of the lower first molar was significantly higher in group 1. CONCLUSION: The present difference in teeth size indicates the existence of reduction during the prehistoric times. However, the time period between the populations studied is probably too short to be manifested on a large number of teeth.

In vivo evaluation of the Raypex 5 by using different irrigants.

INTRODUCTION: The Raypex 5 is a fourth-generation electronic apex locator for which the accuracy in the presence of chlorhexidine (CHX) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has not yet been tested in vivo. The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the performance of the Raypex 5 electronic apex locator in the presence of different irrigant solutions: 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% CHX, and 17% EDTA. METHODS: Thirty-four single-rooted human teeth that were scheduled for extraction were selected for the study. Measurements were performed with the Raypex 5 in the presence of different irrigant solutions: 2.5% NaOCl, 2% CHX, and 17% EDTA. After the teeth were extracted, a #10 K-file was used to determine the reference working length (RWL), which was established to 0.5 mm from the major foramen. The measurements of WL obtained with the different irrigants were compared by analysis of variance. Significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among the experimental groups (P = .18). The mean distance from the RWL to the file tip was -0.26 ± 1.14 mm when 17% EDTA was used, -0.03 ± 0.92 mm for 2% CHX, and 0.22 ± 0.93 mm for 2.5% NaOCl. CONCLUSIONS: The Raypex 5 performed equally well irrespective of the irrigant used.

Variability in permanent tooth size of three ancient populations in Xi'an, northern China.

OBJECTIVES: This paper compares permanent dental dimensions between three ancient populations that belonged to the same biological population throughout a temporal range of 2000 years to detect temporal trends and metric variation in dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples analysed were dental remains of 4502 permanent teeth from 321 individuals, which were excavated from three archaeological sites: Chang'an (1000-1300 years BP), Shanren (2200 years BP) and Shaolingyuan (3000 years BP) in the Xi'an region (northern China). For each tooth three standard measurements were taken: Mesiodistal (MD) diameter of crown, labiolingual or buccolingual (BL) diameter of crown and length of root (LR). RESULTS: Three ancient population samples generally displayed the same dental dimensions (p>0.05), whereas some tooth types varied. The Shaolingyuan had larger canine and the smallest maxillary second molars and the Chang'an had the largest mandibular first molars in the MD dimension. The Shanren had the smallest maxillary third molars and mandibular central incisors, and the Chang'an had the smallest maxillary lateral incisors in the BL dimension. In the LR measures, statistically significant differences of five tooth types showed that the Chang'an were smaller than the Shaolingyuan and the Shanren. Comparisons of coefficients of variation for teeth showed that the length of root and third molar usually displayed greater variation. CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing or increasing trend for crown size does not occur between the ancient populations, while changes in crown size of a few tooth types fluctuate. The root size is more variable than the crown size and is likely to reflect a degenerated trend in a few tooth types.

Determinación de la dimensión vertical oclusal en desdentados totales: comparación de métodos convencionales con el craneómetro de Knebelman / Determination of oclusal vertical dimension in edentulous: comparison of conventional methods with Knebelman craneometer

Objetivo: Se realizó una investigación cuyo propósito fue comparar la DVO determinada mediante métodos convencionales y la determinada por el craneómetro de Knebelman en el mismo paciente. Método: Se consideró como metodología convencional la DVO medida estando el paciente con sus prótesis en máxima intercuspidación. El estudio se realizo en una muestra de 45 individuos desdentados totales y parciales sin referencia oclusiva, rehabilitados con prótesis removible en la en la Clínica Integral del Adulto I y II. Los resultados fueron analizados empleando el test t pareado expresado en mm. de la DVO determinada con cada metodología. Resultado: Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre ambas mediciones y se empleó el test Chi-Cuadrado para analizar la influencia en la magnitud de la DVO observada cuando se emplea una o más referencias en su determinación, donde no se encontraron diferencias significativas. El rango de diferencias entre ambas metodologías de determinación en promedio fue de 2.93 mm considerado no relevante desde el punto de vista clínico. Conclusión: En este contexto el craneómetro de Knebelman puede ser un valioso instrumento que permita simplificar la determinación de la DVO en pacientes desdentados.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to compare the OVD obtained with the conventional methods and the one that is obtained with the Knebelman craniometric system in the same patient. Methods: The OVD considered as "conventional" was the one obtained with the patient using his/her dental prosthesis in maximum intercuspidation. This study was made using a sample of 45 edentulous and partially edentulous subjects, all treated with full removable denture and RPD in "Odontologia Integral del Adulto I & II". The results were analyzed using pair comparison system for the different OVD obtained with both methods (all expressed in millimeters). Results: Significant differences were found between both methods. The Chi-Square test to analyze de influence in the OVD when one or more references are used, didn´t show any significant differences. The average discrepancy between the two methods was 2.93 mm, which is considered as not clinically significant. Conclusion: In this context the Knebelman craneometer can be considered as an important instrument to simplify the determination of the OVD in edentulous patients.

Endodontic application of cone-beam computed tomography in South Korea.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) associated with endodontic procedures during 2009 in South Korea and to retrospectively evaluate information from CBCT with large field of view (FOV), which is popular in South Korea. METHODS: The Health Insurance Review and Assessment agency, which reviews all medical and dental expenses covered under the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) system, was queried for data on the nationwide number of CBCTs associated with some treatment procedures. To compare digital periapical radiography and CBCT retrospectively, 470 roots of 257 root canal-infected teeth were enrolled. RESULTS: In total, 13,209 cases of NHI-covered CBCT were performed in South Korea during 2009, excluding cases for implant restoration and orthodontics. In total, 1253 and 95 CBCT cases were combined with root canal length measuring and apicoectomy, respectively. In a retrospective comparison, CBCT with large FOV provided more information about the presence of apical periodontitis, distortion of cortical bone, and identification of root compared with digital periapical radiography. CONCLUSIONS: CBCT with large FOV is useful in nonsurgical endodontic treatment and provides more information compared with digital periapical radiography.

Odontometric sex discrimination in the Herculaneum sample (79 AD, Naples, Italy), with application to juveniles.

Sex determination of subadult skeletal remains with satisfactory accuracy represents one of the most important limitations of archaeological research and forensic practice. Teeth are one of the most durable physical elements of an individual that remain after death, and constitute a potential source of information about the biological sex of that individual. This study was based on the skeletal remains of 117 individuals from the ancient city of Herculaneum (Naples, Italy), victims of the eruption of the nearby volcano Vesuvius on 24/25 August, 79 AD. It has been possible to develop discriminant function formulae based on dental dimensions of adult individuals whose sex had previously been determined based on descriptive osteologic criteria. These formulae were subsequently applied to the permanent dentitions of immature individuals of the same population in order to estimate their sex. The results show that the canine is the tooth with the greatest sex dimorphism in adults, providing percentages of correct assignment of sex between 76.5% and 100% depending on the dimension used. Of the 30 subadult individuals in the target sample, estimation of sex was possible for 22 individuals. Sex assignments matched those determined from descriptive characteristics of the ilia and mandible in 73.33% of the cases. The results provide some optimism that this method may be applicable to juvenile archaeological samples.

Removal of intracanal smear layer by doxycycline: SEM analysis.

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of doxycycline used alone or in association with sodium hypochlorite on smear layer removal. The canals of extracted human teeth were instrumented using a stepback technique. At the end of preparation, they were irrigated with doxycycline (Group 1), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid + sodium hypochlorite (Group 2), doxycycline + sodium hypochlorite (Group 3) and water (Group 4). The dentinal wall of the cervical, middle and apical thirds was graded according to the amount of remaining debris and smear layer. The results were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test (P < 0.05). In Groups 2 and 4, the dentine was completely free and covered with smear layer, respectively. The results from the cervical and middle thirds of Group 3 were worse than those in Groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). In relation to apical third, there were differences (P < 0.05) between all groups with best results for Group 2. Doxycycline was effective in removing smear layer from cervical and middle thirds. The use of doxycycline + sodium hypochlorite was partially effective in the cervical and middle thirds, but ineffective in the apical third.