Facial Asymmetry Caused by Mandibular Condylar Hyperplasia: A Two Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Condylar hyperplasia is a non-neoplastic overgrowth of the mandibular condyle. The disorder is progressive and causes gradual jaw deviation, facial asymmetry, and dental malocclusion. The only treatment capable of stopping hyperplastic growth is surgical condylectomy to remove the upper portion of the condyle containing the deranged growth center. When this procedure is conducted in proportion to the length of the healthy side it may also correct the jaw deviation and facial asymmetry. OBJECTIVES: To assess the degree to which condylectomy corrects the asymmetry and to determine the proportion of patients after condylectomy who were satisfied with the esthetic result and did not desire further corrective surgery. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records of patients who underwent condylectomy that was not followed by corrective orthognathic surgery for at least 1 year to determine the degree of correction of chin deviation and lip cant. Patient satisfaction from treatment or desire and undergo further corrective surgery was reported. RESULTS: Chin deviation decreased after condylectomy from a mean of 4.8° to a mean of 1.8° (P < 0.001). Lip cant decreased after condylectomy from a mean of 3.5° to a mean of 1.5° (P < 0.001). Most patients (72%) were satisfied with the results and did not consider further corrective orthognathic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Proportional condylectomy could be a viable treatment to both arrest the condylar overgrowth and achieve some correction of the facial asymmetry.

Secondary Dentin Formation Mechanism: The Effect of Attrition.

Human dentin consists of a primary layer produced during tooth formation in early childhood and a second layer which first forms upon tooth eruption and continues throughout life, termed secondary dentin (SD). The effect of attrition on SD formation was considered to be confined to the area subjacent to attrition facets. However, due to a lack of three-dimensional methodologies to demonstrate the structure of the SD, this association could not be determined. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to explore the thickening pattern of the SD in relation to the amount of occlusal and interproximal attrition. A total of 30 premolars (50-60 years of age) with varying attrition rates were evaluated using micro-computerized tomography. The results revealed thickening of the SD below the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), mostly in the mesial and distal aspects of the root (p < 0.05). The pattern of thickening under the tooth cervix, rather than in proximity to attrition facets, was consistent regardless of the attrition level. The amount of SD thickening mildly correlated with occlusal attrition (r = 0.577, p < 0.05) and not with interproximal attrition. The thickening of the SD below the CEJ coincided with previous finite element models, suggesting that this area is mostly subjected to stress due to occlusal loadings. Therefore, we suggest that the SD formation might serve as a compensatory mechanism aimed to strengthen tooth structure against deflection caused by mechanical loading. Our study suggests that occlusal forces may play a significant role in SD formation.

Age estimation of fragmented human dental remains by secondary dentin virtual analysis.

Unlike bones, teeth are remarkably resilient and can withstand severe trauma, making age assessment based on the dentition essential for forensic analysis. Modern techniques for age estimation focus on pulp-chamber volume measurements using radiographs and computerized tomography (CT); however, these are applicable only for complete teeth (i.e., with intact crown and root). In the current study, we developed a new approach using high-resolution micro-computerized tomography (µCT) to visualize the secondary dentin (SD), an inner layer surrounding the pulp which accumulates with age, thus facilitating age estimation of fragmented and broken teeth.The growth pattern of the SD with age was analyzed for 77 lower premolars from two anthropological collections. A comparison of SD virtual segmentation and histological measurement was highly correlative (ICC = 0.95). SD was measured per volume (mm3) of a 1 mm thick slice directly below the cemento-enamel junction. Regression analysis using SD measurements increased the success rates of age estimation (82%) compared with the "gold-standard" pulp/dentin method (54%) in the range of ± 10 years. The accuracy of age estimation based on SD analysis was improved to a range of 7-8 years.The SD method thus allows age estimation with greater prediction rates and better accuracy based on only a small fragment of a tooth in a non-invasive manner. This novel methodology is easy to use, accessible, and bears implications in various fields such as forensic sciences and anthropological research.

An in vitro evaluation of marginal fit zirconia crowns fabricated by a CAD-CAM dental laboratory and a milling center.

BACKGROUND: Marginal fit is critical for the success and longevity of a dental restoration. Zirconia crowns can be fabricated either chair-side, in a dental laboratory or in a milling center; each can give different marginal fits results. However, discussion of the marginal fit of zirconia crowns when different fabrication methods are compared is lacking in the literature. PURPOSE: To compare the marginal discrepancy (MD) and absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD) of computer-aided design, and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) used in a dental laboratory and a milling center for producing monolithic zirconia crowns. METHODS: The marginal fit of 30 zirconia crowns cemented to typodont teeth was evaluated by means of a sectioning technique. Fifteen crowns were fabricated with a CEREC inLAB MC X5 from IPS e.max ZirCAD blocks. Fifteen crowns were fabricated using a LAVA milling center from LAVA Plus Zirconia Blocks. The 30 crowns were sectioned with a precision saw, and MD and AMD were subsequently measured using a light microscope. Data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA technique to investigate significant differences in the marginal fit between the two fabrication systems (α = .05). RESULTS: The AMD dimension of the CEREC inLAB system was significantly smaller (P < .05). Mean AMD values for zirconia crowns fabricated by the CEREC inLAB were 85 µm, and for the LAVA milling center 133 µm. There was no significant difference between the two systems regarding the MD dimensions. The MD values for zirconia crowns fabricated by the CEREC inLAB were 53 µm and for the LAVA milling center 61 µm. CONCLUSIONS: The CEREC inLAB system demonstrated significantly better marginal fit in relation to the AMD. However, no difference between the systems was found in the MD. Monolithic zirconia crowns fabricated by the CAD-CAM CEREC inLAB system and the LAVA system milling center showed MD values of less than 120 µm, which is within the clinically acceptable range.

Comparison of marginal fit between CAD-CAM and hot-press lithium disilicate crowns.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Hot-pressing and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) are major techniques for the fabrication of lithium disilicate crowns. They exhibit different accuracies regarding marginal fit, an important factor in restoration survival. However, studies comparing the marginal fit of different fabrication methods are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the marginal discrepancy (MD) and absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD) of lithium disilicate crowns produced by the hot-press and CAD-CAM techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty typodont teeth were divided into 2 groups. Fifteen teeth were scanned with the CEREC Omnicam intraoral scanner, and crowns were fabricated with the CEREC MC XL chairside CAD-CAM milling unit from IPS e.max CAD blocks. Fifteen typodont teeth were sent to a dental laboratory, and lithium disilicate crowns were fabricated from IPS e.max press ingots using the hot-press technique. The 30 crowns were cemented and then sectioned with a precision saw. The MD and AMD were measured for each crown with a light microscope. One-way ANOVA was conducted to analyze significant differences in crown marginal fit between the fabrication systems (α=.05). RESULTS: For the CAD-CAM technique, the mean values of the AMD measurements were 115 µm, and for the hot-press technique, 130 µm. The MD measurements were 87 µm for the CAD-CAM technique and 90 µm for the hot-press technique. One-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences between the fabrication methods regarding marginal fit (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found between the fabrication methods tested. Both the CAD-CAM and hot-press techniques for producing monolithic lithium disilicate crowns produced MD values of less than 120 µm, within the clinically acceptable range.