Association between Odontogenic Conditions and Maxillary Sinus Disease: A Study Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography.

INTRODUCTION: The maxillary sinus can be affected by dental infections because of its close relationship with upper teeth. This study aimed to assess the most common types of maxillary sinus alterations and to associate them with odontogenic conditions using cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images. METHODS: CBCT scans of 400 patients showing sinus disease in 1 or both maxillary sinuses were evaluated. Sinus alteration was considered as follows: generalized or localized mucosal thickening (MT), maxillary sinusitis (MS), and retention cysts (RCs). The odontogenic conditions evaluated were inadequate endodontic treatment, periapical lesions, and periodontal bone loss. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Sinus diseases were observed in 85.9% of the maxillary sinuses. The most prevalent condition was generalized MT (65.2%) followed by localized MT (24.8%), MS (6.4%), and RCs (3.6%). Generalized MT was more related to males (odds ratio = 1.45, P < .05) and periodontal bone loss (P < .05). Localized MT was associated with periapical lesions (odds ratio = 3.09, P < .05) and showed a close anatomic relationship between teeth and the sinus floor (odds ratio = 2.77, P < .05). There were no statistically significant associations between either MS or RCs and the odontogenic conditions studied. CONCLUSIONS: The most prevalent sinus diseases were the generalized and localized MT, and they were the only ones related to odontogenic conditions (periodontal bone loss and periapical lesions, respectively). We emphasize that CBCT imaging is an appropriate method for evaluating the maxillary sinus findings and their associated odontogenic conditions.

The influence of display modalities on proximal caries detection and treatment decision.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of digital radiographic display on caries detection and choice of treatment among undergraduate students. Forty images of extracted human teeth were acquired using a PSP digital system. The proximal surfaces were evaluated for the presence of proximal caries and choice of treatment by 36 undergraduate students, divided into three groups according to the semester they were taking. The images were evaluated in two forms of image display: laptop, and printed on acetate viewed on a lightbox. The accuracy of the different forms of image display on caries detection was evaluated by means of ROC curve analysis and its effect by mixed linear regression. Residue analysis was used to verify the adequacy of the treatment of choice for the chosen diagnosis. There was no significant effect either for the display modalities (p=0.058) or for the different undergraduate student groups (p=0.991). The Az was 0.539 for printed images and 0.516 for laptop. The decisions based on treatment of choice were consistent with the scores achieved for caries detection. Accuracy of caries detection using a laptop was comparable to accuracy using printed images. Treatment decision was not affected by image display modality. The semester of the dentistry course that undergraduate students were taking did not significantly increase the accuracy of their proximal caries detection.

Avaliação de traumas físicos sofridos por acadêmicos / Physical trauma evaluation suffer undergraduates

O objetivo desse trabalho foi conhecer o perfil dos traumas físicos produzidos pela atividade profissional entre alunos da Clínica Integrada da Faculdade de Odontologia de Pernambuco. A pesquisa foi realizada através de um questionário aplicado a 93 alunos. Verificou-se que 51,65% dos investigados sofreram traumas físicos durante os procedimentos clínicos, registrando-se que 70,2% desses ocorreram com instrumentos que estavam contaminados por sangue/saliva. Os instrumentos que provocaram maior número de traumas foram as agulhas utilizadas para anestesia (51,1%) seguidos pelas sondas exploradoras (23,4%) e brocas (15,1%). Concluiu-se que ainda é preciso incentivar o uso de equipamentos de proteção individual e vacinação, como também a divulgação e estabelecimento de protocolos que padronizem os cuidados profiláticos após exposições ocupacionais.

The purpose of this study was to know the profile of the physical trauma caused by the professional activity amongst students of the Integrated Clinic of the Dentistry of Pernambuco. This study was perfomed through a questionnaire from which was applied on 93 students. We found that 51, 6% of the subjects had undergone physical trauma during clinical procedures and that 70,2% of these causing tools were contamined with blood/saliva. The tools which provoked the higher number of trauma were anesthesia needls is that both inexperience and lack of self-confidence contribute toward accidents and that there is a need of encouraging the use of individual protection equipment and vaccination, as well as a need of crating and announcing protocols of prophylactic care after occupational exposition.

Qualidade de imagens radiográficas processadas em consultórios odontológicos e em laboratório / Quality of radiographic image processed in dental offices and laboratory

Objetivos: Este estudo avaliou a qualidade de imagens radiográficas expostas em consultórios odontológicos e processadas nos próprios consultórios por cirurgiões-dentistas e/ou auxiliares ou em laboratório, por pesquisadores. Métodos: Dezoito consultórios odontológicos participaram da pesquisa. Cada um recebeu um par de caixas de filmes periapicais Kodak Ektaspeed, os quais foram expostos conjuntamente, com um molar inferior extraído. O tempo de exposição variou em função do consultório odontológico. A auxiliar e/ou o cirurgião-dentista realizaram o processamento de um dos filmes, com as mesmas técnicas e recursos utilizados habitualmente (Grupo 1). O outro filme foi processado por pesquisadores em no Laboratório de Metrologia da Universidade de Pernambuco (Grupo 2). Por meio de questionário, dois radiologistas avaliaram a nitidez, densidade, contraste, definição do esmalte, dentina e junção amelodentinária, erros presentes nas imagens e se cada imagem podia ser suficiente para um bom diagnóstico. A análise estatística foi analisada utilizando o teste do Qui-quadrado e o teste exato de Fisher. Resultados: O Grupo 2 demonstrou maior número de radiografias com baixa densidade e radiografias escuras (p<0,05). O Grupo 1 apresentou maior número de radiografias claras, com pontos escuros, pontos marrons e radiografias arranhadas (p<0,05). Não houve diferença estatística significante em relação à nitidez, contraste, definição do esmalte, dentina e junção amelodentinária, presença de pontos claros e capacidade de levar a um bom diagnóstico (p>0,05). Conclusões: Este estudo sugeriu que imagens radiográficas produzidas em consultórios odontológicos apresentam imperfeições na técnica de execução e no processamento. Entretanto, apesar da importância do correto processamento radiográfico, a sobre-exposição de filmes foi a maior causa de falhas na qualidade da imagem.

This work aims evaluate subjectively the quality of radiographic images exposed in dental offices and processed in proper dental offices by surgeon-dentists and/or assistants or in laboratory, by researchers. Methods: Eighteen dental offices integrated the research. Each one received a pair of Kodak Ektaspeed periapical films which was exposed together with an extracted inferior molar. The exposition time varied in function of each dental office. The assistant and/or surgeon dentist carried through the processing of one of the films, with the same technique and resources used habitually (Group 1). The other film was processed by researchers in the Laboratory of Metrology of Federal University of Pernambuco (Group 2). Through a questionnaire, two radiologists evaluated the sharpness, density, contrast, definition of enamel, dentine and amelodentinary junction, errors present in the images and if each image would be enough for a good diagnosis. Results: Through Chi-Square or Fisher´s Exact test, it was observed that Group 2 got a bigger number of radiographs with low density and dark radiographs (p-value<0,05). Group 1 presented a bigger number of clear radiographs, with dark spots, brown spots and scratch radiographs (p-value<0,05). There wasn?t statistical significant difference in relation to sharpness, contrast, definition of enamel, dentine, and amelodentinary junction, presence of clear spots and the capacity of carrying through a good diagnosis (p-value> 0.05). Conclusions: This study suggested that radiographic images produced in dental office present imperfections in technique execution and in the processing. However, despite the importance of a correct radiographic processing, the overexposure of the films was the major cause of flaws in image quality.

Alternative erasing times of the DenOptix system plate: performance on the detection of proximal caries.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the DenOptix system for detection of proximal caries using alternative erasing times for the photostimulable phosphor plates. STUDY DESIGN: Human teeth were X-rayed with phosphor plates using different erasing times. Five observers evaluated the images for the presence of caries by scoring the proximal surfaces of each tooth. Mean pixel intensity analyses were also carried out. The erasing times were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Analysis of variance for differences among erasing times and pixel intensity values was performed, followed by linear regression analysis for correlation between these variables. RESULTS: The mean ROC curve for each erasing time varied from 0.61 to 0.66 (not significant). Analysis of variance did not show any significant effect of the erasing times on the pixel intensity values of the images (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Erasing times for DenOptix phosphor plates from 20 to 130 s were satisfactory for diagnosis of proximal caries, and their use is therefore feasible in clinical practice.