Bruxism in Children and Adolescents and its Association with Some Possible Aetiological Factors.

Bruxism is a nocturnal parafunctional activity represented by grinding and clenching of the teeth. Bruxism is considered to be the most harmful of the parafunctional activities of the stomatognathic system, being responsible for tooth wear, periodontal lesions and joint and/or muscle lesions. This study consists of a group of 189 children (111 male and 78 female) that responded correctly and completely to a questionnaire that contained nine items assessing sleep bruxism. According to our research, there was a statistically significant association between bruxism and headache (p<0.0001), tooth/gingival sensitivity (p<0.0001), muscle stiffness, presence of stress (p<0.0001), and vicious habits. Within the limits of this study, parafunctional phenomena such as nocturnal bruxism interest an important percentage, over 60%, involving children of both genders in relatively equal proportions.

Jaw relationship assessment for removable complete dentures using the t-scan computerised system - a case report.

OBJECTIVE: For obtaining the perfect balance of a removable complete denture, we have a few clinical procedures to complete, but only the analysis of the occlusal load distribution at various vertical dimensions of occlusion can give us the precise data. METHOD: The patient selected for this case report was a 35 years old edentulous female who requested prosthetic treatment with complete removable dentures. We followed the usual clinical steps of obtaining an acrylic denture, as well as the T-Scan III analysis during the jaw registration, in different conditions: with the occlusal wax rims, and with the trial denture in the next step, registering three different occlusal vertical dimension - understated, overstated and ideal height. Using these dimensions, we realized four mock-ups, two at the proper vertical dimensions, with various types of tooth color and shape. We analyzed the mock-ups using the T-scan III system. After the dental prosthesis was manufactured, we made another measurement with the T-scan III system. RESULTS: After analyzing all the data from the T-scan III system, we distinguished that the most suitable solution for the patient was the proper dimension mock-up with D2 shade. CONCLUSIONS: Although the registered situations were satisfactory, the aesthetic issues are essential, and the functional aspects are fundamental, the most suitable solution in this case, was the mock-up with proper dimensions.

Bone healing after low-level laser application in extraction sockets grafted with allograft material and covered with a resorbable collagen dressing: a pilot histological evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to determine whether low level laser therapy (LLLT) can decrease the time between extraction/socket graft and implant placement, by evaluating histological changes in sockets grafted with a particulate allograft material and treated with LLLT. METHODS: Thirty patients had a socket grafted with a particulate allograft material (MinerOss) covered with a resorbable collagen wound dressing. The patients were then randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 15): test group receiving postoperative LLLT treatment, and control group without postoperative laser treatment. The assessment of bone formation was carried out in both groups at well-determined time intervals after surgery by histostomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: The histological results of the site treated with LLLT for 21 days, harvested at 60 days after grafting showed abundant new bone formation without any sign of inflammation. The same results were obtained in the control group not before 120 days post-surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that LLLT photobiomodulation can reduce the healing time after grafting the extraction socket. Histological evidence suggests that new bone formation in the sockets appeared within 60 days after LLLT treatment compared to a minimum of 120 days in the control group.

Oxidative Stress: A Link between Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal Disease.

Objective. To investigate oxidative stress (OS) and histological changes that occur in the periodontium of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus without signs of periodontal disease and to establish if oxidative stress is a possible link between diabetes mellitus and periodontal changes. Materials and Methods. Tissue samples from ten adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and eight healthy adults were harvested. The specimens were examined by microscope using standard hematoxylin-eosin stain, at various magnifications, and investigated for tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). Results. Our results showed that periodontal tissues in patients with T2D present significant inflammation, affecting both epithelial and connective tissues. Mean MDA tissue levels were 3.578 ± 0.60 SD in diabetics versus 0.406 ± 0.27 SD in controls (P < 0.0001), while mean GSH tissue levels were 2.48 ± 1.02 SD in diabetics versus 9.7875 ± 2.42 SD in controls (P < 0.0001). Conclusion. Diabetic subjects had higher MDA levels in their periodontal tissues, suggesting an increased lipid peroxidation in T2D, and decreased GSH tissue levels, suggesting an alteration of the local antioxidant defense mechanism. These results are in concordance with the histological changes that we found in periodontal tissues of diabetic subjects, confirming the hypothesis of OS implication, as a correlation between periodontal disease incidence and T2D.