Mandibular Regional Odontodysplasia in an 8-year-old Boy showing Teeth Disorders, Gubernaculum Tracts, and Altered Bone Fractal Pattern.

Regional odontodysplasia (RO) is a rare nonhereditary developmental condition usually affecting maxilla and female patients. A few number of articles have used the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to describe imaging findings in RO. Thus, this article aims to report unusual imaging findings in a Brazilian child who presented with mandibular RO. A healthy 8-year-old boy was referred for evaluation of an anterior mandibular gingival enlargement. Radiographically, all right mandibular teeth showed wide pulp chambers and shortened roots with thin dentinal walls and open apices, featuring a "ghost teeth" appearance, which indicated a diagnosis of RO. Missing teeth and altered radiopacity were observed. Cone beam computed tomography provided great insight into RO, allowing to identify gubernaculum tracts (GTs) associated with RO teeth. Fractal analysis of the bone surrounding RO teeth revealed an altered trabecular pattern. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This case describes a rare developmental teeth-related pathology in a boy who showed unusual features on imaging exams. The CBCT provided the observation of RO tooth-related GTs, probably a new finding added to the international literature regarding RO, as well as the pulp chamber volume characterization of an affected tooth not published yet. In addition, it was observed an altered fractal pattern of the mandibular bone adjacent to RO teeth, which has not been described to date.How to cite this article: de Sa Cavalcante D, Fonteles CSR, Ribeiro TR, Kurita LM, Pimenta AVM, Carvalho FSR, Costa FWG. Mandibular Regional Odontodysplasia in an 8-year-old Boy showing Teeth Disorders, Gubernaculum Tracts, and Altered Bone Fractal Pattern. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;11(2):128-134.

Association of free amino acids with caries experience and mutans streptococci levels in whole saliva of children with early childhood caries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify the free amino acid content in whole saliva of children with (CE) and without early childhood caries (CF) (ECC), correlating these findings with caries experience and mutans streptococci (MS) levels in saliva. DESIGN: Seventy-eight healthy children, both genders, 6-71 months age, were selected to participate in the study. Following examination for dmft scores calculation, unstimulated whole saliva was collected from all 78 participants, stored at -80 degrees C, and used for amino acid analysis, on a Biochem 20 plus amino acid analyzer. Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 52 children, transported, diluted and plated on MSB agar medium for detection of MS in cfu/mL. RESULTS: Forty different free amino acids were identified in whole saliva, with great variation in their concentration. A statistically significant relation was found between caries experience and the presence of free proline and glycine. While proline (p=0.0182) was more frequently absent in the CF group, the absence of glycine (p=0.0397) was more often observed in the CE group. In the presence of higher levels of MS, free glycine reduced the risk of experiencing dental caries (p=0.0419). Conversely, the presence of proline was found to increase the risk of experiencing the disease (p=0.0492). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of free proline and absence of free glycine in children with ECC, highly contaminated with MS, increased the chances of experiencing dental caries in the present population. Further studies are needed to better understand this phenomenon.