Cephalometric analysis for the diagnosis of sleep apnea: a comparative study between reference values and measurements obtained for Brazilian subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To verify if the reference values of Sleep Apnea cephalometric analysis of North American individuals are similar to the ones of Brazilian individuals presenting no craniofacial anomalies. The study also aimed to identify craniofacial alterations in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) patients in relation to individuals without clinical characteristics of the disease through this cephalometric analysis. METHODS: It were used 55 lateral cephalograms consisting of 29 for the control group of adult individuals without clinical characteristics of OSAHS and 26 apneic adults. All radiographs were submitted to Sleep Apnea cephalometric analysis through Radiocef Studio 2.0. The standard values of this analysis were compared, by means of z test, to the ones obtained from the control group and these were compared to values from apneic group through Student's t test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between values obtained from control group and standard values. On the group of OSAHS patients it was observed a decrease on the dimensions of upper airways and an increase on the soft palate length. CONCLUSIONS: The standard values of Sleep Apnea analysis can be used as reference in Brazilian individuals. Besides, through lateral cephalograms it was possible to identify craniofacial alterations in OSAHS patients.

Cephalometric analysis for the diagnosis of sleep apnea: a comparative study between reference values and measurements obtained for Brazilian subjects

OBJECTIVE: To verify if the reference values of Sleep Apnea cephalometric analysis of North American individuals are similar to the ones of Brazilian individuals presenting no craniofacial anomalies. The study also aimed to identify craniofacial alterations in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) patients in relation to individuals without clinical characteristics of the disease through this cephalometric analysis. METHOD: It were used 55 lateral cephalograms consisting of 29 for the control group of adult individuals without clinical characteristics of OSAHS and 26 apneic adults. All radiographs were submitted to Sleep Apnea cephalometric analysis through Radiocef Studio 2.0. The standard values of this analysis were compared, by means of z test, to the ones obtained from the control group and these were compared to values from apneic group through Student's t test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between values obtained from control group and standard values. On the group of OSAHS patients it was observed a decrease on the dimensions of upper airways and an increase on the soft palate length. CONCLUSIONS: The standard values of Sleep Apnea analysis can be used as reference in Brazilian individuals. Besides, through lateral cephalograms it was possible to identify craniofacial alterations in OSAHS patients.

OBJETIVO: verificar se os valores de referência da análise cefalométrica para apneia do sono, referentes a indivíduos norte-americanos, são semelhantes aos de indivíduos brasileiros não portadores de anomalias craniofaciais. Identificar, também por meio dessa análise cefalométrica, alterações craniofaciais em indivíduos portadores de síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS) em relação a indivíduos sem características clínicas da doença. MÉTODOS: foram utilizadas 55 radiografias cefalométricas laterais advindas de arquivos, sendo 29 radiografias para o grupo controle, sendo composto de indivíduos adultos sem características clínicas de SAOS, e 26 de indivíduos adultos apneicos. Todas as radiografias foram submetidas à análise cefalométrica para apneia do sono por meio do software Radiocef Studio 2.0. Por meio do teste z, valores-padrão dessa análise foram comparados aos valores obtidos do grupo controle, e esses, por sua vez, foram comparados aos valores do grupo de apneicos por meio do teste t de Student. RESULTADOS: não houve diferenças significativas entre os valores obtidos do grupo controle e os valores-padrão. No grupo de indivíduos portadores de SAOS, observou-se diminuição nas dimensões das vias aéreas superiores e aumento do comprimento do palato mole. CONCLUSÕES: os valores-padrão da análise de apneia do sono podem ser utilizados como referência em indivíduos brasileiros. Além disso, por meio da radiografia cefalométrica lateral foi possível identificar alterações craniofaciais em indivíduos portadores de SAOS.

Comparação entre subtração radiográfica digital e radiografia digital direta na detecção de reabsorções radiculares / Comparison between radiographic digital subtraction and direct digital radiography in the detection of root resorption

A reabsorção severa da raiz diagnosticada tardiamente pode acarretar a perda dentária. Devido ao fato de a técnica de subtração radiográfica digital ser um importante recurso para detecção precoce de alterações minerais, este estudo propôs avaliar a eficiência no diagnóstico precoce da reabsorção radicular externa simulada nas regiões apical e lingual, pelas técnicas de subtração radiográfica digital e radiografia digital. Foram utilizados 14 dentes incisivos de mandíbulas humanas maceradas com reabsorções de diferentes dimensões, simuladas nas regiões apical e lingual, e radiografados com variação de ângulos de projeção. As radiografias foram subtraídas pelo programa Regeemy®, e para avaliação de desempenho dos métodos de diagnóstico, pares de radiografias periapicais e imagens subtraídas foram apresentadas a dois radiologistas. De acordo com os resultados, não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os métodos na detecção de reabsorções linguais, independentemente do tamanho da lesão. Também não houve diversidade entre os métodos na detecção de reabsorções apicais, com exceção do examinador dois quanto às variações angular vertical e horizontal de 10º, utilizando o maior nível de desgaste, que apresentou a radiografia digital como método superior na avaliação em relação à subtração radiográfica. Também foi observado que o aumento do nível de desgaste permitiu melhor avaliação nas regiões de reabsorções apicais e linguais, e a menor variação dos ângulos verticais e horizontais nas detecções de reabsorções apicais e linguais permitiu uma melhor avaliação da imagem, principalmente no menor nível de desgaste.

The delay on diagnose severe root resorption can lead to tooth loss. Due to the fact that digital subtraction radiography is an important resource to detect initial mineral changes, this study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the digital subtraction radiography and digital radiography in early diagnosis of the simulated apical and lingual external root resorption. Fourteen human lower incisors, submitted to simulated apical and lingual resorption cavities of different sizes, imaged with different angle projection variations were included in this study. The images were subtracted by the Regeemy® program, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance for each imaging system, and the diagnostic accuracy of both diagnosis methods for detecting lesions was conducted by the assessment of the pairs of radiography (digital and subtracted) by two radiologists. According to the results, there were no statistically significant differences between the methods in detecting lingual resorption, independently of the lesion dimension. There was also no difference on the apical resorption detection, except by the viewer two as to 10º horizontal and vertical angles, who related that on the larger cavity, the digital radiography was more reliable than the subtraction radiography. It was also further noticed that the deeper the cavity size, the better the apical and lingual resorption detection; and the radiography taken of the apical and lingual resorption, with the smaller vertical and horizontal angles variation ensured a better assessment of the image, mainly on the shallower cavity size.

Evaluation of simulated external root resorptions with digital radiography and digital subtraction radiography.

INTRODUCTION: Root resorption can cause damage in orthodontic patients. Digital subtraction radiography (DSR) is a useful resource for the detection of mineral losses. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of digital radiography (DR) and DSR in detecting simulated external root resorption. Examiner agreement between the 2 techniques was also evaluated. METHODS: Root resorptions of various sizes were simulated on the apical and lingual aspects of 49 teeth from 9 dry human mandibles. The teeth were radiographed in standardized conditions. The radiographs were registered with Regeemy Image Registration and Mosaicking (version 0.2.43-RCB, DPI-INPE, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil) and subtracted with Image Tool (University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio). The subtracted images and the digital radiographs were evaluated by 3 oral radiologists. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found for the methods in the detection of apical root resorptions, independently from lesion size, and of lingual resorptions of 1.2 mm or greater. DSR was significantly better than DR for detection of lingual resorptions up to 1 mm. Resorptions less than 0.5 mm were not precisely detected by either method. DSR provided better intraexaminer and interexaminer agreement than did DR. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods are precise for detection of apical root resorptions as small as 0.5 mm and lingual resorptions of 1 mm or more. However, DSR frequently performed better than did DR.

Skeletal age of individuals with Down syndrome.

The aim of this study was to assess the skeletal age of Brazilian individuals with Down syndrome (DS) using the method of Greulich and Pyle. Forty subjects with DS between the ages of 6 and 16 years were studied and compared to a control sample of children without DS. The statistical analysis showed that at the age of 7 years the skeletal age (SA) of the individuals with DS was delayed in relation to their chronological age (CA) (SA < CA). On the other hand, at the age of 15 years, their SA was advanced in relation to their CA (SA > CA). An evaluation of the results suggests that the period of adolescent development for individuals with DS was shorter. These individuals reach the completion of bone maturation earlier compared to individuals without DS.

Comparative analysis of human and bovine teeth: radiographic density.

Since bovine teeth have been used as substitutes for human teeth in in vitro dental studies, the aim of this study was to compare the radiographic density of bovine teeth with that of human teeth to evaluate their usability for radiographic studies. Thirty bovine and twenty human teeth were cut transversally in 1 millimeter-thick slices. The slices were X-rayed using a digital radiographic system and an intraoral X-ray machine at 65 kVp and 7 mA. The exposure time (0.08 s) and the target-sensor distance (40 cm) were standardized for all the radiographs. The radiographic densities of the enamel, coronal dentin and radicular dentin of each slice were obtained separately using the 'histogram' tool of Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software. The mean radiographic densities of the enamel, coronal dentin and radicular dentin were calculated by the arithmetic mean of the slices of each tooth. One-way ANOVA demonstrated statistically significant differences for the densities of bovine and human enamel (p < 0.05) and for bovine and human coronal dentin (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found for the bovine and human radicular dentin (p > 0.05). Based on the results, the authors concluded that: a) the radiographic density of bovine enamel is significantly higher than that of human enamel; b) the radiodensity of bovine coronal dentin is statistically lower than the radiodensity of human coronal dentin; bovine radicular dentin is also less radiodense than human radicular dentin, although this difference was not statistically significant; c) bovine teeth should be used with care in radiographic in vitro studies.

Desenvolvimento e avaliação de um método de análise de maturação óssea por meio de medidas das vértebras cervicais em radiografias cefalométricas laterais / Development and evaluation of a method for skeletal maturation assessment by means of linear measurements of the cervical vertebrae in lateral cephalometric radiographs

As alterações anatômicas das vértebras cervicais têm sido empregadas na análise de maturação óssea em Ortodontia e Ortopedia Funcional dos Maxilares. Como essas mudanças são sutis, o objetivo neste estudo foi desenvolver e avaliar um método de análise de maturação óssea empregando-se medidas dessas estruturas. Foram utilizados 246 pares de radiografias cefalométricas laterais e de mão/punho, 135 de indivíduos do sexo feminino e 111 do masculino, divididos em 5 grupos segundo a Curva de Crescimento de Mercadante. Nas radiografias cefalométricas laterais, 15 razões foram obtidas das vértebras C2, C3 e C4, utilizando o programa Radiocef 4.0®. A média de cada razão foi comparada entre os grupos por meio das análises ANOVA e Tukey, que apontaram 10 razões como as que melhor diferem cada fase e que foram utilizadas na criação do novo método. Neste método, denominado Maturação por Razões em Vértebras Cervicais (MRVC), a maturação óssea é classificada em 7 estágios a partir dos resultados das 10 razões. Para sua validação, utilizou-se outra amostra de 58 pares de radiografias cefalométricas laterais e de mão/punho, 28 do sexo feminino e 30 do masculino, submetidas à avaliação de 4 examinadores por três métodos: Curva de Crescimento, Hassel e Farman e método MRVC. Os resultados apontaram melhor desempenho intra e inter-examinadores para a Curva de Crescimento e desempenho semelhante entre o método MRVC e o de Hassel e Farman. Por outro lado, o método MRVC proporcionou resultados próximos ao da Curva de Crescimento na determinação da maturação óssea do indivíduo em relação ao pico do surto de crescimento puberal. Concluiu-se que foi possível criar um método de análise de maturação óssea por medidas das vértebras cervicais em radiografias cefalométricas laterais com eficácia comparável à da Curva de Crescimento.

Comparative analysis of human and bovine teeth: radiographic density

Since bovine teeth have been used as substitutes for human teeth in in vitro dental studies, the aim of this study was to compare the radiographic density of bovine teeth with that of human teeth to evaluate their usability for radiographic studies. Thirty bovine and twenty human teeth were cut transversally in 1 millimeter-thick slices. The slices were X-rayed using a digital radiographic system and an intraoral X-ray machine at 65 kVp and 7 mA. The exposure time (0.08 s) and the target-sensor distance (40 cm) were standardized for all the radiographs. The radiographic densities of the enamel, coronal dentin and radicular dentin of each slice were obtained separately using the "histogram" tool of Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software. The mean radiographic densities of the enamel, coronal dentin and radicular dentin were calculated by the arithmetic mean of the slices of each tooth. One-way ANOVA demonstrated statistically significant differences for the densities of bovine and human enamel (p < 0.05) and for bovine and human coronal dentin (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found for the bovine and human radicular dentin (p > 0.05). Based on the results, the authors concluded that: a) the radiographic density of bovine enamel is significantly higher than that of human enamel; b) the radiodensity of bovine coronal dentin is statistically lower than the radiodensity of human coronal dentin; bovine radicular dentin is also less radiodense than human radicular dentin, although this difference was not statistically significant; c) bovine teeth should be used with care in radiographic in vitro studies.

Assessment of a method for dental age assessment in panoramic radiographs and its relationship with the chronological age

Many professionals currently store their restorative materials in refrigerators, even though the manufacturers do notrecommend this. This study evaluated the microleakage occurring in Class II restorations performed with compositeresin stored at different conditions and temperatures. Thirty intact human molars were employed, which received vertical slot cavity preparations with the following dimensions: 3mm in buccolingual direction, 1.5mm in mesiodistal direction, and 5mm in cervico-occlusal direction (at 1mm short of the cemento-enamel junction). Specimens were restored withthe adhesive material Prime & Bond NT and composite resin TPH Spectrum (Dentsply) with 3 different conditions: G-Iapplication of restorative materials at room temperature (nearly 25oC), G-II application of restorative materials 30 minutesafter removal from the refrigerator (25oC), and G-III application of restorative materials immediately after removalfrom the refrigerator (6oC). The specimens were sealed and immersed in 2% buffered methylene blue aqueous solutionat 37oC, for 4 hours. Thereafter, the specimens were sectioned and evaluated as to the degree of marginal leakage at thedentin-cementum/restoration interface and also as to the type of dye leakage observed. Data achieved were submitted tostatistical analysis by the non-parametric method Kruskal-Wallis (p<0.05) for comparison of the degree of leakage, andratio test for comparison of differences in the pattern of leakage. No adverse effects were observed on the occurrenceand pattern of microleakage when the restorative system was employed immediately after or 30 minutes after storagein the refrigerator, or at room temperature.

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a reprodutibilidade, variabilidade e fidelidade de um método de avaliação da Idade Dentária (ID) e analisar sua relação com a Idade Cronológica (IC). Foram utilizadas 53 radiografias panorâmicas, de crianças brasileiras, sendo 32 do sexo feminino e 21 do masculino, na faixa etária entre 120 a 131 meses. As avaliações foram realizadas por 4 examinadores, por meio da Tabela de Cronologia da Mineralização Dentária geral e a adaptada para os sexos. Verificou-se uma alta reprodutibilidade intra-observador e inter-observadores, tanto para o sexo feminino quanto para o masculino. Verificou-se que a ID obtida com a tabela geral é menor do que a IC para os dois sexos. Já com a tabela ajustada, observou-se que no sexo feminino as ID tendem a ser menores do que a IC, enquanto que para os indivíduos do sexo masculino, as ID tendem a ser maiores do que a IC. Entretanto, quando se subtraiu a IC da ID obtidas com a tabela ajustada, apenas 13,09% dos indivíduos do sexo masculino e 7,03% do feminino apresentavam ID fora da faixa de tolerância de ±12 meses. Quando os valores de IC foram subtraídos da ID com a tabela geral, 4,76% dos indivíduos do sexo masculino e 12,5% dos indivíduos do sexo feminino estavam acima ou abaixo do limite aceitável dos ±12 meses. Baseado nos resultados, concluímos que o método é reprodutível tanto intra quanto inter-observadores. Apesar das diferenças entre IC e ID obtidas por alguns examinadores serem estatisticamente significantes, em termos práticos, esta diferença se torna relevante somente quando ultrapassa os ±12 meses. Portanto, tanto a tabela geral quanto a ajustada são aplicáveis à população brasileira. Os Cirurgiões-dentistas não necessitam de experiência prévia com o método, por ser baseado na comparação de imagens radiográficas dos dentes com os estágios de mineralização, o qual é de fácil emprego.

Influence of the facial pattern on ANB, AF-BF, and Wits appraisal.

AIM: To assess the correlation between Wits and AF-BF appraisals with the ANB angle, and verify the influence of the facial type on these appraisals. METHODS: Lateral cephalometric radiographs from 118 untreated individuals were separated into 3 groups according to the facial pattern (brachyfacial, mesofacial, and dolichofacial). The radiographs were digitized and submitted to ANB angle and Wits and AF-BF appraisals on computer software. All radiographs were retraced for intraobserver and interobserver error tests. RESULTS: The Student's t test demonstrated no statistically significant differences on the intraobserver's test (P > .05). There were statistically significant differences in the readings of Wits values of the 3 groups and for AF-BF values in the brachyfacial and mesofacial groups (P <.05). The multiple linear regression tests demonstrated high correlation between ANB and AF-BF for the 3 groups (r2, 0.768). The same result was found for ANB and Wits (r2, 0.624). CONCLUSION: Facial pattern does not have an influence on the correlation between ANB and AF-BF nor between ANB and Wits, but it does influence the measurements of ANB, AF-BF, and Wits.

Influence of image filters on the reproducibility measurements of alveolar bone loss

The reproducibility of measurements of alveolar bone loss on radiographs may be a problem on epidemiologic studies, as they are based on comparisons of the diagnosis of various examiners. The aim of the present research paper was to assess the inter- and intra-examiner reproducibility of measurements of the interproximal alveolar bone loss on non-manipulated digital radiographs and after the application of image filters. Five Oral Radiologists measured the distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar crest or to the deepest point of the bony defect on 12 interproximal digital radiographs of molars and bicuspids of a dry human skull. The digital manipulation and the linear measurements were obtained with the Trophy Windows software (Throphy®). For each image, six different versions were created: 1) non-manipulated; 2) bright-contrast adjustment; 3) negative; 4) negative with brightness-contrast adjustment; 5) pseudo-colored; 6) pseudo-colored with brightness-contrast adjustment. In order to prevent interpretation bias because of the repetition of measurements, the examiners measured the radiographs in a random sequence. The two-way ANOVA test at 5 percent level of significance to compare the means of readings of the same operator with each filter indicated p<0.05 for the majority of operators, while the comparison between the mean values of operators using the same filter indicated p>0.05 for all filters. Based on the results, we concluded that linear measurements of interproximal alveolar bone loss on digital radiographs are highly reproducible among examiners. Nevertheless, the application of image filters significantly influenced the degree of intra-examiner reproducibility. Some filters even reduced the reproducibility of intra-examiner readings.

A reprodutibilidade de medidas da perda óssea alveolar em radiografias pode se tornar um problema em levantamentos epidemiológicos, que são baseados em comparações de diagnóstico de vários observadores. O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar a reprodutibilidade intra e inter-examinador de medidas da perda óssea interproximal, em radiografias digitais não manipuladas e após a aplicação de diferentes filtros de imagem. Cinco radiologistas avaliaram a distância da junção cemento-esmalte até a crista óssea alveolar ou ponto mais apical do defeito ósseo em 12 radiografias digitais interproximais da região de molares e pré-molares de crânio humano macerado. As manipulações digitais e as medidas lineares foram realizadas no programa de computador do sistema radiográfico (Throphy®). Para cada imagem foram criadas seis diferentes versões: 1) não manipulada digitalmente; 2) manipulada por ajuste de brilho e contraste; 3) negativo; 4) negativo com ajuste de brilho e contraste; 5) pseudo-colorida; 6) pseudo-colorida com ajuste de brilho e contraste. Para prevenir tendências da mesma leitura pela avaliação repetida das radiografias, determinou-se uma ordem para a interpretação das imagens. O teste ANOVA fator duplo sem repetição, com nível de significância de 5 por cento, realizado para comparação das médias de um mesmo examinador nas diferentes versões de imagem revelou p<0,05 para a maioria dos examinadores, enquanto para análise entre os examinadores, com cada ferramenta, p>0,05. A análise dos resultados nos permite concluir que medidas lineares da perda óssea alveolar interproximal em radiografias digitais apresentam alto grau de reprodutibilidade inter-examinadores, entretanto a aplicação de filtros de imagem não influenciou significativamente no grau de reprodutibilidade dessas medidas. Ao contrário, certas ferramentas reduziram a reprodutibilidade das medidas intra-examinador.

Influence of image filters on the reproducibility measurements of alveolar bone loss.

The reproducibility of measurements of alveolar bone loss on radiographs may be a problem on epidemiologic studies, as they are based on comparisons of the diagnosis of various examiners. The aim of the present research paper was to assess the inter- and intra-examiner reproducibility of measurements of the interproximal alveolar bone loss on non-manipulated digital radiographs and after the application of image filters. Five Oral Radiologists measured the distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar crest or to the deepest point of the bony defect on 12 interproximal digital radiographs of molars and bicuspids of a dry human skull. The digital manipulation and the linear measurements were obtained with the Trophy Windows software (Throphy). For each image, six different versions were created: 1) non-manipulated; 2) bright-contrast adjustment; 3) negative; 4) negative with brightness-contrast adjustment; 5) pseudo-colored; 6) pseudo-colored with brightness-contrast adjustment. In order to prevent interpretation bias because of the repetition of measurements, the examiners measured the radiographs in a random sequence. The two-way ANOVA test at 5% level of significance to compare the means of readings of the same operator with each filter indicated p<0.05 for the majority of operators, while the comparison between the mean values of operators using the same filter indicated p>0.05 for all filters. Based on the results, we concluded that linear measurements of interproximal alveolar bone loss on digital radiographs are highly reproducible among examiners. Nevertheless, the application of image filters significantly influenced the degree of intra-examiner reproducibility. Some filters even reduced the reproducibility of intra-examiner readings.

Experiência multiprofissional em saúde: uma nova dinâmica de ensino e aprendizado / A multiprofessional experience in health: a new dynamic of teaching and learning

O Grupo Interdisciplinar e Multiprofissional n§ 11 (GIM 11), após entrar em contato e conhecer a realidade da comunidade do Jardim Bandeirantes, em Londrina, desenvolveu um trabalho de orientaçäo sobre sexualidade no Colégio Estadual Antônio Moraes de Barros, entre os alunos matriculados a partir da 5ª série. O principal objetivo do grupo era transmitir aos estudantes informaçöes básicas sobre sexualidade e suas implicaçöes, proporcionando aos mesmos a formaçäo de uma visäo crítica sobre o assunto. Outros objetivos importantes foram a composiçäo de uma equipe multiprofissional e integrada e a formaçäo de uma consciência ética e social entre os membros do grupo, surgindo daí o acadêmico com o perfil que levará ao novo modelo do profissional de saúde de que a sociedade necessita