Control radiográfico de trasplante dentario: reporte de caso / Radiographic control of dental transplantation: a case report

El trasplante dentario es una opción terapéutica para reemplazar un órgano dental perdido, causado por un proceso carioso extenso, agenesia, trauma-tismos o iatrogenias. Este procedimiento quirúrgico traslada un órgano dental íntegro desde un alveolo donante hacia su lecho receptor; para lo cual debe poseer ciertas características que permitan tener un pronóstico favorable a largo plazo. El presente estudio describe la evolución de un trasplante dental autólogo realizado hace 14 años a una paciente que acudió a la consulta para valoración del órgano den-tal 4.7, el que presentó un pronóstico desfavorable, por lo cual se realizó exodoncia y trasplante inme-diato del diente vital 4.8 al alveolo del órgano dental 4.7. Tras la planificación quirúrgica se procedió con la intervención conservando la vitalidad pulpar del diente a ser trasplantado, se realizó control clínico y radiográfico a los 15 días, 30 días, 6 meses, 1 año, 5 años y 14 años, en el que se observó conservación del paquete vasculonervioso y ligamento periodontal del órgano dental; a su vez se pudo evidenciar rizo-génesis en el diente trasplantado y un aumento de la altura del proceso alveolar, mediante mediciones realizadas en Auto CAD 2023 (AU)

Tooth transplantation is a therapeutic option to re-place a lost dental organ, caused by an extensive carious process, agenesis, trauma or iatrogenesis. This surgical procedure transfers a complete den-tal organ from a donor alveolus to its recipient bed; for which it must have certain characteristics that allow it to have a favorable long-term prognosis. The present study describes the evolution of an autolo-gous dental transplant carried out 14 years ago to a female patient who attended the consultation for evaluation of the dental organ 4.7, the same one that presented an unfavorable prognosis, for which an extraction and immediate transplantation of the 4.8 vital tooth was performed to the alveolus of the den-tal organ 4.7. After surgical planning, the intervention was carried out preserving the pulpal vitality of the tooth to be transplanted; clinical and radiographic control was performed at 15 days, 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years and 14 years, in which preservation of the vascular-nervous bundle and periodontal liga-ment of the dental organ was observed; in turn, rhizo-genesis in the transplanted tooth and an increase in the height of the alveolar process could be evidenced, through measurements made in Auto CAD 2023 (AU)

Diphyodont tooth replacement of Brasilodon-A Late Triassic eucynodont that challenges the time of origin of mammals.

Two sets of teeth (diphyodonty) characterise extant mammals but not reptiles, as they generate many replacement sets (polyphyodonty). The transition in long-extinct species from many sets to only two has to date only been reported in Jurassic eucynodonts. Specimens of the Late Triassic brasilodontid eucynodont Brasilodon have provided anatomical and histological data from three lower jaws of different growth stages. These reveal ordered and timed replacement of deciduous by adult teeth. Therefore, this diphyodont dentition, as contemporary of the oldest known dinosaurs, shows that Brasilodon falls within a range of wide variations of typically mammalian, diphyodont dental patterns. Importantly, these three lower jaws represent distinct ontogenetic stages that reveal classic features for timed control of replacement, by the generation of only one replacement set of teeth. This data shows that the primary premolars reveal a temporal replacement pattern, importantly from directly below each tooth, by controlled regulation of tooth resorption and regeneration. The complexity of the adult prismatic enamel structure with a conspicuous intra-structural Schmelzmuster array suggests that, as in the case of extant mammals, this extinct species would have probably sustained higher metabolic rates than reptiles. Furthermore, in modern mammals, diphyodonty and prismatic enamel are inextricably linked, anatomically and physiologically, to a set of other traits including placentation, endothermy, fur, lactation and even parental care. Our analysis of the osteodental anatomy of Brasilodon pushes back the origin of diphyodonty and consequently, its related biological traits to the Norian (225.42 ± 0.37 myr), and around 25 myr after the End-Permian mass extinction event.

Analysis of Protein Immunoexpression and Its Interrelationship in the Pathogenesis of Odontomas and Ameloblastic Fibro-Odontomas: A Systematic Review.

Odontomas and ameloblastic fibro-odontomas (AFOs) are the result of a developmental anomaly of odontogenic tissues. A literature review of proteins immunoexpressed in odontomas and AFOs was conducted in order to determine which proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of these lesions. AFO was changed to early odontoma in the 2017 WHO classification and will also be discussed in this article. A literature search was performed in the following electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Lilacs, Cochrane Collaboration Library, and Science Direct. The research question was developed according to the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) framework: Which proteins are related to the differentiation of odontomas and what is their interrelationship with AFOs? Thirty articles met all inclusion criteria and were selected for this systematic review, totaling 355 cases of odontomas and 43 cases of AFO. Similar immunoexpression was observed in odontomas and AFOs. Immunoexpression of proteins involved in cell differentiation was higher in compound odontomas than in complex odontomas. Proteins involved in histodifferentiation and enamel formation were more frequent in odontomas. The immunoexpression of enamel matrix proteins differs between odontomas and tooth germs, with their persistence being related to the development of odontomas. Compound odontomas exhibit the highest immunoexpression of proteins involved in cellular histodifferentiation and the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is involved in tumor formation.

Anomalías dentales en personas con discapacidad / Dental Anomalies in People with Disabilities

RESUMEN Introducción: Durante la odontogénesis se pueden producir malformaciones congénitas que afectan la forma, el número, el tamaño, la estructura, la posición, el color y la erupción de los dientes. En las personas con discapacidades como parálisis cerebral, trastorno del desarrollo intelectual, síndrome de Down y trastorno del espectro autista, pueden presentarse variedad de anomalías dentales. Objetivo: Describir las anomalías dentales en las condiciones de discapacidad de parálisis cerebral, trastorno del desarrollo intelectual, síndrome de Down y trastorno del espectro autista. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos Clinical Key, Medline, Dialnet y SciELO. Se aplicó la lista de comprobación PRISMA. Análisis e integración de la información: Posterior al proceso de lectura y análisis de la información, se recuperaron 800 artículos de las bases de datos, se eliminaron 590 por encontrarse repetidos. Luego de la discriminación, quedaron para revisar 210, a estos restantes se hizo la revisión de texto completo. Se eliminaron 193 no hacían referencia a anomalías dentales y/o a los trastornos o síndromes. De los 17 restantes, solo 15 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Conclusiones: No se encontraron diferencias para afirmar que algunas de las anomalías y alteraciones presentadas correspondan de manera individual a cada tipo de discapacidad. Sin embargo, el síndrome de Down presenta anomalías dentales relacionadas al estado del paciente. La parálisis cerebral reporta otros hallazgos como bruxismo, debido al deficiente desarrollo muscular, lo que afecta la cavidad bucal y sus estructuras(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: During odontogenesis, congenital malformations can occur that affect teeth shape, number, size, structure, position, color and eruption. In people with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, intellectual development disorder, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder, a variety of dental abnormalities can occur. Objective: To describe dental anomalies in such disability conditions as cerebral palsy, intellectual development disorder, Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. Methods: A bibliographic search was performed in the databases Clinical Key, Medline, Dialnet and SciELO. The PRISMA checklist was applied. Information analysis and integration: After reading and analyzing the information, 800 articles were retrieved from the databases, of which 590 were deleted because they were repeated. After the discrimination, 210 were pending to review; the remaining ones were reviewed full-text. 193 were deleted because they did not do any reference to dental anomalies and/or disorders or syndromes. Of the remaining 17, only 15 met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: No differences were found to affirm that some of the anomalies and alterations presented correspond individually to each type of disability. However, Down syndrome has dental abnormalities related to patient condition. Cerebral palsy coincides with other findings such as bruxism, due to poor muscle development, which affects the oral cavity and its structures(AU)

Low birth weight and the delay on the eruption of deciduous teething in children / Baixo peso ao nascer e atraso na erupção de dentes decíduos em crianças

Abstract Objectives: To analyze the association between low birth weight (LBW) and the occurrence of the delay on the eruption of deciduous teething (DEDT) in children from 04 to 30 months, living in Salvador, Bahia. Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 520 children at four to thirty months of age, from public, private and philanthropic daycares from two districts in Salvador. A descriptive analysis and unconditional logistic regression were done to estimate the odds ratios (ORs), using the Confidence Interval of 95% as a criterion for accepting associations. Poisson regression was used as an analytical strategy to obtain the prevalence ratio. Results: the prevalence of the delay on the eruption was 10.29%. There was a positive association between LBW and occurrence of DEDT among children with less than 24 months, both in the unadjusted model (PR=2.07, 95%CI= 0.96 4.44) as in the adjusted (adjusted PR=2, 27, 95%CI= 1.02 5.07). Conclusions: the variables of development and nutritional at birth and during the early life may be important predictors of the chronology of eruption. Further investigations should be carried out towards the adequate evaluation of the LBW role in the occurrence of the delay on the eruption.

Resumo Objetivos: analisar a associação entre o Baixo Peso ao Nascer (BPN) e a ocorrência de atraso na erupção da dentição decídua (AED) em crianças de 04 a 30 meses, residentes em Salvador-BA. Métodos: estudo transversal envolvendo 520 crianças que frequentavam creches públicas, privadas e filantrópicas de dois Distritos Sanitários de Salvador-Ba. Procedeu-se a análise descritiva e regressão logística não-condicional para estimação da oddsratios (ORs), empregando-se o Intervalo de Confiança a 95% como critério para aceitar as associações. A regressão de Poisson foi utilizada como estratégia analítica para obtenção da Razão de Prevalência. Resultados: a prevalência de atraso na erupção foi de 10,29%. Verificou-se uma associa-ção positiva entre BPN e ocorrência de AED entre as crianças com menos de 24 meses no modelo bruto (RP=2,07, IC95%= 0,96 4,44) e ajustado (RP ajustada=2,27, IC95%= 1,02 5,07). Conclusões: variáveis de desenvolvimento e nutricionais ao nascimento e durante a vida precoce podem ser importantes preditores do tempo de erupção, sendo necessárias outras investigações para uma adequada avaliação desta associação.

Accuracy of dental development for estimating the pubertal growth spurt in comparison to skeletal development: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to search for scientific evidence concerning the accuracy of dental development for estimating the pubertal growth spurt. METHODS: It was conducted according to the statements of PRISMA. An electronic search was performed in six databases, including the grey literature. The PICOS strategy was used to define the eligibility criteria and only observational studies were selected. RESULTS: Out of 1,416 identified citations, 10 articles fulfilled the criteria and were included in this systematic review. The association between dental development and skeletal maturity was considered strong in seven studies, and moderate in two, although the association with the pubertal growth spurt had been verified in only four articles. According to half of the studies, the tooth that provided the greater association with the ossification centres was the lower canine. The meta-analysis performed also indicated a positive association, being stronger in females [0.725 (0.649-0.808)]. However, when the method used for dental evaluation was considered, it was possible to verify greater correlation coefficients for Nolla [0.736 (0.666-0.814)] than for Demirjian [0.631 (0.450-0.884)], at the boys sample. The heterogeneity test reached high values (Q = 51.00), suggesting a potential bias within the studies. CONCLUSIONS: Most of individual studies suggested a strong correlation between dental development and skeletal maturation, although the association with the peakof pubertal growth spurtwas clearly cited only in some of them. However, due to the high heterogeneity found among the studies included in this meta-analysis, a pragmatic recommendation about the use of dental stages is not possible.

Dientes fuera de la cavidad oral, un hallazgo infrecuente / Teeth outside the oral cavity, an uncommon finding

Los dientes derivan de tres estructuras embriológicas importantes: las células de la cresta neural, el mesodermo y el ectodermo bucal. Asimismo, los teratomas son lesiones tumorales que se desarrollan a partir de las células germinales de las tres capas germinativas embrionarias y que pueden dar lugar a la formación de estructuras dentales, adiposas, pilosas, óseas, cartilaginosas en localizaciones anatómicas aberrantes pudiendo aparecer en los pulmones, los ovarios, los testículos, la región hipofisiaria y pineal. Se trata de lesiones generalmente asintomáticas y subclínicas que tienden a aparecer en las primeras tres décadas de la vida y son comúnmente diagnosticadas de forma accidental mediante estudios imagenológicos como la tomografía axial computarizada o la resonancia magnética. Se describe el caso de una paciente de 28 años a quien se le realizó la extirpación de una masa tumoral en el ovario con el diagnóstico presuntivo de teratoma, y al realizar su apertura se encontraron órganos dentarios en su interior. El objetivo principal de este artículo es explicar el proceso embrionario que da lugar a losdientes y las circunstancias patológicas que pueden ocasionar que esteproceso odontogénico se suscite en sitios anatómicos aberrantes yatípicos ajenos a la cavidad bucal.

Teeth are derived from three important embryological structures: the neural crest cells, oral mesoderm and ectoderm. Also, teratomas aretumoral lesions that are developed from the germ cells of the threeembryonic germinative layers and that can give rise to the formation of dental, adipose, hairy, bony, cartilaginous structures in aberrant anatomical locations that can appear in lungs, ovaries, testicles, pituitary and pineal region. These are usually asymptomatic and subclinical lesions that tend to appear in the first three decades of lifeand are commonly diagnosed accidentally by imaging studies such ascomputed tomograph or magnetic resonance imaging. We describe thecase of a 28-year-old patient who was removed from a tumor mass in theovary with a presumptive diagnosis of teratoma and when they openedit, dental organs were found inside. The main objective of this articleis to explain the embryonic process that gives rise to the teeth and thepathological circumstances that can cause this odontogenic process toarise in anatomical aberrant and atypical sites outside the oral cavity.

Microproteome of dentoalveolar tissues.

Proteomic analysis of extracellular matrices (ECM) of dentoalveolar tissues can provide insights into developmental, pathological, and reparative processes. However, targeted dissection of mineralized tissues, dental cementum (DC), alveolar bone (AB), and dentin (DE), presents technical difficulties. We demonstrate an approach combining EDTA decalcification and laser capture microdissection (LCM), followed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), to analyze proteome profiles of these tissues. Using the LCM-LC-MS/MS approach, a total of 243 proteins was identified from all tissues, 193 proteins in DC, 147 in AB, and 135 proteins DE. Ninety proteins (37% of total) were common to all tissues, whereas 52 proteins (21%) were overlapping in only two. Also, 101 (42%) proteins were exclusively detected in DC (60), AB (15), or DE (26). Identification in all tissues of expected ECM proteins including collagen alpha-1(I) chain (COL1A1), collagen alpha-1(XII) chain (COL12A1), biglycan (BGN), asporin (ASPN), lumican (LUM), and fibromodulin (FMOD), served to validate the approach. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering identified a high degree of similarity in DC and AB proteomes, whereas DE presented a distinct dataset. Exclusively and differentially identified proteins were detected from all three tissues. The protein-protein interaction network (interactome) of DC was notable for its inclusion of several indicators of metabolic function (e.g. mitochondrial proteins, protein synthesis, and calcium transport), possibly reflecting cementocyte activity. The DE proteome included known and novel mineralization regulators, including matrix metalloproteinase 20 (MMP-20), 5' nucleotidase (NT5E), and secreted phosphoprotein 24 (SPP-24 or SPP-2). Application of the LCM-LC-MS/MS approach to dentoalveolar tissues would be of value in many experimental designs, including developmental studies of transgenic animals, investigation of treatment effects, and identification of novel regenerative factors.

Medium modification with bone morphogenetic protein 2 addition for odontogenic differentiation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether medium modification improves the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) in vitro and in vivo. DPSC isolated from human impacted third molar teeth were analysed for clusters of differentiation with flow cytometry. Odontogenic differentiation was stimulated by medium modification with the addition of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2). The expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein, dentin matrix protein 1, enamelysin/matrix metalloproteinase 20 and the phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases on the X chromosome of the cells were analysed with RT-PCR at 7, 14 and 21 days. Then, DPSC were transplanted on the back of immunocompromised mice via a hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate scaffold, and the structure of the formed tissue was investigated. The cells were identified as mesenchymal stem cells with a 98.3% CD73 and CD90 double-positive cell rate. The increase in mineralization capacity and expression of human enamel-dentin specific transcripts proportional to the culture period were determined after differentiation. Six weeks after transplantation, an osteo-dentin matrix was formed in the group in which odontogenic differentiation was stimulated, and the odontogenic characteristics of the matrix were confirmed by histological examination and RT-PCR analysis. Odontogenic differentiation of the isolated and characterized human DPSC was improved with medium modification by the addition of BMP2 in vitro and in vivo. The defined medium and applied technique have a potential use for forming reparative dentin in the future, but the effects of the method should be investigated in long-term studies.

Medium modification with bone morphogenetic protein 2 addition for odontogenic differentiation

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate whether medium modification improves the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) in vitro and in vivo. DPSC isolated from human impacted third molar teeth were analysed for clusters of differentiation with flow cytometry. Odontogenic differentiation was stimulated by medium modification with the addition of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2). The expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein, dentin matrix protein 1, enamelysin/matrix metalloproteinase 20 and the phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases on the X chromosome of the cells were analysed with RT-PCR at 7, 14 and 21 days. Then, DPSC were transplanted on the back of immunocompromised mice via a hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate scaffold, and the structure of the formed tissue was investigated. The cells were identified as mesenchymal stem cells with a 98.3% CD73 and CD90 double-positive cell rate. The increase in mineralization capacity and expression of human enamel-dentin specific transcripts proportional to the culture period were determined after differentiation. Six weeks after transplantation, an osteo-dentin matrix was formed in the group in which odontogenic differentiation was stimulated, and the odontogenic characteristics of the matrix were confirmed by histological examination and RT-PCR analysis. Odontogenic differentiation of the isolated and characterized human DPSC was improved with medium modification by the addition of BMP2 in vitro and in vivo. The defined medium and applied technique have a potential use for forming reparative dentin in the future, but the effects of the method should be investigated in long-term studies.

Temporo-spatial analysis of Osterix, HNK1 and Sox10 during odontogenesis and maxillaries osteogenesis.

Cell differentiation is essential for maxillaries and tooth development. Facial mesenchymal tissue is formed by neural crest cells (NC). These cells are highly migratory, giving rise to various cell types, considered with a high level of plasticity, indicating that they contain progenitor cells with a great power of differentiation. In this study, it was analyzed the presence of NC cell progenitors and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) during maxillaries osteogenesis and odontogenesis in rats. Histological slides were collected in two phases: embryonic age of 15 and 17 days; 2, 4 and 7 days after birth. Immunohistochemistry for MSC markers (Osterix) and NC cells (Sox10, HNK1) was performed. The results showed positive expression for Osterix and HNK1 in undifferentiated ectomesenchymal cells in early and late stages; Sox10 was present only in early stages in undifferentiated cells. All markers were present in differentiated cells. Although the experiments performed do not allow us to explain a possible role for Osx, HNK1 and Sox10 in both differentiated and undifferentiated cells during osteogenesis and odontogenesis, it had shown important results not yet described: the presence of HNK1 and Sox10 in osteoblasts and odontoblasts in late development stages and in the tooth germ epithelial cells and ameloblasts.

Accuracy of dental age estimation in Venezuelan children: comparison of Demirjian and Willems methods.

Dental age is a somatic maturity indicator with importance in clinical and forensic dentistry. The purpose of this study is to compare the applicability of the Demirjian and Willems methods for dental age estimation in a group of Venezuelan children. Panoramic radiographs of 238 Venezuelan children aged 5-13 years were used to assess dental age using the methods described by Demirjian and Willems. Children with unclear panoramic radiographs, dental agenesis, and premature loss of primary teeth were excluded. Mean differences between dental age and chronological age by gender and age groups were estimated (ANOVA, Student tests p = 0.05). For the Demirjian method, the mean difference between dental age and chronological age was 0.62 +/- 0.93 years, statistically significant. The mean overestimation was lower for females than for males (females 0.56 +/- 0.96 years, males 0.67 +/- 0.93 years). For the Willems method, the mean difference between dental age and chronological age was 0.15 +/- 0.97 years, not statistically significant. Accuracy was significantly different between genders, performing best for females (females 0.01 +/- 0.96 years, males 0.29 +/- 0.96 years). The Willems method for age estimation was found to be more accurate than the Demirjian method in this sample of Venezuelan children.

Accuracy of dental age estimation in Venezuelan children: comparison of Demirjian and Willems methods

La edad dental es un indicador de la maduración somática con importancia tanto para la odontología clínica como forense. Este estudio tiene como objetivo comparar la aplicabilidad de los métodos propuestos por Demirjian y por Willems para la estimación de la edad dental en un grupo de niños Venezolanos. Fueron evaluadas 238 radiografías panorámicas de niños venezolanos con edades de 5 a 13 años, para determinar la edad dental utilizando los métodos de Demirjan y de Willems. Fueron excluidos casos con radiografías defectuosas, agenesia dental y pérdida prematura de dientes primarios. Las medias de las diferencias entre la edad dental y la edad cronológica fueron estimadas, distribuyendo por género y por grupo de edad. Fueron utilizadas las pruebas estadísticas ANOVA y T de Student (p=0,05). Para el método de Demirjian, la media de la diferencia entre la edad dental y la edad cronológica fue 0,62 ± 0,93 siendo estadísticamente significativa. La media de la sobrestimación para el género femenino fue menor que para el género masculino (hembras 0,56 ± 0,96 años; varones 0,67 ± 0,93 años). Para el método de Willems la diferencia entre la edad dental y la edad cronológica fue 0,15± 0,97 sin significancia estadística. La precisión de este método presentó variación estadísticamente significativa entre géneros (hembras 0,01 ± 0,96 años, varones (varones 0,29 ±0,96 años). El método de estimación de edad dental de Willems presentó mayor precisión para esta muestra de niños Venezolanos...

Long-term evaluation and clinical outcomes of children with dental transplants in Temuco city, Chile.

AIM: To assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 36 transplanted teeth and the possible factors affecting the results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 26 children, 36 teeth transplants were performed. The main reason for transplantations was the loss of anterior teeth due to trauma; 80.5% of transplanted teeth were immature bicuspids. The transplants were clinically and radiolographycally monitored in respect of pulp vitality, root canal obliteration, periradicular changes and root formation. Fisher Exact Test and Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to determine the association between the variables and estimation of survival rates, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty (83.3%) of the transplantations were recorded as successful and six as unsuccessful (16.7%). The survival rate was 97.2% during average time of 47.5 months ± 27.8 SD. Only one tooth had been extracted and 5 had survived in not ideal conditions. The majority of immature transplanted teeth developed pulp canal obliteration. CONCLUSION: Factors associated to successful outcome were immature root formation of donor tooth and short flexible splinting period. The main factor associated to failure was replacement resorption. The surgical technique did not present statistical significance in the clinical outcome. Tooth transplantation has shown high success and survival rates, and should be considered as a real option in growing patients.

Analysis of the proliferative potential of odontogenic epithelial cells of pericoronal follicles.

AIM: To evaluate the proliferative potential and the cell proliferation rate of odontogenic epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two cases of pericoronal follicles of impacted third molars were submitted to silver impregnation technique for quantification of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) and immunohistochemical staining for EGFR and Ki-67. For AgNOR quantification, the mean number of active nucleolar organizer regions per nucleus (mAgNOR) and the percentage of cells with 1, 2, 3 and 4 or more AgNORs per nucleus (pAgNOR) were quantified. Ki-67 immunolabeling was quantified, whereas for EGFR, a descriptive analysis of staining patterns (membrane, cytoplasm or membrane + cytoplasm positivity) was performed. We evaluated the reduced epithelium of the enamel organ and/or islands of odontogenic epithelium present in the entire connective tissue. RESULTS: mAgNOR were 1.43 (1.0-2.42) and were significantly different among pericoronary follicles from upper and lower teeth (p = 0.041). Immunostaining of Ki-67 was negative in all cases. EGFR immunolabeling was found mainly in the cytoplasm and was more intense in islands and cords when compared to reduced epithelium of the enamel organ. CONCLUSION: Odontogenic epithelial cells of some pericoronal follicles have proliferative potential, suggesting their association with the development of odontogenic lesions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The authors suggest that nonerupted, especially of the lower teeth, should be monitored and if necessary removed.

Accuracy of dental age estimation in Venezuelan children: comparison of Demirjian and Willems methods. / Accuracy of dental age estimation in Venezuelan children: comparison of Demirjian and Willems methods.

Dental age is a somatic maturity indicator with importance in clinical and forensic dentistry. The purpose of this study is to compare the applicability of the Demirjian and Willems methods for dental age estimation in a group of Venezuelan children. Panoramic radiographs of 238 Venezuelan children aged 5-13 years were used to assess dental age using the methods described by Demirjian and Willems. Children with unclear panoramic radiographs, dental agenesis, and premature loss of primary teeth were excluded. Mean differences between dental age and chronological age by gender and age groups were estimated (ANOVA, Student tests p = 0.05). For the Demirjian method, the mean difference between dental age and chronological age was 0.62 +/- 0.93 years, statistically significant. The mean overestimation was lower for females than for males (females 0.56 +/- 0.96 years, males 0.67 +/- 0.93 years). For the Willems method, the mean difference between dental age and chronological age was 0.15 +/- 0.97 years, not statistically significant. Accuracy was significantly different between genders, performing best for females (females 0.01 +/- 0.96 years, males 0.29 +/- 0.96 years). The Willems method for age estimation was found to be more accurate than the Demirjian method in this sample of Venezuelan children.

Pluripotent stem cell transcription factors during human odontogenesis.

Stem cells are capable of generating various cell lines and can be obtained from adult or embryonic tissues for clinical therapies. Stem cells from deciduous dental pulp are among those that are easily obtainable from adult tissues and have been widely studied because of their ability to differentiate into a variety of cell lines in the presence of various chemical mediators. We have analyze the expression of several proteins related to the differentiation and proliferative potential of cell populations that compose the tooth germ of human fetuses. We evaluate 20 human fetuses of both genders. After being paraffin-embedded, cap and bell stages of tooth germ development were subjected to immunohistochemistry for the following markers: Oct-4, Nanog, Stat-3 and Sox-2. The studied antibodies showed nuclear or cytoplasmic immunnostaining within various anatomical structures and with various degrees of expression, indicating the action of these proteins during tooth development. We conclude that the interrelationship between these transcription factors is complex and associated with self-renewal and cell differentiation. Our results suggest that the expression of Oct-4, Nanog, Sox-2 and Stat-3 are related to differentiation in ameloblasts and odontoblasts.

In vitro evaluation of the odontogenic potential of mouse undifferentiated pulp cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the odontogenic potential of undifferentiated pulp cells (OD-21 cell line) through chemical stimuli in vitro. Cells were divided into uninduced cells (OD-21), induced cells (OD-21 cultured in supplemented medium/OD-21+OM) and odontoblast-like cells (MDPC-23 cell line). After 3, 7, 10 and 14 days of culture, it was evaluated: proliferation and cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, total protein content, mineralization, immunolocalization of dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1 (DMP1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteopontin (OPN) and quantification of genes ALP, OSTERIX (Osx), DMP1 and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests (p<0.05). There was a decrease in cell proliferation in OD-21 + OM, whereas cell viability was similar in all groups, except at 7 days. The amount of total protein was higher in group OD-21 + OM in all periods; the same occurred with ALP activity after 10 days when compared with OD-21, with no significant differences from the MDPC-23 group. Mineralization was higher in OD-21+OM when compared with the negative control. Immunolocalization demonstrated that DMP1 and ALP were highly expressed in MDPC-23 cells and OD-21 + OM cells, whereas OPN was high in all groups. Real-time PCR revealed that DMP1 and ALP expression was higher in MDPC-23 cell cultures, whereas RUNX2 was lower for these cells and higher for OD-21 negative control. Osx expression was lower for OD-21 + OM. These results suggest that OD-21 undifferentiated pulp cells have odontogenic potential and could be used in dental tissue engineering.