Multidisciplinary Aesthetic Management of a Dentition in a Patient with Cleft Lip and Palate with a High Smile Line: A Clinical Report.

The aesthetic management of a case involving a high smile line in a patient with a cleft lip and palate can be difficult. In this report, we look at a complex case of a patient with a unilateral cleft lip and palate which required a multidisciplinary approach involving crown lengthening, extraction of a maxillary right central incisor and fabrication of a 4-unit fixed partial denture to replace this tooth and the adjacent absent maxillary right lateral incisor with use of gingival porcelain in order to improve the aesthetics of the patient's smile.

Prevalence of bruxism in down syndrome patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bruxism is a parafunctional activity characterised by grinding or clenching of teeth and is a common oral health concern in individuals with down syndrome (DS). Understanding the prevalence of bruxism in this population is crucial for developing effective management strategies. This systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed to investigate the prevalence of bruxism among individuals with DS and explore its association with other oral health issues. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases to identify relevant studies. Cross-sectional and observational studies were included. Data on bruxism prevalence and associated factors were extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed using both fixed-effects (FE) and random-effects (RE) models of MedCalc software. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using I2 statistics. New Castle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate methodological quality of the included studies. RESULTS: Eight studies met the pre-defined inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Seven studies used a questionnaire to assess bruxism. The pooled proportion estimate for occurrence of DS across the included studies was found to be 0.33 (95% CI: 0.22-0.45) as per the RE model and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.31-0.450) as per FE model in the quantitative analysis. All studies exhibited good methodological quality. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis provide evidence of a significant prevalence of bruxism among individuals with DS. The findings highlight the association of bruxism with other oral health issues and specific chromosomal abnormalities. Comprehensive oral health assessments, including diagnostic procedures like Polysomnography, are essential for addressing the unique oral health needs of individuals with DS. Further studies are recommended with a valid tool for the diagnosis. Early interventions and management strategies need to be tailored to this population, considering the multifaceted nature of oral health concerns in individuals with DS.

Chairside technique for addition of teeth to an acrylic partial denture. A clinical report.

This article describes a chairside technique of addition of teeth to a patient's existing acrylic partial denture at the extraction appointment without the need for dental laboratory intervention. This maintains aesthetics, function, phonation, biologic integrity, patient confidence, and psychological well-being. An immediate denture is any fixed or removable dental prosthesis fabricated for placement immediately after the removal of a natural tooth/teeth [1,2]. Immediate dentures have many advantages over conventional dentures including conservation of patient's integrity, aesthetics, functionality, soft tissue support and occlusion [2-4]. Immediate dentures require several visits with associated costs and the patient has a period of adjustment to the new prosthesis. This clinical report describes a simple and fast technique of chairside immediate tooth addition to an existing denture avoiding some of these issues.

Esthetic Rehabilitation of Pediatric Patients Using Direct Bonding Technique-A Case Series Report.

Pediatric esthetic dentistry is a sensitive technique, as children can be less cooperative; hence, minimal appointments are preferred. The most conservative treatment modality for anterior esthetic rehabilitation is using direct composite veneer restorations. In many instances, esthetic improvements using composite resin are the only possible option until the growth phase of the pediatric patient is complete. In this article, we present three different case scenarios in young teenagers with different treatment needs requiring esthetic restorations. The first case report is a patient with amelogenesis imperfecta, the second is with generalized spacing, and the third is with localized microdontia. All three patients were followed up for six months post direct composite veneering and were highly satisfied with their treatment outcomes, which boosted their self-confidence.

An Investigation of the Characteristics of Edentulous Patients Who Choose or Refuse Implant Treatment.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether pretreatment patient satisfaction, oral health-related quality of life, or diagnostic complexity are predictive of a decision to choose implant treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Edentulous patients requesting dentures were enrolled in a prospective observational study. All subjects were provided with conventional dentures and then given the option to proceed with the placement of two mandibular implants and to have their prosthesis modified into an implant overdenture. Subjects were classified according to the Prosthodontic Diagnostic Index (PDI-CE) and asked to complete a Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Oral Health Impact Profile for edentulous patients (OHIP-EDENT) at pretreatment, following the provision of new dentures, and following modification to overdentures. RESULTS: Of the 125 subjects who had conventional dentures, 15 proceeded with implant treatment. The subjects who decided to have implants were not significantly different in terms of diagnostic complexity or level of satisfaction. Those who chose implants were significantly younger, had newer dentures, and had higher OHIP-EDENT scores at baseline. The most common reason for not being satisfied with dentures but avoiding implants was fear of surgery. CONCLUSION: The majority of subjects in this study were satisfied with conventional denture treatment, despite registering its limitations. Subjects who were more anatomically compromised were not more likely to choose implant treatment. It remains to be shown whether fear of surgery can be overcome in order to increase the uptake of implant treatment and improve patient outcomes.

A qualitative investigation into patients' perspectives on edentulousness.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the experiences of edentulous patients for their perceptions of tooth loss and patient attitudes to treatment options for rehabilitation of the edentate state. METHODS: Purposive sampling was used to recruit edentate patients with varying denture-wearing experience from two dental hospitals in the Republic of Ireland. Sixteen edentate patients, aged 59 to 83 years, of whom 12 were women and four men were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: Findings from this study reflect previous studies, whereby some patients indicated dissatisfaction with the functionality of their dentures. The majority of participants had no regret regarding the loss of their teeth, and despite dissatisfaction with dentures, they would not consider other forms of treatment. Finance was not considered an issue in determining whether to seek out treatment by these participants. These participants expressed a reluctance to get new dentures in case they were more problematic. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates that some elder edentate patients were dissatisfied with the functionality of their dentures and raised concerns that about the quality of dentures which may be provided to them by dentists. These participants identified clinical dental technicians as a preferred point of contact for their care. Consideration should be given to new oral healthcare delivery models which are accessible and acceptable to future elders.