RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A perfect endodontic treatment necessitates proper understanding of the morphology of canal and pulpal variations. This in vitro study was conducted to demonstrate the in-ternal anatomy of mandibular canine teeth in an Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples consisted of 100 extracted mandibular permanent canines. The roots of the teeth were molded in acrylic boxes. The crowns of the teeth were cut and 2 mm cross sections were made from CEJ to the apex. Sections were examined using stereomicroscope to reveal the number and location of root canals. RESULTS: From 100 evaluated teeth, 12 (12%) had 2 canals from which 5 had type II canal configu-ration and 7 (7%) had type III. 88% of the specimens had one canal and none were seen to be of type IV. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of dentist's knowledge of varia-tions in root canal morphology, since leaving a canal untreated is one of the main reasons of endodontic failures. When treating mandibular canines, the existence of a second canal should be taken into consideration.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pemphigus is a chronic autoimmune and vesiculobollous disease that can affect skin and different mucous membrane surfaces. Primary manifestations occur in oral cavity in almost 60% of cases. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the epidemiology of pemphigus in Tehran, Iran in a 20-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on the records of 1560 patients diagnosed with different types of pemphigus in Razi Hospital of Dermatology in Tehran from March 1985 to March 2005. A questionnaire was prepared to collect information regarding age, sex, bedridden duration, pemphigus subtype, sites of involvement, recurrence and mortality rate. Data was analyzed using chi-square test with significant level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a female predominance with a male to female ratio of 1:1.53. In nearly half of the patients, only the oral mucous membranes were affected. One hundred and fifty had only skin lesions and 261 cases had both skin and oral mucosal lesions. Involvement of esophageal and vaginal mucous membranes without skin lesions was observed in 150 patients and 298 cases had esophageal and vaginal mucosal involvement as well as skin lesions. Pemphigus vulgaris was the most common type, with the mean age of 44.6 years. Oral mucous membrane was the most frequent location where pemphigus vulgaris was observed. 1265 patients recovered which 52.2% of them had only oral lesions. Average of bedridden duration was 2.9 months. The highest recurrence rate was seen in patients with skin lesions exclusively. There was a significant difference between recurrences of lesions and location of involvement (P < 0.05). Thirty six patients had died from of the disease. CONCLUSION: The mean age of the disease onset in the present study was found to be a decade earlier than the other parts of the world. Recurrence and mortality rates were lower in patients with only oral lesions and their prognosis was better.
