Oral Epignathus with Maxilla Duplication: Report of a Rare Case.

Epignathus is a rare congenital oropharyngeal teratoma that arises from the oropharynx, especially the sphenoid, palatine, and ethmoid bones. Teratomas are benign tumors containing cells from ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal layers. The incidence of epignathus is between 1:35,000 and 1:200,000 live births with a female predominance. We reported an uncommon case of epignathus in a female newborn baby with an ill-defined oral mass protruding through a cleft in the hard palate. Computed tomography scan showed a contrast-enhanced solid mass with areas of calcification simulating a unique case of maxilla duplication. Surgery was performed, the mass was excised successfully, and microscopic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of mature teratoma. The patient evolved with good general health and showed no clinical signs of recurrence. Although epignathus is a rare condition, it should be diagnosed in the fetus as early as possible, especially to avoid fatal airway obstruction. In such cases, the treatment option is exclusively surgical, and complete resection is curative in most cases during the early neonatal period.

Prevalence of Behcet's syndrome in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcerations in Brazil.

Behcet's syndrome (BS) is a clinical entity characterized by the appearance of recurrent oral and genital ulcers, in addition to a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the prevalence of BS in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU) and to test the hypothesis that BS could be under diagnosed in Brazil. This is a cross-sectional investigation of the prevalence of BS based on the International Study Group for Behcet's Disease (ISGBD) criteria in patients with RAU attended in a stomatology service. Three hundred and six patients were attended at the ambulatory clinic in the study period, but the standard questionnaire was applied to 50 (16.6%) patients, 29 men and 21 women, identified as having RAU. Only one patient met the ISGBD criteria presenting RAU of the minor and complex type, recurrent genital ulcers, cutaneous, articular, ocular, and vascular manifestations, hypoacusia and fever. Thus, a prevalence of 2% of BS was defined in this subgroup of patients. In the present study, the frequency of 2% of BS in patients with RAU demonstrates the need for further population-based studies to be developed in order to definitively establish the real prevalence of this condition.

Low- and high-yield cigarette smoke inhalation potentiates bone loss during ligature-induced periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: It is well recognized that cigarette consumption is a strong risk factor for periodontitis. Tobacco companies have developed a cigarette with low levels of toxic compounds; however, its effect on periodontium has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to verify the impact of smoke produced by low- and high-yield cigarettes on bone loss resulting from ligature-induced periodontitis. METHODS: A total of 36 male Wistar rats were used in the study. A ligature was placed around one of the mandibular first molars (ligated teeth) of each animal, and they were assigned randomly to one of three groups: group 1: control (N = 10), group 2: 30 days' inhalation of smoke produced by high-yield cigarettes (N = 13), and group 3: 30 days' inhalation of smoke produced by low-yield cigarettes (N = 13). The animals were sacrificed 30 days after ligature placement, and the specimens were processed for decalcified sections. RESULTS: Intergroup analysis of unligated teeth (without periodontal disease) did not show a significant difference regarding periodontal ligament area (2.40 +/- 0.5 mm(2), 2.72 +/- 0.7 mm(2), and 2.61 +/- 0.4 mm(2) for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; P >0.05). Conversely, significant differences were noted in ligated teeth (with periodontitis); bone loss was directly proportional to the level of toxic compounds in the cigarettes (5.74 +/- 0.5 mm(2), 7.40 +/- 0.50 mm(2), and 6.51 +/- 0.50 mm(2) for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Low- and high-yield cigarettes potentiated bone loss during experimental periodontitis in a directly proportional fashion.

Nicotine effects on alveolar bone changes induced by occlusal trauma: a histometric study in rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to verify nicotine effects on alveolar bone changes induced by occlusal trauma during a periodontitis experimental model in rats. METHODS: Thirty adult male rats were used. The animals were randomly assigned to one of three groups receiving daily intraperitoneal injections: A, nicotine solution (0.44 mg/ml) and occlusal overload; B, saline solution and occlusal overload; or C, saline solution. Rats from groups A and B underwent bilateral amputation of the second and third molar cusps to simulate an occlusal overload. The first molars were then randomly assigned to receive a cotton ligature in the sulcular area, while the contralateral tooth was left unligated. The animals were sacrificed 30 days later. The resected mandibles were processed, and histomorphometric measurements were performed in the alveolar bone adjacent to the furcation area of the first molars. RESULTS: Nicotine enhanced the bone loss induced by occlusal trauma (P<0.001) on the ligated teeth of group A (12.27 +/- 4.4 mm2), when compared to groups B (8.43 +/- 3.51 mm2) and C (4.43 +/- 2.17 mm2). Alveolar bone loss (P<0.01) was also observed in the contralateral teeth of groups A (nicotine + trauma) and B (saline + trauma), when compared to group C (saline only). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the study, it is concluded that nicotine may influence the alveolar bone changes induced by occlusal trauma by enhancing bone loss.

Fitoestrógenos na periodontia: um futuro promissor? / Phytoestrogens in periodontics: a promising future?

Estudos têm estabelecido uma relação entre osteopenia, osteoporose e doença periodontal, em que a perda de massa óssea sistêmica foi relacionada com a perda dental pela reabsorção do osso alveolar de sustentação. No intuito de inibir a perda óssea provocada pela osteoporose, a literatura médica tem sugerido o uso de drogas que atuam na fisiopatologia óssea como os estrógenos. os bisfosfonatos, os flavonóides sintéticos e mais recentemente os fitoestrógenos naturais. Os fitoestrógenos (flavonóides naturais) são substâncias encontradas naturalmente no gérmen de soja e que têm sido indicados na prevenção da osteoporose. devido à sua ação direta no metabolismo ósseo. Além disso, tem sido destacado seu efeito anti-inflamatório moderado. Logo. este trabalho visa apresentar e questionar os possíveis benefícios deste novo medicamento na perda óssea periodontal.