Orthodontic treatment of a non-syndromic patient with congenital agenesis of multiple permanent teeth: a rare case.

This article presents the first stage of treatment, respectively the orthodontic management of a non-syndromic, 13-year-old patient, with multiple and asymmetric missing teeth. The difficulty of the case was increased by the association of an impacted premolar and also by the loss, due to extended caries, of three of the first permanent molars. The patient came from a rural area, where access to dental treatment was limited. His parents realized too late that the child had significant damage to his permanent first molars, that he was no longer eating properly and that he had spaces between teeth. The uncertain outcome of endodontic treatment and prosthetic restoration at the level of first permanent molars and the additional costs made the parents decide, together with the dental practitioner, to extract teeth Nos. 16, 36 and 46. Giving the situation, the first phase treatment plan was represented by orthodontic closing of several maxillary spaces and the reduction of edentulous ridge in the mandible, followed by the maintenance of the space for two future implants, each one replacing the first molars in the third and fourth quadrants. Particularly for this growing patient, early intervention to treat and save as much from the permanent teeth as possible, to expose the impacted premolar, to level and align the teeth in order to obtain continuous dental arches and a good occlusion plane, and later to apply space maintainers that will be replaced by prosthetic restorations, represented an enormous step for long-term stability and proper functioning.

Mandibular lateral incisor-first premolar transposition in early mixed dentition: a rare case.

Dental transposition is an anomaly of eruption which is usually seen in the maxilla and rarely in the mandible. The mandibular lateral incisor's transposition with the permanent canine has a prevalence of less than 0.03%. The following case presents an even rarer situation, of a right lateral mandibular incisor that erupted in the place of the first premolar, in transposition with the temporary canine. In the first phase, a series of extractions have been performed, to ensure the necessary free space for moving the lateral incisor closer to its appropriate place, and after that a fixed orthodontic appliance was used. The biomechanics for intra-arch tooth movement was ingenious enough to ensure a perfect alignment of all permanent teeth and a functional Class I canine and molar final occlusion. Early intervention and successful move of the permanent canine in its correct position ensured the functionality of the mandibular movements and a good long-term prognosis.

A rare find of a maxillary third molar with five roots: a case report of an unusual morphology.

Third molars are frequently absent or impacted; their unpredictable prevalence and morphology, with frequent anatomical variations, is a challenge for the practitioner. The number of roots of the upper third molars vary from one to five, but five roots upper third molars' cases are extremely rare. The case reported here is of a normotrophic male patient, with no significant general medical history, having extracted an impacted maxillary upper molar, with an unusual position and dimensions and five completely separated formed roots, orientated in diverse directions. It highlights the importance of using the correct surgical technique, without excessive pressure, for avoiding the fracture of the maxillary tuberosity, the displacement of the molar into the pterygopalatine fossa or the opening of the maxillary sinus, especially in the absence of good quality imagistic information like cone-beam computed tomography. The case presented in this paper is very rare and highlights the significance of anatomical knowledge, which is mandatory for managing these cases, to avoid trauma, accidents, and complications and to maintain an optimal time of extraction, since such variations occur, and the conventional radiographs do not offer enough data to clarify the diagnosis.

Unilateral agenesis of permanent superior canine in familial peg-shaped lateral incisors: rare case report and literature review.

Agenesis of permanent maxillary and mandibular canines is very rare; one to all four can be missing, isolated or in association with other missing teeth or with dental morphology abnormalities. Such cases can present functional, esthetic, and psychological problems, since the canine's role in functional occlusion and in obtaining an aesthetic smile is crucial. Frequently, the canine's absence from the arch is caused by impaction; its congenital absence is extremely rare in patients with no associated syndrome. The aim of this paper was to present a very rare case of a non-syndromic Romanian adult female patient with a unilateral permanent maxillary missing canine, in association with peg-shaped maxillary lateral permanent incisors, which can have a genetic cause, since the same morphological abnormality was present in her father and her younger sister, who also presented a rare situation of bilateral upper transposition between the canines and lateral incisors. The association of a permanent maxillary canine hypodontia with bilateral "peg laterals" and transposition between the maxillary canine and the peg-shaped lateral incisors is also rare as a family character in healthy patients. Future statistical studies are necessary to establish the incidence of permanent maxillary canine agenesis in Romanian population. Also, the article includes a detailed literature review of reported cases of agenesis of permanent maxillary canines.

Base Materials' Influence on Fracture Resistance of Molars with MOD Cavities.

The aim of this study was to compare fracture resistance of teeth presenting medium-sized mesial-occlusal-distal (MOD) cavities using different base materials. Thirty-six extracted molars were immersed for 48 h in saline solution (0.1% thymol at 4 °C) and divided into six groups. In group A, the molars were untouched, and in group B, cavities were prepared, but not filled. In group C, we used zinc polycarboxylate cement, in group D-conventional glass ionomer cement, in group E-resin modified glass ionomer cement, and in group F-flow composite. Fracture resistance was tested using a universal loading machine (Lloyd Instruments) with a maximum force of 5 kN and a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min; we used NEXYGEN Data Analysis Software and ANOVA Method (p < 0.05). The smallest load that determined the sample failure was 2780 N for Group A, 865 N for Group B, 1210 N for Group C, 1340 N for Group D, 1630 N for Group E and 1742 N for Group F. The highest loads were 3050 N (A), 1040 N (B), 1430 N (C), 1500 N (D), 1790 N (E), and 3320 N (F), the mean values being 2902 ± 114 N (A), 972 ± 65 N (B), 1339 ± 84 N (C), 1415 ± 67 N (D), 1712 ± 62 N (E), and 2334 ± 662 N (F). A p = 0.000195 shows a statistically significant difference between groups C, D, E and F. For medium sized mesial-occlusal-distal (MOD) cavities, the best base material regarding fracture resistance was flow composite, followed by glass ionomer modified with resin, conventional glass ionomer cement and zinc polycarboxylate cement. It can be concluded that light-cured base materials are a better option for the analyzed use case, one of the possible reasons being their compatibility with the final restoration material, also light-cured.

Supernumerary permanent maxillary canine - a rare finding: case report and literature review.

Supernumerary teeth are dental units that appear in addition to the regular number of teeth. Their most frequent location is the anterior maxilla, especially on the maxillary midline, being called mesiodens, but also paramedian or in the position of a lateral incisor. On the other hand, the permanent canine is one of the most stable teeth regarding the number, with very few cases reported about hypo- or hyperdontia. This article reviews the few data found in the literature about the supernumerary permanent maxillary canine and also presents the case of an 8-year-old female patient with a supplemental permanent canine in the upper left maxilla. The patient was non-syndromic and did not present any other supernumerary teeth in the permanent dentition; she had only one in the temporary dentition. Using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of the region, we were able to evaluate the position, structure, and shape of the supplemental canine and also to establish a treatment plan. The aim of this paper was to present this extremely rare case of a non-syndromic Romanian adult female patient with a unilateral supplemental permanent maxillary canine, and to include a literature review of the few reported such cases.

Non-syndromic familial hypodontia: rare case reports and literature review.

Congenital absence of the teeth, affecting both physiognomy and mastication, can have a great impact on patients' quality of life. It may appear unilateral or bilateral; frequently, it associates with certain general conditions. Familial hypodontia in clinically healthy patients is rare. Genetic transmission, as a determinant factor in missing teeth, can be autosomal dominant, recessive, or related to the sex chromosomes. In case of congenitally missing permanent teeth, the corresponding deciduous teeth can be still found on the arch at adult age. The aim of this article is to present rare cases of familial non-syndromic unilateral and bilateral hypodontia in Romanian adult siblings, highlighting also a cross gene transmission between aunt and niece and evaluating the treatment options in accordance with patient's age and oral status. It shows that early diagnosis of hypodontia is crucial for the patient's future oral health. The decision to keep the temporary teeth or to extract them is influenced by the presence and status of the deciduous teeth, patient's access to treatment and parent's agreement. Asymptomatic adult patients, in which hypodontia was diagnosed during a routine control, do not usually solicit therapeutic intervention until the deciduous teeth are also lost; still, in situations where complications arise through their loss, the treatment of hypodontia is complex, involving a close collaboration between a team of specialists. The article also includes a detailed review of literature referring to the prevalence of hypodontia among different populations.

Unilateral supplemental maxillary lateral incisor: report of three rare cases and literature review.

Additional teeth to the normal dentition are called supernumerary teeth; they can be found in higher rates in permanent than in deciduous dentition, in both sexes, associated or not with other diseases or syndromes. The aim of this article is to report three rare cases of unilateral supplemental lateral incisors, in Romanian child and adult patients, and to evaluate the treatment options in each case, considering particularities such as age, physiognomy, associated issues and occlusion. The differential diagnosis between a supernumerary lateral incisor in formation and a rudimentary is sometimes difficult to make using only panoramic X-ray, so a cone-beam computed tomography analysis can be indicated. Usually, due to the pathological issues that they can cause, the supplemental maxillary lateral incisors are removed; although, in some cases, it may be necessary to remove the normal tooth, for example in cases of major crowding, in which the normal tooth is more displaced from the line of the arch than the supplemental one, or when there is a lack of periodontal support surrounding the normal tooth. This article highlights that even if, in younger patients, the majority of these teeth is extracted because later in life they can cause difficulties in orthodontic and prosthetic treatment, there are still rare cases which do not necessitate treatment, because they are asymptomatic, rather well aligned and go unnoticed. Also, the article includes a detailed literature review of reported cases of supplemental maxillary lateral incisor.

A rare case of mandibulary parapremolars in siblings: case report and literature review.

Supernumerary teeth in permanent dentition are influenced by hereditary and environmental, having clinical variations such as location, number and morphology. Parapremolars can be found as a single supernumerary tooth or as multiple, usually in the lower jaw, sometimes in association with other types of supernumerary teeth. Familial inheritance often involves more than one generation. This paper presents a case of two brothers, one with only one parapremolar and a good oral status and hygiene, the other with poor hygiene, multiple parapremolars and one mesiodens, causing various complications. The aim of this paper is to show the presence of parapremolars in brothers with no other medical relevant history, located in the same site, and to point the influence of genetic factors in the etiology of supernumerary teeth. Along with a review of the literature, this article shows the importance of an early diagnosis and follow-up using successive panoramic radiographs of such cases, in order to limit or prevent the inflammatory, carious, periodontal and occlusal complications that can seriously affect both the jaws and the normal dentition.

Maxillary distomolars: case reports, differential diagnosis and literature review.

Supernumerary teeth can be found anywhere in the oral cavity, during deciduous or permanent dentition, in males and females. They are rare, owned to various genetic or environmental factors and usually impacted. This article first reports three cases of young adult patients coming to the office for other reasons than their maxillary distomolars and without any pathology caused by them. The decision of keeping or removing these teeth was made based on other associated factors. The fourth case is one of a 40-year-old partially edentulous male patient, also with a good general health and no other associated condition, having a unilateral maxillary fourth molar; it was small, only partially erupted, with a normal morphology with crown and root and an impacted perpendicular position on the distal face of the third molar. It was extracted because of the periodontal and carious complications that it caused to the third molar facing it. The last reported case is a 64-year-old partially edentulous female patient with a maxillary tooth very similar to a distomolar because of its form and position; it was extracted because it interfered with the new removable partial denture treatment plan. The differential diagnosis between a distomolar and an anatomical variant of a third molar was difficult to make even using panoramic X-ray, also because of a very small inferior third molar. In young patients, distomolars are rather accidentally discovered during radiographic examination; later in life, they can cause both pathological issues and difficulties in diagnosis and prosthetic treatment.

Prosthetic rehabilitation of complete edentulous patients with morphological changes induced by age and old ill fitted dentures.

Extremely old, complete edentulous patients are very difficult to treat both because of their anatomical and psychological condition. Treatment challenges are increasing when this situation is associated with low socio-economic status, poor general health and unrealistic expectations. This article presents a prosthetic rehabilitation of a very old patient, presenting a serious bone atrophy associated with a maxillary flabby ridge, whose dentures accelerated the bone resorption because of their poor fitting, lack of retention and wrong occlusal contacts. Despite his old age and scarce social life, restoring esthetics in the trial phase had a major psychological impact for the patient, making him more optimistic about the result and helping him to accept and functionally integrate the new complete dentures.

Analyzing the morphology and intensity of occlusal contacts in implant-prosthetic restorations using T-Scan system.

The dentists must have solid knowledge in occlusology in order to obtain predictable long-term results for the implant-prosthetic treatment. The aim of our study was to verify if, with methods and materials currently used in any dental office for occlusal equilibration, the dentist can successfully integrate the implant-prosthetic restoration in the habitual occlusion of the patient. Using the T-Scan II system, we analyzed occlusion of three mandibular class III Kennedy edentulous male patients, from a private practice in Bucharest (Romania), all missing the first mandibular molar and all wearing a metal-ceramic crown on implant. In all these cases, the occlusion of the crowns was adjusted using articulating paper and vinyl polysiloxane biting material. The analysis of occlusion with the T-Scan II system in those three cases showed that the crowns were successfully integrated in the habitual occlusion. This study proves that those traditional methods, which are most frequently used in practice, are good enough to adjust the morphology and intensity of the occlusal contacts, if they are correctly and conscientiously used.

Changing the root morphology in a case of periodontal impairment at a maxillary molar used as a sustaining tooth.

Research evolution regarding dental research determines the increase of patient's desire to preserve their dentition for a long time. The loss of a molar tooth as the last teeth present on the dental arch, raises issues regarding how the prosthesis should be placed, still patients are usually reluctant to use as last resort the prosthetic solution. This article describes the technique of root amputation to save a maxillary molar used as bridge abutments.

Pontic morphology as local risk factor in root decay and periodontal disease.

INTRODUCTION: In absence of treatment, old single edentulous spaces are subjected to progressively decrease in length due to tilting and rotation of the teeth situated mesial and distal. Lately when these spaces are prosthetically restored with a bridge and these teeth are becoming abutments, sanitizing of the prosthetic restoration is achieved with difficulty, the space between the pontic and the gingival surface becoming an area rich in pathogens that can cause various complications on the abutments. AIM: Considering these aspects, in this study we wanted to highlight the presence and the types of the microorganisms that can be found under the pontic even in an ideal situation, selecting only young adult patients with a good oral hygiene and only with metal-ceramic bridges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Determination of microorganisms was achieved by growing on BD Columbia Agar with 5% sheep blood. Incubation was done in anaerobe condition using GENbag system produced by BioMérieux Company. RESULTS: The microorganisms that we determined were Streptococcus mutans, S. mitis, S. oralis, Gram-negative bacilli (Bacteroides ovatus, B. thetaiotaomicron) and Gram-positive bacilli (Bifidobacterium spp., Actinomyces israelii, Clostridium butyricum / beijerinckii) with relevance in the carious and periodontal disease. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of single unit bridges with very narrow pontics, even in patients with a very good oral hygiene and metal-ceramic restorations, we can still find micro-organisms that can potentially generate decay or periodontal disease on the abutments, located in the gingival area underneath these pontics. These bacteria can have negative implications on the long-term prognosis of prosthetic restorations.

Anatomical variation of mandibular second molar and its implications in endodontic treatment.

The variations of anatomical and morphological characteristics of the teeth are very important for any practitioner. These differences in root morphology are influencing the success of the endodontic therapy and the long-term prognosis of the tooth, especially when it is an abutment for a prosthetic restoration. Before beginning an endodontic treatment, the clinician must take into account the morphological variations of the root anatomy. This article describes the therapeutic approach in a case of mandibular second molar with four canals abnormally located instead of three. This anatomical variation is a major risk for both endodontic and prosthetic treatment failure. The lack of knowledge of root and pulp anatomy permits the errors in diagnosing and treatment planning. Unfilled canals, left like this by omission, can compromise both the endodontic and prosthetic treatment. For the success of the any dental treatment is critical to know the normal configuration of the pulp and to be aware of the possible variations.

Endodontic retreatment in case of failure. Case report.

In medical practice, clinicians come across an increased number of endodontic treatments, which, like other dental treatments, can fail. The increase in the number of endodontic treatment resulted in an increased number of failures, their management raising complex and serious endodontic problems. The endodontic retreatment of a failure is required by the increased desire to preserve the tooth on the dental arch, thus preventing the need for dental extraction that may have adverse consequences in terms of functional and psychological effect on patients. This article presents two clinical cases that required endodontic retreatment in order to avoid the complications that could ultimately require tooth extraction. The teeth in question (a mandibular first molar and an upper central incisor) having a special importance, and a physiognomic role, the endodontic retreatment consisted in covering them in porcelain fused to the metal crowns.

Anatomical variations of mandibular first molar and their implications in endodontic treatment.

The possible variations of anatomical and morphological characteristics of the teeth are very important especially for the endodontic practitioner. Before beginning any kind of endodontic treatment, the clinician must be always take into account the morphological variations in pulp anatomy. Among all human teeth, the mandibular first permanent molar is one of the most important. It is often affected by caries and usually needs root canal treatment, even at an early age. For the success of its endocanalicular treatment, dentists need to locate all root canals, debride them entirely, and after that fill the whole endocanalicular system with an inert root filling material. Unfilled canals, left like this because they were not detected, can compromise the longevity of the tooth, thus being a source of infection and a main cause of failure of the prosthetic treatment. This article presents two clinical cases of right mandibular first molars with two roots and four canals instead of three.

Endodontic treatment of a mandibular canine with two roots.

Lower canine is a tooth with a robust, long root and very good implantation, making it a valuable abutment tooth for any type of prosthetic treatment. In order to treat it conservatively and to prevent its loss from the dental arch it is necessary to accomplish a correct and complete endodontic treatment, which involves knowledge of all its morphological variation. The mandibular canine usually presents one root with a single large canal centrally located. The possible anatomical variations are the existence of a single root with two canals and of two different roots, each having a canal. The incidence of lower canines with two roots is usually low, as described in various studies, but their presence in everyday practice shows that the clinician must consider them if he wants to prevent dental endodontic treatment failure. This article presents a relatively rare case of a patient whose right mandibular canine has two roots and two canals. Although the frequency of mandibular canines with two roots is very low, we must not forget that we can deal with such cases, which can obviously occur even in patients in our country, as the ones described in foreign specialty literature.

Treatment of a mandibular canine abutment with two canals.

Human mandibular canines do not present an internal anatomy as simple as could be expected; there are such canines with a single root and two canals, two roots or fused roots. The existence of mandibular canines with more than one root canal is a fact that clinicians ought to keep in mind, in order to avoid failure during endodontic treatment. In spite of the low incidence of lower canines with one root and two canals, this possibility cannot be forgotten, inasmuch as the presence of a second canal in these teeth leads to difficulties in endodontic treatment. The precise knowledge of the dental endocanalicular system's anatomy is essential in the success of the root canal therapy, because the failure to detect the accessories canals and the incomplete radicular obturation leads to the infection of the periapical space, which will ultimately result in the loss of the tooth. The long-term success of the prosthodontic treatment depends directly on the quality of the endodontic treatment realized on the abutment teeth. The mandibular canine is very important as abutment for any type of prosthetic restoration. This article presents a clinical case of a canine tooth which displays a radicular morphology with two canals, which leads us to conclude that such anatomical variations on human teeth can also occur in our country as much as described in the international literature and cannot be overlooked when treating the teeth.