Abnormal temporomandibular joint radiographic findings in patients referred to department of oral and maxillofacial radiology, dental school, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Temporomandibular Joint disorders are relatively frequent in different societies. The purpose of the present study was to determine abnormal Temporomandibular Joint radiographic findings in patients referred to Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University. This descriptive cross-sectional study was done on 400 patients with no marked symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders who met criteria of the study. Mean age of patient was 38.38. The data was collected by taking patients history, clinical evaluation while the panoramic radiographies were taken in standard conditions viewing by means of black-colored sheets .for statistical evaluation data was analyzed by chi- square and exact fisher tests. Flattening was the most observed abnormal finding with 16.3% incidence. Erosion, condylar hyperplasia, concavity, Bifid condyle,condylar hypoplasia and sclerosis respected were the most common abnormal findings in this study. There were no significant differences in the incidence of abnormal findings regarding the patient's gender, dental status and occlusion, but the prevalence of abnormal radiographic findings was significantly uprising as the age of the patients increased [P< 0.002]. The results demonstrated the incidence of abnormal radiographic findings in 34.4% of the patients referring to the studied center which shows a relatively high prevalence

Correlation between chronological age and developmental status of third molars [A Radiographic Evaluation]

Determining chronological age of individuals is an investigation key in legal medicine. The aim of this study was radiographic evaluation of correlation between chronological age of Iranian people and developmental status of third molar tooth based on Demirjian staging method. This cross-sectional and diagnostic study was accomplished in Radiology department, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran [2004-2005]. [35] young adults, 15-25 year-old, attended the study. ID cards and radiographic evaluation were used for data collection. The radiographs were studied by a legal medicine resident and an oral and maxillofacial radiologist. Determining the developmental stages of third molar teeth was based on Demirjian method. Statistical calculations were carried out by Levene, t, Wilcoxon's signed rank, Mann-Whitney, Friedman tests and Kendal correlation coefficients [tau-b]. The distribution of different development stages of Demirjian method increased by development of third molars. There was a significant statistical discrepancy between boys and girls for the lower left third molar tooth [P < 0.001]; males were in a higher development rank. According to Calton system, he relation between Demirjian method and age was average in maxillary third molar teeth and was strong in mat dibular third molar teeth. The maxillary third molars were generally in a higher development rank compared to mandibular third molar teeth [Friedman test, X2 -44.2 14, P < 0.001]. Among four molar teeth, only developmental stage of lower left third molar was diagnosed to be effective [R 0.7 14, R2=0.51, adjusted R2 0.507, F =209.047, P < 0.001]. Only stage [H] of Demirjian method that the distal canal is closed can b: predicted with 99% precision whether the person will be 18 or above 18 years old

[Diagnostic values of conventional radiography and digital subtraction radiography in detection of periapical bone lesions [an invitro study]]

The detection of the teeth periapical lesions is associated with some problems clinically. As this diagnosis is based on the observation of radiolucent regions in the periapical area, the radiographic assessmcnts of the lesions are important. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of conventional and digital subtraction radiography to improve the diagnostic ability of periapical lesions. Artificial bone lesions in the periapical region of 15 teeth were created. Conventional and digital radiography were taken of all specimens in four stages: preoperative and after lesion creation in cancellous bone by using No.2, No.6 and No.10 slow speed steel burs. Digital radiography images were exposcd wherc as the distance between x-ray source and CCD was 24cm and position of tube, tecth and receptor was fixed. The data was analyzed by kappa statistics. Diagnostic sensitivity in detection of lesion by conventional radiography and digital subtraction radiography by using bur No. 2 were 34.5%, 71.4%, No. 6 were 54.7%, 95.2% and bur No.10 slow speed steel bur were 92.9%, 100% respectively. The digital subtraction radiography in comparison with conventional radiography had a higher diagnostic value in detection of periapical bone lesions

frequency of trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis patients referred to Iranian MS Association during 2004-2005

It has been reported that some patients with multiple sclerosis may develop trigeminal neuralgia [TN] that may cause the loss of patient's intact teeth when incorrectly diagnosed by dentists. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the frequency of trigeminal neuralgia in MS patients who were referred to the Iranian MS Association during 2004-2005. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 179 MS patients whose diagnosis was confirmed by MRI protocol. Patients were selected randomly among those who participated in educational courses at the Iranian MS Association. The data was collected by questionnaire, interview and clinical examinations. The collected information was analyzed by student-t and fisher's exact tests. The study showed that 7.8% of MS patients to have definitive signs of TN while detection of such involvement was not so clear in 2.8% of cases. About 76.5% of all patients were females and the rest [23.5%] were males. About 36.8% of TN patients showed some manifestations in the maxilla, 31.6% in the eye region, and 21.1% in the mandible. About 10.5% of the manifestations have occurred in the right side, 47.4% in the left and 42.1% in both sides. Seven patients [36.8%] demonstrated with trigger zones. Only about 10.6% of studied MS patients demonstrated trigeminal neuralgia. The ratio of TN development in patients with history of Baclofen usage was less than nonusers