Tooth size, arch length and arch relationship in Egyptian and Saudi Arabian preschool children

The purpose of this study was to compare the tooth size, arch length and arch relationship in Egyptian and Saudi preschool children. Measurements were taken from study casts of 120 Egyptian and Saudi preschool children. Statistical analysis revealed that the mesiodistal tooth width of Saudi was larger than Egyptian children but with no significant difference except at the canine region of both maxillary and mandibular teeth. Teeth of boys were insignificantly larger than girls both in Egyptian and Saudi children. Arch length of both Egyptian and Saudi boys was significantly larger than that of girls, whereas Saudi children have significantly larger arch than Egyptian children. No significant difference was detected as regard arch relationship. Authors concluded that sex may influence crown diameter, arch length and arch relationship but within the same race such differences were not evident

Effect of iontophoresis on fluoride acquisition by primary and permanent enamel from two fluoride solutions

The effect of iontophoresis on fluoride acquisition by primary and permanent enamel was tested using two fluoride solutions. Twenty six sound premolars extracted for orthodontic treatment and twenty eight sound primary molars extracted at time of shedding were used in this study. Each tooth was divided into two halves and prepared for treatment with 2% sodium fluoride and 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride topically applied with and without iontophoresis. The source of current was a DC voltage supply adjusted to a potential of 12V connected to a series of adjustable resistance. An ameter was included to measure the intensity of current which is kept constant at 2m A. An enamel biopsy was taken from every tooth half and analyzed for calcium and fluoride content. The results of this study revealed that iontophoresis enhanced fluoride acquisition from acidulated phosphate fluoride solution by enamel of both primary and permanent teeth and from sodium fluoride for permanent teeth only. Iontophoresis was more effective when used with acidulated phosphate fluoride than when used with sodium fluoride. These results may have an important application for clinical use in caries prevention

Ceramic and metal brackets: their bacterial adherence

The aim of the present study was to clarify and compare the degree ofbacterial adherence in association with the surface of ceramic and metalorthodontic brackets. Equal disks of ceramic, stainless steel as well ashydroxyapatite were used in this study, adhesive properties of Streptococcusmutans to the above mentioned materials were tested experimentally. It wasfound that the bacterial adhesion on ceramic material was significantly higherthan both the stainless steel and hydroxyapatite. While, there was nostatistical significant differences between the two later materials

Diagnosis and screening of children with caries using microbial tests

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of Alban test as adiagnostic test for caries predictions and to relate its acid production tothe number of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus mutans in saliva of children. The study sample consisted of sixty caries active and thirty caries freepreschool children as a control. Clinical examination was done. Salivasamples were collected and 3 tests were adopted for each child. Highcorrelation was detected between dmf index and acid produced from Alban test[r=0.9]. Similar correlations were found between dmf index and Lactobacillusand Streptococcus mutans count [r=0.86 and 0.72 respectively]. AccordingAlban test can be used as a caries predictors in children. It can be done indental clinic due to its simplicity as a routine diagnostic test foridentification of children at caries risk

method for assessing the mesio distal width of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth in a group of Egyptian population

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth in a group of Egyptian population with normal occlusion and Angle class I malocclusion and to describe an equation between the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth which may help in localization of the intermaxillary tooth size discrepancy. The study group consisted of 100 individuals classified into 4 subgroups according to sex and type of occlusion. Using a sharply pointed Bolley gauge the maximum mesiodistal widths of the maxillary [I[1] +I[2] +C] and mandibular [I[1] +I[2] +C+ +bic[1]] were measured on the properly trimmed casts to the nearest 0.1 mm. A high correlation was detected between the sum of mesiodistal width of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth among all the 4 groups. No statistical significant sex difference was detected in both the normal occlusion group and Angle Class 1 malocclusion group, whereas a significant statistical difference was found between the normal occlusion group and Angle Class I malocclusion in both sexes. The relation between the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth will be defined as the difference between the anterior mesiodistal widths in the lower jaw [I[1] +I[2] +C +bic[1]] and the tooth widths in a corresponding segment in the upper jaw [I[1] +I[2] +C]. In the normal occlusion, the mean of the difference is 3.2 mm and stripping or reproximation of teeth may be done if the discrepancy is within 2-3 mm

Mesiodens and paramolar supernumerary teeth: histological observations and a prevalence study in Egyptian children

Sixteen mesiodens and paramolar teeth were collected from 14 children after examining 1080 Egyptian children. The prevalence of these supernumeraries in Egyptian children was found to be 1.296%. Light microscopic examination of their hard tissues was carried out. Numerous structural abnormalities were observed including: some variation in enamel thickness, multidirectional arrangement of enamel prism bundles at some sites, absence of amelodentinal junction and incremental lines of Retzuis at the incisal and the small cusp tip regions, interlacing of the inner ends of enamel prisms and the branching terminal ends of dentinal tubules at sites where A.D.J. is absent with numerous enamel spindles, observation of an outer surface layer of enamel having a honeycomb appearance on top of the longitudinally arranged enamel prisms in paramolar sections, numerous interglobular dentine spaces in the crown and sometimes in the root portions, sparce cellular cementum, presence of dark granules in acellular cementum in mesiodens, increased thickness of acellular cementum at the wide apical region of paramolar roots containing irregular large spaces, presence of hard structureless and clear network across paramolar pulp cavity, detection of an enamel-like mass containing longitudinally and transeversly sectioned enamel prisms and embedded in the crown dentine of some paramolar sections