ABSTRACT
Background@#Accessory infraorbital foramen (AIOF) can change the normal course of emerging branches of the infraorbital nerve and blood vessels exiting the infraorbital foramen (IOF). This study aimed to examine the AIOF, number of foramina, and their position in relation to IOF using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). @*Methods@#We performed a retrospective CBCT assessment of hospital records between January 2018 and August 2022. The CBCT of 507 patients were examined to extract information on the prevalence, number, position, linear distance from the IOF, and diameter of AIOF in relation to demographic factors. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the prevalence of AIOF. Mean and standard deviation were used to calculate the linear distance and diameter of the AIOF, respectively. The AIOFs, its distribution, and number were compared between sexes and sides using the chi-square test. The independent t-test and Mann–Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the mean difference between the sexes and sides. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. @*Results@#In this current study, the prevalence of AIOF was 7.1% (36 of the 507 patients). Additionally, the current study examined the number of foramina using a single foramen on each side and double foramina located bilaterally at a distance from the AIOF to the IOF. The mean AIOF diameter was also studied, and the AIOF position with respect to the IOF on CBCT was superomedial or inferomedial. There were no statistically significant associations between any of the parameters assessed in this study when comparing sex and sides. @*Conclusions@#A greater number of patients with AIOF presented with a single foramen and unilateral occurrence, without a statistically significant difference. The AIOF was most commonly located superomedial to the IOF.
ABSTRACT
Background: Normal human permanent dentition consists of 32 teeth, 16 in each arch. Few individuals have outnumbered call supernumerary teeth. The figure of supernumerary teeth could be the same as normal teeth or deformed to be abnormal. The fourth molar is a kind of supernumerary tooth. From a few case reports, they resided unilaterally or bilaterally in both jawbones. Morphology and size can be similar to a normal tooth. They have been classified as a type of paramolar or distomolar tooth. The two case reports are of 2 referred patients from an orthodontist for surgical removal. Clinical aspects, evolution, genetics and the trend to produce new set of teeth from stem cells are discussed.Objectives: 1. To study morphology and comparative size of the fourth molars with the normal third molar in mandible of surgical patient. 2. To search information of tooth formation controlling in human and discussion aspects that contributed to clinical treatment and studying trends in the future.Results: Fourth molars are presented in the mandible of both cases. One case has 4 fourth molars, 2 in mandible and 2 in maxilla. Morphology is the same as normal molar tooth. Another has 2 lower fourth molars with abnormal appearance. All of the teeth are smaller than the third molars. The problematic teeth are surgically extracted by safe standard surgery. Tooth formation found to be controlled by specific genes such as Msx1, Lhx7 and Pax9. The advance in cell biology, molecular biology and stem cells gave way to tooth bioengineering from ectomesenchymal oral tissue and stem cells in animal studies. It is promising that the third set of human dentition can be engineered in the near future.Conclusion: Fourth molars may appear normal or abnormal in shape and size. Surgical removal is offered to treat their pathologic condition or for other required dental treatment. In the context of excess tooth can be formed in the jaws, human tooth bioengineering is closely underway for replacement of lost dentition.