Research progress on dental materials for preventing root caries / 口腔疾病防治

@#The high incidence and untreated rate of root caries, a common and frequently occurring oral disease with challenging treatment in elderly individuals, is the main cause of tooth loss among elderly people, as rapid development results in pulpitis and periapical periodontitis or residual crown and root, which has been regarded as one of the common chronic oral diseases seriously affecting the quality of life of elderly people. Thus, early intervention and prevention are important. Traditional dental materials for preventing root caries have been widely used in clinical practice; however, they have the disadvantages of tooth coloring, remineralization and low sterilization efficiency. A series of new dental materials for preventing root caries have gradually become a research hotspot recently, which have the advantages of promoting the mineralization of deep dental tissue, prolonging the action time and enhancing adhesion. Future caries prevention materials should be designed according to the characteristics of root surface caries and the application population and should be developed toward simplicity, high efficiency and low toxicity. This review describes current research regarding anti-caries prevention material application, serving as a theoretical underpinning for the research of root caries prevention materials, which is important for both promotion in the effective prevention of root caries and improvement in the status of oral health and the quality of life among old people.

Manuka Honey as an Adjunct to Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment: A Pilot Study

@#This pilot study evaluated the effect of manuka honey as a subgingival adjunct to scaling and root surface debridement in the treatment of periodontitis. This study used a split-mouth design with a 3-month follow-up in seven participants diagnosed with periodontitis Stage III Grade B or C. Root surface debridement was performed on one side of the mouth (control); the other side received debridement plus manuka honey application (test). Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, 6- and 12-weeks. Gingival crevicular fluid and subgingival plaque were sampled. Microbiological outcomes were analysed using benzoylarginine pnitroanilide assay and polymerase chain reaction assay. Single application of manuka honey to periodontal pockets did not result in additional reduction of pocket depth, improvement of attachment levels or changes in p-nitroaniline enzymes when compared with root surface debridement alone. However, test sites exhibited greater reduction in bleeding than control sites, mean differences 1.3 (95%CI 1.2-1.5) and 1.7 (95%CI 1.5-1.9) at 6-weeks and 12-weeks, respectively. The proportion of mutans streptococci decreased at 6-weeks in test sites but increased at 12-weeks in control sites. Adjunctive application of manuka honey to periodontal pockets improved gingival inflammation but did not demonstrate significant clinical benefits compared with root surface debridement alone.

Traditional and modified tunnel technique for the treatment of maxillary anterior teeth gingival recession / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @#To compare the clinical effect of the tunnel technique (TUN) and vestibular incision subperiosteal tunnel access (VISTA) combining connective tissue grafts (CTGs) on recovering the exposed root surface in a case of gingival recession over the upper anterior teeth and then to provide clinical evidence for gingival recession treatment. @*Methods@# A case of gingival recession (Miller I type) over teeth 13-14 and 22-23 was treated using different techniques bilaterally. 22-23 were treated by a TUN combined CTG transplantation,while teeth 13-14 were treated by a VISTA technique combined with CTG transplantation. The gingival retraction height (GRH), gingival retraction width (GRW), keratinized gingival width (KW), root coverage aesthetic score (RES) and visual analog scale (VAS) were measured after operation. @*Results @#The effect of post-operation were ideal and complete ginglval recovering were achieved, the postoperative effects of the two methods were stable, GRH and GRW decreased, and KW increased. RES was 10. The VAS score of VISTA combined with CTG transplantation was 6, which was higher than that of TUN+CTG. @*Conclusion@#Gingival recession can be treated by TUN+CTG or VISTA+CTG with ideal prognosis. VISTA with an additional incision facilitates the operative procedure but leads to less comfort.

Cemental tear: An unusual cause for persisting endodontic periodontal lesion

Cemental tear represents a rare form of root surface fracture which makes teeth prone to periodontal breakdown. The diagnosis of cemental tear becomes a challenge as it is usually neglected or misdiagnosed and is also underreported in the literature. Correct diagnosis and early treatment of cemental tear can prevent further periodontal breakdown and may preserve the affected tooth for a longer duration. This case presents the diagnosis, treatment, and an analysis of a right maxillary lateral incisor with an improper endodontic treatment coupled with a cemental tear. Despite surgical removal, the cemental tear led to the development of an endodontic periodontal lesion. This article intends to help recognize early signs and symptoms of cemental tear and establish timely diagnosis. It determines that if the periodontal destruction caused by cemental tears is diagnosed and treated early, it may be possible to prevent further periodontal breakdown and preserve the tooth for a longer period.

Coronally advanced flap combined with connective tissue grafts for the treatment of mandibular anterior teeth gingival recession / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @#To compare the effect of the combined coronally advanced flap and connective tissue flap techniques with that of a guided tissue regeneration (GTR) technique on recovering the exposed root surface in a case of gingival retraction over the lower anterior teeth.@*Methods@#A case of gingival recession (Miller Ⅲ type) over teeth 33-43 accompanied by hypersensitivity of the right lower teeth was treated using different techniques bilaterally. Teeth 42-43 were treated by a combined coronally advanced flap and connective tissue flap technique, while teeth 33-41 were treated by a GTR technique of a coronally advanced flap combined with an absorbable collagen membrane.@*Results @#Teeth 42-43 exhibited ideal gingival recovering of the exposed root surface, with the disappearance of the hypersensitivity symptoms, during the follow-up visits at 3.5 months after surgery. However, the exposed root surface of teeth 33-41 exhibited no significant change in coverage at the same time points compared with the preoperative coverage. At 12 months after surgery, the recovered gingiva on the root surface of teeth 42-43 was stable.@*Conclusion@#The combined coronally advanced flap and connective tissue flap approach, which can achieve better coverage of the exposed root surface than the GTR technique, is a feasible and safe surgical method for treating cases with gingival recession. The GTR technique is not an effective method for treating cases with Miller Ⅲ type gingival recession over multiple teeth due to proximal attachment loss.

Root surface areas of maxillary permanent teeth in anterior normal overbite and anterior open bite assessed using cone-beam computed tomography

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the root surface areas of the maxillary permanent teeth in Thai patients exhibiting anterior normal overbite and in those exhibiting anterior open bite, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT images of maxillary permanent teeth from 15 patients with anterior normal overbite and 18 patients with anterior open bite were selected. Three-dimensional tooth models were constructed using Mimics Research version 17.0. The cementoenamel junction was marked manually. The root surface area was calculated automatically by 3-Matic Research version 9.0. The root surface areas of each tooth type from both types of bite were compared using the independent t-test (P < .05). The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess intraobserver reliability. RESULTS: The mean root surface areas of the maxillary central and lateral incisors in individuals with anterior open bite were significantly less than those in those with normal bite. The mean root surface area of the maxillary second premolar in individuals with anterior open bite was significantly greater than in those with normal bite. CONCLUSION: Anterior open-bite malocclusion might affect the root surface area, so orthodontic force magnitudes should be carefully determined.

Número y disposición de los forámenes apicales en la superficie radicular de primeros premolares superiores / Number and arrangement of the apical foramen in root surface of maxillary first premolars

El primer premolar maxilar es considerado un diente con alta variación en su anatomía radicular y morfología de canales radiculares (Chaparro et al., 1999). Por esto, toma gran relevancia el conocimiento de su anatomía al realizar tratamientos endodónticos. El objetivo de éste estudio fue describir frecuencia de número y disposición de forámenes apicales en la región apical radicular en primeros premolares maxilares. Se utilizó microscopia óptica para estudiar en detalle la anatomía radicular apical de 141 raíces de primeros premolares maxilares unirradiculares (n=51) y birradiculares (n=49) de nacionalidad chilena; en donde se observó número de forámenes apicales mayores y accesorios (foraminas), ubicación del foramen mayor, y distancia de éste al ápice anatómico. En dientes unirradiculares se encontró una mayor frecuencia de uno o dos forámenes mayores, y un promedio de 2,5 foraminas accesorias por diente analizado. En dientes birradiculares se encontró una mayor frecuencia de un foramen mayor por raíz, y un promedio de 1,3 foraminas por raíz. Además, se encontró que la ubicación del foramen mayor fue más frecuente en las superficies mesial-distal-palatino en dientes unirradiculares, no encontrando diferencias significativas entre éstas superficies. En cambio en dientes birradiculares se observó que el foramen apical mayor en todas las superficies radiculares sin haber diferencias significativas entre ellas. La distancia promedio entre el foramen mayor y el ápice anatómico fue de 0,819 mm en uni y birradiculares. En conclusión los primeros premolares maxilares representativos de población chilena, presentan una anatomía apical variable y compleja, en cuanto al número de forámenes mayores, número de foraminas, y su ubicación.

The first maxillary premolar tooth has a high variation in its anatomy and morphology. Therefore, knowledge of its anatomy is important at the time of endodontic treatment. The purpose of this study was to describe frequency, number and arrangement of apical foramen in external root apical region in maxillary first premolar. We studied under microscopy (4x) of 141 root of first maxillary premolar single-rooted teeth (51) and double-rooted teeth (49) in Chilean population; where the number of major apical foramen and accessories (foraminas), major foramen location and distance from it to the anatomical apex was observed. In single-rooted teeth the emergence of one or two major foramen was found, averaging 2.5 foramina accessory. In double-rooted teeth the emergence of one foramen was observed with an average of 1.3 foraminas by root. It was established that there were no significant differences in the location of the major foramen between the mesial-distal-palatal surfaces in single-rooted teeth. In double-rooted teeth the major apical foramen was observed in all root surfaces without significant differences between them. The average distance between the major foramen and the anatomic apex foramen was 0.819 mm. In conclusion, the first premolars of Chilean population, have a changeable and complex apical anatomy, in relation to the number of foramina, the number of foramen and its location.

In situ Determination of Anthracene Adsorbed onto Mangrove Root Surface Micro-zone Using Microscopic Fluorescence Spectrometric Analysis System / 分析化学

A microscopic fluorescence spectrometric analysis ( MFSA) system was set in the laboratory. A novel method for in situ determination of Anthracene ( Ant) adsorbed onto root surface micro-zone of two kinks of mangrove plant, named Kandelia obovata ( K. obovata) and Avicennia marina ( A. marina) by MFSA was established. Fluorescence spectra of Ant adsorbed on root surface micro-zone were obtained by synchronous scanning mode. The signal to noise (S/N) of Ant (5. 3 pg/μm2) adsorbed on K. obovata and A. marina root surface micro-zone increased up to 5. 5 and 6. 8 while wavelength offset (△λ) both were at 60 nm, respectively. The linear dynamic ranges of established method were 5. 3-63. 2 pg/μm2 for K. obovata and 10. 5-52. 6 pg/μm2 for A. marina, with the detection limits of 1. 1 pg/μm2 and 5. 5 pg/μm2 , respectively. The relative standard deviations were both less than 12 . 5% ( n=9 ) , and the recoveries were 98 . 1% -117. 0% and 81. 2%-110. 9%, respectively. The result showed that the MFSA system had ability to obtain quantitative information of fluorescence spectra and fluorescence image of Ant adsorbed onto plant roots surface micro-zone.

Delayed Tooth Replantation after Treatment of Necrotic Periodontal Ligament with Citric Acid / Reimplante dentário tardio após tratamento do ligamento periodontal necrótico com ácido cítrico

Objective: to evaluated the effect of treating root-adhered necrotic periodontal ligament (PDL) with citric acid on the healing process in delayed rat tooth replantation. Material and Methods: Forty Wistar rats, assigned to 4 groups (n=10), had their upper right incisor extracted and kept dry on a workbench. For Group I (control), the teeth were replanted after a 5 min extra-alveolar time. For the other groups, replantation was done after 60 min. In Group II, the root canals were filled with a calcium hydroxide-based paste and the teeth were replanted with no root surface treatment. In Group III, the teeth were immersed in citric acid (pH 1) for 3 min, the canals were filled with calcium hydroxide and the teeth were replanted. In Group IV, instead of the immersion, the roots were scrubbed with gauze soaked in citric acid and the teeth were replanted. The animals were sacrificed 60 days postoperatively. Results: Regarding replacement resorption, there was statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the control group and the other three groups. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was found among the groups regarding the areas of inflammatory resorption. There was also a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the control group and Group IV regarding ankylosis. The control group showed the least replacement resorption percent means compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The root structure was more affected by replacement resorption and ankylosis in Group IV compared to the Groups II and III, but this difference was not significant statistically (p > 0.05). Conclusion: the treatment of root surface-adhered necrotic periodontal ligament with citric acid was not able to prevent the occurrence of ankylosis, root resorption and inflammatory resorption in delayed rat tooth replantation

Objetivo: avaliar o efeito do ácido cítrico no ligamento periodontal cementário necrótico no processo de reparo do reimplante dentário tardio em rato. Material e Método: Quarenta ratos Wistar após a extração do incisivo superior direito foram divididos em 4 grupos (n=10). No Grupo I (controle), os dentes foram reimplantados após 5 min extralveolar. Nos outros grupos o reimplante foi realizado após 60 min. No Grupo II, os canais foram obturados com pasta hidróxido de cálcio e os dentes foram reimplantados sem tratamento da superfície radicular. No Grupo III, os dentes foram imersos em ácido cítrico (pH1) por 3 min, os canais foram obturados com pasta de hidróxido de cálcio e reimplantados. No Grupo IV, a superfície radicular foi friccionada com gaze embebida em ácido cítrico e os dentes reimplandos. Os aminais sofreram eutanásia 60 dias após o reimplante. Resultados: Quanto à reabsorção por substituição houve diferença estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,05) entre o grupo controle e os outros três grupos. Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante (p > 0,05) entre os grupos com relação à reabsorção inflamatória. Houve também uma diferença estatisticamente significante (p < 0,05) entre o grupo controle e do Grupo IV quanto a anquilose. O grupo controle apresentou menor reabsorção por substituição em comparação com os outros grupos (p < 0,05). A estrutura radicular foi mais comprometida pela reabsorção por substituição e anquilose no Grupo IV quando comparado aos grupos II e III, porém sem significância estatística (p > 0.05). Conclusão: o tratamento do ligamento periodontal cementário com ácido citrico não previne a ocorrência de anquilose e reabsorção inflamatória em reimplante dentário tardio em rato.

Considerações atuais dos lasers no tratamento periodontal / Actual consideration of the effect of Lasers in periodontal treatment

Doenças periodontais são doenças inflamatórias crônicas dos tecidos de suporte dos dentes. Elas são causadas principalmente por bactérias periodontopatogênicas e seus efeitos clínicos são fortemente influenciados pela resposta do hospedeiro. A terapia com laser tem sido estudada em diferentes aplicações na Periodontia. O objetivo do presente estudo é apresentar uma revisão da literatura sobre os efeitos dos lasers em Periodontia, dando ênfase a sua ação sobre a superfície radicular e sobre os tecidos periodontais contaminados. Efeitos térmicos dos lasers de alta intensidade resultam em eliminação de bactérias periodontopatogênicas e devem ser benéficos para o tratamento periodontal. Tem sido dada atenção a aplicabilidade clinica do laser de Er:YAG com 2,94 µm de comprimento de onda. Este laser é bem absorvido na água, porque seu comprimento de onda é ressonante às moléculas de água. O Érbio também é capaz de remover cálculo e camadas superficiais de cemento sem promover efeitos térmicos indesejáveis. Mais recentemente outro método alternativo tem sido objeto de estudo em redução bacteriana como o uso dos lasers de baixa potência e corantes associados (Terapia fotodinâmica, PDT) que pode se tornar um método complementar do tratamento periodontal.

Periodontal diseases are chronic inflammatory diseases of the supporting structures of teeth. They are triggered by periodontopathogens, and the clinical outcome is influenced greatly by the local host immune response. Laser therapy has been studied in different applications in periodontics. The aim o this study is to introduce a literature revision of the effect of the principal lasers in periodontics, principally about these effects on the root surface and on the periodontal contaminated tissue. Thermal laser effects result in elimination of periodontopathogenic bacteria and might beneficial to the treatment of periodontics. Attention has been paid to the clinical applicability of the Er:YAG laser. This erbium lasr light is well absorbed by water because its wavelength is resonant to the water molecule. The Er:YAG laser also enables the removal of calculus and a superficial layer of infected cementum without promoting undesirable thermal damage. Nowadays alternative methods of bacterial reduction has been studied, such as the use of low intensity laser and associated dyes ( Photodynamic therapy, PDT), this could be a complementary method to conventional periodontal treatment.

Avaliação do efeito da afiação utilizando três tipos de pedras com e sem lubrificante sobre o ângulo de corte de curetas e superfície radicular após instrumentação: análise através de microscópio eletrônico de varredura e rugosímetro / Assessment the effect of sharpen with three kinds of sharpen stones using or not lubricant over curet's cutting edges and instrumentated root surface: assessment on scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Perfilometer

O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar ao Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura (MEV) e Rugosímetro o efeito da afiação com e sem lubrificante utilizando três tipos de pedras de afiar sobre o ângulo de corte das curetas e o efeito sobre a superfície radicular instrumentada. Para isso foram selecionadas 24 curetas novas marca Neumar e distribuídas aleatoriamente em 8 grupos experimentais: curetas novas, curtas sem corte, curetas afiadas com pedras de Arkansas, Óxido de Alumínio e Carborundum com e sem lubrificante. Posteriormente as lâminas das curetas foram separadas das hastes e fotografadas ao MEV onde obtiveram-se fotomicrografias que foram avaliadas por 3 examinadores diferentes designando-se valores para cada foto de acordo ao Índice Modificado do Ângulo de Corte, da melhor a pior condição encontrada. Na segunda parte da pesquisa repetiu-se todos os passos da primeira fase, com a diferença que as lâminas não foram separadas das hastes, efetuando-se a instrumentação radicular sobre dentes provenientes de um bando de dentes pré-existentes de acordo com cada grupo experimental, procedimento realizado com um aparelho padronizador desenhado especificamente para este estudo. Posteriormente as áreas instumentadas foram separadas para análise ao Rugosimetro e logo tomadas fotomicrografadas ao MEV que foram avaliadas por 3 examinadores diferentes designando-se valores para cada foto de acordo ao Índice Modificado de Irregularidade Superficial, da melhor a pior condição encontrada. Os resultados obtidos foram enviados para análise estatística. Conforme os resultados, conclui-se: o lubrificante não exerceu influência significante sobre o ângulo de corte e a superfície radicular, sendo que o fator tipo de pedra exerceu um efeito direto sobre o ângulo de corte e a superfície radicular. As pedras de Arkansas com e sem lubrificante tiveram os melhores resultados, as pedras de Óxido de Alumínio os piores e as pedras de Carborundum com e sem lubrificante uma posição intermediária entre as duas anteriores, em termos de lisura do ângulo de corte e superfície radicular. Precisa-se de estudos adicionais para estabelecer o efeito lubrificante em termos de lisura do ângulo de corte e a superfície radicular

The purpose of this work was the assessment on Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Perfilometer the effect of sharpen with three kinds of sharpen stones using or not lubricant over curet's cutting edges and the effect over instrumentated root surface. Twenty-four Neumar curets were selected and ramdomly distributes in eight experimental groups: new curets, dull curets, resharpened curtes with Arkansas stone, Aluminium Oxide and Carborundum with and without lubricant. Subsequently, the curet blades were separated from the handle and photographed on SEM. The photographs were examinated by three diferent examiners and the values given, according to the index of cutting edge, from better to worse were found. In the second part of the work, all the steps of the first phase were repeated except that the blades were not separated from the handle. The instrumentation of the experimental groups were done with the patterned apparatus on root segments from a teeth bank source. The instrumented areas were separated and a Perfilometer analysis and SEM photographs were made and analysed by the examiners. It was conclude from the statistical analysis that the lubricant did not highly influence the cutting edge and root surface. The type of stone influenced directly the cutting edge and root surface. The Arkansas's stone with and without lubricant show the highest result while the Aluminium Oxide stone the lowest. The carborundum stones with and without lubricant show intermediated results. Further studies are necessary to stablish the lubricant effecting on cutting edge smoothness and root surface

O efeito de diferentes pedras de afiação sobre o ângulo de corte de instrumentos periodontais e sua influência na superfície radicular após raspagem e aplainamento. Análise através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura / The effects of different types of sharpening stones on curets and the influence of sharpened curets on root surface. A scanning electron microscopy study

O propósito deste estudo foi avaliar através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura, o efeito da afiação com diferentes pedras de afiar sobre o ângulo de corte de curetas Gracey 5-6, e a influência dessa afiação na superfície radicular, após raspagem e o aplainamento. Neste estudo o modelo experimental apresentou duas fases distintas. Na primeira fase foram analisados, utilizando o microscópio eletrônico de varredura, os ângulos de corte de quinze curetas Gracey 5-6, de aço inoxidável, após terem sido afiadas com diferentes tipos de pedras. Na segunda fase do estudo, foram avaliadas utilizando o microscópio eletrônico de varredura, superfícies radiculares de 25 dentes recém extraídos, após terem sido raspadas com curetas afiadas com diferentes pedras. Após a análise dos resultados obtidos nas duas fases deste estudo, concluímos que: 1 - as pedras sintéticas (Óxido de alumínio e Carborundum), são mais abrasivas e produzem ângulos de corte mais irregulares, enquanto que as pedras Arkansas são menos abrasivas e produzem ângulos de corte mais lisos e definidos. 2 - Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os cinco grupos testados, quanto ao grau de irregularidade sobre as superfícies radiculares, após a instrumentação

The purpose of this study was to perform a SEM analysis of the effects of different types of sharpening stones on the cutting edge of Gracey types curets and the influence after scaling and planing on the root surface. This study consisted of two parts. In the first part cutting edges of fifteen stainless steel Gracey 5-6 curets were examined and photographed using SEM after they were sharpened with differents types of sharpening stones. In the second part of this study root surfaces of twenty-five extracted human teeth were examined and photographed using SEM after the surfaces were scaled and planed with curets sharpened with differents types of sharpening stones. The results obtained from this study have led to the following conclusions: 1 - the Aluminium oxide and Carborundum stones produced roughness on the cutting edge while the Arkansas stone produced smooth surfaces and an exact meeting of cuting edge faces (lateral and facial faces). 2 - no difference was observed between five groups as concern, roughs score on the root surface after instrumentation

Morphometric study of the calculus and periodontal tissues adhered to the root surfaces in periodontitis / 대한치주과학회지

To verify the effect of subgingival calculus on the periodontal tissues in periodontitis and the effectiveness of supragingival scaling to remove the calculus, 30 teeth from healthy group (Probing pocket depth:PPD7mm: AP group) were selected and supragingival scaling was performed before extraction of all experimental teeth. After careful extraction, the teeth were cleaned with saline and disclosed with toluidine blue and carefully examined the relationship and distance between the calculus attached on the root surface and periodontal tissues. As a result, it was; 1. The calculus was not discovered on the root surface of teeth in HP group, but was in MP and AP group, mostly on interproximal surface and furca area. The shape of the attached calculus was ovoid, trepazoid and polygonal and the calculus was distributed randomly over the root surface. 2. PPD was more than the distance between the gingival margin to the level of attached connective tissue in AP group rather than in HP and MP group. 3. The length of calculus was 2.7mm+/-.44mm in HP group and 4.1+/-.89in AP group. 4. The distance between the apical margin of calculus and the level of attached connective tissue was 2.4+/-.33mm in MP group and 3.4+/-.89mm in AP group. 5. The length of subgingival calculus was tended to increase in relation to the probing pocket depth. Therefore, it can be concluded, the calculus in periodontal pocket can not be removed completely with supragingival scaling. As the terminal part of calculus was far away with limited distance from the periodontal tissue, it can be said that the calculus was not a direct factor in destroying the periodontal tissue. In this study, the extent of the plaque was not verified but the location of calculus can be used in clinical practice for complete removal of calculus when the distance relation bewteen calculus and plaque will be known.

Observatiosn on Attached Cementicles on surfaces of Extracted Teeth and Their Clinical Significance / 昆明医科大学学报

It is the purpose of this study to examine the prevalence and distribution of cementicles on different root surfaces of 524 extracted human teeth. The results are as follows:185 teeth had cementicles and the morbidity accouted for 35% of the sum total of investigation. Cementicles were seen on approximately over 50% of the canines and molars and fewer than 50% of the other teeth.On canines,cementicles were found most frequently in the mid- dle and apical thirds of the roots.On molars,cemwnticles were found frequently in furcations. A relationship with the presence of enamel projections at the cementenamel junction in molar furcations was noted.The findings suggested that cementicles frequent occurrance in certain locations be of grear clinical importance to periodontal diseases.