Supernumerary teeth in patients with cleft lip and palate: the tooth germs do not separate

ABSTRACT Introduction: Supernumerary teeth in cases of cleft lip and palate do not result from the division of normal germs before the formation of hard tissue. Deciduous and permanent teeth odontogenesis begins after the face has formed, either with or without the cleft. Discussion: The most acceptable hypothesis to enable understanding of the presence of supernumerary teeth on one or both sides of the cleft palate is hyperactivity of the dental lamina in its walls. This hyperactivity, with the formation of more tooth germs, must be attributed to mediators and genes related to tooth formation, under strong influence of local epigenetic factors, whose developmental environment was affected by the presence of the cleft. Conclusion: The current concepts of embryology no longer support the fusion of embryonic processes for the formation of the face, but rather the leveling of the grooves between them. All human teeth have a dual embryonic origin, as they are composed of ectoderm and mesenchyme/ectomesenchyme, but this does not make it easy for them to be duplicated to form supernumerary teeth.

RESUMO Introdução: Os dentes extranumerários nas fissuras labiopalatinas não são resultado da divisão dos germes normais antes da formação do tecido duro. A odontogênese dos decíduos e permanentes inicia-se depois de formada a face, com ou sem fissuras. Discussão: A hipótese mais plausível para compreender a presença dos dentes extranumerários em um ou nos dois lados da fissura labiopalatina é a hiperatividade da lâmina dentária em suas paredes. Essa hiperatividade, com formação de mais germes dentários, deve ser atribuída aos mediadores e genes relacionados à formação dos dentes, sob forte influência de fatores epigenéticos locais, cujo ambiente de desenvolvimento foi afetado pela presença da fissura. Conclusão: Os conceitos atuais da embriologia não fundamentam mais a fusão de processos embrionários para a formação da face, e sim o nivelamento dos sulcos entre eles. Todos os dentes humanos têm uma dupla origem embrionária, pois se compõem de ectoderma e mesênquima/ectomesênquima, mas isso não facilita sua duplicação para formar dentes extranumerários.

The mechanism: how dental resorptions occur in ameloblastoma

ABSTRACT Knife-edge or blunt root resorptions characterize ameloblastomas and are pathognomonic for this tumor, because they differentiate ameloblastomas from simple bone cysts, odontogenic keratocysts and nasopalatine duct cysts, which do not lead to resorption of involved teeth. Despite the very high frequency and importance of these characteristics for a differential diagnosis, a microscopic examination should also be conducted before defining the diagnosis and the treatment plan for these cases. This paper describes a six-step hypothesis to explain the mechanism by which ameloblastomas promote the characteristic root resorptions found in association with these benign epithelial tumors, which have a fibrous capsule formed by islands and epithelial cords that mimic the dental lamina, invade neighboring tissues and release mediators (IL-1, EGF) of tooth and root resorption. This hypothesis may be one more explanation for the tooth resorptions sometimes found in orthodontic records, and may help differentiate the root resorptions that are specific to the orthodontic practice.

RESUMO As reabsorções radiculares "em plano" ou "em corte" são características do ameloblastoma e foram consideradas patognomônicas dessa lesão, diferenciando-o do cisto ósseo simples, queratocisto odontogênico e do cisto nasopalatino - nos quais elas estão ausentes, nos dentes envolvidos. Apesar dessa frequência elevadíssima e importante no diagnóstico diferencial, não se pode dispensar o exame microscópico, para um diagnóstico definitivo, no planejamento terapêutico do caso. Elaborou-se uma hipótese com seis passos para explicar o mecanismo pelo qual o ameloblastoma promove essa típica reabsorção radicular peculiar da lesão: ser uma neoplasia epitelial benigna sem cápsula fibrosa, formada por ilhotas e cordões epiteliais que imitam a lâmina dentária e invadem os tecidos vizinhos, liberando mediadores (IL-1, EGF) da reabsorção óssea e dentária. Essa hipótese ajuda a explicar mais uma das causas de reabsorções dentárias que podem estar presentes nas análises das documentações ortodônticas, ajudando a diferenciar as reabsorções radiculares próprias da prática ortodôntica.

Maxillofacial injuries in a group of Brazilian subjects under 18 years of age

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to perform a clinical retrospective analysis of the etiology, incidence and treatment of selected oral and maxillofacial injuries in Brazilian children and adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted during a 14-year period between 1986 and 2000. All patients were admitted to Hospital XV in the city of Curitiba, State of Paraná. Age, gender, monthly distribution, etiology, soft injuries, associated injuries, site of fractures and methods of treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the total of 350 patients of all ages treated for facial injuries, 29.42% were within the age range of the study (0 to 18 years). Mean age was 10.61. Of the patients, 63.1% were male. The most common cause of injury was accidental falls (37.87%), followed by bicycle and motorcycle accidents (21.36%). Of the 103 patients, 88.34% had single injuries. Mandibular fractures were the most common and the condylar region was particularly affected. CONCLUSIONS: Facial trauma is a relatively common occurrence in children. The study indicates that fractures in children and adolescents differ quite considerably from an adult population.