Anatomical positions of the inferior dental canal and its relationship with impacted lower third molars in 18-to 29-year-old Ecuadorians

The third molars are the dental organs with the most variations in terms of their formation and time of eruption, which can cause several pathologies. The incidence of third molar impaction varies between 20% and 30%, with predominance in females. Through the inferior dental canal, goes the inferior dental nerve to innervate the molars and lower premolars. Recent studies on variations in the position of the lower dental canal have shown a low incidence of variations. Objective: To determine the prevalence of anatomical variations of the inferior dental canal in relation to impacted lower third molars, by means of digital image analysis in patients who attended the X-Ray Imaging Center in Azogues in 2016. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who attended the center X-Ray Imaging Center in Azogues in 2016. The following variables were analyzed: sex, age, variation of the position of the inferior dental canal in relation to the third impacted molar, the radiographic details according to the Monaco classification, and tooth position according to the Winter classification. In total, 64 radiographs were analyzed. Results: It was found that 5% of participants showed no relation of the inferior dental canal with the lower third molar, 72% had a relation of the dental canal with the third molar, and 23% presented with absence of the third molar. According to the Winter classification, the prevalence was 53% mesioangular, 18% horizontal, 19% vertical, 6% vestibuloversion, and 4% inverted. Conclusion: The third molars present high indexes of relation with the inferior dental canal in 18- to 29-year-old Ecuadorians

Management of compound odontoma with guided bone regeneration: a case report

An odontoma is a mixed benign odontogenic tumor, being a hamartomatous neoplastic lesion of odontogenic epithelial and mesenchymal cells that form enamel, dentine and cement, which occurs in the second to third decade of life, and is commonly a radiographic finding. The aim of this paper is to describe the management of a compound odontoma with guided bone regeneration. A 20-year-old asymptomatic male patient with no relevant surgical medical history underwent surgery for the enucleation of a compound odontoma followed by guided bone regeneration of the defect, and histopathological study of the specimen. The evolution was favorable, without any sign of recurrence. It is important to carry out a previous surgical plan, taking into account the size of the defect resulting from its enucleation, assess the need for guided bone regeneration and use complementary diagnostic resources for a satisfactory recovery.