Orthodontic forces modulate insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 changes in gingival crevicular fluid.

Orthodontic tooth movement results from the response of the periodontal tissue to orthodontic force, which leads to modeling and remodeling of the surrounding alveolar bone. The response is considered to occur through the activation of specific signaling pathways, many of which are known, all acting to ultimately result in tooth movement. Much is known about the actions of these two cells, and the signaling pathways that affect them, both in bone and orthodontic literature, however, to date, little work has been carried out to examine the effect of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) in orthodontics. Therefore, we investigated the presence of IGFBP-5 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of 6 healthy subjects, and assessed the effects of orthodontic treatment on the levels and molecular state of this protein.

Osteogenic differentiation and gene expression of dental pulp stem cells under low-level laser irradiation: a good promise for tissue engineering.

The effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been the focus of recent studies as being assumed responsible for promoting photostimulatory and photobiomodulatory effects in vivo and in vitro, increasing cell metabolism, improving cell regeneration and invoking an anti-inflammatory response. A positive effect of LLLT on the bone proliferation of some cell types has been observed, but little is known about its effect on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Here, we accurately describe the technical procedure to isolate mesenchymal DPSCs, and assay their osteogenic capacity when irradiated with an LLLT source. These preliminary results show that LLLT irradiation influences the in vitro proliferation of DPSCs and increases the expression of essential proteins for bone formation, although it is necessary to carry out further experiments on other cell types and to uniform the methodological designs.

Finite element method (FEM), mechanobiology and biomimetic scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.

Techniques of bone reconstructive surgery are largely based on conventional, non-cell-based therapies that rely on the use of durable materials from outside the patient's body. In contrast to conventional materials, bone tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies the principles of engineering and life sciences towards the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve bone tissue function. Bone tissue engineering has led to great expectations for clinical surgery or various diseases that cannot be solved with traditional devices. For example, critical-sized defects in bone, whether induced by primary tumor resection, trauma, or selective surgery have in many cases presented insurmountable challenges to the current gold standard treatment for bone repair. The primary purpose of bone tissue engineering is to apply engineering principles to incite and promote the natural healing process of bone which does not occur in critical-sized defects. The total market for bone tissue regeneration and repair was valued at $1.1 billion in 2007 and is projected to increase to nearly $1.6 billion by 2014.Usually, temporary biomimetic scaffolds are utilized for accommodating cell growth and bone tissue genesis. The scaffold has to promote biological processes such as the production of extra-cellular matrix and vascularisation, furthermore the scaffold has to withstand the mechanical loads acting on it and to transfer them to the natural tissues located in the vicinity. The design of a scaffold for the guided regeneration of a bony tissue requires a multidisciplinary approach. Finite element method and mechanobiology can be used in an integrated approach to find the optimal parameters governing bone scaffold performance.In this paper, a review of the studies that through a combined use of finite element method and mechano-regulation algorithms described the possible patterns of tissue differentiation in biomimetic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering is given. Firstly, the generalities of the finite element method of structural analysis are outlined; second, the issues related to the generation of a finite element model of a given anatomical site or of a bone scaffold are discussed; thirdly, the principles on which mechanobiology is based, the principal theories as well as the main applications of mechano-regulation models in bone tissue engineering are described; finally, the limitations of the mechanobiological models and the future perspectives are indicated.

Preparation of feeding obturators for newborns with cleft palate: clinical and laboratory procedures.

The clinical and laboratory procedures for fabricating a neonatal feeding obturator requiring only a single impression followed by relining of the plate are described. The technique involves the use of a specific custom tray and polysiloxane putty for the impression, autopolymerizing acrylic resin for the plate, and a soft liner for the relining procedure. In over a decade, an obturator plate applied with this technique in 81 newborns with cleft palate has obtained good nutritional and functional results.

Magnetic resonance imaging of temporomandibular disorders: classification, prevalence and interpretation of disc displacement and deformation.

AIM: To analyse the prevalence of disc displacements and deformations from MRI of symptomatic temporomandibular disorders (TMD). METHODS: The study was conducted retrospectively on 192 joints of 98 patients (67 females, 31 males, mean age 29 years), who had undergone bilateral MRI (except for four who had unilateral) in the sagittal (both open and closed mouth) and coronal (closed mouth only) planes. These displacements were subdivided into static (complete anterior and posterior, partial anterolateral and anteromedial, sideways lateral and medial, anterolateral and anteromedial rotational) and dynamic (with reduction, without reduction, with incomplete reduction; non-determinable). Disc deformations were subdivided into: enlargement of the posterior band, reversed biconcave shape, biplanar (flattened) and biconvex shape. RESULTS: Eighty per cent of patients had bilateral displacement, 15% unilateral and 5% a normally positioned disc. Complete anterior displacement was the commonest and sideways the rarest. Reduction was present in 58% of disc displacements, no reduction in 26%, incomplete reduction in 4%, while in the remaining 12%, it could not be determined. Rotational displacement was the most likely to feature reduction and sideways the least. Temporomandibular joints with no reduction were closely correlated with bone lesions. The most frequent deformation was biplanar and the rarest enlargement of the posterior band. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of displacements and deformations. While they do not appear to be significant in inducing pain, they can predispose to the onset of osteoarthrosis.

[Morphological and positional changes in the disk after nonsurgical therapy. The MRI documentation and clinical correlations]. / I mutamenti morfologici e posizionali del disco dopo terapia non chirurgica. Documentazione in RMN e correlazioni cliniche.

AIMS: To evaluate the position and shape of the disc using MNR before and after non-surgical therapy and to correlate MNR findings with other signs and symptoms. METHODS: MNR imaging of 26 joints belonging to a selected sample of 13 patients (7 F, 6 M, mean age 27 years) with signs and symptoms were compared with MNR performed after a period of non-surgical treatment that included a combination of splint therapy, psychoeducational advice, drugs and physiotherapeutic aids, including manipulation. The criteria for selection were monolateral symptoms and bilateral nature at the initial NMR showing reducible and non-reducible dislocation not associated with degenerative changes and/or effusion. The interval between diagnostic NMR and control imaging was approximately 12 months. The interval between splint application and control NMR was approximately 8 months. NMR included a sagittal study with the mouth open and shut and a coronal study only with the mouth shut using 3 mm-wide cuts. Post-therapy RMN was performed without the splint in position. RESULTS: The comparison between NMR images showed that 17 of the 26 joints studied had a stationary pathological situation and 9 were in evolution. In spite of these pathological NMR images, the signs and symptoms were found to have regressed or improved. CONCLUSIONS: These findings can be interpreted in two ways: the disc dislocation and deformation are compatible with the lack of signs and symptoms, or many dislocations should be regarded as an anatomical variation rather than an abnormality.

[Dental anomalies in some hereditary syndromes observed by the authors]. / Contributo sulle anomalie dentali in alcune sindromi ereditarie di personale osservazione.

BACKGROUND: The ectodermal hypohidrotic dysplasia, Marfan and Robinson syndromes are hereditary syndromes. They are characterized by teeth anomalies associated with system anomalies. The purpose of the present study is an analysis of single dental anomaly cases in personally observed syndromes. METHODS: The dental arch radiographs of 8 patients suffering from hereditary syndromes characterized by teeth anomalies have been studied. These dental anomalies have been classified--from an anatomic-clinical viewpoint--as to number (missing/exceeding teeth), shape, position, volume (too much/too little), eruption (early/late, till inclusion) and structure (enamel, dentine, cement). For each syndrome, the kind of transmission, the kind of dental anomaly (isolated or associated), the prevailing, the kind of association among the various dental anomalies have been evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequently observed anomaly among the examined syndromes has been the number associated to shape. The 95.4% of the specimen presented association between different dental anomalies. The results of the observation confirm the well documented ontogenetic and etiopathogenetic relationship between genetics, dental genesis, morphogenesis, teeth eruption and growth. Dental anomalies observation should direct the surgeon towards considering the presence of other signs and symptoms when tracing out probable and more complex--sometimes recessive--syndrome outlines.

[2 rare cases of agenesis of the second molar among blood relations. A clinical contribution]. / Due rari casi di agenesia del secondo molare tra consanguinei. Contributo clinico.

Teeth agenesis is an anomaly of frequent observation with a familiar heredity transmission pattern. In a frequency order the most common agenetic teeth are: third molars, upper lateral incisors and second lower bicuspids. Of exceptional rarity is the absence of second molars. Our observation confirm the heredity pattern of congenitally missing permanent teeth; in this case anomaly showed variable expressivity and different degree of severity.

["Odontogenic" anxiety. A study of a population of 1500 students from the public schools in the Bari area]. / L'ansia "odontogena". Indagine in una popolazione di 1500 studenti di alcune Scuole pubbliche del Territorio Barese.

The authors have carried out a survey regarding 1500 students whose age ranged from 9 to 18 years. They belonged to some public schools of Gioia del Colle, a small town near the city of Bari. The aim of the study was to evaluate the dentist fear, the levels of anxiety and the main reasons or situations which can cause it. A questionnaire has been used for this purpose: the Dental Subscale Test. Results have shown that the 38.7% of the people questioned, has asserted to be afraid of the dentist and that this fear is much more felt in women than in men. Moreover has been demonstrated that this fear overcomes amongst those who have never undergone a dental treatment and that the degree of anxiety decreases from childhood to adulthood. In addition statistics analysis have proved that the sensation of choking, the sight and the sound of surgical instruments such as the drill and the fear of injections, are amongst those items which can be referred as the most frequent sources of anxiety for both males and females.

[The polymerization exothermicity of self-curing resins. Thermal measurements in the pulp chamber]. / L'esotermia di polimerizzazione delle resine autoindurenti. Misurazioni termiche in camera pulpare.

The study first assessed the influence of the quantity of resin and the type of matrix on exothermic polymerisation of self-curing resins. The temperature in vitro inside the pulp chamber was then measured during the preparation of a provisional single and multiple sample using different matrices; samples were prepared using a direct technique.

Temperature change in the pulp chamber during complete crown preparation.

This study observed the temperature changes in the pulp chamber during tooth preparation for a complete crown. Twelve extracted, morphologically intact human teeth were chosen: four canines, four premolars, and four molars. Six teeth, two of each, were cooled during preparation with an air-water spray; the remaining six were air-cooled. Minimal reduction of dentin using an air-water spray coolant resulted in a lowered temperature in the pulp chamber, mainly with the cross-grooved TDA diamond stones. The application of an air coolant resulted in a temperature rise in the pulp chamber.

[Bonding between resins for bridges and crowns and composites: an experimental quantitative assessment]. / Il legame tra resine per ponti e corone e compositi: valutazione quantitativa sperimentale.

Bonding between resin for bridges and crowns and composite substances: an experimental and quantitative assessment. Using a rigorous scientific protocol, a photopolymerizing composite was "stuck" in vitro to samples of four resins C + B using an enamel-dentine bonding and silanic primer. Subsequently, bonding was performed in two experimental conditions (dry and humid environments) in addition to analysing the site of fracture.

Oral lesions in haemopathic patients.

This paper deals with the oral manifestations observed in patients with haemolymphopathies and oral complications associated with systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. We report the percentage of oral manifestations observed in 30 patients treated with cytotoxic drugs for malignant haemolymphopathies or other tumors after 2-4 cycles of systemic combinations chemotherapy. No sex or age differences were recorded except for abnormalities of taste present only in 13% treated patients older than 50. Stomatitis was more frequent in patients with malignant haemolymphopathies than in patient with other neoplastic diseases, probably due to the fact that in the former group neutropenia and thrombocytopenia induced by bone marrow infiltration or by more aggressive combination chemotherapy are most frequent. An oral care protocol for these patients is suggested.