Correlations with clinical and radiologic findings and prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis in the patients with bilateral temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis in patients with bilateral temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) and its correlations with clinical and radiological findings. A total of 95 patients with bilateral TMJ-OA diagnosed by CBCT were included in the study. Clinical and radiological findings and bone mineral density (BMD) scores were recorded. Descriptive statistics and the Spearman rho correlation tests were performed. Osteopenia/osteoporosis was found in 44 of 95 patients (46.32 %) (30, osteopenia; 14 osteoporosis). Osteopenia/osteoporosis is significantly associated with postmenopausal status and age over 40 years, but it is not associated with clinical and radiological findings of TMJ-OA. Patients with bilateral TMJ-OA have a high prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis.

The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience in the Relationship between Emotional Reactivity, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Psychological Maladjustment in Children Receiving Orthodontic Treatment.

The aim of this research was to examine the various psychological characteristics that affect psychological maladjustment in children undergoing orthodontic treatment. In this context, the predictive and mediating relationships between emotional reactivity, intolerance of uncertainty, psychological resilience and psychological maladjustment were considered. The study was conducted cross-sectionally with 543 children and adolescents aged 10−18 years, who were being treated at a state university orthodontic clinic in Turkey. Standardized measurement tools (The Emotional Reactivity Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Brief Resilience Scale and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) and online data collection processes were used in the data collection process. The findings show that emotional reactivity and intolerance of uncertainty pose a risk for psychological maladjustment in children and adolescents receiving orthodontic treatment, but psychological resilience has a protective function against this risk (p < 0.001). It is suggested that these findings may contribute to the expansion of pediatric dentists' perspectives on the secondary outcomes of orthodontic treatment practices.

Cone beam computed tomography imaging of ponticulus posticus: prevalence, characteristics, and a review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of ponticulus posticus (PP) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to describe the radiologic characteristics of the detected cases. STUDY DESIGN: The presence and types of PP were investigated on 730 CBCT images. RESULTS: PP was found in 17.4% (127) of the 730 CBCT scans. Of these 127 patients, 79 (10.8%) had bilateral PP and 48 (6.6%) had unilateral PP. Male predominance was found with a prevalence of 19.5% (54 of 277) and female prevalence was 16.1% (73 of 453). The prevalence of PP increased with age; the highest prevalence of PP was seen in those who were 49 to 81 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that PP is not an uncommon anatomic variation and is a natural incidental finding on CBCT.

Relationship among Schneiderian membrane, Underwood's septa, and the maxillary sinus inferior border.

BACKGROUND: Osseo-integrated implants are increasingly being used to restore functional dentition; however, in the posterior region, implant placement can be problematic because of inadequate bone height. In this condition, maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery has become the treatment of choice. The presence of anatomic variations within the maxillary sinus such as Underwood's septa and thin Schneiderian membrane decreases the success of the sinus floor elevation. PURPOSE: In this study, we tried to determine the relationship between the anatomic variations of the maxillary sinus: Underwood's septa, Schneiderian membrane thickness, and the cortical thickness of the inferior border of the maxillary sinus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The left and right maxillary sinus images of 74 patients were obtained by using dental computed tomography (CT). The Schneiderian membrane and the cortical thickness of the inferior border of the maxillary sinus were measured on the coronal images of dental CT scans at the deepest portion of the sinus cavity. The presence of Underwood's septa was identified on the axial images. The correlations between these variables were assessed. RESULTS: We found that there was only a negative correlation between the Schneiderian membrane thickness and the presence of Underwood's septa (r = -0.168 p = .042). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that Underwood's septa may be the reason for the thinness of the Schneiderian membrane. However, future studies among larger groups are necessary for confirming the finding by using well-designed clinical studies.

Evaluation of enamel pearls by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of enamel pearls according to population, sex and tooth groups on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) or Dental Volumetric Tomography (DVT) scans of patients, retrospectively. Study Design: In this study, 15185 teeth belonging to 768 patients, 430 female and 338 male, was performed cross sectional examination by CBCT. The volumetric Computed Tomography used in the study is Newton FP based on flat-panel. The data were analyzed with Pearson chi-squared test. Results: Enamel pearls were detected in 36 subjects (4.69%). Of these enamel pearls, 19 were detected in male and17 were in male. There was no statistically a significant association between prevalence of enamel pearls and sex. All of enamel pearls were detected in molar teeth, for prevalence 0.83%.Conclusion: All of enamel pearls are found upper and lower molar teeth, especially the most commonly in maxillary second and third molars (AU)

Prevalence of the types of the petrotympanic fissure in the temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Petrotympanic fissure (PTF) is a fissure in the temporal bone that runs from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to the tympanic cavity (TC). In PTF, the discomallear ligament (DML) connects the malleus in the tympanic cavity and the articular disc and capsule of the temporomandibular joint. PTF with the DML is a possible cause of aural symptoms related to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of different types of PTF in TMD using dental volumetric tomography (DVT) and determine whether PTF type correlates with age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: DVT scans in the sagittal planes of PTFs of 134 patients with TMD were examined for the types of PTF present. Three main PTF types were described: wide, tunnel-shaped structure (type 1); tunnel-shaped structure that is wide open in the PTF entrance to the mandibular fossa and gradually thins out in the tympanic cavity (type 2), tunnel-shaped structure that is wide open in the entrance of the mandibular fossa, with a middle region with a flat-shaped tunnel structure and a narrow exit in the tympanic cavity (type 3). RESULTS: In DVT scans, PTF types 1, 2 and 3 were seen in 67.2%, 1.5%, and 31.3% of cases, respectively. We found no significant relationship between age or gender and PTF type. CONCLUSION: The low percentage of type 2 PTF and high percentage of type 1 PTF must be taken into consideration during pre-surgical planning related to TMD. However, future well-designed clinical studies involving larger numbers of subjects will be necessary to confirm the findings of this study.

Quantitative EDXRF analysis of Ca, K, Mn and Na in normal and pathological adult-human teeth.

This work relates to the measurement of calcium, potassium, manganese and sodium levels in adult-human teeth from female and male patients and normal subjects. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique was used for the measurements. Pathological and non-pathological adult-human teeth samples were collected from one male human patient and one female human patient who attended the dental clinic. The standard addition method was used to determine concentrations. Experimental results are presented and discussed in this work.