Rare associations of dens invaginatus and mesiodens.

Dens invaginatus is a developmental variation resulting from an alteration in the normal growth pattern of the dental papilla. Synonyms of this disturbance include dens in dente, invaginated odontome, tooth inclusion, and dentoid in dente. Radiographically, it is observed as infolding of a radiopaque ribbon-like structure, with equal density as enamel, extending from the cingulum into the root canal and sometimes reaching the root apex, assigning the appearance of a small tooth within the coronal pulp cavity. This article presents 2 case reports. The first describes an 8-year-old girl with dens invaginatus in a mesiodens; the second report describes a 16-year-old boy presenting with 2 mesiodens, both associated with dens invaginatus.

Estereolitografia: aplicaçäo na odontologia: relato de dois casos clínicos / Stereolithography: using in Dentistry: report of two cases

Os autores iräo relatar o uso da estereolitografia, durante o planejamento dos procedimentos cirúrgicos no campo da Odontologia. Para tanto, serão apresentados dois casos clínicos com a utilizaçäo deste método

Clinical applications of 3-D CT and 3-D plastic models in the maxillo-facial region / Aplicação clínica dos modelos CT 3-D e 3-D plastico na região maxilofacial

We compared the usefulness of 3-D plastic models with that of 3-D CT images with regard to their applications in the field of maxillo-facial medicine. We also considered possibilities for wider clinical applications for both these methods. Five patients with the following conditions were involved in this study: hyperplasia of the mandibular condyle, 1; fracture of the maxilla and mandible, 1; coronoid hyperplasia, 2; and unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis with microgenia, 1) Stereolithographic models and 3-D CT images were made for each patient. Ct and 3-D CT images were superior to plastic models with respect to their clinical diagnostic value. Furthermore they provided more precise information about the surface and inner structures of the jaws. 3-D plastic models made it possible to do close observation of the complex anatomical relationship of the region which were easily overlooked on axial CT images and even on 3-D CT images. The 3-D plastic models were useful for simulated surgery in all these cases. In the cases with bilateral coronold process hyperplasia, the plastic model well clarified the direct functional cause of the patients trismus. The analysis on plastic models suggested that the abnormal contact of the coronold process with the deformed surrounding anatomical structures might cause trismus and elongation of the process. We believe that plastic models can be applied to other dental fields such as dental implantology, prosthodontics and measuring for 3-D cephalometry