ABSTRACT
Space analysis is the foundation of all orthodontic treatment plans and is critical in deciding whether functional and cosmetic orthodontic goals can be achieved. An organized, comprehensive, integrated space analysis will help dentists to choose between a variety of treatment approaches and to determine if permanent teeth must be extracted. At present, most of the literature focuses on individual aspects of space analysis; a search of the literature revealed only three published articles that involved integrating treatment planning with comprehensive space analysis. The mandibular arch is the template for this space analysis because it is less malleable than the maxilla. Using four key arch measurements as variables with a curve of Spee correction creates custom starting and final arch forms for each patient. This three-dimensional total arch form approach is incorporated into a spreadsheet template that integrates the individual aspects of space analysis into one unified approach while performing most of the calculations. The spreadsheet is available for free download at www.agd.org or www.herseycentral.org/drsolomon.
Subject(s)
Cephalometry/methods , Dental Arch/pathology , Orthodontics, Corrective , Patient Care Planning , Tooth/pathology , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , Imaging, Three-Dimensional , Mandible/growth & development , Mandible/pathology , Maxilla/growth & development , Maxilla/pathology , Tooth Movement TechniquesABSTRACT
Oral melanoacanthoma (MA) is rare reactive mucosal lesion that, like cutaneous MA, demonstrates hyperplasia of spinous keratinocytes and melanocytes. Unlike MA of the skin, oral MA is unrelated to seborrheic keratosis. This series adds 10 cases to the limited number of previous reports of oral MA. The clinicopathologic features of the cases in this series are generally consistent with those previously reported in the literature; that is, although documented in various intraoral locations in patients of differing ethnicity, oral melanoacanthoma most often presents as an enlarging flat or slightly raised area of hyperpigmentation on the buccal mucosa of adult black women. The current series provides evidence of occurrence over a wider age range (5-77 years) than previously reported. Additionally, the reactivity of oral melanoacanthoma to HMB-45 was investigated. Strong HMB-45 reactivity was present in all cases, thus demonstrating its limited utility in distinguishing oral MA from malignant melanoma.
