Radiographic evaluation of the prevalence of enamel pearls in a sample adult dental population.

AIM: Enamel pearls are a tooth anomaly that can act as contributing factors in the development of periodontal disease. Studies that have addressed the prevalence of enamel pearls in populations were scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of enamel pearls in the permanent dentition of Turkish dental patients by means of panoramic radiographs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of 6912 patients were examined for the presence of enamel pearls. All data (age, sex and systemic disease or syndrome) were obtained from the patient files and analyzed for enamel pearls. Descriptive characteristics of sexes, jaws, and dental localization were recorded. The Pearson chi-squared test was used. RESULTS: Enamel pearls were detected in 5.1% of subjects and 0.85% of the teeth examined. Prevalence of enamel pearls was higher in males (6.58%) compared to females (3.96%). The mandibular first was the most commonly affected tooth. Enamel pearls were significantly more common in the mandibula compared with the maxilla (81.2% cf 18.8% respectively, p = 0.000). No statistically significant differences were found between the right-side and left-side occurrences. CONCLUSIONS: With the prevalence of 5.1% among the Turkish population, every possible effort should be made for locating of this anomaly especially in molars because it might be useful for prevention periodontal problems.

Investigation of prevalence and characteristics of mesiodens in a non-syndromic 11256 dental outpatients.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of mesiodens in a sample of Turkish dental patients and their distribution among genders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiography of 11256 patients, who ranged in age from 15 to 55 years old. All data (age, sex and or syndrome) were obtained from the patient files and analyzed for mesiodens. Statistical evaluation of the presence of mesiodens related to gender was performed by the Pearson chi-squared test. RESULTS: Mesiodens was detected in 15 subjects (0.13%). The prevalence of mesiodens for females and males was 0.20% and 0.057%, respectively (p = 0.037). The most commonly observed mesiodens was maxillary canine-like type (60%). Most of the mesiodens (67%) were found in the vertical position, followed by horizontal position (33%). The age and sex distribution, number of mesiodens per patient, shape, direction, size, and effect on permanent maxillary incisors are also presented in this study. The most common complication caused by mesiodens was midline of the permanent incisors. CONCLUSIONS: Mesiodens is an uncommon developmental anomaly in Turkish dental patients. Early diagnosis allows the most appropriate treatment, often reducing the extent of surgery, orthodontic treatment and possible complications.

Incidence and distribution of pulp stones found in radiographic dental examination of adult Turkish dental patients.

BACKGROUND: Pulp stones (PS) are discrete calcified masses found in the dental pulp, in the pulp tissue or become attached to or embedded into the dentine. The formation of pulp stones is still something of an enigma, leading to existence of some epidemiological gaps. AIM: To determine the prevalence and distribution of pulp stones in posterior tooth group by using panoramic radiograph. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs from 6912 patients attending Kirikkale University Dental Faculty Hospital, Kirikkale, Turkey during the period from July 2009 to August 2011 were reviewed for the presence of pulp stones. The overall incidence of pulp stones in the patients and their correlations between female and male patients and between the right-side and left-side occurrences were analyzed by computer program, SPSS 15. (SPSS Inc. Chicago, USA) with using the χ(2) test. Differences were considered as significant when P < 0.05. RESULTS: Pulp stones were detected in 879 out of 6912 patients (person prevalence 12.7%). Pulp stones were detected in 2009 teeth out of a total of 96240 teeth to give a tooth prevalence of 2.1%. Their occurrence was higher in the maxilla than in the mandible for each tooth type. Pulp stones were found to involve the right side more (1224/2009) (61%) than the left side (785/2009)(39%) and they were significantly more common in females than males (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Attention should be paid to the presence of pulp stones and the treatment problems associated with them.

An analysis of the aetiology, prevalence and clinical features of dentine hypersensitivity in a general dental population.

AIM: Dentine hypersensitivity may be defined as pain arising from exposed dentine typically in response to chemical, thermal or osmotic stimuli that cannot be explained as a rising from any other form of dental defect or pathology. The aim to this cross-sectional study was to determine prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) and to examine some associated etiological factors in a study of patients visiting general dental practitioners in Turkey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1368 patients were examined for the presence of cervical dentine hypersensitivity by means of a questionnaire and intraoral tests by (air and probe stimuli). The patients have at least two different quadrants which have sensitive teeth with sound exposed cervical dentin on the facial surface were included the study. RESULTS: A total of 285 teeth were diagnosed as having dentine hypersensitivity in 73 patients, giving an overall prevalence figure for dentine hypersensitivity of 5.3%. 40-49 years age group was the cohort with the greatest number of subjects with DH and females had more predilection than males. Upper premolars were most affected and the commonest initiating factor was cold drinks. Subjects who smoked did not have more sensitive teeth on average than subjects who did not smoke (p > 0.05). Approximately half of the patients reported DH for a duration of within 1-3 days. The commonest etiological factor with the sensitive teeth was the gingival recession. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dentine sensitivity in this sample was lower compared to studies carried out previously in different populations both general practice and hospital clinics. Further larger scale studies are required to assess its prevalence in Turkish population.