Evaluation of accessory mental foramina morphology with cone-beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Accessory mental foramen (AMF) is the extra mental foramen (MF) located in the mandible. The recognition of AMF is important to avoid complications during surgical procedures involving MF and cheeks. AIM: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, localization, and size of AMF by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT images of 645 patients over 13-14 years (male 281; female 364) were retrospectively evaluated. The CBCT images were obtained using Promax 3D® (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) device with automated exposure parameters varying depending on the cases. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and t-test. RESULTS: AMF was detected in 75 (11.6%) patients. There was no significant difference between the presence of AMF and gender (P = 0.57, P > 0.05). Majority of the cases (n = 67, 88.8%) consisted of single AMF, while double AMF was observed in 6 (10%) and triple AMF in 2 (1.2%) patients. The most common location of AMF with respect to MF was posterio-inferior (n = 57, 67.1%), and AMF placed at the root line of first molar tooth in 45 cases (52.9%). CONCLUSION: AMF can be seen in the mandible one in every ten patients being single in most cases. Considering the high prevalence and present morphological features, AMF should be detected by CBCT before surgical operations, particularly in implant planning for the prevention of possible complications.

Diagnostic accuracy of different imaging modalities in detection of proximal caries.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro diagnostic ability of visual inspection, film, charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, photostimulable phosphor (PSP) sensor and cone beam CT in the detection of proximal caries in posterior teeth compared with the histological gold standard. METHODS: Visual inspection, film, CCD, PSP and cone beam CT images were used to detect proximal caries in the mesial and distal surfaces of 138 teeth (276 surfaces). Visual inspection and evaluation of all intraoral digital and conventional radiographs and cone beam CT images were performed twice by three oral radiologists. Weighted kappa coefficients were calculated to assess intra- and interobserver agreement for each image set, and scores were compared with the histological gold standard using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate diagnostic ability. RESULTS: Intraobserver kappa coefficients calculated for each observer for each method of detecting caries ranged from 0.739 to 0.928. Strong interobserver agreement ranging from 0.631 to 0.811 was found for all detection methods. The highest Az values for all three observers were obtained with the cone beam CT images; however, differences between detection methods were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Visual inspection, film, CCD, PSP plates and cone beam CT performed similarly in the detection of proximal caries.

Evaluation of scatter dose of dental titanium implants exposed to photon beams of different energies and irradiation angles in head and neck radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, quantification of backscatter doses between scattering titanium dental implant and the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD(100)) radiation detector at axial beam irradiation-angle range of 0-90 degrees in head and neck radiotherapy is done to evaluate irradiation angle dependency of dose enhancement contributing to osteoradionecrosis. METHODS: A cylindrical titanium dental implant with diameter of 4 mm and length of 9 mm was implanted into a specially-designed human mandible phantom with a TLD100 chip placed on the buccal site and irradiated with 6 MV X, 25 MV X and Co-60 gamma sources at 19 different irradiation angles. RESULTS: Dose enhancement on a buccal site of the titanium implant depends on the incident beam angle. At angles of 65 degrees, 60 degrees and 40 degrees the maximum detected scatter doses over the titanium implant are 36%, 32% and 23% for Co-60 gamma, 6 MV X-ray and 25 MV X-ray, respectively. The dose enhancement at different beam angles was less pronounced in 25 MV X and more pronounced in Co-60 gamma irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: For the different radiation beams studied, the irradiation angle between scattering titanium dental implants and the central axis does not significantly affect the total dose that may lead to osteoradionecrosis of the mandible.

Botryoid odontogenic cyst: report of a case with extensive epithelial proliferation.

Botyroid odontogenic cyst (BOC) is considered a rare multilocular variant of the lateral periodontal cyst. In this report; clinical and histopathological features of a case of BOC found in mandibular mental region of a 32-year-old woman is presented. There was a multilocular radiolucency extending from the roots of the right premolar to the left premolar, involving almost the whole height of the mandible. Histologically, there was extensive intraluminal epithelial proliferation in the lining and MIB-1 positive cells were noted in the basal layer.