Micro-computed tomography and histomorphometric analysis of human alveolar bone repair induced by laser phototherapy: a pilot study.

Immediate dental implant placement in the molar region is critical, because of the high amount of bone loss and the discrepancy between alveolar crest thickness and the implant platform. Laser phototherapy (LPT) improves bone repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the human alveolar bone repair 40 days after molar extraction in patients submitted to LPT. Twenty patients were selected for this randomized controlled clinical trial; 10 underwent LPT (laser group) with a GaAlAs diode laser (808 nm, 100 mW, 0.04 cm(2), 75 J/cm(2), 30s per point, 3 J per point, at five points). The control group patients (n=10) were not irradiated. Forty days later, the tissue formed inside the sockets was analyzed by micro-computed tomography and histomorphometry. Data from the two groups were compared with Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation test. The relative bone volume was significantly higher in the laser group (P<0.0001). The control group showed negative correlations (P<0.01) between number and thickness, and between number and separation of trabeculae, and a positive correlation between thickness and separation of trabeculae. The laser group showed a significant negative correlation between the number and thickness of trabeculae (P<0.01). The results suggest that LPT is able to accelerate alveolar bone repair after molar extraction, leading to a more homogeneous trabecular configuration represented by thin and close trabeculae.

Study of the radio-opacity of base and liner dental materials using a digital radiography system.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the radio-opacity of commercially available glass ionomer cements (GICs), flowable resin composites (FRCs) and calcium hydroxide cements (CHCs) and compared this with the radio-opacity of enamel, dentine and aluminium stepwedge. 16 GICs, 8 FRCs and 4 CHCs were analysed. METHODS: Three sets of three samples were prepared: 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm thickness for GIC and FRC and 1 mm thickness for CHC. Specimens of enamel and dentine with the same thicknesses were obtained. As a control, an aluminium stepwedge was used. Radiographs were taken with a digital Kodak RVG 5000 (0.32 s, 30 cm). The images were analysed using the Image Tool(®) program (v. 2.00; The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TV) to obtain the mean grey values. RESULTS: Analysis of variance was used to investigate the significance of differences among the groups. For pairwise comparisons, the Tukey test was applied (p < 0.05). The GICs Ionomaster (Wilcos, Petrópolis, Brazil), Maxxion (FGM, Joinville, Brazil), Bioglass R (Biodinâmica, Ibiporã, Brazil), Bioglass F (Biodinâmica), Vidrion R (SS White, Rio de Janerio, Brazil) and Vidrion F (SS White), presented radio-opacity lower than that of dentine. All FRCs and CHCs studied showed radio-opacity higher than that of dentine. Vitro Fil (DFL, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Magic Glass (Vigodent, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Vitrebond (3M, Sumaré SP, Brazil), Riva Self Cure (SDI, Victoria, Australia), Riva Light Cure (SDI), Fill Magic (Vigodent), Opallis (FGM, Joinville, Brazil), Surefil SDR (Dentsply, Milford, DE), Tetric N (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Lichtenstein), Tetric (Ivoclar Vivadent), Hydro C (Dentsply, Petrópolis, Brazil), Hydcal (Technew, Madalena, Portugal) and Liner (Vigodent) showed radio-opacity similar to or greater than that of enamel for all thicknesses. CONCLUSIONS: The increased thickness of the materials studied increases their radio-opacity. Some commercially available GICs used as a base and liner for restorations have a very low radio-opacity (Ionomaster, Maxxion, Bioglass R, Bioglass F, Vidrion R and Vidrion F).

Accuracy of direct digital radiography for detecting occlusal caries in primary teeth compared with conventional radiography and visual inspection: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: the diagnosis of caries lesions is still a matter of concern in dentistry. The diagnosis of dental caries by digital radiography has a number of advantages over conventional radiography; however, this method has not been explored fully in the field of paediatric dentistry. This in vitro research evaluated the accuracy of direct digital radiography compared with visual inspection and conventional radiography in the diagnosis of occlusal caries lesions in primary molars. METHODS: 50 molars were selected and evaluated under standardized conditions by 2 previously calibrated examiners according to 3 diagnostic methods (visual inspection, conventional radiography and direct digital radiography). Direct digital radiographs were obtained with the Dixi3 system (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) and the conventional radiographs with InSight film (Kodak Eastman Co., Rochester, NY). The images were scored and a reference standard was obtained histologically. The interexaminer reliability was calculated using Cohen's kappa test and the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of the methods were calculated. RESULTS: examiner reliability was good. For lesions limited to the enamel, visual inspection showed significantly higher sensitivity and accuracy than both radiographic methods, but no significant difference was found in specificity. For teeth with dentinal caries, no significant differences were found for any parameter when comparing visual and radiographic evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: although less accurate than the visual method for detecting caries lesions confined to the enamel, the direct digital radiographic method is as effective as conventional radiographic examination and visual inspection of primary teeth with occlusal caries when the dentine is involved.

Aplasia of the mandibular condyle.

A rare case of aplasia of the mandibular condyle is presented along with the tomographic findings. A 31-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a main complaint of facial asymmetry. No family history or any trauma was found. A CT study was performed and the sagittal CT view demonstrated a complete absence of the left condyle. This case of unknown aetiology was thoroughly examined and, based on clinical findings, we suggest that it could be of developmental origin.

Analysis of the accuracy of linear measurements obtained by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT-NewTom).

OBJECTIVES: The conical beam computed tomography (CBCT) technique presents an innovation of tomographic imaging systems and subsequent volumetric image reconstruction for dentistry. When compared with other methods of tomographic imaging CBCT is characterized by rapid volumetric image acquisition from a single low radiation dose scan of the patient. The NewTom (NewTom 9000; Quantitative Radiology, Verona, Italy) is an example of such a CBCT machine dedicated to dental and maxillofacial imaging, particularly for surgical and/or prosthetics implant planning in the field of dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the linear measurements obtained in CBCT images using a NewTom. METHODS: Thirteen measurements were obtained in dry skulls (n = 8) between internal and external anatomical sites using a caliper. These were considered as real measurements. Then the dry skulls were submitted to CBCT imaging examinations. Radiographic distance measurements of the same dry skull anatomical sites were made using the NewTom QR-DVT 9000 software of the 2 mm-CTs axial section images and sagittal or coronal reconstructions. The data were compared by paired Student's t-test. RESULTS: The results showed that the real measurements were always larger than those for the CBCT images, but these differences were only significant for measurements of the internal structures of the skull base. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusion of this study is that, although the CBCT image underestimates the real distances between skull sites, differences are only significant for the skull base and therefore it is reliable for linear evaluation measurements of other structures more closely associated with dentomaxillofacial imaging.

[Application of radiographic methods in the study of periodontal changes--a bibliographic review]. / Aplicação dos recursos radiológicos no estudo das alterações periodontais--uma revisão bibliográfica.

Radiographic diagnostic methods have been used in all Dentistry areas as a important complement in diagnostic. This review updates its use, limitation, advantage, disadvantage, specific in periodontal diseases after vaste bibliographic review.