Evaluation of Jaw Bone Change in Children and Adolescents with Rheumatic Heart Disease by Fractal Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recognizing the oral needs of people living with rheumatic heart disease (RHD), particularly in relation to their jaws, is of paramount importance. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate potential jaw bone changes in children and adolescents diagnosed with RHD and compare them with a group of healthy children and adolescents. METHODS AND MATERIAL: The dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) of 32 children and adolescents diagnosed with RHD comprised the case group. In contrast, the control group consisted of DPRs from 32 children and adolescents without any known diseases. Two regions of interest (ROI1 and ROI2) of trabecular bone and a separate region of interest (ROI3) of cortical bone were selected for fractal analysis. The mandibular cortical index (MCI) was evaluated. RESULTS: The ROI1 fractal dimension (FD) value of the individuals in the case group was statistically higher in the right jaw than in the left jaw (P < 0.01). Significant differences were determined between the case and control groups regarding the left ROI1, and the left and the right ROI2 (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the patient and control groups regarding the MCI value (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that bone metabolism was affected unilaterally in the condyle region and bilaterally in the gonial region of patients with RHD. It also revealed that the cortical layer was not affected.

Three-dimensional volumetric analysis of the maxillary sinus: a cone-beam computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the volumetric size of the maxillary sinus and investigate the effect of gender and age on maxillary sinus volume (MSV) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in a Turkish subpopulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective volumetric CBCT study was carried out on 133 individuals (84 females, 49 males) between 8 and 51 years old. MSV was measured using the MIMICS 21.0 software (Materialise HQ Technologielaan, Leuven, Belgium). All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 21.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) software. Mean and standard deviation of both maxillary sinuses measurements were calculated and compared to gender and age. P values < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: Mean volume of the right maxillary sinus was 13.173 cm3, while for the left was 13.194 cm3. There was no significant difference between right and left maxillary sinus volumes (p > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between MSV and age (p > 0.05). It was found that MSV did not change according to gender (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Right and left maxillary sinus volumes were not different from each other. Gender and age were not found to be related to maxillary sinus volume.

Prevalence of second canal in the mesiobuccal root of permanent maxillary molars from a Turkish subpopulation: a cone-beam computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: Permanent maxillary molar teeth have the most complex root and canal systems. This study aimed to determine the frequency and the localisation of secondary mesiobuccal canal (MB2) in the mesiobuccal roots of permanent maxillary molars in a Turkish subpopulation using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and compare them by different age groups and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 800 maxillary molar teeth in 200 subjects were investigated. The distances between canals were calculated from the centre point of the MB2 canal (PMB2) to the centre point of the mesiobuccal canal (PMB1) and the centre point of the palatal canal (PP). RESULTS: The incidence of MB2 canals was found to be 33.5% (23.2% in females, 43.6% in males) in 200 subjects. A significant difference was found between age groups and genders in terms of the frequency of MB2 (p < 0.05). The distances between PMB1- -PMB2 were 2.95 ± 0.58 mm, 3.08 ± 0.67 mm for 1MM and 2MM, respectively. For 1MM and 2MM, the averages of PMB2-PP distances were 5.81 ± 1.09 mm and 5.55 ± 1.09 mm, respectively. The contralateral formation of the MB2 canals was 90.5% (16, 26) in the first molars and 93.9% in the second molars (17, 27). The contingency rate in the first quadrant was 86.0% (16, 17) and 83.5% (26, 27) in the second quadrant. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for the clinician to know the high probability of finding the MB2 canal in the maxillary first and second molars. CBCT imaging can facilitate the clinician to detect complex and variable root canal anatomy.

Morphometric analysis of the sella turcica in Turkish individuals with different dentofacial skeletal patterns.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphometric analysis of sella turcica in a Turkish population according to gender, age, and dentofacial skeletal type and to investigate the prevalence of sella turcica shapes in different dentofacial skeletal types. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lateral cephalometric radiographs of 362 patients (145 males, 217 females) were included and grouped by age, gender, and dentofacial skeletal patterns. Linear dimensions of sella turcica, which include the length, height, and diameter, were measured, and the shapes of sella turcica were evaluated. RESULTS: The anatomical variants of the sella turcica in this study were normal morphology (39.0%), followed by pyramidal shape (15.5%), double contour of floor (14.6%), oblique anterior wall (14.4%), irregular dorsum sella (8.6%), and sella turcica bridge (8.0%). Significant differences were found between sella turcica shapes and dentofacial skeletal types (p < 0.01). Females had greater diameter size of sella turcica than males (p < 0.01). In addition, the subjects in the 15-21 age group had larger sella turcica depths and diameters than the subjects in the 9-14 age group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). However, no significant differences were found between age groups in terms of sella turcica lengths (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study showed that the sample had a higher rate of morphological variation (39% normal, 61% other types) in comparison with other populations or ethnic groups. The class III patients had more irregularity (notching) types in the posterior part of the dorsum sella and fewer oblique anterior wall types than the others. Linear dimensions and morphological types of sella turcica in this study can be used as reference for additional investigators, such as radiologists, orthodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, and neurosurgeons, to interpret and plan surgical procedures involving the sellar region.

Evaluation of anatomical and morphological characteristics of the nasopalatine canal in a Turkish population by cone beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse as three dimensions the anatomical and morphometric dimensions of nasopalatine canal (NPC) in the coronal, axial and sagittal directions using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to evaluate the effect of age, gender and maxillary dental status on NPC and buccal bone thickness (BBT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, CBCT data of the 619 individuals aged between 17 and 86 years were examined retrospectively with respect to dimensions and anatomic variations of the NPC and BBTs. The correlation of age, gender, and status of edentulism of anterior maxilla with all the variables were evaluated. RESULTS: The NPC and BBT showed important variability in terms of morphology and dimensions. Morphological assessment of NPC revealed that 26.17% of NPCs were conical shape, 24.71% of canals were hourglass-shaped, 16.80% of canals were cylindrical shaped, 15.83% of canals were funnel-like shaped, 11.14% of canals were banana-like shaped, and 5.33% of canals were tree branch-like shaped. Males and females showed significant differences in the length of the NPC and BBTs in the sagittal sections. There were significant differences between age and BBTs. In addition, the length of NPC and BBTs were statistically different according to dental status. CONCLUSIONS: These anatomical changes in terms of dimensional and morphological parameters revealed the importance of three-dimensional imaging. Dentists should know and consider the variations in this canal in order to avoid possible complications during anaesthesia and surgical procedures which were applied to the maxillary anterior region. More precautions should be taken during surgical procedures in females, elderly and edentulous patients.