Third molar agenesis as a potential marker for craniofacial deformities.

The identification of clinical patterns of tooth agenesis in individuals born with craniofacial deformities may be a useful tool for risk determination of these defects. We hypothesize that specific craniofacial deformities are associated with third molar agenesis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify if third molar agenesis could have a relation with other craniofacial structure alterations, such as cleft lip and palate, skeletal malocclusion, or specific growth patterns in humans. DESIGN: Data were obtained from 550 individuals ascertained as part of studies aiming to identify genetic contributions to oral clefts. 831 dental records of patients aged over eight years seeking orthodontic treatment were also included. SN-GoGn angle were used to classify the growth pattern (hypo-divergent, normal and hyper-divergent), and the ANB angle was used to verify the skeletal malocclusion pattern (Class I, II and III). Panoramic radiographs were used to determine third molar agenesis. RESULTS: A high frequency of third molar agenesis among individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (55%), as well as among their relatives (93.5%) was found. Third molar agenesis was not associated to skeletal malocclusion or growth pattern. CONCLUSION: It appears that third molar agenesis is associated with the disturbances that lead to cleft lip and palate.

Dental anomalies in different growth and skeletal malocclusion patterns.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate prevalence, distribution, and sexual dimorphism of dental anomalies (DA) among different skeletal malocclusions (SM) and growth patterns (GP) under the hypothesis that specific clinical patterns exist and may indicate common etiological roots. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1047 orthodontic records of patients older than 8 years were evaluated. The SN-GoGn angle was used to classify GP (hypodivergent, normal, and hyperdivergent), and the ANB angle was used to verify SM (Angle Classes I, II, and III). These assessments were done from lateral cephalometric radiographs. DA were diagnosed using panoramic radiographs by one calibrated investigator. Odds ratios, chi-square, and Student's t-tests were used. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 56.7% were female, with mean age of 16.41 (±10.61) years. The prevalence of DA was 15.7%. Impaction and tooth agenesis were the most prevalent DA, with relative frequencies of 14.4% and 9.7%, respectively. DA were most prevalent in Class III SM (80.8%) and in hypodivergent GP (82.5%), although this was not statistically significant. Tooth agenesis ( P < .01) and microdontia ( P = .025) were significantly more common among hypodivergent GP and Class III SM, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the idea that DA are preferentially associated with certain patterns of malocclusion.

Aparelho mantenedor de espaço estético fixo em odontopediatria: relato de caso / Fixed aesthetic space maintainer in pediatric dentistry: case report

O presente artigo apresenta alguns aspectos de relevância clínica relacionados à manutenção de espaço na dentição decídua mostrando o uso do mantenedor de espaço estético fixo como recurso protético para preservar o espaço deixado pela perda dentária precoce de dente decíduo anterior em paciente na primeira infância. Os autores relatam um caso clínico no qual o referido aparelho foi o tratamento de escolha para preservar o espaço deixado pela perda dentária precoce, a fim de impedir a instalação de maloclusões e hábitos deletérios restabelecendo, portanto, o equilíbrio biológico, psicossocial e estético do paciente.

The present article discuss some aspects of clinical relevance related to space maintenance in the primary dentition, showing the use of a fixed aesthetic space maintainer as a prosthetic resource to preserve the space left by early dental loss of anterior deciduous tooth in a pediatric patient. The authors present a case report in which the mentioned apparatus was the treatment of choice to preserve the space left by early dental loss, in order to avoid the occurrence of malocclusions and vicious habits restoring, therefore, the patient’s biological, psychosocial and aesthetic equilibrium.