A Bag of Marbles: A Fascinating Compound Odontoma of the Maxilla.

Odontomas are the most common odontogenic tumors, typically diagnosed during the first two decades of life. 1 The purpose of this paper was to report an interesting case of an eight-year-old Caucasian boy who presented with an asymptomatic, progressive, firm swelling of the right maxilla with no eruption of the permanent maxillary right lateral incisor. Radiographic investigation revealed a mixed radiolucent and radiopaque lesion measuring 28 by 24 by 17 mm with a corticated border causing expansion and thinning of the buccal cortical plate. This large bag-of-marbles-like appearance representing odontoids was impeding his adult teeth from erupting; hence, complete surgical removal under general anesthesia was the treatment of choice. Removal of the lesion resulted in an unexpected loss of the embedded permanent maxillary right lateral incisor. Histopathological investigations gave a diagnosis of compound odontoma; due to their low growth potential, recurrence after removal is not expected.

Transcriptomic analysis of three Veillonella spp. present in carious dentine and in the saliva of caries-free individuals.

Veillonella spp. are predominant bacteria found in all oral biofilms. In this study, a metatranscriptomic approach was used to investigate the gene expression levels of three oral Veillonella spp. (V. parvula, V. dispar and V. atypica) in whole stimulated saliva from caries-free volunteers and in carious lesions (n = 11 for each group). In the lesions the greatest proportion of reads were assigned to V. parvula and genes with the highest level of expression in carious samples were those coding for membrane transport systems. All three Veillonella spp. increased expression of genes involved in the catabolism of lactate and succinate, notably the alpha- and beta-subunits of L(+)-tartrate dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.32). There was also significantly increased expression of histidine biosynthesis pathway in V. parvula, suggesting higher intra-cellular levels of histidine that could provide intra-cellular buffering capacity and, therefore, assist survival in the acidic environment. Various other systems such as potassium uptake systems were also up regulated that may aid in the survival and proliferation of V. parvula in carious lesions.

Salivary levels of Bifidobacteria in caries-free and caries-active children.

BACKGROUND: Salivary levels of Bifidobacteria have been shown to be significantly correlated with caries experience in adults but not as yet in children. HYPOTHESIS: Salivary levels of Bifidobacteria are positively associated with caries experience in children. AIM: To compare the salivary concentrations of Bifidobacteria of caries-free and caries-active children. DESIGN: Saliva was collected using the tongue-loop method from 38 caries-active children and from 22 clinically caries-free children, and the numbers of Bifidobacteria, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and yeasts were determined. Additionally, the age and gender of the children, a plaque index, sugar amount in diet, sugar frequency in diet, hygiene practice and fluoride toothpaste usage were recorded. RESULTS: Bifidobacteria were isolated from 95% of the caries-active children and from only 9% of the caries-free children (P < 0.001). Salivary levels of Bifidobacteria were significantly correlated with amount of sugar in the diet, frequency of sugar consumption and oral hygiene practice. The significant variables that discriminated between the caries-free and caries-active subjects were salivary levels of Bifidobacteria, salivary levels of mutans streptococci and oral hygiene practice (χ(2) = 72.57, P < 0.001) and overall 90.0% of cases were correctly classified. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary levels of Bifidobacteria are significantly associated with caries experience in children. The salivary levels of this genus may be a useful marker of caries risk.

Veillonella rogosae sp. nov., an anaerobic, Gram-negative coccus isolated from dental plaque.

Strains of a novel anaerobic, Gram-negative coccus were isolated from the supra-gingival plaque of children. Independent strains from each of six subjects were shown, at a phenotypic level and based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, to be members of the genus Veillonella. Analysis revealed that the six strains shared 99.7 % similarity in their 16S rRNA gene sequences and 99.0 % similarity in their rpoB gene sequences. The six novel strains formed a distinct group and could be clearly separated from recognized species of the genus Veillonella of human or animal origin. The novel strains exhibited 98 and 91 % similarity to partial 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequences of Veillonella parvula ATCC 10790(T), the most closely related member of the genus. The six novel strains could be differentiated from recognized species of the genus Veillonella based on partial 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequencing. The six novel strains are thus considered to represent a single novel species of the genus Veillonella, for which the name Veillonella rogosae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CF100(T) (=CCUG 54233(T)=DSM 18960(T)).

The use of multidirectional cross-sectional tomography for localizing an odontome.

BACKGROUND: A 7-year old boy was referred with retained maxillary right primary central and lateral incisors. Radiographic exam revealed a large calcified radio-opaque mass overlying the roots of these primary teeth preventing the permanent teeth from erupting. CASE REPORT: The purpose of this paper is to describe the pre-operative use of multi-directional cross-sectional tomography in establishing the relationship between a large complex odontome that was preventing the eruption of a maxillary permanent central incisor. CONCLUSION: Low dose, multi-directional cross-sectional tomography was beneficial in visualisation of the precise relationship between the large complex odontome and the unerupted permanent incisor. This allowed correct judgement of the position on the odontome prior to its surgical removal.

Odontomas in the primary dentition: literature review and case report.

Odontomas are hamartomatous developmental malformations of dental tissues. They are very rarely diagnosed in the primary dentition. The purpose of this paper was to review the literature in relation to odontomas in the primary dentition, and describe the dental management of a child, age 4 years and 8 months, who had a complex odontoma.