Inheritance of occlusal topography: a twin study.

AIM: This was to determine the relative contribution of genetic factors on the morphology of occlusal surfaces of mandibular primary first molars by employing the twin study model. METHODS: The occlusal morphology of mandibular primary first molar teeth from dental casts of 9 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs and 12 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs 4 to 7 years old, were digitized by contact-type three-dimensional (3D) scanner. To compare the similarity of occlusal morphology between twin sets, each twin pair of occlusal surfaces was superimposed to establish the best fit by using computerized least squared techniques. Heritability was computed using a variance component model, adjusted for age and gender. RESULTS: DZ pairs demonstrated a greater degree of occlusal morphology variance. The total amount of difference in surface overlap was 0.0508 mm (0.0018 (inches) for the MZ (n=18) sample and 0.095 mm (0.0034 inches) for the DZ (n=24) sample and were not statistically significant (p=0.2203). The transformed mean differences were not statistically significantly different (p=0.2203). Heritability estimates of occlusal surface areas for right and left mandibular primary first molars were 97.5% and 98.2% (p<0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Occlusal morphology of DZ twin pairs was more variable than that of MZ twin pairs. Heritability estimates revealed that genetic factors strongly influence occlusal morphology of mandibular primary first molars.

Perception of orthodontic treatment need: opinion comparisons of orthodontists, pediatric dentists, and general practitioners.

AIM: To determine the relationship between treatment need assessment scores of orthodontists, general practitioners, and pediatric dentists. STUDY DESIGN: Observational. SAMPLE: Ten general dental practitioners, 18 orthodontists and 15 pediatric dentists reviewed 137 dental casts and recorded their opinion on whether orthodontic treatment was needed. RESULTS: We found a high level of agreement between pediatric dentists, orthodontists and general practitioners (Kappa range 0.86-0.95). Between the groups, the amount of agreement was lower. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontists, general dental practitioners, and pediatric dentists in this sample exhibit high levels of agreement on orthodontic treatment need.

Evolution of women's oral health.

The current focus on women's oral health emerged from emphasis on the women's health movement. Provision of high quality oral health care throughout a woman's life span requires the enhancement of multiple factors. Future progress will depend on partnering among various constituencies; education at the predoctoral, postdoctoral, and continuing education levels; expansion of the scope of gender-specific research; and development of innovative modalities for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and utilization of clinical dental services for women.

Eating disorders in women's oral health.

Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are a serious concern in women's oral health and a clinical challenge to dental professionals. Each of these eating disorders presents with unique patterns of psychologic, medical, and dental characteristics. Appropriate dental treatment is based in the multidisciplinary facets of these conditions. The dental team should be mindful that individuals who suffer from these disorders may relapse into previous negative eating behaviors. The knowledgeable dental professional may be able to intercept these habits through regular recall intervals and thorough examination.

Dental implications of nutritional factors in young athletes.

A balanced and healthful diet is important for young athletes participating in sports. Additionally, nutritional recommendations for athletes must take into consideration the effects diet has on the developing dentition. The integration of oral and nutritional health guidelines will allow the dentist and the dietician to function as partners in providing counseling to young athletes. This article reviews caloric and nutritional requirements along with dental implications that may affect young athletes.

Prevalence of selected pediatric conditions in children with Pierre Robin sequence.

Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is a congenital abnormality characterized by micrognathia and glossoptosis, with or without cleft palate. Patients with PRS may demonstrate various pediatric conditions such as associated syndromes, respiratory distress, feeding difficulties, or middle ear pathology. The purpose of this study was to determine, by means of a retrospective computerized review of patient records, the presence of these pediatric conditions in a sample of 55 confirmed patients with PRS. Five patients (9.1%) exhibited associated syndromes; 20 (36.4%) had respiratory distress requiring no assistance; and 10 (18.2%) exhibited severe respiratory distress requiring tracheotomy. A total of 30 patients (54.5%) had early feeding difficulties requiring mechanical assistance to maintain adequate nutrition, and 50 (90.9%) had multiple episodes of otitis media. Chi-square analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between the presence of respiratory difficulties and the need for feeding assistance (P = 0.012); and a highly significant relationship between the presence of otitis media and subsequent myringotomy tube placement (P < 0.001). Pediatric dentists who treat children with PRS should be aware of these relationships when obtaining medical history before establishing strategies to implement a treatment plan.