Evaluation of simulated periodontal defects via various radiographic methods.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of conventional films and direct digital radiographs (DDR), in the determination of the depth and type of simulated periodontal intrabony defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of periodontal intrabony defects (one, two, and three walled) were artificially created in dry mandibles. Standard radiographic images were taken with Ultraspeed, Ektaspeed, Insight films, and DDR. The radiographic images were evaluated by three oral radiologists to identify the type and depth of these defects on the radiographs. RESULTS: The average measured depth of the defects on the dry mandibles was 7.85 mm. The average depth of the type 1 defect on the radiographs was 7.19 mm, type 2 was 7.18 mm, and type 3 was 7.15 mm. The average depth of the defects via the Ultraspeed film was 7.15 mm, Ektaspeed film was 7.17 mm, Insight film was 7.19 mm, and DDR was 7.20 mm. Type 1, type 2, and type 3 defect depth measurements showed 8.9, 9.7, and 16.3% understated, respectively (p < 0.01). The accurate estimation rates of type 1, type 2, and type 3 defects were 93.8, 53, and 25.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both radiographic techniques have the same diagnostic value and display the minor destructive changes in the bone. As the number of osseous walls increases, it becomes difficult to determine the defect type and morphology. Further research is needed to monitor the intrabony defects, with less radiation exposure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The accurate identification of defect type and depth depends on the number of walls, not the imaging methods.

A retrospective study of the prevalence and characteristics of dens invaginatus in a sample of the Turkish population.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dens invaginatus and to classify the types of dens invaginatus in a sample of the Turkish population. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed using periapical and panoramic radiographs of 5355 patients who presented to the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology at the Ondokuz Mayis University Dentistry Faculty between January 2009 and December 2010. Maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth were evaluated for the presence and characteristics of dens invaginatus. Statistical evaluation of the presence of dens invaginatus related to gender was performed by the Pearson chi-squared test. RESULTS: Dens invaginatus was observed in 116 of 4556 subjects, with a frequency of 2.5%. There was only one periapical lesion in teeth with type I dens invaginatus, but 8.1% of patients with type II and 87.5% of patients with type III dens invaginatus had apical periodontitis at the time of referral. There were 116 (72%) females and 32 (27%) males with dens invaginatus. CONCLUSION: This data represents the only study carried out in a large population in Turkey, and no dens invaginatus was found in mandibular teeth. The most commonly observed type of dens invaginatus was type I (69.8%).

Mesiodens: a radiographic study in children.

We analyzed the frequency and radiological features of mesiodens in a group of children in Turkey. The study was based on a radiographic review of 23,000 pediatric patients (male: 12,667 female; 10,333) who visited the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology during the period 2003-2005 (3 years). The presence of an unerupted supernumerary tooth, or tooth bud between the 2 central incisors or as unilateral or bilateral teeth in the midline of the maxilla was noted as mesiodens on radiographs. Eighty-five cases of mesiodens in 69 patients were found. Complete documentation, including radiographs, for these 69 patients were studied and analyzed. In addition to gender and age, the following information about the mesiodens was recorded: 1) number; 2) shape; 3) position; 4) complications caused by the mesiodens; 5) treatment. Of the 69 patients, the ratio of boys (47 cases) to girls (22 cases) was 2.1:1. Fifty-three (76.8%) of the children had 1 mesiodens, and 16 (23.1%) had 2 mesiodentes bilaterally to the midline. Of the 85 mesiodentes, 67 (78.8%) were fully impacted, 6 (7%) were partially erupted, and 12 (14.1%) were fully erupted. Most of the mesiodentes (55.2%) were found in the vertical position, followed by inverted position (37.6%), and horizontal position (7%). The main complications were delayed eruption of the permanent incisors (38.8%), maxillary midline diastema (17.6%), axial rotation or inclination of erupted permanent incisors (16.4%), and resorption of the adjacent teeth (4.7%) The prevelance of mesiodens has been estimated to be 0.15% to 2.2% of the population.

Association of the polymorphisms in promoter and intron regions of the interleukin-4 gene with chronic periodontitis in a Turkish population.

OBJECTIVES: The etiology of periodontitis is related to the interaction between micro-organisms and host responses. Host modifying factors, such as genetic predisposition, may increase the severity of periodontitis. Recent works have shown that the levels of cytokine expression are regulated by genetic polymorphisms, and that these variations can interfere with progression of the disease. This study therefore aimed to evaluate whether interleukin (IL) 4 gene polymorphisms are associated with severe generalized chronic periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-five severe generalized chronic periodontitis patients and 73 healthy subjects were examined. Blood samples were taken and genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Identification of 70 base-pair repeat polymorphisms in intron 2 and C-->T polymorphisms at -590 position of the promoter region was performed through PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the allele and genotype frequencies between the control and periodontitis group. CONCLUSION: The IL-4 polymorphisms were not related to severe generalized chronic periodontitis in a Turkish population.

Transmigration of mandibular canines: a report of six cases and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The transmigration of a mandibular canine is a rare phenomenon, the etiology of which is not clear. The literature on this rare condition is reviewed, and six cases of transmigrated mandibular canines are presented. REPORT: Panoramic radiographic examination of six patients revealed each patient had one impacted transmigrated mandibular canine. Of the six impacted teeth, the left mandibular canine was involved in four instances and the right in two. In one case the transmigrated canine was associated with a dentigerous cyst. SUMMARY: Transmigration of the mandibular canine is a rare event, and early radiographic examination of the patient is important for treatment. In addition, future studies may lead to a better understanding of this rare anomaly and improvement of the classification criteria.