Longitudinal study on types of injury, complications and treatment in permanent traumatized teeth with single and multiple dental trauma episodes.

The purpose of this study was to compare the type of injuries, complications and treatment in permanent traumatized teeth with single and multiple dental trauma episodes (MDTE). One hundred and fifty-five children, aged 6-14 years, sustaining one or more traumatic episodes to permanent teeth were included in this investigation. After the medical and dental history the patients were examined clinically and radiographically and the diagnosis of trauma, the treatment plan and the applied treatment were recorded. Also, information regarding the number of traumatic episodes, the number of injured permanent teeth and the vitality of the pulp was collected. In follow-ups, traumatized teeth were examined clinically and radiographically to evaluate the treatment applied and to detect any complication. The t-statistic was used to test differences in the mean number of teeth per patient with different types of injury, complications and treatment between permanent traumatized teeth with single and multiple trauma episodes. A 95% probability level was used. The results showed that MDTE significantly affected the mean number of teeth per patient with fractured restoration, root fracture, concussion, pulp canal obliteration, root replacement resorption, filling therapy, surgery and prosthetic treatment. It was concluded that MDTE increase the risk of having certain types of injury, complications and treatment.

Development of caries in permanent first molars adjacent to primary second molars with interproximal caries: four-year prospective radiographic study.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of the primary second molars' distal surface caries on the incidence of the permanent first molars' mesial surface caries in 613 paired tooth surfaces of children ages 6 to 8 years at baseline examination. METHODS: Proximal caries and its progression were diagnosed by bite-wing radiographs taken at a 1-year interval over a period of 4 years. The permanent first molars' mesial surfaces and primary second molars' distal surfaces were examined. Recorded were: (1) sound surfaces; (2) carious lesions on the enamel's external and internal half and on the dentin's external, middle, and internal third; (3) filled, extracted, and exfoliated teeth. The logistic model for panel data was employed to estimate the effect of proximal caries of the primary second molars' distal surfaces on the incidence of the permanent first molars' mesial surface caries. The 95% confidence interval probability was used. Sensitivity and specificity as well as the positive and negative predictive rates were computed. RESULTS: The results showed that the presence of proximal caries on each primary second molars' distal surfaces significantly affected the development of proximal caries on the corresponding permanent first molar's mesial surfaces. Age was estimated to exert a positive and highly significant impact, while gender had no effect. The odds ratio values ranged from 4.86 to 63.43. The values of sensitivity and specificity ranged from 45% to 97% and 80% to 89%, respectively, while the positive and negative rates ranged from 40% to 56% and 90% to 99%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal caries present on the primary second molars' distal surfaces increases the risk of developing caries on the permanent first molars' mesial surfaces. This risk, however, is different among the paired surfaces studied.

Clinical evaluation of a compomer and an amalgam primary teeth class II restorations: a 2-year comparative study.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the clinical performance between the compomer F2000 and amalgam Dispersalloy in Class II restorations in primary molars over a 2-year period. METHODS: Seventy-five amalgam and 75 compomer restorations were placed in 75 children based on a split-mouth design. The restorations were evaluated after 1 week and after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of oral function. The evaluation consisted of a clinical assessment according to modified Ryge criteria, a radiographic examination using bite-wing radiographs, and an observation of epoxy casts under scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant differences in the marginal adaptation and anatomic form between amalgam and compomer restorations. A higher number of compomer restorations were rated as Bravo, while a higher number of amalgam restorations were rated as Alpha at 24 months. Significant differences in the failure of the restoration and development of secondary caries were not found between the materials. CONCLUSIONS: The use of compomer F2000 in Class II resorations in primary molars, although it presents a significantly higher number of restorations rated as Bravo regarding the marginal adaptation and anatomic form vs the amalgam, does not increase the risks of developing secondary caries and failure of the restoration over a period of 2 years.

Progression of proximal caries in the mixed dentition: a 4-year prospective study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival rate and median survival time of different stages of proximal caries in 196 children aged 6 to 8 years at baseline examination. METHODS: Proximal caries and its progression were diagnosed from bitewing radiographs taken at 1-year intervals over a period of 4 years. The mesial surface of the first permanent molars, the mesial and distal surfaces of the first and second primary molars, and the distal surface of the primary canine were examined. Sound surfaces, caries lesions in the external- and internal-half of the enamel and external-, middle-, and internal-third of the dentin, as well as filled, extracted, and exfoliated teeth were recorded. A life table analysis was performed to estimate the annual and cumulative survival rates and the median survival time of each state of proximal lesions. RESULTS: For the sound mesial surfaces of the first permanent molars, the cumulative survival rate was 76% and the median survival time was over 48 months. The corresponding values for the external-half of the enamel lesions were 41% and 45 months. Regarding the sound mesial and distal surfaces of the primary teeth, the cumulative survival rate was 92% and the median survival time was over 48 months. The corresponding values for the external and internal-half of the enamel lesions were 40% and 31 months, and 29% and 22 months, respectively. The value of the cumulative survival rate for the external-third of dentin lesions was 42%, with a median survival time of 34 months, and the value for the middle-third of the dentin was 38% with a median survival time of 17 months. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing carious lesions in the sound proximal surfaces of both primary teeth and first permanent molars is low during the mixed dentition period; the progression of the external-half of enamel lesions of the first permanent molars is low for the first 3 years and becomes faster thereafter; and as the time period that the tooth exposed to cariogenic factors increases, the progression of the proximal caries is faster for all stages of the lesion in the primary teeth.