Cephalometric comparison of obstructive sleep apnea patients and healthy controls.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the cephalometric characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with those of healthy subjects and to determine possible relationships between cephalometric measurements of OSA patients and control subjects. METHODS: Standardized lateral cephalograms of 16 OSA patients and 16 healthy controls were obtained. Airway dimensions and dentofacial parameters were measured using a cephalometric analysis program (Dolphin Imaging Cephalometric and Tracing Software, Chatsworth, CA, USA). All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 17.0.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive statistics were calculated for all measurements, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate intergroup differences. RESULTS: Midface length was significantly shorter and upper lip E-plane length was significantly longer in the OSA group than in the controls (P<.05). SNA, SNB, and mandibular plane angles (GoGn-SN), anterior and posterior facial heights, and posteroanterior face height ratio were similar in both groups. Maxillary length was slightly longer in the OSA group, whereas the mandibular length showed a slight increase in the control group (P<.05). The axial inclination of the lower incisor to its respective plane was normal, whereas the upper incisor was significantly protrusive (P<.05) in the OSA group. Distance between the hyoid and mandible was significantly greater in the OSA group than in the controls, indicating that the hyoid bone was positioned more downward in the OSA group (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the patients with OSA demonstrated significant differences in several craniofacial measurements. OSA patients showed reduced midface length and inferiorly placed hyoid bone and tended to have smaller airway dimensions.

Dentofacial characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are to evaluate the dentofacial morphology of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to compare the morphological data with those of healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. METHODS: Twenty-seven RA patients (mean age, 45.77 ± 8.64 years) and 25 healthy subjects (mean age, 44.80 ± 8.24 years) participated in this prospective study. Clinical and functional evaluations of the RA patients were assessed. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, rheumatoid factor level, and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) titers of RA patients were determined, and DAS28 scores were calculated. Linear and angular measurements were performed on cephalometric tracings and condylar erosion was evaluated on lateral panoramic radiographs. Statistical comparison of the two groups was performed with an independent samples t test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between the clinical and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Based on DAS28 scores, no patient with RA was in the remission period, 3 patients had low, 23 had medium, and 1 had high disease activity. Sixteen (59.26 %) patients with RA had positive ACPA titers. Lateral cephalometric radiographs revealed statistically significant difference between the two groups for the measurement of U1-NA (millimeter; p = 0.047), U1-NA (degrees; p = 0.031), L1-NB (degrees; p = 0.030), IMPA (L1-MP; p = 0.001), interincisal angle (U1-L1; degrees; p = 0.022) and midface length (Co-A; millimeter; p = 0.033). A significant positive linear correlation was found between disease duration time and DAS28 scores (r = 0.066, p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Dentoalveolar effects of RA on dentofacial morphology are more significant than the skeletal effects. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to evaluate the exact effects of RA on dentofacial morphology. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should consider the fact that RA-associated dentoalveolar changes can be observed and may affect the orthodontic treatment process.

Evaluation of mental index, mandibular cortical index and panoramic mandibular index on dental panoramic radiographs in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of gender and dental status on the mental index, mandibular cortical index and panoramic mandibular index from dental panoramic radiographs in elderly who had osteoporosis or did not have osteoporosis. METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of 487 elderly dental patients (age range 60-88 years) were evaluated. It were recorded osteoporotic status according to the patients' medical anamnesis and values of the mandibular cortical index (MCI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mandibular cortical width (MCW) RESULTS: Dental status was statistically significantly associated with the mandibular cortical width, panoramic mandibular index and the categories of MCI (P<.05). There were statistically different mandibular cortical width and panoramic mandibular index values in patients with osteoporosis and without osteoporosis (P<.05) CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that there were statistically significant differences according to gender, dental status, and values of the MCW, MCI and PMI between patients with and those without osteoporosis.

Garlic burn in a patient with trigeminal neuralgia: a case report.

Garlic is an herb which has been used by many cultures for treating various health problems for centuries. Uncontrolled use of herbal remedies, known as alternative treatment methods, may lead to side effects and serious treatment complications. This study aimed to draw attention to complications related to alternative treatment methods and to review the literature in the light of this case.A female patient who had been treated for trigeminal neuralgia was admitted to our clinic complaining of severe pain on the left side of her face. In anamnesis, the patient reported that she had applied garlic topically to this region. Extraoral examination revealed a broad cutaneous burn on the same region. According to a dermatology consultation, a treatment for cutaneous burns was applied and severe trigeminal neuralgia pain was eliminated with glycerol injection by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Maxillary canine transposition to incisor site: a rare condition.

Tooth transposition is defined as positional interchange of 2 adjacent teeth within the same quadrant. The incidence has been reported as about 0.4%, and the maxillary permanent canine has been reported as the tooth most frequently involved. Several etiologic factors like genetics, interchange in position of the developing tooth buds, trauma, mechanical interferences, and early loss of incisors have been associated with tooth transposition. Articles in the literature report various kinds of transpositions, but there are only a few reported cases of transposition of the maxillary canine to central incisor site. This kind of transposition has been suggested as resulting primarily by opportunistic canine migration into the space left from an early lost central incisor. However, there are only 2 long-term roentgenographic follow-up studies documenting maxillary canine migration and substantiating this hypothesis. This report shows 2 cases of this rare condition, with 1 of them documented with long-term records.