The influence of facial types on the morphology and location of the greater palatine foramen: a CBCT study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the morphology and location of the great palatine foramen (GPF) of different facial types using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. METHODS: Sixty CBCT scans were divided into: brachyfacial (n = 20), dolichofacial (n = 20) and mesofacial (n = 20) using Ricketts' VERT index for the determination of cephalometric facial type and imported into ImageJ software. GPF shape was characterized as: round, elongated in the anteroposterior direction (EAP), or elongated in the latero-medial direction (ELM). The distances between the GPF and the palatine suture (PS), the center of the GPF and the center incisive foramen (IF), the GPF and the palatine alveolar ridge (PAR), right side GPF (GPFr) and left side (GPFl) GPFs; and the angles formed from the intersection of the GPF, IF and PS were assessed. The position of the GPF was evaluated in relation to the molars. RESULTS: GPFr and GPFl mean distances from PAR presented higher values for dolichofacial patients (p < 0.05). GPFr and GPFl location distally to the third molar (3 M) was higher for brachyfacial type, while their location distally to the second molar was higher for mesofacial and between the mesial and distal surfaces of the 3 M for dolichofacial (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The GPF was more distant from the PAR in the dolichofacial-type group. The location of the GPF in relation to the molars varied according to the facial type. However, the morphology of the GPF was similar in the three facial types, and the elongated in the anteroposterior direction morphology was more frequent.

Correction of Vertical Smile Discrepancy through Ceramic Laminate Veneers and Surgical Crown Lengthening.

In cases where malocclusion is associated with intrinsic discoloration and/or discrepancies in tooth size and shape, such as peg-shaped laterals, orthodontics alone may not improve the aesthetics. In these situations, veneers may be considered as an adjunct to orthodontic treatment to improve the overall aesthetics. The aim of this study is to report a clinical case where an uneven occlusal plane was corrected, and the positioning of gingival zeniths, color, shape, and size of the dental elements involved were improved by means of gingivectomy and rehabilitation with 10 ceramic laminate veneers. It was possible to conclude that multidisciplinary treatment, when properly planned and indicated, respecting the limits and established techniques of periodontics, prosthesis, and dentistry, makes small occlusal leveling predictable and possible through these tools.

Approach and Treatment of Giant Luminal Unicystic Ameloblastoma.

Unicystic ameloblastoma is an odontogenic tumor that affects mainly young patients and usually involves the posterior region of the mandible. In this article, we report on the case a 12-year-old girl presenting with an 8-month history of facial swelling in her lower right quadrant. Radiographic examination revealed a unilocular radiolucent lesion extending from the body of the mandible through to the angle and ascending ramus. An incisional biopsy was performed, and a diagnosis of luminal unicystic ameloblastoma was made based on clinicopathological features. The lesion was treated in two stages, namely, an initial conservative approach via decompression and subsequent excision. The patient has been followed up for 6 months without clinical and radiographic evidence of recurrence. In conclusion, conservative timely intervention combined with a conservative surgical approach has proven efficacious in the treatment of ameloblastoma in this young patient.

Intraosseous Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma in the Mandible.

Although it is a rare neoplasm, intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common and well-recognized intraosseous salivary gland tumor. Usually, it presents as an asymptomatic volume increase and most patients perceive the presence of the lesion within a year or less of evolution. They are more common in middle-aged adults and have a slight female predilection. They are three times more common in the mandible than in the maxilla and are most often found in the area of the molars and mandibular ramus. The most frequently present symptom is cortical bulging, although some lesions may be discovered as an accidental finding on radiographs. The main modality of treatment for patients with this neoplasm is radical surgical resection, offering a greater chance of cure than the more conservative procedures, such as enucleation or curettage, due to the great possibility of recurrence and tumor metastasis. This paper reports a rare case of intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma occasionally discovered after panoramic radiography of the jaws, which was treated with segmental resection through hemimandibulectomy.