Effect of Tooth Agenesis on Mandibular Morphology and Position

Congenital missing teeth (OMIM #106600) is the most common dental abnormality. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of tooth agenesis on the total mandibular length, length of the mandibular body and alveolar process, and the mandibular anteroposterior position. The material was obtained from the Department of Orthodontics, Medical University of Warsaw. The study group included 116 patients aged 9–18 years with a congenital absence of at least two permanent tooth buds in the maxilla and/or mandible (mean: 6.2 teeth missing/patient). All patients were Caucasians: 68 (59%) females and 48 (41%) males. The control group included 115 patients without tooth agenesis matched with the age and gender of the study group. A cephalometric analysis was performed, and it was focused on assessing anteroposterior mandibular measurements. This assessment was based on 17 measurements (12 linear and 5 angular). Statistical analysis of the cephalometric measurements between the study group and the control group showed significant changes regarding selected mandibular measurements. Tooth agenesis does not affect the total length of the mandible and the length of the mandibular body, but it might reduce the length of the mandibular arch length and result in a more retrusive mandibular position.

Non-syndromic supernumerary premolar tooth buds at a rare site in the mandible

Hyperdontia involving the premolar teeth can be single or multiple or even related to a syndrome. These are frequently encountered in permanent dentition, but their occurrence has ranged between 0.09 to 0.64% in the general population. These are rarely found between the first and second premolars.

AUTO-TRANSPLANTATION: AN INTERIM TREATMENT MODALITY (CURRENT UPDATES)

Paediatric dental patients demand special care and wider vision while treatment planning due to ongoing growth of jaw bones and existing permanent tooth buds within the bone. Tooth loss is very common even in younger age patients due to extensive tooth decay or as a result of traumatic dental injuries. Implants are in high demand to restore the lost tooth but use of implants is limited to adults or older age group. Thus auto-transplantation may be an intermediate or permanent treatment option to such cases due simple, less time consuming and cost effectiveness. Sidewise auto-transplantation maintains the bone dimensions to make it available further treatment on failure. Present review article include all the required facts about auto-transplantion.

Morphological variation of the relictual alveolar structures in the mandibles of baleen whales

Living baleen whales (mysticetes) are bulk filter feeders that use keratinous baleen plates to filter food from prey laden water. Extant mysticetes are born entirely edentulous, though they possess tooth buds early in ontogeny, a trait inherited from toothed ancestors. The mandibles of extant baleen whales have neither teeth nor baleen; teeth are resorbed in utero and baleen grows only on the palate. The mandibles of extant baleen whales also preserve a series of foramina and associated sulci that collectively form an elongated trough, called the alveolar groove. Despite this name, it remains unclear if the alveolar groove of edentulous mysticetes and the dental structures of toothed mammals are homologous. Here, we describe and quantify the anatomical diversity of these structures across extant mysticetes and compare their variable morphologies across living taxonomic groups (i.e., Balaenidae, Neobalaenidae, Eschrichtiidae, and Balaenopteridae). Although we found broad variability across taxonomic groups for the alveolar groove length, occupying approximately 60–80 percent of the mandible’s total curvilinear length (CLL) across all taxa, the relictual alveolar foramen showed distinct patterns, ranging between 15–25% CLL in balaenids, while ranging between 3–12% CLL in balaenopterids. This variability and the morphological patterning along the body of the mandible is consistent with the hypothesis that the foramina underlying the alveolar groove reflect relictual alveoli. These findings also lay the groundwork for future histological studies to examine the contents of these foramina and clarify their potential role in the feeding process.

Use of a Modified Nance Appliance for Esthetic Rehabilitation of a Child Patient with Rare Nonfamilial and Nonsyndromic Oligodontia

Congenital absence of more than 6 teeth except the third molar is known as oligodontia. It can affect both primary and permanent dentitions. The affected individuals usually demonstrate esthetic, functional, and psychological concerns. The present case report is about a 4-year-old female patient with multiple missing (both primary and permanent) teeth with esthetic and social problems. On extraoral examination, the patient demonstrated upper lip relapse due to missing anterior teeth. On physical examination, no other abnormality was detected in relation to the hair, appendages, or presence of a cleft. On intraoral and radiographic examination, 21 teeth were missing, which included both the primary and the permanent tooth buds. To encourage a positive behavioral change, it was decided to carry out prosthetic intervention using a modified fixed Nance appliance and acrylic teeth. After the replacement of the missing teeth, a marked improvement in the profile and esthetics was seen.

Conservative Decompression Management with Functional Appliance in Pediatric Plexiform Ameloblastoma

Ameloblastoma is an infiltrative benign neoplasm in the mandible or maxilla that is locally aggressive with rare metastasizing capacity. This lesion is the most common tumor of the odontogenic epithelium. However, its occurrence in children is low, representing only 10–15% of all reported ameloblastoma cases. In treating such benign neoplasms in pediatric patients, the preservation of vital structures such as the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), deciduous teeth, tooth buds, and nerves with proper post-operative management to maintain normal mandibular growth is imperative. A five-year-old boy with painless swelling and displaced teeth in the right mandible was diagnosed with plexiform ameloblastoma. Instead of a radical approach, the patient was treated conservatively using decompression and routine irrigation along with long-term follow-up. Functional appliance treatment was provided using a Frankel appliance to preserve and induce normal growth of the jaw. After eight years, there was no recurrence of the ameloblastoma, and normal mandibular growth of the patient was observed. Pediatric plexiform ameloblastoma should be treated with a conservative approach considering the preservation of important anatomic structures and further mandibular growth. Moreover, functional appliance therapy should be considered as an integral part of treatment for pediatric ameloblastoma and other tumors in children to maintain and induce normal growth of the mandible.

INFLUENCE OF INDUSTRIAL VIBRATION ON MINERAL METABOLISM, ORGANS OF THE ORAL CAVITY AND FETAL MYOCARDIUM

In the study, the morphometric analysis of bone trabeculae of the developing jaws, tooth buds, tongue muscles, masseter muscle, and myocardium of 20-day fetuses of Wistar rats, exposed to vibration from the 9th to the 18th day of prenatal ontogenesis, was performed. The concentration of Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, P, Pb, Se, Zn was determined in the liver of pregnant females exposed to vibration. The morphometric study revealed an acceleration of the osteogenesis of jaws and dentinogenesis of tooth buds. In the myocardium and masseter muscle signs of interstitial edema and a decrease in the area of the vessels of the microvasculature are determined. In the liver, there is a decrease in the amount of Ca, Mg and Fe, which is accompanied by an increase in the content of Cd and Pb. The revealed shifts in mineral metabolism indicate gross impairment of chemicals' homeostasis in the mother-fetus system, which underlies the imperfect morphogenesis of the fetal dentition and will be the basis for the formation of pathology of orofacial organs and cardiovascular pathology in offspring.

Comparison of the Visibility of Fetal Tooth Buds on 1.5 and 3 Tesla MRI

Dental anomalies coincide with genetic disorders, and prenatal identification may contribute to a more accurate diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess whether fetal Magnet Resonance Imaging (MRI) is suitable to visualize and investigate intrauterine dental development in the upper jaw, and to compare the quality of visibility of tooth buds between 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3T images. MR images of fetuses Gestational Week (GW) 26.71 ± 4.97 from 286 pregnant women with diagnoses unrelated to dental anomalies were assessed by three raters. We compared the visibility between groups and field strengths in five gestational age groups, using chi square and Fisher’s exact tests. All ten primary tooth buds were identifiable in 5.4% at GW 18–21, in 75.5% at GW 26–29, and in 90.6% at GW 34+. Before GW 30, more tooth buds were identifiable on 3T images than on 1.5T images. Statistical significance was only reached for identification of incisors (p = 0.047). Therefore, 1.5T and 3T images are viable to visualize tooth buds, particularly after GW 25, and their analysis may serve as diagnostic criterion. MRI tooth bud data might have an impact on various fields of research, such as the maldevelopment of teeth and their causes. Analyzing tooth buds as an additional diagnostic criterion is not time consuming, and could lead to an improvement of syndrome diagnosis.

A Rare Case of Anhydrous Ectodermal Dysplasia

A 9-year-old boy presented with complaints of itching in both eyes. On ocular examination there was dry lusterless conjunctiva rest of the examination of both anterior and posterior segment was within normal limit. On systemic examination, there was an absence of teeth with flattening of the mandible with a peg-shaped incisor with the absence of tooth buds on oral x-ray and dryness of mouth since birth. He was already a diagnosed case of X linked anhydrous ectodermal dysplasia with a similar history of absence of teeth in elder brother but his elder sister was normal. Similar history of absence of teeth and dryness of mouth since birth. (Figures 1a and b) he was started on conservative management in the form of lubricating drops and ointment.

A Novel Approach Using Customized Miniplates as Skeletal Anchorage Devices in Growing Class III Patients: A Case Report

Facemasks using tooth-borne anchorages have been used primarily for the treatment of Class III malocclusion with maxillary undergrowth. However, when using a tooth as an anchorage, if the stability of the tooth used as an anchor is weak, the anchoring function may fail as the tooth tilts. Meanwhile, the use of skeletal anchorages such as implants, mini-implants, and mini-plates has been claimed to minimize the side effects of using dental anchorage. This case report describes the treatment of a six-year-old male patient with Class III malocclusion, presenting maxillary undergrowth and mandibular prognathism. Due to the mobility of the anchoring primary teeth, a device using dental anchorage was replaced with that using customized skeletal anchorage for the treatment. Customized guides and miniplates for the surgery were fabricated in advance through a computer-assisted system, in order to avoid possible damage to the adjacent tooth buds. The customized plates were accurately and passively placed on the intended part, showing the desired outcome.