Microdontia, hypodontia, short bulbous roots and root canals with strabismus, short stature, and borderline mentality.

A case of unusual dental findings associated with mild growth and mental retardation is presented. The patient, a 15-year-old girl, manifests small teeth with peculiar short bulbous roots and roundly widened root canals, congenital absence of permanent teeth, strabismus, short stature, and borderline mentality.     

Number of teeth, prevalence of caries and periapical lesions in insulin-dependent diabetics

Ninety-four long and 86 short duration diabetics and 86 non-diabetics, aged 20-70 yr, participated in the study. The clinical and radiographic examination comprised recordings of the number of teeth, carious lesions, restorations, endodontically treated teeth and periapical lesions. There were no significant differences between long and short duration diabetics and non-diabetics in the number of teeth and the total number of decayed and filled tooth surfaces (DFS %). However, long duration diabetics exhibited more decayed proximal tooth surfaces (D %) than non-diabetics. There were no significant differences between long and short duration diabetics and non-diabetics in the mean number of endodontically treated teeth and periapical lesions. Women with long diabetes duration, however, exhibited more endodontically treated teeth with periapical lesions than women with short diabetes duration and women without diabetes. Long duration diabetics exhibited teeth with periapical lesions to a greater extent than the other groups. On the whole, diabetics and non-diabetics exhibited a similar caries frequency but among the diabetics there was a group of individuals who had more periapical lesions than the non-diabetics.     

Number of teeth, prevalence of caries and periapical lesions in insulin-dependent diabetics

Abstract – Ninety-four long and 86 short duration diabetics and 86 non-diabetics, aged 20–70 yr, participated in the study. The clinical and radiographic examination comprised recordings of the number of teeth, carious lesions, restorations, endodontically treated teeth and periapical lesions. There were no significant differences between long and short duration diabetics and non-diabetics in the number of teeth and the total number of decayed and filled tooth surfaces (DFS %). However, long duration diabetics exhibited more decayed proximal tooth surfaces (D %) than non-diabetics. There were no significant differences between long and short duration diabetics and non-diabetics in the mean number of endodontically treated teeth and periapical lesions. Women with long diabetes duration, however, exhibited more endodontically treated teeth with periapical lesions than women with short diabetes duration and women without diabetes. Long duration diabetics exhibited teeth with periapical lesions to a greater extent than the other groups. On the whole, diabetics and non-diabetics exhibited a similar caries frequency but among the diabetics there was a group of individuals who had more periapical lesions than the non-diabetics.     

Abnormal root development, probably due to erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).

A case report is presented of a patient in whom nearly all teeth of the permanent dentition still present had short roots, while some teeth had never been formed at all. It may be concluded from the typical differences in length between the roots of the various teeth that this condition must be due to complete cessation of the growth of the teeth at the age of 7 or 8 years. Since the patient suffered a fulminant attack of erythema multiforme (STEVENS-JOHNSON syndrome) at this age, and since no other possible explanation of the short roots has been found, it is concluded that this clinical condition may have been the reason for the short root anomaly found. Damage or even destruction of the epithelial root sheath during the disease may be assumed to be the direct cause of the failure of full root development.     

龋齿、牙周炎患牙和健康牙的菌斑生物膜特征

目的研究牙面菌斑生物膜特征与口腔疾病的关系。方法选择牙周健康而牙冠严重龋坏的龋齿5颗、无龋损而极度松动的牙周炎患牙6颗及正畸原因拔除的健康牙4颗,在扫描电镜下,观察分析龈上、龈下及移行生态区的菌斑生物膜特征。结果龋齿、牙周炎患牙和健康牙的牙面均观察到细菌混合物组成的菌斑生物膜,健康牙菌斑生物膜以球菌为主,放线菌和短杆菌少量;龋齿牙的龋坏处为坏死组织和细菌,龋边缘及龈沟处的球菌和短杆菌较健康牙多;牙周炎患者牙菌斑生物膜的细菌种类多,在龈上、龈下移行处可见典型的玉米棒状菌斑或以杆菌为主的紧密附着菌斑,龈下可见球菌、杆菌、梭菌及螺旋体等构成的复杂菌斑。结论龋齿、牙周炎患牙和健康牙菌斑生物膜细菌组成、集聚秩序和立体结构不同,菌斑生物膜的形成与细菌的附着、集聚、生长有关,也与局部病变密切相关。     

Facial development, continuous tooth eruption, and mesial drift as compromising factors for implant placement

The replacement of teeth lost by children because of trauma can be an important indication for early implant therapy. Osseointegrated dental implants, like ankylosed teeth, alter position as growth-related changes occur within the jawbones (displacement, remodeling, mesial drift). Facial growth of the child and even of the adolescent, as well as the continuous eruption of the adjacent anterior teeth, create significant risk of a less favorable esthetic and/or functional outcome. For patients with a normal facial profile, the placement of an implant should be postponed until growth is complete. For patients with a short or long face type, further growth, especially the continuous eruption of adjacent teeth, creates a serious risk even after the age of 20 years, as illustrated by some recent clinical studies. This review aims to explain these phenomena and provides some recommendations for implant placement.     

Taurodontism, short roots, and external resorption, associated with short stature and a small head.

This article describes a patient who exhibited taurodontism, relatively short roots, external resorption of the roots of the anterior teeth, and a marked tendency toward microcephalic dwarfism. This case is similar to that reported previously by Sauk and Delaney.     

Crown and root length, and root-crown ratios of lower incisor teeth of mongoloid, non-mongoloid retarded and normal individuals

Crown and root lengths were measured and root-crown ratios calculated for lower incisor teeth of mongoloid (M), non-mongoloid retarded (NM) and normal (N) subjects. The teeth from all subjects had been extracted for periodonlal disease except those teeth from normal children which had been extracted for orthodontic reasons.
Both crowns and roots of the M teeth were shorter than NM and N teeth. Crowns of the teeth from older mongoloids and non-mongoloids tended to be shorter than those of younger patients, probably due to attrition. However the roots of the teeth of older mongoloids were longer than those of younger mongoloids; in all cases root formation was complete. Regression analysis showed that the root-crown ratios of the mongoloid central and lateral incisors and non-mongoloid lateral incisors were positively related to age (P < .05). This association was related to attrition in the NM and N teeth, whereas for M teeth, the association was influenced by root length.
It was considered that short roots and unfavourable root-crown ratios of incisor teeth in the mongoloid children may contribute to early mobility and subsequent tooth loss.     

Healing process of dogs' pulpless teeth after apicoectomy and root canal filling at different levels

Abstract Dogs' teeth with infected root canals, were submitted to apicoectomy and the root canals were filled flush or 2 mm short. In a third group the canals were left unfilled and only the access openings were closed. One hundred and eighty days after the treatment, the animals were killed and the specimens prepared for histological analysis. Repair was not observed in the teeth with unfilled root canals. The healing observed in the teeth with root canals filled flush was less complete than the healing observed when the root canals were filled 2 mm short.     

Aarskog syndrome. A case report

A rare Aarskog syndrome is reported in a 12-year-old boy. The patient had a triad of characteristic symptoms consisting of short stature, genital anomaly, and unusual facies. Both jaws were hypoplastic with presence of crowded permanent teeth and over-retained deciduous teeth. Radiographic examination of teeth showed taurodontism, which has not been reported previously.     

Anomalous dental morphology and root resorption during orthodontic treatment: a pilot study

The present study investigated the relation between anomalous dental morphology and root resorption during orthodontic treatment. One hundred and eleven sets of orthodontic records (a total of 1,630 teeth) were examined. Root resorption was determined from post-treatment panoramic radiographs using a five-grade quantitative measurement. It was found that patients with short or blunt roots before treatment underwent significant root shortening during orthodontic treatment. Patients with any one dental anomaly had a significantly higher degree of root resorption compared with patients with no dental anomaly. Invaginated teeth, teeth with thin or pipette-shaped roots and teeth with short or blunt roots were likely to be more susceptible to root resorption than those without such anomalies. Possible linkages between the aetiological factors of dental anomalies and the susceptibility to root resorption were discussed. The presence of anomalous dental morphology should be taken into account in orthodontic treatment planning.     

Retrospective case series analysis of the factors determining immediate implant placement

Implant placement at the time of extraction has become an acceptable treatment option. The formation of a restorative treatment plan frequently requires the removal of questionable and hopeless teeth. This retrospective case series analysis reports the reasons for tooth removal before immediate implant placement and provides a rationale for removing questionable and hopeless teeth. Root length is also analyzed as related to tooth loss. Between September 1986 and December 1998, 460 teeth were removed from 282 patients. Reasons for removal were advanced periodontal disease, endodontic complications, nonrestorable caries, roots fractures, short roots (< 14 mm in length), root resorption, and loosened posts. Implants were placed at the time of extraction. Tallies, frequency distributions, and percentages were used to determine individual and multiple reasons for extraction. For teeth with short roots, computerized measurements were made from periapical x-rays. Advanced periodontal disease and restored endodontically treated teeth with posts were the primary reasons for tooth extraction. Dental implants replaced 305 maxillary and 155 mandibular teeth.     

A newly recognized syndrome of skeletal dysplasia with opalescent and rootless teeth

A Thai girl with skeletal dysplasia and dental anomalies was seen. Her anomalies consisted of disproportionately short stature, short neck, broad and depressed nasal bridge, broad chest in the anteroposterior dimension, kyphosis, widely spaced nipples, and protruded abdomen. Radiographic testing indicated that she had a large sella turcica, platyspondyly, hypoplastic acetabulum, and a small body of mandible. Both her deciduous and permanent teeth were equally opalescent, and most were rootless, with root development of the mandibular teeth more severely affected. Some maxillary roots were extremely short and tapered. Hypodontia was also observed. These findings represent a unique and hitherto undescribed syndrome of skeletal dysplasia with concomitant dental anomalies.     

Dentin dysplasia type I. Clinical, morphologic, and genetic studies of a case.

This report documents a case of dentin dysplasia Type I in a 17-year-old boy and two members of his family. The clinical, radiographic, histologic, and ultrastructural findings indicate that this condition is distinct from other heritable defects of dentin. The entity is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait and is characterized by teeth which have a normal color and exhibit pulpal obliteration, short roots, periapical radiolucencies, and spontaneous exfoliation. Our ultrastructural findings in agreement with those reported by Sauk and associates.     

Loss of deciduous teeth and germs of permanent incisors in a 4-year-old child. An atypic prepubertal periodontitis? A clinical,microbiological, immunological and ultrastructural study

Abstract A 4-year-old child was referred, in April 1988, to Rennes Dental School (France) for deciduous tooth mobility with premature loss of 4 deciduous teeth and germs of 2 permanent incisors. Microbiological examinations by culture revealed the presence of the periodontal pathogen Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Immunofluorescence of plaque samples revealed the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis that had not been isolated by culture. Neutrophil functions were within normal ranges. Transmission electron microscopy of gingiva showed a disorganised epithelium. The connective tissue was infiltrated by inflammatory cells. The basement membranes were normal, but the connective tissue-epithelium interface was mainly composed of short rete pegs. Scanning electron microscopy of extracted deciduous teeth revealed lack of cementum, lacunae in the cementum and lack of fibrillar insertion on the middle part of the root. Skin lesions, mainly situated on face, were observed. Treatment was by extraction of mobile deciduous teeth combined with 3-week courses of metronidazole. Clinical and microbiological follow-up was continued over a 7-year period. No periodontal lesions have been detected since eruption of the permanent teeth. The present subgingival and lingual microflora (December 1995) is composed of bacteria associated with periodontal health. However, the future appearance of a hitherto undetected systemic disease is still possible.     

Supernumerary teeth in the primary dentition: a report of two cases

Supernumerary teeth occur frequently in the permanent dentition, but they are rare in the primary dentition. Mesiodens is a supernumerary tooth with a cone shaped crown and a short root. The supernumerary tooth which bears resemblance to the tooth with which it is associated is called a supplemental tooth. The etiology of supernumerary teeth is still unknown and not well understood. Radiographic examination of pre-school children is essential for their diagnosis. Early removal of these teeth is required so that complications such as delay in eruption of permanent teeth, crowding, diastema, rotations and certain pathologic conditions can be averted.     

Dentists'' preferences of anterior tooth proportion—a Web-based study

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine dentists' esthetic preferences of the maxillary anterior teeth as influenced by different proportions. The goal was to link choices to demographic data as to the experience, gender, and training of the dentist. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Computer-manipulated images of the 6 maxillary anterior teeth were generated from a single image and assigned to 5 tooth-height groups (very short, short, normal height, tall, and very tall). For each group, 4 images were generated by manipulating the relative proportion of the central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines according to the proportions 62% (or "golden proportion"), 70%, 80%, and "normal" or not further altered. The images were randomly ordered on a web page that contained a form asking for demographic data and fields asking for a ranking of the images. Dentists were asked via e-mail to visit the web page and complete the survey. The responses were tabulated and analyzed with repeated measures logistic regression with the alpha at 0.05. A subset of North American respondents was chosen for further analysis. RESULTS: A total of 549 valid responses were received and analyzed from dentists in 38 countries. There were statistically significant differences in all groups for the variables of proportion, group (tooth height), and their interaction. The 80% proportion was judged best for the Very Short and Short groups. Three of the choices were almost equally picked for the Normal Height and Tall groups, and the golden proportion was judged best for the Very Tall group. The variables of year of graduation, gender, professional activity, generalist or specialist, or number of patients were not significantly correlated with the choices for the North American respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists preferred the 80 percent proportion when viewing short or very short teeth and the golden proportion when viewing very tall teeth. Golden proportion was worst for normal height or shorter teeth and the 80% proportion for tall or very tall teeth. They picked no clear-cut best for normal height or tall teeth, and their choices could not be predicted based on gender, specialist training, experience, or patient load.     

Short root anomaly

A case of generalised short root anomaly is described. All permanent teeth had abnormally short roots, associated with microdontia, hypodontia and a dens invaginatus. Members of the patient's family were similarly affected.     

Mesiodens in the primary dentition--a case report

Supernumerary teeth are among the most significant dental anomalies affecting the primary and the permanent dentitions. Mesiodens is a supernumerary tooth with a cone shaped crown and a short root. Though it occurs frequently in the permanent dentition, it is extremely rare in the primary dentition. The exact etiology is still obscure and not well understood. Supernumerary teeth occur as isolated dental findings or as part of a syndrome. The frequency with which supernumerary teeth occur and the effects they have on development of normal occlusion justify the radiographic examination of preschool children. Early removal of such teeth is recommended if they impede the eruption of adjacent permanent teeth, appear inverted or rudimentary, associated with certain pathologic conditions or are symptomatic.     

后牙大面积缺损银汞合金带钉充填的远期疗效评定

目的 评价自攻自断牙本质钉配合银汞合金修复后牙大面积缺损的长期疗效。方法 选择牙冠大面积破坏并经牙髓治疗之后牙186颗，以牙本质钉加银汞合金恢复外形。追踪观察并以改良的USPHS评价系统评定各期修复效果。结果 经统计学处理，可将10年的观察期分为三个阶段：4年以内为效果保持期；6年为第二期；8年以后为第三期。各期成功率为：效果保持期，96．8％—9l.9％；第二期，84.5％；第三期，73.2％—59.2％。结论 牙本质钉配合银汞合金修复后牙大面积缺损在效果保持期以内较为安全有效，可以解决患牙在牙髓治疗后的观察期内行使功能的问题。中、远期应采用全冠予以保护。