Development of a three-dimensional imaging system for analysis of facial change

The objective of this report is to present facial changes produced by the Twin Block appliance in three-dimensional visual and numerical formats. Using a C3D system, stereophotogrammetric records were made of two children with Class II division 1 malocclusions prescribed treatment with a Twin Block appliance. Three-dimensional images of their faces were captured. Comparison of specified regions of the three-dimensional images was made using landmark identification and superimpositions. In addition to obvious visual evidence, numerical data in the form of surface area measurements were also generated. The three-dimensional, C3D, system, provides a flexible imaging tool which should become increasingly useful as more improvements are made.     

Implant position record and implant position cast: minimizing errors, procedures and patient visits in the fabrication of the milled-bar prosthesis

This article describes a new rationale and method involved in the fabrication of a patient detachable prosthesis supported by a milled bar. This simple procedure improves prosthesis retention. The overdenture is processed directly over a milled bar, which provides an intimate relation between the bar and the acrylic resin denture base to create resistance against rotational and lateral forces acting on the prosthesis. Incorporating simple and predictable attachments, with low maintenance needs, controls resistance to dislodgment along the path of insertion of the prosthesis. The concepts used in the fabrication of the milled bar include an implant position record (IPR) and an implant position cast (IPC) to reduce the need for time-consuming procedures, such as sectioning the cast bar and soldering it to make it fit the abutments. This procedure also reduces the number of patient visits required of the completion of the prosthesis.     

Postoperative pulpal and repair responses

BACKGROUND: Each year in the United States, the success of 10 million surgically restored carious lesions depends on a favorable tertiary dentin repair response to preparation, restoration and patient factor variables. The authors investigated the relationship between these variables and dentinal response. METHODS: Standardized rectangular Class V restoration preparations were cut into the buccal dentin of intact first or second premolars of 27 patients without exposing the pulp and were restored. The patients were between 9 and 17 years of age. The treated teeth were scheduled for extraction for orthodontic reasons. After tooth extraction, the tertiary dentin was analyzed histomorphometrically. RESULTS: The area of tertiary reactionary dentin was found to be correlated using linear regression analysis of variance with restoration residual dentin thickness (P = .0024), age of the patient (P = .0045), restoration floor surface area (P = .0266) and restoration width (P = .0415). The authors did not find a correlation with the premolar position (P = .0594), sex of the patient (P = .650), pulpal inflammatory reaction (P = .613) or the time elapsed since surgery (P = .531). Restoration with zinc oxide eugenol was found to negatively influence tertiary dentin matrix secretion (post hoc analysis of variance, P = .030). CONCLUSIONS: The age of a patient at treatment, the choice of restorative material and the size of the restoration preparation are all factors that can positively or negatively affect the pulpal repair response. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Age of the patient affects dentin repair capacity and may be a factor in treatment planning decisions. Minimizing the cutting of dentin, especially the width and base of the preparation, reduces the probability of recurrent pulpal complications.     

Impression pressures against teeth in a partially edentulous model with a mobile tooth: influence of impression tray design

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of custom tray designs on local pressures against teeth during the impression procedure. In a previous study, a partially edentulous simulation model with a mobile tooth was used, and the effect of custom tray designs on the displacement of the mobile tooth was examined during the impression procedure. Based on that study's results, we have assumed that the differences in impression pressures between the labial and the lingual sides of a mobile tooth could either cause or affect displacement. The present study was undertaken to determine the local impression pressures against each side of three anterior teeth, including one mobile tooth, using the same simulation model and the same custom trays as in the previous study. It was found that the local pressures exerted against teeth during the impression procedure were affected by the custom tray designs and varied according to the coronal shape, axis inclination and location of the teeth.     

Major hematological diseases associated with cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: Cleft lip and palate is among the most common congenital anomalies. Its association with major blood disorders has rarely been reported. The purpose of this study was to report two patients who had major blood diseases associated with cleft lip and palate. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: From June 1995 to December 1997, there were 2700 patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both who received treatment at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Two of them were found to have major hematological disorders. In both cases, the disorder was detected by preoperative blood cell counts and white cell differentiation. Case 1 was a 21-year-old woman patient with repaired right cleft lip. She was admitted for alveolar bone grafting and closure of oronasal fistula. Abnormal presentation of blast cells was found, and subsequent bone marrow study confirmed acute lymphocytic leukemia. Case 2 was a 26-year-old man with left secondary cleft lip nasal deformity scheduled to receive staged reconstructive operations. An elevated platelet count was found and subsequently confirmed to represent essential thrombocytosis. In both cases, reconstructive operations for the cleft-related deformities were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Association of major hematological disorders and cleft lip, palate, or both is rare and is reported herein.     

Differential in situ distribution of interleukin-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and Rantes in human chronic periapical granuloma

In situ distribution of three prototype chemokines interleukin (IL)-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and Rantes was determined in chronic human periapical granulomas by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies. IL-8 was found primarily in the cytoplasm of the Malassez epithelial cells. MCP-1 immunoreactivity was confined to the endothelial cells that lined small venules. Each of the three investigated chemokines, including Rantes, exhibited a characteristic binding pattern to the extracellular matrix of the lesion. The observed chemokines may play a role in establishing the cellular composition of chronic apical periodontitis, thus augmenting the intensity of local inflammation and tissue damage.     

Hemimandibular hyperplasia: treatment strategies

Hemimandibular hyperplasia is a well-defined, rare asymmetrical mandibular malformation. It is characterized by diffuse enlargement of the condyle, the condylar neck, and the ramus and body of the mandible. Because the anomaly begins before puberty, it is understandable that the maxilla follows the downward growth of the mandible. Pathogenesis is due most likely to clear hyperactivity in the condyle, which can be documented histologically with an actively proliferating cartilage. Therapy is largely based on the patient's age. The authors present their series of nine individuals with hemimandibular hyperplasia treated with various surgical methods between 1992 and 1994. A therapeutic approach called orthopedic maxillary management applied to two of the nine patients is presented. The objective is to maintain the occlusal maxillary plane in a correct position in growing patients. All clinical results, except one, were satisfying and showed good postoperative stability.     

Effects of three different infant dentifrices on biofilms and oral microorganisms

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of infant dentifrices: A--with lactoperoxidase, glucose oxidase and lactoferrin; B--with 1100 ppm of NaF and sodium lauryl sulfate; C--with extract of calendula. The dentifrices were test on biofilms formed in vitro from saliva and dental plaque of infants, using reference strains A. viscosus (ATCC 43146); C. albicans (ATCC 51501); L. casei (ATCC 4646); S. mitis (ATCC 49456); S. mutans (ATCC 25175); S. oralis (ATCC 35037); S. sanguis (ATCC 10586); S. sobrinus (ATCC 27609) and isolated clinically microorganisms C. albicans, S. mitis, S. mutans, S. oralis, S. sanguis, S. sobrinus and Lactobacillus sp. Twenty infants were chosen, who were beginning treatment at the Infants Clinic of the Pediatric Dentistry Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. A pool of unstimulated saliva and a pool of dental plaque were collected from which biofilms were produced. Supernatants from each dentifrice were prepared and concentrated and diluted solutions of the dentifrices and a control sterile diluent were tested against the biofilms produced, for 1 and 3 minutes, and against the microorganisms. The results were statistically analyzed by the ANOVA and Tukey Test. After the exposure of the biofilms produced both from saliva and from dental plaque, to the dentifrice B concentrated and 1/2, for 1 and 3 minutes, the viable microorganisms count (CFU/ml), compared to the controls, was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). However, exposure to the dentifrices A and C concentrated and dentifrice B 1/4 and 1/8, for 1 and 3 minutes, was not significantly lethal to the biofilms. The dentifrices A and C, either concentrated or diluted (1/2 to 1/128) and the dentifrice B in the dilutions 1/16 to 1/128 did not have an antimicrobial effect on any microorganism evaluated. For all the microorganisms evaluated, the dentifrice B concentrated and in the 1/2 dilution showed a significant antimicrobial effect, when compared with the control (p < 0.05).     

AIDS and HIV infections in oral medicine. Incidence of orofacial manifestations in a group of African patients in the region of Paris]

We studied a group of African immigrant, living in France with HIV and we report oral and facial manifestations observed among them.