PURPOSE: This study aimed to introduce a novel method to evaluate the alveolar bone and interdental septum in the anterior mandible using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six CBCT scans from adult patients were selected. The CBCT scans were obtained before and after orthodontic treatment. The following measurements were taken: width of the alveolar bone and the interdental septum, height of the interdental septum, height of the bone plates, distance between the cementoenamel junction and marginal bone crests, and vertical positioning of the mandibular incisor, using the lingual plane as a reference. To test the reproducibility and the stability of the lingual plane, a triangle was traced in the anterior mandible. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine intra- and inter-examiner agreement. The paired Student t-test was used to evaluate the area of the triangle and the reproducibility of all measurements. RESULTS: The ICC was excellent for the alveolar bone and dental measurements (0.9989 and 0.9977, respectively), as well as for the interdental septum (0.9987 and 0.9961, respectively). The area of the triangles showed stability in the lingual plane (P>0.05). For the alveolar bone, mandibular incisor, and interdental septum measurements, no statistically significant differences were found between the 2 examiners (P>0.05), confirming the technical reliability of the measurements. CONCLUSION: The method used in this study provides a valid and reproducible assessment of alveolar bone dimensions in the anterior mandible measured on CBCT images.
Adult ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; Alveolar Process ; Bone Plates ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mandible ; Methods ; Tooth Cervix

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate which of the following imaging methods best assessed misfit at the tooth-restoration interface: (1) bitewing radiographs, both conventional and digital, performed using a photostimulable phosphor plate (PSP) and a charge-coupled device (CCD) system; (2) panoramic radiographs, both conventional and digital; and (3) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty healthy human molars with class I cavities were selected and divided into 4 groups according to the restoration that was applied: composite resin, composite resin with liner material to simulate misfit, dental amalgam, and dental amalgam with liner material to simulate misfit. Radiography and tomography were performed using the various imaging methods, and the resulting images were analyzed by 2 calibrated radiologists. The true presence or absence of misfit corresponding to an area of radiolucency in regions subjacent to the esthetic and metal restorations was validated with microscopy. The data were analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the scores were compared using the Cohen kappa coefficient. RESULTS: For bitewing images, the digital systems (CCD and PSP) showed a higher area under the ROC curve (AUROC) for the evaluation of resin restorations, while the conventional images exhibited a larger AUROC for the evaluation of amalgam restorations. Conventional and digital panoramic radiographs did not yield good results for the evaluation of resin and amalgam restorations (P < .05). CBCT images exhibited good results for resin restorations (P>.05), but showed no discriminatory ability for amalgam restorations (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Bitewing radiographs (conventional or digital) should be the method of choice when assessing dental restoration misfit.
Biomedical and Dental Materials ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Amalgam ; Humans ; Methods ; Microscopy ; Molar ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography ; ROC Curve ; Tooth

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate changes of the alveolar bone and interdental bone septum of the mandibular incisors through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) after orthodontic treatment of mandibular dental crowding without dental extraction. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 64 CBCT images (32 pre-treatment and 32 post-treatment) from 32 adult patients with class I malocclusion and an average age of 23.0±3.9 years. The width and height of the alveolar bone and interdental septum, the distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the facial and lingual bone crests, and the inclination of the mandibular incisors were measured. Results: The distance between the CEJ and the marginal bone crest on the facial side increased significantly (P<0.05). An increased distance between the CEJ and the bone crest on the facial and lingual sides showed a correlation with the irregularity index (P<0.05); however, no significant association was observed with increasing mandibular incisor inclination (P>0.05). The change in the distance between the CEJ and the marginal bone crest on the facial side was correlated significantly with bone septum height (P<0.05). Conclusion Bone dehiscence developed during the treatment of crowding without extraction only on the incisors' facial side. Increasing proclination of the mandibular incisor was not correlated with bone dehiscence. The degree of dental crowding assessed through the irregularity index was associated with the risk of developing bone dehiscence. The interdental septum reflected facial marginal bone loss in the mandibular incisors.

PURPOSE: In the present study, we coined the term 'alveolar dome' and aimed to demonstrate the prevalence of alveolar domes through digital periapical radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined 800 digital periapical radiographs in regard to the presence of alveolar domes. The periapical radiographs were acquired by a digital system using a photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plate. The χ2 test, with a significance level of 5%, was used to compare the prevalence of alveolar domes in the maxillary posterior teeth and, considering the same teeth, to verify the difference in the prevalence of dome-shaped phenomena between the roots. RESULTS: The prevalence of alveolar domes present in the first pre-molars was statistically lower as compared to the other maxillary posterior teeth (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the prevalence of alveolar domes between the maxillary first and second molars. Considering the maxillary first and second molars, it was observed that the palatal root presented a lower prevalence of alveolar domes when compared to the distobuccal and mesiobuccal roots (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study coined the term 'alveolar dome', referring to the anatomical projection of the root into the floor of the maxillary sinus. The maxillary first and second molars presented a greater prevalence of alveolar domes, especially in the buccal roots, followed by the third molars and second pre-molars. Although the periapical radiograph is a two-dimensional method, it can provide dentists with the auxiliary information necessary to identify alveolar domes, thus improving diagnosis, planning, and treatment.
Dentists ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Methods ; Molar ; Molar, Third ; Numismatics ; Prevalence* ; Radiography, Dental, Digital ; Tooth ; Tooth Root

Panoramic radiographs are a relatively simple technique that is commonly used in all dental specialties. In panoramic radiographs, in addition to the formation of real images of metal objects, ghost images may also form, and these ghost images can hinder an accurate diagnosis and interfere with the accuracy of radiology reports. Dentists must understand the formation of these images in order to avoid making incorrect radiographic diagnoses. Therefore, the present study sought to present a study of the formation of panoramic radiograph ghost images caused by metal objects in the head and neck region of a dry skull, as well as to report a clinical case n order to warn dentists about ghost images and to raise awareness thereof. An understanding of the principles of the formation of ghost images in panoramic radiographs helps prevent incorrect diagnoses.
Body Piercing ; Dentists ; Diagnosis ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Skull ; Specialties, Dental

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is a dominant autosomal hereditary disorder of dentin formation that affects the deciduous and permanent teeth. Its etiology is characterized by inadequate cell differentiation during odontogenesis. The clinical characteristics of dentinogenesis imperfecta are discolored teeth with a translucency that varies from gray to brown or amber. Radiographically, the teeth exhibit pulp obliteration, thin and short roots, bell-shaped crowns, and periapical bone rarefaction. The aim of this report was to present a case of dentinogenesis imperfecta type II that was followed up over a 17-year period. This report also presents scanning electron microscopy images of the enamel and dentin, showing that both were altered in the affected teeth. The disease characteristics and the treatments that were administered are reported in this study to guide dentists with respect to the need for early diagnosis and adequate follow-up to avoid major sequelae.
Amber ; Cell Differentiation ; Crowns ; Dental Enamel ; Dentin ; Dentinogenesis Imperfecta* ; Dentinogenesis* ; Dentists ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Odontogenesis ; Tooth

Purpose: In this study, we used ultrasonography to monitor the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) as a filler in the face for esthetic reasons. We monitored changes in the filler shape, distribution, and relationship with adjacent anatomical structures over a 180-day period. Materials and Methods: Two patients each received an ultrasound-guided injection of HA, with different products and application sites for each patient. In 1 patient, the injection was administered in the angle of the mandible, while in the other, it was administered in the zygomatic region. The injection sites were monitored via ultrasonography at 24 hours, 30 days, and 180 days, at which times the imaging characteristics of the filler were observed. All injections were performed by the same professional, as were the ultrasound exams, which were conducted using the same equipment. Results: In both cases, the HA fillers were visualized using ultrasound at all time points. Some differences were observed between the cases in the images and the distribution of the pockets of filler. In 1 case, the filler appeared as a dark hypoechoic region with well-defined contours, and the material was observed to have moved posteriorly by the 180-day mark. In the other case, the material appeared hyperechoic relative to the previous case and presented no noticeable changes in its anteroposterior distribution over time. Conclusion Based on these 2 cases, ultrasonography can be a complementary tool used to monitor facial fillers over the long term, allowing for the dynamic observation of different fillers.