Effect of digitization parameters on periapical radiographic image quality with regard to anatomic landmarks

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of digitization parameters on periapical radiographic image quality, with regard to anatomic landmarks. Digitized images (n = 160) were obtained using a flatbed scanner with resolutions of 300, 600 and 2400 dpi. The radiographs of 2400 dpi were decreased to 300 and 600 dpi before storage. Digitizations were performed with and without black masking using 8-bit and 16-bit grayscale and saved in TIFF format. Four anatomic landmarks were classified by two observers (very good, good, moderate, regular, poor), in two random sessions. Intraobserver and interobserver agreements were evaluated by Kappa statistics. Inter and intraobserver agreements ranged according to the anatomic landmarks and resolution used. The results obtained demonstrated that the cement enamel junction was the anatomic landmark that presented the poorest concordance. The use of black masking provided better results in the digitized image. The use of a mask to cover radiographs during digitization is necessary. Therefore, the concordance ranged from regular to moderate for the intraobserver evaluation and concordance ranged from regular to poor for interobserver evaluation.

Cárie oculta extensa: relato de caso clínico

The pattern of caries lesions has been modified over decades. If the presence or absence of a caries lesion is based upon only a visual examination, its diagnosis might become underestimated since dentinal lesions underneath non cavitated or minimally demineralized enamel is highly frequent in dental clinics. The aim of this paper is to report a clinical case of a child with an upper molar with questionable occlusal aspect, presenting asymptomatic pulpal hyperplasia on the distolingual pit. Periapical radiographic examination was essential for diagnosing hidden caries and elaborating the treatment plan. As part of the approach, removal of the decayed tissue and pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide were performed. The association of an accurate visual examination to an adequate oral radiographyis is extremely important in cases which the presence of hidden caries is doubtful. As a result, an early diagnosis and the reduction of more invasive interventions related to the oral health care of pediatric patients can be achieved as well.

Reparo periapical de dentes tratados endodonticamente submetidos a movimentação ortodôntica

The relationship of Orthodontics and Endodontics is being clarified with the development of evidence-based dentistry. However, few studies have reported the repair of periapical lesions with orthodontic treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the available evidence on periapical repair of endodontically treated teeth during orthodontic movement. The strategy used was the electronic search with keywords and criteria including studies published up to July 2011. It was also carried out qualitative assessment of the articles methodology. Although a significant number of studies have reported this topic, only two filled the criteria for inclusion in this systematic review. The results obtained in the literature suggest that orthodontic treatment should be interrupted to perform endodontic treatment. During this therapy, the use of root canal dressing based on calcium hydroxide for at least 14 days, and sealer with adequate biological property are indicated. After this phase, orthodontic movement of the endodontically treated teeth can be resumed without waiting period.

Osteomielitis crónica con periostitis proliferativa

Chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis is a kind of osteomyelitis that is characterized by a great periosteal reaction resulting of low grade stimulation, usually a caries lesion associated a periapical pathology. It affects especially children and young adults, with the mandible as the most common site, usually in the inferior aspect. Clinically presents as a painless hard swelling intra and/or extra-oral. Radiographic aspects include bone layers new formed, parallel to each other and to the underlying cortical surface, giving the characteristic appearance of "onion skin". Treatment includes elimination of the cause, with or without antibiotics, being restored the facial symmetry of patient. The present article is a clinical case report of chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis affecting a female 11 year old patient, caused by a caries lesion in the left permanent first molar, that was submissed to a exodontia and the facial symmetry of the patient was restored with management.

Nasopalatine duct cyst: a case report within 3 years follow-up

The nasopalatine duct cyst (NPDC) is considered to be the most common non-odontogenic cyst in oral cavity. These cysts are usually asymptomatic; however they can result in swelling, pain and drainage. The radiological analysis can reveal a round, oval or heart shaped well-demarcated image, which can be confounding with inflammatory lesions. The aim of this paper is report a clinical case of NPDC in a patient of 33 years old, occurring near a periapical inflammatory lesion. During clinical examination, it was not possible to detect swelling of the anterior palate and patient didn´t complain painful symptoms. Surgical treatment, enucleation, was performed under local anesthesia and there was no post operative complications. Histological results showed the presence of a cuboidal and respiratory epithelium associated with vessels, nerves and inflammatory cells. The patient’s 3 years follow-up was uneventful with subsequent bone regeneration and no sign of the lesion recurrence.

Effect of lithium on behavioral disinhibition induced by electrolytic lesion of the median raphe nucleus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Calcium hydroxide root canal sealers - Histopathologic evaluation of apical and periapical repair after endodontic treatment

Eighty root canals of the premolars of 4 dogs, with vital pulp, were instrumented and filled during the same session with the Sealapex, CRCS, Sealer 26, and Apexit sealers, the animals were sacrificed 180 days after root canal filling and their maxillae and mandibles were removed and fixed in 10% formalin, After routine histologic processing, the sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Mallory trichrome, Histopathologic analysis showed that Sealapex was the sealer that best permitted the deposition of mineralized tissue at the apical level and was the only sealer that provided complete sealing (37.5% of cases), With the use of Sealapex, no inflammatory infiltrate occurred and there was no reabsorption of mineralized tissues, In contrast, partial sealing and a moderate inflammatory infiltrate occurred with the use of CRCS, When Apexit and Sealer 26 were used the absence of sealing was frequent and active reabsorption of mineralized tissues occurred in most cases, the inflammatory infiltrate predominating with the use of Apexit was of the severe type, whereas with the use of Sealer 26 the inflammatory infiltrate was mild or absent.

Cyclosporin A-induced new cementum formation: a morphometric evaluation in the periapical region of rats

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a potent immunosuppressor used in organ transplantation and in the management of various autoimmune diseases. Recent studies have shown that CsA stimulates deposition of cementum on root surfaces. The aim of this study was to evaluate the periapical cementum thickness and the apical foramen width in CsA-treated rats. Rats weighing 50 g were treated with a daily injection of 10 mg/kg body weight of CsA in the chow for 60 days. The cementum of the mandibular 1st molars was histologically and morphometricaly examined by analysis of 5-microm-thick serial buccolingual paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histometric and stereologic analyses revealed the presence of large amounts of cementum in all root surfaces, particularly abundant in the periapical region and obliterating the foramen. The volume density of cementoblasts did not increase. Five to 90 days after the termination of CsA therapy, there was no reduction of cementum thickness. These results suggest that cementum deposition is not reversible after cessation of CsA treatment.

Diabetes triggers the loss of tooth structure associated to radiographical and histological dental changes and its evolution to progressive pulp and periapical lesions in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the putative influence of diabetes without metabolic control in the loss of tooth structure as well as histological changes in dentin and pulp tissue in rats. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats (n=25) by intravenous administration of alloxan (42mg/kg). Diabetic and non-diabetic control rats were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of follow-up. In order to evaluate the presence and progression of dental caries and periapical lesions, hemimandibles were removed and submitted to radiographical, histological, and morphometrical procedures. Dental caries were detected after radiographical and histological evaluations in diabetic group from the third month of diabetes onset, increasing gradually in frequency and severity in periods. Diabetic rats dental pulps also presented significant reduction in volume density of collagen fibers and fibroblasts at third month, parallel with a trend towards the increase in inflammatory cells volume density. Diabetic rats presented a generalized pulp tissue necrosis after 6 months of diabetes induction. Moreover, periapical lesions were not detected in control group, while these lesions were observed in all rats after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of diabetes induction. Uncontrolled diabetes seems to trigger the loss of tooth structure, associated to histological dental changes and mediates its evolution to progressive severe pulp and periapical lesions in rats. Therefore, diabetes may be considered a very important risk factor regarding alterations in dental pulp, development of dental caries, and periapical lesions.

Periapical lesions decrease insulin signaling in rat skeletal muscle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Proximal caries lesion detection in primary teeth: does this justify the association of diagnostic methods?

The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate and compare the performance of visual exam with use of the Nyvad criteria (visual examination - (VE)), interproximal radiography (BW), laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent Pen-DDPen), and their association in the diagnosis of proximal lesions in primary teeth. For this purpose, 45 children (n = 59 surfaces) of both sexes, aged between 5 and 9 years were selected, who presented healthy primary molars or primary molars with signs suggestive of the presence of caries lesions. The surfaces were clinically evaluated and coded according to the Nyvad criteria and immediately afterwards with the DDPen. Radiographic exam was performed only on the surfaces coded with Nyvad scores 2, 3, 5, or 6. Active caries lesions and/or those with discontinuous surfaces were restored, considering the depth of lesion as reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under ROC curve were calculated for each technique and its associations. Visual exam with Nyvad criteria presented the highest specificity, accuracy, and area under ROC curve values. The DDPen presented the highest sensitivity values. Association with one or more methods resulted in an increase in specificity. The performance of visual, radiographic, and DDpen exams and their associations were good; however, the clinical examination with the Nyvad criteria was sufficient for the diagnosis of interproximal lesions in primary teeth.

Displasia cementária periapical: considerações sobre conduta e relato de caso

A displasia cementária periapical (DCP) consiste em uma lesão óssea não neoplásica geralmente assintomática, sendo detectada em exame radiográfico de rotina. Em seu primeiro estágio apresenta-se radigraficamente semelhante a uma lesão periapical inflamatória, todavia na DCP os dentes encontram-se vitais. Neste relato de caso foi realizado o acompanhamento por sete meses de uma paciente negra com 37 anos de idade afetada por DCP no periápice de incisivos, caninos e pré-molares inferiores bilateralmente. Ao exame radiográfico foi possível notar que a lesão apresentou-se em dois estágios: osteolítico e de maturação. Os dentes reagiram positivamente aos testes de vitalidade/sensibilidade pulpar descartando, com auxílio do exame de imagem, diversas hipóteses diagnósticas do grupo das periapicopatias crônicas, contribuindo assim para uma adequada escolha do tratamento, evitando iatrogenias.

Combined therapy with mineral trioxide aggregate, and guided tissue regeneration for a large radicular cyst: a 13-year follow-u

Biomaterials such as membrane barriers and/or bone grafts are often used to enhance periapical new bone formation. A combination of apical surgery and these biomaterials is one of the latest treatment options for avoiding tooth extraction. In case of periapical lesions, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is attempted to improve the self-regenerative healing process by excluding undesired proliferation of the gingival connective tissue or migration of the oral epithelial cells into osseous defects. In many cases, GTR is necessary for achieving periodontal tissue healing. This report describes the healing process after surgery in a challenging case with a long-term followup. In this case report, endodontic surgery was followed by retrograde sealing with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in the maxillary right central incisor and left lateral incisor. Apicectomy was performed in the maxillary left central incisor and a 1-mm filling was removed. The bone defect was filled with an anorganic bone graft and covered with a decalcified cortical osseous membrane. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. After 13 years of follow-up, the patient showed no clinical signs or symptoms associated with the lesion and radiographic examination showed progressive resolution of radiolucency. In conclusion, the combination of apical surgery and regenerative techniques can successfully help the treatment of periapical lesions of endodontic origin and is suitable for the management of challenging cases