Prevalence of the patients with history of hepatitis in a dental faculty

Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of the dental patients who had a history of hepatitis. Study design: A total of 13.527 records of patients who were examined between October 1, 2002 and October 1, 2004 were reviewed retrospectively. The medical histories of patients were taken before routine clinical and radiographic examination. A dental software program was used for the collection of data. The chi-square test was utilized to evaluate correlations between different parameters. Results: The percentage of the patients who had a medical history of hepatitis was 7.9% (n=1065). Within the total patients; history of hepatitis A was found as 3.2% (n=438), hepatitis B was 2.3% (n=308), hepatitis C was 0.1% (n=16). The frequency of the patients who were hepatitis B carriers was 0.8% (n=113) and 17% (n=181) of patients did not know which type of hepatitis they had suffered from. Conclusions: Because dentists are particularly at risk for contacting hepatitis, a strict sterilization procedure is mandatory to prevent the transmission

Articular Eminence Inclination, Height, and Condyle Morphology on Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Aim. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between articular eminence inclination, height, and thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) according to age and gender and to assess condyle morphology including incidental findings of osseous characteristics associated with osteoarthritis (OA) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods. CBCT images of 105 patients were evaluated retrospectively. For articular eminence inclination and height, axial views on which the condylar processes were seen with their widest mediolateral extent being used as a reference view for secondary reconstruction. Condyle morphology was categorized both in the sagittal and coronal plane. Results. The mean values of eminence inclination and height of males were higher than those of females (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the RGF thickness in relation to sagittal condyle morphology. Among the group of OA, the mean value of the RGF thickness for “OA-osteophyte” group was the highest (1.59 mm), whereas the lowest RGF values were seen in the “OA-flattening.” Conclusion. The sagittal osteoarthritic changes may have an effect on RGF thickness by mechanical stimulation and changed stress distribution. Gender has a significant effect on eminence height (Eh) and inclination

Eagle syndrome: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Eagle syndrome, an uncommon sequela of elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, can manifest as pain in the face and the anterolateral neck, often with referred pain to the ear and the temporomandibular joint area. CASE REPORT: A 43-year-old female patient presented to the Dentomaxillofacial Radiology Department with complaints of unremitting unilateral facial and neck pain, limitation in the movement of the neck, sensation of foreign body in the throat, dysphagia, and otalgia for a year. Systemic anamnesis of the patient was unremarkable. In the clinical examination, digital palpation of the tonsillar fossa aggravated the pain. The patient was being treated for temporomandibular joint disorder. A panoramic radiograph taken after the clinical examination revealed bilateral styloid process elongation. Cone-beam computed tomography also revealed bilateral ossification of the stylohyoid ligament which was measured as 71.5 mm and 69.6 mm on the right and the left side, respectively; and the patient was diagnosed as having Eagle syndrome. The patient was referred to the otolaryngology clinic for surgical treatment. Surgical shortening of the structure provided definitive relief in the patient's symptoms. CONCLUSION: In cases of unexplained complaints in the head and neck region Eagle syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis as it may change the treatment approach

Diagnosis of unusual mandibular split fracture with cone-beam computed tomography

Mandibular fractures are relatively easy to diagnose in comparison with other craniofacial fractures. This report presents a trauma patient with an unusual split fracture in the mandibular corpus, which was missed on the panoramic radiograph; however, could be visualized with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Panoramic radiograph may be misleading for accurate diagnosis of mandibular corpus fractures. We suggest that CBCT is crucial and should be mandatory for all suspected mandibular fractures in maxillofacial trauma patients

Evaluation of Pneumatization in the Articular Eminence and Roof of the Glenoid Fossa with Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Background: Detection of air cavities, so called pneumatizations, nearby to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area is important, as they represent sites of minimal resistance and facilitate the spread of various pathologies into the joint as inflammation, tumor or fractures and serve as a possible complicating factor in TMJ surgery. Aims: To determine the prevalence of pneumatization of the articular eminence (PAT) and roof of the glenoid fossa (PRGF) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Acquired images of 111 patients (222 TMJs) were evaluated. The presence of pneumatization was recorded at the articular eminence and roof of the glenoid fossa. Age and gender were recorded for all patients and type (unilocular or multilocular) and laterality were noted for the cases of pneumatization. Results: The mean age of the study group was 48.86±18.31 years. Among all the patients, 73 (65.8%) had PAT, while 13 (11.7%) had PRGF. Forty-two (37.8%) of the patients had PAT bilaterally; whereas 3 of them (2.7%) presented PRGF bilaterally. The percentage of PAT was higher for females (73.6%) than males (51.3%) (p<0.05). Conclusion: CBCT images are an accurate and reliable means of detection of the exact size and type of pneumatization and the relationship of pneumatization to the adjacent tissues. This is especially significant before a surgical intervention is planned in this region, in order to make a sound diagnosis

Detection of Artificial Occlusal Caries in a Phosphor Imaging Plate System with Two Types of LCD Monitors Versus Three Different Films

The aim of this study was to determine diagnostic performance of a storage phosphor plate system Digora® Optime (Soredex, Helsinki, Finland) with two types of LCD monitor in the detection of artificial caries when compared to Ultraspeed (D), Ektaspeed Plus (E), and Insight (F) radiographic films. Seventy extracted human molars—with artificial caries—were radiographed under identical standardized conditions using (1) a storage phosphor plate system Digora (Soredex, Helsinki, Finland), (2) Insight, (3) Ektaspeed Plus, and (4) Ultraspeed (Carestream Health Inc, Rochester, NY). All digital images and radiographs were examined by three observers for the presence or absence of artificial caries using a five-point confidence scale. Digital images were evaluated both on a LCD computer monitor (Philips 170S, Holland) and medical monitor—3 megapixel monochrome display (Me355i2, Totoku, Tokyo)—with brightness and contrast enhancement. Observer responses were evaluated using ROC analysis and other measurements for diagnostic accuracy. Storage phosphor images with medical monitor demonstrated higher mean Az values (0.70 ± 0.08) than digital images with computer monitor and conventional films. Storage phosphor images with medical monitor presented the highest score, 0.97, 0.90, 0.94, for each observer, respectively. Also, true positive observations (0.82) and positive likelihood ratios (2.71) were higher in enhanced storage phosphor images with medical monitor. Caries detection of mechanically created lesions by experienced radiologists is roughly comparable when examining D-speed film images and Digora images on both the computer and medical LCD monitors, and appears to be poorer on E- and F-speed film images