Exclusion of PAX9 and MSX1 mutation in six families affected by tooth agenesis. A genetic study and literature review

Objectives: In the present study, it is described the phenotypical analysis and the mutational screening, for genes PAX9 and MSX1, of six families affected by severe forms of tooth agenesis associated with other dental anomalies and systemic entities. Study Design: Six families affected by severe tooth agenesis associated with other dental anomalies and systemic entities were included. Oral exploration, radiological examination, medical antecedents consideration and muta - tional screening for PAX9 and MSX1 were carried out. Results: No mutations were discovered despite the fact that numerous teeth were missing. An important pheno - typical variability was observed within the probands, not being possible to establish a parallelism with the pat - terns associated to previously described PAX9 and MSX1 mutations. Conclusions: These results bring us to conclude that probably other genes can determine phenotypical patterns of dental agenesis in the families studied, different than the ones described in the mutations of PAX9 and MSX1. Moreover, epigenetic factors can be involved, as those that can reduce gene dosage and other post-transcriptional modulation agents, causing dental agenesis associated or not with systemic anomalies

Facial biotype and mandibular growth adaptation in maxillary lateral incisors agenesis

To verify the eventual relationship between maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA) and one of the clinically established facial biotypes. The analysis was performed in and between 3 groups: individuals with MLIA, their relatives and a control population defined as 'normal' or unaffected. Among these, a comparison between adults and growing individuals was also carried out. The dolicofacial biotype was mainly found in children with bilateral agenesis, while the unilateral agenesis as well as the control population of unaffected children showed mainly a mesofacial pattern. The braquiofacial biotype was prevalent in children without agenesis but (family) related to patients with agenesis. This is the case also for all the adults studied, even if the frequency of the braquiofacial is similar to the one attained by the mesofacial biotype when found in unaffected individuals related with agenesis patients. The notable variability found, evidenced by the high values of the standard deviations calculated for each group, makes difficult to definitely establish a positive correlation between the MLIA and one of the facial biotypes with the present data

Tooth movement in orthodontic treatment with low level laser therapy: a systematic review of human and animal studies

Objective: This review attempts to organize the existing published literature regarding tooth movement in orthodontic treatment when low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is applied. Background data: The literature discusses different methods that have been developed to motivate the remodeling and decrease the duration of orthodontic treatment. The application of LLLT has been introduced to favor the biomechanics of tooth movements. However there is disagreement between authors as to whether LLLT reduces orthodontic treatment time, and the parameters that are used vary. Materials and methods: Studies in humans and animals in which LLLT was applied to increase the dental movement were reviewed. Three reviewers selected the articles. The resulting studies were analyzed according to the parameters used in the application of laser and existing changes clinically and histopathologically. Results: Out of 84 studies, 5 human studies were selected in which canine traction had been performed after removing a premolar, and 11 studies in rats were selected in which first premolar traction was realized. There were statistically significant changes in four human studies and eight animal studies. Conclusions: Varying the wavelength with a reasonable dose in the target zone leads to obtaining the desired biological effect and achieving a reduction of the orthodontic treatment time, although there are studies that do not demonstrate any benefit according to their values

Inervación sensitiva y crecimiento mandibular: propuesta de modelo experimental para acceso quirúrgico al nervio alveolar inferior preservando estructuras musculoesqueléticas en Conejo New Zealand White pos-destetados

Numerosos estudios reflejan vínculos entre la inervación sensitiva y el desarrollo de la estructura ósea mandibular. Con la finalidad de obtener un modelo in vivo para estudiar el efecto de la alteración de la inervación sensitiva sobre el crecimiento mandibular, se propone un acceso quirúrgico al nervio alveolar inferior que evita dañar las estructuras músculo-esqueléticas consideradas esenciales en el crecimiento craneofacial. El modelo utilizado fue el conejo New Zealand White post-destetado. Primera etapa: se realizó un estudio mediante disección anatómica para elegir una vía de acceso quirúrgico. Se eligió el acceso por la región submandibular. Desde esta zona, se accede al nervio en su punto de ingreso al canal mandibular, entre la rama mandibular y el músculo pterigoideo medial. Segunda etapa: Se utilizaron 12 especímenes a los cuales se aplicó el procedimiento quirúrgico diseñado con ayuda y supervisión veterinaria. Posteriormente, los animales fueron controlados bajo condiciones estandarizadas durante 90 días. Se evaluaron los siguientes aspectos: 1. Progreso de curación de herida quirúrgica; 2. Se utilizó un protocolo de valoración de aplicabilidad del diseño quirúrgico basado en las directrices generales de Morton y Griffitt para detección de dolor y disconfort en animales de experimentación y las directrices específicas del Southwestern Medical Center para evaluación de dolor y disconfort en conejos. Según los parámetros analizados, no se observaron valores indicadores de inaplicabilidad del protocolo propuesto. El progreso de la herida quirúrgica se consideró normal. Estudios que analizan la participación de la inervación sensitiva en aspectos fisiológicos mandibulares muestran vías quirúrgicas para modificar la estructura nerviosa que implican alteraciones musculoesqueléticas. El procedimiento aquí presentado preserva estas estructuras y es bien tolerado por este animal en etapas tempranas de crecimiento. En consecuencia resulta una alternativa viable para estudiar la participación de la inervación sensitiva en el crecimiento mandibular

Mandible measurements and dental midline deviation after alveolar nerve transection in growing rabbits

Summary: the relationship between sensitive innervation and normal mandibular bone development has been described in the literature. Therefore, neural damage is a potential cause of osseous deformities, particularly in growing subjects. The aim of this project is to present the mandible measurements obtained after the transection of the inferior alveolar nerve of growing rabbits. A specific surgical protocol was designed to carry out the unilateral nerve transection by avoiding musculoskeletal injuries. Twenty New Zealand White rabbits one week post-weaning were used, 12 as an experimental group and 8 as a control group (Sham operated). The animals were sacrificed 90 days postoperatory, and the mandibles carefully dissected. Dental midline deviation data were obtained under anesthesia, previous to sacrifice. All measurements were obtained with a micron digital caliper. For this study, only anterior-posterior measurements were obtained from five points specifically determined on the rabbit mandible. Each measurement was made three times by the same examiner and the average value was considered. Regarding the anterior-posterior measurements, the molar and incisive regions of the denervated hemimandible were significantly shorter than the corresponding regions in the non-denervated side. The control group did not show these differences. A dental midline deviation was observed, but not always directed on the operated side. However, the deviation values were greater when oriented to the denervated side. These changes did not cause evident deformity or dysfunction in the masticatory system of the animals. They were fed normally and their weight was considered within normal parameters while growing. Despite the biological relationship between sensory inervation and bone morphology, the effect of sensory denervation in early stages of bone growth appears to generate only small alterations on the mandible morphology. However, these alterations do not lead to functional problems in the masticatory system

An epidemiological study of dental agenesis in a primary health area in Spain: estimated prevalence and associated factors

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of dental agenesis and its possible association with other developmental dental anomalies and systemic entities. Setting and Sample Population: Descriptive transversal study, for which 1518 clinical records, of patients visited by the Odontological Service of the Primary Health Centre of Cassà de la Selva (Girona-Spain) between December 2002 and February 2006 were reviewed. The data were recorded in relation to the oral and dental anomalies and the associated systemic entities, between the ones referred as concomitant in literature. Results: Values of 9.48% (7.25% excluding the third molars) for dental agenesis and 0.39% for oligodontia were obtained. The presence of dental agenesis concomitant with some other forms of oral and dental anomalies was observed. Attention must be drawn to the fact that a greater number of concomitant systemic entities were observed in those patients that presented a severe phenotypical pattern of dental agenesis. Conclusions: The results of the present study do not differ from the ones reported in studies of similar characteristics among Occidental and Spanish populations. The relationship observed between certain systemic entities and developmental dental anomalies suggest a possible common genetic etiolog

Oral findings in Midline Syndrome: a case report and literature review

We describe a female patient with a midline syndrome. The patient presents agenesis of the corpus callosum, encephalocele, iris coloboma, hypertelorism, submucosal cleft palate and dental anomalies. Despite being very characteristic, her phenotypical traits do not coincide exactly with those reported to date in the literature. The karyotype and the molecular cytogenetic study do not show mutations. We identify the presence of dental anomalies in the mother and other family members, not being identified MSX1 and PAX9 mutations that could the related with their etiology. Despite the fact that dental agenesis has been related to a large number of other malformation syndromes and congenital conditions, dental anomalies have only rarely been mentioned when reporting midline syndromes. These dental phenotypical traits, present in the patient and her family, could be considered part of the midline syndrome in carriers as well as in the patients

Facial biotype and mandibular growth adaptation in maxillary lateral incisors agenesis

To verify the eventual relationship between maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA) and one of the clinically established facial biotypes. The analysis was performed in and between 3 groups: individuals with MLIA, their relatives and a control population defined as 'normal' or unaffected. Among these, a comparison between adults and growing individuals was also carried out. The dolicofacial biotype was mainly found in children with bilateral agenesis, while the unilateral agenesis as well as the control population of unaffected children showed mainly a mesofacial pattern. The braquiofacial biotype was prevalent in children without agenesis but (family) related to patients with agenesis. This is the case also for all the adults studied, even if the frequency of the braquiofacial is similar to the one attained by the mesofacial biotype when found in unaffected individuals related with agenesis patients. The notable variability found, evidenced by the high values of the standard deviations calculated for each group, makes difficult to definitely establish a positive correlation between the MLIA and one of the facial biotypes with the present data

Exclusion of PAX9 and MSX1 mutation in six families affected by tooth agenesis. A genetic study and literature review

Objectives: In the present study, it is described the phenotypical analysis and the mutational screening, for genes PAX9 and MSX1, of six families affected by severe forms of tooth agenesis associated with other dental anomalies and systemic entities. Study Design: Six families affected by severe tooth agenesis associated with other dental anomalies and systemic entities were included. Oral exploration, radiological examination, medical antecedents consideration and mutational screening for PAX9 and MSX1 were carried out. Results: No mutations were discovered despite the fact that numerous teeth were missing. An important phenotypical variability was observed within the probands, not being possible to establish a parallelism with the patterns associated to previously described PAX9 and MSX1 mutations. Conclusions: These results bring us to conclude that probably other genes can determine phenotypical patterns of dental agenesis in the families studied, different than the ones described in the mutations of PAX9 and MSX1. Moreover, epigenetic factors can be involved, as those that can reduce gene dosage and other post-transcriptional modulation agents, causing dental agenesis associated or not with systemic anomalies