Multidisciplinary Management of a Double Immature Permanent Tooth: A Case Report

Fused or geminated teeth require complex and multi-faceted treatment to maintain their health, functionality, and appearance. The current paper describes the multidisciplinary/minimally invasive treatment of fused immature permanent teeth. A 9-year-old-girl with an abnormally large left permanent maxillary lateral incisor was referred to the Paediatric Outpatient Clinic. The treatment plan of the referring orthodontist included the extraction of left maxillary lateral incisor, which was fused to a supernumerary tooth, followed by subsequent orthodontic and prosthetic treatments. In the paraclinic evaluation, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) showed two separate roots and two root canals, with communication between the pulp chambers of the double teeth. The modified treatment plan was to section the geminated tooth, remove the supernumerary and save the lateral incisor. During the sectioning procedure, the pulp of the remaining tooth was inevitably exposed. Direct pulp capping with Biodentine™ was performed. Next, glass-ionomer cement was applied as a temporary restoration and the supernumerary tooth was removed. The distal surface of the tooth was restored two weeks later so as to re-establish the original shape of the lateral incisor. Clinical and radiographic control examinations revealed that the tooth was symptom-free. Follow-up appointments after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months included standard clinical examinations and sensivity tests including electric pulp testing, which showed a fully functional, healthy tooth with apical maturation. Careful clinical and radiographic evaluations/examinations are essential for determining the correct treatment of a double tooth. The proposed multidisciplinary and minimally invasive treatment of the double tooth using a bioactive cement may facilitate the maturation of immature teeth and result in a desirable aesthetics and function

The Biological Properties of Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein from the transferrin family, which has been identified in most biological fluids as secretions from exocrine glands and the content of specific granules of neutrophils. It has been reported to have numerous functions. Due to antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, the lactoferrin plays significant role in host defense against infection and extreme inflammation. Recent studies have also demonstrated that LF can protect against cancer in experimental animals and has anticarcinogenic activity in many human tumors. At the cellular level, LF modulates the proliferation, differentiation, maturation, activation, migration and function of immune cells. This review presents the multifunctional roles and specific beneficial properties of lactoferrin

Associations between the dopamine D4 receptor gene polymorphisms and personality traits in elite athletes

Personality traits and temperament may affect sports performance. Previous studies suggest that dopamine may play an important role in behavior regulation and physical exercise performance. The aim of this study is to determine associations between dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4 Ex3) polymorphisms and personality traits (such as neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeability and conscientiousness) in elite combat athletes. A total of 302 physically active, unrelated, self-reported Caucasian participants were recruited for this study. The participants consisted of 200 elite male combat athletes and 102 healthy male participants (control group). For personality trait measurements, the NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires were used. For the genetic assays, blood was collected and all samples were genotyped using the real-time PCR method. A 2 x 3 factorial ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences on the Openness NEO Five Factor Inventory scale for both examined factors, i.e. sport status and genetics DTD4 Ex3. Combat athletes achieved higher scores on the Conscientiousness NEO-FFI scale when compared to controls (7.18 vs 5.98). On the other hand, combat athletes scored lower on the Openness scale in comparison with control group (4.42 vs. 4.63). Subjects with the DRD4 Ex3 s/s genotype had lower results on the openness scale in comparison with participants with the DRD4 Ex3 s/1 genotype (4.01 vs. 4.57) and higher DRD4 Ex3 1/1 genotype (4,01 vs. 3,50). In conclusion, we found an association between the dopamine D4 receptor gene in variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms and athletic status for two NEO-FFI factors: Openness and Conscientiousness. The DRD4 exon 3 polymorphism may be associated with the selected personality traits in combat athletes, thereby modulating athletes’ predisposition to participate in high risk sports

Correlation of Panoramic Radiography, Cone-Beam Computed Tomography, and Three-Dimensional Printing in the Assessment of the Spatial Location of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars

The development of radiology, rapid prototyping techniques, and the increasingly common use of 3D printing in dentistry inspires the use of these techniques to improve diagnostic and therapeutic processes. This study aimed to conduct a retrospective comparative analysis of dental panoramic radiographs, cone-beam computed tomography, and 3D printing in preoperative assessment of the procedure’s difficulty. Thirty clinical cases with a high degree of difficulty were selected, and based on evaluation with CBCT, a virtual 3D model of the region of surgical procedure was created, which was then printed using a 3D printer. The comparative analysis included the linear measurements performed in dental panoramic radiographs, cone-beam computed tomography, and 3D models in a preoperative assessment of the degree of retention and difficulty of impacted mandibular third molars in the mandible. Linear measurements performed on dental panoramic radiographs were significantly lower than in cone-beam computed tomography and 3D models. No statistically significant differences were obtained in linear measurements between 3D models and cone-beam computed tomography images except for the measurement of the lingual lamina thickness; however, due to the insignificant differences in measurements, with a mean of only 80 µm, the elective procedure of removal of the impacted third molar in the mandible may be safe

Association of Polymorphic and Haplotype Variants of the MSX1 Gene and the Impacted Teeth Phenomenon

It is known that genetic factors determine odontogenesis; furthermore, studies have revealed that various genes in humans can regulate the development of different types and generations of teeth. In this study it has been assumed that tooth impaction—at least to some extent—also depends on the presence of specific genetic markers, especially allelic variants of the MSX1 gene. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the suitability of selected molecular markers located within the MSX1 gene for the determination of the risk of tooth impaction in particular patients. The study participants were divided into two groups: (1) the study group—at least one secondary tooth was impacted in the jaws; (2) the control group—no impacted tooth in the jaws. Real-Time PCR and TaqMan probes were used to detect selected polymorphisms in the analyzed genes. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms of MSX1 were analyzed. After the two subgroups of patients were distinguished in the study group based on the number of impacted teeth, statistically significant differences in the frequency of genotypes described for rs12532 in the MSX1 gene were found

Are Torque-Induced Bone Texture Alterations Related to Early Marginal Jawbone Loss?

The reason why marginal bone loss (MBL) occurs after dental implant insertion without loading has not yet been clearly investigated. There are publications that confirm or reject the notion that there are factors that induce marginal bone loss, but no research investigates what exactly occurs in the bone surrounding the implant neck. In this study, 2196 samples of dental implant neck bone radiographs were analyzed. The follow-up period was 3 months without functional loading of the implant. Marginal bone loss was evaluated in relation to the torque used during the final phase of implant insertion. Radiographic texture features were also analyzed and evaluated. The analyses were performed individually for the anterior and posterior part of the alveolar crest in both the mandible and maxilla. After 3 months, an MBL relation with higher torque (higher than 40 Ncm; p < 0.05) was observed, but only in the lower jaw. The texture features Sum Average (SumAverg), Entropy, Difference Entropy (DifEntr), Long-Run Emphasis (LngREmph), Short-Run Emphasis (ShrtREmph), and discrete wavelet decomposition transform features were changed over time. This study presents that MBL is related to the torque value during dental implant insertion and the location of the procedure. The increasing values of SumAverg and LngREmph correlated with MBL, which were 64.21 to 64.35 and 1.71 to 2.01, respectively. The decreasing values of Entr, DifEntr, and ShrtREmph also correlated with MBL, which were 2.58 to 2.47, 1.11 to 1.01, and 0.88 to 0.84, respectively. The analyzed texture features may become good indicators of MBL in digital dental surgery

Association between Odontogenic and Maxillary Sinus Conditions: A Retrospective Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Study

Odontogenic infections can directly trigger maxillary sinusitis. CBCT is an excellent choice for precise examination of maxillary sinuses and hard tissues within the oral cavity. The objective of this retrospective and the cross-sectional study was to analyze the influence of odontogenic conditions on the presence and intensity of maxillary sinus mucous membrane thickening using CBCT imaging. Moreover, periodontal bone loss and anatomic relationship between adjacent teeth and maxillary sinuses were assessed to evaluate its possible impact on creating maxillary thickening. The study sample consisted of 200 maxillary sinuses of 100 patients visible on CBCT examination with a field of view of 13 × 15 cm. The presented study revealed a significant influence of periapical lesions, inappropriate endodontic treatment, severe caries, and extracted teeth on the presence of increased thickening of maxillary sinus mucous membrane. In addition, an increase in the distance between root apices and maxillary sinus floor triggered a significant reduction of maxillary sinus mucous membrane thickening. The presence of periodontal bone loss significantly increases maxillary sinus mucous membrane thickening

Impact of the 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol Concentration and Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment on Changes in the Bone Level at the Implant Site during the Process of Osseointegration: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Introduction: The most important factor which is responsible for the positive course of implant treatment is the process of osseointegration between the implant structure and the host’s bone tissue. The aim of this study was to assess what effect the 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration and vitamin D deficiency treatment have on changes in the bone level at the implant site during the process of osseointegration in the mandible. Materials and Methods: The study was with 122 people qualified for implant surgery, who were assigned to three research groups (A, B, and C). Laboratory, clinical, and radiological tests were performed on the day of surgery, and after 6 and 12 weeks. The bone level in the immediate proximity of the implant was determined by radiovisiography (RVG). Results: The bone level after 12 weeks in Groups B and C was significantly higher than after 6 weeks. The bone level in the study Group B was significantly higher than in Group A. The study showed that the higher the levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol were observed on the day of surgery, the higher was the level of bone surrounding the implant after 6 and 12 after surgery. Conclusion: The correct level of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol on the day of surgery and vitamin D deficiency treatment significantly increase the bone level at the implant site in the process of radiologically assessed osseointegration

Quality of Life in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis

End-stage renal disease and hemodialysis therapy cause a number of changes, not only somatic but also psychosocial, including the patient&rsquo;s perception and assessment of their quality of life. The literature describes predispositions to pathologies in the oral mucosa, craniofacial bones, teeth, and surrounding tissues in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to determine the quality of life of hemodialysis patients in comparison with healthy subjects. The study group consisted of 200 subjects: the HD group (hemodialysis patients, n = 100) and the K group (control group, n = 100). General health and oral status were assessed using the following indices: plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and clinical adhesion level. The WHOQOL-BREF survey was performed to determine both groups&rsquo; overall quality of life. The results showed lower values of assessed quality-of-life parameters in hemodialysis patients compared to the control group, especially in the somatic sphere. General diseases such as oral mycosis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and coronary-artery disease negatively impact the perceived quality of life. There are numerous indications for comprehensive psychological care of hemodialysis patients due to their poor psychosocial status