Morphology of dentition in Polish children with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)

This paper compares the dimensions and non-metric dental traits between Down syndrome patients (DS) and a control group. A total of 1,210 teeth of subjects with Down syndrome (diagnosed as regular trisomy 21 type) were analyzed. The mesiodistal (MD) and labiolingual or buccolingual (BL) diameters of each dental crown were measured, and the selected non-metric dental traits evaluated. The teeth of male and female DS patients were found to have lower values of both measurements compared to controls (excepting for the mesiodistal diameter of the lower mandibular premolar both in males and females). Sexual dimorphism of dental crown dimensions characteristic of contemporary human populations (the highest M-F difference was lower than 6%) was also observed: boys' teeth, particularly canines, are bigger than girls' (2.33 on average). Disorders in maxillary tooth alignment and the faint shoveling of upper central incisors (grade 1 according to ASU scale) were noted significantly more often among Down syndrome patients, but descriptive features correlating with dental crown size were observed more rarely (e.g., the distal accessory ridge on the upper canine and tuberculum Carabelli on the first molar).Elżbieta Żądzińska, Beata Lubowiedzka, Magdalena Wochna-Sobańsk

Mother's trauma during pregnancy affects fluctuating asymmetry in offspring's face

OBJECTIVE: Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of paired body structures is considered to be a reliable measurement of developmental instability of humans. The aim of the study is to examine whether the mother's traumatic experience during pregnancy results in an increase of the level of fluctuating asymmetry of the structures of the face. METHODS: Average relative FA of six cephalometric traits was calculated in 269 boys aged 7-10 years from Lodz, Poland. The influence of experienced trauma during pregnancy on the level of the FA was assessed by multiple regression analysis allowing for others stressors during mothers' pregnancy. In order to assess which trimester of pregnancy of the experience of the trauma had an influence on the FA level, analysis of variance was used. RESULTS; Boys whose mothers had experienced a traumatic incident during pregnancy were characterized by a significantly higher level of facial asymmetry at the age of 7-10 years (t = 2.74; p = 0.007). The experience of trauma by a pregnant woman was only one factor among other stressors, which significantly rose the FA level of the child's face (Beta = 0.182; t = 2.94; p = 0.004). The time of the experience of the trauma--the first, the second or the third trimester of pregnancy--had not any effect on the FA level. CONCLUSION: The experience of trauma during pregnancy can result in visible disturbances of development of offspring. A decreased level of cortisol is associated with psychosomatic disorders and may also be potentially responsible for disorders of homeostasis in the process of formation of such morphological structures of the face.Elzbieta Zadzińska, Sławomir Kozieł, Marta Kurek, Anna Spine

The effect of the season of birth and of selected maternal factors on linear enamel thickness in modern human deciduous incisors

Abstract not availableE. Żądzińska, M. Kurek, B. Borowska-Strugińska, W. Lorkiewicz, I. Rosset, A. Site

State of dentition and treatment needs assessment in 3 to 7-year-old children living in Lodz

An early detection of caries allows for introduction of minimally invasive treatment and has additional significance in preventing serious caries sequelae such as pulp or periapical inflammation, and even loss of teeth. Screening of oral health should form a part of routine medical care in children. Aim of the study. To evaluate the state of dentition and treatment needs in 3 to 7 year-old children. Materials and methods. The study covered 731 children (388 girls and 34 3boys) living in Lodz, who were subdivided into 5 age groups, with annual breakdown of age: 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7-year-old children. An intra-oral examination was conducted to asses dental caries in deciduous and permanent dentition. Caries diagnosis was based on the WHO recommendation. Caries prevalence, intensity and treatment index were calculated on the basis of the obtained data. Results. The prevalence of caries in the examined population was 72.2%. It was the lowest in 3-year-old children (43.6%) and the highest (85%) in those aged 7. Caries intensity in deciduous teeth (dmft) for children aged 3 was 1.53 and it increased up to 4.07 in 7 year olds. The average dmft in 3-7 years old was composed mainly of untreated caries, and the treatment index in the examined group was low (0.32). Mean score of the DMFT was 0.07 in 5-year- olds, and increased with age, up to 0.73 in children aged 7. The average treatment index for permanent dentition in this age range was 0.22. Conclusions. The low values of treatment index and the findings that the average dmft in 3-7 year-old children and DMFT in 5-7- year-olds were mainly determined by the presence of untreated caries, indicate that dental care for this group is not well provided. It is necessary to introduce health education programs that promote proper health behaviours and increase parental awareness of the need for deciduous teeth treatment, and for regular assessment of the status of newly erupted permanent teeth.Agnieszka Bruzda-Zwiech, Renata Filipińska, Beata Szydłowska-Walendowska, Beata Lubowiedzka-Gontarek, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Beata Borowska-Strugińska, Magdalena Wochna-Sobańsk