Journal of Dental Research, Dental Clinics, Dental Prospects
Volume:5 Issue: 4, Autumn 2011

To obtain maximum advantages from orthodontic fixed appliances and to achieve the desired final occlusion, correct bracket positioning is highly necessary. In order to measure and determine bracket’s height, diverse gauges have been used. The objective of the present study is to determine and compare bracket positioning accuracy by using height bracket positioning gauge (HBPG) and Boone gauge (BG). From one patient with class II divisions 1 malocclusion and mild crowding, 19 sets of stone models were prepared, one set employed to determine the ideal position of brackets and others were divided into two groups: nine sets for bracket placement by HBPG and nine sets by BG. Nine clinician placed brackets in one set by using HBPG and in the other by BG. After sectioning the teeth from stone model these were placed inside acrylic mold and were prepared the photographs, these images were imported to a computer. In two groups, the position of each bonded bracket was compared in term of 3 aspects; namely vertical, mesiodistal and angular with ideal position of every bracket. Next, the rate of bracket positioning errors was measured. Mann Whitney U test demonstrate that the mean difference in vertical error between HBPG group and BG group is significant (P < 0.001), while it is not significant in mesiodistal and angular error. Univariate analysis of variance proved that gauge and tooth type, and the position of tooth in the mouth sides play a major role in the rate of vertical error. In general vertical accuracy of bracket positioning by the use of HBPG is more than that of BG. However, there is no difference between two gauges with regard to the mesiodistal and angular errors.

Background and aims. Temperament has been suggested to be a predictive factor for the child’s reaction to dental treatment especially in young ages. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between temperament and child behavior in relation to age in the dental setting. Materials and methods. In this descriptive-analytical study, 190 children, aged 1 to 7 years, who visited dentist for the first time, were included. Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ) for 18-36 month-olds and Child Behavioral Questionnaire (CBQ) for 3-7 year-old children were completed. Child behavior was rated during dental treatment using Frankl scale. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to examine normal distribution of the population. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA, Chi Square and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P< 0.05 was considered as significance level. Results. 58 children (29.6%) had completely negative behavior and 27 children (13.8%) had completely positive behavior during the treatment. 65% of the children aged 1 to 3 years had completely negative behavior while this figure was 20% for the children aged 6 to 7 years. Temperament score for the children with completely positive behavior was 257.95 while it was 299.37 for children with completely negative behavior. As the temperament score increased, child behavior rank was lower.Conclusion. Age and temperament seem to act as predictors of child behavior in the dental setting.

Background and aims. Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are the most common condition affecting the temporomandibular joint and associated structures. The aim of this study was the epidemiologic evaluation of TMDs and related factors in a group of Iranian adolescents. Materials and methods. This descriptive cross-sectional survey included a sample of 800 high school students (400 girls and 400 boys) aged 14 to18 years, in Mashhad, Iran, selected using cluster sampling. Examiners completed questionnaires and performed the clinical examinations. Data were analyzed with the Chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Results. The prevalence of TMDs in the studied sample was 34.7%. The most common signs of TMDs were clicking, muscle tenderness and TMJ tenderness. The most prevalent predisposing factors of TMDs were clenching, premature contact in protrusive movement and bruxism. A clear predominance was seen in girls (40.5%) compared with boys (29%) (P = 0.001). Conclusion. Signs and symptoms of TMDs were prevalent in Iranian adolescents with a clear female predominance.

Background and aims. Reactive hyperplasias (RHs) are common oral mucosal lesions caused by irritation of the mu-cosa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequencies of various types of oral RHs in a university clinic. Materials and methods. Oral RH cases, undergone biopsy in a four-year period, were studied retrospectively. Data including age and gender as well as the location and clinical characteristics of the lesion were collected and analyzed. Results. A total of 123 cases (age range 7-79 years old; mean: 38.8 ± 18.50 years; male: female ratio, 1.9:1) were evalu-ated. Over a half of the lesions including pyogenic granuloma, giant cell granuloma, and peripheral ossifying fibroma were found in gingiva (52%). Fibroma involved mostly the buccal mucosa. Most lesions had smooth surface and sessile base. Conclusion. The clinical features of oral inflammatory hyperplasia in the studied sample were similar to those previously reported.

Background and aims. As a result of poor quality of public water supply in many countries, people have recently turned to bottled water consumption, the fluoride content of which is not generally consistent among different brands. This study sought to measure the fluoride concentration of public water supply in comparison with commercial brands of mineral bottled water available in Tehran, Iran. Materials and methods. Eight different brands of locally produced bottled mineral water and samples of tap water were evaluated for fluoride content. All samples were collected in five equal containers in two summer and winter seasons. The fluoride content in part per million (ppm) was determined using a fluoride Ion Selective Electrode. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. For comparison of the fluoride content between three different brands of bottled water, one-way ANOVA was employed. Sample t-test was used to compare the label and laboratory values of bottled water. Results. The highest concentration of fluoride in a bottled water brand was found to be 0.409 ppm with a pH of 6.67 in summer. There was a significant difference between the mean fluoride level of tap water (0.229 ± 0.079 ppm) and bottled water (0.111 ± 0.122 ppm) (P < 0.001). The measured fluoride concentrations of bottled water were significantly lower than those printed on the labels (P < 0.001). Conclusion. Our findings revealed that the mean fluoride level of both bottled and tap water samples evaluated is considerably lower than accepted standards.

The present report describes orthodontic treatment of a patient with skeletal Class III malocclusion and maxillary hypoplasia. To correct the retrusive maxilla, the treatment plan included an intra-oral removable device. It had the advantages of good patient cooperation, ease of construction and effective modification. Forward growth of the maxilla, minimal downward and backward rotation of the mandible and improved facial profile esthetics were achieved.

Myoepithelioma is a rare neoplasm of the salivary glands, generally occurring in the parotid gland and less often in the minor accessory salivary glands of the oral cavity. It is known to be a rare entity occurring at unusual locations, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Such a rare case of myoepithelioma in salivary glands present at an unusual location around the left orbit is presented here.

Thrombocytopenia in surgical patients is a potentially serious condition, faced by surgeons. A close relationship between sepsis and thrombocytopenia has been suggested. Thrombocytopenia has even been suggested to be indicative of an acute infection. Platelet count in a septicemic patient may also serve as a prognostic tool. There are many reports of thrombocytopenia due to septicemia in the literature but the occurrence of thrombocytopenia in maxillofacial infections is rare. Thrombocytopenia in a patient with odontogenic infection presents unique diagnostic and management challenges. A case report of an adult male patient with odontogenic infection, who developed life-threatening thrombocytopenia, is presented.