Mandibular tumor-induced muscular weakness and osteomalacia

The case presented is that of a 26-year-old man who suffered from muscular weakness and aching pains 2 years prior to hospitalization. During that period, a tumor in the mandible was diagnosed. During the neurologic work-up to find the cause of the muscular weakness, the possibility of a metabolic bone disease was raised on the basis of oral findings. The giant-cell nature of the mandibular tumor, with destruction of the periodontium, suggested hyperparathyroidism. The giant-cell nature of the mandibular tumor, with destruction of the periodontium, suggested hyperparathyroidism. However, biochemical findings ruled out this diagnosis and led to the final diagnosis of "tumor-induced osteomalacia." Removal of the mandibular tumor caused substantial improvement in the patient's physical condition and in the biochemical picture, which confirmed the diagnosis.

Scleroderma: oral manifestations

An oral clinical and radiologic study of twenty-one patients suffering from scleroderma revealed that in one half of the patients the blood sedimentation rate and the antinuclear factor were elevated. When both these laboratory findings were present at the same time, they proved to be well correlated. The majority of the patients had limited mouth opening. Gross jawbone changes affecting the mandibular condyle, coronoid process, and posterior part of the ascending ramus occurred in four patients. There was no correlation in these four patients with regard to the bone changes and clinical and laboratory findings or to age and duration of illness. Widening of the periodontal ligament space, as measured in a meticulous manner, was a feature in all twenty-one patients and in all teeth.

Does an impacted tooth cause root resorption of the adjacent one?

External root resorption caused by an adjacent impacted tooth was studied radiographically in 199 cases. Resorption of the root had occurred in fifteen instances (7.5 per cent), the cervical region being least affected. The incidence was highest in the 21 to 30-year-old group and mainly involved male patients. Resorption of the periodontium alone was found in sixteen additional patients; of these, five were followed for 1 year after extraction of the impacted tooth. During this period, the damaged periodontium was completely re-established.

Experimental transplantation of mature molar teeth with and without the supporting structures in mice

Two types of dental isografts were implanted into the femoral bone of inbred mice: type A, encompassing mature maxillary molars including supporting structure and type B, consisting of the tooth alone. The isografts, together with their host tissues, were examined histologically beginning at day 1 and continuing until day 42 posttransplantation. In both types, the cellular components underwent necrosis with subsequent repopulation of the pulp and periodontal ligament of the graft. A new bony socket formed and partial resorption and ankylosis started on day 10 of transplantation. It is suggested that the host cells present in the periodontal ligament are responsible for the ankylosis and resorption of the tooth root surface.

Odontoma in the subcondylar region

An instance of a compound odontoma in the condylar process in a 24-year-old female is described. Location of odontomas in the coronoid or condylar processes were not reported. A hypothesis of migration of the third molar bud into the condylar region, an interfering local factor such as trauma or infection are suggested as aetiologic factors to the tumour in this case. Pre-operative radiographic localisation of the mass, are essential for treatment planning. An intra-oral approach was the treatment of choice.