[Pathogenesis of periapical inflammatory processes. 2]

The Authors describe the aetiological mechanisms of periapical diseases. They deal with immunologic reactions in inflammation with particular features on the lymphocytic and macrophagic products and their role in the periapical reactions. Furthermore, they describe the pathogenesis of bone resorption, a common evolution of the chronic periapical disease.

[Statistical study of the incidence of agenesis in a sample of 1529 subjects]

Following a short review of the main aetiopathogenetic theories on dental agenesia, a personal statistical study of this pathology is reported. 1529 orthopantomographs of juveniles aged between 7 and 14 were examined. 79 cases of hypodentia were observed (5.2%), 32 in males (4.05%) and 47 in females (6.78%). The most interesting tooth was the second premolar with an incidence of 58.9% followed by the lateral incisor, with an incidence of 26.38%. This is in agreement with the international literature.

[Periodontitis associated with systemic diseases with qualitative deficiency of phagocyte function. II. Down's syndrome]

Numerous systemic syndromes with different aetiopathogenetic and clinical features are constantly accompanied by functional changes in polymorphonucleated neutrophils and, particularly, in their chemotactic properties. The function they perform, namely impeding invasion of the organism by external aggressive factors, cannot therefore be implemented. These patients are thus abnormally susceptible to infections and present a high frequency of serious periodontal disease.

[Clinico-statistical study and therapeutic approach to odontostomatological pathology in heart surgery patients]

After reporting some statistics, the procedures used in the dental treatment of the heart surgery patients subjected to anticlotting pharmacological treatment are described. Considering the considerable difficult in implementing the necessary pharmacological modifications and the high percentage of possible complications involved in these procedures, maximum interdisciplinary cooperation is recommended with heart surgery colleagues so as to carry out dental treatment in good time in patients who are candidates for heart and large vessel operations.

[Focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz's syndrome). Review of the literature and clinical contribution]

A clinical case of focal dermal hypoplasia or Goltz syndrome is described with details of the odontostomatological features both generally encountered and observed in the present case. The main aetiopathogenic hypotheses are also discussed and a dominant X-linked transmission is postulated.

[Autotransplantation of tooth germs]

The authors explained, after an attentive review of literature, the clinic and therapeutic procedures about dental germs' transplant. They show the indications for this surgical operation, the procedure for selection of grafting germs and the current surgical technique to do it.