Comparison of dental information obtained from self-examination and clinical examination

The validity of self-examination information regarding the number and distribution of remaining teeth, the presence of dentures and the validity of molar support construed professionally from the self-examination data was assessed from 93 persons. This was done by comparing self-examination information with data from clinical and radiographical examinations. Agreement between self-examination and clinical examination was found to be fairly good regarding the number of remaining teeth and the presence of removable dentures. Regarding the distribution of remaining teeth there was an average of 2.1 misdiagnosed teeth per person. In conclusion, self-examination method makes possible the collection of accurate data for screening and planning purposes in assessing oral health status regarding the number of remaining teeth and presence of removable dentures.

The role of computed tomography in the evaluation of cemento-osseous lesions

The role of computed tomography (CT) and CT numbers in the evaluation of fibro-osseous and cementum-containing lesions is discussed. The computed tomographic findings in a case of cemento-ossifying fibroma involving the maxilla and maxillary sinus are presented.

A study of selection criteria for intraoral dental radiography

This study was undertaken to determine whether adequate diagnostic information could be obtained from a thorough clinical examination supplemented with a limited number of intraoral radiographs, the exact number of films determined in each case by applying a set of historical and/or clinical selection criteria. The 100 patients in this study required an average of 8.2 periapical radiographs (range, 0 to 18), in addition to posterior bitewing films to complete the diagnostic process. Later evaluation of complete-mouth surveys on these patients revealed that no cases of periodontitis, no periapical lesions, and no impacted teeth were overlooked when selection criteria were used. Forty-two unsuspected abnormalities were found, but only three of these required treatment-a root tip close to the surface and enlarged follicular spaces distal to two clinically erupted third molars.

Orthopantomographic survey

An orthopantomographic survey was carried out on patients who attended routine dental appointments. The objectives were; to find out the incidence of clinically undetected pathologies and also to ascertain if normal anatomical structures are readily visible on the radiographs. The identification of these structures is important in correct diagnosis and oral surgical procedures. The survey showed that most normal anatomical structures can be positively identified and the inter-examiner consistency was high. The survey also showed that the consistency ratio in detecting dental caries was poor. About 50% of the patients had impacted/non-erupted teeth with female patients having a higher incidence. The percentage of patients with radiolucencies and radiopacities were 11% and 19% respectively. The orthopantomogram was found to be not ideal in measuring bone loss as a high percentage of the proximal surfaces were not measurable.

Radiographic and clinical laboratory procedures

Diseases of the oral cavity and related structures, either local or systemic, may have profound physical and emotional effects on a patient. In order to effectively manage these conditions, it is necessary that dentists have a basic understanding of diseases throughout the body. Such an obligation is tempered only by the extent to which diseases relate to the dental profession's anatomic field of responsibility or have clinical implications for office personnel, and the extent to which diseases require modification of dental therapy or alter the prognosis. A primary organic abnormality is typically reflected in the findings of radiographic, laboratory, and tissue studies. From the analysis of a large number of such profiles, certain patterns emerge that are sufficiently characteristic to suggest a specific diagnosis or groups of differential diagnoses for abnormalities that may prompt a request for urgent dental care.

A radiographic survey of periapical jawbone lesions

A radiographic survey of the jawbone adjacent to the teeth revealed a high incidence of bone pathosis in 889 randomly chosen patients. Jaw lesions, nearly all inflammatory, were present in every second person. Bone-destructive inflammatory processes (rarefying osteitis) were the most frequently encountered lesions, occurring in both the maxilla and the mandible. Bone-appositioning inflammatory processes (condensing osteitis), on the other hand, appeared mostly in the mandible, very often involving the first molar, thus indicating the differing biologic behavior of the two jawbones. Other bony manifestations in the mandible, such as enostosis and periapical cemental dysplasia, although relatively rare, also formed part of the picture. In light of the absence of related symptoms, the clinical significance of these widely prevalent periapical lesions has to be reconsidered.

The problems of treatment of early ankylosis: report of case

The case report described in this paper, a patient with an early ankylosed second primary mandibular molar, illustrates the importance of patient cooperation in treatment planning. Extraction too early can cause space loss requiring future orthodontic treatment.

A comparison of combinations of clinical and radiographic examinations in evaluation of a dental clinic population

Panoramic periapical anterior and posterior bitewing radiographic, mirror-explorer, and transillumination clinical examinations were performed on 300 patients. Various combinations of the radiographic and clinical examination techniques were compared in terms of their ability to diagnose caries, alveolar bone loss, calculus, periapical bone lesions, impacted teeth, root tips, and miscellaneous conditions. A mirror-explorer clinical examination with panoramic and posterior bitewing radiographs and either anterior bitewing radiographs or transillumination proved to be as efficient in the initial examination of patients as the mirror-explorer clinical examination with periapical and posterior bitewing radiographs.

Intradental lesions and their reversal in a patient being treated for end-stage renal disease

The number of patients with end-stage renal disease who are being successfully treated by hemodialysis is rapidly increasing across the nation. These patients present some special problems for dentists to correctly diagnose and treat. Presented here is a brief outline of the etiology of changes that might occur, along with the case report of a patient who developed unusual intradental lesions that reversed themselves as the patient's general medical problems were brought under control.

A panoramic radiographic analysis of Air Force basic trainees

In a comprehensive study of 1,059 panoramic radiographs of Air Force recruits, the following findings were noted: 10% of the recruits had no restorations, no radiographic decay, and no teeth missing; 10% had at least one endodontically treated teeth; and 5% had at least one metallic crown. The typical recruit averaged five restorations, one impaction, and one missing tooth.

Pericoronitis: a reappraisal of its clinical and microbiologic aspects

Pericoronitis is an infectious disease of the operculum overlying an erupting or semi-impacted tooth. It manifests itself mainly in late adolescence and young adulthood and nearly always occurs around the lower third molar. The distinctive location, age, clinical picture, and link with predisposing factors warranted a reappraisal of pericoronitis and its etiology. Spirochetes and fusobacteria proved prevalent at all stages of the disease. The presence of these microbacteria may provide a clue as to the late appearance, particular location, and singular clinical picture of pericoronitis. The fact that spirochetes and fusobacteria are also found in acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, and have been associated with alveolar osteitis, indicates a possible relationship between these disorders and pericoronitis.

Surgical treatment of ankylosed and infrapositioned reimplanted incisors in adolescents

A method for preserving the alveolar ridge of ankylosed and infrapositioned incisors and improving conditions for a subsequent prosthetic therapy is described and evaluated clinically and radiographically. The method involves removal of the crown and root filling from the root, which is retained and covered with a mucoperiosteal flap. Clinically, there were no postoperative complications and after the follow-up a satisfactory prosthetic restoration was performed in all cases, regardless of the degree of infraposition before treatment. Radiographically, no pathologic changes were observed apart from a continuous resorption and replacement of lost root substance by bone. Alveolar bone level shifted only slightly between postoperative and 12-month follow-up radiographs, in a majority of cases in a coronal direction.