The prevelance of mesiodens in a group of non-syndromic Turkish children: a radiographic study

Exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in paediatric dentistry: A systematic review on deep learning algorithms for dental anomaly detection

BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI) based on deep learning (DL) algorithms has shown promise in enhancing the speed and accuracy of dental anomaly detection in paediatric dentistry.

AIM

This systematic review aimed to investigate the performance of AI systems in identifying dental anomalies in paediatric dentistry and compare it with human performance.

DESIGN

A systematic search of Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted from 2012 to 2022. Inclusion criteria were based on problem/patient/population, intervention/indicator, comparison and outcome scheme and specific keywords related to AI, DL, paediatric dentistry, dental anomalies, supernumerary and mesiodens. Six of 3918 initial pool articles were included, assessing nine DL sub-systems that used panoramic radiographs or cone-beam computed tomography. Article quality was assessed using QUADAS-2.

RESULTS

Artificial intelligence systems based on DL algorithms showed promising potential in enhancing the speed and accuracy of dental anomaly detection, with an average of 85.38% accuracy and 86.61% sensitivity. Human performance, however, outperformed AI systems, achieving 95% accuracy and 99% sensitivity. Limitations included a limited number of articles and data heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

The potential of AI systems employing DL algorithms is highlighted in detecting dental anomalies in paediatric dentistry. Further research is needed to address limitations, explore additional anomalies and establish the broader applicability of AI in paediatric dentistry.

Evaluation of radiographic characteristics and surgical removal of 147 mesiodens

The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiographic characteristics and surgical removal of mesiodens among patients who had attended the Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial-Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University. This study included 121 patients in the final analysis. We retrospectively reviewed medical records including patient age, sex, mesiodens number, direction, position, opportunity for detection, surgical approach and operating time. The 121 patients comprised 82 males and 39 females. Mean age was 7.6 ± 3.1 years (range, 4-35 years). The total number of mesiodens among these 121 patients was 147. Ninety-six patients had one mesiodens, 24 patients had two mesiodens and 1 patient had 3 mesiodens. Seventy-nine mesiodens were detected while taking X-rays for routine dental examination and/or orthodontic treatment at their family dental/orthodontic clinic. Mean operating time for removal of the 147 mesiodens was 32.2 ± 18.1 min. Among the 96 patients with one mesiodens, mean operating time for removal of the mesiodens was 30.7 ± 16.5 min. Operating time for removal of a mesiodens tended to be prolonged with increased distance from the alveolar crest. Early detection of mesiodens on routine radiographic check-ups and surgical planning considering patient age, crown direction, position of the mesiodens will contribute to improved treatment of mesiodens.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and 3-dimensional radiographic analysis of supernumerary teeth in Guangzhou, China: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to investigate the prevalence and clinical and 3-dimensional (3D) radiographic characteristics of supernumerary teeth (ST) in a paediatric dental population. The factors associated with ST eruption potential were analysed, and the optimal extraction time for nonerupted ST was discussed.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed in a 13,336-participant baseline population aged 3-12 years for whom panoramic radiographs had been obtained in the hospital from 2019 to 2021. The medical records and radiographic data were reviewed to identify patients with ST. Both the demographic variables and ST characteristics were recorded and analysed .

RESULTS

In total, 890 patients with 1,180 ST were screened from the 13,336 baseline population. The ratio of males (679) to females (211) was approximately 3.2:1. Generally, ST occurred singularly and were frequently found in the maxilla (98.1%). A total of 40.8% of ST were erupted, and the 6-year-old age group presented the highest eruption rate (57.8%). The eruption rate of ST was highly negatively correlated with age. A total of 598 patients additionally underwent cone- beam computed tomography (CBCT). According to the CBCT images, the majority of ST were conical, normally oriented, palatally situated, nonerupted and symptomatic. The most common ST-associated complication was failed eruption of adjacent teeth. In addition, symptomatic ST were more common in the 7- to 8- and 9- to 10-year-old age groups. The eruption rate of ST was 25.3% among the patients who had undergone CBCT. A normal orientation and the labial position were significant protective factors for ST eruption, with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.004 (0.000-0.046) and 0.086 (0.007-1.002), respectively. Age and the palatal position were significant risk factors, with ORs of 1.193 (1.065-1.337) and 2.352 (1.377-4.02), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a detailed analysis of ST characteristics in 3-12 year old children. Age as well as the position and orientation of ST were reliable predictors of the ST eruption. An age of 6 years old may be the optimal time for extraction of nonerupted ST to maximize the utilization of eruption potential and reduce the incidence of ST-associated complications.

Genetic Variants in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor Type 23 Are Responsible for Mesiodens Formation

A mesiodens is a supernumerary tooth located in the midline of the premaxilla. To investigate the genetic cause of mesiodens, clinical and radiographic examination were performed on 23 family members of a two-generation Hmong family. Whole exome sequencing (WES) or Sanger sequencing were performed in 22 family members and two unrelated Thai patients with mesiodens. WES in the Hmong family revealed a missense mutation (c.1807G>A;p.Glu603Lys) in PTPN23 in seven affected members and six unaffected members. The mode of inheritance was autosomal dominance with incomplete penetrance (53.84%). Two additional mutations in PTPN23, c.2248C>G;p.Pro750Ala and c.3298C>T;p.Arg1100Cys were identified in two unrelated patients with mesiodens. PTPN23 is a regulator of endosomal trafficking functioning to move activated membrane receptors, such as EGFR, from the endosomal sorting complex towards the ESCRT-III complex for multivesicular body biogenesis, lysosomal degradation, and subsequent downregulation of receptor signaling. Immunohistochemical study and RNAscope on developing mouse embryos showed broad expression of PTPN23 in oral tissues, while immunofluorescence showed that EGFR was specifically concentrated in the midline epithelium. Importantly, PTPN23 mutant protein was shown to have reduced phosphatase activity. In conclusion, mesiodens were associated with genetic variants in PTPN23, suggesting that mesiodens may form due to defects in endosomal trafficking, leading to disrupted midline signaling.