Role of dental pulp in age estimation: A quantitative and morphometric study

Successful Healing of Periapical Pathology with Partial Pulpotomy in a Mature Permanent Molar: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Vital pulp therapy approaches are preferred over non-surgical root canal treatment, giving the advantage of preserving the vitality of the dental pulp and thus maintaining its benefits. Such approaches can be performed in teeth having normal apical area; however, performing vital pulp therapy approaches in teeth associated with periapical pathology remains controversial. CASE REPORT We present a case of a mature mandibular right first permanent molar tooth in a medically fit 10-year-old female diagnosed as asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis with asymptomatic apical periodontitis with periapical radiolucency having a periapical index (PAI) score of 4. Partial pulpotomy was performed instead of non-surgical root canal treatment due to uncooperativeness of the patient. Biodentine was used as a pulp capping material. The tooth was restored with resin composite permanent restoration. Six months after the procedure, an intraoral periapical radiograph revealed normal bone features with complete periapical pathology healing and development of intact lamina dura around the mesial and distal roots. The tooth responded normal to electric pulp testing (EPT), cold, percussion, and palpation tests. CONCLUSIONS Periapical pathology involvement having large periapical radiolucency exhibiting PAI score 4 in inflamed dental pulp tooth diagnosed as irreversible pulpitis does not necessitate non-surgical root canal treatment. Partial pulpotomy should be considered as an alternative treatment to promote the return dental pulp and periapical tissue to a healthy condition. Considering a similar approach in older patients would be interesting to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its potential as a treatment method.

[Aesthetic preferences of individuals when evaluating photographs of facial profiles with different sagittal and vertical growth patterns. A cross-sectional study]

Objective

To evaluate the aesthetic preferences of individuals by observing photographs of different facial profiles with different sagittal and vertical growth patterns.

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional study that evaluated 300 students from a private university. Edited photographs of a man and a woman were used. The maxilla being moved in a vertical direction while the mandible was moved in a sagittal direction, various combinations of the photographic profile of the two individuals were created. These movements created 9 photographic profiles for the woman and the man; for intra-observer reliability, two photo profiles of both sexes were duplicated. Chi square tests and binary logistic regression were used. P<0.05.

Results

In general, the evaluated individuals mostly preferred the type 6 profile (65.7%), followed by the type 5 profile (21.7%) (slightly convex). It was found that for every year of age that an individual increases, there is a 31% greater chance of choosing one of these profiles.

Conclusions

Both sexes prefer a straight or slightly convex profile, and as age increases, individuals prefer a straight profile.

The Equine Dental Pulp: Histomorphometric Analysis of the Equine Dental Pulp in Incisors and Cheek Teeth

To maintain a healthy and functional status, equine hypsodont teeth have to produce lifelong large amounts of subocclusal dentin to prevent occlusal pulp exposure, which is caused by occlusal wear. To examine the cyto- and histological components that guarantee the lifelong high productivity of equine pulp, a limited number of ten incisors and ten cheek teeth from seven adult horses (aged 5 to 24 years) and five foals were sampled for preliminary histomorphometric and histomorphological evaluations. Independently of age, the equine dental pulp featured constant layers of predentin and odontoblastic cells, as well as soft connective tissue, composed of a cellular fibrous matrix, in which blood vessels and nerve fibers were embedded. As a result of the progressive deposition of newly formed dentin, the layer of dentin became thicker with age, and the size of the pulp chamber decreased. In contrast to the brachydont teeth, the morphological characteristics of the odontoblastic layer and the width of the predentin layer did not change with age. Therefore, it is assumed that the equine pulp tissue retained their juvenile status, which explains its unchanged ability to produce high amounts of subocclusal dentin. These preliminary, but clinically significant, findings are worthy of further investigation in order to identify strategies for equine-specific endodontic therapies.

Clinical, radiological, and histological correlation in diagnosis of pulpitis

BACKGROUND

To establish an endodontic diagnosis, a clinician should consider a variety of factors. Various studies have failed to demonstrate a strong correlation between histological findings with clinical and radiographic assessments. This study sought to evaluate the histopathological features of reversible and irreversible pulpitis diseases and their correlation with clinical diagnosis in extracted human molar teeth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this experimental ex vivo study, 75 molars with caries and three intact molars were used. According to the radiographic findings and clinical criteria and the need for root canal therapy, samples were categorized as having normal/reversible pulpitis and irreversible pulpitis. Immediately after extraction, an exposure was made at 2 mm below the cementoenamel junction. Formalin-fixed specimens were decalcified, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examinations using light microscopy. Variables including the type and severity of the inflammation, hyperemia, necrosis, fibrosis and the existence of an odontoblastic layer and dentin bridge were evaluated. The Fisher's exact test and the Chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis. P <0.05 was considered as significant.

RESULTS

Acute inflammation, hyperemia and pulp exposure were significantly more common among subjects with irreversible pulpitis (P < 0/005). However, fibrosis was significantly higher in the reversible group (P < 0/005). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the other variables.

CONCLUSION

Some discrepancies between clinical, radiographic and histological findings were observed in our experimental study. Indeed, effective clinical practice requires consideration of all discrepancies found.

Dental mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in different microenvironments— implications in regenerative therapy

Current research data reveal microenvironment as a significant modifier of physical functions, pathologic changes, as well as the therapeutic effects of stem cells. When comparing regeneration potential of various stem cell types used for cytotherapy and tissue engineering, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are currently the most attractive cell source for bone and tooth regeneration due to their differentiation and immunomodulatory potential and lack of ethical issues associated with their use. The microenvironment of donors and recipients selected in cytotherapy plays a crucial role in regenerative potential of transplanted MSCs, indicating interactions of cells with their microenvironment indispensable in MSC-mediated bone and dental regeneration. Since a variety of MSC populations have been procured from different parts of the tooth and tooth-supporting tissues, MSCs of dental origin and their achievements in capacity to reconstitute various dental tissues have gained attention of many research groups over the years. This review discusses recent advances in comparative analyses of dental MSC regeneration potential with regards to their tissue origin and specific microenvironmental conditions, giving additional insight into the current clinical application of these cells.

[Skull-facial anthropometric traits of forensic odontological interest for estimating sex, race and age. Review of the literature]

One of the main functions of anthropologists and forensic dentists is to identify subjects according to physical characteristics of the features presented using non-routine methods. These characteristics, especially bone, allow professional to determine the sex, age and racial origin of the remains or skeleton found. Dentist focus on features belonging to the stomatognathic system, while anthropologists study the bones that make up the human body. In this study, we describe the investigations of cranio-facial anthropometric features of dental interest carried out by anthropologists to identify the sex, race and age of skeletal remains or skeletons. in addition, we describe the so-called dental anthropology that studies the elements of the stomatognathic system from an anthropological point of view. Electronic literature was reviewed through search engines such as PUBMED, Google Academic and SciELO with the search terms "Forensic Dentistry, Forensic Anthropology, Sex Determination, Ancestry Determination and Age Determination". Knowledge of the craniofacial anthropological features from the forensic point of view is of great importance in individualized and multidisciplinary studies by forensic dentists and anthropologists in the identification of skeletal remains.