Hayati Murat Akgül

Pneumatization of the articular eminence on cone beam computed tomography: prevalence, characteristics and a review of the literature

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pneumatized articular eminence (PAT) by cone beam CT (CBCT) and to present a review of the PAT literature. METHODS A retrospective study was performed using sagittal and coronal CBCT images of 514 patients in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Ataturk University, Turkey. Age and gender were recorded for all patients and, for the cases of PAT, laterality and types were also recorded. The χ(2) test was used. RESULTS Of the 514 patients, 41 (8.0%) had PAT, of whom 25 were female (61.0%) and 16 were male (39.0%). This difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The age range of the patients with PAT was 15-62 years (mean 30.6 ± 11.4). Of the 41 patients, 31 (75.6%) had unilateral and 10 (24.4%) had bilateral PAT. 17 (41.5%) PATs were unilocular and 24 (58.5%) were multilocular. CONCLUSIONS It is possible that PAT is a more frequent condition than is commonly perceived. In differential diagnosis of suspected cases or in cases for which surgical treatment is planned, panoramic radiographs should be supplemented with CBCT.

Radiological examination of the articular eminence morphology using cone beam CT

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to investigate the articular eminence inclination and height according to age and gender in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and healthy controls using cone beam CT (CBCT). METHODS The measurements were performed on CBCT records of 52 TMJ dysfunction patients (11 males and 41 females) and 41 control patients (17 males and 24 females). The eminence inclination and height were measured on the CBCT images. RESULTS The eminence inclination and height values were higher in males than in females in both TMJ dysfunction patient and control groups; however, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). While no statistically significant differences were found in the eminence inclination and height values between the age groups (p>0.05) in the TMJ dysfunction patient group, there were statistically significant differences in the control group. The eminence inclination was highest between the ages of 21 and 30 years and showed a decrease after the age of 30 years. Additionally, the eminence inclinations of the control patients were statistically higher than those of the TMJ dysfunction patients. CONCLUSION There were no statistically significant differences in eminence inclination and height according to gender. The eminence inclination reaches its highest value between the ages of 21 and 30 years and shows a decrease after the age of 31 years in healthy patients. The eminence inclination was steeper in healthy control patients than in patients with TMJ dysfunction.

Comparison of diode laser and Er:YAG lasers in the treatment of ankyloglossia.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to compare the tolerance of lingual frenectomy with regard to a local anesthesia requirement and comparison of postsurgical discomfort experienced by patients operated on with both diode and erbium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er:YAG) lasers. BACKGROUND Ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, is a congenital oral anomaly characterized by a short lingual frenulum. A short lingual frenulum may contribute to feeding, speech, and mechanical tongue problems. METHODS Sixteen referred patients with tongue mobility complaints were included in this study. A GaAlAs laser device with a continuous wavelength of 808 nm was used in the diode group. Frenulums were incised by applying 2 W of laser power. The Er:YAG laser device with a continuous wavelength of 2940 nm was used in the Er:YAG group. Frenulums were incised by applying 1 W of laser power. The acceptability of the lingual frenectomy without local anesthesia and the degree of the postsurgical discomfort were evaluated. RESULTS Although the majority of patients (six) could be operated on without local anesthesia in the Er:YAG group, all patients could not be operated on without local anesthetic agent in the diode group. There were no differences between the two groups with regard to pain, chewing, and speaking on the first or seventh day after surgery, whereas patients had more pain in the Er:YAG group than in the diode group the first 3 h after surgery. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that only the Er:YAG laser can be used for lingual frenectomy without local anesthesia, and there was no difference between the two groups regarding the degree of the postsurgical discomfort except in the first 3 h. In conclusion, these results indicate that the Er:YAG laser is more advantageous than the diode laser in minor soft-tissue surgery because it can be performed without local anesthesia and with only topical anesthesia.

Inhalation of mercury vapor can cause the toxic effects on rat kidney

Dental amalgam has been used in dentistry as a filling material. The filler comprises mercury (Hg). It is considered one of the most important and widespread environmental pollutants, which poses a serious potential threat for the humans and animals. However, mercury deposition affects the nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and especially renal systems. In most animals’ species and humans, the kidney is one of the main sites of deposition of mercury and target organ for its toxicity. In this study, the effects of mercury intake on kidney in rats were searched. For the this purpose; we used 24 adult female Wistar albino rats (200 g in weight) obtained from Experimental Research and Application Center of Atatürk University with ethical approval. Besides, they were placed into a specially designed glass cage. Along this experiment for 45 days, subjects were exposed to (1 mg/m3/day) mercury vapor. However, no application was used for the control subjects. At the end of the experiment, kidney samples were obtained from all subjects and processed for routine light microscopic level and stereological aspect were assessed. Finally, according to our results, mercury affects the histological features of the kidney. That means, the severe effects of mercury has been shown using stereological approach, which is one of the ideal quantitative methods in the current literature. In this study, it was detected that chronic exposure to mercury vapor may lead to renal damage and diseases in an experimental rat model.

Associations between the articular eminence inclination and condylar bone changes, condylar movements, and condyle and fossa shapes

ObjectivesThe purpose of the present study was to determine the inclination and height of the articular eminence with respect to the condylar bone changes, condyle shape, fossa shape and condylar movements in patients with and without temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).MethodsThe associations between the eminence inclination and the condylar bone changes, condylar movements, condylar shape and fossa shape were evaluated in patients with TMJ disorders and control patients without TMJ disorders. The measurements of the articular eminence inclination were established on central sagittal slices of the TMJ. The central coronal slices were used to determine the condyle and fossa shapes. The types of movements of the condyles were determined on open-mouth images, and mandibular hypermobility or hypomobility was noted for each joint.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the eminence inclination and height with respect to the condylar bone changes and condylar movements in the TMJ disorder group. However, there was a significant association between the eminence inclination and the fossa shape in the TMJ disorder group and significant associations between the eminence inclination and both the condyle and fossa shapes in the control group. The articular eminence inclination was steeper in the control group than in the TMJ disorder group.ConclusionsThe eminence inclination was steeper in the control patients than in the patients with TMJ disorders, and was not correlated with the condylar bone changes or condylar movements.

Effect of mercury vapor inhalation on rat ovary: Stereology and histopathology.

Mercury, an environmental contaminant, is a risk factor for health in whole living organisms. In this study, we investigated whether mercury vapor (HgO) inhalation has an effect on rat ovary.

Are All Soft Tissue Calcifications Detected by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in the Submandibular Region Sialoliths?

Heterotrophic soft tissue calcification occurs with the deposit of calcium salts in soft tissue rather than bone. The aim of this report is to describe cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) and ultrasonographic (US) findings of 2 cases of soft tissue calcifications that were initially diagnosed as submandibular or parotid sialolithiasis. Multiple soft tissue calcifications were evaluated by panoramic radiography, CBCT imaging, and US imaging in a 50-year-old male patient and a 30-year-old male patient. Calcifications were detected in the soft tissue of the submandibular area at axial, coronal, and multiplanar reformatted examinations and were prediagnosed as sialolithiasis. US examination was conducted to determine the complete relation between the soft tissues and the calcifications. In conclusion, high-resolution dental volumetric tomography with a low radiation dose is the optimal diagnostic tool to analyze the skeletal structure of the maxillofacial region in 3 dimensions. However, it is not sufficient to examine the soft tissues. US imaging is a useful diagnostic tool to evaluate the relation between the soft tissues and the calcifications in the submandibular area.

A stereological and histopathological study of the effects of exposure of male rat testes to mercury vapor

Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment; it is an occupational pollutant and a potential toxicant. We investigated the effects of exposure of rat testes to mercury vapor (Hg0). Twelve male rats were divided into two groups of six: the rats of the Hg0 group were exposed to mercury (1 mg/m3/day) in a chamber for six weeks; the control group rats were housed under the same conditions without exposure to Hg0. After the experimental period, the testes were removed, sections of testis were evaluated histopathologically after hematoxylin and eosin staining, and stereologically using the Cavalieri principle and optical fractionator methods. We found significant decreases in the total volume of testis, diameters of seminiferous tubules and total volume of seminiferous tubules. Significant decreases were detected in the numbers of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids of the Hg0 group compared to the control group. In the Hg0 exposed group, spermatogenic cells were degenerated and seminiferous tubules were atrophied.

Prevalence of the types of the petrotympanic fissure in the temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Background Petrotympanic fissure (PTF) is a fissure in the temporal bone that runs from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to the tympanic cavity (TC). In PTF, the discomallear ligament (DML) connects the malleus in the tympanic cavity and the articular disc and capsule of the temporomandibular joint. PTF with the DML is a possible cause of aural symptoms related to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). Purpose To investigate the prevalence of different types of PTF in TMD using dental volumetric tomography (DVT) and determine whether PTF type correlates with age. Material and Methods DVT scans in the sagittal planes of PTFs of 134 patients with TMD were examined for the types of PTF present. Three main PTF types were described: wide, tunnel-shaped structure (type 1); tunnel-shaped structure that is wide open in the PTF entrance to the mandibular fossa and gradually thins out in the tympanic cavity (type 2), tunnel-shaped structure that is wide open in the entrance of the mandibular fossa, with a middle region with a flat-shaped tunnel structure and a narrow exit in the tympanic cavity (type 3). Results In DVT scans, PTF types 1, 2 and 3 were seen in 67.2%, 1.5%, and 31.3% of cases, respectively. We found no significant relationship between age or gender and PTF type. Conclusion The low percentage of type 2 PTF and high percentage of type 1 PTF must be taken into consideration during pre-surgical planning related to TMD. However, future well-designed clinical studies involving larger numbers of subjects will be necessary to confirm the findings of this study.

Relationship between Mandibular Nutrient Canals and Hypertension

This study was undertaken to investigate the correlation between the presence of nutrient canals in the mandibular anterior region and hypertension. Periapical radiographs taken from the mandibular anterior region of 139 normotensive and 76 hypertensive edentulous patients were examined. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of nutrient canals between normotensive and hypertensive patients, suggesting that the presence of nutrient canals is not indicative of the existence of hypertension.