Ricardo Villar Beltrão

Association between mineralization of third molars and chronological age in a Brazilian sample

Purpose: To evaluate the association between chronological age and mineralization of third molar teeth in a sample from the Northeast region of Brazil. Methods: A sample of 173 digitized panoramic radiographs were selected from a total of 2,442 panoramic radiographs obtained over a period of 6 months at a private Dental Radiology service, in the city of Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil. The patients were aged from 5.5 to 21 years, and a calibrated examiner made the evaluation using the classification proposed by Demirjian. Data were analyzed by using an adjusted multiple linear regression model considering age as a response variable. The level of significance adopted was 0.05. Results: Gender and stage of calcification were significantly correlated associated with age. There was no effect of gender on mineralization of the teeth. Between the two consecutive stages of calcification of third molar teeth, the mean increase in age varied by 16 months. Conclusion: The results suggest that the development of the third molar teeth is similar in both sexes. Calcification of third molars may be an auxiliary tool in the study of chronological age.

Human identification study by means of frontal sinus imaginological aspects.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of human identification parameters, established by Tatlisumak et al. (2007), by means of cone-beam computed tomography and extraoral radiographs of the frontal sinus region. From a total of 58 dry skulls, 26 were selected. Posteroanterior, profile cephalometric radiographs and cone-beam computed tomography images were acquired, adopting a specific method for reproducibility purposes. The images were evaluated by two examiners, previously calibrated, in a darkened environment and at two distinct sessions, with a minimum of 15 days between them. The characteristics of the frontal sinus were analyzed using the Cohens kappa test, for categorical variables, and Lins concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) for continuous variables. Acceptable values of inter method variability for the categorical variables were found, while same cannot be told for continuous variables. The parameters evaluated for the frontal sinus on extraoral radiographs and cone-beam computed tomographs were mostly concordant, with the exception of three. Categorical and discrete variables showed an intra- and interexaminer concordance ranging from good to perfect, and the quantitative continuous variables showed concordance ranging from moderate to excellent. The parameters examined are applicable and reproducible using multiplanar reconstructions of cone-beam computed tomography and extraoral radiographs of the frontal sinus.

Prevalence assessment of root dilaceration in permanent incisors

INTRODUCAO: a dilaceracao radicular e uma anomalia dentaria caracterizada por uma curvatura anormal na raiz do dente que pode causar problemas na erupcao e complicacoes durante movimentacao ortodontica, tratamento endodontico ou exodontia. OBJETIVO: o objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar a prevalencia da dilaceracao radicular em incisivos permanentes, em uma clinica de radiologia odontologica da cidade de Joao Pessoa/PB. METODO: a amostra foi constituida de 548 pacientes que possibilitaram avaliacoes em suas radiografias dentarias, totalizando 3948 dentes examinados. Examinou-se cada dente segundo a ocorrencia de dilaceracao radicular, com relacao ao tipo (discreta, moderada ou severa), o terco radicular em que se encontrava e a direcao da raiz. A angulacao formada pelo desvio da raiz em relacao ao longo eixo do dente foi obtida por meio de um diagrama impresso em acetato transparente, colocado sobre a radiografia. RESULTADOS: os resultados foram analisados no programa SPSS, efetuando-se uma analise exploratoria dos dados. A prevalencia da dilaceracao radicular na amostra estudada foi de 1,03% (41 casos), com maior incidencia no sexo masculino (65,8%), sendo os incisivos laterais superiores os dentes mais acometidos (78%). O tipo de dilaceracao radicular mais prevalente foi a discreta (73,1%), ocorrendo mais no terco apical (90,2%) e com direcao distal da raiz (95,1%). CONCLUSAO: diante desses resultados, ressaltam-se a importância da realizacao previa de um exame radiografico de diagnostico ao planejar um tratamento em dentes permanentes anteriores.

Mixed Periapical Lesion: An Atypical Radicular Cyst with Extensive Calcifications

The radicular cyst is an inflammatory odontogenic cyst of endodontic origin. Radiographically, the lesion appears as a periapical radiolucent image. This report describes a very rare case of a mixed periapical radiographic image diagnosed as a radicular cyst. A 37-year-old female patient presented a mixed, well-circumscribed image located in the periapical region of the left maxillary central incisor, which presented unsatisfactory endodontic treatment. Microscopic examination revealed a cavity lined by non-keratinized squamous epithelium and extensive calcifications in the cystic lumen and lining epithelium. Diagnosis of radicular cyst with extensive calcifications was established. Endodontic retreatment was performed and no radiographic signs of recurrence were observed 18 months after treatment. Although very rare, a radicular cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a mixed periapical image associated to teeth with pulp necrosis.