Activity of rheumatoid arthritis correlates with oral inflammatory burden.

To study oral health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with emphasis on disease activity and treatment of RA. In this prospective cohort study 81 RA patients [53 early untreated RA (EURA) and 28 chronic RA (CRA) patients with inadequate response to synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)], underwent rheumatological [Disease Activity Score (28-joint) DAS28] and dental examinations [Total Dental Index (TDI), Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Decayed Missing Filled Surfaces (DMFS)]. For controls, 43 volunteers were examined.

Periodontitis is associated with angiographically verified coronary artery disease.

Introduction: We investigated the association of periodontitis and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) as verified using coronary angiography.

Material And Methods: Participants were recruited among those attending coronary angiography at Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland, in 2007 and 2008. Detailed clinical periodontal examination [number of teeth, bleeding on probing, periodontal probing depth (PPD)] and oral panoramic radiographs [alveolar bone loss (ABL), angular bone defects] were performed.

DLX3 homeodomain mutations cause tricho-dento-osseous syndrome with novel phenotypes.

Tricho-dento-osseous syndrome (TDO) is a rare type of dominantly inherited ectodermal dysplasia so far described only in a few families and associated with 3 known mutations in the DLX3 homeobox gene. Here, we describe two families of Finnish origin that segregate features of TDO in several generations. The affected family members have sparse or curly/kinky hair at birth, markedly delayed or advanced dental maturity, defective tooth enamel and dentin, taurodontic molars, multiple dental abscesses and filling of tooth pulps with amorphous denticle-like material as well as an increased density and/or thickness of craniofacial bones.

Reliability of CBCT and other radiographic methods in preoperative evaluation of lower third molars.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the reliability of cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) with that of other radiographic methods in preoperative radiographic determination of the number of roots of lower third molars and their relationship to the inferior alveolar canal (IAC).

Study Design: Forty-two teeth were clinically studied and imaged using CBCT and other imaging methods-panoramic radiography, multiprojection narrow-beam radiography (MNBR), and cross-sectional tomography. Statistical analysis (kappa values) was used to compare the diagnoses of 2 trained oral radiologists and the radiologic diagnoses with the findings at operation.

Radiofrequency surgery of the soft palate in the treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea is not effective as a single-stage procedure: A randomized single-blinded placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives/hypothesis: Radiofrequency (RF) surgery of the soft palate (SP) is an established treatment option for the treatment of snoring. Due to its minimally invasive character, it has received attention in the management of mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Study Design: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and the occurrence of adverse events after single-stage SP RF surgery in patients with mild OSAS in a randomized single-blinded placebo-controlled trial in an outpatient department at a tertiary care center, academic teaching hospital.

Hypertonic saline injections to enhance the radiofrequency thermal ablation effect in the treatment of base of tongue in obstructive sleep apnoea patients: a pilot study.

Conclusion: Hypertonic saline (HS) infiltration in the base of the tongue (BOT) in multilevel radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment was followed by significant acute complications in terms of soft tissue swelling. Three patients were defined as cured. No significant changes in the measured parameters were encountered, although, several of them showed a clear trend.

Apical root resorption after orthodontic treatment -- a retrospective study.

The purpose of the study was to compare the incidence and severity of apical root resorption in patients treated with different orthodontic appliances and to evaluate the effect of treatment duration on the degree of apical root resorption. A further aim was to analyse the degree of apical root resorption in different tooth groups in patients presenting with root resorption. The sample consisted of 625 patients (269 males, 356 females) aged 8-16 years at the beginning of treatment.

Timing of developmental stages in permanent mandibular teeth of Finns from birth to age 25.

Objective: The aim was to provide radiographic data on postnatal development of the 8 mandibular teeth to serve as reference norms in clinical dentistry, forensic dentistry, anthropology, and research.

Material And Methods: Developmental stages of teeth were assessed from a total of 2795 radiographs, mostly panoramic, of 1970 Finns (966 M and 1004 F) from birth to age 25. The grading was based on Demirjian's 8 mineralization stages and the crypt stage.

Ameloblastic carcinoma of the mandible resembling odontogenic cyst in a panoramic radiograph.

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare odontogenic tumor exhibiting histologic evidence of malignancy in the primary or recurrent tumor, regardless of whether it has metastasized or not. Most ameloblastic carcinomas are presumed to have arisen de novo, with few cases of malignant transformation of ameloblastoma being apparent. A case is reported of a 21-year-old caucasian female with ameloblastic carcinoma in the left angulus area of the mandible resembling an odontogenic cyst in the panoramic radiograph.

Dental and oral radiographic findings in first-year university students in 1982 and 2002 in Helsinki, Finland.

Objective: This study is part of a larger research program, at the Finnish Student Health Service in Helsinki, in which changes in the dental and oral health of first-year university students (born in Helsinki) in the years 1982 and 2002 were compared.

Material And Methods: Panoramic radiographs were taken of 176 students in 1982, mean age 19.8 years (SD+/-0.

Oral piercings among first-year university students.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine oral piercings among first-year university students.

Study Design: First-year university students in 2002 were invited to a dental examination (n = 234; 49 men and 185 women). Students with piercings formed the study group and the rest served as controls.

Disturbed root development of permanent teeth after pediatric stem cell transplantation. Dental root development after SCT.

Background: Deficient dental root development has been reported after conventional pediatric anticancer therapy, but less information is available on stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients.

Methods: Root-crown (R/C) ratios of fully developed permanent teeth were assessed from panoramic radiographs of 52 SCT recipients, who were treated when they were age < 10 years. Using standard deviation scores (SDSs), the authors compared the R/C ratios to the corresponding tooth and gender-specific values in a healthy population.

Agenesis and microdontia of permanent teeth as late adverse effects after stem cell transplantation in young children.

Background: The objective of the current study was to examine the occurrence of tooth agenesis and microdontia in pediatric stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients.

Methods: The impact of total body irradiation (TBI) and age at SCT on agenesis and microdontia of permanent teeth was examined in 55 patients from panoramic radiographs. Assessment A1 (for tooth agenesis and microdontia) excluded the third molars, and assessment A2 (for tooth agenesis) included the third molars.

Radiographic findings on 3rd molars removed in 20-year-old men.

In this study we assess radiographic findings characteristic of mandibular 3rd molars that had required either routine or surgical extraction. X-ray findings relating to acute pericoronitis were also examined. The material was collected by investigating patient records and rotational panoramic radiographs of 20-year-old Finnish male conscripts (n = 738) treated during military service because of 3rd-molar-related problems.

A 5-year follow-up of signs and symptoms of TMD and radiographic findings in the elderly.

Purpose: The aim was to clarify the associations among subjective symptoms, clinical signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and radiographic findings in the mandibular condyles of elderly people during a 5-year follow-up.

Materials And Methods: As part of a comprehensive medical survey of a random sample born in 1904, 1909, and 1914 (Helsinki Aging Study), 364 subjects living in Helsinki participated in the dental part of the examination during 1990 and 1991; after 5 years, 103 of these were reexamined. Comprehensive data on TMD were available for 94 subjects, and radiographic data were available for 88.

A 5-year follow-up of occlusal status and radiographic findings in mandibular condyles of the elderly.

Purpose: The aim of the present 5-year follow-up was to clarify the nature of occlusal support status and radiographic changes in condyles of the elderly, and the association between these two variables.

Materials And Methods: The present study is part of a comprehensive medical survey of a random sample born in 1904, 1909, and 1914. A total of 364 subjects living in Helsinki participated in the dental part of the examination during 1990 to 1991, and after 5 years a total of 103 were reexamined.

Sphenoid sinus mucocele: case report of an appearance on a panoramic radiograph.

Mucoceles of the sphenoid bone are rarely seen, although many short reports have appeared in the medical literature since they were first described by Berg in 1889. The sphenoid sinus is located deep in the skull close to sensitive structures such as the optic chiasm and the upper 6 cranial nerves. Most sphenoid lesions are found through a variety of signs and symptoms, the appearance of which depends on the structure involved.