BMP-2-regenerated calvarial bone: a biomechanical appraisal in a large animal model.

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is gaining popularity in craniofacial applications. Calvarial defects are, under normal circumstances, subjected to only minimal levels of the biomechanical stresses known to play an important role in osteogenesis, yet regenerated calvarial bone must be capable of withstanding traumatic forces such that the underlying neurocapsule is protected. The aim of this study is to, for the first time, assess the biomechanical properties of calvarial bone regenerated with derivations of a commercially available rhBMP-2-based system.

Self-report of latex allergy by patients visiting a dental clinic.

Background: The prevalence of latex allergy among dental patients is not known, although it has been increasing in the population since 1982, when the use of gloves was expanded to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken of 1,798 electronic health records (EHRs) of new clinic patients who registered at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (SDM) dental clinic between January and June 2010. Data extracted from the EHRs included age, gender, and a history of a previous latex reaction, asthma, or allergy to penicillin.

Reusing electronic patient data for dental clinical research: a review of current status.

Objectives: The reuse of electronic patient data collected during clinical care has received increased attention as a way to increase our evidence base. The purpose of this paper was to review studies reusing electronic patient data for dental research.

Data Sources: 1527 citations obtained by searching MEDLINE and Embase databases, hand-searching seven dental and informatics journals, and snowball sampling.

Molecular factors resulting in tooth agenesis and contemporary approaches for regeneration: a review.

This review discusses the complex epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that occur during tooth development and systemic anomalies that may result in hypodontia. Emphasis is placed on four interacting signaling families (Shh, FGF, BMP, and Wnt) that have been identified for their integral role in complete tooth development and on several genetic mutations in the MSX1, PAX9, EDA, and AXIN2 genes that arrest tooth development. Proposed treatment options are presented, including signaling factor supplementation and stem cell isolation for bioengineering new teeth.

Esthetic considerations related to bone and soft tissue maintenance and development around dental implants: report of the Committee on Research in Fixed Prosthodontics of the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics.

In recent years the frequency of and esthetic demand for implant restorations in the esthetic zone has increased. Recent literature has revealed numerous consistent trends which may aid the clinician in achieving predictable esthetics. Maintaining generous facial bone by judicious placement as well as by using implants with diameters of less than 4 mm appears to be beneficial.

Drug therapy for the pregnant dental patient.

Providing needed dental treatment, managing oral infection, and controlling pain are essential functions of dentists for helping patients maintain overall health during pregnancy. Medications commonly required for dental care consist of local anesthetics and associated vasoconstrictors, centrally and peripherally acting analgesics, sedative and anxiolytic agents, and antibiotics. Therapeutic drugs routinely used in dental practice are selected because of their known safety and effectiveness.

Growth and development considerations for craniomaxillofacial surgery.

The purpose of craniomaxillofacial surgery is to improve function, occlusion, craniofacial balance, and aesthetics. Accurate diagnosis, assessment, and careful treatment planning are essential in achieving a successful outcome, and an understanding of the pattern of facial growth is integral in this process. Patients with craniofacial congenital dysmorphologies, posttraumatic asymmetries, or disturbances of facial balance from radiation may have functional and/or aesthetic issues that require treatment.

Summary of the IADR Cariology Research Group Symposium, Barcelona, Spain, July 2010: new directions in cariology research.

Caries remains the most prevalent noncontagious biofilm-mediated disease in humans. It is clear that the current approaches to decrease the prevalence of caries in human populations, including water fluoridation and school-based programs, are not enough to protect everyone. The scientific community has suggested the need for innovative work in a number of areas in cariology, encompassing disease etiology, epidemiology, definition, prevention, and treatment.

Retention of CAD/CAM all-ceramic crowns on prefabricated implant abutments: an in vitro comparative study of luting agents and abutment surface area.

Purpose: Previous studies considering retention of cast metal restorations to implant abutments incorporated some degree of frictional fit due to internal surface nodules and roughness of the restoration. In comparison, CAD/CAM restorations have minimal surface irregularities, possibly impacting retention. There is insufficient knowledge of retentive force of CAD/CAM restorations to titanium abutments, and therefore the topic warrants further investigation.

Relationships between dentin and enamel mineral at the dentino-enamel boundary: electron tomography and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy study.

To better understand the nature of the relationships between mineral phases at the dentino-enamel boundary (DEB), we performed electron tomography (ET) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) of the apical portions of rat incisors. The ET studies of the DEB at the secretory stage of amelogenesis revealed that nascent enamel crystals are co-aligned and closely associated with dentin crystallites in the mineralized von Korff fibers, with the distances between dentin and enamel crystals in the nanometer range. We have further studied the relationships between dentin and enamel crystals using HR-TEM lattice imaging of the DEB.

Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma: a case report.

We present a case of de novo polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) arising in a minor salivary gland with a relatively large radiographic extent compared with that of most of the PLGAs reported. This paper describes the radiographic extent of the lesion and the findings of CT imaging.

Primary structure and phosphorylation of dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) and dentin phosphophoryn (DPP) uniquely determine their role in biomineralization.

The SIBLING (small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins) family is the major group of noncollagenous proteins in bone and dentin. These extremely acidic and highly phosphorylated extracellular proteins play critical roles in the formation of collagenous mineralized tissues. Whereas the lack of individual SIBLINGs causes significant mineralization defects in vivo, none of them led to a complete cessation of mineralization suggesting that these proteins have overlapping functions.

Survival of dental implants among post-menopausal female dental school patients taking oral bisphosphonates: a retrospective study.

Hypothesis: Osteoporotic patients who take oral bisphosphonates have a higher chance of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw if they receive dental implants.

Introduction: Bisphosphonate treatment was first identified by Marx in 2003 as a possible contributor to osteonecrosis of the jaw, a serious dental-medical complication that is seen among individuals undergoing invasive dental procedures such as extractions and implant placement. Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BONJ) is defined as bone exposed for more than 8 weeks in the maxillofacial region with a negative history for radiation therapy.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma with mandibular bone invasion: intraoperative evaluation of bone margins by routine frozen section.

The intraoperative knowledge of margin status on mandibulectomy specimens is important for primary reconstruction. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether intraoperative bone marrow (BM) curettings and inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) biopsies are representative of final decalcified cross-sectional (shave) mandibular bone margins. Forty-seven margins in 27 patients consecutively treated with segmental mandibulectomy for squamous cell carcinoma were reviewed.

Demonstration of facial communication of emotion through telehospice videophone contact.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the range of emotional expressions that can be displayed by nurse and family caregiver during a telehospice videophone consultation. We hypothesized that a nurse providing telehospice care via videophone would gain access to rich nonverbal emotional signals from the caregiver and communicate her own social presence to the caregiver, to potentially enhance the building of empathy between nurse and caregiver.

Methodology: Videorecording of a case exemplar of videophone contact was obtained using the Beamer, a commercially available product that allows display of both caller and receiver on an available television through standard telephone lines.

Blocking bone morphogenetic protein function using in vivo noggin therapy does not rescue premature suture fusion in rabbits with delayed-onset craniosynostosis.

Background: Craniosynostosis is defined as the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), regulators of ossification, have been implicated in premature suture fusion. Noggin, an extracellular BMP inhibitor, has been shown experimentally to inhibit resynostosis following surgery.

Clear cell carcinoma and clear cell odontogenic carcinoma: a comparative clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study.

Clear cell carcinoma or hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (CCC) and clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC) are rare, low-grade and typically indolent malignancies that can be diagnostically challenging. In this study the clinicopathologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of 17 CCCs and 12 CCOCs are examined. The differential diagnosis of clear cell malignancies in the head and neck is discussed.

Mitochondrial DNA origins of the Latvian clefting population.

Latvia has one of the highest prevalence of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) in Europe. To clarify the genetic origins of the Latvian cleft population and establish a method for genetic mapping, mitochondrial DNA variation was studied in a population affected with clefting. One-hundred and seven subjects and 351 samples from unrelated healthy volunteers representing four anthropologically, archaeologically and ethno-linguistically different regions of Latvia were selected.

Signet-ring cell (mucin-producing) adenocarcinoma of minor salivary glands: report of a case.

Salivary gland tumors account for a significant group of head and neck neoplasms. Signet-ring cell (mucin-producing) adenocarcinoma of minor salivary glands was described by Ghannoum and Freedman in 2004. We report a case of this extremely rare minor salivary gland neoplasm in an 18-year-old male.

Assessing the need for anesthesia and sedation services in Kuwaiti dental practice.

The objective of this study was to examine the public health relevance of the prevalence of dental fear in Kuwait and the resultant barrier that it creates regarding access to dental care. The study analysis demonstrated a high prevalence of dental fear and anxiety in the Kuwaiti population and a perceived need for anesthesia services by dental care providers. The telephone survey of the general population showed nearly 35% of respondents reported being somewhat nervous, very nervous, or terrified about going to the dentist.

Local anesthesia administration by dental hygienists.

Within the last 30 years, the role of dental hygienists has expanded to include the administration of local anesthesia. Several studies have been performed to assess practice characteristics and effectiveness of these changes in state licensure regulations. Findings indicate an acceptance of this expansion in dental hygiene practice; however, the delegation of this pain control procedures remains controversial.

Needle phobia: etiology, adverse consequences, and patient management.

Needle phobia has profound health, dental, societal, and legal implications, and severe psychological, social, and physiologic consequences. There is genetic evidence for the physiologic response to needle puncture, and a significant familial psychological component, showing evidence of inheritance. Needle phobia is also a learned behavior.

Allergic reactions to local anesthetic formulations.

True allergic reactions to local anesthetics are rare adverse reactions. At the most, they represent less than 1% of all adverse local anesthetic reactions. When true allergic reactions have been confirmed, the reactions are most commonly the type I anaphylactic and type IV delayed hypersensitivity responses.

Local anesthetics: pharmacology and toxicity.

The development of safe and effective local anesthetic agents has possibly been the most important advancement in dental science to occur in the last century. The agents currently available in dentistry are extremely safe and fulfill most of the characteristics of an ideal local anesthetic. These local anesthetic agents can be administered with minimal tissue irritation and with little likelihood of inducing allergic reactions.

Case report: a pediatric case of cementoblastoma with histologic and radiographic features of an osteoblastoma and osteosarcoma.

One case of an expansile mass involving the roots of a mandibular left first molar in a nine year old male is presented. The lesion has features of a cementoblastoma (CB), osteoblastoma (OB), and osteosarcoma (OS) both radiographically and histologically. Radiographically, a "sunburst" appearance is present.