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Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between proximity of the root apices of healthy maxillary posterior teeth to the maxillary sinus floor (MSF) and mucosal thickening (MT) of the MSF using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Eighty-four CBCT images obtained from the patients, aged between 20 and 70 years with healthy and fully dentate maxillary posterior sextants, were included. The anatomical relationship between root apices of maxillary posterior teeth and MSF, was evaluated: (Type 1: no contact, Type 2: at least one root apex in contact, Type 3: at least one root apex protruding into MSF). Besides, MT of the MSF was measured from the thickest region. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the absence (≤ 2 mm) or the presence (2 < mm) of MT. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05. Results: Intraexaminer consistency demonstrated an excellent agreement (p < 0.05). The prevalence of Type 1, 2, and 3 proximity were found as 26 (15.5%), 61 (36.3%), and 81 (48.2%); respectively. Overall, 62 (36.9%) maxillary sinuses demonstrated MT (2 < mm, mean: 8.6 ± 7.5 mm). The prevalence and mean values of MT (2 < mm) were not found to be statistically significantly different in terms of sex and proximity types (p > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis results were not found to be statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The proximity of healthy maxillary posterior teeth to the MSF was not found to be a contributing factor for the MT of the MSF. Further studies with larger samples, taking the other factors causing MT into consideration, are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Detection of air cavities, so called pneumatizations, nearby to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area is important, as they represent sites of minimal resistance and facilitate the spread of various pathologies into the joint as inflammation, tumor or fractures and serve as a possible complicating factor in TMJ surgery. Aims: To determine the prevalence of pneumatization of the articular eminence (PAT) and roof of the glenoid fossa (PRGF) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Acquired images of 111 patients (222 TMJs) were evaluated. The presence of pneumatization was recorded at the articular eminence and roof of the glenoid fossa. Age and gender were recorded for all patients and type (unilocular or multilocular) and laterality were noted for the cases of pneumatization. Results: The mean age of the study group was 48.86±18.31 years. Among all the patients, 73 (65.8%) had PAT, while 13 (11.7%) had PRGF. Forty-two (37.8%) of the patients had PAT bilaterally; whereas 3 of them (2.7%) presented PRGF bilaterally. The percentage of PAT was higher for females (73.6%) than males (51.3%) (p<0.05). Conclusion: CBCT images are an accurate and reliable means of detection of the exact size and type of pneumatization and the relationship of pneumatization to the adjacent tissues. This is especially significant before a surgical intervention is planned in this region, in order to make a sound diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the maxillary sinus anatomy before sinus augmentation is important for avoiding surgical complications, because of the close anatomical relationship between the posterior maxillary teeth and the maxillary sinus. The posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA) is the branch of the maxillary artery that supplies the lateral sinus wall and overlying membrane. We evaluated the location of the PSAA and its relationship to the alveolar ridge and maxillary sinus using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The study group consisted of 135 CBCT scans (270 sinuses) obtained from the archive of the dentomaxillofacial radiology department at Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey. The distance between the lower border of the artery and the alveolar crest, bone height from the sinus floor to the ridge crest, distance from the artery to the medial sinus wall, and the diameter and location of the artery were determined. The occurrence of septa and pathology were recorded from CBCT scans. The PSAA was observed in 89.3% of sinuses, and 71.1% of arteries were intraosseous with diameters mostly = 1 mm (68.9%). The prevalence of sinus septa was 55.2%, and that of sinus pathology was 57.4%. The mean age was 43.07 ± 17.55 years. There was a statistically significant difference between the location of the artery and gender (p < 0.05). The prevalence of sinus membrane thickening was 57.4%. Detailed knowledge about the location of the PSAA and sinus morphology may be obtained with CBCT before maxillary sinus surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate radiographically the periapical status and technical standard of root canal therapies performed by a group of undergraduate dental students in Turkey two years following completion of the treatments. A random sample of 264 patients who received root canal treatment from undergraduate students at the Yeditepe University Faculty of Dentistry in 2009 were recalled after two years. The study sample consisted of 319 root-filled teeth in 158 dental patients (females=97, males=61) who presented to the student clinics during that time frame. For each root-filled tooth, two periapical radiographs were examined to identify the periapical status, one showing pre-treatment and the other showing post-treatment status. The quality of endodontic treatment was examined according to the distance between the end of root filling and radiographic apex and the density of the obturation according to presence of voids within the root filling material. This examination found that 54.2 percent of roots had fillings of acceptable length, while 37.3 percent were short, 7.8 percent were overfilled, and 0.6 percent was unfilled; 2.5 percent of the teeth were observed with broken root canal instruments. After two years, PAI scores of teeth with acceptable length of root canal filling (0-2 mm from the radiographic apex) were found to be lower than those of the overfilling and short filling cases (>2mm) (p<0.01). Moreover, voids were detected in the root canal fillings of 52.7 percent of endodontically treated teeth. The PAI scores of root fillings with inadequate density were significantly higher than adequate ones (p<0.01). Although endodontic treatments performed by undergraduate students do not appear to be unqualified compared to those performed by general practitioners, more emphasis must be placed on the technical quality of endodontic treatment to obtain better results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orientation of the stylohyoid complex (SHC) may be important for evaluation of the patient with orofacial pain or dysphagia. Objectives: Our purpose was to assess the length and angulations of SHC using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Patients and Methods: In this study, 3D images provided by CBCT of 69 patients (36 females, 33 males, age range 15-77 years) were retrospectively evaluated. All CBCT images were performed because of other indications. None of the patients had symptoms of ossified SHC. The length and the thickness of SHC ossification, the anteroposterior angle (APA) and the mediolateral angle (MLA) were measured by maxillofacial radiologists on the anteroposterior, right lateral and left lateral views of CBCT. Student's t test, Pearson's correlation and Chi-square test tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: According to the results, the mean length of SHC was 25.3 ± 11.3 mm and the mean thickness of SHC was 4.8 ± 1.8 mm in the study group. The mean APA value of SHCs was 25.6° ± 5.4° and the mean MLA value was 66.4° ± 6.7°. A positive correlation coefficient was found between age and APA (r = 0.335; P < 0.01); between thickness and APA (r = 0.448; P < 0.01) and also between length and thickness was found (r=0.236). Conclusion: The size and morphology of the SHC can be easily assessed by 3D views provided by CBCT. In CBCT evaluation of the head and neck region, the radiologist should consider SHC according to these variations, which may have clinical importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the number of existing teeth, prevalence of endodontically treated teeth, periapical lesions, caries and restorations in diabetic patients by taking periapical radiographs. Forty-six patients with Type I diabetes and 40 patients with Type II diabetes participated in the study. The control group consisted of 50 patients. There were significant differences between patients with Type I and Type II diabetes in the mean number of missing teeth surfaces and existing teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between articular eminence inclination, height, and thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) according to age and gender and to assess condyle morphology including incidental findings of osseous characteristics associated with osteoarthritis (OA) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Materials and Methods: CBCT images of 105 patients were evaluated retrospectively. For articular eminence inclination and height, axial views on which the condylar processes were seen with their widest mediolateral extent being used as a reference view for secondary reconstruction. Condyle morphology was categorized both in the sagittal and coronal plane., Results: The mean values of eminence inclination and height of males were higher than those of females (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the RGF thickness in relation to sagittal condyle morphology. Among the group of OA, the mean value of the RGF thickness for "OA-osteophyte" group was the highest (1.59 mm), whereas the lowest RGF values were seen in the "OA-flattening.", Conclusion: The sagittal osteoarthritic changes may have an effect on RGF thickness by mechanical stimulation and changed stress distribution. Gender has a significant effect on eminence height (Eh) and inclination.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of the dental patients who had a history of hepatitis., Study Design: A total of 13.527 records of patients who were examined between October 1, 2002 and October 1, 2004 were reviewed retrospectively. The medical histories of patients were taken before routine clinical and radiographic examination. A dental software program was used for the collection of data. The chi-square test was utilized to evaluate correlations between different parameters., Results: The percentage of the patients who had a medical history of hepatitis was 7.9% (n=1065). Within the total patients; history of hepatitis A was found as 3.2% (n=438), hepatitis B was 2.3% (n=308), hepatitis C was 0.1% (n=16). The frequency of the patients who were hepatitis B carriers was 0.8% (n=113) and 17% (n=181) of patients did not know which type of hepatitis they had suffered from., Conclusions: Because dentists are particularly at risk for contacting hepatitis, a strict sterilization procedure is mandatory to prevent the transmission.