RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of pain of endodontic origin and its relationship with socio-economic and demographic factors among patients seeking unscheduled urgent dental care. METHODS: Patients attending the Emergency Clinic of Athens Dental School, Greece, between November 2011 and June 2012, were evaluated to determine their socio-economic profile, dental problem and treatment required. The facility operated from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm, excluding the 4 weeks encompassing the Christmas and Easter holidays. In total, 533 patients were assessed regarding gender, age, ethnicity, occupation, reason for visiting, diagnosis and treatment provided. The data obtained were recorded, reviewed, coded and analysed using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Mondays and Wednesdays were the busiest days of the week. The most common occupation among the patients was 'unemployed'. Pain of endodontic origin (reversible or irreversible pulpitis, or acute apical periodontitis) was the prevailing reason for the visit. The most frequent treatments administered were pulpectomy and drainage. Prescriptions for medications were rare. CONCLUSION: Services were requested primarily by individuals who were experiencing acute pain of endodontic origin, had low or no income and were available during morning hours, probably because of the service's low cost and operational hours. Prospective studies, such as the present investigation, can provide epidemiological evidence and indicate areas in the infrastructure of emergency services which may be improved. Additionally, such studies can provide rationale for public insurance programs and can generate profiles of the patients who utilise these low-cost public services.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

This study aimed at providing a gauge device (Ekontak et al Gauge K-Device) in order to analyze the forces applied to teeth and periodontal tissues during dental practices in vitro. This force gauge device can be used in the investigation of the possible defect generation to tooth structures when overloaded forces are applied during dental procedures in vitro. Ekontak et al Gauge K-Device consists of three units: the specimen's holder, a high-performance digital force gauge, and the support frame. The holder was fabricated by an Al alloy providing a steady detachable attachment between the specimens and the force gauge's pin connector. The clinical simulation was achieved with the use of a proper silicone material, selected to provide similar elastic behavior with the human periodontal ligament and to join the teeth inside a solid matrix of an acrylic resin. The digital force gauge is a high-speed collection and recording (1000 Hz) product coupled with data recording software. The forces developed to 15 specimens' root canals during lateral condensation and vertical compaction of cold gutta-percha obturation procedures were monitored, saved as graphs, CSV, and excel files and presented over time. The forces developed during vertical compaction (mean maximum force per obturation circle = 13.22 N) were more excessive than those during lateral condensation (mean maximum force per obturation circle = 10.14 N). In conclusion, Ekontak et al Gauge K-Device is provided as a modern gauge device, capable of performing clinical simulation in vitro, under the terms of its protocol.

RESUMEN

AIM: Τo determine the prevalence of impacted teeth in an adult Greek population, according to type, sex, and age. METHODS: The major source of data for this study was the orthopantomographic films and the physical examinations of 425 patients (202 males and 223 females) with impacted teeth. The elements that were examined and processed were relevant to the age, sex, total number of impacted teeth, and the type and frequency of impaction of each tooth. Moreover, the associated pathology, if any, of the impacted tooth was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients (35.8%) had one impacted tooth, 134 patients (31.5%) had two impacted teeth, and 139 patients (32.7%) had three or more impacted teeth; 777 (82.7%) impacted teeth revealed associated pathology. CONCLUSIONS: The third molars revealed the highest frequency of impaction (P<0.001); the number of impacted teeth of the mandible was larger than that of the maxilla (P<0.001), and the number of impacted anterior teeth in the maxilla was larger than that in the mandible (P<0.001). Cases of impacted posterior teeth were more numerous than anterior teeth (P<0.001). The majority of patients revealed pathological signs, which dictated the surgical removal of the impacted tooth/teeth.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The aims of this study were to assess the presence and the frequency of isthmuses in the mesial roots of the maxillary and mandibular first molars (at two resection levels from the apex), and to compare the findings obtained by macroscopic observation (MO) and operating microscope (OM). Forty maxillary and 40 mandibular mesial roots were observed at 3 and 5 mm from the apex initially macroscopically and then with the use of an OM. The presence of an isthmus and the number of root canals detected were recorded. Data were analyzed statistically by Fisher's exact test for isthmus evaluation and Wilcoxon signed rank-test for number of root canals at a confidence interval of 95%. Comparison between MO and OM regarding the number of roots with isthmuses provided the following results: Mandibular group: At 3 mm level: MO 19 ?s. OM 27; at 5 mm level: MO 31 ?s. OM 32. Maxillary group: At 3 mm level: MO 9 ?s. OM 14; at 5 mm level: MO 19 ?s. OM 21. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found concerning the accuracy of the isthmus detection methods at both resection levels (3 and 5 mm) and both types of roots, as well as for the number of the canals inspected under the OM between the two resection levels of the mesial roots of the maxillary first molars. Under the tested conditions, OM increased the diagnostic accuracy of isthmus detection at both resection levels and root types.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The aims of this study were to assess the presence and the frequency of isthmuses in the mesial roots of the maxillary and mandibular first molars (at two resection levels from the apex), and to compare the findings obtained by macroscopic observation (MO) and operating microscope (OM). Forty maxillary and 40 mandibular mesial roots were observed at 3 and 5 mm from the apex initially macroscopically and then with the use of an OM. The presence of an isthmus and the number of root canals detected were recorded. Data were analyzed statistically by Fisher's exact test for isthmus evaluation and Wilcoxon signed rank-test for number of root canals at a confidence interval of 95 percent. Comparison between MO and OM regarding the number of roots with isthmuses provided the following results: Mandibular group: At 3 mm level: MO 19 ?s. OM 27; at 5 mm level: MO 31 ?s. OM 32. Maxillary group: At 3 mm level: MO 9 ?s. OM 14; at 5 mm level: MO 19 ?s. OM 21. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found concerning the accuracy of the isthmus detection methods at both resection levels (3 and 5 mm) and both types of roots, as well as for the number of the canals inspected under the OM between the two resection levels of the mesial roots of the maxillary first molars. Under the tested conditions, OM increased the diagnostic accuracy of isthmus detection at both resection levels and root types.

Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a presença e a freqüência de istmos nas raízes mesiais de primeiros molares superiores e inferiores (em dois níveis de ressecção a partir do ápice), e comparar os achados obtidos por observação macroscópica (OM) e microscópio operativo (MO). Quarenta raízes mesiais superiores e inferiores foram examinadas a 3 e 5 mm do ápice, inicialmente macroscopicamente e em seguida com o uso do MO. A presença de istmo e o número de canais radiculares detectado foram registrados. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente usando o teste exato de Fisher para avaliação do istmo e o teste de Wilcoxon (signed rank-test) para o número de canais radiculares, com um intervalo de confiança de 95 por cento. A comparação entre OM e MO com relação ao número de raízes com istmos forneceu os seguintes resultados: Grupo mandibular: 3 mm: OM 19 vs. MO 27; 5 mm: OM 31 vs. MO 32. Grupo maxilar: 3 mm: OM 9 vs. MO 14; 5 mm: OM 19 vs. MO 21. Diferenças significantes (p<0,05) foram encontradas com relação à precisão dos métodos de detecção de istmos em ambos os níveis de ressecção (3 e 5 mm), e ambos os tipos de raízes, bem como quanto ao número de canais radiculares inspecionados sob MO entre os dois níveis de ressecção das raízes mesiais dos primeiros molares superiores. Nas condições testadas, MO aumentou a precisão diagnóstica na detecção de istmos em ambos os níveis de ressecção e tipos de raízes.

Asunto(s)