Author Archives: chzechze

Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor was first described by Pindborg in 1956; hence also called Pindborg’s tumor. The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor is a benign odontogenic tumor of epithelial origin that accounts for approximately 1% of all odontogenic tumors. The origin of this neoplasm is not clearly known, although it is generally accepted to be derived from oral epithelium, reduced enamel epithelium, stratum intermedium or dental lamina remnants. It is more common in the posterior part of the mandible of adults in the fourth to fifth decades. There is no gender predilection. It is characterized by squamous epithelial cells, calcifying masses, and homogeneous acellular material admixed with the tumor epithelium and stroma that have been identified as amyloid. Continue reading →

Ameloblastoma

Ameloblastoma (from the early English word amel, meaning enamel + the Greek word blastos, meaning germ) is a rare, benign tumor of odontogenic epithelium (ameloblasts, or outside portion, of the teeth during development) much more commonly appearing in the lower jaw than the upper jaw. It was recognized in 1827 by Cusack. This type of odontogenic neoplasm was designated as an adamantinoma in 1885 by the French physician Louis-Charles Malassez. It was finally renamed to the modern name ameloblastoma in 1930 by Ivey and Churchill. Continue reading →

Extraction of baby teeth

1. Why extract a baby tooth?

Choosing between extraction and filling or conservation is a very common decision that both dentists and patients have to take every day. With adults the decision making is much easier, if the tooth is restorable and the patient can pay for the treatment then we simply conserve the tooth. If the patient is a child then the process of decision making is much harder as many factors affect the selection of the treatment plan that the dentist have to follow. Continue reading →

Amelogenesis Imperfecta

Amelogenesis imperfecta is a tooth development disorder in which the teeth are covered with thin, abnormally formed enamel, occasionally in conjunction with other dental, oral and extraoral tissues.. Enamel is composed mostly of mineral, which is formed and regulated by the proteins in it. Amelogenesis imperfecta is due to the malfunction of the proteins in the enamel: ameloblastin, enamelin, tuftelin and amelogenin. Continue reading →

Muscles of Mastication

During mastication, four muscles of mastication (or musculi masticatorii) are responsible for adduction and lateral motion of the jaw. Other muscles, usually associated with the hyoid such as the sternohyomastoid, are responsible for opening the jaw. Continue reading →

Compensating and Balancing Extractions

When a practitioner is faced with enforced extraction of a primary tooth it is often a dilemma whether to merely remove the unsaveable tooth , to extract a contralateral tooth from the same arch (balance), or to extract a tooth from the opposing arch (compensation). The following guidelines are intended to assist in making such a decision and to minimise the effect of space loss on the developing dentition. There have been no properly controlled prospective randomised studies into the consequences of early loss of primary teeth, probably due to the difficulty of recruiting subjects for such studies and the need to follow them for up to 10 years. The recommendations given are therefore based partly upon current clinical opinion, although this is supported where possible by the best available research data. There is a need for more research in the area. Continue reading →

Anatomy of temporomandibular joint Part 3

The disc is thick all around its rim, and thin in the centre. From anterior to posterior it shows – anterior extension, thick anterior band (2.0mm thick), intermediate thin zone (1.0 mm thick), thick posterior band (3.0 mm thick) and posterior most bilaminar region (Dubrul, 1996; Williams et al, 1999). The disc is attached all around the joint capsule except the strong straps those fix the disc directly to the medial and lateral condylar poles which ensures that the disc and condyle move together in protraction and retraction (Choukas and Sicher, 1960; Williams et al, 1999). The anterior extension of the disc is attached to fibrous capsule superiorly and inferiorly and through that to temporal bone and the mandibular neck respectively. In between it gives insertion to lateral pterygoid muscle where the fibrous capsule is lacking and synovial membrane is supported only by loose areolar tissue. In the opinion of Kreutziger and Mahan (1975), this deficiency anteriorly is the weak point since there is no fibrous resistance to hypertranslation. Apart from lateral pterygoid, anteromedially, there are attached some fibres of masseter and temporalis laterally. Although more than one muscle is inserted into the disc, majority of the interest has been focussed on lateral pterygoid, whose deep position, unfortunately makes it difficult to investigate under natural conditions (Moore). Continue reading →

Anatomy of temporomandibular joint Part 2

Articular coverings :

The smooth slippery, pressure bearing tissue carpeting, the surfaces of the bones varies in thickness across different articular areas. It is essentially a bed of tough collagen fibres bound by special glycoproteins. On the condyle, the tissue is thickest in anteroposterior direction and thickness is greater medially (average measurements 0.37 mm laterally and 0.48 mm medially). On temporal component, it is thickest along articular eminence and preglenoid plane. The thickness is less medially (0.49 mm and 0.36 mm for eminence and plane respectively laterally and 0.45 mm and 0.34 mm medially). In the depth of the mandibular fossa the thickness of periosteum is merely 0.07 mm. Continue reading →

Anatomy of Temporomandibular Joint Part 1

Temporomandibular joint also known as jaw joint or mandibular joint is an ellipsoid variety of synovial joints, right and left joints forming a bicondylar articulation (Williams et al, 1999). The common features of synovial joints exhibited by this joint include a fibrous capsule, synovial membrane et fluid and tough adjacent ligaments etc. However the features which differentiate and make it unique in itself are: Continue reading →

Consent – Dental Protection Part 11

Aspects of consent

The General Dental Council is involved in various matters of consent, as ethical issues which reflect upon the professional conduct of a dentist. The General Dental Council identifies the main ethical principles of getting consent as: