In the past few years there have been significant advances in the identification of putative stem cells also referred to as "mesenchymal stem cells" (MSC) in dental tissues including the dental pulp. It is thought that MSC in dental pulp share certain similarities with MSC isolated from other tissues. However, cells in dental pulp are still poorly characterized. This study focused on the charac...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine if the application of 1% chlorhexidine-containing wax on primary molars during the period of eruption of the first permanent molars could prevent the transfer of certain oral flora, namely Streptococcus mutans, to the permanent molars. METHODS Fourteen children with a mean age of 6.5 years (7 males and 7 females) were assigned into two groups...

The authors developed a method of chronological age estimation in young individuals on the basis of third molar developmental stage. The new method is based on the finding that time course of third molar development depends on the number of assessed third molars. That means, in individuals with 1 to 3 third molars agenesis the development of founded third molars is delayed in comparison with in...

INTRODUCTION The aim of this in vitro study was to identify the root and canal morphology of maxillary first and second molars in Iranian population by taking and analyzing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. METHODS AND MATERIALS Extracted maxillary first (n=125) and second (n=125) molars were collected from native Iranians and scanned by using a CBCT scanner. The number of roots and...

Mandibular third molars are the most common impacted teeth. Mandibular first and second molars do not share the same frequency of occurrence. In rare cases the occlusal surfaces of impacted molars are united by the same follicular space and the roots pointing in opposite direction; these are called kissing molars. In some cases, a supernumerary fourth molar can be seen as unerupted and, in this...

AIM To compare mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with calcium hydroxide when used as pulp-capping materials in human teeth. METHODOLOGY Eleven pairs of maxillary third molars in subjects between 20 and 25 years of age were subjected to mechanical pulp exposure. The exposed pulps were capped with MTA or calcium hydroxide, covered with ZOE and restored with amalgam. A total of 14 teeth were extr...

AIM To study incidence and distribution of deciduous molar ankylosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS study design: longitudinal retrospective study. A total of 512 consecutive subjects (aged 5 to 15 years) were examined at the Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry Department of the Genoa University School of Dentistry; for each subject an ortopantomography x-ray was taken. RESULTS Thirty-four childr...

Removal of third molars is a common procedure performed in oral surgery. Although there are well-defined indications for removal of impacted third molars, removal of asymptomatic third molars is still universally practiced. This article reviews the body of knowledge regarding for and against the prophylactic surgical extraction of impacted third molars in contemporary oral surgical practice, an...

REVIEW Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) is defined as a hypomineralisation of systemic origin of one to four permanent first molars frequently associated with affected incisors. MIH molars are fragile and caries can develop very easily in those molars. Although MIH molars are well known by paediatric dentists and their occurrence is related in severe cases to major clinical problems, only...

The objective of the present study was to investigate the possible correlation of dimension, location, prevalence, and types of root trunk with molar furcation involvement (FI). The samples used in the study include 166 maxillary molars (70 1st and 96 2nd molars) and 200 mandibular molars (103 1st and 97 2nd molars). The dimensions of the root trunks and root lengths were measured with an elect...