Search

Objective. The aim of this study was to describe the number of erupted teeth, sucking habits, tongue morphology, facial expression and speech in children with Down syndrome (DS) aged 48 ± 6 months and treated from 6 months of age with palatal plates in combination with speech and language therapy. Methods. The research took the form of a multicentre, multidisciplinary, longitudinal study of children with DS followed from the age of 6 months. A total of 37 children with DS were included. One child could not cooperate at all and was excluded from the evaluations. In combination with speech and language intervention provided by speech and language therapists, the children used palatal plates provided by dentists from 6 months of age. In the evaluation, the children in the sample (n = 36) were compared with two similarly aged control groups: one group of children with DS who never had used palatal plates (n = 31) and one group of children with normal development (n = 36). The evaluation of oral parameters was performed by dentists after calibration. Registration of facial expression and speech was done by a speech and language therapist, and the evaluation was done by two speech and language therapists and one phonetician who were calibrated in joint discussions. Results. In contrast to the children with DS in the control group, the subjects in the study were found to have as many erupted teeth as the children with normal development. The prevalence of sucking habits did not differ between the three groups. Only children with DS sucked their tongue, a toy or other things in addition to a thumb or dummy. The prevalence of tongue diastase in the study group with DS was of the same magnitude as in the evaluation at the age of 18 ± 3 months. The palatal plates were used by 57–65% of the children without any larger problems. In the study sample, the possible beneficial effects of palatal plate therapy were a lower prevalence of posterior cross-bite, a higher prevalence of frontal cusp-to-cusp relation and a lower prevalence of frontal open bite. Evaluation of facial expression and speech showed a higher score for facial expression and a better communicative capacity in the children in the study group than in the control children with DS. Conclusions. In children with DS, palatal plate therapy between 6 and 48 months of age in connection with speech and language intervention had a positive effect on occlusion, oral motor function, facial expression and speech. No harmful effects were observed. Although this is a valuable method, however, it must be emphasized that palatal plate therapy puts additional demands on already burdened children and their caretakers.

The Enamel Defects Index (EDI) was created based on three innovative principles: (i) a basic level of the three major categories of defects; (ii) more detailed subcategories of each major category; and (iii) each category scored independently as present [1] or absent [0], simplifying decision making. The aim of this investigation was to further test the index in a number of applications and to expand it to record defect subtype and treatment need. Testing was undertaken by operators with different levels of clinical experience. A computer-assisted learning (CAL) package was developed for operator training and calibration. The index was also used on clinical photographs and high-resolution digital images of exfoliated and extracted teeth. Scoring of photographs revealed substantial intra-operator agreement. Training using the CAL package resulted in significant improvement in index use. Intra-operator reproducibility was good to excellent, and interoperator reproducibility was good for buccal surfaces on digital images. Index expansion allowed information on defect subtype, location, and treatment need to be gathered readily. The EDI has high reproducibility and allows more rapid and accurate data collection from clinical and in vitro studies than the Fédération Dentaire Internationale Developmental Defects of Enamel index.

Enamel hypoplasia is a quantitative defect of enamel thickness. Methods previously used for its measurement have limitations in clinical studies. The aim of this study was to investigate new methods of measurement using image analysis. Lesions on 8 teeth affected by enamel hypoplasia were quantified from study models and impression surfaces using an image-analysis system. The measurements made included lesion area and tooth surface area; from these the proportion of tooth surface area affected was calculated. For comparison, manual measurement was performed on impression surfaces and study models, using digital callipers. Images were also acquired of lesions on 12 exfoliated teeth, and the lesion area and total tooth area were calculated. For assessment of intra-operator reliability, the +/– repeatability coefficient was calculated. Measurement of the surface of lesions direct from the exfoliated teeth gave the best results overall, followed by direct image analysis of the silicone impression.

The need for improved oral hygiene routines in individuals with disabilities has been documented in many reports. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether visual pedagogy is a suitable way to teach children with autism how to brush their teeth.The investigation took the form of a prospective study including clinical examinations and structured interviews. Based on visual pedagogy, a series of pictures were produced that showed a structured method and technique of tooth brushing. The pictures were placed in the bathroom or wherever tooth brushing was performed. Fourteen children with autism aged between 5 and 13 years (mean age = 9.3 years), and their parents participated.Before the study, all parents found it difficult/very difficult to maintain good oral hygiene in their child. All children had visible plaque on their maxillary incisors and canines. After 12 months, the amount of visible plaque was reduced. After 18 months, most parents found maintaining good oral hygiene easier than before the study. All but one child/parent adopted the programme.Visual pedagogy is a useful tool in helping people with autism to improve their oral hygiene.

Summary. Objectives. The aim of this study was to describe oral development and morphology in 18-month-old children with Down syndrome (DS) treated with palatal plates in combination with structured communication and speech training. The aim is further to describe the design of the palatal plates, compliance in their use and to give a brief report of their effect on oral motor function and speech. Sample and methods. Forty-two children with DS were followed from ≤ 6 months of age until 18 ± 3 months old. In addition to language intervention, and oral motor and sensory stimulation provided by speech therapists for all children with DS in Sweden, palatal plates provided by dentists are included in the training programme. In the evaluation, the children in the project were compared with two control groups of children matched for age; one group of children with DS who had not been treated with palatal plates, and one group of children with normal development. Results. Compared to the children with normal development, both groups of children with DS had fewer teeth erupted and a lower prevalence of sucking habits. Deviant morphology of the tongue in the form of diastase, lingua plicata or a sulcus in the anterior third of the tongue was only seen in children with DS. All children with normal development had positive values for overjet compared to 53% of the children with DS. The palatal plates were used 2–3 times daily for a total mean time of 15 min. Compliance in use of the plates decreased with age, mainly due to eruption of teeth and subsequent loss of retention. Evaluation of oral motor function and speech show that the children with DS in the project had better motor prerequisites for articulation than the control children with DS. Conclusion. Palatal plate therapy did not affect oral parameters, i.e., eruption of teeth, types and prevalence of sucking habits, tongue morphology and symptoms of hypotonia. In combination with oral motor and sensory stimulation, palatal plate therapy had a positive effect on oral motor performance and prerequisites for articulation.

Summary.Objectives. To establish the prevalence of numerical and morphological variations of permanent teeth in Swedish 7-year-olds and to accept or reject the hypothesis of a higher prevalence for these conditions in northern Sweden compared to other areas. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. Department of Odontology/Pedodontics, Umea University, Sweden. Sample and methods. A total of 739 healthy Caucasian 7-year-olds residing in the city of Umea, northern Sweden in 1976. The children were examined clinically and radiographically. Results. The prevalence of hypodontia (excluding third molars) in girls was 8·4%, in boys 6·5%, and in both sexes combined 7·4%. Of the children with hypodontia, the majority (90·9%) lacked one or two teeth. Lower second premolars were the teeth most frequently missing. The prevalence of hyperdontia was 1·9%; 11 girls and three boys were affected; 78% of the supernumerary teeth were mesiodenses. Of the morphological variations, peg-shaped upper lateral incisors were found in 0·8% of the children, double-formation (gemination) in 0·3%, taurodontism in 0·3% and dens invaginatus in 6·8%. One diagnosis was found in 18% of the children, and in almost 8% of them more than one diagnosis was found. Conclusions. The results agree with those obtained in similar populations and are considered representative of this ethnic group. The hypothesis of a genetically determined higher prevalence of numerical and morphological variations in the study population was not verified.

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the mineral distribution in the enamel of teeth with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) by quantitative microradiography. A further aim was to correlate the findings to clinical manifestations and inheritance patterns for AI. Included in the study were a total of 29 teeth with AI, 28 primary and one permanent, and seven unaffected teeth, five primary and two permanent. Quantitative microradiography was applied to sagittally ground sections, 70-90 microns, of the teeth. The mineral content of the enamel, expressed as percentage by volume, was lower in most of the teeth with AI than in the unaffected teeth. The largest range for the mineral distribution was found in the enamel of the variants clinically characterized by hypomineralization. These teeth showed a mineral distribution pattern that reflected an extremely low mineral content in the bulk of the enamel. In the AI teeth clinically characterized by hypoplasia, the mineral distribution pattern was similar to that of the unaffected teeth, although with larger local variations in mineral content. Apart from the teeth connected with X-linked inheritance, no differences were found among teeth with similar clinical variants connected with different inheritance patterns.

The aim of this study was to investigate the craniofacial structure in 66 children and adolescents, 34 girls and 32 boys, with known clinical manifestations and inheritance patterns for amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), and to compare the results with those obtained in a control group of age and sex matched persons with normal occlusion. The ages ranged from 6.8 to 21.2 years. Clinically, AI was divided into cases characterized by either hypoplasia or hypomineralization of the enamel. In a further subgrouping, eight clinical variants were diagnosed. Measurements of 12 angular and 15 linear, parameters on lateral cephalometric radiographs were included in comparisons between the AI and the control group. Compared with the control group, the AI group displayed statistically significant differences indicating a skeletal open bite. In the analysis of inheritance patterns and clinical manifestations, a skeletal open bite was associated with autosomal dominant (AD) and X-linked inheritance, and in the AD group with hypomineralization. When all cases except those with X-linked inheritance were pooled, deviations indicating a skeletal open bite were found in the subgroups "rough hypoplastic AI" and "hypomineralization AI." Since a skeletal open bite was found both with X-linked inheritance and in some of the subgroups connected with autosomal inheritance, the hypothesis of a pleiotropic gene effect as the cause of the simultaneous occurrence can be ruled out. The influence of modifying genes or environmental factors is suggested.

Aims To enhance the phenotypic description and quantification of enamel defects from a North Sweden sample of extracted and exfoliated teeth originating from families with Amelogenesis Imperfecta by use of the extended enamel defects index (EDI) and image analysis to demonstrate the comparable reliability and value of the additional measurements. Methods and results The sample comprised 109 deciduous and 7 permanent teeth from 32 individuals of 19 families with Amelogenesis Imperfecta in Northern Sweden. A special holder for individual teeth was designed and the whole sample was examined using the extended EDI and an image analysis system. In addition to the extended EDI definitions, the calibrated images were measured for tooth surface area, defect area and percentage of surface affected using image analysis techniques. The extended EDI was assessed using weighted and unweighted Kappa statistics. The reliability of imaging and measurement was determined using Fleiss’ intra-class correlation coefficient (ICCC). Kappa values indicated good or excellent intra-operator repeatability and inter-operator reproducibility for the extended EDI. The Fleiss ICCC values indicated excellent repeatability for the image analysis measurements. Hypoplastic pits on the occlusal surfaces were the most frequent defect in this sample (82.6%). The occlusal surface displayed the most post-eruptive breakdown (39.13%) whilst the incisal portion of the buccal surfaces showed most diffuse opacities (53.4%). Image analysis methods demonstrated the largest mean hypoplastic pit areas were on the lingual surfaces. The largest mean post-eruptive breakdown areas were on the lingual surfaces of posterior teeth. The largest mean demarcated opacity areas were found on the labial surfaces. Conclusions The extended EDI and the standardised image acquisition and analysis system provided additional information to conventional measurement techniques. Additional phenotypic variables were described.

The aim of the present study was to use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to visualize the morphology of the enamel surface in 12 primary teeth from children with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). The observations were correlated to genetic, clinical and microradiographic data from the same teeth and to non-affected control teeth. SEM showed similar disturbances in teeth with a clinical predominance of hypoplasias and in teeth with a predominance of hypomineralization. In the microradiographs the enamel of most teeth showed both hypoplasias and areas of hypomineralization, independently of the predominant clinical manifestation. In the one boy with an X-linked inheritance pattern, both SEM and microradiography showed the morphology of the enamel to be unique in the present study. In the other teeth, similar manifestations were found in cases with AI as an AD trait and in the sporadic cases.

– A material of 22 primary and 4 permanent teeth from 22 children with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) were examined by microradiographic techniques. The children were part of a patient material earlier examined in genetical and clinical studies. The results were compared with corresponding data from two non-affected control groups and correlated with the available clinical and genetical data. Teeth were examined from seven of the eight different variants of AI seen in the clinical study. In most cases both hypoplasias and areas of hypomineralization were observed in the same tooth, indicating that both the secretory and the maturation phases of the amelogenesis are affected in AI. In teeth from children with the same clinical variant but different inheritance patterns, no specific finding could be related to a specific inheritance pattern. The findings in the one boy with AI as an X-linked trait were unique in this material. In all control teeth except one, no hypoplasias or areas of hypomineralization were found in the enamel. In conclusion, the subclassification of AI into different forms can be questioned. Variations in clinical and histologic characteristics connected with the same inheritance pattern suggest that the genetic defect, in conjunction with a large biological variation, could explain the multiplicity in clinical expressivity that characterizes AI.

The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence and incidence of amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) in the county of Vasterbotten, northern Sweden using the criteria of Witkop & Sauk (1976). The diagnoses were based upon clinical and radiographic evidence. The study-population consisted of all 3-19-yr-olds born in the county from 1963 to 1979. AI was diagnosed in 79 children, 41 girls and 38 boys, giving a prevalence of 1.4:1000. The mean incidence 1963-79 was 1.3:1000. Half of the children with AI had brothers or sisters in the group. The hypoplastic form was the most common (58 children) followed by the hypomaturation form (16 children). Only five children had the hypomineralization form.