ObjectiveThe purpose of this present study was to compare, by means of 3D digital casts, the anterior transverse dimension of the dental arch of newborns with and without cleft lip and palate.Material and MethodsThe sample was composed of ninety-four children aged from 3 to 9 months divided into three study groups: Group I - children without craniofacial deformities (control group); Group II - children with unilateral cleft lip and palate; Group III - children with bilateral cleft lip and palate. Impressions were executed before lip and palate repair in patients with clefts. Dental casts were digitized using a 3D scanner linked to a computer. Measurements of the intercanine distance were measured on the digital casts. Intergroup comparisons were performed using ANOVA (p<0.05).ResultsThe results showed a mean of 36.5 mm for unilateral cleft lip and palate group, 34.8 mm for bilateral cleft lip and palate group and 27.52 mm for the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the control group and both groups of patients with cleft lip and palate. There was no statistically significant difference between complete unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate groups.ConclusionsPatients with complete cleft lip and palate were born with an increased anterior dimension of the maxillary dental arch compared to non cleft patients.

This study aimed to evaluate longitudinally the alteration of the dental arch dimensions of children with different oral cleft types, before and after the primary surgeries. Three-dimensional images of the maxillary dental casts of children with unilateral complete cleft lip (G1), unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (G2), and cleft palate (G3). The children were evaluated at pre-cheiloplasty (T1), pre-palatoplasty (T2), and 1 year after palatoplasty (T3). The measurements obtained: intercanine (C-C’) and intertuberosity (T-T’) distances, anterior (I-CC’) and total (I-TT’) arch lengths. To analyze the intraexaminer error, paired t-test was applied and Dahlbergh formula. The intragroups comparisons were applied: paired t-test, ANOVA followed by Tukey, Wilcoxon test, and Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn test. The intergroup comparisons were performed by independent t-test and Mann–Whitney test. In G1, the C-C’, T-T’, and the I-TT’ distances revealed a significant increase of the maxilla. In G2, the C-C’ distance statistically decreased from T1 to T3, T-T’ distance showed statistical increase from T1 to T3. The I-TT’ length increased with statistically significant differences between T1 and T3, T2 and T3. In G3, the C-C’, T-T’, and I-TT’ distance increased was statistically significant. The longitudinal evaluation of the changes occurred in the dental arches with different oral cleft types showed that cheiloplasty and palatoplasty caused the most alterations in the development of the maxillary dimensions of children with complete cleft lip and palate.

Epidermolysis bullosa comprises a group of uncommon skin-related diseases, characterized by the formation of blisters on mucocutaneous regions occurring spontaneously, following a trauma, exposure to heat, or as a result of minimal mechanical trauma. The dental treatment of the patient with epidermolysis bullosa raises many questions and discussions, due to the difficulty of carrying out the procedures. This report aimed to detail the clinical considerations of the treatment under general anesthesia of a patient with epidermolysis bullosa. The extraction of all deciduous teeth under general anesthesia was recommended based on the clinical and radiographic examinations. At 24-month follow-up, the patient had great improvement in oral hygiene without new caries lesions. The patient has been followed-up at every month for caries lesion prevention and permanent tooth development. The treatment under general anesthesia provided the ideal safe conditions and was beneficial for the patient.

Ectodermal dysplasia is a rare congenital disease that affects several structures of ectodermal origin. The most commonly related oral characteristics are hypodontia, malformed teeth and underdeveloped alveolar ridges. New alternative treatments are needed due to the failure of the conventional prosthesis retention. This case report outlines the oral rehabilitation treatment of a 9-year-old girl with ectodermal dysplasia. The treatment was performed with conventional prosthesis upon mini-implants. The mini-implants provided prosthetic retention. The patient reported a good adaptation of the dental prosthesis and satisfaction with the treatment. The increased self-esteem improved the socialization skills of the girl. In this case report, use of prosthesis with mini-implants was satisfactory for prosthetic retention. However, clinical studies with long-term follow-up are needed to test the mini-implants as an alternative for oral rehabilitation of children with ectodermal dysplasia.

Background:Individuals with cleft lip and palate have many anatomic and functional alterations compromising esthetics, hearing, speech, occlusion, and development/craniofacial growth. The rehabilitative treatment of these patients is very challenging and starts at birth aiming at the best treatment for all functional demands. This study aimed to evaluate the dimensional alterations of the dental arches of neonates with cleft lip and palate after two different primary surgical techniques.Materials and Methods:The sample comprised 114 digital models of children aged from 3 to 36 months, with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate divided into two groups. Two different phases were evaluated: precheiloplasty and 1 year after palatoplasty. The evaluation was performed through the digital models of each child obtained by scanning digitalization (3D Scanner). Dental arches measurements were accomplished through Appliance Designer software. The following measurements were assessed: dental arch area, anterior amplitude of the cleft, total length of dental arch, intercanine distance, and intertuberosity distance. t-test was applied to compare differences between groups.Results:No statistically significant differences were observed between groups at precheiloplasty phase. At 1 year after palatoplasty, the groups differed in the total length of dental arch (P = 0.002), with greater values for Group I.Conclusion:This study suggests that the results of the different surgical techniques may alter the growth and development of the dental arches of neonates with cleft lip and palate.

Partial caries removal only is applicable when properly indicated. However, further clinical studies with longer following-up periods are necessary.

Objective: To use the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-II) to evaluate the scores of different stages of caries lesion development in cleft lip and palate children. Material and Methods: Fifty cleft lip and palate children aged6-10 years at mixed dentition were selected. Two examiners, one after the other, performed the visual examination of dental surfaces. Firstly, the teeth were cleaned with the aid of pumice and water paste. The examination was carried out under the dental chair reflector, after air drying for 5 seconds with air-water syringe, and with the aid of a WHO probe. The sites comprising the sample were classified according to criteria proposed by ICDAS-II. Results: Ten children met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-five anterior teeth at the cleft area and 93 posterior teeth were assessed, totalizing 590 surfaces classified by ICDAS-II. Four hundred and ninety-four surfaces were scored as sound (code 0-0) regarding the Caries Lesion Condition. Only one surface was scored as partial sealant (code 1), according to the Tooth Surface Condition, but classified as sound regarding the Caries Lesion Condition (code 1-0). No surface exhibited stainless steel; porcelain, gold or porcelain fused to metal crowner veneer; lost or broken restoration; and temporary restoration (codes 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively). Conclusion: ICDAS-II shows good performance in analyzing caries lesions through more specific assessment and more accurate examination, enabling the detection of caries lesion development at several stages.

Dedico minha dissertação de mestrado e tudo que conquisto à minha família: Aos meus pais, Mariza e José Marcos por todos os momentos de dedicação, apoio e amor incondicional, por me proporcionarem uma formação admirável, e principalmente por me incentivarem a continuar no caminho do conhecimento, sem desistir nos momentos de dificuldade. Vocês são os verdadeiros vencedores. Aprendi com vocês que podemos perder tudo na vida, mas o conhecimento adquirido é um bem que ninguém pode nos tirar. Aos meus queridos irmãos, Bruno, Simone e Tamara pelo carinho, companheirismo, pelos ensinamentos e experiências compartilhadas. Vocês foram fundamentais para essa conquista, sempre unidos me ajudaram a superar os obstáculos e tornaram a caminhada mais bela e suave. Muito obrigada! "Se eu vi mais longe, foi por estar sobre ombros de gigantes." Isaac Newton AGRADECIMENTO ESPECIAL À minha querida amiga e orientadora Profa. Dra. Thais Marchini de Oliveira, por todos os momentos de dedicação, ensinamentos, pela vontade de me ensinar cada dia algo novo, com paciência e amor em cada palavra e gesto. Por todo o carinho durante esses anos de amizade, confiança depositada, pelo tempo tão precioso disponibilizado e por todo apoio me incentivando a não desistir e lutar pelos meus ideais. É muito fácil trabalhar e aprender com você, sempre há uma solução, sempre, por mais que eu custasse a acreditar. Você é uma pessoa maravilhosa, batalhadora e competente que tive o privilégio de trabalhar e de compartilhar essa amizade que com certeza continuará para sempre independente do lugar que estivermos. Obrigada por fazer parte dessa conquista e por me ensinar a superar situações da vida de uma forma leve e prazerosa. Você foi fundamental na minha formação profissional e pessoal. Muito obrigada! "O sábio não exibe, e por isso brilha Ele não se faz notar, e por isso é notado Ele não se elogia, e por isso tem mérito E porque não está competindo, ninguém no mundo pode competir com ele." Lao-Tsé AGRADECIMENTOS E aqui deixo os meus mais sinceros agradecimentos a todos aqueles que de alguma forma foram responsáveis por me ajudarem a chegar ao fim dessa etapa Primeiramente agradeço a Deus pelo que conquistei até agora, mas peço a Ele que me dê sabedoria e fé para conquistar muito mais. Aos meus avós, Alice "em memória", João, Maria de Lourdes e Stein "em memória", por todo o carinho e incentivo, pelo amor e proteção. Pelas orações da minha querida avó Alice, que faz muita falta nessa conquista tão importante na minha vida, aprendi com você a trabalhar com amor, a sorrir em todos os momentos da vida, por mais tortuosos que fosse, e amar tudo que fazemos. Pelo apoio do meu querido avô Stein, que mesmo sendo um avô de coração esteve ao meu lado em todos os momentos. Sei que estão aplaudindo orgulhosos de onde estiverem. Pela grandiosa experiência de vida compartilhada pelo meu querido vô João, tento todos os dias aprender com você a ter paciência e calma em tudo na vida. E pelo incentivo, dedicação e carinho da minha querida vó Lourdes, que sempre está ao me...