The accuracy and precision of chronological age estimation based on the stages of third molar tooth development was studied in a sample of 679 radiographs from individuals of Hispanic origin. The age range was 14.0 to 25.0 years. Eight raters from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch evaluated the radiographs according to Demirjian's schematic definitions of crown and root formation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chronology of third molar development in Hispanics following the protocol of a previous study. Within the Hispanic population, the rate of male third molar development is greater than that of female third molar development for ten stages of crown-root formation. Also within this Hispanic population sample, the rate of maxillary third molar development is ahead of mandibular third molar development. The mean absolute difference between chronological age and estimated age was ±3.0 years in females and ±2.6 years in males.
No strong correlations were reported between the LC and CT scans. However, the LC-derived adenoid-nasopharyngeal ratio and the linear measurement (posterior nasal spine, PNS, to posterior pharyngeal wall) had a strong correlation with upright nasopharyngeal area and volume in the CBCTs. The area measurement in conventional LC can be also used as an initial screening tool to predict the upright three-dimensional oropharyngeal volumetric data. The variability of the hypopharyngeal segment cannot be predicted by LCs. However, more well-designed studies are needed to determine the clinical utility of using LC to predict airway size.
Myositis ossificans is a self-limiting ossifying process that most often develops following mechanical trauma to skeletal musculature. It chiefly affects the skeletal muscles of extremities of young athletically active adult males. Myositis ossificans is rare in children except for children affected by heritable disorder known as progressive myositis ossificans (fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva). Children with this disorder develop ossification of muscles and associated soft tissue in early childhood without prior history of trauma. Traumatic form of myositis ossificans also known as myositis ossificans circumscripta (MOC) is rarely encountered in the head and neck musculature. We report a case of MOC within the buccinator which developed as a postoperative complication of mandibular third molar surgery. During extraction of a left mandibular third molar in a 16-year old male, a tooth fragment was accidently displaced into the adjacent soft tissue. Retrieval of this tooth fragment caused significant soft tissue trauma. Eighteen months after his third molar surgery, the patient continued to have pain and tenderness anterior to the left mandibular ramus. Radiographic imaging revealed a well-defined ovoid radiopaque mass within the left buccinator muscle. The lesion was surgically removed and the post-surgical course of the patient was uneventful. Histological findings of the mass were characteristic for myositis ossificans.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.