PurposeThis study was performed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pneumatized articular tubercle or eminence among a defined group of Iranian people.Materials and MethodsDigital panoramic radiographs of 1694 patients in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Hamadan Dental School, Iran were evaluated retrospectively to detect the above lesion. Finally, 1563 radiographs were selected according to inclusion criteria. Then, a review was done of 10 large case series found using a MEDLINE search of the literature. Chi-squared test was used to analyze the differences in variables such as age, gender, laterality, and locularity in our case series.ResultsThe average age of our samples was 32.6±7.63 years. Pneumatized articular tubercle was found in 98 cases, representing a prevalence of 6.2% with a mean age of 22.8±7.9 and a range of 8 to 60 years. Sixty-four (65.3%) pneumatized articular tubercles were unilateral, with 30 lesions on the right and 34 on the left side. Bilateral lesions were found in 34 (34.7%) patients. 52 (53.06%) of the pneumatized articular tubercles were of the unilocular type and 46 (46.94%) were multilocular. The results showed no statistically significant differences regarding age (p=0.454), gender (p=0.634), laterality (p=0.252), or locularity (p=0.807) among the samples.ConclusionAmong ten large case series from other countries, the prevalence of pneumatized articular tubercle (6.2%) in Iranian patients was higher than that of all eight of the case series that used the same detection method as the present study of panoramic radiography.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the accuracy of conventional intraoral (CI) radiography, photostimulable phosphor (PSP) radiography, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for detection of strip and root perforations in endodontically treated teeth.Materials and MethodsMesial and distal roots of 72 recently extracted molar were endodontically prepared. Perforations were created in 0.2, 0.3, or 0.4 mm diameter around the furcation of 48 roots (strip perforation) and at the external surface of 48 roots (root perforation); 48 roots were not perforated (control group). After root obturation, intraoral radiography, CBCT and MDCT were taken. Discontinuity in the root structure was interpreted as perforation. Two observers examined the images. Data were analyzed using Stata software and Chi-square test.ResultsThe sensitivity and specificity of CI, PSP, CBCT and MDCT in detection of strip perforations were 81.25% and 93.75%, 85.42% and 91.67%, 97.92% and 85.42%, and 72.92% and 87.50%, respectively. For diagnosis of root perforation, the sensitivity and specificity were 87.50% and 93.75%, 89.58% and 91.67%, 97.92% and 85.42%, and 81.25% and 87.50%, respectively. For detection of strip perforation, the difference between CBCT and all other methods including CI, PSP and MDCT was significant (p < 0.05). For detection of root perforation, only the difference between CBCT and MDCT was significant, and for all the other methods no statistically significant difference was observed.ConclusionsIf it is not possible to diagnose the root perforations by periapical radiographs, CBCT is the best radiographic technique while MDCT is not recommended.

PurposeThis study was performed to evaluate the position of impacted mandibular third molars in different skeletal facial types among a group of Iranian patients.Materials and MethodsA total of 400 mandibular third molars in 200 subjects with different types of facial growth were radiographically investigated for their positions according to their types of facial growth on the basis of the β angle. The subjects were divided into three groups (class I, II, and III) according to ANB angle, representing the anteroposterior relationship of the maxilla to the mandible. Meanwhile, the subjects were also divided into three groups (long, normal, and short face) according to the angle between the stella-nasion and mandibular plane (SNGoGn angle). ANOVA was used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe mean β angle showed no significant difference among class I, II, and III malocclusions (df=2, F=0.669, p=0.513). The same results were also found in short, normal, and long faces (df=1.842, F=2, p=0.160). The mesioangular position was the most frequent one in almost all of the facial growth patterns. Distoangular and horizontal positions of impaction were not found in the subjects with class III and normal faces. In the long facial growth pattern, the frequency of vertical and distoangular positions were not different.ConclusionIn almost all of the skeletal facial types, the mesioangular impaction of the mandibular third molar was the most prevalent position, followed by the horizontal position. In addition, β angle showed no significant difference in different types of facial growth.