Wisdom Teeth

Treating dentigerous cyst by extracting wisdom teeth

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An interesting article titled “Marsupialization of Dentigerous Cysts Followed by Enucleation and Extraction of Deeply Impacted Third Molars: A Report of Two Cases” appears in Cureus in April 02, 2022 written by Nedal Abu-Mostafa (vol. 14, no. 4, pp. e23772). The article discusses two cases of a dentigerous cyst (DC) that involves the crown or a portion of the crown of an unerupted or impacted tooth that more commonly affect mandibular or lower impacted wisdom teeth. In the article discussion is made of dentigerous cysts being the second most common odontogenic cysts. Dentigerous cysts are caused by an alteration of the reduced enamel epithelium and results in fluid accumulation between it and the enamel of the crown. The progression of dentigerous cystsis are slow and often do not present any symptoms and the patient learns about them through an x-ray or … Read more

Relationship between Body Mass Index and Wisdom Teeth Eruption

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An interesting article titled “Relationship Between the Eruption of Third Molar Teeth and the Growing Status of the Assamese Inhabitants of a North-Eastern State of India” appears in Cureus in January 09, 2022, written by Putul Mahanta Sr. and et. al. The article seeks to evaluate the relationship between wisdom teeth eruption and a possible association with body mass index which can be used to monitor growth in children. The authors mention that teeth eruption is related to physical growth and is used to gauge child maturity as a biological marker. Factors such as hereditary, gender, nutrition and geographic location are known to influence teeth eruption. The authors set out to take into account that factors like BMI, genetic, nutritional, and geographical factors on wisdom teeth eruption. They conducted a cross sectional study of 1,060 patients with ages between 14 and … Read more

The wisdom behind wisdom teeth extraction

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An interesting article titled “The wisdom behind the third molars removal: A prospective study of 106 cases” appears in the August 2021 of the Annals of Medicine and Surgery written by Kerdoud Ouassime and et. al. (vol. 68, pp. 102639). The article seeks evaluate the decision-making of wisdom teeth extractions and the epidemiological profile in a population of 106 cases. In the article the authors mention how debate continues about the beststrategies for the management of wisdom teeth. The majority of oral and maxillofacial surgeons continue to say that that most wisdom teeth are potentially pathological and should be extracted while others argue that only wisdom teeth third with associated pathology should be removed. To investigate the indications for wisdom teethextractions the authors conducted an analysis of 106 patients seem at their hospital between January 1, 2020 and January 1, … Read more

Articaine versus Bupivacaine Anesthetic Effectiveness for Lower Teeth Extraction

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An interesting article titled “A Comparative Evaluation of Anesthetic Effectiveness of 4% Articaine vs 0.5% Bupivacaine for Lower Molar Tooth Extraction” appears in Cureus in December 16, 2022, written by Tenglikar P, Manas A, Sahoo A, et al. (vol. 14, no. 12, pp. e32611). The article discusses the differences in the effectiveness of two common local anesthesia agents used in dentistry to control pain. The authors set out to explore the the effectiveness of 0.5% bupivacaine with 4% articaine in lower tooth extraction based on duration of anesthesia, onset, and pain perception along with observing blood pressure and heart rate. Today lidocaine (lignocaine) is extensively used as a local anesthestic agent in dentistry to control pain. Other anesthestic agents exists including bupivacaine and articaine. The authors conducted a randomized controlled study of patients having lower teeth extracted from June 2017 to October … Read more

Iowa dentist with history of inappropriate conduct faces new charges

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An Iowa dentist with a history of alleged sexual misconduct with multiple patients is facing more charges from state regulators. The dentist first faced trouble in July 1993, when was charged with unprofessional conduct in the practice of dentistry and accused of inappropriately touching two female patients, one 17 and one 25 during their dental appointments. The 17 year old was recovering after being sedated during wisdom teeth surgery when the dentist entered and inappropriately touched the patient while she was in the dental chair. The 25 year old at her first appointment was sedated and upon waking found that her clothes were disheveled and had pain in her pubic bone. At her second appointment of the 25 year old, she allegedly awoke and heard the dentist making suggestive remarks while inappropriately touching her. Shortly after the first two patients … Read more