Journal of Dental Medicine

---

Statement of Problem: Bone material density (BMD) is significantly decreased among postmenopausal women leading to the most common metabolic disease, osteoporosis.Multiple bone fractures are of the most important consequences of this disease, which cost too much for the
society. One of the cheapest and most available methods for the diagnosis of bone density changes is bone radiomorphometric evaluation by conventional methods. Studies have also revealed that mandibular radiomorphometric indices in panoramic radiographs yield invaluable information, which can be used as a screening method to diagnose patients with decreasing bone density, and to determine normal values of
mandibular radiomorphometric indices among normal subjects in different populations.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the mandibular radiomorphometric indices in panoramic radiographs among normal female population referring to maxillofacial radiology centers to determine their relationship with age and the total teeth number of the subjects under study.

Material and Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, two mandibular radiomorphometric indices namely the Antegonial quantitative index (AI) and the Cortical qualitative index (MCI) were evaluated on 417 panoramic radiographs of a female normal population, aged more than 20 years which divided into five age group, by one maxillofacial radiologist as an observer. The relationship between these indices, and also with the number of teeth and age were investigated by variance and Pearson's analysis.

Results: Mean quantitative index (AI) was 3.54±54%mm. The prevalence of MCI index was C2: 71.5%,CI: 20.9%and C3: 7.7%. There was significant correlation between AI/MCI indices with age, dentition and also with each other.(P<0.0001).
Conclusion: Based on the present study, with increasing age the mean AI and the number of teeth decrease significantly. MCI index also shows higher porosity in mandibular cortex (C3 index). Therefore, Mandibular radiomorphometric indices are useful in initial diagnosis and screening of patients with low bone mineral density (osteopenia, osteoporosis).

---

Statement of Problem: Considerable response to functional orthopedic appliances treatment in class II skeletal patients occurs during pubertal growth spurt. Therefore, it seems necessary to investigate indices indicating mandibular growth pattern. It has been proved that analyzing cervical vertebral maturation stage is a more valid index than that of hand wrist.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the time status of functional orthopedic treatment in class II skeletal patients using CVMS index.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-inferential study, lateral cephalometric radiographs of 153 class II skeletal patients with mandibular deficiency, before treatment, were studied by an oral and maxillofacial radiologist using the index of cervical vertebral maturation stage (CVMS) and were categorized in three phases: CVMS I (desirable phase of treatment), CVMS II (ideal phase), and CVMS III (undesirable phase of treatment).

Results: Statistical analysis ranked the prevalence of treatment phases as: 41.8% in desirable phase (CVMS I), 28.1% in ideal phase (CVMA II) and 30% in undesirable phase (CVMS III). No significant differences were found between the three phases using Chi-square analysis. Time status of functional orthopedic treatment was also evaluated based on age and sex. The results showed significant differences between two sexes (P=0.032).

Conclusion: The present study suggests the analysis of CVMS index, along with clinical criteria, in the determination of an ideal time for functional orthopedic treatment to prevent patients’ exhaustion during treatment Period.

---

Evaluation of skeletal age and determination of growth status had important and special roie in orthodontic treatment planning (such as functional orthopedic treatment and orthognatic surgery) and also in stability of it. There were several biologic indicators for the detection of the peak in mandibular growth. Due to the limitations of biological indicators application, idea of new indicators was seemed importantly. Cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method is one of them. At first the detection of the peak in mandibular growth was based on the analysis of the second through sixth cervical vertebrae in six developmental stages. But a few improvements of the original CVM analysis were still needed. In this method, the peak in mandibular growth was determined based on the analysis of the second through fourth cervical vertebrae in five developmental stages. This method is easy, applicable and more valid than hand-wrist analysis method.

---

Background and Aim: Adenoids are normally large in children and their size starts to reduce during adolescence. Hypertrophic adenoids could be associated with allergic reactions. Enlarged adenoids result in nasal breathing difficulties and the child is forced to switch to mouth breathing. Airway obstruction causes postural alterations of jaw, tongue and head, and due to persistent obstruction, patient’s appearance changes to adenoid face. Evaluation of nasopharyngeal space in lateral cephalometic view is a simple and repeatable method for determination of the size and shape of adenoids and nasopharyngeal space which can provide a simple measurement of nasopharyngeal obstruction. The roof of nasopharyngeal space is covered by the sphenoid bone. Thus changes of nasorespiratory resistance by hypertrophic adenoids may affect the cranial base angles. In this study, the relationship between adenoid hypertrophy and cranial base angles was investigated.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, lateral cephalometric views of 7 to 14 y/o patients from the files of orthodontic centers in Rasht city were selected. The radiographs with proper resolution were separated for this research. Adenoid to nasorespiratory ratio (A/N Ratio) was determined by Fujioka method and categorized in three groups: A (A/N 0.8), B (0.5