Age estimation is a major step in forensic and legal procedures. Its relevance has been increasing due to growing society issues, such as identification of missing people, crimes against minors or lack of valid identification papers from locals or foreigners. Evaluation of the cut-off value of the Third Molar Maturation Index (I_3M) = 0.08 for discriminating minors from adults in the Portuguese population. The left lower third molars were analysed by applying a specific cut-off value of 0.08 determined by Cameriere et al. in 2008. A sample of 778 digital panoramic radiographs of a representative Portuguese sample (442 females and 336 males), in the age range of 12–24 years (mean age 17.7 ± 2.98 years in females and 18.1 ± 3.0 years in males), was retrospectively evaluated. I_3M decreased as the real age gradually increased in both sexes. The 0.08 cut-off score was valuable in discriminating adults from minors. According to the pooled results, the accuracy, by means of area under the curve, was 92.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 91.0–94.6%). The proportion of correctly classified subjects (sensitivity) was 90.7% (95% CI 88.7–92.8%) and the specificity was 94.9% (95% CI 93.3–96.4%). The results show that I_3M is a valuable method to differentiate minors from adults in the Portuguese population.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a predictive early tooth loss multivariable model for periodontitis patients before periodontal treatment. A total of 544 patients seeking periodontal care at the university dental hospital were enrolled in the study. Teeth extracted after periodontal diagnosis and due to periodontal reasons were recorded. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were analyzed, considering the risk of short-term tooth loss. This study followed the transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis (TRIPOD) guidelines for development and validation, with two cohorts considered as follows: 455 patients in the development phase and 99 in the validation phase. As a result, it was possible to compute a predictive model based on tooth type and clinical attachment loss. The model explained 25.3% of the total variability and correctly ranked 98.9% of the cases. The final reduced model area under the curve (AUC) was 0.809 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.629–0.989) for the validation sample and 0.920 (95% CI: 0.891–0.950) for the development cohort. The established model presented adequate prediction potential of early tooth loss due to periodontitis. This model may have clinical and epidemiologic relevance towards the prediction of tooth loss burden.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a predictive early tooth loss multivariable model for periodontitis patients before periodontal treatment. A total of 544 patients seeking periodontal care at a university dental hospital were enrolled in the study. Teeth extracted after periodontal diagnosis and due to periodontal reasons were recorded. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were analyzed, considering the risk of short-term tooth loss. This study followed the Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis Or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) guidelines for development and validation, with two cohorts considered as follows: 455 patients in the development phase and 99 in the validation phase. As a result, it was possible to compute a predictive model based on tooth type and clinical attachment loss. The model explained 25.3% of the total variability and correctly ranked 98.9% of the cases. The final reduced model area under the curve (AUC) was 0.809 (95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 0.629 - 0.989) for the validation sample and 0.920 (95% CI: 0.891 - 0.950) for the development cohort. The established model presented adequate prediction potential of early tooth loss due to periodontitis. This model may have clinical and epidemiologic relevance towards the prediction of tooth loss burden.

The careful planning of a sinus lift procedure is the key to avoiding surgical complications. In this clinical case, a female patient, 59 years old and totally edentulous in the maxilla, was referred to Egas Moniz’s Dental Clinic Implantology consultation with indication for bilateral external sinus lift of the maxillary sinuses prior to implant placement. Both orthopantomography and cone-beam computed tomography were used to show the anatomy of the maxillary sinuses, which presented multiple sinus septa. A multiple anterolateral window approach was applied in order to avoid perforation of the Schneiderian membrane while accessing it.

There is growing research regarding the influence of intra oral devices over sportive performance [ 1 Ebben WP , Flanagan EP , Jensen RL. Jaw clenching results in concurrent activation potentiation during the countermovement jump. J Strength Cond Res. 2008;22(6):1850–1854. Nov [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] , 2 Busca B , Moreno-Doutres D , Pena J , et al. Effects of jaw clenching wearing customized mouthguards on agility, power and vertical jump in male high-standard basketball players. J Exercise Sci Fitness. 2018;16(1):5–11. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] ]. There is however an unclear definition of the intermaxillary relation during athletes activity and its influence upon the performance. This theme is absent across the scientific research and should be the starting key point on this kind of study. Our goal is to create and assess an experimental setup to determine the intermaxillary relation in surfers during take off - getting up on the surfboard. Ten male adults free surfers were invited for this study. We applied a standard questionnaire about intermaxillary relation during sports. Two possible setups were tested in terms of distance to capture the masticatory muscles in video of 5 take offs; we used a Cannon®️ 77 D on a tripod first at a distance of 1 m from a white tape placed on the floor perpendicularly to the body of the surfer facing down, where both hands were placed while he was laying on the ground ready for take off. Then we gave them a signal to execute the takeoff and all was recorded on video for posterior slow motion analysis. The exact same procedure was done a second time for a distance of 2 metres. This case series study was approved by the Egas Moniz Ethical Committee and each patient signed previously an informed consent. All the assumptions of the Helsinki Declaration have been fulfilled. Comparing the 2 setups, it was unclear, in terms of image analysis, the setup with the 1 m distance, becoming clear, in terms of muscle contraction, the 2 metres distance. Even so, the comparison between the standard questionnaire about intermaxillary relation and the video captured is highly variable and somewhat confusing, presenting some analysis limitations, giving us a clear notion that we need another mean of instrumental analysis about the intermaxillary position of the surfers. It is clear to us the high variability of the intermaxillary position of athletes during take off as the lack of self perception on their practice. It is mandatory to design a setup to have an instrumental analysis like electromyography to confirm masticatory muscle contraction and validate the possible influence or relation between intermaxillary relation and sportive performance.