There is little material in the literature that compares biological width measurements in periapical and bite-wings radiographs with clinical measurements. The purpose of this study was to compare measurements of biological width taken by three different methods which are frequently used for planning periodontal surgery - periapical radiograph, bite-wing radiograph and transperiodontal probing - with the trans-surgical measurements. Thirty-four sites from twenty-one subjects were analyzed. The intra-class correlation coefficients between measurements obtained trans-surgically (gold standard) and those obtained by transperiodontal probing, periapical radiography and bite-wing radiography were determined. Average measurements were compared using the Wilcoxon test at a significance level of 0.05. Also, the frequency distribution of differences between test measurements and the gold standard was calculated. The results showed that transperiodontal probing (mean 2.05 mm) was the most accurate measurement, as compared to the gold standard (mean 1.97 mm), with no statistically significant difference observed. On the other hand, periapical and bite-wing radiographic mean values (1.56 mm and 1.72 mm, respectively) were smaller than the gold standard, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). It was concluded that transperiodontal probing was the most accurate measurement, as compared to the gold standard, followed by that obtained with the bite-wing radiograph. The clinical relevance of these results could be that planning for crown lengthening surgery should, preferably, include transperiodontal probing.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a incidência de anomalias dentárias em indivíduos brasileiros portadores de síndrome de Down. A amostra constou de 49 radiografias panorâmicas de indivíduos portadores com idade entre 3 e 33 anos, 22 do sexo masculino e 27 do sexo feminino. As características radiográficas das radiografias panorâmicas das anomalias dentárias foram observadas tanto nos dentes decíduos quanto permanentes de acordo com CID (Classificação Internacional de Doenças). Foi encontrada uma alta incidência dos mais variados tipos de anomalias, tais como taurodontismo (50%), anodontia comprovada (20,2%), suspeita de anodontia (10,7%), dentes cônicos (8,3%), dentes retidos (5,9%) e outras. Pela análise dos resultados pode-se observar que os indivíduos portadores de síndrome de Down apresentaram uma alta incidência de anomalias dentárias e, na maioria dos casos, um mesmo indivíduo apresentou mais de uma anomalia associada.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of dental anomalies in Brazilian patients with Down syndrome. A sample with 49 panoramic x-rays of syndromic patients aged 3 to 33 years (22 male and 27 female) was used. The characteristics of dental anomalies were observed in the panoramic radiographs in both the primary and permanent dentition, according to the ICD (International Classification of Diseases). The corresponding tables and percentile analysis were elaborated. There was a high incidence of syndromic patients with different types of anomalies, such as taurodontism (50%), proven anodontia (20.2%), suspected anodontia (10.7%), conic teeth (8.3%) and impacted teeth (5.9%). In conclusion, patients with Down syndrome presented a high incidence of dental anomalies and, in most cases, the same individual presented more than one dental anomaly.