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Palatoradicular Groove: An endoperiodontal continuum, Diagnosis and Management
Kumar P1, Kumar D2*, Sonowal ST3
1 Senior Resident, Unit of periodontics, Oral Health Sciences Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.
2 Ex Senior Resident, Unit of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Health Sciences Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.
3 Senior Lecturer, Unit of Periodontics, Mansarovar Dental College, Bhopal, Madha Pardesh, India.
*Corresponding Author
Dr. Dinesh kumar,
Ex Senior Resident, Unit of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery,
Oral Health Sciences Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research,
Chandigarh, India.
Tel: +91 9855995525 (M)
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Received: November 13, 2015; Accepted: January 08, 2016; Published: January 12, 2016
Citation: Kumar P, Kumar D, Sonowal ST (2016) Palatoradicular Groove: An endoperiodontal continuum, Diagnosis and Management. J Translational Clin Case Rep Fam Physician. 2(1), 9-12.
Copyright: Kumar D© 2016. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
A 28-year-old man presented to the department of periodontology with chief complaint of recurrent swelling with pus discharge in the vestibular area of maxillary right lateral incisor since 3 weeks. On clinical examination a periodontal pocket of 12 mm was noted on palatal aspect in middle third running towards apex. On radiographic interpretation an irregular radiolucency at apex gave a suspicion of palatoradicular groove, which was then explored and managed surgically along with bone graft.
2.Case Report
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of the periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone [1]. It results from the interaction of the host defense mechanism with the dental plaque microorganisms [2]. Local factors such as irregularities in root anatomy, developmental abnormalities, subgingival restoration margins and overhanging dental restorations play a significant role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Inherent anatomic and morphologic features of the teeth can have a significant impact on the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of the involved tooth/teeth [3].
Anatomic aberrations are often seen in the human dentition. The maxillary incisor region of the permanent dentition where these anatomical aberrations are commonly seen is considered an area of embryonic hazard. Aberrations affecting the external and internal morphology can at times be the cause of complex pathological conditions involving the pulpal and periodontal tissues and can pose a challenge to the clinician for diagnosis and clinical management. One such anatomical aberration is a developmental groove involving the crown and extending a variable distance onto the root. The palatal surface of the maxillary lateral incisor and labial surface of the maxillary central incisor are most commonly involved. Such developmental grooves affecting maxillary lateral incisors are termed palatoradicular grooves (PRG). This anomaly has also been termed radicular anomaly, palatogingival groove, distolingual groove and radicular lingual groove [4, 5, 6, 7]. This anomaly can pose dilemmas for diagnosis and clinical management. A majority of palatoradicular grooves (93.8%) affect maxillary lateral incisors, and may result from an infolding of the enamel organ and the epithelial root sheath of Hertwig. Some have suggested that the anomaly results from an attempt to form another root [8]. Kovacs (1971) called this anomally 'syndesmo-corono-radicular tooth' [9]. These grooves act as a nidus for plaque accumulation which destroys the sulcular epithelium and later deeper parts of the periodontium, finally resulting in the formation of a severe localized periodontal lesion since proper cleaning of that site is difficult, if not impossible, for the patient. These grooves may also lead to combined endodonticperiodontal lesions, since there might be a communication between the pulp canal system and the periodontium through accessory canals. The prognosis of teeth affected by this anomaly depends upon the depth and extension of the groove. Shallow grooves may be corrected by odontoplasty in conjunction with periodontal treatment. However, when the groove is more advanced, treatment of the tooth is almost always doomed to be a failure either because of pulpal or periodontal breakdown.
A case is presented of a maxillary lateral incisor with a shallow palatoradicular groove extending up to the root apex with severe periodontal destruction. The tooth was successfully managed by restorative and surgical periodontal therapy.
With a prevalence of 2–5% the PRGs are one of the rare anomalies of tooth development [10]. Also it has been found that most of the grooves exhibit a length of more than 5 mm. The origin of PRG has been explained as a result of the alteration in the growth of inner enamel epithelium and Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS). Along with having numerous similarities to dens invaginatus, it has also been considered as an aborted attempt for the formation of an additional root [11]. Some authors have also suggested a genetic preponderance of this groove [12]. PRGs have been classified as simple and complex; while simple groove results from partial infolding of HERS, the complex one is characterized by direct communication with pulp. The most complex form of groove may even separate an accessory root from the main root trunk. Based on location they are classified as distal, mesial and central pattern. The distal pattern is most common and has been witnessed in approximately 70% of cases [13].
This report includes a case involving PRG and describes the relationship between the PRG, its affects on the periodontium, and the clinical management of such situations.
Case Report
A 28-years-old male patient reported with the chief complaint of swelling in the gums with pain in the right upper anterior tooth. Clinical examination revealed an abscess in the vestibular area of maxillary right lateral incisor and a deep periodontal pocket in the palatal aspect measuring 12 mm with an associated PRG. The same tooth was Grade II mobile. A periapical radiograph revealed a radiolucent area in relation to the apex of maxillary right lateral incisor with mild bone loss (Horizontal type) in coronal one third of the root (Figures1, 2, 3). Patient's general medical history was taken and was found to be non-relevant. The etiology of the patient's chief complaint was explained to him and written consent was taken. The initial treatment protocol, consisted of scaling and root planing followed by endodontic treatment as the lesion was endo- periodontal in nature (Figure 4). The abscess resolved completely and the mobility reduced to Grade I in severity. After a period of two months of post endodontic treatment, a full thickness flap was reflected to reveal the full extent of the groove. It also was noted that the interdental area distal to the maxillary right lateral incisor contained a large amount of granulation tissue (Figure 5). On the palatal aspect the groove extended to the apical third of the root. Scaling and root planing were carried out to remove the subgingival calculus and the granulation tissue was curetted. Due to extensive loss of bone, additive osseous surgery involving placement of a bone graft (PerioGlass) was carried out. The groove was restored to obliterate the defect, using glass ionomer restorative material to eliminate further plaque retention and its recurrence (Figures 6, 7). Sutures were placed and the patient was prescribed antibiotics and analgesics (amoxicillin 500 mg TID for five days and ibuprofen 400 mg TID for three days) (Figure 8). The patient was advised to use chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash (0.12 percent) to supplement his oral hygiene regimen. Sutures were removed after ten days. The patient was instructed in proper oral hygiene measures and motivated to maintain his oral hygiene at a higher level to prevent recurrence of the disease. Healing was uneventful with satisfactory patient compliance. It was followed by supportive periodontal therapy. Patient was recalled for routine check up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, postoperative. Clinical examination revealed a reduction in Pocket depth to 4mm with radiographic evidence of significant bone fill in the apical area. No recurrence of pus discharge or sinus formation was noted (Figure 9).
Palatoradicular groove is a rare developmental anomaly with a prevalence of 2-5% [7, 14]. This range represents different occurrences in different populations and sub-populations. Palatal grooves occur frequently on the maxillary lateral incisors, but less frequently on central incisors [15]. Also it has been found that most of the grooves exhibit a length of more than 5 mm. The origin of PRG has been explained as a result of the alteration in the growth of inner enamel epithelium and Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS). Along with having numerous similarities to dens invaginatus, it has also been considered as an aborted attempt for the formation of an additional root [12]. Some authors have also suggested a genetic preponderance of this groove [13]. For the sake of understanding, PRGs have been classified as simple and complex [12]. While simple groove results from partial infolding of HERS, the complex one is characterized by direct communication with pulp. The most complex form of groove may even separate an accessory root from the main root trunk. Based on location they are classified as distal, mesial and central pattern. The groove is more likely to form on the lateral surfaces (60 percent) than in the mid-palatal region (40 percent) [16]. The distal pattern is most common and has been witnessed in approximately 70% of cases [15]. However, Kogon [15] found the groove to be more frequently present on the mid- palatal regions. Hou [10] and Bacicet [16], postulated the distal and mesial locations of the groove to be more harmful than a midpalatal groove. This was because far more plaque accumulates in these regions, where it is difficult to remove. The occurrence of grooves extending from cingulum to apex, as in this case, appears to be extremely rare [7]. The diagnosis of the PRG may sometimes present a diagnostic dilemma because the patient usually presents with myriad signs and symptoms related to a true periodontal lesion or a true endodontic problem or sometimes a combination of both i.e., endo-periodontal lesion. Use of a disclosing agent may prove valuable because it can fill up the depressed groove area and visually differentiate the groove from sound tooth structure. In many cases it has been reported that delayed or improper treatment of a pathological groove was the consequence of an improper diagnosis. As suggested by Robinson, early diagnosis of PRG requiring periodontal treatment would simplify the treatment and improve the prognosis [16].
Various treatment modalities have been suggested that depend on the severity of the periodontal defect and type of groove (deep or shallow). Ramirez [17], Holem [18] and Everett and Kramer [7] suggested a curettage procedure with or without a flap and odontoplasty for shallow grooves. But the use of this method in deep grooves is questionable because of the excessive wear and tear of dentin which is obvious. Lee et al., [19] recommended doing an apically repositioned flap and placing amalgam in the groove. Rankow and Krasner [20] advocated surgical exposure of the defect and flattening of the groove by grinding with a highspeed diamond bur or fine stone, with or without application of the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) technique. Everett and Kramer [7] advised that if the groove is very deep, the prognosis is usually hopeless. On the other hand, if the groove is not deep with only shallow periodontal pocket, closed curettage is usually recommended to prevent attachment loss. If an open flap curettage is used to treat this condition, then expect a loss of periodontal attachment rather than a gain. When dealing with pockets of moderate depth, a flap surgery is advised along with sealing of the groove with a restorative material such as glass ionomer cement, dental amalgam, or a light-activated, resinbased composite. The principal disadvantage of these procedures may be the formation of a long junctional epithelium instead of a true regeneration of the lost attachment apparatus. This is because it also has been shown that when restorative materials are used to seal the groove, the result typically is a reduced epithelial attachment in that region. However, the advantages of using a sealant like glass ionomer cement are this material's ability to provide a tight seal and its antibacterial property. When a sealant of some type is used, it prevents the formation of a dead space between the gingival flap and the depressed groove.
The rationale for using antibiotics in this case was to support individual host defenses in overcoming periodontal infections by eliminating subgingival pathogens that remain after periodontal instrumentation [21] and to prevent the systemic complications that may arise from a transient bacteremia following the surgical procedure. In this case, bone graft was used to fill the bone defect. The grooves were sealed with glass ionomer cement. This restorative material is known to have many advantages, such as the ability to bond chemically to enamel and dentin, biocompatibility, good cavity seal, as well as ease of use and low cost [22, 23]. Apart from these advantages, glass ionomers have a unique antibacterial property [20].
Perhaps the best technique or treatment option can be the use of GTR or enamel matrix derivatives, which usually show true regeneration of the lost attachment apparatus. In spite of all these treatment procedures, if periodontal maintenance at regular intervals is not carried out following any or all of these treatments, there is a greater likelihood of failure.
- Van Dyke TE, Lester MA, Shapira L (1993) The role of the host response in periodontal disease progression: implications for the future treatment strategies. J Periodontol 64(8 Suppl): 792-806.
- Offenbacher S (1996) Periodontal diseases: pathogenesis. Ann Periodontol 1(1): 821-878.
- Matthews DC, Tabesh M (2000) Detection of localized tooth-related factors that predispose to periodontal infections. Periodontol 34: 136-150.
- Prichard JS (1965) Advanced Periodontal Therapy. WB Saunders Co, Philadelphia.
- Lee KW, Lee EC, Poon KY (1968) Palato-gingival grooves in maxillary incisors. A possible predisposing factor to localised periodontal disease. Br Dent J 124(1): 14-18.
- Simon JH, Glick DH, Frank AL (1971) Predictable endodontic and periodontal failures as a result of radicular anomalies. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 31(6): 823-826.
- Everett FG, Kramer GM (1972) The disto-lingual groove in the maxillary lateral incisor: a periodontal hazard. J Periodontol 43(6): 352-361.
- Peikoff MD, Trot JR (1977) An endodontic failure caused by an unusual anatomical anomaly. J Endod 3(9): 356-359.
- Kovacs I (1971) A systemic description of dental roots. In Dental Morphology and Evolution. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. 223-225.
- Hou GL, Tsai CC (1993) Relationship between palate-radicular grooves and localised periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol 20(9): 678-682.
- Schwartz SA, Koch MA, Deas DE, Powell CA (2006) Combined endodontic- periodontic treatment of a palatal groove: A case report. J Endod 32(6):573-578.
- Goon WW, Carpenter WM, Brace NM, Ahlfeld RJ (1991) Complex facial radicular groove in a maxillary lateral incisor. J Endod 17(5): 244-248.
- Ennes JP, Lara VS (2004) Comparative morphological analysis of the root developmental groove with the palato-gingival groove. Oral Dis 10(6): 378-382.
- Withers JA, Brunsvold MA, Killoy WJ, Rahe AJ (1981) The relationship of palato-gingival grooves to localized periodontal disease. J Periodontal 52(1):41-44.
- Kogon SL (1986) The prevalence, location and conformation of palatoradicular grooves in maxillary incisors. J Periodontol 57(4): 231-234.
- Bacic M, Karakas Z, Kaic Z, Sutalo J (1990) The association between palatal grooves in upper incisors and periodontal complications. J Periodontol 61(3): 197-199.
- Ramirez JM (1984) Management of a periodontal lesion associated with a lingual groove. Oral Health 74: 23-25.
- Holem S (1978) The radicular groove. J Am Dent Assoc 97: 441-444.
- Rankow HJ, Krasner PR (1996) Endodontic applications of guided tissue regeneration in endodontic surgery. J Endod 22(1): 34-43.
- Schäfer E, Cankay R, Ott K (2000) Malformations in maxillary incisors: case report of radicular palatal groove. Endod Dent Traumatol 16(3): 132-137.
- Slots J, Research, Science and Therapy Committee (2004) Systemic antibiotics in periodontics. J Periodontol 75(11): 1553-1565.
- Vanessa SL, Alberto C, Robert SB (2000) Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the palato-gingival groove. J Endodontics 26(6): 345-350.
- Robinson SF, Cooley RL (1988) Palatogingival groove lesion: recognition and treatment. Gen Dent 36(4): 340-342.


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Zac Posen Pre-Fall 09 Collection
I don't understand the technical merits of women's clothing in the same way I do men's apparel. Plunging necklines, high-slit dresses fit my fancy and catch my eye. None of those appear to be present in the Zac Posen pre-fall collection but I love it all the same. [ Continue Reading ]

subset: commoncrawl


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Cartel Buster
Obama empowers law-enforcement agencies to go after Mexican drug syndicates and their stateside enablers.
The Change-o-Meter is now a widget. You can add it to your blog, Web site, or profile with just a few clicks. (Shortcut for Facebook here.)Each time we publish a new column, the widget will automatically update to reflect the latest score.
President Obama empowers those fighting the Mexican drug cartels but takes the hit for a National Security Agency that got a little too empowered. Obama scores a 26 on the Change-o-Meter.
On the same day he begins his Latin American tour, Obama is stepping up American efforts against Mexican drug cartels in an effort to curb the increasingly violent drug war south of the border. By adding the cartels to a federal bad-guy list, Obama expands the government's power to seize cartels' assets and to prosecute U.S. companies that traffic in drugs and weapons or that launder money. It may not be the highly coordinated police effort Slate's Jorge Castaneda insists is vital to any serious effort to temper cartel violence, but Obama gets 30 points for beginning to treat border violence with the urgency it requires.
Back home, Obama fleshed out his vision for high-speed rail projects, for which the stimulus package budgeted more than $8 billion. His speech blended the specifics of his ambitions with pure, childlike wonder at the prospect of really fast trains: "Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination," he said this morning. The 'Meter awards 10 points for the president's kid-with-a-new-Brio-set enthusiasm.
But Obama takes a hit for the New York Times' discovery that the National Security Agency has spent the last few months collecting e-mail and telephone calls from private citizens far beyond its already-broad legal scope. Obama's Justice Department said the issue had been resolved, but the fact that the Obama team worked on the issue under the radar is highly unsettling. (The Senate agrees, promising an inquiry.) Subtract 15 for the Bush déjà vu, with more to come if this turns out to be less accidental than the administration claims.
Finally, Obama gets a point for his continued popularity, which is looking particularly high in contrast with the nation's tea parties. The president owes a certain MSNBC commentator for rendering impotent and hilarious the tea-baggers' efforts at protesting.
There's a lot to cover, so we want to hear your thoughts on what the Change-o-Meter should be taking into account. No detail is too small or wonky. E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.


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Allergies are painful and affect most of us. It can be as simple as itching or constant sneezing but can also be much more. I have first hand experienced a new set of allergies after moving to the south. A constant need to have eyedrops and tissue paper nearby and always having to explain why I am teary. We all hate allergy season and that's not all.
Not only can allergies cause these symptoms that we can see, it can also make us tired. Allergy fatigue is a real thing that many people are unaware or ignore it. I have seen people go from super productive to sleepy and tired due to these allergies. It's time to find out why you are tired and if it's indeed the symptoms of allergy fatigue.
What is Allergy Fatigue?
This is a symptom that some people experience, especially those with a known history of allergies. It can affect the mood and energy level almost immediately. Not only can it affect you for immediately, it can drain your energy for consecutive days.
Allergy fatigue is hidden as other symptoms such as nasal congestion or itchiness take over. It's critical to understand what this is and be able to tell from the symptoms. From there you can take steps to treat it and get rid of this annoyance.
How can you tell your fatigue is due to allergies?
One of the most critical steps of this is to correctly diagnose yourself. We recommend you verify these findings with your doctor to make sure. Fatigue is also a symptom in other issues such as UTI or hypertension, so it's crucial the symptoms are consistent.
Fatigued symptoms includes drowsiness, so if you feel yourself extra tired or sleepy then it checks off one potential aspect. In addition, you will need to correlate this with your other allergies. Do you have the same itchiness or teary eyes as you would when you get allergies? If these match, there's a good chance that you also suffer from allergy fatigue.
What can you do to help?
The easiest way is to continue with the treatment that you are given when you have allergies. For many of us who suffer from allergy fatigue, simply getting on a generic allergy medicine treats the symptom. This should be the same case for others who also suffer the same tiredness during Spring season.
If at any time the medication doesn't work as expected, be aware that it could be another issue. In that scenario our best suggestion would be to go to a medical professional who can help better assist.
Need more than allergy medicine?
Sometimes the symptoms are so severe that you need more than just antihistamines. I have heard of this affecting some individuals to the point where they need to take the day off. Other treatments for allergies include shots, immunotherapy, which is used in severe cases.
There's also benefits in simply going to the local clinic and figuring out what specifically could be causing your allergies. This will include a detailed history and series of test to determine if your allergies are triggered by pollen, dust, insects, or something else. With this knowledge, you can plan around certain things to lower the severity.
We all can be affected by nature at a higher degree than what we expect. Don't let allergy fatigue or any symptoms of allergies affect your day-to-day life. Take control, and find out how you can better help yourself.


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Bhubaneswar: The Accountant General (AG) of India has sought action taken report from the state government on the irregular land allotment cases pointed out by the auditor earlier.
In a letter to the state chief secretary, the agency asked the government to give it a timeline to send replies on various objections raised by it.
The Central auditors had pointed out irregularities in allotment of government land by different city development agencies and the General Administration (GA) department of the state government between 2009 and 2012.
In the CAG report for the year ended March 31, 2012, it was mentioned that the GA department allotted 464.47 acres in Bhubaneswar in 337 cases during 2000-2012 to individuals, government offices, government undertakings and private bodies for establishment of hotels, hospitals, educational institutions and NGOs.
Of the 464.47 acres allotted land, non-government institutions/organisations were allotted 183.44 acres by the GA department headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who has been at helm since 2000.
The CAG also observed that there was no uniformity in disposal of applications, sanction of concession on premium to be paid, changes in land use plan and resumption of encroached land. It said, proclamations inviting public objections as stipulated in Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules were not published in any of the test checked cases.
After finding the irregularities, the auditor had suggested the government to formulate a comprehensive land allotment policy to bring in transparency and systematic approach to dispose of the applications. The policy must aim to fix responsibility upon officials and should have price fixation mechanism, it added in its recommendation.
As the state government sat over the recommendations, the AG said, it will have to initiate a follow up audit as per the instruction of CAG. The follow up audit will be discussed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), it said in the letter. The PAC is headed by Narasimha Mishra, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.


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make colorcorrector
good work
I LOVE SP-Mapping !!!
make colorcorrector
good work
That's a big moon... Or is it just closer?
PLOT TWIST - the Combine is sending the moon backwards in its orbit!
lol jk - great job Leon!
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.
Final project, new HL2 sp-mod, will be released in april 2010.


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Hello everyone!
I hope everyone had a wonderful week and looking forward to more beautiful weekend! This week was a very hectic one for me, filled with a lot of sewing, periscoping and fun! Periscope is quickly becoming a new addiction for me...it's a way for me to blog quickly and connect with those who follow my sewing journey!
The group I participate in (Pericrafters Facebook Group) has monthly challenges and this month's challenge was a "Wardrobe Builders Challenge". There were four ladies facilitating this challenge by periscoping each piece of New Look pattern 6735. (1 piece per facilitator). Yours truly was facilitating the Cardigan!
Because of an issue I had with the fabric of the first cardigan, I elected to make a second one too. This New Look pattern recommends using knit fabrics with a specific amount of stretch. The first fabric I selected from my stash, is a cream colored sweater knit purchased from the now closed Hancock fabrics. It has a 2-way stretch with minimal recovery. While the pattern guide does not instruction you to stablize the neck & front band, I HIGHLY recommend you do! Following the instruction guide and the type of fabric I was using caused my neck band to stretch considerably! However, I loved the way it turned out, because it looks intentional to me and I'm going to rock it as is, LOL!!
The lesson here...know and test the fabric you're working with and use your own jugdement when following the Pattern guide sheets!
With that said, I decided to create a second wardrobe builder set with a corrected cardigan. This fabric is from my stash and also from Hancock fabric purchased many years ago. It's an acrylic knit with a one-way stretch. The fabric color is stripes of black, cranberry and a mixture of gold & black stripe. There is also gold metallic threads throughout the fabric. (Love this fabric!). This time, I stabilized the neck and front band with a lightweight knit interfacing and it worked beautifully! (Neckband is contrast and matches the tee shirt and pants). I also shortened the cardigan length approximately 1-1/2". I love this set too!!
Tee shirt & pants fabric, black rayon lycra knit from Pennie fabrics Sarasota, FL.
I truly enjoyed this challenge and learned a lot from my fellow facilitators, Ila Allen, Carol Crocker-Ware and Andrea Davis. Now I have a new TNT for a quick cardigan and tee shirt! (I elected not to make the skirt from the pattern).
What have you challenged yourself with lately?
I hope you enjoyed this post and appreciate you stopping by to give me a little of your time!
Happy Sewing!


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Berkeley student, 16, to test English Channel
The swim offers choppy seas, the perils of stinging jellyfish, strong current and cold water
Many try, very few succeed.
Delia Salomon, a Berkeley 16-year-old, hopes to become one of the elite few.
The high school sophomore intends to swim across the English Channel, among the most daunting of all athletic endeavors. It's a feat so rigorous that more people have reached the summit of Mount Everest than have swum to the shores of France.
There's the current - if it's rough, which it usually is, you can wind up drifting toward Belgium.
There's the choppy water - for every forward stroke, you can lose two.
There's the jellyfish - numerous Channel attempts have come to painful, premature ends because of jellyfish stings.
And there's the cold - at 55 or so degrees, the water is so frigid it takes the air out of your lungs.
"I think I can do it," says Delia, an A student at Berkeley High who's completing her sophomore year. "It's a goal I set for myself. It's good to push ourselves, to try to do things that you don't think you can do."
She plans to attempt the Channel crossing in August and said she's excited and a little nervous. But she has been in intense training for more than a year, swimming almost daily either in a pool or in the bay, acclimating herself to cold water.
In March, her preparation hit a bump: She broke her wrist snowboarding.
Her first cast covered much of her right arm and prevented her from training as hard as she wanted. But she regularly sat in ice water to keep acclimated, and she swam with a kickboard and fins. Last month, when she got a second, shorter cast, a liberated Delia was back in the bay.
"Delia is a very strong swimmer," says Rick Arnason, an assistant coach at Golden Bear Swimming, a year-round competitive swim team that's affiliated with USA Swimming. He introduced her to open water swimming a few years ago. "She doesn't have blazing speed, but she excels at endurance and strength."
The Channel is approximately 21 miles across, but because swimmers are pushed around by the tide, they usually wind up swimming many more miles.
The fastest time was just over 7 hours, the slowest almost 27. Delia is planning on 9 hours - Arnason thinks it could take as long as 12 hours, "the equivalent of 36 hours running uphill," he says. The record for youngest swimmer was set in 1983 by a 12-year-old, but the rules of the Channel Swimming Association now require solo swimmers to be at least 16 years old.
The rules also require a land finish, so exhausted swimmers sometimes end up having to climb rocks or cliffs in France to complete the feat. "I'm hoping for sunny weather and a flat tide," says Delia.
Working to gain weight
At a particularly self-conscious time in a teen's life, Delia deliberately put 15 pounds on her 5-foot-6-inch frame to build endurance and help protect her from the cold. A vegetarian, she force-fed herself cheese, butter, pasta and bread. She now weighs 145 pounds.
"I had to really work at it," she says. "I was constantly eating."
Working out with Delia on a recent day was her chum and official pacer, Leore Geller, 18, a graduating senior at Berkeley High who will travel to England with her. They limbered up by stretching and jogging the length of the beach. Then into the water they went.
"The goal is to get their endurance up," says Arnason, as he watched the swimmers along with Delia's other coach, Pedro Ordenes of Water World Swim.
Accompanying the teens in a kayak was Delia's father, Noah.
Delia's mother, Martha, kept track from shore.
To her, it seemed practically destined that Delia would become an ardent swimmer.
"I was miserable when I was pregnant with her - the only time I was comfortable was when I was in a pool," says Martha Salomon, who also has two sons. "She has been my water baby from the get-go."
For a swim across the English Channel, the costs are considerable. Martha Salomon estimates the tab will run at least $20,000. To help raise funds, Delia is selling homemade T-shirts with fish paintings on the front (her mother is reachable by e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com).
They've commissioned a boat pilot who will determine the best time to commence the swim - many Channel swims begin in the middle of the night. Delia's slot is Aug. 6-13.
According to the rules, no wetsuit, no fins, no neoprene caps - Delia will wear only a swimsuit and a thin latex cap.
During the swim, her support boat will be close by. Her team will give her liquids and food, but no one can touch her - provisions will be passed to her on a long stick. Rest stops are permitted, but the swimmer has to tread water.
Since 1875, only 772 swimmers have succeeded in swimming from England to France and only 195 have made the reverse route, according to the Channel Swimming Association.
Four tries and 19 years
It took four tries and 19 years before renowned long-distance swimmer David Yudovin of Cambria, near San Luis Obispo, made it across. That was in 1996 when he was 45.
"A lot of people can't even get in the water; the weather is so bad they have to go home," he says.
His fourth attempt took him 13 1/2 hours. "I was elated beyond belief to walk up on the beach," he says.
Delia says she was inspired to attempt the Channel two years ago after reading a book by legendary marathon swimmer Lynne Cox.
"I thought 'I want to do that one day,' " she says. "This for me is like the Olympics."
Cox, now 51, said the swim requires not only great physical stamina, but also enormous mental strength. Swimmers must calculate their pace, keep track of the support boat and look out for debris.
"I was so hungry," said Cox, who lives in Southern California. "I was practically dreaming of food. All I wanted was a hamburger."
Delia says she spends a lot of time in water "singing in my head."
"People have said to me 'Swimming is boring, why do you bother?' There are times when I get frustrated swimming if I'm going slow or if I'm sore. But then there are days when the water is flat and you can see the whole bay and it is all so pretty."
-- For a video of Delia Salomon's frigid morning swims at Aquatic Park, go to sfgate.com.


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Pennsylvania should halt executions until it can thoroughly study the effect race has on the imposition of death sentences, a blue-ribbon committee appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recommended Tuesday.
Studies conducted in Pennsylvania "demonstrate that, at least in some counties, race plays a major, if not overwhelming role in the imposition of the death penalty," the report said.
The committee called on Gov. Ed Rendell, a death penalty supporter, to use his constitutional authority to grant temporary reprieves. The committee also urged the state Supreme Court to declare a moratorium, "pursuant to its inherent power to issue temporary stays of execution." There was no immediate comment from Rendell or the court, which appointed a committee to study racial and gender bias in the state's courts three years ago.
"The moratorium should continue until policies and procedures intended to ensure that the death penalty is administered fairly and impartially are implemented," said the committee, chaired by Nicholas P. Cafardi, dean of the Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh.


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Scot Hillis at Reuters observes that Microsoft's disappointing 3Q earnings report is causing turmoil that extends beyond Wall Street in Microsoft profit miss may be latest blow to morale:
Microsoft Corp.'s share price may not be the only casualty of the software powerhouse's surprise earnings miss.
It might also hit company morale, becoming the latest gripe of employees who are already disillusioned with product delays and a once high-flying stock that has stagnated for the past three years, analysts said.
"There are some folks who have been there for a long time and who will resent the way things are being run as a bureaucracy. And maybe they were there for the big stock run-up and they're seeing the stock not move now," said Matt Rosoff, analyst with Directions on Microsoft.
"If you think things are not being run well, then yesterday will lend credence to your arguments," Rosoff said.
Minimsft, a popular blog run by a Microsoft employee who advocates a drastic slimming-down of the company, lamented the results, exclaiming: "Yee-ouch! Right in the kisser!"
Wryly remarking on the idea that Microsoft could eventually pull out of the doldrums, the anonymous author wrote: "It is always just a few quarters out. For what, the last five years?"
Head on over to MiniMicrosoft yourself to get the full flavor of the anonymous venting going on.