White spot lesion-related perception of aesthetics and treatment satisfaction among orthodontic patients, orthodontists and other dental specialists.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of various degrees of white spot lesions (WSLs) of maxillary anterior teeth on the aesthetic perception and treatment satisfaction among orthodontic patients, orthodontists and other dental specialists and to evaluate the differences among the three groups. METHODS: A total of 45 orthodontic patients (OP), 45 orthodontists (OR) and 45 other dental specialists (OS) were recruited. Subjective evaluations of perceived aesthetics and treatment satisfaction were performed towards eight digitally generated photographs of maxillary anterior teeth with incremental degrees of WSLs using a numerical visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 100. Data were collected and analysed with descriptive statistics, repeated one-way analysis of variance and multivariable generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: A total of 135 valid questionnaires were collected. Regarding aesthetic scores for WSLs, OP gave more positive scores than OR and OS (p < .05) towards excessive white spot formation without colouration and were more tolerant than OR (p < .05) towards excessive white spot formation with slight colouration. The level of treatment satisfaction for slight to severe WSLs without cavitation was higher in OP than OR. Patients with higher education levels had more negative scores for aesthetic perception and treatment satisfaction (p < .05). Patients who brushed teeth more frequently scored lower in treatment satisfaction (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontists were the most critical when evaluating aesthetics and treatment satisfaction for slight to severe WSLs without cavitation. For orthodontic patients, better oral hygiene habits and higher education levels were associated with more critical attitudes towards WSLs.

Evaluation of the impact of orthodontists' smile with malocclusions on social media and professional credibility.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed laypeople's perceptions of orthodontist credibility based on malocclusions and whether these views affect their choice to seek treatment. Eye-tracking technology and questionnaires were utilized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-five lay raters, through eye tracking and a questionnaire, assessed 12 images of orthodontists with malocclusions. Malocclusions were categorized by the Index Of Treatment Need (IOTN) as grade 1 (near ideal), 3 (anterior crowding), and 5 (with diastemas). Fixation points were recorded, and credibility was gauged via questionnaires. A Mentimeter word cloud was generated. RESULTS: IOTN 1 orthodontists were viewed as more credible than IOTN 3 (p < 0.001) and 5 (p < 0.001). Raters were more willing to receive treatment from IOTN 1 orthodontists. The focus for IOTN 1 was between eyes and mouth, while IOTN 3 and 5 were on the mouth. "Crooked teeth" and "spacing" were predominant in word clouds for IOTN 3 and 5. CONCLUSION: Orthodontists with an IOTN grade 1 rating were perceived as more competent, reliable, and professional, thus making it more likely for laypeople to choose them as their preferred providers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The smiles of professionals play a significant role in laypeople's decision to choose them as their orthodontist, and strategic utilization of social media can effectively deliver health information to a larger audience in a faster and more direct manner.

Influencing factors of examiner: Examples from certificated orthodontists board examination.

BACKGROUND: The rating result reflects not only the performance of the candidate but some extent of the examiner's preference. Examiner bias could be objective, which means it can't be changed by the examiner like gender, age, race, educational level, or professional experience. No study about examiner bias was performed in the dental education realm, especially in the orthodontic field. Therefore, this study aimed to figure out possible influencing factors in examiners from examples of the Taiwan Board of Orthodontist examination. METHODS: The examiner groups comprised 29 males and 21 females selected from the certificated Taiwan Board of Orthodontists. Every examiner would receive a series of lectures about rating standards before the exam. The score data were collected from 2009 to 2019. RESULTS: As for the univariate regression model of the Taiwan Board of Orthodontist examination, the experienced examiner with a certification of more than 15 years tends to rate more leniently, but female examiners tend to rate harsher. The scores would increase with the examiner's age in both the univariate regression model of self-prepared and assigned cases. CONCLUSION: As for the multivariate model of self-prepared exams, the elder and the examiner who work in private practice clinics tend to rate more leniently. As for the multivariate model of the assigned case exam, the score would be only affected by age. However, further studies are necessary to determine the direct relation among these factors.

Aesthetic assessment of maxillary lateral and canine implant-supported crowns by laypersons and orthodontists.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to evaluate how laypersons and orthodontists evaluate and rank aesthetic parameters of an implant-supported crown (ISC) on the canine position (ISC-C) and lateral position (ISC-L). METHODS: A digital survey of 11 cases, 5 ISC-C, 5 ISC-L and 1 control case without ISC, was distributed to 207 laypersons and 296 orthodontists. All cases included one extraoral photograph and three intraoral photographs. The respondents were asked to identify the ISC and to evaluate the aesthetic parameters regarding colour of the implant (CI), shape of the implant (SI) and gingival colour around ISC (GCI). Differences within and between the groups were tested using Chi-2-test and Independent-Samples t-test. RESULTS: All invited laypersons and 184 orthodontists (62% response rate) answered the survey. Orthodontists (89%) more correctly identified the ISC, regardless of its position, than laypersons (50%) (p < 0.001). Both laypersons (54%) and orthodontists (23%) rated higher proportions of acceptance of CI, SI and GCI in favour for the ISC-L than ISC-C (laypersons: 40%, orthodontists: 10%) (p < 0.001). Assessing each parameter separately, orthodontists rated higher for ISC-L, compared to the ISC-C (p < 0.001). In general, laypersons and orthodontist ranked tooth colour (mean, standard deviation [SD]:8.0,1.5 and 9.0, 1.0) and tooth shape (mean, SD: 8.0, 1.7 and 8.8, 1.2) as aesthetically higher than the gingival colour (mean, SD: 7.2, 2.2 and 8.0, 1.7) (p > 0.001).  Conclusion: Laypersons and orthodontists consider the ISC-L as aesthetically more preferable, compared to the ISC-C.

The impact of dental midline angulation towards the facial flow curve on the esthetics of an asymmetric face: Perspective of laypeople and orthodontists.

PURPOSE: The objective of the present article was to evaluate the impact of dental midline angulation in asymmetrical faces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A full-portrait image was used to create a set of digitally modified images with a different degree of facial asymmetry, towards the right and the left side of the face respectively. Half of the images were designed with an equivalent angulation of the dental midline in respect to the curve of the lower third of the face and half of them without. Through a web survey, 250 laypeople and 250 orthodontists were asked to assess the attractiveness of each image separately. RESULTS: As the asymmetry of the face was increased, facial attractiveness was further decreased both for laypersons and orthodontists. For each one of the modified images, when the dental midline was following the curve that was formed from the inclination of the simulated asymmetry of the face, the smile attractiveness scores were significantly higher compared to a straight dental midline. CONCLUSION: Facial asymmetries derived from the inclination of the nose, the chin and the commissural line of the lips can significantly affect the smile attractiveness. An orientation of the dental midline towards the facial asymmetry in order to follow the facial curve, can be beneficial for the smile attractiveness compared to a perpendicular to the face dental midline. During the design of a smile, clinicians have to take into consideration deviations in facial midline, in order their restorations to be in harmony with the rest of the face. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: During the design of a smile, clinicians have to take into consideration deviations in the facial midline, in order their restorations to be in harmony with the rest of the face.

Cephalometric analysis performance discrepancy between orthodontists and an artificial intelligence model using lateral cephalometric radiographs.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present clinical study was to compare the Ricketts and Steiner cephalometric analysis obtained by two experienced orthodontists and artificial intelligence (AI)-based software program and measure the orthodontist variability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 lateral cephalometric radiographs from 50 patients were obtained. Two groups were created depending on the operator performing the cephalometric analysis: orthodontists (Orthod group) and an AI software program (AI group). In the Orthod group, two independent experienced orthodontists performed the measurements by performing a manual identification of the cephalometric landmarks and a software program (NemoCeph; Nemotec) to calculate the measurements. In the AI group, an AI software program (CephX; ORCA Dental AI) was selected for both the automatic landmark identification and cephalometric measurements. The Ricketts and Steiner cephalometric analyses were assessed in both groups including a total of 24 measurements. The Shapiro-Wilk test showed that the data was normally distributed. The t-test was used to analyze the data (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The t-test analysis showed significant measurement discrepancies between the Orthod and AI group in seven of the 24 cephalometric parameters tested, namely the corpus length (p = 0.003), mandibular arc (p < 0.001), lower face height (p = 0.005), overjet (p = 0.019), and overbite (p = 0.022) in the Ricketts cephalometric analysis and occlusal to SN (p = 0.002) and GoGn-SN (p < 0.001) in the Steiner cephalometric analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between both orthodontists of the Orthod group for each cephalometric measurement was calculated. CONCLUSIONS: Significant discrepancies were found in seven of the 24 cephalometric measurements tested between the orthodontists and the AI-based program assessed. The intra-operator reliability analysis showed reproducible measurements between both orthodontists, except for the corpus length measurement. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The artificial intelligence software program tested has the potential to automatically obtain cephalometric analysis using lateral cephalometric radiographs; however, additional studies are needed to further evaluate the accuracy of this AI-based system.

A review of oral pathology in orthodontics. Part 1: Soft-tissue pathology.

Orthodontists are well placed to detect soft-tissue disease of the oral cavity and associated structures because of the frequent repeat examinations of their patients. This review describes the clinical manifestations, pathologic features, and treatment of the soft-tissue pathology most likely to be encountered by the orthodontist and uncommon soft-tissue disease with significant implications for the patient. The recognition of soft-tissue disease will allow reassurance, referral, and early intervention when required.

2023-2024 American Board of Orthodontics practice analysis study: Part 1.

As a specialty board, the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) serves to protect the public and the orthodontic specialty by certifying orthodontists. The demonstration of commitment to lifelong learning and self-improvement is critical to achieving the highest level of patient care. The ABO completed a practice analysis study in 2023 to ensure all examinations represent current assessments of proficiency in orthodontics at a level of quality that satisfies professional expectations. The practice analysis is essential to providing a demonstrable relationship between the examination content and orthodontic practice and provides a critical foundation for ABO's examination programs.

Gender disparity of invited speakers at the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session: A cross-sectional analysis 2015-2023.

INTRODUCTION: The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Session aims to educate members using expert speakers in the field. Selection to speak is an honor and can help further an orthodontist's career and credibility. A European study found a significant gender discrepancy in selected speakers at their orthodontic meeting. This has not been investigated in the United States. METHODS: Speaker names from the 2015-2023 AAO Annual Sessions were obtained and analyzed for gender and then compared with active membership and orthodontic faculty percentages. In addition, the gender of each General Chair and Doctors' Program Chair was analyzed and then compared with the female speaker and membership percentages. Because AAO research award winners are selected blindly, show expertise in the field, and are provided an opportunity to speak at the Annual Session, their gender was also confirmed and compared with membership percentage and female speaker percentage. Two-way chi-square tests were used, and P values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Mann-Kendall trend tests analyzed any potential changes in gender representation among AAO active memberships and AAO Annual Session speakers. RESULTS: Female doctors were underrepresented as speakers (P values ranged from <0.001 to <0.05) in every year studied except 2020 compared with active membership and female faculty percentages. Female doctors were also significantly underrepresented as Annual Session General Chairs and Doctors' Program Chairs (P <0.01). The difference in female doctor representation among research awards winners (63%) compared with the Annual Session speakers (19%) was highly significant. Female representation in AAO active membership shows a significant increase from 2015 to 2023. The ratio of female-to-male speakers appears to be increasing but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Female doctors are underrepresented as selected speakers at the AAO Annual Session but comprise the majority of research award recipients. Efforts to provide opportunities for women to showcase their knowledge should be implemented.

Association between crowding estimation and extraction recommendations in orthodontics.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about how precisely orthodontists in the United States (US) assess crowding or at what range of crowding they recommend extraction. This study aimed to assess the relationship between estimated crowding in patients with a Class I relationship and extraction recommendation by orthodontists in the US. The secondary aims were to evaluate the accuracy and precision of clinician estimations and determine if clinician background traits play a role in extraction decision-making. METHODS: An electronic survey was prepared using 4 patients with a Class I relationship with anterior crowding selected from a University Orthodontics Clinic and was sent to approximately 10,400 subjects through Facebook and the American Association of Orthodontists Partners in Research program. RESULTS: From the 297 responses received, most clinicians recommended extraction once crowding reached 9-10 mm in either the maxilla or the mandible. The data from 2 patients suggest this decision was more strongly correlated with mandibular crowding. Clinician estimations varied widely but, on average, were precise within approximately 2 mm of objective measurements. There was a tendency to overestimate crowding, especially by Northeastern practitioners. Clinicians who reported routinely measuring crowding or who reported that they recommended extractions to >10% of their patients were 1.2-2.0 and 1.4-1.6 times more likely, respectively, to recommend extraction in the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Crowding estimation was highly subjective and varied widely among clinicians. Most clinicians recommended extraction once maxillary or mandibular crowding approximated 9-10 mm. Some clinician demographics were correlated with the precision and accuracy of estimations and the likelihood of extraction in the patients.

Why orthodontists need to know about molar incisor hypomineralization.

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a systemic developmental qualitative defect of the enamel that affects 1-4 first permanent molars with or without incisor involvement. Enamel hypomineralization is identified visually as a demarcated opacity with a clear border with varying extensions and can be white, yellow, or brown. This opacity is characterized by a reduced quality of enamel that is of normal thickness but not fully mineralized. It is very common for the affected teeth to present with posteruptive breakdown, making them susceptible to caries, leading to their subsequent loss. Thus, MIH is a significant dental problem with clinical, economic, and psychosocial implications. The planned extraction of compromised teeth is a valid alternative to complex restorative treatment. Orthodontists' involvement is essential in developing effective treatment strategies for children affected by MIH, contributing to their oral health and well-being.

Enhancing skeletal stability and Class III correction through active orthodontist engagement in virtual surgical planning: A voxel-based 3-dimensional analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Skeletal stability after bimaxillary surgical correction of Class III malocclusion was investigated through a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the maxilla and the distal and proximal mandibular segments using a 3-dimensional voxel-based superimposition among virtual surgical predictions performed by the orthodontist in close communication with the maxillofacial surgeon and 12-18 months postoperative outcomes. METHODS: A comprehensive secondary data analysis was conducted on deidentified preoperative (1 month before surgery [T1]) and 12-18 months postoperative (midterm [T2]) cone-beam computed tomography scans, along with virtual surgical planning (VSP) data obtained by Dolphin Imaging software. The sample for the study consisted of 17 patients (mean age, 24.8 ± 3.5 years). Using 3D Slicer software, automated tools based on deep-learning approaches were used for cone-beam computed tomography orientation, registration, bone segmentation, and landmark identification. Colormaps were generated for qualitative analysis, whereas linear and angular differences between the planned (T1-VSP) and observed (T1-T2) outcomes were calculated for quantitative assessments. Statistical analysis was conducted with a significance level of α = 0.05. RESULTS: The midterm surgical outcomes revealed a slight but significantly less maxillary advancement compared with the planned position (mean difference, 1.84 ± 1.50 mm; P = 0.004). The repositioning of the mandibular distal segment was stable, with insignificant differences in linear (T1-VSP, 1.01 ± 3.66 mm; T1-T2, 0.32 ± 4.17 mm) and angular (T1-VSP, 1.53° ± 1.60°; T1-T2, 1.54° ± 1.50°) displacements (P >0.05). The proximal segments exhibited lateral displacement within 1.5° for both the mandibular right and left ramus at T1-VSP and T1-T2 (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of fully digital planned and surgically repositioned maxilla and mandible revealed excellent precision. In the midterm surgical outcomes of maxillary advancement, a minor deviation from the planned anterior movement was observed.

Quality assessment of available Internet information on early orthodontic treatment.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the content, reliability, quality and readability of information on Internet websites about early orthodontic treatment. METHODS: The "early orthodontic treatment" search term was individually entered into four web search engines. The content quality and reliability were reviewed with DISCERN, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), and Health on the Net code (HONcode) tools using the contents of websites meeting predetermined criteria. The readability of websites was evaluated with Flesch Reading Facilitate Score (FRES) and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). RESULTS: Eighty-six websites were suitable for inclusion and scoring of the 200 websites. 80.2% of websites belonged to orthodontists, 15.1% to multidisciplinary dental clinics and 4.7% to professional organizations. The mean DISCERN score of all websites (parts 1 and 2) was 27.98/75, ranging between 19 and 67. Professional organization websites had the highest scores for DISCERN criteria. Moreover, 45.3% of websites were compatible with JAMA's disclosure criterion, 7% with the currency criterion, 5.8% with the authorship criterion and 5.8% with the attribution criterion. Only three websites met all JAMA criteria, and these websites belonged to professional organizations. None of the websites had the HONcode logo. Mean FRES and FKGL were 47.6 and 11.6, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of web-based information about early orthodontic treatment is poor, and readability is insufficient. More accurate and higher quality Internet sources are required on the web.

Evaluating the impact of social media marketing from the perspective of orthodontists.

OBJECTIVE: In developed countries, orthodontists utilize social media platforms as a pivotal component of their marketing strategies. However, there exists a gap in understanding the broader perspective of healthcare professionals on the utilization of social media in healthcare service delivery. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the perceptions of healthcare professionals in Turkey regarding the integration of social media within healthcare service delivery. MATERIALS & METHODS: This cross-sectional study, conducted between January and February 2023, surveyed 378 members of the Turkish Orthodontic Society. The survey consisted of two parts: a demographic questionnaire with 28 items and a 21-item "Social Media Marketing Activities Scale," developed with input from three experts. Data analysis will include an explanatory factor analysis. This study provides a snapshot of orthodontists' perspectives on social media marketing practices. RESULTS: When participants' views of patient communication through social media were examined, 19.8% said they "thought it was right" and 80.2% said they "thought it was wrong". The treatment and treatment alternatives shared with patients through social media were implemented in 16.5% of cases and not implemented in 83.5% of cases. When examining the social media accounts used by participants to communicate with patients, 56.8% used personal accounts, 43.2% used professional accounts, and when analyzing the social media accounts they used for promotional purposes, 15.8% had personal accounts, 84.2% of them used professional accounts. More than half (59.8%) of orthodontists believed that communicating with patients on social media could cause legal problems. The majority of orthodontists (88.7%) followed their competitors. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of participants' use of social media posts for advertising purposes was low, and it was determined that the main reason for this was the prohibition of advertising in the provision of health services.

Performance of dental students, orthodontic residents, and orthodontists for classification of midpalatal suture maturation stages on cone-beam computed tomography scans - a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of midpalatal suture maturation on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans is performed by visual inspection and is therefore subjective. The extent to which the assessment of midpalatal suture maturation is affected by rater experience has not been adequately explored in the existing literature, thus limiting the availability of evidence-based findings. This study compared the outcomes of classification by dental students, orthodontic residents, and orthodontists. METHODS: Three different groups of students, orthodontic residents, and orthodontists evaluated 10 randomly chosen CBCT scans regarding midpalatal suture maturation from a pool of 179 patients (98 female and 81 male patients) aged 8 - 40 years which were previously classified by evaluating CBCT scans. The pool was set as benchmark utilizing midpalatal suture maturation classification by one examiner (OsiriX Lite version 11.0; Pixmeo SARL, Bernex, Switzerland). For assessment of intra-rater reliability of the examiners of each group the randomly chosen subjects were reclassified for midpalatal suture maturation after a wash-out period of two weeks by using the same software. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate intra- and interrater reliability of the three groups with differing experience level. RESULTS: Groupwise intra-rater reliability assessment between the classification and reclassification was weak for examiners with a low level of experience (k = 0.59). Orthodontists had highest degree of agreement with regard to benchmark classification with an inter-rater reliability to be considered as moderate (k = 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of midpalatal suture maturation on CBCT scans appears to be a subjective process and is considerably related to the experience level of the examiner. A high level of clinical experience seems to be favorable but does not necessarily ensure accurate results.

Orthodontic management of traumatized teeth: a survey among orthodontists.

BACKGROUND: Information on previous traumatic dental injuries is important as they can lead to increased complications during orthodontic treatment and impact the treatment planning and outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of Jordanian orthodontists in orthodontic management of traumatized permanent teeth. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey among active registered orthodontists using a questionnaire distributed by hand. RESULTS: The study included 139 orthodontists. Nearly half of orthodontists treated between one to three patients with a history of traumatic dental injuries in the past 3 months. Only 43.2% of the participant asked routinely about history of trauma. A vast discrepancy in times waited before orthodontic movement and in the orthodontic management approach of traumatized teeth was noted. A statistically significant negative relationship between age and knowledge level was found (p = 0.002). A significantly higher level of knowledge was found among participants who had fellowship or board certification than those having the high diploma degree (P-0.032) and also who had treated patients with history of dental trauma in the last 3 months than those who did not (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of the surveyed orthodontists in both the recommended observation period before orthodontic treatment and management approaches of traumatized teeth during orthodontic treatment was insufficient. Years of clinical experience significantly affected knowledge, with older participants having lower levels of knowledge. Orthodontists who treated patients with history of dental trauma in the last 3 months had significantly higher knowledge in orthodontic management of traumatized teeth. Orthodontists needs to be aware of the proper timing and strategies on orthodontic management of traumatized permanent teeth to improve the long term prognosis and to reduce further complications during orthodontic treatment through proper management.

Prophylactic third molar removal: are oral surgeons and orthodontists aligned in preventive approaches?

BACKGROUND: There is a general consensus among dental professionals regarding the extraction of impacted third molars in the presence of clinical symptoms. However, there is less agreement on the management of asymptomatic third molars. The objective of this study is to compare the perspectives of oral surgeons and orthodontists regarding the indications for the extraction of asymptomatic third molars. It is possible that healthcare professionals from different specialties may approach the extraction of these teeth in different ways. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a web-based questionnaire has been employed to collect data by inquiring about the reasons why participants prefer the extraction of asymptomatic third molars. Descriptive statistics were employed to evaluate the data obtained. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Prophylactic extraction of partially impacted molars was more favored among the participants (P < 0.05). The orthodontists preferred prophylactic extraction due to the risk of late anterior dental crowding (LADC); however, the oral surgeons preferred pre-pregnancy extractions (P < 0.05). The extraction decision for partial impaction was higher in females when the risk of distal caries was considered. For fully impacted ones, it was higher in males when the risk of caries and pericoronitis were considered (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontists preferred extraction because of the risk of LADC and caries, while oral surgeons focused on preventing pericoronitis, pathology, focal infection, and symptoms during pregnancy. This divergence between the participants may inform the guidelines for prophylactic management of third molars. These findings may be pertinent in gender medicine. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has been enlightening for departments to consult each other before the extraction of a patient's asymptomatic third molar.

Evaluation of the diagnostic ability of the Fränkel manoeuvre to detect the contributing jaw in angle class II division 1 malocclusion.

BACKGROUND: A correct diagnosis of patients with an Angle Class II malocclusion is needed to guide treatment decisions toward the contributing jaw and to achieve better treatment outcomes. The aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the Fränkel manoeuvre (FM) for detecting the components determining sagittal discrepancy in Angle Class II division 1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anonymous questionnaires containing photographs were distributed totwo groups: general practitioner (GP) dentists and orthodontists. The level of the patient's profile aesthetics before (T0) and after (T1) the manoeuvre was determined using a 100 mm visual analog scale, and the 'profile improvement' score was defined as T1 minus T0. The diagnostic ability of the FM was calculated by comparison with lateral cephalometry as a reference standard using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 102 respondents participated in the survey; 40 were orthodontists, and 62 were GP dentists. According to the post-FM images, the "profile improvement" score (T1-T0) was significantly greater in patients with mandibular retrusion than in those with maxillary protrusion (p < 0.05). The predictive power of FM, coinciding with the area under the ROC curve, was 0.62 for GPs and 0.78 for orthodontists. CONCLUSIONS: The FM method is a useful and accurate tool for diagnosing skeletal Angle Class II malocclusion etiology (mandibular retrusion or maxillary protrusion), especially when used by orthodontists.

Orthodontists' use of remote monitoring platforms pre-, amid, and post-COVID-19: a survey study.

BACKGROUND: Did the COVID-19 pandemic affect orthodontists' use of remote monitoring platforms? The goal of this research was to examine orthodontists' experiences implementing remote monitoring platforms before, during, and after the initial COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional survey study, an electronic, anonymous questionnaire consisting of a series of 31 short-answer and multiple-choice questions was administered to an international sampling of practicing orthodontists. The target population in the study included currently practicing orthodontists who were graduates of an accredited orthodontic residency program. Participants were recruited in 2021 through collaboration with the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Partners in Research Program and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Orthodontic Alumni Association. Descriptive analysis was conducted, reporting frequency (N and %) distributions for each question. The questionnaire aimed to describe whether orthodontists incorporated remote monitoring platforms into their practices, their experiences doing so, and if the COVID-19 pandemic influenced their use of these resources. RESULTS: Orthodontists' use of remote monitoring platforms was negligible prior to the pandemic; however, a quarter of surveyed orthodontists began using a remote monitoring platform during COVID-19 and nearly all respondents plan to continue using remote monitoring for the foreseeable future. Approximately half of orthodontists believe most patients' treatment progress can be monitored to the standard of care between in-person orthodontic appointments using remote monitoring platforms. Half of the orthodontists who do not currently use a remote monitoring platform in their practice are interested in learning more about how to implement one. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the interest and adoption of remote monitoring platforms in orthodontic practices. Most orthodontists had not incorporated remote monitoring platforms into their practices prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this study revealed that a subset of orthodontists utilized the pandemic as motivation to incorporate remote monitoring into their practices and an additional group of orthodontists were interested in incorporating one in the future. Remote monitoring platforms garnered interest and importance with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and may only have an increasing role in the field in years to come.

Oral maxillofacial surgeons and Orthodontists' perceptions about anterior inferior crowding and indications of mandibular third molar extraction.

BACKGROUND: There are still many doubts about anterior inferior crowding and indications of mandibular third molar extraction, although it is very studied subject in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of oral maxillofacial surgeons (OMFSs) and orthodontists about anterior inferior crowding and indications of mandibular third molar extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A web-based survey was developed and sent to professionals in order to collect their opinion about the fact that third lower molars cause crowding and questions about the indication of third molars for orthodontic treatment. Descriptive analysis was performed and Chi-square or G tests were applied with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The study included a total of 218 participants, of whom 115 were OMFSs and 103 were orthodontists. The results showed that 56.5% of OMFSs and 35.0% of orthodontists believe that the lower third molars cause anterior inferior crowding (p<0.001). A total of 91.3% of OMFSs and 70.9% of orthodontists indicate the extraction of lower third molars to aid orthodontic treatment (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that in being an oral maxillofacial surgeon, a higher odds ratio is observed to consider that lower third molars cause dental crowding compared to those who are orthodontist. The indication of exodontia of lower third molars for orthodontic treatment was more frequent among OMFSs when compared to orthodontists.