Craniofacial Evolution: From Australopithecus to Modern Man.

ABSTRACT: Through the analysis and evaluation of the size and morphology of teeth and jaws, it is possible to differentiate animal species including man, allowing the theory of human evolution to be established. Hominin evolution is characterized by two main features, the transition to bipedality and the increase in brain size. This had an important impact on the structure and function of the hominine skull. The aim of this article is to retrace the evolutionary steps that led to Homo Sapiens, the direct ancestor of modern man. For the following paper, scientific articles from Medline (PubMed) and Google Scholar database were used from 1929 to 2018. Hominid evolution is characterized by 2 main features, the transition to bipedality and the increase in brain size. The fossils found show that both trends have had an important impact on the morphology and function of the skull of modern man. The basicranial flexion and growth have led to the facial modifications typical of modern man. The main changes concern the mandibular evolution with the appearance of the chin, the formation of the Spee curve due to mandibular arch growth, the formation of the temporomandibular joint as a hinge joint with a sliding socket as the condyle and a better function and maximum efficiency than its predecessors thanks to respect for the divine proportions of the face. Knowledge of ontogenesis allows us to know the factors underlying human form and function, analyze and evaluate them in the clinical context.

The Application of the Divine Proportion for the Construction of the Visualized Treatment Objective in Craniofacial Surgery.

ABSTRACT: Aesthetics and function of maxillofacial district are closely related and could interfere with patient psychological conditions. The aim of this paper is to describe and to analyze the procedures necessary for a proper surgical visualized treatment objective (VTO) realization through the use of the tracing on lateral head film, applying the divine proportion (or golden ratio) in certain steps. The method described is easy to realize, cheap and help both orthodontist and maxillo-facial surgeon to communicate each other and to the patients.For the following article, digital research and handheld research on surgical VTO planning for patients with skeletal or dentoalveolar severe deformities managed by surgeons and orthodontics were used. The research included articles in English published on dental and maxillofacial surgery journals.The surgical VTO consists of a "previsualization" of the objectives in order to make the desired changes for the individual patient. The result can thus be visualized and pre-evaluated rather than just imagined by the mind's eye. To simplify the procedure, the surgical VTO has been divided into 11 steps. The accurate model of the surgical result is fundamental in the treatment of dentofacial deformities. These predictions are intended to guide the treatment towards the desired result, to give the patient a reasonable preview of the outcome, and to ensure communication between the orthodontist and the surgeon.This technique proves to be effective in planning surgical treatment and it allows the clinician to view changes before, during, and after orthognathic surgery. The skeletal, dental, and aesthetic complete cephalometric evaluation is the key point to the long-term success of the results.

Multicenter clinical trial on dental implants survival rate: a FDS76® study.

BACKGROUND: Implantology, thanks to its predictability in oral rehabilitations, has become a widespread method for rehabilitating edentulous patients, offering excellent patient satisfaction. Improving the quality of oral health, especially if rehabilitation involves minimal short and long-term complications, leads to an improvement in the quality of life of our patients. METHODS: This clinical study was conducted to evaluate the short and long-term complications (up to 18 months) of implant-prosthetic rehabilitations performed with a new dental implant (FDS76®, Italy). RESULTS: The results showed a limited number of complications or implant failures. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing the latter could certainly help improve both surgical and dental materials performance.

Evaluation of structural skeletal asymmetry of the glenoid fossa in adult patients with unilateral posterior crossbite using surface-to-surface matching on CBCT images.

OBJECTIVES: To compare, using surface-to-surface (StS) matching, any shape differences between the crossbite and noncrossbite side of the glenoid fossa and articular eminence in adult patients affected by posterior unilateral crossbite (PUXB) and compare them with unaffected controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 32 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients (mean age: 23.72 ± 3.74 years) undergoing surgical maxillary expansion were analyzed to obtain three-dimensional models of the left and right glenoid fossae that were superimposed using stable anatomical reference points and then compared using StS matching to evaluate the presence of any shape differences. These findings were compared with those obtained from 16 CBCT scans of unaffected controls (mean age: 23.72 ± 3.73 years). RESULTS: A mean difference of >11% was found between the study group and controls when comparing the matching percentages of the two sides of the glenoid fossa and articular eminence at all three levels of tolerance selected for this study. These differences were found to be highly statistically significant (P ≤ .0001). CONCLUSIONS: According to the shape analysis findings, adult PUXB patients exhibit a higher degree of glenoid fossa and articular eminence shape differences compared to unaffected controls.

Dental Office Prevention of Coronavirus Infection.

Coronavirus disease is now spreading in different countries of the world. The alarmism created through the media also creates confusion in people about virus spreading. The health care environments among which the dental practice could be places of spread of the virus, especially places where patients with systemic pathology could be exposed to this. The purpose of this article is to clarify coronavirus disease 2019 and its management in the dental practice. Only by following the normal guidelines on disinfection and sterilization of environments and operators, with some additional rules on the management of patients in the waiting room, it is possible to limit this risk. Limiting the risk of spreading the virus is one of the keys to its eradication.