Rotational relapse of anterior teeth following orthodontic treatment and circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Several factors cause relapse of orthodontically de-rotated teeth after appliance removal. Circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy (CSF) may release the tension on the supra-alveolar fibers following tooth de-rotation, thereby reducing the relapse risk. However, careful identification of the amount and location of relapse enables proper clinical evaluation. We aimed to determine the amount of orthodontic relapse following CSF for de-rotated anterior teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with 90 orthodontically de-rotated anterior teeth were enrolled. CSF was performed after orthodontic treatment, during fixed retainer placement. Rotational correction and relapse were measured on three casts (preorthodontic treatment, cast 1; postorthodontic treatment + CSF, cast 2; and 12-month follow-up, cast 3). The Wilcoxon test was used to assess significant differences in the tooth rotation angles between casts 1 and 2 and casts 2 and 3. The relationship between the magnitude of relapse and pretreatment severity of rotation was assessed by the point biserial correlation test. The Mann-Whitney U test helped in identifying significant differences in the amount of relapse between maxillary and mandibular teeth. RESULTS: The mean amount of rotational correction was 14.05°, while the mean amount and percentage of relapse were 1.1° and 10.8%, respectively [0.81° (8%) and 1.44° (14%) for maxillary and mandibular teeth, respectively]. The relapse amount was proportional to the pretreatment rotation severity, and it was larger for the mandibular canines. There was no significant difference in the amount of relapse between the maxillary and mandibular teeth (P = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Post-treatment rotational relapse of anterior teeth subjected to CSF was minimal and statistically insignificant after 1 year of follow-up. This validates the promising results of CSF when combined with appropriate mechanical retention for an adequate period.

Cephalometric evaluation for Saudi population using the Downs and Steiner analysis.

The purpose of this study is to formulate cephalometric norms of the Saudi population; and to evaluate whether significant cephalometric differences exist between Saudi and Caucasian patients. Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 60 selected Saudis (30 males and 30 females) with esthetically pleasing and harmonious faces, Angle I molar relationship, with all permanent teeth present and no history of orthodontic treatment or facial trauma, age range between 20 and 30 years were analyzed using the Downs and Steiner analysis. The means, standard deviations, and ranges of the measurements were compared with the norms established by Downs and Steiner. Statistically, several significant differences were noticeable in the results of the present study when the cephalometric mean values for the selected Saudi population were compared with the norms suggested for a white Caucasian population by Downs and Steiner. The results of the present study are significant and showed normal Saudis have a slightly protrusive maxillae, a tendency to Class II facial pattern, and a high mandibular plane angle. These results have clinical implications in the diagnosis and treatment of adult Saudis with dentofacial deformities.

Facial esthetics in a selected Saudi population.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the soft tissue cephalometric norms of the Saudi population and to evaluate whether significant cephalometric soft tissue differences exist between Saudi and Caucasian population. METHODS: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 40 selected Saudis with esthetically pleasing faces (20 males and 20 females). The study was carried out in the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 1999 - 2001. The age range between 20 and 30 years was analyzed using Burstone system of soft tissue analysis. The means, standard deviations and ranges of the measurements were compared between males and females, and both figures correlated with the results obtained for a Caucasian population. RESULTS: Statistically, the facial convexity angle (glabella-subnasale-soft tissue pogonion) was found to be less convex for the Saudi group; the maxillary prognathism was more anterior, and the upper and lower lip positions were more anterior. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study are significant, and showed that the normal Saudis have a slightly lesser obtuse nasolabial angle, and a more anteriorly positioned upper and lower lips. These results have a clinical implication in the diagnosis and treatment of adult Saudis with dentofacial deformities.

Time of eruption of primary dentition in Saudi children.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the mean and standard deviation of eruption for primary dentition in children from Saudi Arabia and to compare it with another sample of full-term children who are clinically healthy between the ages of 4-40 months. The results were significantly different from available literature on eruption patterns in children. Moreover, there is a slightly delayed eruption of primary teeth in Saudi children when compared to Caucasians. However, the order of eruption of primary teeth was the same as reported in other studies.