Alveolar bone changes in the mandibular incisors after genioplasty, a three-dimensional study.

INTRODUCTION: Functional genioplasty aims to achieve lip competence at rest and reduces lip pressure against the mandibular incisors. The purpose of this study was to describe the radiographic changes in alveolar bone of the mandibular incisors after functional genioplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam CT images from 36 patients were compared between immediate (T0) and delayed postoperative period (T1). The mean time to complete the second imaging was 10.9 ± 4.7 months. Dental and bone parameters were assessed: the vestibular bone height (BH), the bone thickness (BT) with regard to the apex of the central incisor (BT2) and at equidistance between the cementoenamel junction and the dental apex (BT1). The existence of fenestrations, the apical-root resorption and the incisor-mandibular plane angle (IMPA) were also collected. RESULTS: No significant change occurred in the BH. BT was improved of a mean 47.9% and 53.6% at the BT1 level on #31 and #41, respectively (p1=0.01 and p2=0.02, respectively); and of 53.0% at the level of the apex of both mandibular central incisors (p1=0.003 on #31 and p2=0.009 on #41). No difference in the number of fenestrations was observed between T0 and T1. A significant decrease in the root length on both mandibular incisors was observed on the delayed CBCT (from 21.96 ± 1.35 to 21.68 ± 1.32 mm for #31, p=0.0007; from 22.26 ± 1.66 to 21.96 ± 1.48 mm for #41, p=0.002). Finally, the IMPA remained stable between the two examinations with a mean 106.1 ± 7.38° vs 105.8 ± 6.51° (p=0.38). CONCLUSION: Functional genioplasty favours the alveolar bone formation of the mandibular central incisors, probably by direct bone grafting, but also by the relaxation of the perioral and chin musculature.

Alveolar bone changes after tooth-borne surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion: A three-dimensional study.

INTRODUCTION: Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) with a dental-anchorage appliance can induce dental and skeletal complications adjacent to the teeth supporting the device. The purpose of this study was to quantify the dentoskeletal changes observed after SARME using a tooth-borne device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam CT images from 39 patients were compared between the preoperative (T1) and the postoperative period (T2). The mean time to complete the second imaging was 13.8 ± 6.9 months after the SARME. Dental and bone parameters were assessed: the vestibular bone height (BH), the bone thickness (BT), the existence of fenestrations, and the root resorption at the level of first upper premolar (P1) and the first upper molar (M1). The maxillary expansion parameters were also collected. RESULTS: Both vertical and horizontal vestibular bone loss were observed mainly in the first upper molar sectors: The BT decreased from 0.93 ± 0.50 mm to 0.53 ± 0.51 mm (p < 0.0001) and the BH decreased from 1.84 ± 1.05 mm to 0.93 ± 1.02 mm (p < 0.0001) for tooth #16. The bone loss also affected the first upper premolars but in a more limited manner. Significant fenestrations were observed at the apex of the mesio-vestibular root of teeth #16 and #26. We noted significant root resorption affecting the mesio-, disto-vestibular and palatal roots of tooth #16 (mean reductions of 0.32, 0.35, and 0.55 mm, respectively; p < 0.05), and the palatal root of tooth # 26 (loss of 0.58 mm; p = 0.004). The mean bone expansion was 3.76 mm and 1.41 mm at the premolar and molar levels, respectively (p < 0.0001), while a mean 6.24 mm and 4.23 mm inter-cuspid expansion was noted at the P1 and M1 levels (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results document the vestibular bone changes and low root resorption, mostly in the molar sectors, associated with SARME using dental-anchorage devices.

Effect of 970 nm low-level laser therapy on orthodontic tooth movement during Class II intermaxillary elastics treatment: a RCT.

This prospective randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy on tooth movement during Class II intermaxillary elastics treatment. Forty-two patients with Class II malocclusion were included, and their maxillary quadrants were allocated into two groups: treatment with an active diode laser and a placebo group. In each group, the time taken to obtain Class I occlusion after 6 months, rate of movement, total displacement of the maxillary canine to Class I occlusion and pain were recorded. The time to reach Class I occlusion in the active laser group (2.46 ± 2.1 months) was not significantly different from that in the placebo group (2.48 ± 2.0 months) (p = 0.938). Interestingly, the total distance of movement on the active laser side (2.27 ± 1.5 mm) was significantly greater than that on the placebo side (1.64 ± 1.3 mm) (p = 0.009). The pain levels on days 1, 2 and 3 were not significantly different between the laser and placebo sections. The rate of distance change toward Class I occlusion in the laser group (1.1 ± 0.7 mm/month) was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (0.74 ± 0.6 mm/month) (p = 0.037). Low-level laser therapy (970 nm) did not reduce the time needed to obtain Class I occlusion, but a significant acceleration in tooth movement was observed in the irradiated group.Trial registration: NCT02181439. Registered 04 July 2014- https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=cinelaser .

Variability of slot size in orthodontic brackets.

Objective: The accuracy of the information incorporated into brackets is a determining factor for the efficacy of torque applied to teeth. The aim of this study was to compare the dimensions of a bracket's slots with the nominal values announced by the manufacturer. Materials and methods: A total of 730 maxillary right central brackets manufactured by seven companies (Dentsply Gac, American Orthodontics, Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, GC Orthodontics, 3M Unitek, and Dentaurum) were studied. The sample included 0.018 × 0.025 and 0.022 × 0.028 in., metal and ceramic, conventional and self-ligating brackets. Images were obtained with an Olympus BX51 optical microscope. Slot dimensions were measured at the base and at the face on both mesial and distal sides using ImageJ software. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon, sign tests, two- and three-way ANOVA, and Tukey's tests. Intraclass correlation coefficient was employed to assess the intraobserver and interobserver variability. The threshold for statistical significance was p ≤ .05. Results: Statistical analysis showed that the slot dimensions of 90% to 97% of studied brackets were significantly different from nominal values. In general, slot size was oversized, with a face size larger than the base size. Comparison between mesial and distal sides showed that up to 45% of the brackets were significantly asymmetrical. The manufacturer had a significant effect for base and face widths (p = .0001) and for length (p = .003). Conclusion: This study shows that a large proportion of measured brackets displays dimensional inaccuracies when compared with stated values. Clinically, the slot oversize and the divergence of slot walls cause an increase of wire-slot play, inducing a loss of torque control. Practitioners cannot fully trust the precision of used appliances and should be aware that adjustments could be needed in the finishing stages of the treatment.

Gingival biotype assessement: visual inspection relevance and maxillary versus mandibular comparison.

OBJECTIVE: This clinical study was aimed at evaluating the accuracy of gingival visual inspection procedures during clinical examination and determining whether differences existed between the maxillary and mandibular gingival biotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 53 patients and 124 clinicians. The clinicians were asked to assign to each subject, using photographic documents, one of three biotypes: thin-scalloped, thick-scalloped, or thick-flat gingival biotype. A total of 19716 responses were collected for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Identification accuracy of the gingival biotype and the intra-examiner repeatability presented poor highlighting of the limited relevance of visual inspection. In addition, the percent of agreement between classifications based on the global view of both the maxilla and mandible and the classification based on the individual mandibular or maxillary anterior teeth was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Based on the above results, it can be concluded that a simple visual inspection is not effective for the identification of gingival biotype. Furthermore, evidence suggests that a difference of biotype between the maxilla and the mandible in the same patient is conceivable. Therefore, orthodontic clinical examination should incorporate a reproducible method of determining the individualized gingival biotype for each group of teeth that will be moved.

[Orthodontic tooth displacement: histology, biology and iatrogenic effects]. / Le déplacement dentaire orthodontique : histologie, biologie et effets iatrogènes.

Iatrogenic effects of orthodontic forces, in particular root resorption, are described in the literature. However, our knowledge on the risk of osseous defects induced by orthodontic treatment is still scarce. After an overview of histological and biological principles of orthodontically-induced tooth movement, this study focuses on the recent data concerning the occurrence and the treatment of bone resorption associated with orthodontic treatment.