Comparison of orthodontic treatment need by professionals and parents with different socio-demographic characteristics.

The aim of this study was to compare the socio-demographic features and self-perception of parents concerning the malocclusion of their children with the orthodontist's opinion of normative orthodontic treatment need. The parents of 208 children (101 girls and 107 boys, between 9 and 18 years: mean 12.8 ± 2.5), who sought orthodontic treatment were asked to score the dental attractiveness of their children using the aesthetic component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). These scores were then compared with those of the orthodontist, who also scored the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the IOTN. The influence of the socio-demographic features of the parents on both the orthodontist- and parent-rated IOTN scores was assessed. The AC grade of the IOTN and patient characteristics were tested with the Spearman's correlation coefficient (rho). The difference between the two dependent variables (orthodontists' and parents' AC grade) was compared using Wilcoxon's test. A high need for orthodontic treatment was recorded in 74.0 per cent of the subjects. Although orthodontists rated 51.4 per cent of the patients as having a severe malocclusion on aesthetic grounds, only 33.6 per cent of parents rated their child malocclusion as severe. Although socio-demographic factors were not related to the parents' perception of malocclusion, they had an influence on orthodontic treatment need as assessed by the orthodontist. Parents, in this study population, rated their children's orthodontic treatment need less severely than the orthodontist regardless of their socio-demographic characteristics. Thus, orthodontists should involve parents in the orthodontic treatment decision-making process.

Microbiological evaluation of octenidine dihydrochloride mouth rinse after 5 days' use in orthodontic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the absolute and relative antibacterial activity of octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT) against total and cariogenic bacteria in saliva samples of patients with fixed orthodontic appliances during 5 days of usage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 5 male and 13 female subjects who were selected from patients in the Clinic of Orthodontics. Each patient was given physiologic saline (PS), chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex (PVP-I), and OCT every morning for 5 days, each separated by a 2-week interval. Total and cariogenic bacteria in saliva samples of orthodontically treated patients with fixed appliances were collected during 5 days of usage. Unstimulated saliva was collected as a baseline sample. Saliva samples were collected at 15 minutes, and on the second, third, and fifth day after rinsing the mouth with any of the solutions for 30 seconds, and bacterial counts were detected. RESULTS: OCT showed an ultimate reduction of total viable oral bacteria, Lactobacillus species, and Streptococcus mutans in vivo. OCT also had a significantly greater inhibitory effect than 0.2% CHX and 7.5% PVP-I, from the beginning of the study until the fifth day after the orthodontic appliances were bonded (P < .1). CONCLUSIONS: OCT compared favorably with respect to CHX and PVP-I complex in orthodontically treated patients with fixed appliances (P

Evaluation of craniofacial morphology of children with dental fluorosis in early permanent dentition period.

OBJECTIVES: High intake of fluoride (>1.5 mg/L) for a prolonged period may lead to skeletal fluorosis as well as dental fluorosis. The aim of this study was to compare the craniofacial characteristics of children with dental fluorosis in early permanent dentition period to those without fluorosis. METHODS: Two hundred and sixteen children in early permanent dentition (girls:121, boys:95) were included in the study. Study group was composed of 124 children with dental fluorosis who was born and grew up in Isparta (girls:75, boys:49) whereas control group of children (n=92: 46 girls and 46 boys) had no dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis was classified using Thylstrup Fejerskov Fluorosis Index. Radiological evaluation was performed by cephalometric tracing using Björk analysis. Statistical evaluation in between study and control groups was done by Independent Samples T test and comparison with Björk's standards was done by One Sample T test analysis. The association between two quantitative variables was evaluated with Pearson's correlation coefficient (rho). RESULTS: The mean dental fluorosis level was 4.6+/-1.8 for children with fluorosis. Systemic fluorosis affect girls no different than boys in the early permanent dentition period because none of the angular measurements show significant difference between boys and girls in the fluoridated group. Comparison of craniofacial angular values of boys with fluorosis show greater diversity compared to boys without fluorosis against Björk's mean values for boys. CONCLUSIONS: Craniofacial morphology of children with fluorosis did not show great diversity than the ones without fluorosis in the early permanent dentition period. None of the angular measurements were significantly different between boys and girls in the fluoridated group which might imply that systemic fluorosis did not show gender difference in the early permanent dentition. (Eur J Dent 2009;3:304-313).

Short-term relative antibacterial effect of octenidine dihydrochloride on the oral microflora in orthodontically treated patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of common antiseptic mouth rinses and octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT). METHODS: The antibacterial activities of antiseptics against total and cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus species) in saliva were studied in vitro and in vivo. After unstimulated saliva was collected, one of the mouth rinse solutions was applied for 30seconds. Saliva samples were collected 15, 30, 60, and 120min later and evaluated for their bacterial count. RESULTS: OCT had a significantly greater inhibitory effect on the studied bacteria than 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) and 7.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex (PVP-I) from 15min to 120min following the application (p<0.01). The antiseptic efficacy of 0.2% CHX on total bacteria and Lactobacillus species was very similar to the efficacy observed with 7.5% PVP-I mouth solution from 15min up to 120min. Streptococcus mutans was completely inhibited by 0.15mg/ml PVP-I, 0.5mg/ml CHX, and 0.1mg/ml OCT concentrations, while Streptococcus salivarius was inhibited by 0.15mg/ml PVP-I, 2mg/ml CHX, and 0.8mg/ml OCT concentrations. Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis was inhibited with 0.00313mg/ml OCT, 30mg/ml PVP-I, and 0.0063mg/ml CHX concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: OCT compared favorably with CHX and PVP-I in its antibacterial effects, both in vitro and in vivo (p<0.01).