Early class III protraction facemask treatment reduces the need for orthognathic surgery: a multi-centre, two-arm parallel randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether patients who had received early class III protraction facemask treatment were less likely to need orthognathic surgery compared with untreated controls. This paper is a 6-year follow-up of a previous clinical trial. DESIGN: Multi-centre 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Eight United Kingdom hospital orthodontic departments. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy three 7- to 9-year-old children. METHOD: Patients were randomly allocated, stratified for gender, into an early class III protraction facemask group (PFG) (n = 35) and a control/no treatment group (CG) (n = 38). The primary outcome, need for orthognathic surgery was assessed by panel consensus. Secondary outcomes were changed in skeletal pattern, overjet, Peer Assessment Rating (PAR), self-esteem and the oral aesthetic impact of malocclusion. The data were compared between baseline (DC1) and 6-year follow-up (DC4). A per-protocol analysis was carried out with n = 32 in the CG and n = 33 in the PFG. RESULTS: Thirty six percent of the PFG needed orthognathic surgery, compared with 66% of the CG (P = 0.027). The odds of needing surgery was 3.5 times more likely when protraction facemask treatment was not used (odds ratio = 3.34 95% CI 1.21-9.24). The PFG exhibited a clockwise rotation and the CG an anti-clockwise rotation in the maxilla (regression coefficient 8.24 (SE 0.75); 95% CI 6.73-9.75; P < 0.001) and the mandible (regression coefficient 6.72 (SE 0.73); 95% CI 5.27-8.18; P < 0.001). Sixty eight per cent of the PFG maintained a positive overjet at 6-year follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences between the PFG and CG for skeletal/occlusal improvement, self-esteem or oral aesthetic impact. CONCLUSIONS: Early class III protraction facemask treatment reduces the need for orthognathic surgery. However, this effect cannot be explained by the maintenance of skeletal cephalometric change.

An Unusual Allergic Response to Orthodontic Treatment.

This paper describes a case of a 13-year-old patient with a systemic hypersensitivity reaction to orthodontic treatment. Her allergy was investigated resulting in a provisional diagnosis of pressure urticaria. The aetiology, diagnosis and clinical management of allergic reactions to dental procedures are discussed.

Is early Class III protraction facemask treatment effective? A multicentre, randomized, controlled trial: 3-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of early class III protraction facemask treatment in children under 10 years of age at 3-year follow-up. DESIGN: Multicentre randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-three patients were randomly allocated, stratified for gender, into early class III protraction facemask group (PFG) (n = 35) and a control/no treatment group (CG) (n = 38). OUTCOMES: Dentofacial changes were assessed from lateral cephalograms and occlusal changes using the peer assessment rating (PAR). Self-esteem was assessed using the Piers-Harris children's self-concept scale, and the psychosocial impact of malocclusion with oral aesthetic subjective impact score (OASIS) questionnaire. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) signs and symptoms were also recorded. The time points for data collection were at registration (DC1), 15 months later (DC2) and 3 years post-registration (DC3). RESULTS: The following mean skeletal and occlusal changes occurred from the class III starting point to DC3 (3-year follow-up): SNA, PFG moved forwards +2·3° (CG forward +1·6°; P = 0·14); SNB, PFG moved forwards +0·8° (CG forward +1·5°, P = 0·26); ANB, PFG class III base improved +1·5° (CG stayed about the same at +0·1°; P = 0·001). This contributed to an overall difference in ANB between PFG and CG of +1·4° in favour of early protraction facemask treatment. The overjet was still improved by +3·6 mm in the PFG and changed a small amount +1·1 mm in the CG (P = 0·001). A 21% improvement in PAR was shown in the PFG and the CG worsened by 8·4% (P = 0·02). There was no increase in self-esteem (Piers-Harris score) for PFG compared with the CG (P = 0·56) and no statistically significant difference in the impact of malocclusion (OASIS) between groups in terms of the changes from DC1 to DC3 (P = 0·18). TMJ signs and symptoms were very low at DC1 and DC3. CONCLUSIONS: The favourable effect of early class III protraction facemask treatment undertaken in patients under 10 years of age, is maintained at 3-year follow-up in terms of ANB, overjet and % PAR improvement. The direct protraction treatment effect at SNA is still favourable although not statistically significantly better than the CG. Seventy per cent of patients in PFG had maintained a positive overjet which we have defined as ongoing treatment success. Early protraction facemask treatment does not seem to influence self-esteem or reduce the patient's personal impact of their malocclusion at 3-year follow-up.

Is early Class III protraction facemask treatment effective? A multicentre, randomized, controlled trial: 15-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of early class III protraction facemask treatment in children under 10 years of age. DESIGN: Multicentre, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Eight UK hospital orthodontic units. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-three patients were randomly allocated, stratified for gender, into an early class III protraction facemask group (PFG) (n = 35) and a control/no treatment group (CG) (n = 38). OUTCOMES: Dentofacial changes from lateral cephalograms and occlusal changes using the peer assessment rating (PAR). Self-esteem was assessed using the Piers-Harris children's self-concept scale, and the psychosocial impact of malocclusion with an oral aesthetic subjective impact scores (OASIS) questionnaire. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) signs and symptoms were also recorded. The time points for data collection were at registration (DC1) and 15 months later (DC2). RESULTS: The following mean skeletal and occlusal changes occurred from the class III starting point: SNA, PFG moved forwards 1.4 degrees (CG forward 0.3 degrees; P = 0.018); SNB, PFG moved backwards -0.7 degrees (CG forward 0.8 degrees; P<0.001); ANB, PFG class III base improved +2.1 degrees (CG worsened by -0.5 degrees; P<0.001). This contributed to an overall difference in ANB between PFG and CG of 2.6 degrees in favour of early protraction facemask treatment. The overjet improved +4.4 mm in the PFG and marginally changed +0.3 mm in the CG (P<0.001). A 32.2% improvement in PAR was shown in the PFG and the CG worsened by 8.6%. There was no increased self-esteem (Piers-Harris score) for treated children compared with controls (P = 0.22). However, there was a reduced impact of malocclusion (OASIS score) for the PFG compared with the CG (P = 0.003), suggesting treatment resulted in slightly less concern about the tooth appearance. TMJ signs and symptoms were very low at DC1 and DC2 and none were reported during active facemask treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Early class III orthopaedic treatment, with protraction facemask, in patients under 10 years of age, is skeletally and dentally effective in the short term and does not result in TMJ dysfunction. Seventy per cent of patients had successful treatment, defined as achieving a positive overjet. However, early treatment does not seem to confer a clinically significant psychosocial benefit.

The management of hypomineralized first permanent molar teeth.

UNLABELLED: This article describes the prevalence, aetiology, pathology, clinical presentation and management of hypomineralized permanent molar teeth. Examples of different clinical cases are described showing an array of treatment regimes depending on the severity of the disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This paper discusses the prevalence and aetiology of hypomineralized molars. Presentation and management is illustrated by clinical cases of varying degrees of severity.

Treatment of temporomandibular disorder in a viola player--a case report.

UNLABELLED: Viola and violin players seem to be predisposed to TMD. This case report illustrates an example where this occupation caused problems and required treatment. The case was managed with a modified Anterior Repositioning Splint (ARPS) that the patient wore while playing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common within the population. Certain factors can predispose or make one more susceptible. This case report highlights viola players who are predisposed to TMD.

Good night, squashbite: a 'how to' paper on better wax occlusal records.

During the technical stages of dental treatment, a dental technician may only be able to unite a set of dental casts in a 'best-guess' relationship, unless they are either able to examine the patient themselves, or are given further information about the occlusal position chosen during the clinical procedure. The most common method for this is to use some form of occlusal record, which can be created from a variety of techniques and materials, such as either one of the dental waxes or one of the more recently introduced syringable materials. This paper describes a better technique for using dental wax to make occlusal records. The 'squashbite' technique has no place in clinical dentistry for those attempting to obtain accurate results.