Does age influence self-perception of the soft-tissue profile in children?

INTRODUCTION: Appreciation of the soft-tissue profile is important in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment. However, are the patients themselves aware of their profile appearance? We aimed to evaluate if age influences self-perception of the soft-tissue profile in children. METHODS: The study population for this prospective cross-sectional investigation consisted of 3 groups of 60 patients, classified according to age (<12 years; 12-15 years; >15 years). Each subject's right-sided facial profile was photographed to obtain a silhouette. Facial profile silhouette templates were created to represent the local population. Each subject's photograph was inserted into the corresponding template, and the subjects were asked to identify themselves. Facial profile self-recognition was recorded as a binary variable (yes or no). Other recorded variables included age, sex, and sexual maturity rating (using Tanner staging). Chi-square tests were used to analyze facial profile self-recognition between different subgroups, and stepwise multiple regression was used to predict the probabilities of facial profile self-recognition, with age, sexual maturity rating, and other recorded variables as independent variables. RESULTS: Eighty percent of subjects aged >15 years recognized their own profile, compared with only 55% and 50% of subjects aged 12-15 years and <12 years, respectively. Subjects aged >15 years were significantly more likely to recognize their profile than younger subjects (P = 0.001). Similarly, subjects with the most advanced sexual maturity rating (stage V) were significantly more likely to recognize their profile (85% self-recognition) than those in groups I-IV (P <0.001). Girls were more likely to recognize their profiles than boys (P = 0.028). When using multiple regression analysis, sexual maturity rating appears to be the only significant predictor for facial profile self-recognition (R2 = 0.25; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Facial profile self-recognition seems to improve with age and sexual maturity (sexual maturity rating stage V). Because orthodontic treatment planning takes possible soft-tissue changes into account, it is important to evaluate the degree of self-perception of the patients to adapt our goals and treatment discussions.

Protection Against Discolouration by Two Over-the Counter Desensitising Products.

PURPOSE: To determine in vitro the protection potential against discolouration of two OTC (over-the-counter) desensitising products on enamel and dentin in comparison to a standard toothpaste and water by means of a spectrophotometer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 96 samples of bovine enamel-dentin complex and 48 of bovine dentin were alternatively immersed in red wine, tea, coffee or water after having been treated by a sodium monofluorophosphate- and calcium phosphate-based product (Curodont Protect), an amine fluoride-based toothpaste (Elmex Red), a stannous chloride-based toothpaste (Elmex Protection Erosion) or distilled water (negative control). Initial (T0) and final colour (T1, after 4 weeks of immersion in staining solutions) of each specimen were assessed by a spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was done by means of repeated measures ANOVA followed by Fisher's LSD post-hoc test. Differences between T0 and T1 were considered stastistically significant at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: When enamel samples were measured over a black background, ΔE00 values (T0-T1) varied from 2.2 (SD 0.7) for amine fluoride-based product/water to 53.9 (SD 7.6) for amine fluoride-based-product/red wine. When dentin samples were measured over a black background, ΔE00 values (T0-T1) varied from 5.4 (SD 0.9) stannous chloride based product/water to 61.6 (SD 3.7) amine fluoride-based product/red wine. CONCLUSION: Specifically, the application of the sodium monofluorophosphate was able to statistically significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduce discolouration induced by the staining solutions tested only on the enamel-dentin complex, while distilled water and the stannous fluoride-based product were able to statistically significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduce discolouration induced by the staining solutions tested in pure dentin samples.