Comparison of Dental and Skeletal Age Estimating Methods in Children.

Objectives: Estimating age is a crucial determinant of forensic science. Various methods have been used to estimate dental age (DA) and skeletal age (SA).The aim of the current study was to compare the Cameriere's DA method with the Cameriere's SA method in estimating CA in children. Materials and methods: A total of 216 radiographs of 130 females and 86 males (between 9 to 14.99 years of age) were evaluated in northwestern Turkey. DA was calculated on the panoramic images using Cameriere's open-apex method. SA was determined on the lateral cephalograms using the fourth cervical vertebrae method by Cameriere. The DA, SA, and CA data were compared using a paired t-test and Wilcoxon test. Results: The mean CA of all groups was calculated as 12.96±0.30, the mean DA of 12.74±0.68 and the mean SA of 12.89±0.89. In males, the DA method presented an underestimation between ages of 14.00 and 14.99 (p<0.05) and an overestimation between ages 9.00 and 11.99 (p<0.05). In females, the DA method showed an underestimation in the 13.00- and 14.99-year-old age groups (p<0.05) and an overestimation in the 10.00- and 11.99-year-old age groups (p<0.05). The SA method revealed a significant underestimation in females between the ages of 13.00 and 14.99 and in males between the ages of 14.00 and 14.99 (p<0.05). Conclusions: The SA estimation method may provide more accurate results compared to the DA method with children of both sexes aged between 9.00 to 12.99 in the determination of CA.

Effects of teriparatide on bone formation in rats with experimentally induced premaxillary expansion.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of systemic teriparatide on sutural bone formation after premaxillary suture expansion in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty Wistar male rats (8-10 weeks old) were randomly divided into two groups, namely, control (C, n=10) and teriparatide (T, n=10). An expansion force was applied to the maxillary incisors using helical spring for a seven-day expansion period, for both groups. On the eighth day, the rats were kept for a seven-day consolidation period, and then 60 µg/kg teriparatide (once a day) was administered to group T subcutaneously for seven days. Then, all the rats were sacrificed, and histological sections were stained with hemotoxylin-eosin for examination. Anti-osteonectin, anti-osteocalcin, anti-Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis in the midpalatal suture area. RESULTS: Histologically, the newly formed bone tissue was observed to be larger in group T than in group C. The number of immunoreactive osteoblasts for osteonectin, osteocalcin and VEGF antibodies was significantly higher in group T than in group C (p = 0.0001). The TGF-ß antibody showed a mild reaction in group T, but did not reach significance in comparison with group C (p ˃ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Systemic teriparatide application following the premaxillary expansion of the suture area may stimulate bone formation and add to the consolidation of the expansion in rats by regulating osteonectin, osteocalcin and VEGF.

Effects of teriparatide on bone formation in rats with experimentally induced premaxillary expansion

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of systemic teriparatide on sutural bone formation after premaxillary suture expansion in rats. Material and Methods: Twenty Wistar male rats (8-10 weeks old) were randomly divided into two groups, namely, control (C, n=10) and teriparatide (T, n=10). An expansion force was applied to the maxillary incisors using helical spring for a seven-day expansion period, for both groups. On the eighth day, the rats were kept for a seven-day consolidation period, and then 60 µg/kg teriparatide (once a day) was administered to group T subcutaneously for seven days. Then, all the rats were sacrificed, and histological sections were stained with hemotoxylin-eosin for examination. Anti-osteonectin, anti-osteocalcin, anti-Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis in the midpalatal suture area. Results: Histologically, the newly formed bone tissue was observed to be larger in group T than in group C. The number of immunoreactive osteoblasts for osteonectin, osteocalcin and VEGF antibodies was significantly higher in group T than in group C (p = 0.0001). The TGF-β antibody showed a mild reaction in group T, but did not reach significance in comparison with group C (p ˃ 0.05). Conclusion: Systemic teriparatide application following the premaxillary expansion of the suture area may stimulate bone formation and add to the consolidation of the expansion in rats by regulating osteonectin, osteocalcin and VEGF.

RESUMO Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do uso sistêmico da teriparatida na formação óssea sutural após a expansão da pré-maxila em ratos. Material e Métodos: Vinte ratos machos da raça Wistar (com oito a dez semanas de vida) foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: controle (C, n=10) e teriparatida (T, n=10). Uma força de expansão foi aplicada aos incisivos superiores, usando uma mola helicoidal, por um período de expansão de sete dias em ambos os grupos. No oitavo dia, os ratos iniciaram um período de sete dias de consolidação, nos quais 60 µg/kg de teriparatida foram administrados (uma vez ao dia), por via subcutânea, para o grupo T. Posteriormente, todos os ratos foram sacrificados e cortes histológicos corados com hemotolixina-eosina foram examinados. Por meio de análise imuno-histoquímica da região da sutura palatina mediana, avaliou-se a presença de anti-ostenectina, anti-osteocalcina, anti-fator de crescimento endotelial vascular (VEGF) e anti- fator transformador de crescimento (TGF-β). Resultados: Histologicamente, observou-se que o tecido ósseo recém-formado foi maior no grupo T do que no grupo C. O número de osteoblastos imunorreativos para anticorpos de osteonectina, osteocalcina e VEGF foi significativamente maior no grupo T do que no grupo C (p = 0,0001). O anticorpo TGF-β mostrou uma pequena reação no grupo T; porém, sem diferença significativa para o grupo C (p ˃ 0,05). Conclusão: O uso sistêmico de teriparatida após a expansão da sutura na região da pré-maxila pode estimular a formação óssea e melhorar a consolidação da expansão em ratos, por meio da regulação de osteonectina, osteocalcina e VEGF.

Three-dimensional soft tissue evaluation after rapid maxillary expansion and mandibular midline distraction osteogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and mandibular midline distraction osteogenesis (MMDO) on facial soft tissues using three-dimensional (3D) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients (average age 15.86 ± 2.17 years) were treated with RME and MMDO using tooth-borne distractors. Three-dimensional photographs of each patient were taken with a stereophotogrammetry system at baseline (T0), at the end of the distraction period (T1), and at the end of the consolidation period (T2). All data were analyzed using a dependent-samples t-test at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Total and lower face height increased after MMDO (P < .05). Nasal and mouth width increased after RME as compared with baseline (P < .05). The labiomental angle increased at T1 and decreased at T2 (P < .05). After MMDO, the convexity angle increased while the mandibular angle decreased (P < .05). Upper and lower lip angles increased after RME (P < .05). The distance from the lower lip to the E plane increased after MMDO and decreased after RME (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The MMDO and RME procedures provide an efficient nonextraction treatment alternative for transverse maxillomandibular deficiency. MMDO may improve the facial soft tissue profile in the transverse and vertical axis of the mandibular region.

Comparison of facial soft tissue changes after treatment with 3 different functional appliances.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 3 different fixed or removable functional appliances on the soft tissue changes in patients with Class II Division 1 malocclusion using 3-dimensional images. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with Class II Division 1 malocclusion (38 girls and 22 boys; mean age, 12.35 ± 1.01 years) were treated with 3 different functional appliances, namely, Twin-block (TB) (group TB, n = 20), mono-block (MB) (group MB, n = 20), or Herbst (H) (group H, n = 20) for 9.55 ± 1.46 months. Three-dimensional photographs of each patient were taken at the baseline and the end of the therapy with a 3dMD Face system (3dMD, Atlanta, Ga). Statistical analyses were performed using the dependent samples t test, 1-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were detected for soft tissue changes except for the lower facial width found, at least in group H (P <0.05). Volumetric differences in the mandible were similar between the groups (P >0.05). A statistically significant decrease in total facial height and an increase in convexity angle and facial depth were detected in all groups after treatment compared with the baseline (P <0.05). The upper and lower facial height, lower lip height, and nasal width were statistically significantly increased in the TB and MB groups after treatment compared with the baseline (P <0.05) and similar to those in group H (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TB, MB, and H appliances may promote the facial soft tissue profile, including volumetric improvement, in the mandibular region.