[Condylar morphological changes before and after orthodontic treatment for angle Class I malocclusion adult patients].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of panoramic radiography in detection of maxillary teeth roots projecting into the maxillary sinus. METHODS: Paired panoramic radiographs and cone-beam CT (CBCT) images of maxilla from 110 subjects were analyzed. 42 males and 68 females (15~36 years old) with the second molars erupted completely were included. The 2 radiographic techniques were used to observe if the roots of maxillary teeth project into the sinus, including canine, the first premolar, the second premolar, the first molar and the second molar. With CBCT as a gold standard, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of panoramic radiography were evaluated, as well as the accuracy, prevalence, positive likehood ratio, and negtive likehood ratio. RESULTS: The sensitivity for canine, the first premolar, the second premolar, the first molar, and the second molar was 100%, 100%, 96%, 99%, and 96%, respectively. The specificity for canine, the first premolar the second premolar, the first molar, and the second molar was 94%, 92%, 84%, 67%, and 67%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Panoramic radiography has a high diagnostic sensitivity in detection of the teeth roots projecting into the maxillary sinus for maxillary teeth. However, it can't afford sufficient proof for orthodontic anchorage design because of low specificity, especially for the second premolar, the first molar and the second molar.

[Cephalometric evaluation of the effects of pendulum appliance on various vertical growth patterns].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the pendulum appliance in treating dental Class II patients with various vertical growth patterns. METHODS: The samples (n = 30) were divided into three groups equally based on their FMA. Pretreatment and post-treatment cephalometric radiographs were taken to measure the changes. RESULTS: The amount of upper molar distalization in the low-angle group was the fewest, and that in the high-angle group was the most. Upper molars had been intruded insignificantly. The amount of anchorage loss at the first premolars and overjet increased at incisors was different in the three groups. The biggest change happened in the low-angle group, and the smallest in the high-angle group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that pendulum appliance could move the upper molars distally in a short period of time. The upper molars in different groups were intruded insignificantly. Pendulum appliance could be used to move the upper molars distally in high-angle cases.