Relationship between the Dental Aesthetic Index and Discrepancy Index.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the association between malocclusion severity and orthodontic case complexity as assessed by the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and the American Board of Orthodontics Discrepancy Index (ABO-DI), respectively. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Pre-treatment dental casts and radiographs from 500 individuals (294 women and 206 men; mean age = 26.06 ± 11.58 years) were randomly selected from the orthodontics department of a private university. METHODS: Malocclusion severity was assessed using DAI and case complexity was evaluated with ABO-DI. Three previously calibrated operators performed the measurements. Spearman's correlation analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and a linear generalised model were used for statistical evaluation (P < 0.05 was considered significant). RESULTS: Although the correlation (r = 0.45; P < 0.0001) between malocclusion severity and case complexity was moderate, strong evidence of an association (P < 0.001) between dichotomised DAI and ABO-DI total scores was observed. The linear generalised model showed that for each point of increase in DAI score, the ABO-DI score increased an average of 0.3624 points (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: An association between malocclusion severity and case complexity is suggested. A linear generalised model could be used to predict the complexity of the case from the malocclusion severity (DAI score).

Can forces be applied directly to the root for correction of a palatally displaced central incisor with a dilacerated root?

This case report describes the interdisciplinary treatment of an ectopic horizontally placed maxillary right central incisor with severe root dilaceration. The root was distally angulated and entrapped by the root of the maxillary right lateral incisor. The initial force system was aimed at an occlusal displacement and applied to the crown. During the second phase, a button was cemented onto the apex of the impacted tooth. A force from the apex to a temporary anchorage device in the palate moved the root toward the midline. Finally, a root canal and an apectomy were performed and the central incisor could be moved to its ideal position. The treatment generated a normal height of the alveolar bone and an ideal occlusion with a healthy periodontium.

Incidental findings in pre-orthodontic treatment radiographs.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency, radiodensity characteristics, topographic location and number per patient of incidental findings observed in radiographs taken before orthodontic treatment and to evaluate the relationship of the findings with age and sex. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that investigated 1,887 panoramic and lateral cephalogram radiographs from 783 patients (23.31 ± 13.11 years of age; 453 women and 330 men) who were randomly selected from the orthodontics department of a private university. The images were systematically evaluated by an oral pathologist. A chi-square test was applied to evaluate the association between sex and the presence of pathology, radiodensity characteristics and topographic location. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to establish the association between age or number of findings per patient with other variables in the study. RESULTS: The prevalence of incidental findings was 88.12%. The most frequent finding was maxillary sinus pneumatisation (25.80%). No significant association was detected between frequency or number of findings per patient and either sex or diagnostic hypothesis. A significant association was found between age and the presence of pathology and number of incidental findings per patient (P < 0.001), as well as between the type of radiographic image and incidental finding (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of incidental findings in the sample studied was high, and the structures most commonly involved were the maxillary sinuses. The results suggest that both the presence and the number of findings per patient increase with age but there is no association with sex.