Effect of a Single Dose of Deflazacort on Postoperative Pain, Swelling, and Trismus after Impacted Lower Third Molar Surgery: Randomised Clinical Trial.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a single preoperative dose of deflazacort on pain, swelling, and trismus after impacted lower third molar surgery. Materials and Methods: This randomised, prospective, double-blind, split-mouth clinical study included 26 healthy individuals with bilaterally impacted lower third molars. Group 1 was given a placebo (single-dose vitamin C tablet), and group 2 was given a single 30 mg dose of deflazacort 1 h prior to surgery. Pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale for 1 week postoperatively. Oedema (in mm) and trismus (in mm) were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative days 2 and 7. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied for group analyses. p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the deflazacort group at the 6th and 12th hours after surgery (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in trismus between the groups at any time point (p > 0.05). There was less oedema in the deflazacort group on postoperative days 2 and 7, without any statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Conclusions: A single preoperative dose of 30 mg deflazacort was found to be clinically effective in reducing pain and oedema after extraction of impacted lower third molars.

Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography Evaluation of the Relationship between Orthodontic Vertical Direction Parameters and the Distance from the Apex of the Upper Central Tooth to the Nasal Floor and Anterior Nasal Spine.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the vertical cephalometric values and the distance from the apex tip of the upper central tooth (U1A) to the anterior nasal spine (ANS) and nasal floor (NF) using cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT). One hundred and twenty-two patients who applied to the Department of Orthodontics between January 2011 and June 2019 were included. The distances between the U1A and the NF and ANS were measured using CBCT. Statistical significance was considered as p < 0.05. Of the 122 individuals, 73.8% (n = 90) were female and 26.2% (n = 32) were male, with a mean age of 22.8 ± 3.3 years. A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was found between the mean NF-U1A values and the N-Me, ANS-Me, ANS-Gn, S-Go, and N-ANS measurements (p < 0.01). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the mean ANS-U1A values and the Ar-Go-Me, total posterior angles, N-Me, SN/GoGn and Y-axis angle, ANS-Me, and ANS-Gn measurements (p < 0.01). The distance from the U1A to the ANS and NF was related to the orthodontic vertical direction parameters. The ANS-U1A and NF-U1A distances can serve as reference points for identifying the orthodontic vertical growth pattern from CBCT scans.

Periodontal health of unilateral labially vs. palatally impacted maxillary canines erupted by closed eruption technique.

OBJECTIVE: This study's aim was to compare the periodontal health of labially and palatally impacted maxillary canines erupted by closed eruption technique, and to compare them with the contralateral canines that served as control teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 subjects, 17 with unilateral labially impacted maxillary canines and 15 with palatally impacted maxillary canines were enrolled in this study. Pretreatment maxillary canine variables were evaluated from initial panoramic radiographs using Nolla stage, α­angle, d­depth and s­sector. The closed eruption technique was used for surgical exposure of the impacted teeth. Posttreatment periodontal parameters such as plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing depth (PD), keratinized gingival width (KGW), attached gingival width (AGW), and gingival thickness (GT) were evaluated to compare the periodontal health with the contralateral canines. RESULTS: Intergroup comparison results exhibited insignificant differences in all periodontal parameters between the labially and palatally impacted maxillary canines. Intragroup comparison results showed a significant increase in PI, GI, GBI, and PD, and a significant decrease in AGW, KGW, and GT in the impacted teeth compared to the controls, except for PI in the palatally impacted maxillary canines. CONCLUSION: The decrease in KGW, AGW, and GT was not associated with the pre-eruptive position of the impacted teeth. These side effects seen after orthodontic treatment of impacted teeth should be followed carefully in the long term.

Evaluation of the Effect of Different Bracket Systems on External Apical Root Resorption Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the external apical root resorption (EARR) developed in the maxillary and mandibular teeth of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with conventional and self-ligating bracket systems. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography images of patients treated with self-ligating and conventional bracket systems, which were taken at the beginning and end of treatment, were evaluated. The teeth where EARR developed during the treatment period were identified. EARR was evaluated as yes or no. A P value of < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of a total of 300 patients (68.7% female, 31.3% male), 20% were treated with the self-ligating bracket system, while 80% were treated with the conventional bracket system. EARR occurred in 8.3% (n = 25) of the patients after treatment. A statistically significant difference was found when the effect of age, gender, and treatment duration on the incidence of EARR was evaluated. The incidence of EARR was higher in the age group of 18-30 years than in the age group of 12-17 years. Similarly, it was found to be higher in men than in women and higher in the group with a treatment duration of 33-49 months than in the group with a treatment duration of 8-32 months. CONCLUSION: Treatment duration has been observed to affect the incidence of EARR in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, and the incidence of EARR increases with increased treatment duration. Furthermore, it has been concluded that EARR during orthodontic treatment is influenced by age and gender. There is no difference between self-ligating and conventional bracket systems in terms of EARR.