Effects of orthognathic surgery on quality of life compared with nonsurgical controls in an American population.

INTRODUCTION: To determine the psychosocial effects of a facial skeletal mal-relationship with its subsequent surgical correction in a group of patients treated using surgical orthodontics compared with a matched group of nontreated controls. METHODS: This study was approved by The Ohio State University Institutional Review Board. Subjects were patients presenting with facial skeletal mal-relationships whose proposed treatment plans included orthognathic surgery. This study used valid and reliable questionnaires: Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ), Beck Depression Inventory II (Children's Depression Inventory - 2), Satisfaction with Life Scale, and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children), administered at 3 different stages of treatment (time 1 = initial pretreatment, time 2 = before oral surgery, and time 3 = at completion of treatment). Matched controls recruited at each time point completed the same questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 267 subjects were recruited to participate in this study. There were no significant differences between treatment and control groups in age, sex, education level, or employment status at any of the 3 time points. The randomization test was used to compare values for all outcome variables between groups at the 3 stages of treatment. For the pretreatment period, T1, there were significant differences between patients and controls in domains 1 (P = 0.0126), 2 (P = 0.0000), and 3 (P = 0.0000) of the OQLQ (social aspects, facial esthetics, and oral function, respectively) as well as total OQLQ (P = 0.0000). For the presurgery period, T2, there were significant differences between patients and controls in domains 2 (P = 0.0136) and 3 (P = 0.0001) of the OQLQ (facial esthetics and oral function) as well as total OQLQ (P = 0.0291). Finally, for the posttreatment period, T3, there was a significant difference between patients and controls only in domain 3 (P = 0.0196) of the OQLQ (oral function). CONCLUSIONS: The psychosocial profile of patients with a facial skeletal mal-relationship does not differ from the general population in depression, anxiety, and overall satisfaction with life. However, these patients do report a reduced quality of life based on condition-specific measures in social aspects, facial esthetics, and oral function. Concerns about oral function remain even up to 2 years after treatment is completed.

Evaluation of objective structured clinical examination for advanced orthodontic education 12 years after introduction.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced education programs in orthodontics must ensure student competency in clinical skills. An objective structure clinical examination has been used in 1 program for over a decade. The results were analyzed cross-sectionally and longitudinally to provide insights regarding the achievement of competency, student growth, question difficulty, question discrimination, and question predictive ability. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed 218 (82 first-year, 68 second-year, and 68 third-year classes) scores of each station from 85 orthodontic students. The grades originated from 13 stations and were collected anonymously for 12 consecutive years during the first 2 decades of the 2000s. The stations tested knowledge and skills regarding dental relationships, analyzing a cephalometric tracing, performing a diagnostic skill, identifying cephalometric points, bracket placement, placing first-order and second-order bends, forming a loop, placing accentuated third-order bends, identifying problems and planning mixed dentition treatment, identifying problems and planning adolescent dentition treatment, identifying problems and planning nongrowing skeletal treatment, superimposing cephalometric tracings, and interpreting cephalometric superimpositions. Results were evaluated using multivariate analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and latent growth analysis. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis of variance showed that all stations except 3 (analyzing a cephalometric tracing, forming a loop, and identifying cephalometric points) had significantly lower mean scores for the first-year student class than the second- and third-year classes (P <0.028); scores between the second- and third-year student classes were not significantly different (P >0.108). The chi-square analysis of the distribution of the number of noncompetent item responses decreased from the first to the second years (P <0.0003), from the second to the third years (P <0.0042), and from the first to the third years (P <0.00003). The latent growth analysis showed a wide range of difficulty and discrimination between questions. It also showed continuous growth for some areas and the ability of 6 questions to predict competency at greater than the 80% level. CONCLUSIONS: Objective structure clinical examinations can provide a method of evaluating student performance and curriculum impact over time, but cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of the results may not be complementary. Significant learning appears to occur during all years of a 3-year program. Valuable questions were both easy and difficult, discriminating and not discriminating, and came from all domains: diagnostic, technical, and evaluation/synthesis.

Prospective patients rate practice factors: development of a questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: The importance that prospective patients place on practice characteristics when choosing an orthodontic practice has not been extensively reported. The objective of this research was to develop a valid and reliable questionnaire to address the relative importance of orthodontic office and doctor characteristics for prospective patients or parents of child patients during the initial orthodontic office consultation. METHODS: An initial questionnaire, based on published literature, was field-tested on 16 subjects to assess its validity. Based on the field test, the questionnaire was modified and tested for reliability by using a test-retest method. The questionnaire covered the following areas: doctor, office, staff, and finances. The reliability study included 2 groups of subjects: 12 consecutive prospective adult patients and 41 consecutive parents of prospective child patients. The questionnaires consisted of 43 and 50 questions for the adult patients and the parents of patients, respectively. The subjects rated the importance of practice characteristics in their selection of an orthodontic practice using a 100-mm visual analog scale anchored at "not important at all" and "most important." RESULTS: Reliability was analyzed by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Summary scores of all 53 subjects showed excellent reliability (ICC, 0.88; range, 0.61-1.0). Summary scores of all 50 questions showed acceptable reliability (ICC, 0.70; range, 0.45-0.88). Twenty-one questions had excellent reliability (ICC, >.75), and 29 questions had fair-to-good reliability (ICC, 0.41-0.75). No questions showed poor reliability (ICC, <0.4). CONCLUSIONS: The pilot study data indicated that the overall reliability of the questionnaire is acceptable.

Dental and skeletal outcomes for Class II surgical-orthodontic treatment: A comparison between novice and experienced clinicians.

INTRODUCTION: The information that details dental changes accompanying presurgical and postsurgical orthodontic treatment during orthognathic surgery treatment is disappointing and results in less than ideal surgical change, but it is largely derived from university clinic samples with patients treated by residents (clinical novices). In this study, we examined similar treatments performed by experienced practitioners and compared them with the novices' results. METHODS: A sample of 72 Class II subjects treated by practitioners with a mean of 26.7 years of experience was selected. Inclusion criteria were consecutively treated surgical-orthodontic patients with mandibular advancement, rigid fixation, and good-quality lateral cephalograms. Pretreatment skeletal and dental variables were compared with those from a sample treated by novices in a previous study. Presurgical and final analyses were performed with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with pretreatment values as the covariate. An efficacy analyses for treatment phase and study comparisons was the final component. RESULTS: The novices treated patients with significantly more severe Class II skeletal problems. For both studies, there were significant positive changes in the position of the mandible. The ANCOVA analysis showed that the experienced practitioners managed the bodily position of the maxillary incisors more effectively. The efficacy analysis showed no statistically significant differences between novices and experienced practitioners. For both novices and experienced practitioners, according to the ANB changes, nonideal incisor decompensation led to less than ideal final mandibular positions. CONCLUSIONS: The dental and skeletal mean changes and efficacy analysis for both novices and experienced practitioners showed that presurgical orthodontic treatment often does not fully decompensate the incisors; this then limits the surgical outcome.

Comparison of two survey instruments measuring quality of life in pediatric dentofacial patients.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To assess the effectiveness of the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) and the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) to detect differences in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) between pediatric patients with dentofacial deformities and controls. (2) To assess for correlations between scores from the OQLQ and COHIP domains with the type and severity of the skeletal mal-relationship. (3) To assess if the COHIP and OQLQ were identifying unique or overlapping OHRQoL concerns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were under age 18, presented with a dentofacial deformity, and completed both surveys. Matched controls completed the same. Severity for conditions was recorded via overjet, overbite, and ANB values and subjects were classified as skeletal Class I, II, or III. RESULTS: Enrollment yielded 30 subjects and 31 controls. For the OQLQ, significant differences between subjects and controls were found for the Facial Esthetics domain, Oral Function domain, and total score. For the COHIP, significant differences were found for the Social/Emotional Well-Being and Self-Image domains plus total score. There were no significant correlations between the severity of the condition as measured by overjet and reported OHRQoL for any domains. CONCLUSIONS: The OQLQ and COHIP are effective at detecting significant OHRQoL differences between pediatric patients with dentofacial deformities and controls. Although there is some overlap in the results, the instruments appear to identify different OHRQoL concerns.

Root resorption associated with orthodontic tooth movement: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review evaluated root resorption as an outcome for patients who had orthodontic tooth movement. The results could provide the best available evidence for clinical decisions to minimize the risks and severity of root resorption. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched, nonelectronic journals were hand searched, and experts in the field were consulted with no language restrictions. Study selection criteria included randomized clinical trials involving human subjects for orthodontic tooth movement, with fixed appliances, and root resorption recorded during or after treatment. Two authors independently reviewed and extracted data from the selected studies on a standardized form. RESULTS: The searches retrieved 921 unique citations. Titles and abstracts identified 144 full articles from which 13 remained after the inclusion criteria were applied. Differences in the methodologic approaches and reporting results made quantitative statistical comparisons impossible. Evidence suggests that comprehensive orthodontic treatment causes increased incidence and severity of root resorption, and heavy forces might be particularly harmful. Orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption is unaffected by archwire sequencing, bracket prescription, and self-ligation. Previous trauma and tooth morphology are unlikely causative factors. There is some evidence that a 2 to 3 month pause in treatment decreases total root resorption. CONCLUSIONS: The results were inconclusive in the clinical management of root resorption, but there is evidence to support the use of light forces, especially with incisor intrusion.

Comparison of incisor inclination in patients with Class III malocclusion treated with orthognathic surgery or orthodontic camouflage.

INTRODUCTION: Reports comparing Class III patients treated by camouflage and those treated by orthognathic surgery are not numerous. The purpose of this study was to compare the dental and skeletal values of Class III patients treated with these methods against normative data and over the course of treatment. METHODS: Thirty-three surgical and 39 camouflage Class III patients were selected from a graduate orthodontic clinic and regional private practices, and lateral cephalograms were digitized. Skeletal and dental values were obtained, and mean and efficacy evaluations referenced to ethnic norms were calculated. RESULTS: At pretreatment, the surgery patients had more severe skeletal discrepancies and more compensated incisors. During presurgical orthodontic treatment, most of the surgery group's mandibular incisors were significantly decompensated, although half of the maxillary incisors remained compensated. The surgical move improved 90% of these patients but to only 60% to 65% of the norm. The camouflage group was compensated at pretreatment, and they became more compensated in the end. After treatment, there were no differences between the incisor positions of the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistical difference in incisor inclination and position between the Class III surgical and camouflage groups after treatment; there was a significant difference in the pretreatment and posttreatment incisor inclination and position compared with normative values for both the surgical and the camouflage groups; the maxillary and mandibular incisors were not adequately decompensated in the surgical group, but significant improvement in mandibular incisor position and axial inclination was achieved presurgically. The outcome of the surgical correction was limited by the inadequate presurgical orthodontic incisor decompensation, and orthodontic compensation of incisors occurred postsurgically to achieve an optimal occlusal result.

Dental and skeletal changes associated with Class II surgical-orthodontic treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Few published reports detail the dental changes produced by orthodontic treatment in conjunction with orthognathic surgery. METHODS: Thirty-four Class II subjects who underwent surgical-orthodontic treatment with mandibular advancement and rigid fixation were selected, and their lateral cephalograms were digitized. Mean skeletal and dental values were calculated for pretreatment, presurgical, and final treatment times. Treatment efficacy as a percentage of an ideal goal achieved also was calculated. RESULTS: All data showed significant positive changes in the position of the mandible. The mean changes showed that the maxillary incisors were overretracted presurgically and then returned to a normal position postsurgically, whereas the mandibular incisors were proclined and protruded presurgically and remained so at posttreatment. The efficacy data showed that the incisors were not ideally decompensated in many patients. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy data show that presurgical orthodontic treatment often does not fully decompensate the incisors; this then limits the surgical outcome.

Maxillary removal and reinsertion in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: To examine outcomes after the maxillary removal and reinsertion (MRR) approach for the treatment of anterior cranial base tumors in pediatric patients. DESIGN: Eligible patients were identified by medical record review. Consenting patients were studied via rhinoscopy, fiberoptic endoscopy, standard facial photographs, and cephalometric radiographs. SETTING: A tertiary care otolaryngology clinic. PATIENTS: Inclusion criteria were age younger than 16 years at time of initial procedure and a follow-up period of at least 6 months. Nine patients were eligible, and 5 enrolled. All were male patients (mean age, 13.8 years; age range, 11-15 years) treated for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: History and examination were performed to evaluate occlusion, vision, facial growth, and tumor status. Cephalograms were used to calculate 3 standard cephalometric measurements: sella to A point, basion to A point, and condylion to A point. Cephalograms were examined for plate migration and bony resorption. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: No major long-term complications were identified in the patients after MRR. Cephalometric analysis revealed minor abnormalities in 2 children, but no plate migration or bony resorption was identified in the removed and reinserted maxillae. No abnormal development patterns were detected on physical examination or when cephalometric measurements were compared with age- and race-matched normative data. Although further study is warranted, MRR seems safe and effective for treatment of pediatric patients with anterior cranial base tumors.

A comparison of providers' and consumers' perceptions of facial-profile attractiveness.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception of facial attractiveness in profile digital photographs that were incrementally altered to produce different combinations of mandibular anteroposterior positions and lower anterior facial heights. The specific aims were to determine whether there is concordance between providers and consumers in their perceptions of facial attractiveness, and to evaluate whether interactions of the anteroposterior and vertical dimensions and the magnitude of these interactions influence perception of facial attractiveness. METHODS: Profile digital photographs and cephalograms of 3 men and 3 women were used. The position of the jaw was altered incrementally with Dolphin imaging equipment (Dolphin Imaging and Management, Chatsworth, Calif), and booklets were created. One hundred raters (50 laypersons, 25 oral surgeons, 25 orthodontists) scored the profiles on a visual analog scale. All images were duplicated to test intrarater reliability. Factorial ANOVA with repeated measures and the Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test for multiple comparisons were used to test for differences in facial attractiveness. The level of significance was set at .05 (P = .05) for all analyses. RESULTS: Intrarater reliability was good (ICC = 0.71), and general concordance was found between providers and consumers in their perceptions of facial attractiveness. Interactions of the anteroposterior and vertical dimensions and the magnitude of change in each dimension influence the perception of facial attractiveness. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that preferences of facial attractiveness by laypersons, orthodontists, and oral surgeons in central Ohio are generally in agreement. This information might assist clinicians in treatment planning and making recommendations.

Efficacy of training dental students in the index of orthodontic treatment need.

Orthodontic studies over several decades have found generally inconsistent opinions among dentists when evaluating orthodontic treatment need. There has also been recent concern that dental school education does not sufficiently prepare dentists to diagnose malocclusion and make appropriate referrals of potential orthodontic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of using the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN) as a tool to improve dental students' ability to assess orthodontic treatment need. Fourth-year dental students were randomly divided into control, sham-control, and experimental groups stratified for mean grade point average. On 2 occasions, the subjects evaluated 30 orthodontic study models with a gold standard previously established by an expert panel of 15 orthodontists for orthodontic treatment need. The experimental group reevaluated the models after IOTN instruction. Kappa statistics, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for each subject. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that the experimental group had significantly higher agreement with the expert panel after IOTN training than did either control group. IOTN is a promising teaching aid for improving educational outcomes for orthodontic referral.