Aesthetic outcome of cleft lip and palate treatment. Perceptions of patients, families, and health professionals compared to the general public.

The aesthetic outcome of cleft treatment is of great importance due to its complex management and the psychosocial consequences of this defect. The aim of the study was to assess the aesthetic evaluations of patients following cleft surgery by various groups and investigate potential associations of the assessments with life quality parameters. Head photos of 12 adult patients with treated unilateral cleft lip and palate were evaluated by laypeople and professionals. A questionnaire was distributed and answered by the patients and their parents. Intra-panel agreement was high (α > 0.8) for laypeople and professionals. Between-groups agreement was high for both laypeople and professionals, but not when patients and/or parents were tested. Professionals, parents, and patients were more satisfied with patients' appearance than laypeople, although in general all groups were not highly satisfied. Low satisfaction with aesthetics correlated with increased self-reported influence of the cleft in the patients' social activity and professional life (0.56 < rho < 0.74, p < 0.05). These findings highlight the observed negative influence of the cleft on the patient's social activity and professional life and underline the need for the highest quality of surgical outcome for this group of patients.

A severe open bite case treated with orthodontics and tongue reduction surgery: 13-year followup. A case report.

BACKGROUND: The management of open bite malocclusions creates controversy when treatment approach and long-term stability are considered. Tongue size, posture and habits have been associated as aetiologic and compounding factors. Reduction tongue surgery has therefore been advocated as an aid in treatment, especially when the open bite is accompanied by perceived macroglossia. AIM: The present article describes a clinical case of a 10-year-old girl who started treatment in the mixed dentition with an excessive open bite and speech defects. METHODS: A combination of orthodontics and a partial glossectomy was necessary to successfully address the open bite associated with an enlarged tongue. RESULTS: The need for orthognathic surgery treatment was eliminated and the patient was satisfied with the post-treatment aesthetics, function and speech. CONCLUSION: After 13 years of follow-up, a stable occlusion was maintained with only minor relapse.

Macroglossia.

Macroglossia is defined as an enlarged tongue and it is usually clinically diagnosed. Pseudomacryglossia concerns a tongue that is of normal size but gives a false impression of being too large in relation to adjacent anatomical structures. The causes of macroglossia are numerous and this is why various classifications have been proposed for this condition. The consequences of macroglossia usually include a possible malfunction of the stomatognathic system, breathing and speech problems, increased mandible size, tooth spacing, diastema and other orthodontic abnormalities. The treatment of macroglossia depends on its aetiology and generally includes correcting the systemic disease underlying the increase in lingual mass, surgical treatment, radiotherapy and treatment of orthodontic abnormalities that might have been caused by the condition.

Cephalometric methods of prediction in orthognathic surgery.

Over the past decade the growing number of adult patients seeking for orthodontic treatment made orthognathic surgery popular. Surgical and orthodontic techniques have developed to the point where combined orthodontic and surgical treatment is now feasible to manage dentofacial deformity problems very satisfactorily. The prediction of orthognathic treatment outcome is an important part of orthognathic planning and the process of patient' inform consent. The predicted results must be presented to the patients prior to treatment in order to assess the treatment's feasibility, optimize case management and increase patient understanding and acceptance of the recommended treatment. Cephalometrics is a routine part of the diagnosis and treatment planning process and also allows the clinician to evaluate changes following orthognathic surgery. Traditionally cephalometry has been employed manually; nowadays computerized cephalometric systems are very popular. Cephalometric prediction in orthognathic surgery can be done manually or by computers, using several currently available software programs, alone or in combination with video images. Both manual and computerized cephalometric prediction methods are two-dimensional and cannot fully describe three-dimensional phenomena. Today, three-dimensional prediction methods are available, such as three-dimensional computerized tomography (3DCT), 3D magnetic resonance imaging (3DMRI) and surface scan/cone-beam CT. The aim of this article is to present and discuss the different methods of cephalometric prediction of the orthognathic surgery outcome.

Effective treatment of self-injurious oral trauma in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome: a case report.

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is an X-linked disorder originating from deficiency of the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase. It is characterized by neurological manifestations, including the dramatic symptom of compulsive self-mutilation, which results in destruction of oral and perioral tissues. Several drug trials have been administered to improve the severe self-destructive behaviour, with questionable effectiveness. Invasive treatment approaches, such as extraction of teeth and orthognathic surgery, have been suggested with variable success. A conservative treatment with an intraoral appliance serving to prevent oral and peri-oral self-injury is presented in this report. The patient was a 14-year-old boy demonstrating the typical LNS behaviour, including compulsive self-biting, significant loss of lip and tongue tissue, spasticity and involuntary movements. An acrylic maxillary appliance was designed and constructed with an occlusal plate raising the bite. The appliance was retained by two Adams' clasps on the first premolars, along with three ball clasps between the incisors. Fabrication, insertion, and maintenance were uncomplicated and non-stressful to the patient. Periodic recall over 3-year period has confirmed the effective healing of the oral lesions and a high level of tolerance of the appliance.

Dilaceration of maxillary central incisor: a literature review.

The main purpose of this review is to present the aetiological factors and the mechanism that cause dilaceration of the maxillary central incisors. In early developmental stages, the permanent tooth germ of the maxillary incisor is situated palatally and superiorly to the apex of the primary incisor and gradually changes direction in a labial direction with its crown coming closer to the resorbing primary root. For reasons of this close relationship between the permanent tooth germ and the apex of the primary incisor, it is believed that an acute trauma to the primary predecessor can cause dilaceration of the long axis of the permanent successor. Clinically, dilaceration can be revealed by palpation high in the labial sulcus or in the hard palate, while its radiographic view is characteristic. The therapeutic approach to the dilacerated maxillary central incisors has to be carefully planned and needs the cooperation of several specialities to attain the final objective.

Management of maxillary midline diastema with emphasis on etiology.

The importance of the presence of a maxillary midline diastema resides in its position and the concern it causes to patients. This specific diastema has been attributed to genetic and environmental factors, even though it is often a normal feature of growth, especially in primary and mixed dentition. The need for treatment is mainly attributed to esthetic and psychological reasons, rather than functional ones. Although it is often the case, treatment plans should not be selected empirically but rather should be based on adequate scientific documentation. Possible therapeutic approaches include orthodontics, restorative dentistry, surgery and various combinations of the above. The ideal treatment should seek to manage not only the diastema in question but also the cause behind it. Irrespective of the treatment alternative selected, permanent retention of stable results should be considered as a treatment objective. The aim of this paper is to underscore the main etiological factors for the presence of a maxillary midline diastema and to illustrate the clinical and laboratory examinations required to recognize these factors. Furthermore, alternative treatment options are discussed depending on the etiology of the problem.

An alternative for postorthodontic labial retention in an unusual case.

An integral part of sustaining long-term orthodontic results is a lingually bonded retainer. These retainers have been established as a standard retention protocol, as they combine efficiency and esthetics. Increasing patient demands for improved esthetics and maintenance of good health of dental and periodontal tissues have led to the development of new techniques and materials involving reinforced polyethylene fibers. In this case report, retention featuring the use of a reinforced polyethylene fiber retainer, placed labially to avoid irritating the tongue, is presented. Three-year posttreatment records indicated no relapse and that the integrity of soft and hard tissues had remained intact.