Pharyngeal airway, hyoid bone, and soft palate changes after Class II treatment with Twin-block and Forsus appliances during the postpeak growth period.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare cephalometrically the pharyngeal airway, hyoid bone, and soft palate (SP) changes after Class II malocclusion treatments using Twin-block (TWB) and Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FFRD) (3M Unitek Corp, 3M Dental Products, Monrovia, Calif) during the postpeak growth period. METHODS: Forty-two patients with Class II malocclusion treated during the postpeak growth period were randomly and retrospectively included in this study. These patients were divided into 2 treatment groups: TWB and FFRD. The skeletal, dental, pharyngeal airway, hyoid bone position, and SP measurements were obtained from the lateral cephalometric radiographs taken at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. Paired-samples and independent-samples t tests were used for the intragroup and intergroup comparisons, respectively. RESULTS: In the TWB group, the SNB (°), Md1-NB (mm), Md1-NB (°), and McNamara upper and lower pharyngeal airway dimensions significantly increased, whereas the ANB (°), AD1-Ba (mm), AD2-H (mm), adenoidal nasopharyngeal area, and SP angle decreased (P < 0.05). In the FFRD group, the SNB (°), Md1-NB (mm), Md1-NB (°), Ptm-Ba (mm), and McNamara upper airway dimensions significantly increased, whereas the ANB (°), AD2-H (mm), and interincisor angle decreased (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were statistically significant differences in the Md1-NB angles and SP thicknesses between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The effects of TWB and FFRD treatment on the airway during the postpeak growth period were similar. However, the FFRD caused a greater mandibular incisor protrusion.

Evaluation of the Facial Soft-Tissue Thickness in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate.

AIM: In this study the authors aimed to evaluate craniofacial morphology and facial soft tissue thickness of the patients with cleft lip and palate.(CLP), and to compare the results with a sex and age-matched noncleft healthy control group. METHODS: Craniofacial and soft tissue thickness measurements of 20 patients with unilateral cleft lip palate (UCLP) and 20 patients with bilateral cleft lip palate (BCLP) were compared with 20 noncleft control subjects. Angles between Sella-Nasion-A point, Sella-Nasion-B point, Nasion-A and Nasion-B line, Sella-Nasion line and Gonion-Gnation line, and linear (glabella, rhinion, subnasale, labrale superius, stomion, labrale inferius, labiomentale, pogonion, and gnathion) measurements were assessed on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Group differences were evaluated with 1-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey test. RESULTS: Unilateral cleft lip palate and BCLP groups demonstrated lower values of skeletal measurements than control group except for Sella-Nasion line and Gonion-Gnation line value (P < 0.01). Maxillary incisors were retruded in BCLP group compared with the other groups (P < 0.001). Thickness of the rhinion, subnasale, and stomion demonstrated no significant difference between UCLP and BCLP groups (P > 0.05). Thickness of rhinion and stomion was found significantly higher in both groups, and thickness of the subnasale was found significantly lower than the healthy group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings of the study suggested that patients with CLP showed differences on craniofacial morphology and facial soft tissue thickness. Before planning orthodontic treatment and esthetic surgeries, soft tissue thickness should be taken into consideration in addition to skeletal measurements in CLP patients.

Effects of probiotics on salivary Streptecoccus mutans and Lactobacillus levels in orthodontic patients.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of regular probiotic consumption on microbial colonization in saliva in orthodontic patients and to comparatively evaluate the difference between the systemic consumption of probiotic products and the local application. METHODS: This study included 3 groups with 15 orthodontic patients in each. The control group included patients who had no probiotic treatment, the subjects in the kefir group consumed 2 × 100 ml of kefir (Atatürk Orman Ciftligi, Ankara, Turkey) per day, and the subjects in the toothpaste group brushed their teeth with toothpaste with probiotic content (GD toothpaste; Dental Asia Manufacturing, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia) twice a day. Samples were collected at 3 times: beginning of the study, 3 weeks later, and 6 weeks later. The salivary flow rate, buffer capacity, and Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus levels in the saliva were evaluated. Chair-side kits were used to determine the S mutans and Lactobacillus levels. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease was observed in the salivary S mutans and Lactobacillus levels in the kefir and toothpaste groups compared with the control group (P <0.05). A statistically significant increase was observed in the toothpaste group compared with the control and kefir groups in buffer capacity. Changes in the salivary flow rate were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The regular use of probiotics during fixed orthodontic treatment reduces the S mutans and Lactobacillus levels in the saliva.