Effect of soft drinks on the physical and chemical features of nickel-titanium-based orthodontic wires.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of three popular soft drinks on the Young's modulus, hardness, surface topography and chemical composition of widely used nickel-titanium-based orthodontic wires. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two specimens (20 mm in length) were cut from the straight portion of pre-formed 0.019 × 0.025 inch Nitinol Heat-Activated archwires and randomly divided into four groups of eight specimens each: Group A1 (Coca Cola(®) regular); Group A2 (Santal(®) orange juice); Group A3 (Gatorade(®)); Group B (distilled, deionized water; dH(2)O). Each specimen was immersed in 10 ml of one of the soft drinks or dH(2)O, control, for 60 min, at 37°C. At the end of the soaking time, the Young's modulus and hardness were determined using a nanoindenter. Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was used to characterize the effects on the topography and chemical composition of the wires. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the groups either in the Young's modulus or in hardness after the selected soaking protocol. Besides some surface colour changes, the topography and the chemical composition of the wires were not affected by the immersion in any of the chosen soft drinks. CONCLUSIONS: These in-vitro results suggest that the consumption of soft drinks cannot be acknowledged as one possible reason for the degradation of the physical and chemical properties of heat activated nickel titanium orthodontic wires in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.

Percentiles relative to maxillary permanent canine inclination by age: a radiologic study.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have investigated developmental norms for maxillary permanent canine eruption. In this observational cross-sectional study, we aimed to provide an age-related description of the percentiles relative to canine inclination in a large sample of nonorthodontic patients. Associations between inclination and sector were also analyzed. METHODS: Canine inclination and sector location were measured on 1020 panoramic radiographs obtained from subjects of white ancestry aged between 8 and 11 years not seeking orthodontic treatment. The total sample comprised 2037 canines. RESULTS: Canine inclination increases between 8 and 9 years and decreases between 9 and 11 years. The greatest value for each percentile is at 9 years. A linear model should be hypothesized for differences in canine inclination between 2 successive ages in correspondence to each percentile. The proportion of sector 2 canines decreases and that of sector 1 increases with age. In the same age group, the inclination generally decreases as the sector decreases. CONCLUSIONS: Percentiles by age show the average canine inclination in a certain population. Further studies are required to verify whether percentiles can be a diagnostic aid for determining normal canine inclination at a given age and for quantifying the risk of canine impaction or adjacent root resorption.

Orthodontic extraction of mandibular third molar to avoid nerve injury and promote periodontal healing.

AIM: Impacted mandibular third molar extraction is a common procedure in oral surgery, not without risk of nerve injury and periodontal defects on the distal aspect of the adjacent second molar. The "orthodontic extraction" is proposed as a method to avoid mandibular nerve injury during the extraction of a deeply embedded third molar and to prevent or limit such periodontal problems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 28-year-old man presented a deeply impacted left mandibular third molar that required extraction. Radiographs revealed a very slight quantity of bone at the distal surface of the adjacent second molar. The third molar was extruded according to the "orthodontic extraction" technique. A 3-month retention phase elapsed to ensure adequate bone maturation and the tooth was finally extracted. RESULTS: No neurological complications occurred. A minimal residual bone defect at the distal surface of the adjacent second molar was detected radiographically both post-operatively and at the 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic extraction makes third molar removal easier and has no neurological risk. This procedure, followed by a 3-month retention phase, appears to be effective in preventing or limiting the development of periodontal problems on the distal aspect of the adjacent second molar.

Combined effects of repeated oral hygiene motivation and type of toothbrush on orthodontic patients: a blind randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on plaque index (PI) scores of manual or electric toothbrush with or without repeated oral hygiene instructions (OHI) and motivation on patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One month after the orthodontic fixed appliance bonding on both arches, 60 patients were randomly assigned to four groups; groups E1 (n  =  15) and E2 (n  =  15) received a powered rotating-oscillating toothbrush, and groups M1 (n  =  15) and M2 (n  =  15) received a manual toothbrush. Groups E1 and M1 received OHI and motivation at baseline (T0) and after 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks (T4, T8, T12, T16, and T20, respectively) by a Registered Dental Hygienist; groups E2 and M2 received OHI and motivation only at baseline. At each time point a blinded examiner scored plaque of all teeth using the modified Quigley-Hein PI. RESULTS: In all groups the PI score decreased significantly over time, and there were differences among groups at T8, T12, T16, and T20. At T8, PI scores of group E1 were lower than those of group E2, and at T12, T16, and T20, PI scores of groups M1 and E1 were lower compared to those of groups M2 and E2. A linear mixed model showed that the effect of repeated OHI and motivation during time was statistically significant, independently from the use of manual or electric toothbrush. CONCLUSIONS: The present results showed that repeated OHI and motivation are crucial in reducing PI score in orthodontic patients, independent of the type of toothbrush used.

Individualized orthodontic treatment: The Insignia system.

This clinical report presents a case treated by a currently available customized orthodontic treatment system. The use of patient-specific brackets, indirect bonding transfer devices, and customized archwires decreases treatment and chairside time, making orthodontic cases more predictable, accurate, and efficient. The need for time-consuming adjustments is greatly reduced, and appliance customization further facilitates the achievement of the final desired occlusion from the first day of treatment.

Combined orthodontic - mucogingival treatment of a deep post-orthodontic gingival recession.

In this article, the interdisciplinary management of an isolated-type recession defect in a severely compromised mandibular incisor of a young post-orthodontic patient is described. The prognosis of root coverage surgery was very questionable and unpredictable due to the severe root malposition (III Miller class gingival recession). The treatment plan consisted of: (1) interproximal enamel reduction to gain space within the dental arch, (2) orthodontic repositioning of the root of the affected tooth within the alveolar bone and (3) root coverage mucogingival surgery. Clinical re-evaluation 7 months after fixed orthodontic treatment revealed major improvements in the root coverage prognosis due to the resolution of root malposition and de novo formation of keratinized tissue apical to the root exposure (I Miller class gingival recession). A subepithelial connective tissue graft was performed as a root coverage surgical procedure. Clinical examination 1 year after surgery revealed complete root coverage, good color blending with adjacent soft tissue and an increase in facial gingival thickness. Successful periodontal and esthetic outcomes can be accomplished after the combined orthodontic-periodontal treatment of a severely mucogingivally compromised tooth.

Patients' self-perception of dentofacial attractiveness before and after exposure to facial photographs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether exposure to pretreatment photographs of themselves influenced patients' self-perception of dentofacial attractiveness and willingness to undergo treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 subjects of white ancestry aged 18 years or older (Study Group) and 100 sex- and age-matched controls (Control Group) were selected. Photographs of the frontal view of the face and the profile view of the face, both at rest and while smiling, were taken of each participant. Only Study Group subjects were given a printed copy of their own images to be examined at home between the initial observation (T0) and a set date an average of 30 days later (T1). Each of the 200 subjects in the study completed a questionnaire at T0 and T1 exploring happiness regarding their smiles and their facial profiles, as well as willingness to undergo treatment. RESULTS: At T1 in the Study Group, 50% of subjects responded with a lower opinion of their facial profiles than at T0; 11% and 45% were willing to undergo more comprehensive procedures to change the appearance of their smiles and profiles, respectively. No statistically significant change was seen in questionnaire answers between T0 and T1 for the Control Group. CONCLUSION: Laypeople generally are not aware of their facial profiles. Pretreatment photograph exposure can increase profile self-awareness, an important factor in reducing the discrepancy between orthodontists' and patients' visual emphasis on dentofacial esthetics.