Influence of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate on the surface topography and composition of nickel-titanium archwires during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.

PURPOSE: To investigate the surface topography and nickel content of nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires exposed to either routine oral hygiene or a prophylactic regimen with casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) during orthodontic treatment. METHODS: This in vivo study involved 40 orthodontic patients with fixed appliances, who were randomly assigned to either a routine oral hygiene group or a CPP-ACP supplementary regimen group. Twenty new NiTi archwires served as controls. All archwires underwent scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy to evaluate their surface topography and elemental composition. The nickel content was quantified as a percentage of total weight and the Ni/Ti ratio, and statistical comparisons were made using pairwise tests. RESULTS: Wires exposed to fluoride toothpaste showed signs of pitting corrosion, deep grooves, and corrosion debris. In contrast, wires exposed to supplementary CPP-ACP exhibited smooth surface areas interspersed with microdefects and deposits. Statistically significant differences in nickel content were found between the new and retrieved archwires, as well as between wires exposed to routine oral hygiene and CPP-ACP (P < 0.001). The archwires exposed to CPP-ACP had the lowest nickel content (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of CPP-ACP holds promise for application as a safe anticariogenic agent with possible protective properties during orthodontic treatment.

Effects of probiotics on the oral health of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The effect of probiotics on oral health maintenance in orthodontic patients remains controversial. The aim of the study is to systematically review and assess the effects of probiotics on the oral health and microbiome of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. SEARCH METHODS AND SELECTION CRITERIA: Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global databases were searched from their inception until June 2022. Randomised controlled trials that assessed the effects of probiotics on clinical and microbial outcomes in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data screening and collection were performed, and the risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. The meta-analysis evaluated the effects of probiotics on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus counts. The quality of the evidence from the meta-analyses was assessed with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: A total of 405 records were identified, of which 15 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and 4 in the meta-analysis. The patients in all the included studies were treated with fixed orthodontic appliances. Results regarding clinical outcomes were controversial; four out of five studies reported no significant changes in plaque in the probiotic group (P > .05), and two out of three studies reported no significant changes in the gingival index (P > .05). Regarding microbial outcomes, the meta-analysis results revealed that probiotics significantly increased the likelihood of reducing the abundance of S. mutans to below 105 CFU/ml (risk ratio: 2.05 [1.54, 2.72], P < .001) and reduced the likelihood of increasing the abundance of S. mutans to beyond 106 CFU/ml (risk ratio: 0.48 [0.28, 0.83], P = .009). However, the quality of evidence according to the GRADE was moderate. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: There is insufficient evidence to determine the clinical benefits of probiotics as a supplement for the oral health of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. However, probiotics may have benefits in reducing the salivary S. mutans counts in orthodontic patients. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42022366650).

Oxidative stress and genotoxicity in oral epithelial cells from subjects undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of fixed orthodontic appliances on oxidative stress (OS) and genotoxicity from oral epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of oral epithelial cells were obtained from fifty-one healthy voluntary subjects who had an indication for orthodontic treatment. The samples were obtained before treatment and after 6 and 9 months of treatment. OS was evaluated by quantitating 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and by performing relative gene expression with antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). DNA degradation and instability were evaluated by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fragment analysis for human identification. RESULTS: The quantitation results showed that 8-OHdG increased during treatment, although this increase was not statistically significant. SOD increased by 2.5- and 2.6-fold after 6 and 9 months of treatment, respectively. CAT increased by threefold after 6 months of treatment, while after 9 months of treatment, the expression level decreased to a level similar to that before treatment. DNA degradation was found in 8% and 12% of DNA samples after 6 and 9 months of treatment, respectively, while DNA instability was detected in only 2% and 8% of DNA samples after 6 and 9 months of treatment, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that OS and genotoxicity slightly changed after treatment with a fixed orthodontic appliance; in addition, a biological adaptation response to the treatment may occur after 6 months. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: OS and genotoxicity in the buccal cavity are risk factors for oral and systemic diseases. This risk may be reduced through antioxidant supplementation, by using thermoplastic materials, or by reducing the orthodontic treatment time.

Customized adjuncts with clear aligner therapy: "The Golden Circle Model" explained!

Clear aligners are the most debated infusion of technology into the orthodontic stratosphere and currently account for a sizable chunk of the orthodontic commercial market. Data indicate that a series of plastic aligners alone cannot resolve all the variants of malocclusion routinely treated by our specialty. Current literary consensus exists that the discrepancy between the predicted and actual clinical outcomes with clear aligner therapy (CAT) is around 50% or more, necessitating midcourse corrections, refinement, or additional aligners, or even a conversion to fixed appliances before the end of treatment. A practical panacea to improve the predictability of CAT is the addition of creative and customized adjuncts to CAT. This article, inspired by the "Golden Circle Model", addresses questions such as the "WHY, HOW, and WHAT" of adjuncts used in combination with CAT and depicts an "inside out" approach (from WHY to WHAT) to present the rationale, stepwise clinical workflow, and the advantages of these adjuncts. The bootstrap, mini pin-supported mesialization or distalization, Yin-Yang attachments, Beneslider, Mesialslider, BMX Expander, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) / Computer-Aided-Manufacturing (CAM)...based innovative appliance designs among others, are presented as adjuncts to CAT in this article. These adjuncts can either be used concomitantly with the aligners or planned as a separate phase of treatment before the commencement of the actual CAT, based on the type of tooth movement required and whether the planned tooth movement is indicated for a single tooth or a group of teeth. An astute clinician who wishes to expand the repertoire of malocclusions that can be successfully managed by CAT should judiciously plan the inclusion of such adjunct appliances in their aligner treatment planning.

Auriculotherapy used to manage orthodontic pain: a randomized controlled pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Several methods are commonly used to decrease orthodontic pain, but versatile tools and standardized protocols are still lacking. OBJECTIVE: In response to the need for alternatives to conventional analgesic methods, this study evaluates the analgesic effects of auriculotherapy (AT) during the first three months of fixed orthodontic treatment. METHODS: A sample of 36 subjects was selected, with patients randomly allocated into two homogeneous groups, Study Group (SG) and Control Group (CG), depending on the application/non-application of AT. Patients rated their pain scores monthly from 0 to 10, on visual analogue scales (VAS) at the time of bonding (T0) and again at two appliance adjustments (T1 and T2). At each of these treatment phases, VAS was applied in six different time moments (TM): immediately before, immediately after, after 4 hours, after 8 hours, after 24 hours, and after 72h hours. Descriptive statistical analysis, a Student's t-test, and a Chi-square test were applied to the collected data (statistical significance for p< 0.05). RESULTS: SG patients reported lower pain levels than CG patients, both at T0, T1 and T2. Moreover, average pain intensity values were lower in the SG for all TM analyzed, with the t-test significant (p< 0.05) for most TMs. CONCLUSION: AT was effective in the pain treatment of patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Further studies are needed with a sham control group to confirm the validity of these results.

A systematic review on the effectiveness of organic unprocessed products in controlling gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the available data on the effects of organic unprocessed products in treating gingivitis during treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multiple electronic databases were searched up to October 1, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials, cohort studies of prospective and retrospective design, and cross-sectional studies reporting on natural products for controlling gingivitis in orthodontic patients were eligible for inclusion. The quality of the included RCTs was assessed per the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0). RESULTS: Three RCTs were finally eligible for inclusion, yielding a total of 135 patients with an age range of 12-40 years. Organic products used were Aloe vera mouth rinse, ingestion of honey and chamomile mouthwash. Treatment follow-up period varied from 30 min to 15 days. The results indicated that the use of the aforementioned organic products significantly reduced plaque and gingival bleeding levels as early as treatment started. The reduction in biofilm accumulation and gingival bleeding was significant throughout the studies' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Owing to their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, nonpharmacological formulations successfully controlled gingival inflammation and plaque indices in orthodontic patients.

Orthodontic treatment and root resorption: an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Root resorption can be considered the most unfortunate complication of orthodontic treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the available evidence regarding orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR). SEARCH METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted for the systematic reviews investigating OIIRR published up to 24 May 2020. This was accomplished using electronic databases: MEDLINE via OVID, EMBASE, AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database), PubMed, and Web of Science. Any ongoing systematic reviews were searched using Prospero and a grey literature search was undertaken using Google Scholar and OpenGrey (www.opengrey.eu/). No language restriction was applied. SELECTION CRITERIA: Only studies investigating OIIRR were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Screening, quality assessment [using the AMSTAR 2 tool (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews)], and data extraction were performed by two authors independently. Information was categorized and narratively synthesized for the key findings from moderate and high-quality reviews. RESULTS: A total of 2033 potentially eligible studies were identified. After excluding the non-relevant studies, 28 systematic reviews were included. Of which, 20 systematic reviews (71.5%) were of moderate and high-quality level of evidence. The incidence and severity of OIIRR increase with the fixed appliance, especially with heavy force, intrusion, torqueing movements, increased treatment duration, and treatment with extractions or with long apical displacement (particularly for maxillary incisors). There was insufficient evidence regarding most other treatment- and patient-related factors on OIIRR. Following all precautionary measures, pausing treatment and regular monitoring benefits patients with OIIRR. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: There is a limited number of high-quality studies in terms of OIIRR. The influence of fixed appliance on root resorption was noted; however, the cause and effect relationship between OIIRR and orthodontic biomechanics has not been confirmed. Avoiding heavy, continuous forces and a greater amount of apical displacement over a long duration of treatment is recommended. Precautionary measures should be carefully considered when treating patients with a high risk of OIIRR. REGISTRATION: CRD42020166629.

A visual evaluation of oral plaque removal utilizing an adjunct enzyme pre-rinse in orthodontic subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if an adjunct proteolytic pre-rinse along with contemporary methods of dental cleaning may more effectively remove visual plaque in subjects with fixed orthodontic appliances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three orthodontic subjects, ages 10 to 25, completed this single site, double-blind, crossover clinical trial. Subjects randomly received bromelain enzyme or a powdered-sugar placebo pre-rinse, followed by manual tooth brushing and use of a Waterpik. Subjects received the alternate pre-rinse during the subsequent visit. Baseline and residual plaque accumulation were recorded via disclosing tablet and digital photography. A single, blinded examiner scored visual plaque scores from randomized photographs. Treatment effects on composite plaque score were evaluated using repeated-measures analysis of variance. A 5% significance level was used for all tests. RESULTS: No significant differences in plaque scores were noted at baseline or post-rinse between the enzyme and placebo. The changes from baseline to post-rinse (P = .190), post-brushing (P = .764), and post-Waterpik (P = .882) were not significantly different between interventions. Significant reduction in plaque scores were observed in both arms of the study after brushing (P < .01) and waterjet use (P < .01). Neither age (P = .220) nor gender (P = .449) impacted plaque scores. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a bromelain enzyme pre-rinse alone did not significantly enhance plaque removal. A significant reduction in retained plaque was observed with the application of brushing and or Waterpik.

[Nutrition of children undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances]. / Osobennosti pitaniya detei pri ortodonticheskom lechenii zubochelyustnykh anomalii breket-sistemami.

AIM: To evaluate the actual nutrition of children receiving orthodontic treatment with bracket systems, to develop recommendations for its correction. Nutrition composition was assessed using a software analyzing the frequency of food consumption. Two groups of children were distinguished: the main group (without dentoalveolar anomalies) and the comparison group (with bracket systems). The total sample size was 58 adolescents. It was found that in schoolchildren receiving orthodontic treatment the imbalance in the intake of macro- and micronutrients with diets is much higher than in schoolchildren of the main group. In the daily diet of the main group of children, adequate adequate energy value was noted (94.6% of the physiological requirements), in contrast to schoolchildren in the comparison group (76.7%). Diets in children of the main group are deficient in the content of total protein (90.1%) and carbohydrates (86.4%), and excess in fats (112.2%). In the comparison group, the intake of macronutrients with food averaged 77.7% of the norm. The limited use of certain foods in children with bracket systems has led to a significant deficit in diets of meat (70.0% of the recommended level of consumption), fish and seafood (37.6%), eggs (55.0%), bakery products (44.9%), potatoes (78.7%), vegetables (66.0%), fruits (51.6%). The installation of bracket systems for orthodontic treatment is necessary to eliminate dentoalveolar anomalies in children, but it becomes both a risk factor for the formation of nutritional disorders in patients and a risk factor for tooth enamel demineralization. Therefore, it is necessary to develop recommendations for correcting the nutrition of children during the period of orthodontic treatment.

Comparison of the Effects of Photobiomodulation with Different Lasers on Orthodontic Movement and Reduction of the Treatment Time with Fixed Appliances in Novel Scientific Reports: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Background: The duration of orthodontic treatment is one of the most important aspects considered by patients. Photobiomodulation (PBM) depends upon the exposure of the tissue to particular, therapeutic wavelengths of light in the "therapeutic window" (from 600 to 1200 nm). PBM increases cell metabolism, which leads to higher ATP production. Increasing the amount of ATP in well-vascularized bone cells promotes cell proliferation and differentiation, creating a favorable environment for tooth movement. Objective: The aim of the study is to discuss and compare the use of PBM in accelerating the orthodontic movement and reducing the time of treatment. Materials and methods: A systematic review was conducted. Literature searches were performed using Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus (from September 13 to September 20, 2019). The quality assessment was performed using the Jadad scale for reporting randomized controlled trials for randomized clinical trial and randomized control clinical trial studies, and the Newcastle/Ottawa Quality Assessment Form for case/control studies. Results: Thirty-three articles from PubMed, 46 from Scopus, 5 from Web of Science were selected. After removal of duplicates, 82 articles were analyzed. Subsequently, 74 articles were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. The remaining eight articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. Conclusions and summary: PBM is an efficient, effective, and noninvasive method to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement. PBM should be introduced into the daily practice of treating various malocclusions as an additional procedure. Intraoral application gives better results and its introduction to treatment seems more reasonable.

Treatment of a twice-relapsed anterior open bite using temporary anchorage devices, myofunctional therapy, and fixed passive self-ligating appliances.

Maxillary LeFort impaction surgery can lead to improvements in facial proportions, smile esthetics, and improved function for patients with long lower facial height and anterior open bite. Sometimes, because of patient wishes, corrective jaw surgery might not be the most appropriate choice for treatment. This report describes the orthodontic retreatment of a 25-year-old woman with a history of 2 orthodontic treatments and 1 corrective jaw surgery, each with anterior open bite relapse. This third orthodontic treatment plan addressed her chief concern and focused on maximizing esthetics, function, and long-term stability. A problem list was used to design a treatment plan that incorporated myofunctional therapy, fixed appliances, and temporary anchorage devices to intrude her maxillary teeth and correct her orthodontic problems. Molar intrusion lasted 8.5 months, and total treatment time in fixed appliances lasted 22 months. The treatment was successful in addressing her chief concerns by shortening her lower facial third, relieving her lip strain, closing her anterior open bite, and achieving a Class I molar and canine occlusion. Overall, posttreatment stability was excellent at approximately 1-year follow-up, and the patient stated that she was very happy with the result.

The impact of labial fixed appliance orthodontic treatment on patient expectation, experience, and satisfaction: an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Patient perception with fixed appliance orthodontic treatment is important to improve oral health-related quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of labial fixed appliance orthodontic care on patient perception before, during, and after the treatment. SEARCH METHODS: Relevant systematic reviews investigating patient perception with fixed appliance orthodontic treatment were identified by searching electronic databases: MEDLINE via OVID (1946 to 31 December 2018), EMBASE (1974 to 31 December 2018), AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database; 1985 to November 2018), PubMed (inception to 31 December 2018), Web of Science (1900 to 2018), and PsychINFO (1806 to 31 December 2018). Ongoing systematic reviews were searched using Prospero and a grey literature search was undertaken using Google Scholar and OpenGrey (www.opengrey.eu/). No language restriction was applied. SELECTION CRITERIA: Only studies investigating patient perception of fixed appliance orthodontic treatment were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Screening, quality assessment [using the AMSTAR 2 tool (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews)], and data extraction were performed by two authors independently. Information was categorized and narratively synthesized for the key findings. RESULTS: A total of 163 articles investigating patient expectation, experience, and satisfaction with conventional ligation labial fixed orthodontic appliances were obtained. Of these, 152 observational or interventional studies were excluded, resulting in 11 eligible systematic reviews. Two were excluded as earlier reports of a Cochrane review. The quality of the reviews was variable (critically low, low, and moderate). The findings were as follows: aesthetics represents a primary motive for orthodontic treatment; a temporary deterioration in the quality of life occurs during the initial phases of treatment; gender and ethnicity factors do not have an impact on patient perception of treatment; and a positive relationship between orthodontist-patient-parent is important to achieve patient compliance and satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of high-quality studies in terms of systematic reviews and meta-analyses for assessing patient perception with fixed appliance orthodontic treatment. The aesthetic impact of malocclusion is the main motive for seeking orthodontic treatment. Quality of life reduces during the initial stages of orthodontic treatment but improves in the later stages of treatment. Assessment before, during, and after orthodontic treatment is necessary to comprehensively assess patient perception at all stages of care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42019122653. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None to declare.

Clinical efficacy of an Aloe Vera gel versus a 0.12% chlorhexidine gel in preventing traumatic ulcers in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

Traumatic oral ulceration (TOU) is one of the most common side effects of orthodontic treatments. The objective of this trial is to compare the clinical efficacy of an 80% Aloe Vera gel, prepared using a master formula, versus a commercial 0.12% Chlorhexidine (CHX) gel for TOU prevention in participants wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. This report represents a single-centre, university-based, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 2 parallel arms. Patients aged 12 years or older, in the permanent dentition, and about to start fixed orthodontic treatment in this university setting were randomly allocated to use either Aloe Vera or CHX gel, following the cementation procedure. Pre-treatment and 1 month after the cementation clinical assessment and digital photographic images were taken of the teeth and assessed by 2 clinical assessors for the presence or absence of TOUs. A total of 140 were randomized and completed the trial. The overall prevalence of TOUs was 43.6%. Overall 5.7% of patients treated with Aloe Vera gel showed did not suffer from TOUs, whereas in the CHX arm, a total of 57 (81.4%) were affected by this outcome reaching a significant result (p < 0.001). In terms of relative risk (RRs) and confidence intervals (CIs), Aloe Vera provided better results than CHX with an RR of 0.07 (95%CI 0.03-0.16; p < 0.001), and with a patients' number needed to treat of 1.3 (95%CI 1.16-1.54). There were no adverse effects. These results suggest that Aloe Vera gel administration in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances could be important for effective prevention of TOU.

Effect of ozone and diode laser (635 nm) in reducing orthodontic pain in the maxillary arch-a randomized clinical controlled trial.

The effect of ozone, diode laser irradiation, and presence of teeth crowding/spacing on pain perception in orthodontic patient was tested. Overall, 76 patients [55 women and 21 men; age 35.1(6.4) years] who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study. Immediately after fixed orthodontic appliance placement, the patients were exposed to a pain relief treatment (one single session) using either 635-nm diode laser (SmartM, Lasotronix, Warsaw, Poland) or ozone therapy (OzoneDTA, Apoza, New Taipei City, Taiwan) by placing the handpieces in the area of each teeth apex and interdental papillae, from the maxillary right first molar to the maxillary left first molar. Subjects were divided into three groups: control group (G1, n = 26), ozone (G2, n = 26, exposed to ozone therapy, generator probe type 3, working time per point 5 s, 23 points, application time 1 min and 55 s), and laser group (G3, n = 25, exposed to continuous mode diode laser, 400 mW, handpiece diameter 8 mm, spot area 0.5024 cm2, power density per second 1.59 W/cm2, dose 2 J per point, time: 5 s per point, 23 points, total energy per session 46 J, application time 1 min and 55 s). The level of teeth crowding was assessed using the Lundstrom indicator. The patients received a questionnaire for pain assessment (the Numeric Rating Scale, NRS-11, grade level 0-10) and recorded at 7 time points (1 h, 6 h, and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days ) after the fixed orthodontic appliance placement. The mean pain values for the diode laser, ozone, and control group were 3.6 (1.31) (95% CI, 2.95-4.25), 5.25 (3.37) (95% CI, 3.52-6.98), and 5.75 (2.40) (95% CI, 4.69-6.81), respectively. We observed lower pain values in the diode laser group compared to the control group (p = 0.0237). The use of ozone in this study did not result in significant pain reduction in comparison to control (p = 0.8040) and laser groups (p = 0.1029). There were no differences in pain perception between patients with crowded teeth and non-crowded teeth in each group (G1, p = 0.66, G2, p = 0.86, G3, p = 0.24). The use of 635-nm diode laser led to decreased pain perception; however, ozone and presence of teeth crowding/spacing did not affect the pain perception in orthodontic patients during the first 5 days after the fixed orthodontic appliance placement.

Treatment of a Class II Division 1 malocclusion with the combination of a myofunctional trainer and fixed appliances.

This case report describes the combined use of a myofunctional Trainer for Braces and fixed appliances to treat a 10-year-old girl with a Class II Division 1 malocclusion that featured severe maxillary incisor protrusion, a large overjet, and a V-shaped maxillary arch. She had a convex profile with an underdeveloped mandible. The superiority of myofunctional training in the case was to eliminate mouth breathing and lip sucking habits, train the oral musculature, stimulate mandibular growth, and make braces work more efficiently. The posttreatment facial photographs show improvement in the facial profile. Proper occlusion and facial balance were created, which were quite stable as demonstrated by the patient's 4-year follow-up records.

What evidence exists for myofunctional therapy with prefabricated appliances? A systematic review with meta-analyses of randomised trials.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the treatment efficacy/efficiency with prefabricated myofunctional appliances (PMA) for children with malocclusion. DATA SOURCES: Nine databases searched without limitations till July 2019. DATA SELECTION: Randomised trials comparing PMAs to functional appliance treatment or no treatment. DATA EXTRACTION: Study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were done in duplicate. DATA SYNTHESIS: Random-effects meta-analyses of mean differences (MDs) or relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were conducted on seven publications (three published and one unpublished trials; 232 patients; 53% male; mean age 10.2 years). Compared to no treatment, one trial indicated that PMAs were somewhat effective in reducing overjet (MD -2.4; 95% CI -3.3 to -1.5), reducing overbite (MD -2.5; 95% CI -3.2 to -1.8), reducing mandibular crowding (RR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.8) and establishing Class I canine relationship (RR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.1-4.9). However, compared to custom-made functional appliances, three trials indicated that PMAs were less effective in reducing the ANB angle (MD 0.9; 95% CI 0.5-1.4), increasing mandibular ramus length (MD -2.2; 95% CI -2.9 to -1.51), reducing overjet (MD 1.5; 95% CI 0.9-2.1), establishing a solid Class I molar relationship (RR 0.3; 95% CI 0.2-0.7), reducing the nasolabial angle (MD 5.8; 95% CI 0.8-10.8) and reducing facial convexity (MD -2.6; 95% CI -4.3 to -0.9). Finally, the quality of evidence was moderate to low due to risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: PMAs are more effective in reducing overjet, overbite, mandibular crowding and establishing Class I canine relationship than no treatment. However, compared to custom-made functional appliances, PMAs are less effective in producing dental, skeletal or soft-tissue changes, even though they are less costly.

A single-centre investigator-blinded randomised parallel group clinical trial to investigate the effect of probiotic strains Streptococcus salivarius M18 and Lactobacillus acidophilus on gingival health of paediatric patients undergoing treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the beneficial effects of probiotics on the gingival health of patients undergoing treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances. This study aims to compare the effect of probiotic tablets combined with regular oral hygiene versus regular oral hygiene alone on gingival status in these patients. The effect of probiotic intake on plaque formation and salivary microbiome composition will be also assessed. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a 3 month single-centre, single blind (clinical and laboratory examiners), parallel group randomised controlled two arm superiority trial. Fifty paediatric patients attending the Postgraduate Orthodontic Clinic at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine (HBMCDM), Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who meet the eligibility criteria will be recruited. Block randomisation with 1:1 allocation and concealment of allocation will be carried out. The treatment group will receive probiotic tablets containing Streptococcus salivarius M18 and Lactobacillus acidophilus together with regular oral hygiene versus the control group on regular oral hygiene alone. Clinical examination and collection of saliva for microbiome assay will be carried out at baseline and end of study. Self-reporting by patients will be used to document acceptability and adverse effects. Statistically significant decrease in gingival bleeding on probing in the treatment group will be classified as primary outcome of treatment success. Statistically significant reduction in Plaque Index, Gingival Index and shift in the composition of the oral microbiome in favour of beneficial bacteria are secondary outcomes indicative of efficacy of probiotic intake. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval for the study has been granted by the HBMCDM, MBRU, Institutional Review Board (Reference #: MBRU-IRB-2018-015). Study findings will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN95085398.

Low-level laser therapy (830 nm) on orthodontic pain: blinded randomized clinical trial.

The objective of this research was to compare the effect single low-level laser therapy (LLLT) irradiation on pain perception in patients having fixed appliance treatment in the clinic of orthodontics. Sixty-two patients were recruited to participate in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. The patients were assigned to four groups: group I-laser on the right side; group II-placebo on the right side; group III-laser on the left side; group IV-placebo on the left. The laser or placebo was applied before separation, 24 and 48 h after separation of their first permanent molars in the lower arch. Just after the separation, the average of the pain for the placebo group was 1.6, significantly greater than the average of 1.1 registered for the laser group (p = 0.013). After 24 h and before the new irradiation, the values registered among the different groups did not show any differences. In relation to the gender, only after the first irradiation in placebo group, the female had a level of pain (0.1) significantly higher (p = 0.04) compared to male, and after 48 h, the group where the laser was applied had a difference (p = 0.04) among the gender with a value of lower pain for men (0.6) than for women (1.6).The laser irradiation to minimize the pain was only effective when applied immediately after treatment and separation. In general way, there were no differences between the genders, except after the first placebo group irradiation in which the female had a significantly higher level of pain compared to male and after 48 h. The pain cycle observed in this study had its peak in 24 h, both for laser's and placebo's group.

Effect of orthodontic management and orofacial muscle training protocols on the correction of myofunctional and myoskeletal problems in developing dentition. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this review was to evaluate available evidence on the effect of early orthodontic management and myofunctional treatment in the developing dentition children, on anterior open bite correction, as well as on normalization of patterns of mouth breathing, swallowing and tongue resting position and pressure. Electronic searches in MEDLINE, Cochrane and LILACS, without language restrictions were conducted. Additionally, unpublished literature was identified. Randomized controlled trials, or controlled clinical trials, comparing interventions applied to manage anterior open bite and other muscle functions such as breathing/swallowing pattern and tongue resting position and pressure, were considered. Quality assessment was based on the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted to assess treatment effects. From the 265 initial search results, 15 articles were included in the review. Eight were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 7 were controlled clinical trials. Treatment outcomes comprised skeletal and dentoalveolar changes recorded cephalometrically, mouth posture and lip closure normalization, improvement of tongue resting position/pressure and modification of swallowing pattern. Quantitative synthesis was possible for only 2 of the included RCTs. There was no evidence to support bonded lingual spurs over banded fixed appliances for the correction of anterior open bite in mixed dentition children presenting nonnutritive oral habits at the onset of treatment (SMD: -0.03; 95%CI: -.81, 0.74; P = 0.94). Although early orthodontic management and myofunctional treatment in the deciduous and mixed dentition children appears to be a promising approach, the quality of the existing evidence is questionable.

Evaluating low-level laser therapy effect on reducing orthodontic pain using two laser energy values: a split-mouth randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: No randomized controlled trial before has evaluated the role of low-level laser energy in its analgesic effects in orthodontics. Objective: To evaluate the effect of single application of low-level laser with 4-Joule or 16-Joule energy on pain reduction following elastomeric separators placement. Trial design: A two-arm parallel-group single-blind placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial, with implementation of split-mouth technique in each group. Materials and methods: Twenty-six patients in need of orthodontic treatment with a fixed orthodontic appliance were enrolled and randomly allocated to either the 4-Joule or the 16-Joule laser energy group. Elastomeric separators were applied for the mandibular first molars. For each patient one molar received a single low-level laser dose using an 830-nm Ga-Al-As laser device with either 4-Joule or 16-Joule laser beam energy, while the other molar received a placebo treatment by applying the laser device in the same method and parameters as the counterpart molar without emitting the laser beam. The molar to be irradiated was also randomly chosen using simple randomization technique. Allocation was concealed and patients were blinded to which side would receive the laser irradiation. Main outcome measure was the degree of pain scored during mastication for each mandibular first molar after 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of both laser and placebo treatments application. A questionnaire with an 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used for pain assessment. Results: Thirty-six patients were evaluated for eligibility, 10 of them were excluded making the final randomized number 26 patients. One patient dropped out later for not completing the questionnaire. Accordingly, the results of 25 patients were statistically analysed. No statistical significance was found for both low-level laser energy values in comparison to the corresponding placebo treatments. No harms were encountered. Limitations: Intervention provider was not blinded to the intervention. Conclusion: Low-level laser therapy, applied at two different laser energy values, is ineffective in relieving elastomeric separators induced orthodontic pain. Trial registration: This trial was not registered. Funding: No funding to be declared.