Quantitative analysis of facial symmetry by using three-dimensional technology.

BACKGROUND: Facial symmetry is becoming increasingly important in today's orthodontic treatment. But the asymmetrical boundary is not clearly demarcated. Stereophotogrammetry has a clear advantage in measuring facial asymmetry. The aim of this study was to quantify the facial asymmetry by three-dimensional (3D) technology as well as to study whether the evaluation by non-experts about facial asymmetry was consistent with the analysis by 3D technology. METHODS: The facial symmetry of 330 patients was evaluated by 10 non-experts. 3D facial images were taken using 3dMD stereophotogrammetry equipment. The original face and its mirror shell were divided into 7 regions and the surface matching was measured in the whole face and all regional areas. The degree of symmetry was calculated by the software 3-matic STL 9.0. The difference between the two groups was analyzed by Independent-Samples T Test and the diagnostic efficiency of symmetry degree was analyzed by ROC curve analysis. The consistency between the symmetric degree and the result of evaluation was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: The ROC analysis revealed significant diagnostic values in the determination of the facial asymmetry of lip, chin, cheek and lateral mandible areas. The cut-off values of symmetry degree were between 60 and 80%. The evaluation was middle correlation with the symmetric degree of the whole face. CONCLUSIONS: The chin and lateral mandible contribute most significantly to the facial symmetry. The objective measurement of facial symmetry, 3D technology, is reliable.

Streptococcus mutans-associated bacteria in dental plaque of severe early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is a potential pathogenic bacteria of dental caries. However, the level of S. mutans is low in some children with severe early childhood caries (SECC). AIM: To evaluate the effect of S. mutans level on dental microbiome and cariogenesis. METHODS: The oral microbiota was compared between caries-free group (CF) and SECC group.16S rRNA gene sequencing was used for S. mutans level bacterial community analysis. The candidate bacteria that were closely related with S. mutans abundance were identified and confirmed by absolute quantitative real-time PCR in clinical dental plaque samples from CF and SECC groups. RESULTS: Through in-depth analysis of dental plaque microorganism, Leptotrichia, Selenomonas and Prevotella_7 were found in the S. mutans-low group (p < 0.05) and Porphyromonas, Selenomonas_3 were found in the S. mutans-high group (p < 0.05). Through quantitative real-time PCR, Leptotrichia, Selenomonas and Prevotella_7 were identified as the potential biomarkers of SECC when S. mutans was at a low level. CONCLUSION: Leptotrichia, Selenomonas and Prevotella_7 are identified as potential biomarkers in SECC with a low abundance or without S. mutans. Our study may shed light on the understanding of caries occurrence in SECC with low abundance of S. mutans. ABBREVIATIONS: S. mutans, Streptococcus mutans; CF, caries-free; SECC, severe early childhood caries; ECC, early childhood caries; rRNA, ribosome RNA; qPCR, Quantitative real-time PCR; OTUs, operational taxonomic units; ANOVA, analysis of variance; LDA, Linear discriminant analysis; LEfSe, Linear discriminant analysis effect size; COG, Groups of proteins; NMDS, Non-MetricMulti-Dimensional Scaling; IL-1ß, interleukin -1ß; IL-6, interleukin-6; IL-8, interleukin-8; IL-10, interleukin-10.

Effect of occlusal plane control procedure on hyoid bone position and pharyngeal airway of hyperdivergent skeletal Class II patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of occlusal plane control on the hyoid bone position and pharyngeal airway of hyperdivergent skeletal Class II patients during orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cephalograms of 47 hyperdivergent skeletal Class II subjects with occlusal plane control (OPC), and another 50 subjects without occlusal plane control (NOPC) were selected to compare the effects of the occlusal plane control procedure. Lateral cephalograms before treatment (T1), immediately after treatment (T2), and an average of 12 months after treatment (T3) were obtained, and 17 measurements were analyzed in each group and compared between groups. RESULTS: With respect to the T2-T1 changes, the sagittal discrepancies in both groups were alleviated. In the OPC group, both the occlusal and mandibular plane angles decreased, accompanied by anterior and superior movement and counterclockwise rotation of the hyoid bone. The overall changes from T3 to T1 in each group exhibited trends similar to that induced by treatment. As for pharyngeal airway space alterations, no significant difference in OPC group was presented throughout treatment or retention periods. CONCLUSIONS: The customized occlusal plane control procedure was effective for hyperdivergent skeletal Class II patients: The occlusal plane rotated counterclockwise, followed by a counterclockwise rotation of the mandibular plane. The hyoid bone moved anteriorly and superiorly, accompanied by its counterclockwise rotation. However, this procedure did not induce significant alteration of the pharyngeal airway space.