Exploring the knowledge and awareness on applications of virtual reality and augmented reality technology among dental healthcare professionals - a crosssectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and awareness of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology in dentistry. METHODS: A questionnaire survey-based study was conducted using Google forms on a sample of 273 dental healthcare professionals (DHCP) from October- November 2023, after obtaining ethical approval. A validated questionnaire, divided into three sections, was used to assess the knowledge and awareness of dental healthcare professionals on virtual and augmented reality. Section A was about demographic statistics, section B assessed knowledge and awareness regarding VR and AR and section C consisted of future acceptability of VR and AR among DHCP. The frequency of each question was reported in percentages. To assess the difference of knowledge and awareness of AR and VR among different specialties of DHCP, one-way ANOVA test was applied and in case of significant results pairwise comparison was performed by post-hoc Tukey test. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference of knowledge (1.40 ± 0.49) among different dental healthcare professionals. On pairwise comparison, a statistically significant difference (p = ˂0.05) of knowledge and awareness of AR and VR was found among dental specialist and other dental health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: A concerning lack of knowledge and awareness among dental healthcare professionals regarding AR and VR technology in dentistry was found. Interestingly, within the spectrum of specialties, dental specialists demonstrated a comparatively higher awareness than their counterparts in other specialties. Addressing barriers, notably a lack of knowledge, is crucial for successful technology adoption in dental education and practice.

Dental robotics: a groundbreaking technology with disruptive potential - review article.

Dental Robotics represent a groundbreaking technological frontier with the potential to disrupt traditional paradigms in oral healthcare. This abstract explores the transformative impact of robotic applications in dentistry, focussing on precision, reproducibility, and reliability. A comprehensive search was conducted on the PubMed database, Dental and Oral Science, and CINAHL to identify pertinent studies exploring the implications of robotics in dentistry. Studies incorporated in this analysis highlighted the significance of broadening the research scope beyond implantology. This review underscores the importance of integrating robotic dentistry into educational frameworks and advancing technological preparedness. As we navigate these challenges, the abstract underscores the pivotal role of robotic dentistry in shaping the future of oral healthcare. Robotic dentistry promises transformative advancements in oral healthcare with precision and reliability. Challenges like limited system availability and expertise highlight the need for increased dentist-engineer collaboration. Diversifying research, emphasizing non-invasive technologies, and integrating robotic dentistry into education are crucial for wider acceptance. Public awareness and regulatory clarity are pivotal for seamless integration, unlocking the vast potential of robotic technologies in the future of dental care.

The application of virtual reality and augmented reality in dentistry - a literature review.

In recent times, dentistry has seen significant technological advancements that have transformed various specialized areas within the field. Developed into applications for mobile devices, augmented reality (AR) seamlessly merges digital components with the physical world, enhancing both realms while maintaining their individual separateness. On the other hand, virtual reality (VR) relies on advanced, tailored software to visualize a digital 3D environment stimulating the operator's senses through computer generated sensations and feedback. The current advances use the application of VR, haptic simulators, the use of an AI algorithm and many more that provides new opportunities for smart learning and enhance the teaching environment. As this technology continues to evolve, it is poised to become even more remarkable, enabling specialists to potentially visualize both soft and hard tissues within the patient's body for effective treatment planning. This literature aims to present the newest advancements and ongoing development of AR and VR in dentistry and medicine. It highlights their diverse applications while identifying areas needing further research for effective integration into clinical practice.

Knowledge and awareness of dental stem cells among dental healthcare professionals - a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To assess knowledge and awareness of dental healthcare professionals on dental stem cells. METHODS: A questionnaire survey-based study was conducted using Google forms on a sample of 69 dental healthcare professionals (DHCP) from September - October 2022, after obtaining ethical approval. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and awareness of dental healthcare professionals on stem cells, which was then divided into three sections. The section A was about demographic statistics, section B assessed knowledge and awareness regarding dental stem cells and section C consisted of 5 score VAS scale to assess the acceptability of future research and increase implication of dental stem cells (DSC) among DHCP. The frequency of each question was reported in percentages. To assess the difference of knowledge and awareness of DSC among different specialties of DHCP, one-way ANOVA test was applied and incase of significant results pairwise comparison was performed by post-hoc Tukey test. RESULTS: Mean scores of knowledge and awareness of DSC among female DHCP were 54.26 ± 11.73 and males were 53.50 ±8.19. There was a statistically significant difference of knowledge (p= 0.02) among different dental healthcare professionals. On pairwise comparison by post-hoc Tukey HSD we found statistically significant difference (p = 0.03) of knowledge and awareness of dental stem cells among general dentists and operative dentistry specialists. CONCLUSIONS: We found poor knowledge and awareness of dental healthcare professionals regarding dental stem cells. However, operative and endodontic specialty had more awareness on dental stem cells as compared to any other specialty. There was positive approach for further future researches on stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells and its translation into clinical orthodontics: current trends and future perspectives.

Oral mesenchymal stem cell populations in humans have been discovered in close vicinity to oral mucosal tissues and both primary (deciduous) and secondary (permanent) teeth. All these different kinds of stem cells have the ability to divide and replenish themselves, however they vary in their gene expression profiles and their capacity to give rise to distinct cell lineages. They all have multipotentiality i.e. chondrogenic, osteogenic, adipogenic, and neurogenic. Due to their relative accessibility, these cell types may form a source of stem cells with substantial potential for application in tissue regeneration. In this review, discoveries outlining stem cell potential are discussed on various aspects as, are their various applications in orthodontics i.e. orthodontic tooth movement, fixing external root resorption, correcting craniofacial anomalies, accelerating craniofacial distraction osteogenesis, recreating the TMJ, and ensuring a stable maxillary expansion.

Soft tissue lasers: An innovative tool enhancing treatment outcomes in orthodontics - A narrative review.

Lasers have been utilised in the field of dentistry for over 40 years, but their use has been limited in the field of orthodontics. The advent of lasers with accompanying computer interfaces has made them significantly user-friendly, adding to their appeal in the orthodontic profession. Knowledge regarding the laser device's capabilities and limitations is essential to optimise patient care and to make a satisfactory investment return. For the effective and successful integration of lasers in orthodontic practice, adequate training is required, limited not only to the orthodontist but the dental assistants and auxiliaries as well. Orthodontists may safely and readily execute gingivectomy, exposure of teeth, frenectomy, circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy, ankyloglossia release and uvulopalatoplasty. The current narrative review was planned to introduce the benefits and general principles of soft tissue lasers in the field of orthodontics and recent surgical research comparing different laser-assisted surgeries against conventional scalpel surgeries.

Dental, skeletal, and soft-tissue changes in adult orthodontic patients treated with premolar extraction and nonextraction: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Various treatment modalities exist to improve and correct Class I malocclusion. This study evaluated the dental, skeletal, and soft-tissue changes in patients treated by premolar extraction (PME) and nonextraction. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including subjects ideally planned for PME. Pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalograms were compared among the 2 groups. The American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS) was used to score the posttreatment casts, and soft-tissue profile silhouettes were judged by a panel of orthodontists to evaluate the improvement among the 2 groups. Comparisons between the 2 groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation was used to study the correlation between the assessment methodologies. RESULTS: Highly significant differences were observed between the 2 groups for ABO-OGS scores (P ≤0.001) and profile silhouette assessment (P ≤0.001). Compared with posttreatment cephalometric readings, highly significant differences were seen for the dental variables: SN-U1, IMPA, and interincisal angle (P ≤0.001). Statistically significant differences were seen for all soft-tissue cephalometric variables. Highly significant moderate to negative correlation (r = -0.410, P ≤0.001) was seen between profile silhouettes and ABO-OGS alignment scores. Highly significant strong negative correlation (r = -0.642, P ≤0.001) was seen between profile silhouettes and the lower lip. CONCLUSION: Dental and soft-tissue changes were highly significant and were found to be in the ideal range when treated with PME. However, PME and nonextraction treatment modalities did not significantly affect the skeletal parameters as seen on the lateral cephalogram.

Comparison of treatment outcomes as assessed by 3 indexes in subjects with Class I malocclusion treated by 3 different methods: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Various treatment modalities exist to improve and correct Class I malocclusion. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of nonextraction (NE), premolar extraction (PME), and mandibular incisor extraction (MIE) treatment modalities in subjects presenting with Class I malocclusion. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital using pretreatment and posttreatment dental casts along with intraoral photographs of 90 orthodontic subjects. These subjects were divided equally into NE, PME, and MIE groups and scored using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need, Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON), and peer assessment rating (PAR) indexes. Nonparametric tests were run to compare pretreatment and posttreatment scores and to evaluate the percentage and categorical changes for the treatment modalities. Pairwise comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (P ≤0.001) were seen between the pretreatment and posttreatment scores for all modalities. Statistically significant improvements were seen between the 3 treatment modalities for the PAR (P = 0.010) and ICON (P = 0.003) indexes. Significant categorical improvements were found for the Aesthetic Component (AC) (P = 0.012) among the 3 groups. Pairwise comparison revealed significant differences between the NE and MIE groups (ICON, P = 0.001; AC, P = 0.018) and PME and MIE groups (PAR, P = 0.002; ICON, P = 0.007; AC, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Posttreatment scores of all indexes were reduced, with significant differences found among the treatment modalities for all except the Dental Health Component index. The pairwise comparison revealed suboptimal occlusal results with the MIE group. Good occlusal and esthetic treatment outcomes were achieved with the PME and NE groups.

Cephalometric predictors of optimal facial soft-tissue profile in adult Asian subjects with Class II malocclusion treated via maxillary premolar extraction: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Class II malocclusion is most commonly treated using maxillary premolar extractions. The objective of this study was to predict cephalometric parameters associated with favorable facial soft-tissue profiles in adult Asian subjects with Class II malocclusion treated via maxillary premolar extractions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 46 patients equally divided into favorable (FG) and unfavorable groups. The sample was divided on the basis of subjective and objective criteria. Subjectively, pretreatment and posttreatment facial silhouettes were shown to the panel of orthodontists to rate via the visual analog scale. Objectively, posttreatment soft-tissue cephalometric variables were taken. The sample receiving 60% visual analog scale and ideal posttreatment soft-tissue measurements were included in FG. Paired t test and independent t test were applied to determine the significant changes within and between both groups. To predict the cephalometric and occlusal variables associated with FG outcome, the Cox regression analysis was applied. RESULTS: On the evaluation of pretreatment cephalometric variables, the independent t test showed statistically significant differences for UI-NA (P = 0.42), Wits appraisal plane (0.010), upper lip to E-line (0.047), and interincisal angle (P = 0.049). Evaluation of the pretreatment occlusal variables the independent t test and chi-square test showed overjet (P = 0.018) and molar relationship (P = 0.045) to be statistically significant. The Cox regression analysis showed no cephalometric or occlusal variables to be statistically significant to predict the soft-tissue outcomes. A statistically significant strong correlation was also observed between the subjective and objective evaluation methods. CONCLUSIONS: Cephalometric analysis may be more valuable as a diagnostic rather than a predictive tool for favorable soft-tissue outcomes.

Influence of incisor inclination and anterior vertical facial height on facial attractiveness in an adult Asian male.

INTRODUCTION: Balanced facial proportions and hard tissue relationships are important factors in facial attractiveness. The objective of this study was to determine the most pleasing maxillary incisal inclination (MII) on the lateral profile and the impact of various lower anterior facial height (LAFH) ratios (at rest and with a smile) on facial attractiveness. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed with 66 raters equally divided into 3 panels: general dentists (GD), orthodontic residents (OR), and laypersons (LP). Lateral profile view photographs of an Asian man were modified using Photoshop software (Adobe Systems, San Jose, Calif) to show altered MII and LAFH ratios at rest and when smiling. Subjective evaluations of facial attractiveness were performed by raters using a visual analog scale. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare esthetic scores among raters, and the Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare ES between groups. RESULTS: Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences in esthetic scores among raters for -10° (P = 0.028) and -15° MII (P = 0.030). Similarly, significant differences were found in ES for 8% LAFH ratio (P = 0.022), and 4% LAFH ratio (P = 0.035) at rest. Mann-Whitney U test showed significant differences between raters for -10° and -15° MII and between 8% and 4% LAFH ratio at rest. CONCLUSIONS: All groups rated -5° inclinations to be most attractive. General dentists and orthodontic residents found normal LAFH to be the most attractive, whereas long facial height was less attractive with smile. In addition, smile had a camouflaging effect on LAFH.

Predicting the sagittal skeletal pattern using dental cast and facial profile photographs in children aged 9 to 14 years.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify prediction of sagittal skeletal pattern using anteroposterior dental relationships on dental casts and facial profile photograph. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from December 2016 to July 2017, and comprised orthodontic patients of either gender aged 9-14 years who attended the outpatient dental clinic. The sagittal skeletal relationship assessed on cephalometric radiographs was compared with anteroposterior dental and facial measurements on their dental cast and facial profile photographs. A prediction model was developed using multiple linear regression. The applicability of the prediction model was checked on an independent sample. Data was analysed using STATA 12. RESULTS: Of the 76 patients, about two-third (n=47) were females. The overall median age was 12.3 years (inter-quartile range: 1.8), with majority (60.5%) aged 12-14 years. The proportion of Class I, II and III malocclusion was 25 (32.9%), 50 (65.8%) and 1 (1.3%) respectively. Highest percentage of variability 47.4% in ANB angle was determined by the soft tissue ANB angle. 54.9% of the variability in the ANB angle could be explained by overjet, soft tissue ANB' angle, lower lip to E-line distance, Class II incisor relationship, history of malocclusion and thumb sucking, interaction terms between Class II incisor relationship and history of malocclusion, and history of thumb sucking and soft tissue ANB' angle. CONCLUSIONS: Sagittal skeletal relationship in an individual can be predicted with moderate accuracy using the prediction equation incorporating dental and facial variables along with history of malocclusion and thumb-sucking without potentially harmful exposure to cephalometric radiographs.

The influence of incisor inclination and anterior vertical facial height on facial attractiveness in an Asian woman.

INTRODUCTION: Orthodontic treatment can help improve facial attractiveness through the modification of factors affecting the soft tissue profile. The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of different maxillary incisal inclinations and lower anterior facial heights (at rest and with a smile) on the facial attractiveness of an Asian woman, as perceived by different panels of raters using visual analog scale (VAS) scores. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 66 raters equally divided into 3 panels that consisted of general dentists, orthodontic residents, and laypersons. Raters assessed modified photographs of a subject with various incisor inclinations and lower anterior facial height/total anterior facial height (LAFH/TAFH) on lateral profile view. Modifications were made using Photoshop software (Adobe, San Jose, Calif). Subjective evaluations of facial attractiveness were performed by raters using VAS. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare VAS scores among raters. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare VAS scores between groups. RESULTS: Significant differences in VAS scores were found among raters for -10° (P = 0.004) and -15° (P = 0.021) incisal inclinations. Significant differences were found in VAS scores for -8% LAFH/TAFH (P = 0.044) and 4% LAFH/TAFH with smile (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Professionals preferred normal incisal inclinations to be the most attractive. General dentists found reduced facial height to be unattractive. Orthodontic residents and laypersons considered increased LAFH/TAFH to be most unattractive. Smile had a negative impact on VAS scores at extreme anterior facial height modifications.

Comparison between conventional and piezocision-assisted orthodontics in relieving anterior crowding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged duration of orthodontic treatment is of great concern and poses risks to the teeth and surrounding tissues. Orthodontic tooth movement can be accelerated by introducing regional insult. Evidence suggests piezocision to be minimally invasive and clinically effective. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of conventional and piezocision-assisted orthodontics in relieving anterior crowding. SEARCH METHODS: Electronic and manual searches were conducted in databases including PubMed, Dental and Oral Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials until April 2019. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted independently by two authors from the studies that fulfilled inclusion criteria. The primary outcome assessed was time required for the alleviation of crowding. The secondary outcomes evaluated were pain, root resorption, and periodontal health. The risk of bias in the clinical trials was evaluated according to the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Studies having homogenous data were included in the meta-analysis using the RevMan software. RESULTS: Initial search yielded 3018 studies with eight articles meeting the inclusion criteria, six were randomized controlled trials and two were non-randomized controlled trials. Significant differences were found in alignment time between conventional and piezocision-assisted orthodontic treatment. However, gingival health, pain experienced by the patient, and root resorption showed non-significant differences. The forest plot of meta-analysis depicted significant mean difference of -46.44; 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) -87.95, -4.93; P ≤ 0.03 in the alignment time. Difference in pain levels was found to be non-significant (P = 0.78). LIMITATIONS: There is a shortage of high-quality randomized controlled trials with a limited sample size and lack of standardization of piezocision protocol. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: According to the existing evidence, piezocision is effective in reducing tooth alignment time and alleviating crowding when compared to conventional therapy. Pain levels showed insignificant differences revealed in meta-analysis. Weak evidence suggests that there are no negative effects on periodontal health and root resorption after performing piezocision. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42019134398).

Evaluation of cervical spine posture after functional therapy with twin-block appliances: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: It has been postulated that a change in cervical posture occurs as a consequence of forward repositioning of the mandible. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the cervical spine posture between subjects with and without functional appliance therapy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with the use of pre- and post-functional therapy cephalograms of orthodontic patients. A total of 60 subjects was composed of 2 groups of 30 subjects each: those who underwent treatment with a twin-block (TB) functional appliance and a control group selected from the Bolton-Brush Growth Study. Three sagittal and 7 cervical vertebral parameters were compared between the groups. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre- and postfunctional mean angular measurements. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the mean changes in cervical parameters between the groups. RESULTS: A significant difference existed between pre- and postfunctional SNB (P <0.001) and ANB (P <0.001) angles, showing a change in maxillomandibular relationship. Comparison of mean changes in angular measurements between the 2 groups showed a significant difference (P = 0.032) in the sella-nasion to odontoid process tangent (SN-OPT) angle. The SN-OPT angle predicted that the probability of developing an altered cervical posture with the TB appliance is 2.08 times greater than without the TB appliance. CONCLUSIONS: SN-OPT angle can predict a change in skeletal relationships after treatment with the TB functional appliance. The TB causes the craniocervical posture to be more upright. Subjects with reduced vertical dimensions have greater change in cervical posture.

The Association between Morphological Characteristics of Palatal Rugae and Sagittal Skeletal Patterns.

INTRODUCTION: To find the association between the morphological characteristics of palatal rugae and sagittal skeletal patterns. METHODS: The retrospective charts review was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital from April to June 2016, and comprised data obtained from the pretreatment dental cast of orthodontic patients visiting the dental clinics over 5 years from 2011 to 2015. The sample was divided equally in three malocclusion groups based on sagittal skeletal relationship Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of palatal rugae was recorded for both right and left sides. Morphological features of the three anterior most primary rugae were recorded for the length, pattern and orientation bilaterally. SPSS 20 was used to compare the number and lengths as well as the pattern and orientation of palatal rugae among the groups. RESULTS: Of the 165 subjects, there were 55(33.3%) in each of the three groups. Significant differences were recorded in rugae lengths among the groups at ruga 1 on both sides and rugae 2 and 3 on the left side (p<0.05 each). There were significant differences in the palatal rugae patterns among the groups (p<0.05) except at rugae 2 and 3 on the left side (p>0.05). Orientation showed significant differences at ruga 2 on the right side (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: No specific pattern was associated with any skeletal pattern. Further studies are required to evaluate three-dimensional characteristics of rugae to assess the association between palatal rugae and sagittal skeletal patterns.

Correlation between radiographic parameters for the prediction of palatally impacted maxillary canines.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify radiographic parameters on routine orthopantomograms to aid in early diagnosis of palatally impacted canines. DESIGN: Split-mouth case-control study. SETTING: Single-centre university dental hospital. METHODS: Thirty-three individuals with palatally impacted canines and non-impacted contra-lateral teeth were recruited. Radiographic variables angle A, angle B, angle C, distance D, sector class and depth of vertical impaction were measured for both groups. Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used to analyse significant differences and association between variables with sector class and depth of vertical impaction, respectively. Logistic regression analysis determined radiographic parameters as predictors of palatal impaction. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen between sector class, depth of vertical impaction and the radiographic parameters between cases and controls ( P ⩽ 0.001). For cases, strong correlation was found for angle C between the impacted canine and occlusal plane (r = -0.28, P = 0.022) and perpendicular distance D of impacted canine to the occlusal plane (r = 0.81, P ⩽ 0.001) with the depth of vertical impaction. Logistic regression analysis showed the odds of canine impaction increase with an increase in angle B and angle C. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that greater depth of vertical impaction, sector class, increased perpendicular distance and reduced angulation from occlusal plane resulted in palatal impaction of permanent maxillary canines. The odds of palatal canine impaction increase nearly twofold with every 10 increase in angle B and angle C.

Contamination assessment of orthodontic bands after different pre-cleaning methods at a tertiary care hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Infection control in dentistry is a major concern due to risk of transmission of communicable diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of various pre-cleaning methods for the tried-in orthodontic bands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An in-vitro experimental study was conducted at the Central Sterilization Services Department (Dental Clinic) and the Microbiology lab at our university hospital. A total of 130 bands were included in our study which comprised 10 controls and the rest were equally divided into three groups according to the pre-cleaning methods, i.e. manual scrubbing, enzymatic solution and a combination of both. The orthodontic bands were incubated in the brain heart infusion broth at 37 °C for five days after pre-cleaning and sterilisation in a steam autoclave and were assessed for any bacterial growth. The chi-square test was applied to determine any significant association between the various pre-cleaning methods and the frequency of bands that showed growth. Effect size was calculated using the phi coefficient. RESULTS: The enzyme method revealed 5% of the sample to exhibit bacterial growth, whereas manual scrubbing and the combination of both showed no growth. There was no statistically significant difference among the three methods (P = 0.131). Further investigations showed the presence of Staphylococcus non-aureus bacterial species in contaminated bands from group II. CONCLUSIONS: All pre-cleaning methods were found to be equally effective in the decontamination of bands. Hence, the tried-in bands can be safely reused after pre-cleaning and sterilisation.

Adjunctive surgical procedures enhancing treatment outcome - A literature review.

The face is the most expressive zone of the human body that communicates our feelings and thoughts. This may also influence the interaction between people. The aesthetic adjunctive procedures are life-changing. In contemporary orthodontic treatment, orthognathic surgeries are performed to correct the functional aspects of dento facial deformities. In cases where the aesthetic outcome is not improved, patient dissatisfaction is often encountered. Many adjunctive surgical procedures can be used to enhance the anaesthetics of orthodontic or orthognathic surgical cases. Dwelling not merely on the ideal occlusion, the results could be enhanced by analysing the whole-face to improve the overall treatment outcome.

Factors affecting treatment decisions for Class I malocclusions.

INTRODUCTION: Orthodontic treatment planning requires skill and expertise with considerable practice variations. The aims of this study were to review retrospectively the pretreatment records of patients with Class I malocclusion and to identify variables that could play a role in the treatment decision. METHODS: From the available records of 1500 orthdontic patients, the pretreatment records of 202 patients were selected at random. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and the surviving records were divided into extraction (n = 92) and nonextraction (n = 92) treatment groups. Skeletal, dental, and soft tissue measurements were obtained from pretreatment lateral cephalograms and dental casts of subjects with bilateral Class I molar relationships. Data were statistically analyzed by binary logistic regression tests. RESULTS: The results showed that the variables of lower anterior facial height, E-plane to upper lip, and maxillary and mandibular incisor inclinations were significantly increased in the extraction group (P <0.05), whereas spacing in the mandibular arch and increased overbite were statistically significant in the nonextraction treatment group (P <0.05). According to the model, the odds of nonextraction treatment are 1.29 and 1.24 times that of extraction treatment for every 1-mm increase in overbite and spacing in the mandibular arch, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical facial pattern, overbite, mandibular tooth size-arch length discrepancy, lip position, and maxillary and mandibular incisor inclinations are a few of the important variables that should not be overlooked when planning orthodontic treatment. The findings of this study could facilitate the treatment planning process for patients with Class I malocclusion.

Assessment of dental maturation on orthopantomograms among children with various dental malocclusions at a tertiary care hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the median dental age among males and females and in subjects with dental Class I, II and III malocclusions. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital and comprised dental records of patients from July to December 2016 who were aged 9-16 years and had complete dentition excluding third molars. The sample was divided according to dental malocclusion which was further categorised according to chronological age groups. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 270 sbjects whose radiographs were studied, 135(50%) each were males and females. Children aged 11-12 years showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.03) in the median dental age among genders. There was a strong positive correlation in the dental and chronological ages in the males (p<0.001) and females (p<0.001) sample. Median time of eruption of mandibular second permanent molar in different malocclusions was 11 years and 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong positive correlation between chronological and dental ages for males and females. Females subjects were dentally advanced compared to the male subjects aged 11-12 years. ..