The validity of using profile predictions for class III patients planned for bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.

This study assessed whether preoperative class III patients could recreate their facial difference based on a profile photograph. Twenty class III pre-surgery bimaxillary orthognathic patients used CASSOS (SoftEnable Technology Ltd.) to manipulate a distorted soft tissue image of them until they felt it resembled their current soft tissue profile. Patients were able to move their upper lip and lower chin backward and forwards, as well as the lower chin up and down. Differences in the mean absolute distance between the patient-perceived position of the upper lip (Labrale superious) and chin (Pogonion) and the actual position of their upper lip and chin were measured on two occasions. Intra-patient reproducibility was found to be excellent (ICC 0.93 to 0.98). All differences were statistically significantly greater than 3mm, and would be clinically significant. Patients were better at re-creating their AP chin position rather than their AP upper lip and vertical chin positions. Approximately half of patients undergoing surgical correction of their class III skeletal pattern were unable to correctly identify their pre-surgical facial profile. Given the lack of awareness of their profile, this questions the validity of using profile planning for informed consent.

Private Practice Pricing in the Birmingham Region.

This study was carried out to evaluate the difference in prices for dental treatments carried out privately in general dental practice within the Birmingham area. Ten different practices were chosen at random, which were spread across Birmingham, in order to get a better insight into the differences across the districts. Their prices for pre-determined dental procedures were procured off the practices' respective websites or through telephoning. The findings of this study have shown a wide variation in prices for each dental procedure, with the greatest variation in prices between practices being ?850 for dental implants. The procedures with the lowest average cost were fissure sealants at ?23.14. The procedure with the highest average cost was dental implants at ?2,261.11. This study also showed that as more dental treatment was required, the mean cost for the dental intervention increased, regardless of the tooth being treated.