Developmental dental anomalies assessed by panoramic radiographs in a Greek orthodontic population sample.

PURPOSE: To assess developmental dental anomalies on panoramic radiographs in a Greek orthodontic population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 1200 panoramic radiographs that have been taken as part of routine orthodontic treatment planning in children and adolescents. The following exclusion criteria were applied: systemic disorders such as syndromes or clefts, previous jaw surgery and poor quality of the radiograph. Dental anomalies were classified as anomalies of tooth shape, size, eruption-, position- or number anomalies or root alterations. RESULTS: The age range of the subjects (536 males and 664 females) was 7-17 years with a mean age of 11.78 years. The prevalence of dental anomalies was assessed with a Chi-squared test. The intraobserver agreement was evaluated by calculating Cohen's [Formula: see text]. Among the 1200 digital panoramic radiographs examined, a total of 224 (18.67%) presented dental anomalies, 92 (7.67%) males and 132 (16.67%) females. Moreover, 203 patients (16.92%) had 1 dental anomaly, whereas 19 (1.58%) and 2 (0.17%) patients had 2 or more than 2 dental anomalies, respectively. Oligodontia was the most prevalent dental anomaly and was presented in 6.4% of the subjects, while supernumerary teeth were detected in 1% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of orthodontic patients had at least one DDA. The most common DDA in this sample was oligodontia followed by impaction and supernumerary teeth. Comparison to our data with other studies revealed variation in their prevalence suggesting genetic and environmental influences.

Validation of fluorescence devices for evaluation of white spot lesions in orthodontic patients.

AIM: To clinically validate the fluorescence devices, DIAGNOdent Pen™ and Vista Proof™ for the evaluation of non-cavitated white spot lesions (WSL) in orthodontic patients and using direct visual examination after the brackets removal, as the gold standard. METHODS: The sample consisted of 31 patients, 13-28 years old, under fixed appliance orthodontic treatment. Teeth (N = 619) were evaluated with the brackets on, after cleaning and air drying, by direct, indirect visual examination and using the DIAGNOdent Pen™ device. After debonding with direct visual examination and the Vista Proof™ device. WSL were scored with the Gorelick Index for visual examination. The fluorescence devices were validated by calculating sensitivity, specificity and accuracy while ROC curves and area under the curve were used for comparison among the examination methods. RESULTS: Among the different diagnostic methods, visual examination recorded the highest degree of accuracy. The performance of the fluorescence devices was poor compared with that of the visual methods for mild WSL, while for more extended lesions no difference was found. A comparison between the validity of the two devices' showed no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The validity of DIAGNOdent Pen™ and Vista Proof™ for the chairside diagnosis and quantification of non-cavitated WSL in orthodontic patients was moderate, and no better as compared to the visual diagnostic methods. The fluorescence devices performed similarly to the visual examination for more extended WSL and poorer for milder ones. Validity between the two devices did not differ.

Forces and moments on posterior teeth generated by incisor intrusion biomechanics.

OBJECTIVES: To comparatively evaluate the extrusive forces and torquing moments on the posterior dentition generated during anterior intrusion with different intrusion techniques in the maxillary and mandibular dental arch. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven wire specimens were used for each of the following intrusive arches: Utility arch 0.016 x 0.016' Blue Elgiloy, Utility arch 0.017 x 0.025' TMA and Burstone Intrusion arch 0.017 x 0.025' TMA. The wires were inserted on bracketed dental arches constructed on maxillary Frasaco models, segmented mesially to the maxillary canines. Simulated intrusion from 0.0-3.0 mm was performed on the Orthodontic Measurement and Simulation System (OMSS). The forces and moments were recorded in all three planes of space at 0.1 mm increments and the values at 3.0 mm for all wires were used for all statistical evaluations. The data were analyzed, separately for the forces and moments, by means of two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with forces and moments serving as the dependent variables and intrusion technique and jaw (maxilla or mandible) as the independent variable. Post hoc multiple comparisons were performed using the Tukey test at .05 error rate. RESULTS: The 0.016 x 0.016' Blue Elgiloy utility arch exerted the highest posterior extrusive forces, 15% higher than the 0.017 x 0.025' TMA utility and 40% higher in comparison with the 0.017 x 0.025' TMA Burstone intrusion arch.The lowest posterior moment in the sagittal plane was generated by the 0.017 x 0.025' TMA Burstone intrusion arch. The 0.016 x 0.016' Blue Elgiloy utility arch exerted 15% higher posterior moments and the 0.017 x 0.025' TMA utility 25% higher. Forces and moments were consistently larger for the mandible compared to the maxilla for the same intrusion technique. CONCLUSIONS: The upper Burstone 0.017 x 0.025' TMA intrusion arch exerted the lowest forces/moments on posterior teeth. The highest forces were generated by the 0.016 x 0.016-inch Blue Elgiloy utility arch and the highest moments by the lower 0.017 x 0.025-inch TMA utility arch.

Oral health status and behaviour of Greek patients with cleft lip and palate.

AIM: This was to record the oral health profile and more specifically the prevalence of carious and hypoplastic lesions in children and adolescents with cleft lip and palate (CLP). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 41 children and adolescents (4-18 years-old) with CLP group while a similar number of non-cleft persons (HLP) matched for sex, age and orthodontic treatment (75.6%), was used as the control group. Information regarding the oral health habits, medical and dental history were collected using a questionnaire. Stimulated saliva was collected to evaluate the flow rate and buffering capacity as well as the levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli using the chair-test CRT(R) (Ivoclar -Vivadent). Oral hygiene (OH) was assessed using the index of Silness and Loe [1964]. The prevalence of initial/white spot and cavitated carious lesions as well as hypoplasia was evaluated based on the criteria by ICDAS [2005] and Nyvad et al [2008] as well as Koch et al [1987] respectively. The statistical analysis was carried out using the t-test and the chi- square test. RESULTS: Approximately half of the CLP and HLP subjects were brushing their teeth 2 x per day. Both groups reported an average of 3 main and 2 snack meals per day. Levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli as well as the quality of the saliva were similar for both groups. The plaque index score was significantly higher in the CLP than in the control group (p=0.0003). The prevalence of cavitated carious lesions was similar in both groups but that of the initial/white spot lesions, especially at the area of maxillary incisors, was higher in the CLP group (85%, p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The increased numbers of initial/ white spot lesions combined with poor OH found in the CLP group predispose for an increased risk of further development to carious cavitated lesions. Taking into consideration that the majority of those patients were under orthodontic treatment, the application of an intensive individualized oral health preventive program, focused on remineralisation of the initial caries, is imperative.

Cortical bone response adjacent to applied light orthodontic forces in ovariectomized rats.

Cortical bone response to experimental orthodontic forces has not been adequately described in the available literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of light orthodontic forces on the cortical bone adjacent to the point of their application, in normal and ovariectomized rats. At the age of eight months, twenty-four female rats were divided equally into two groups: normal (group A) and ovariectomized (group B). A 20 gr* orthodontic force was applied to the maxillary right first molars in all animals for 14 days. Histological examination of the maxillary cortical bone, at the level of the first molar of the upper jaw, was performed on both sides of all animals. It was found that light orthodontic forces applied to the upper right first molars of normal rats result in thinner cortical bone with increased osteoblastic activity, normal lamellar orientation and normal distribution of osteocytes compared to the non-affected contralateral side. In ovariectomized rats it was found that light orthodontic forces applied to the upper right first molars result in thickening of the cortex, in comparison to the respective area of the opposite side where no orthodontic forces were applied. It seems that experimental light orthodontic forces, in rats, affect cortical bone remodeling differently, according to their hormonal status, in areas adjacent to the applied forces.