Maxillary space closure using a digital manufactured Mesialslider in a single appointment workflow.

New digital technologies, many involving three-dimensional printing, bring benefits for clinical applications. This article reports on the clinical procedure and fabrication of a skeletally anchored mesialization appliance (Mesialslider) using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) for space closure of a congenitally missing lateral incisor in a 12-year-old female patient. The insertion of the mini-implants and appliance was performed in a single appointment. Bodily movement of the molars was achieved using the Mesialslider. Anchorage loss, such as deviation of the anterior midline or palatal tilting of the anterior teeth, was completely avoided. CAD/CAM facilitates safe and precise insertion of mini-implants. Further, mini-implants can improve patient comfort by reducing the number of office visits and eliminating the need for orthodontic bands and physical impressions.

RFA measurements of survival midpalatal orthodontic mini-implants in comparison to initial healing period.

BACKGROUND: In dental implantology, the development of stability over time is a well-investigated topic. In case of orthodontic mini-implants, quantitative data for long-term stability is not available yet. This study aims to clinically investigate the long-term stability of mini-implants inserted in the midsagittal suture of the anterior palate. Moreover, the influence of the length of implants was elucidated. The stability of 2 × 9 and 2 × 11 mm mini-implants after orthodontic treatment (9 mm, 2.84 years ± 1.25 years; 11 mm, 3.17 years ± 0.96 years) was assessed by resonance frequency analysis (RFA). The obtained long-term pieces of data were compared with each other (9 mm vs 11 mm), as well as with the data from the matched early stability groups, to assess the initial and early secondary stability after the insertion from previous clinical trials. RESULTS: For both lengths, the long-term stability (2 × 9 mm, 25.12 ± 7.11, n = 21; 2 × 11 mm, 24.39 ± 5.82, n = 18) was significantly lower than primary stability (2 × 9 mm, 36.14 ± 6.08, n = 19; 2 × 11 mm, 33.35 ± 3.53, n = 20). The differences within the groups disappeared over the initial healing period: after 4 weeks for the 2 × 9 mm implants and after 2 weeks for the 2 × 11 mm implants. Also, the 2 × 9 mm and 2 × 11 mm implants showed comparable long-term stability values. CONCLUSION: The stability of midpalatal mini-implants does not change in the long term after the initial healing period. Moreover, 2 × 9 mm mini-implants seem to be appropriate for orthodontic anchorage, as the stability of 2 × 11 mm implants is not higher. Therefore, owing to lower invasiveness, 2 × 9 mm implants should be preferred.

Long-term stability behavior of paramedian palatal mini-implants: A repeated cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The initial stability of orthodontic mini-implants is well investigated over a period of 6 weeks. There is no clinical data available dealing with the long-term stability. The aim of this study was the assessment of long-term stability of paramedian palatal mini-implants in humans. METHODS: Stability of 20 implants was measured after removal of the orthodontic appliance (sliding mechanics for sagittal molar movement 200 cN each side) before explantation (T4) using resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Data were compared with a matched group of 21 mini-implants assessing the stability immediately after insertion, and after 2, 4, and 6 weeks (T0-T3). The mini-implants used in this study were machined self-drilling titanium implants (2.0 × 9.0 mm). Gingival thickness at the insertion site was 1-2 mm. RESULTS: The implant stability quotient (ISQ) values before removal of the implant at T4 were 25.2 ± 2.9 after 1.7 ± 0.2 years and did not show a statistically significant change over time compared with the initial healing group (T0-T3). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing the stability of mini-implants just after completion of the healing period and at the end of their respective usage period revealed no significant difference. An increase of secondary stability could not be detected. The level of stability seemed to be appropriate for orthodontic anchorage.

Effect of in vitro aging by water immersion and thermocycling on the mechanical properties of PETG aligner material.

PURPOSE: The mechanical properties of orthodontic aligners made from thermoplastic polymers decrease over time in the intraoral milieu. However, there is a lack of information on this topic in the literature. Thus, the elastic properties of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) aligner films were investigated in vitro under extreme temperature changes simulated by thermocycling, environmental temperature and water absorption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 specimens made from PETG aligner films (CA Clear Aligner, Scheu Dental, Iserlohn, Germany) were divided into three groups (immersed in distilled water, subjected to accelerated ageing by thermocycling, control). These groups were again divided and tensile testing was performed for all groups at 22 and at 37 °C. Young's modulus (E), 0.2% offset yield strength (Rp02) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) were evaluated. Water absorption was determined using an analytical scale. RESULTS: All treated specimens showed water absorption, whereby specimens that were thermocycled absorbed 48% more water than the immersed ones. Young's modulus and UTS were significantly lower for all three groups at 37 °C compared to the corresponding groups tested at 22 °C. Thermocycled and immersed groups showed a significantly lower Young's modulus compared to the control group tested at the same temperature. The mean Rp02 was statistically different when comparing the control group tested at 22 °C to the one tested at 37 °C. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study add to the understanding of the clinically well-known degradation of orthodontic aligners during wear time. Extreme alternating temperatures along with warming up to intraoral temperature and water absorption can reduce the material's Young's modulus and may therefore promote a decrease of resulting orthodontic forces.

Early Class III treatment with Hybrid-Hyrax - Facemask in comparison to Hybrid-Hyrax-Mentoplate - skeletal and dental outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Protraction of maxilla is usually the preferred and more commonly used treatment approach for skeletal Class III with a retrognathic maxilla. The aim of this study was the comparison of the skeletal and dental effects of two skeletally borne appliances for maxillary protraction: a) Hybrid-Hyrax in combination with facemask (FM), b) Hybrid-Hyrax in combination with Mentoplate (ME). METHODS: Thirty four Patients (17 facemask, 17 Mentoplate) were investigated by means of pre- and posttreatment cephalograms. The two groups matched with regard to treatment time, age gender and type of dentoskeletal deformity before treatment. RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant forward movement of A-point (FM GROUP: SNA + 2.23° ± 1.30°- p 0.000*; ME: 2.23° ± 1.43°- p 0.000*). B-Point showed a larger sagittal change in the FM Group (SNB 1.51° ± 1.1°- p 0.000*) compared to the ME group (SNB: - 0.30° ± 0.9°- p 0.070). The FM group showed a significant increase of the ML-NL + 1.86° ± 1.65° (p 0.000*) and NSL-ML + 1.17° ± 1.48 (p 0.006*). Upper Incisor inclination did not change significantly during treatment in both groups as well as the distance of the first upper Molar in relation to A-point. CONCLUSION: Both treatments achieve comparable rates of maxillary protraction, without dentoalveolar side effects. Skeletal anchorage with symphysial plates in the mandible provides greater vertical control and might be the treatment of choice in high angle patients.

Wear-time recording during early Class III facemask treatment using TheraMon chip technology.

Successful intervention in a developing Class III malocclusion with facemask protraction therapy depends on a patient's ability to adhere to the recommendations for duration of appliance wear. In this article, we report the introduction of a novel approach for tracking of the duration of application of a protraction facemask, with the incorporation of a "FaceMon" sensor (TheraMon, microelectronic system; MC Technology GmbH, Hargelsberg, Austria) to track wear time. A 9-year-old boy with a Class III malocclusion was successfully treated with a modified alternate rapid maxillary expansion and constriction protocol and intermittent application of a hybrid hyrax-protraction facemask combination. The average duration of wear of the facemask was measured at 10.8 hours per day. The use of an objective measuring device may have implications for the development of treatment strategies, since patient responses may be able to calibrated in relation to compliance.

Closure of an open bite using the 'Mousetrap' appliance: a 3-year follow-up.

Recently, skeletal anchorage devices have been used as anchorage units for upper molar intrusion as a way of correcting an anterior open bite malocclusion. To avoid the surgical procedures associated with the placement of miniplates in the zygomatic area, mini-implants may be inserted palatally or buccally in the alveolar process. However, consideration must be given to the potential risks of root damage and a higher failure rate associated with the placement of temporary anchorage devices (TADs) in the interradicular area. The anterior hard palate provides a safer and more stable alternative for TAD placement. The current paper describes the biomechanical principles and the clinical procedures of 'Mousetrap' mechanics using mini-implants in the anterior palate for upper molar intrusion. The stomatognathic response of maxillary molar intrusion is an autorotation of the mandible and so the sagittal implications for each patient must be considered. The presented patient demonstrates successful correction and stability of the treatment result at a three-year review.