Esthetic effect of orthodontic appliances on a smiling face with and without a missing maxillary first premolar.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we evaluated the effects of orthodontic appliances and an extracted maxillary first premolar on the esthetic evaluation of a smiling face according to the perceptions of orthodontists and laypeople. METHODS: Standardized oblique photographs of a young woman with a pleasing smile were taken. The photos were edited by using digital imaging software to produce 10 combinations of presence or absence of orthodontic appliances with either esthetic or metal brackets, rubber bands of different colors, and presence or absence of the maxillary first premolar. Two groups of 50 observers each, 1 of laypeople and the other of orthodontists, evaluated the images and assigned esthetic scores to the smiles according to a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The presence of orthodontic appliances and metal brackets, regardless of rubber band color, had no negative effect on the esthetic evaluation of the smile by either group. Appliances with esthetic brackets were significantly less pleasing for laypeople, whereas for orthodontists they did not affect the esthetic evaluation of the smile. The extraction space had a significantly negative effect on the evaluation of the smile, and only orthodontists thought that the appliance minimized its effect. CONCLUSIONS: The type of bracket used with the orthodontic appliances and a maxillary first premolar extraction space produced different esthetic perceptions in laypeople and orthodontists.

Miniplacas permitem tratamento eficiente e eficaz da mordida aberta anterior / Miniplates allow efficient and effective treatment of anterior open bites

INTRODUÇÃO: o tratamento das deformidades e más oclusões que incluem mordidas abertas anteriores foi uma das primeiras aplicações de miniplacas como forma de ancoragem ortodôntica. A implementação desse sistema de tratamento reduz o número de pacientes indicados para a cirurgia ortognática e simplifica muitos problemas. Nessa abordagem, os dentes posteriores são intruídos e a mandíbula sofre um giro no sentido anti-horário, diminuindo a altura facial inferior e projetando os pogônios de tecidos duro e mole. OBJETIVO: o presente artigo apresenta os fundamentos da mecânica ortodôntica para correção da mordida aberta anterior e os ilustra com uma série de casos clínicos.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of facial deformities and malocclusions, such as anterior open bite, was one of the first applications of miniplates for orthodontic anchorage. The use of this treatment system reduces the number of patients referred to orthognathic surgery and simplifies many problems. This approach applies intrusive forces to posterior teeth, and the mandible undergoes counterclockwise rotation, which decreases lower facial height and advances the projection of hard and soft tissue pogonions. OBJECTIVE: This study describes the principles of orthodontic mechanics in the correction of anterior open bite and illustrates these principles with a series of cases.

Rapid prototyping as a tool for diagnosis and treatment planning for maxillary canine impaction.

Treating an impacted maxillary canine requires identifying its exact position; this can pose a challenge to both orthodontists and oral surgeons. The purpose of this article is to present a new method for diagnosis and treatment planning of maxillary canine impaction by using computed tomography combined with rapid prototyping. Computed tomography image files of a patient with tooth 13 impaction were edited to produce, by means of rapid prototyping, an anatomic model of the maxillary teeth and a single attachment model that was later used to fabricate a metal attachment to be bonded to the impacted tooth. The dental model was used in the diagnosis and orthodontic treatment planning, and to communicate with the patient and his parents. The model showed the exact anatomical relationship between the impacted tooth and the other teeth; it was the main aid in intraoperative navigation during surgery to expose the tooth. The metal attachment built from the prototype was bonded to tooth 13 during surgery. Prototyping could become a new tool for fabricating brackets and other precision accessories for specific needs. Dental models made with rapid prototyping could become the diagnostic procedure of choice for evaluating impacted maxillary canines.

Avaliação dos métodos mecânico e quimiomecânico na remoção de dentina cariada - acompanhamento de um ano / Evaluation of mechanical and chemomechanical methods for caries removal - one year follow up

Os objetivos deste estudo in vivo foram comparar a efetividade da remoção de tecido cariado pelo método mecânico e quimiomecânico, verificar o grau de aceitaçao do Carisolv pelos pacientes e avaliar a evolução dos casos pelos períodos de 3, 6 e 12 meses. Foram selecionados 27 dentes permandentes posteriores com lesão cariosa em dentina. Os dentes foram divididos em dois grupos, G1 (14 dentes) e G2 (13 dentes), que responderam à remoção dos tecidos cariado com o método convencional (broca e colher de dentina) e com Carisolv respectivamente. Após o tratamento, todos os pacientes foram submetidos a questionário de avaliação. Os dados mostraram que o Carisolv foi considerado o método mais confortável pela maioria dos paicentes. Na avaliação dos casos pelos períodos de 3 meses, 6 meses e 1 no não foram encontradas alterações clínicas ou radiográficas. Concliu-se que os métodos convencional e quimiomecânico foram igualmente efetivos na remoção de dentina cariada. No período de 1 ano não foram observadas reações adversas em nenhum dos grupos, porém o Carisolv apresentou maior grau de aceitação pelos pacientes

Reaction of mouse subcutaneous tissue to Carisolv--a morphologic study.

This study was designed to investigate in vivo subcutaneous tissue reactions after Carisolv contact in a mouse model. Eighteen mice were implanted with two polyethylene tubes: the implant on the right side included a sponge soaked in Carisolv; the implant on the left side served as a control. Similar tissue response was displayed in both test and control groups, suggesting that Carisolv does not result in adverse effects as compared with a control. The tendency of connective tissue encapsulating the implants in both groups may result from the presence of materials that can be well-tolerated by the organism.