Skeletal and dental effects of function-generating bite appliance compared to rapid palatal expander and untreated controls.

INTRODUCTION: Maxillary expansion is a fundamental interceptive orthodontic treatment, which can be achieved through either a rapid expansion protocol or functional devices. However, no data exist about the efficacy of functional devices in achieving skeletal expansion. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of the rapid palatal expander (RPE) and the function-generating bite type M (FGB-M) on the transversal dimension of the maxilla, and on the maxillary and mandibular dental arch width. METHODS: One hundred eighty-one skeletal Class I patients, aged between 6 and 12 years and with a cervical vertebral maturation stage II or III, with maxillary transversal deficiency were retrospectively enrolled; among these 55 were treated with FGB-M, 73 were treated with RPE and 51 were untreated subjects retrieved from historical databases. The pre-treatment (T0) and post-treatment (T1) frontal cephalograms were retrieved, and the maxillary and mandibular widths, and the distance between upper and lower first molars were measured. T1-T0 interval was of 17.3 months (RPE), 24.6 months (FGB-M) and 18.2 months (controls). RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the RPE and FGB-M groups regarding skeletal and dental expansion, while the untreated control group differed significantly from the other two groups. CONCLUSION: The comparison between patients treated with RPE and FGB-M showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the RPE and FGB-M groups regarding the amount of skeletal expansion and dental arch width, suggesting that both appliances can be used to achieve similar results.

Evaluation of AI Model for Cephalometric Landmark Classification (TG Dental).

The accuracy of cephalometric landmark identification for malocclusion classification is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning. Identifying these landmarks is often complex and time-consuming for orthodontists. An AI model for classification was recently developed. This model was investigated based on current regulatory considerations as a result of the strict regulations on software systems and the lack of information on artificial intelligence (AI) requirements in this publication. The platform developed by the ITU/WHO for AI is used to assess the models of the application. The auditing procedure assessed the development process concerning medical device regulations, data protection regulations, and ethical considerations. Upon that, the major tasks during the development were evaluated, such as qualification, annotation procedure, and data set attributes. The AI models were investigated under consideration of technical, clinical, regulatory, and ethical considerations. The risk to the patient and user's health can be considered low according to the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) definition. This application facilitates the decision and planning of malocclusion treatment based on lateral cephalograms without cephalometric landmarks. It is comparable with common standards in orthodontic diagnosis.