Effect of micro-osteoperforations on the rate of tooth movement.

INTRODUCTION: Our objectives were to study the effect of micro-osteoperforations on the rate of tooth movement and the expression of inflammatory markers. METHODS: Twenty adults with Class II Division 1 malocclusion were divided into control and experimental groups. The control group did not receive micro-osteoperforations, and the experimental group received micro-osteoperforations on 1 side of the maxilla. Both maxillary canines were retracted, and movement was measured after 28 days. The activity of inflammatory markers was measured in gingival crevicular fluid using an antibody-based protein assay. Pain and discomfort were monitored with a numeric rating scale. RESULTS: Micro-osteoperforations significantly increased the rate of tooth movement by 2.3-fold; this was accompanied by a significant increase in the levels of inflammatory markers. The patients did not report significant pain or discomfort during or after the procedure, or any other complications. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-osteoperforation is an effective, comfortable, and safe procedure to accelerate tooth movement and significantly reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment.

Mixed longitudinal evaluation of masticatory performance in children 6 to 17 years of age.

INTRODUCTION: The purposes of this study were to determine (1) how masticatory performance changes with age, (2) whether masticatory performance differs between the sexes, and (3) whether patterns of masticatory performance differ among subjects with various types of malocclusion. METHODS: A total of 450 children and adolescents (244 boys, 206 girls) were assigned to 4 age cohorts (ages 6, 9, 12, and 15 years) and followed for 3 consecutive years. The subjects were selected based on having about equal numbers of boys and girls, and about equal numbers of subjects with normal occlusion and Class I and Class II malocclusions. Masticatory performance was assessed by using the artificial food CutterSil (Heraeus Kulze, South Bend, Ind). The peer assessment rating index was used to quantify the severity of the malocclusions. RESULTS: Median particle size (MPS) decreased significantly from 6 to 17 years of age. There were no statistically significant differences in MPS between the 3 occlusal groups, but there were significant sex differences, with girls having smaller MPS than boys. Multilevel analysis showed greater decreases in MPS between 6 and 9 years, and after 12 years of age, than between 9 and 12 years of age. There were no significant correlations between MPS and the weighted peer assessment rating index. MPS showed significant intercorrelations between measures of MPS obtained at years 1, 2, and 3, with correlations tending to be highest for the oldest age cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Masticatory performance improves with age, and the changes appear to be influenced by the loss of the deciduous teeth during the late mixed dentition phase of dental development. Although there are limited sex differences in masticatory performance among subjects 6 to 17 years of age, mild forms of Class I and Class II malocclusions have little or no effect on masticatory performance.