The effect of social media on patient acceptance of temporary anchorage devices.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between the use of social networking sites (SNSs) on patient perceptions, acceptance, and expectations of treatment using temporary anchorage devices (TADs) and to compare differences between patients from the United Kingdom and Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaires were administered to 39 participants at orthodontic practices in the United Kingdom and Brazil about patients' use of SNSs, exposure to TADs on SNSs, and thoughts on extractions, jaw surgery, or TADs as treatment options. RESULTS: UK patients prefer for clinicians to have SNS profiles (P = .022). Most UK and Brazilian patients want to see their clinician's work online (76.7%) and use SNSs to get information about treatment options (76.6%). There was a statistically significant difference in Brazilian patients' acceptance of TADs as a treatment option compared with UK patients, particularly if it meant avoiding extractions (P = .002), avoiding jaw surgery (P = .004), or reducing treatment time (P = .010). Knowledge of TADs was greater in Brazilian patients (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients use SNSs to obtain information about treatments and prefer clinicians to have social media accounts. Patients exposed to TADs on SNSs are more likely to accept them as an orthodontic treatment option. UK patients have less knowledge of TADs and are therefore less sure to consider TADs as an option. Brazilian patients are more confident in considering the use of TADs. Clinicians should consider increasing their social media presence to accommodate patients' expectations and acceptance of TADs.

Rapid maxillary expansion: Do banded teeth develop more external root resorption than non-banded anchorage teeth?

OBJECTIVE: To compare external root resorption (ERR) when bands and wires are used as orthodontic anchorage during rapid maxillary expansion (RME). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histologic analysis was performed on 108 sites from 18 maxillary first premolars and on 36 sites from six mandibular first premolars in nine subjects (mean age = 15.2 ± 1.4 years) 3 months after RME. Maxillary teeth were pooled into two groups (n = 54 each) according to the type of orthodontic anchorage (band group [BG] vs wire group [WG]). Anchorage type was randomly chosen in a split-mouth design. Mandibular first premolars, which were not subjected to orthodontic forces, were used as the control group (CG). RESULTS: All premolars in the BG and WG showed ERR at the level of the cementum and dentin. Repair with cementum cells was observed in all resorption areas, but complete repair was rarely found. No statistically significant difference was found between the BG and WG with regard to the ERR. No association was found between the root height position (middle or cervical third) and the incidence of ERR. Buccal root surfaces showed a higher amount of ERR compared with the palatal and interproximal surfaces. ERR was not found in any teeth in the CG. CONCLUSION: All maxillary first premolars subjected to RME showed ERR and partial cementum repair. Banded teeth did not develop more ERR than nonbanded anchorage teeth.

Mouth breathing children and cephalometric pattern: does the stage of dental development matter?

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that there is no difference in the cephalometric pattern between mouth breathing children with primary dentition and mixed dentition. METHODS: Cephalometric measurements of 126 mouth breathing children (MB) were compared to 126 nasal breathing controls (NB). Both groups were divided into deciduous dentition (mean age 4 years, 8 months) and mixed dentition (mean age 7 years, 9 months) groups. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed in the dentofacial patterns of MB children compared to NB children. The total length of the mandible was smaller in MB compared to NB children. However, this difference was found only in subjects with mixed dentition. The length of the mandibular corpus is similar in MB and NB children, although older MB children with mixed dentition had significantly smaller measurements. The lower anterior facial height was higher in MB compared to NB children, but this difference was evident only in younger children with primary dentition. Mandibular plane angle, Y-axis angle and lower anterior facial height to total anterior facial height ratio were greater, and posterior facial height to total anterior facial height ratio was smaller in MB than NB children, indicating that mouth breathers had a more vertical facial growth pattern. However, no differences were found in the vertical growth pattern associated with the stage of dental development. The ANB angle was not associated with the maturational status of occlusion. Linear measurements and the gonial angle were significantly different between children with primary and mixed dentition, but such differences were associated with normal vertical growth. CONCLUSIONS: The present investigation rejected the null hypothesis and showed significant cephalometric differences between primary and mixed dentition MB children. Mouth breathing children in the mixed dentition have a smaller mandible (in terms of total length and corpus length) than nasal breathers. In children with primary dentition, the lower anterior facial height is higher in MB than in NB children. There was no significant association between the stage of dental development of mouth breathing children (either in the primary or mixed dentition) and the other cephalometric patterns.

Determination of vertical dimension of occlusion in dentate patients by cephalometric analysis--pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The concept of vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) refers to a measure in the vertical plane that establishes the relation between the maxilla and the mandible when the posterior teeth, both from the maxillary and from the mandibular arches, are occluded, regardless of whether they are natural or prosthetic, healthy or restored. This measure is subject to change, and when this occurs, it can compromise both the function and the facial aesthetics. This study proposed to develop a methodology based on cephalometric analysis by studying the 31 lateral teleradiographs of adult, dentate individuals to determine the VDO, based on bone structures that are not dependent on the presence or absence of posterior teeth. The final goal was to make this application accessible to individuals who have undergone alterations of the lower portion of the face. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cephalometric analysis of this study, called Seraidarian-Tavano, was verified through facial angles (upper and middle angles) that, when correlated, determine the lower position of the face. RESULTS: The analysis of results showed that no statistically significant difference between the angles studied could be observed (superior angle 50.29 ± 3.35 e median angle 49.95 ± 3.37). In the same manner, no variation in the results regarding gender in the measure of these angles could be observed. CONCLUSION: This cephalometric analysis can be applied to determine the VDO, regardless of the presence or absence of posterior teeth.

Genetic polymorphism of MUC7 in individuals with aggressive or chronic periodontitis.

Individuals with periodontitis exhibit differential expression of mucin-glycoprotein-2 (MG2), a protein encoded by the MUC7 gene. It is well known that MG2 exerts bactericidal activity as well as exhibiting genetic polymorphism involving a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR). In the present study, we assessed the distribution of allelic variants of the MUC7 gene in 22 individuals with aggressive periodonitis, 68 with chronic periodonitis, and 87 without periodonitis. Oral mucosal cells were collected, the DNA was extracted, and specific primers were used to amplify the region encoding the MUC7 tandem repeats (TRs). Polymerase chain reaction products were subjected to electrophoresis and analyzed on polyacrylamide gels stained with silver nitrate. Although the percentage distribution of homozygosity (6-6TR) and heterozygosity (5-6TR) showed variation among the groups, the observed differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05; Fisher's Exact Test). The present results indicate that the expression of different numbers of TRs in this salivary mucin in the oral environment does not interfere with the etiopathogenesis of aggressive or chronic periodontitis.

Lowe syndrome: literature review and case report.

This paper is the first to describe dental findings and orthodontic characteristics of a young adult patient with Lowe syndrome. This syndrome is a rare genetic disorder inherited by a sex-linked pattern, involving primarily the kidneys, eyes and nervous system, which also present oral manifestations. This paper also present the results of careful extra and intra-oral evaluations and the findings of panoramic and cephalometric radiographs of an 18-year-old male with Lowe syndrome.

Diagnostic protocol in cases of congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors.

Patients with congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors may seek treatment from an orthodontist for several reasons; unpleasant smile, dental arch disharmony, and midline deviations are among the most frequent complaints. Orthodontists and prosthodontists have raised important questions about the esthetics, occlusion, periodontal health, and psychological conditions noted in these patients. The decision to open lateral incisor spaces for prosthetics or close spaces by mesial movement of the canines requires a careful diagnosis and comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment planning. The purpose of this article is to present a diagnostic protocol to assist in the decision-making process, while analyzing patients with absent maxillary lateral incisors. The basis for a sound diagnosis and an effective treatment plan resides in careful consideration of the facial and dental characteristics of each patient. All information gathered during the clinical examination should be added to data obtained with other diagnostic tools, such as cephalometric analysis and orthodontic waxups, to achieve the treatment option that best suits the patient's expectations.