Do the miniscrews of the prefabricated systems for the "appliance first" protocol of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion have lengths that meet the palatal thickness of patients?

INTRODUCTION: In the "appliance first" protocol of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion, the prefabricated shape of the expanders limits the potential locations for miniscrew placement. Considering the influence of palatal thickness on the selection of the optimal length of miniscrews, this study aimed to evaluate the thickness of both bone and mucosa of the palate of patients aged 6-65 years and suggest optimal lengths of miniscrews for this approach. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-two cone-beam computed tomography of patients of both sexes were divided into 3 groups according to age. The thicknesses of bone and mucosa were measured in the anterior and posterior regions of the palate. RESULTS: Males showed a greater thickness of palatal bone than females. The thickness of both bone and mucosa was greater in the anterior region of the palate. The young patients showed greater bone thickness than adults and mature adults. The mature adults showed thinner bone thickness in the posterior region of the palate and greater mucosal thickness along the palate than young patients and adults. Development of miniscrews with longer thread lengths is necessary. Miniscrews with a 3-mm thread length would prevent excessive extravasation in the posterior region of the palate. CONCLUSIONS: The thickness of both bone and mucosa of the palate is variable and influenced by sex and age. Manufacturing additional miniscrews with different lengths of thread is suggested to achieve bicortical anchorage in patients undergoing the "appliance first" protocol of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion.

É possível realizar tracionamento ortodôntico cirúrgico em incisivo com dilaceração radicular? / Is it possible to perform surgical orthodontic traction on incisor with root dilaceration?

Resumo Introdução: O traumatismo dental na dentição decídua pode influenciar o desenvolvimento dos sucessores permanentes e causar um deslocamento da coroa em relação à raiz dental, gerando uma curvatura definida como dilaceração, que em grande parte dos casos impede a irrupção normal do dente permanente. Diversas são as possibilidades de tratamento, desde exodontia ao tratamento ortocirúrgico. Objetivo: O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de relatar um caso clínico de incisivo central superior esquerdo (21) com dilaceração radicular cujo tratamento envolveu procedimento cirúrgico e tracionamento ortodôntico ancorado no disjuntor maxilar. Resultado: O desfecho do tratamento foi satisfatório, visto que o dente incluso foi reposicionado e a má oclusão da paciente foi corrigida. Conclusão: O tracionamento ortocirúrgico de incisivo superior permanente com dilaceração radicular é desafiador e com prognóstico incerto. Contudo, seu reposicionamento é possível quando se realiza um diagnóstico, planejamento periodontal e biomecânico adequado (AU)

Abstract Introduction: Dental trauma in the primary dentition can influence the development of permanent successors and cause a displacement of the crown in relation to the dental root, generating a curvature defined as laceration, which in most cases prevents the normal eruption of the permanent tooth. There are several treatment possibilities, from extraction to orthosurgical treatment. Objective: The present study aims to report a clinical case of a left upper central incisor (21) with root laceration whose treatment involved a surgical procedure and orthodontic traction anchored in the maxillary breaker. Result: The treatment outcome was satisfactory, since the included tooth was repositioned and the patients' malocclusion was corrected. Conclusion: Orthosurgical traction of the permanent upper incisor with root dilaceration is challenging and has an uncertain prognosis. However, its repositioning is possible when a diagnosis, periodontal and biomechanical planning is performed.(AU)

Atresia maxilar associada à mordida aberta anterior tratada por meio de expansão rápida da maxila assistida cirurgicamente (ERMAC) / Transverse maxillary deficiency associated with open bite treated by surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME)

Resumo A expansão rápida da maxila assistida cirurgicamente (ERMAC) é uma opção de tratamento segura e eficaz para a correção da mordida cruzada posterior em adultos. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar um caso clínico de uma paciente de 37 anos de idade com atresia maxilar e mordida aberta aberta anterior, tratada por meio da ERMAC. O plano de tratamento consitiu na expansão cirúrgica da maxila utilizando um aparelho de Hyrax. Foi realizada a cirurgia de Le Fort I associada a Osteotomia vestibular entre as raízes dos incisivos centrais superiores. Ao término do período ativo de expansão, foi instalado aparelho fixo corretivo no arco inferior e após 4 meses após a expansão foi removido o disjuntor e instalado aparelho fixo superior. Os fios de nivelamento foram evoluídos até .019"x.025" aço. Nesta fase, elásticos intermaxilares de Classe II e verticais anteriores foram utilizados para corrigir a Classe II sudbivisão esquerda e a mordida aberta anterior, respectivamente. Após a remoção dos aparelhos fixos corretivos, foram instaladas as contenções; placa Hawley no arco superior e 3×3 no arco inferior. A relação transversal foi corrigida de maneira eficiente por meio da ERMAC, alcançando assim, adequada relação interarcos. A oclusão finalizou estável com conformação do arco e do sorriso satisfatórios.(AU)

Abstract The surgically assisted maxilla expansion (ERMAC) is a safe and effective treatment option for correction of posterior crossbite in adults. The objective of this article is to report a clinical case of a 37-year-old patient with maxillary atresia and anterior open bite, treated by ERMAC. The treatment plan consisted of the surgical expansion of the maxilla using a Hyrax device. Le Fort I surgery was performed in association with vestibular osteotomy between the roots of the upper central incisors. At the end of the active expansion period, a fixed corrective device was installed in the lower arc and after 4 months after the expansion the circuit breaker was removed and a fixed upper apparatus was installed. Leveling wires were evolved up to. 019"x.025" steel. In this phase, intermaxillary elastics of Class II and anterior vertical elastics were used to correct Class II left sudbivision and anterior open bite, respectively. After removing the fixed corrective devices, the containments were installed; Hawley board in the upper arch and 3×3 in the lower arch. The cross-sectional relationship was efficiently corrected by means of the ERMAC, thus achieving an adequate interarcol relationship. The occlusion ended stable with conformation of the arch and the smile satisfactory. (AU)

Capacidade dos ortodontistas em predizer a tendência de crescimento craniofacial a partir da análise morfológica de telerradiografias laterais / Capability of orthodontists to predict craniofacial growth trend using morphological analysis of lateral teleradiographies

Objetivo: Avaliar a capacidade dos ortodontistas em determinar a tendência de crescimento craniofacial pela análise morfológica da telerradiografia lateral. Material e métodos: Três telerradiografias laterais representativas de cada tendência de crescimento (vertical, equilibrado e horizontal) foram selecionadas. As telerradiografias laterais foram digitalizadas e recortadas nas regiões da cabeça da mandíbula, ramo da mandíbula, ângulo goníaco, plano mandibular, chanfradura da mandíbula, sínfise mandibular, plano oclusal e ângulo interincisal. Os recortes e as telerradiografias completas foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em um questionário eletrônico que foi aplicado a 105 profissionais divididos em três grupos de acordo com o tempo de formação como ortodontistas. Os ortodontistas deveriam definir qual a tendência de crescimento que as imagens radiográficas sugeriam, a partir da observação da morfologia das estruturas anatômicas em destaque. Resultados: Os ortodontistas demonstraram grau de concordância pobre para a cabeça da mandíbula na tendência de crescimento horizontal. Uma concordância quase perfeita foi observada para o ângulo goníaco e para o plano mandibular na tendência vertical, para a chanfradura mandibular e para o plano mandibular na tendência horizontal e, quando todas as estruturas anatômicas foram analisadas nas telerradiografias completas. Não houve diferenças significativas na análise morfológica realizada pelos grupos estudados. Conclusão: Os ortodontistas demonstraram diferentes graus de concordância na análise morfológica da telerradiografia lateral, a depender da estrutura anatômica e da tendência de crescimento craniofacial analisada. Implicações clínicas: A predição da tendência de crescimento craniofacial por meio da observação de estruturas anatômicas na telerradiografia lateral parece ser uma ferramenta alternativa de diagnóstico para a análise cefalométrica. (AU)

Objective: To assess orthodontist's capability to predict the craniofacial growth trend by observing the morphology of anatomical structures in lateral cephalograms. Materials and Methods: Three lateral cephalograms representing each growth trend (vertical, balanced, and horizontal) were selected. The lateral cephalograms were digitized and cut in the regions of the mandible head, mandible ramus, gonial angle, mandibular plane, mandibular notch, mandibular symphysis, occlusal plane and interincisal angle in order to centralize the condy- lar process. An electronic questionnaire comprised by the edited images and the complete cephalograms was applied to 105 orthodontists divided into three study groups according to the orthodontic practice time. The orthodontists should define which was the growth trend that the radiographic images suggested by the observation of the anatomic structures highlighted. Results: The orthodontists demonstrated a poor degree of agreement for the mandible head in the horizontal growth trend. An almost perfect agreement was observed for the gonial angle and the mandibular plane in the vertical trend, for the mandibular notch and the mandibular plane in the horizontal trend, and when all anatomic structures were analyzed in complete cephalograms. No significant intergroup differences were observed. Conclusion: The orthodontists showed different degrees of agreement in the morphological analysis of lateral cephalograms depending on the anatomical structure and the craniofacial growth trend analyzed. Clinical implications: Prediction of craniofacial growth trend through observation of anatomical structures on lateral cephalograms seems to be an alternative diagnostic tool for cephalometric analysis.(AU)

Maxillary expander with differential opening vs Hyrax expander: A randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this 2-arm parallel trial was to compare the dentoskeletal effects of the expander with differential opening (EDO) and the Hyrax expander in the mixed dentition. METHODS: Patients aged 7-11 years with maxillary dental arch constriction and Class I or Class II sagittal relationships were randomly allocated into 2 study groups. The experimental group comprised 22 patients (10 males, 12 females) with a mean age of 8.46 years treated with the EDO. The comparison group was composed of 24 patients (6 males, 18 females), mean age of 8.92 years treated with the conventional Hyrax expander. One complete turn per day for 6 days was performed for the posterior screw of the EDO and for the Hyrax expander. The anterior screw of the EDO was activated 1 complete turn per day for 10 days. The primary outcomes were the anterior opening of the midpalatal suture, changes on the interincisal diastema width, maxillary dental arch widths, arch perimeter, arch length, palatal depth, inclination of maxillary posterior teeth and on dental arch shape, and the amount of differential expansion in the anterior region compared with the posterior region of the maxillary dental arch. Computer-generated randomization was used. Allocation was concealed with sequentially, numbered, sealed, and opaque envelopes. Blinding was applicable for outcome assessment only. Occlusal radiographs of the maxilla were obtained at the end of the active expansion phase (T2). Intraoral photographs were obtained immediately pre-expansion (T1) and at T2. Digital dental models were obtained at T1 and 6 months after the active expansion period (T3). Intergroup comparisons of T1-T2 changes were performed using multiple linear regression analysis (P < 0.05). The independent variables were both treatment and the starting forms. Bonferroni correction for multiple tests was applied. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significantly greater opening of the anterior region of the midpalatal suture, a greater increase of the interincisal diastema width, and greater increases of the intercanine distance and inter-first deciduous molar distance than the Hyrax expander. The experimental group showed a significant differential expansion between the anterior and posterior regions, whereas the Hyrax group produced a similar expansion in the canine and molar regions. Serious harm was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The EDO was capable of promoting greater orthopedic and dental changes in the anterior region of the maxilla than the conventional Hyrax expander. Similarity between the 2 expanders was observed for changes in the posterior region width, arch perimeter, arch length, palatal depth, and posterior teeth inclination.

Users' perceptions and preferences towards maxillary removable orthodontic retainers: a crossover randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to assess, correlate, and compare users' perceptions and preference related to maxillary removable retainers. Volunteers were recruited to use four retainer types: conventional wrap-around (CWA), wrap-around with an anterior opening (OWA), "U" wrap-around (UWA), and clear thermoplastic retainer (CT). The main outcomes were the volunteers' perceptions, evaluated with a 100-mm visual analogue scale, and their preferred retainer. The retainers were used for 21 days each (washout intervals of 7 days). Nineteen volunteers (27 ± 4.53 years) were randomly divided into four groups that used the four retainers, but with a different sequence. Perceptions were evaluated immediately after the use of each retainer and the preference at the end of the research. Repeated measures ANOVA and Friedman tests with post-hoc Tukey's test (intergroup comparisons), and Pearson and Spearman analyses (correlations between perceptions) were applied. The WA retainers did not significantly differ among themselves. The CT was rated significantly worse in speech (p ≤ 0.001), discomfort (p < 0.001), and occlusal interference (p < 0.001), and did not significantly differ from the others in esthetics. Users preferred significant more the WA retainers in comparison with the CT retainers. The occlusal interference caused by the CT was positively correlated to other perceptions, such as changes in speech and discomfort. WA retainers presented similar preference and perceptions, but were significantly better than the CT. The CT occlusal coverage appeared to be the primary cause of its rejection.

Users' perceptions and preferences towards maxillary removable orthodontic retainers: a crossover randomized clinical trial

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess, correlate, and compare users' perceptions and preference related to maxillary removable retainers. Volunteers were recruited to use four retainer types: conventional wrap-around (CWA), wrap-around with an anterior opening (OWA), "U" wrap-around (UWA), and clear thermoplastic retainer (CT). The main outcomes were the volunteers' perceptions, evaluated with a 100-mm visual analogue scale, and their preferred retainer. The retainers were used for 21 days each (washout intervals of 7 days). Nineteen volunteers (27 ± 4.53 years) were randomly divided into four groups that used the four retainers, but with a different sequence. Perceptions were evaluated immediately after the use of each retainer and the preference at the end of the research. Repeated measures ANOVA and Friedman tests with post-hoc Tukey's test (intergroup comparisons), and Pearson and Spearman analyses (correlations between perceptions) were applied. The WA retainers did not significantly differ among themselves. The CT was rated significantly worse in speech (p ≤ 0.001), discomfort (p < 0.001), and occlusal interference (p < 0.001), and did not significantly differ from the others in esthetics. Users preferred significant more the WA retainers in comparison with the CT retainers. The occlusal interference caused by the CT was positively correlated to other perceptions, such as changes in speech and discomfort. WA retainers presented similar preference and perceptions, but were significantly better than the CT. The CT occlusal coverage appeared to be the primary cause of its rejection.

Expansor maxilar diferencial como uma alternativa clínica para as correções transversais: relato de caso clínico / Differential maxillary expander as a clinical alternative for transverse corrections: a case report

Aproximadamente um terço dos pacientes com atresia maxilar apresenta uma constrição mais acentuada da distância intercaninos, quando comparada à distância intermolares superiores. Nesses casos, uma quantidade de expansão individualizada é requerida nas regiões anterior e posterior do arco dentário a fim de prevenir a sobre-expansão na região dos pré-molares e molares, redundando num risco aumentado de deiscências ou fenestrações ósseas vestibulares. Uma alternativa clínica para a correção transversal, nesses casos, é a utilização do Expansor Maxilar Diferencial (EMD). Esse aparelho ortopédico com dois parafusos permite realizar uma expansão diferencial significantemente maior na região anterior, quando comparada à região posterior do arco dentário superior. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar um caso clínico de uma paciente do sexo feminino, na dentadura permanente jovem, com mordida cruzada posterior, tratada de forma individualizada e eficiente com o EMD. (AU)

Approximately one third of patients with maxillary atresia show greater constriction of intercanine distance compared to the intermolar distance. In these cases, an individualized amount of expansion is required in the anterior and posterior regions of the dental arch, in order to prevent overexpansion in the premolar and molar region, resulting in increased risk of dehiscence or bone fenestration. A clinical alternative for transverse correction in these cases is the Differential Maxillary Expander (DME). This orthopedic expander with two screws allows accomplishing a significantly greater differential expansion in the anterior region compared to the posterior region of the maxillary dental arch. The aim of this article is to report a clinical case of a female patient in the early permanent dentition with posterior crossbite that was individually and efficiently treated using the DME.(AU)

Mandibular dental arch short and long-term spontaneous dentoalveolar changes after slow or rapid maxillary expansion: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE:: The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the short and long-term spontaneous dentoalveolar changes of the mandibular dental arch after slow (SME) or rapid (RME) maxillary expansion in the mixed and early permanent dentitions. METHODS:: An electronic search was performed in the following databases: PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science. Eligibility criteria for article selection included randomized controlled trials and prospective studies written in English, with no restriction of year of publication, involving patients who underwent SME or RME during the mixed or early permanent dentitions. A double-blind search of articles was performed by two reviewers. Initially, the title and the abstract of the studies were read, and their references were also hand-searched for possible missing studies. A methodological quality scoring scale was used to analyze the selected articles. RESULTS:: The search retrieved 373 articles, but only 6 were selected for review after application of the eligibility and exclusion criteria. Non-clinically significant spontaneous dentoalveolar changes of approximately 1mm were found in the mandibular dental arch in the short and long-term, after slow or rapid maxillary expansions. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between treated and control groups. CONCLUSIONS:: There is enough evidence to conclude that negligible short and long-term spontaneous dentoalveolar changes tend to occur in the mandibular dental arch after SME or RME in the mixed and early permanent dentitions. More randomized studies with appropriate control group are required to better evaluate this issue.

Mandibular dental arch short and long-term spontaneous dentoalveolar changes after slow or rapid maxillary expansion: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the short and long-term spontaneous dentoalveolar changes of the mandibular dental arch after slow (SME) or rapid (RME) maxillary expansion in the mixed and early permanent dentitions. Methods: An electronic search was performed in the following databases: PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science. Eligibility criteria for article selection included randomized controlled trials and prospective studies written in English, with no restriction of year of publication, involving patients who underwent SME or RME during the mixed or early permanent dentitions. A double-blind search of articles was performed by two reviewers. Initially, the title and the abstract of the studies were read, and their references were also hand-searched for possible missing studies. A methodological quality scoring scale was used to analyze the selected articles. Results: The search retrieved 373 articles, but only 6 were selected for review after application of the eligibility and exclusion criteria. Non-clinically significant spontaneous dentoalveolar changes of approximately 1mm were found in the mandibular dental arch in the short and long-term, after slow or rapid maxillary expansions. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between treated and control groups. Conclusions: There is enough evidence to conclude that negligible short and long-term spontaneous dentoalveolar changes tend to occur in the mandibular dental arch after SME or RME in the mixed and early permanent dentitions. More randomized studies with appropriate control group are required to better evaluate this issue.

RESUMO Objetivo: o objetivo da presente revisão sistemática foi analisar as alterações dentoalveolares espontâneas, em curto e longo prazos, após a expansão lenta (ELM) ou rápida (ERM) da maxila, durante a dentição mista e permanente jovem. Métodos: uma busca eletrônica foi executada nas seguintes bases de dados: PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase e Web of Science. Os critérios de elegibilidade para a seleção dos artigos incluíram ensaios clínicos randomizados controlados e estudos prospectivos escritos em língua inglesa, sem restrição do ano de publicação, envolvendo pacientes que foram submetidos a ELM ou ERM durante a dentição mista ou permanente jovem. Dois revisores realizaram, de forma independente, uma busca por artigos. Inicialmente, o título e o resumo dos artigos foram lidos, e uma busca manual foi realizada nas referências dos artigos selecionados, a fim de se avaliar possíveis estudos não encontrados. Resultados: trezentos e setenta e três artigos foram encontrados com a busca, porém apenas seis foram selecionados para a revisão após a aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e de exclusão. Alterações dentoalveolares espontâneas sem significância clínica de aproximadamente 1 mm foram encontradas na arcada dentária inferior em curto e longo prazos, após a expansão lenta ou rápida da maxila. Além disso, não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos tratados e os controles. Conclusão: existe evidência suficiente para se concluir que alterações dentoalveolares espontâneas sem significância clínica tendem a ocorrer na arcada dentária inferior em curto e longo prazos após a ELM e ERM na dentição mista e permanente jovem. Mais ensaios clínicos randomizados com grupos controles adequados são necessários para melhor avaliar essa questão.

Slow versus rapid maxillary expansion in bilateral cleft lip and palate: a CBCT randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this "two-arm parallel" trial was to compare the orthopedic, dental, and alveolar bone plate changes of slow (SME) and rapid (RME) maxillary expansions in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-six patients with BCLP and maxillary arch constriction in the late mixed dentition were randomly and equally allocated into two groups. Computer-generated randomization was used. Allocation was concealed with sequentially, numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes. The SME and RME groups comprised patients treated with quad-helix and Haas/Hyrax-type expanders, respectively. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) exams were performed before expansion and 4 to 6 months post-expansion. Nasal cavity width, maxillary width, alveolar crest width, arch width, palatal cleft width, inclination of posterior teeth, alveolar crest level, and buccal and lingual bone plate thickness were assessed. Blinding was applicable for outcome assessment only. Interphase and intergroup comparisons were performed using paired t tests and t tests, respectively (p < 0.05). RESULTS: SME and RME similarly promoted significant increase in all the maxillary transverse dimensions at molar and premolar regions with a decreasing expanding effect from the dental arch to the nasal cavity. Palatal cleft width had a significant increase in both groups. Significant buccal inclination of posterior teeth was only observed for RME. Additionally, both expansion procedures promoted a slight reduction of the alveolar crest level and the buccal bone plate thickness. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was found between the orthopedic, dental, and alveolar bone plate changes of SME and RME in children with BCLP. Both appliances produced significant skeletal transverse gains with negligible periodontal bone changes. Treatment time for SME, however, was longer than the observed for RME. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SME and RME can be similarly indicated to correct maxillary arch constriction in patients with BCLP in the mixed dentition.

Psychosocial aspects and temporomandibular disorders in dental students.

OBJECTIVE: Dental students have high levels of anxiety that can affect not only academic performance but also increase the risk for other diseases. It is believed that the increase in the incidence of chronic orofacial pain in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) may have an impact on the quality of life and general health of subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of TMD in dental students and its association with general health, quality of life, and anxiety. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Ninety students were evaluated by four questionnaires to determine the prevalence and sever-ity of TMD (Fonseca's questionnaire) and to quantify general health (General Health Questionnaire - GHQ), quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief version - WHOQOL-brief) and anxiety levels (State-Trait Anxiety Index - STAI). RESULTS: Approximately 58.9% of dental students presented TMD. Among the indicators of general health, psychologic stress (P = .010), distrust in their own performance (P = .012), and psychosomatic disorders (P = .020) showed a statistically significant difference with the presence of TMD. The four areas proposed in the questionnaire regarding quality of life, such as physical (P = .016), psychologic (P < .001), social (P = .045), and environmental (P = .017) factors also showed significant differences with the presence of TMD. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of TMD was observed in dental students. In addition, some psychologic domains are important psychosocial indicators associated with the presence of TMDs.

Dentoskeletal outcomes of a rapid maxillary expander with differential opening in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate: A prospective clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this 2-arm parallel study was to evaluate the dentoskeletal effects of rapid maxillary expansion with differential opening (EDO) compared with the hyrax expander in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. METHODS: A sample of patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate was prospectively and consecutively recruited. Eligibility criteria included participants in the mixed dentition with lip and palate repair performed during early childhood and maxillary arch constriction with a need for maxillary expansion before the alveolar bone graft procedure. The participants were consecutively divided into 2 study groups. The experimental and control groups comprised patients treated with rapid maxillary expansion using EDO and the hyrax expander, respectively. Cone-beam computed tomography examinations and digital dental models of the maxillary dental arches were obtained before expansion and 6 months postexpansion. Standardized cone-beam computed tomography coronal sections were used for measuring maxillary transverse dimensions and posterior tooth inclinations. Digital dental models were used for assessing maxillary dental arch widths, arch perimeters, arch lengths, palatal depths, and posterior tooth inclinations. Blinding was used only during outcome assessment. The chi-square test was used to compare the sex ratios between groups (P <0.05). Intergroup comparisons were performed using independent t tests with the Bonferroni correction for multiple tests. RESULTS: Fifty patients were recruited and analyzed in their respective groups. The experimental group comprised 25 patients (mean age, 8.8 years), and the control group comprised 25 patients (mean age, 8.6 years). No intergroup significant differences were found for age, sex ratio, and dentoskeletal variables before expansion. No significant differences were found between the EDO and the hyrax expander groups regarding skeletal changes. The EDO promoted significantly greater increases of intercanine width (difference, 3.63 mm) and smaller increases in canine buccal tipping than the conventional hyrax expander. No serious harm was observed other than transitory variable pressure sensations on the maxillary alveolar process in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The EDO produced skeletal changes similar to the conventional hyrax expander. The differential expander is an adequate alternative to conventional rapid maxillary expanders when there is need for greater expansion in the maxillary dental arch anterior region. REGISTRATION: This trial was not registered. PROTOCOL: The protocol was not published before trial commencement. FUNDING: This study received financial support from FAPESP (process number 2009/17622-9). As a possible conflict of interest, a patent with an EDO was submitted in March 2011 to the National Institute of Industry Property and is still in process. However, we believe that this is a natural step of translational research (bench-to-bedside), and we guarantee that the scientific results are true.

Maxillary expander with differential opening versus Hyrax expander: a randomized clinical trial / Expansor maxilar com abertura diferencial versus expansor Hyrax: um ensaio clínico randomizado

Introdução: O objetivo do presente trabalho foi comparar os efeitos dentoesqueléticos do expansor com abertura diferencial (EAD) e do expansor Hyrax convencional em crianças na dentadura mista. Métodos: Quarenta e seis pacientes de ambos os sexos e com idades variando de 7 a 11 anos foram aleatoriamente alocados em um de dois grupos de estudo. O grupo experimental foi composto por 22 pacientes (idade média de 8,46 anos) que foram submetidos à expansão rápida da maxila (ERM) com o EAD. O grupo de comparação foi composto por 24 pacientes (idade média de 8,92) tratados com ERM utilizando-se o expansor Hyrax convencional. Fotografias foram obtidas imediatamente antes da expansão (T1) e ao término do período ativo da expansão maxilar (T2). Radiografias oclusais da maxila foram obtidas para cada paciente apenas ao término do período ativo da expansão maxilar (T2). Modelos digitais dos arcos dentários superior e inferior foram obtidos imediatamente antes da expansão (T1) e 6 meses pós-expansão (T3), na ocasião da remoção do aparelho. As variáveis de desfecho primário foram as alterações no diastema interincisal, a quantidade de abertura da sutura palatina mediana, as larguras dos arcos dentários superior e inferior, o perímetro dos arcos, o comprimento dos arcos, a profundidade do palato, a inclinação dos dentes pósterossuperiores e pósteroinferiores e a forma do arco dentário superior. A variável de desfecho secundário foi a quantidade de expansão diferencial nas regiões anterior e posterior do arco dentário superior. As comparações interfases e intergrupos foram realizadas por meio dos testes t pareado e testes t, respectivamente, com correção de Bonferroni para testes múltiplos. Resultados: Tanto o EAD quanto o expansor Hyrax convencional promoveram aumentos significantes do diastema interincisivos e da largura do arco dentário superior. Por outro lado, nenhuma diferença significante foi observada para a largura do arco dentário inferior de ambos os grupos de estudo. O EAD promoveu um aumento significante do perímetro do arco dentário superior e uma diminuição significante da profundidade do palato. De modo contrário, não foram observadas diferenças significantes para o perímetro do arco dentário inferior de nenhum dos dois grupos estudados. O comprimento do arco dentário superior diminuiu significantemente após a ERM com o expansor Hyrax, enquanto que o comprimento do arco inferior diminuiu suavemente no grupo do EAD. Ambos os expansores promoveram um aumento significante da inclinação vestibular dos dentes pósterossuperiores e dos caninos decíduos inferiores. O EAD promoveu aumentos significantemente maiores da dimensão da abertura da sutura palatina mediana, da largura do diastema interincisivos e das distâncias intercaninos, inter-primeiros molares decíduos e intersegundos molares decíduos superiores, quando comparado com o expansor Hyrax. Por outro lado, apenas o grupo de comparação apresentou um suave aumento da distância interprimeiros molares permanentes inferior. O grupo experimental apresentou uma expansão diferencial significantemente maior na região anterior quando comparada à região posterior do arco dentário superior, enquanto que o grupo de comparação promoveu quantidades de expansão similares na região dos caninos e dos primeiros molares permanentes superiores. Conclusões: Na dentadura mista, o expansor com abertura diferencial foi capaz de promover uma disjunção maxilar com uma maior abertura da região anterior da sutura palatina mediana. O EAD promoveu uma maior expansão da região anterior do arco dentário superior quando comparado com o expansor Hyrax convencional. Ambos os expansores se mostraram similares quanto à quantidade de expansão na região posterior do arco dentário superior, e para as alterações do perímetro dos arcos, comprimento dos arcos, profundidade do palato e inclinação dos dentes posteriores. Adicionalmente, pequenas alterações espontâneas do arco dentário inferior foram observadas para ambos os expansores, seis meses após a expansão rápida diferencial e convencional da maxila.(AU)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the dentoskeletal effects of the expander with differential opening (EDO) and the conventional Hyrax expander in children in the mixed dentition. Methods: Forty-six patients of both sex and ages ranging from 7 to 11 years old were randomly allocated into two study groups. The experimental group comprised 22 patients (mean age of 8.46 years) who underwent rapid maxillary expansion (RME) with the EDO. The comparison group comprised 24 participants (mean age of 8.92 years) treated with RME using the conventional Hyrax expander. Photographs were obtained immediately pre-expansion (T1) and at the end of the active expansion phase (T2). Occlusal radiographs of maxilla were obtained for each patient at the end of the active expansion phase only (T2). Digital dental models of the maxillary and mandibular dental arches were obtained immediately preexpansion (T1) and 6 months post-expansion (T3), at the occasion of appliance removal. The primary outcomes were the interincisal diastema width change, the dimension of midpalatal suture opening, the maxillary and mandibular dental arch widths, the arches perimeter, the arches length, the palatal depth, the inclination of maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth and the maxillary dental arch shape. The secondary outcome was the amount of differential expansion in the anterior region compared to the posterior region of maxillary dental arch. Inter-phase and intergroup comparisons were performed using paired t tests and t tests, respectively, with Bonferroni correction for multiple tests. Results: Both the EDO and the conventional Hyrax expander promoted significant increases of the interincisal diastema width and of the maxillary dental arch widths. On the other hand, no significant differences were found for the mandibular dental arch widths of both groups. The EDO promoted a significant increase of the maxillary dental arch perimeter and a significant decrease of the palatal depth. On the other hand, no significant differences were found for the mandibular dental arch perimeter of both study groups. The maxillary dental arch length decreased significantly after RME with the conventional Hyrax expander. On the other hand, the mandibular dental arch length decreased slightly in the EDO group. Both expanders promoted a significant buccal inclination of the maxillary posterior teeth and mandibular deciduous canines. The EDO promoted significantly greater increases of the dimension of midpalatal suture opening, the width of interincisal diastema, the maxillary intercanine distance, the maxillary inter-first deciduous molars distance and the maxillary inter-second deciduous molars distance compared to the Hyrax expander. On the other hand, only the comparison group showed a slight decrease of the mandibular intermolar distance. The experimental group showed a significant differential expansion between the anterior and the posterior regions of the maxillary dental arch while the comparison group produced similar amount of expansion in the maxillary canine and in the maxillary molar regions. Conclusions: In the mixed dentition, the expander with differential opening was capable of producing an intermaxillary split with an increased dimension at the anterior limit of the midpalatal suture. The EDO promoted a greater expansion in the anterior region of the maxillary dental arch compared to the conventional Hyrax expander. Similarity between the two expanders was observed for posterior region expansion and for changes in arch perimeter, arch length, palatal depth and posterior teeth inclination. Additionally, small mandibular spontaneous dentoalveolar changes were observed for both expanders six months after differential and conventional rapid maxillary expansion.(AU)

Efeitos oclusais das expansões lenta e rápida da maxila nas fissuras completas bilaterais – estudo-piloto / Occlusal effects of slow and rapid maxillary expansions in complete bilateral cleft lip and palate – pilot study

O objetivo deste estudo-piloto foi comparar os efeitos oclusais das expansões lenta e rápida da maxila, em pacientes com fissuras labiopalatinas completas bilaterais. Um total de 30 indivíduos com fissuras labiopalatinas completas bilaterais, diagnosticados com constrição do arco dentário superior, foi aleatoriamente e igualmente dividido em dois grupos. O grupo ELM foi composto por pacientes submetidos à expansão lenta da maxila com quadri-hélice, enquanto que o grupo ERM consistiu de indivíduos submetidos à expansão rápida maxilar com Hyrax. Foram obtidos modelos de gesso nos períodos imediatamente pré-expansão e seis meses após a expansão, na ocasião da remoção do aparelho. Após a digitalização dos modelos de gesso superiores por meio do uso do scanner 3Shape R700 3D, foram mensurados a largura e o perímetro do arco dentário superior, e as inclinações dos dentes posterossuperiores através do programa de computador Orthoanalyzer. As comparações interfases e intergrupos foram avaliadas por meio do teste t pareado e do teste t de Student, respectivamente (p < 0,05). Ambas as modalidades de expansão provocaram aumentos significantes na largura e no perímetro do arco dentário superior. Apenas os caninos superiores de ambos os grupos apresentaram um aumento significante da inclinação vestibular. Não foram encontradas diferenças significantes entre os efeitos oclusais das duas modalidades de expansão maxilar. As expansões lenta e rápida da maxila parecem ser igualmente efetivas para a correção da constrição do arco dentário superior de pacientes com fissuras labiopalatinas completas bilaterais...

The aim of this pilot study was to compare the occlusal effects of slow and rapid maxillary expansions in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. Thirty individuals with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate diagnosed with maxillary dental arch constriction were equally and randomly divided into two groups. Group SME was comprised by patients who underwent slow maxillary expansion using Quad helix appliance, and Group RME was composed by individuals submitted to rapid maxillary expansion using Hyrax expander. Dental models were obtained immediately pre-expansion and 6 months after expansion, at the occasion of the appliance removal. After scanning the maxillary dental models using the 3Shape R700 3D scanner, the arch widths, the arch perimeter, and the buccolingual inclination of the maxillary posterior teeth were measured using Orthoanalyzer. The inter-phase and intergroup comparisons were performed using paired t test and Student’s t test, respectively (p < 0.05). Both expansion modalities have promoted significant increases in the maxillary dental arch widths and perimeter. Only the maxillary canines of both groups had a significant increase of the buccal inclination. No differences were found between the occlusal effects of both expansion modalities. Both slow and rapid maxillary expansions seem to be equally effective for the correction of maxillary dental arch constriction in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate...

Quality of life and general health in patients with temporomandibular disorders

The aim of this study was to associate minor psychiatric disorders (general health) and quality of life with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients diagnosed with different TMD classifications and subclassifications with varying levels of severity. Among 150 patients reporting TMD symptoms, 43 were included in the present study. Fonseca's anamnestic index was used for initial screening while axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC-TMD) was used for TMD diagnosis (muscle-related, joint-related or muscle and joint-related). Minor psychiatric disorders were evaluated through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality Of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). An association was found between minor psychiatric disorders and TMD severity, except for stress. A stronger association was found with mild TMD. Considering TMD classifications and severity together, only the item "death wish" from the GHQ was related to severe muscle-related TMD (p = 0.049). For quality of life, an association was found between disc displacement with reduction and social domain (p = 0.01). Physical domains were associated with TMD classifications and severity and the association was stronger for muscle and joint-related TMD (p = 0.37) and mild TMD (p = 0.042). It was concluded that patients with TMD require multiple focuses of attention since psychological indicators of general health and quality of life are likely associated with dysfunction.

Quality of life and general health in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

The aim of this study was to associate minor psychiatric disorders (general health) and quality of life with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients diagnosed with different TMD classifications and subclassifications with varying levels of severity. Among 150 patients reporting TMD symptoms, 43 were included in the present study. Fonseca's anamnestic index was used for initial screening while axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC-TMD) was used for TMD diagnosis (muscle-related, joint-related or muscle and joint-related). Minor psychiatric disorders were evaluated through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality Of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). An association was found between minor psychiatric disorders and TMD severity, except for stress. A stronger association was found with mild TMD. Considering TMD classifications and severity together, only the item "death wish" from the GHQ was related to severe muscle-related TMD (p = 0.049). For quality of life, an association was found between disc displacement with reduction and social domain (p = 0.01). Physical domains were associated with TMD classifications and severity and the association was stronger for muscle and joint-related TMD (p = 0.37) and mild TMD (p = 0.042). It was concluded that patients with TMD require multiple focuses of attention since psychological indicators of general health and quality of life are likely associated with dysfunction.