Jurassic shuotheriids show earliest dental diversification of mammaliaforms.

Shuotheriids are Jurassic mammaliaforms that possess pseudotribosphenic teeth in which a pseudotalonid is anterior to the trigonid in the lower molar, contrasting with the tribosphenic pattern of therian mammals (placentals, marsupials and kin) in which the talonid is posterior to the trigonid1-4. The origin of the pseudotribosphenic teeth remains unclear, obscuring our perception of shuotheriid affinities and the early evolution of mammaliaforms1,5-9. Here we report a new Jurassic shuotheriid represented by two skeletal specimens. Their complete pseudotribosphenic dentitions allow reidentification of dental structures using serial homology and the tooth occlusal relationship. Contrary to the conventional view1,2,6,10,11, our findings show that dental structures of shuotheriids can be homologized to those of docodontans and partly support homologous statements for some dental structures between docodontans and other mammaliaforms6,12. The phylogenetic analysis based on new evidence removes shuotheriids from the tribosphenic ausktribosphenids (including monotremes) and clusters them with docodontans to form a new clade, Docodontiformes, that is characterized by pseudotribosphenic features. In the phylogeny, docodontiforms and 'holotherians' (Kuehneotherium, monotremes and therians)13 evolve independently from a Morganucodon-like ancestor with triconodont molars by labio-lingual widening their posterior teeth for more efficient food processing. The pseudotribosphenic pattern passed a cusp semitriangulation stage9, whereas the tribosphenic pattern and its precursor went through a stage of cusp triangulation. The two different processes resulted in complex tooth structures and occlusal patterns that elucidate the earliest diversification of mammaliaforms.

Comportamiento Mecánico de un Premolar Humano Sano Sometido a Fuerzas Funcionales y Disfuncionales en un MEF / Mechanical Behavior of a Healthy Human Premolar Subjected to Functional and Dysfunctional Forces in a FEM

El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el comportamiento mecánico de la estructura dental sana de un primer premolar inferior humano sometido a fuerzas funcionales y disfuncionales en diferentes direcciones. Se buscó comprender, bajo las variables contempladas, las zonas de concentración de esfuerzos que conllevan al daño estructural de sus constituyentes y tejidos adyacentes. Se realizó el modelo 3D de la reconstrucción de un archivo TAC de un primer premolar inferior, que incluyó esmalte, dentina, ligamento periodontal y hueso alveolar considerando tres variables: dirección, magnitud y área de la fuerza aplicada. La dirección fue dirigida en tres vectores (vertical, tangencial y horizontal) bajo cuatro magnitudes, una funcional de 35 N y tres disfuncionales de 170, 310 y 445 N, aplicadas sobre un área de la cara oclusal y/o vestibular del premolar que involucró tres contactos estabilizadores (A, B y C) y dos paradores de cierre. Los resultados obtenidos explican el fenómeno de combinar tres vectores, cuatro magnitudes y un área de aplicación de la fuerza, donde los valores de esfuerzo efectivo equivalente Von Mises muestran valores máximos a partir de los 60 MPa. Los valores de tensión máximos se localizan, bajo la carga horizontal a 170 N y en el proceso masticatorio en la zona cervical, cuando la fuerza pasa del 60 %. Sobre la base de los hallazgos de este estudio, se puede concluir que la reacción de los tejidos a fuerzas funcionales y disfuncionales varía de acuerdo con la magnitud, dirección y área de aplicación de la fuerza. Los valores de tensión resultan ser más altos bajo la aplicación de fuerzas disfuncionales tanto en magnitud como en dirección, produciendo esfuerzos tensiles significativos para la estructura dental y periodontal cervical, mientras que, bajo las cargas funcionales aplicadas en cualquier dirección, no se generan esfuerzos lesivos. Esto supone el reconocimiento del poder de detrimento estructural del diente y periodonto frente al bruxismo céntrico y excéntrico.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this study was to analyze the mechanical behavior of the healthy dental structure of a human mandibular first premolar subjected to functional and dysfunctional forces in different directions. It was sought to understand, under the contemplated variables, the areas of stress concentration that lead to structural damage of its constituents and adjacent tissues. The 3D model of the reconstruction of a CT file of a lower first premolar was made, which included enamel, dentin, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone considering three variables: direction, magnitude and area of the applied force. The direction was directed in three vectors (vertical, tangential and horizontal) under four magnitudes, one functional of 35 N and three dysfunctional of 170, 310 and 445 N, applied to an area of the occlusal and/or buccal face of the premolar that involved three stabilizing contacts (A, B and C) and two closing stops. The results obtained explain the phenomenon of combining three vectors, four magnitudes and an area of force application, where the values of effective equivalent Von Mises stress show maximum values from 60 MPa. The maximum tension values are located under the horizontal load at 170 N and in the masticatory process in the cervical area, when the force exceeds 60%. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the reaction of tissues to functional and dysfunctional forces varies according to the magnitude, direction, and area of application of the force. The stress values turn out to be higher under the application of dysfunctional forces both in magnitude and in direction, producing significant tensile stresses for the dental and cervical periodontal structure, while under functional loads applied in any direction, no damaging stresses are generated. This supposes the recognition of the power of structural detriment of the tooth and periodontium against centric and eccentric bruxism.

Spatiotemporal monitoring of hard tissue development reveals unknown features of tooth and bone development.

Mineralized tissues, such as bones or teeth, are essential structures of all vertebrates. They enable rapid movement, protection, and food processing, in addition to providing physiological functions. Although the development, regeneration, and pathogenesis of teeth and bones have been intensely studied, there is currently no tool to accurately follow the dynamics of growth and healing of these vital tissues in space and time. Here, we present the BEE-ST (Bones and tEEth Spatio-Temporal growth monitoring) approach, which allows precise quantification of development, regeneration, remodeling, and healing in any type of calcified tissue across different species. Using mouse teeth as model the turnover rate of continuously growing incisors was quantified, and role of hard/soft diet on molar root growth was shown. Furthermore, the dynamics of bones and teeth growth in lizards, frogs, birds, and zebrafish was uncovered. This approach represents an effective, highly reproducible, and versatile tool that opens up diverse possibilities in developmental biology, bone and tooth healing, tissue engineering, and disease modeling.

Comparative Analysis of Sensory Responses from Dental Implants vs Natural Teeth: An In Vivo Study.

Purpose: To compare subjects' sensory responses to horizontal and vertical forces on tooth- and implant-supported restorations. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, three protocols simulating the horizontal or vertical forces that occur during mastication were used to obtain subjective responses from subjects. These protocols included the measurement of horizontal force intensity during excursive movements and the identification of initial contact during guided and free vertical closure. Responses were recorded using a 1- to 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) and/ or monitored with electromyography (EMG) and Tekscan. Results: The study included 30 patients with a single implant-supported restoration (ISR) with a contralateral tooth-supported restoration (TSR). For horizontal forces similar to those of mastication (0.6 N), subject VAS scores were similar for both ISRs and TSRs at 6.3 vs 6.1, respectively. At reduced forces (0.2 and 0.4 N), subject responses were greater for the TSR at 3.4 and 5.4, respectively, as opposed to 1.2 and 2.6 for ISR, respectively (P < .01). During vertical guided closure (Test 1) at 25% of maximum bite force (MBF), subjects were more successful at correctly identifying initial contact of TSRs at a rate of 12 out of 17, compared to ISRs, which achieved a rate of 4 out of 13 (P < .1). In vertical free closure (Test 2), subject responses for the correct identification of initial contact at 50% MBF were similar for both TSRs and ISRs at 13 out of 17 and 9 out of 13, respectively. However, comparing the correct responses for subjects whose initial contacts were ISR showed a significant improvement in correct answers from Test 1 to Test 2, from 4 out of 13 correct to 9 out of 13 correct (P < .05). Conclusion: While the mechanism is not clear, subjects' ability to discern the horizontal and vertical forces at levels comparable to mastication appear similar between TSRs and ISRs.

Mesenchymal condensation in tooth development and regeneration: a focus on translational aspects of organogenesis.

The teeth are vertebrate-specific, highly specialized organs performing fundamental functions of mastication and speech, the maintenance of which is crucial for orofacial homeostasis and is further linked to systemic health and human psychosocial well-being. However, with limited ability for self-repair, the teeth can often be impaired by traumatic, inflammatory, and progressive insults, leading to high prevalence of tooth loss and defects worldwide. Regenerative medicine holds the promise to achieve physiological restoration of lost or damaged organs, and in particular an evolving framework of developmental engineering has pioneered functional tooth regeneration by harnessing the odontogenic program. As a key event of tooth morphogenesis, mesenchymal condensation dictates dental tissue formation and patterning through cellular self-organization and signaling interaction with the epithelium, which provides a representative to decipher organogenetic mechanisms and can be leveraged for regenerative purposes. In this review, we summarize how mesenchymal condensation spatiotemporally assembles from dental stem cells (DSCs) and sequentially mediates tooth development. We highlight condensation-mimetic engineering efforts and mechanisms based on ex vivo aggregation of DSCs, which have achieved functionally robust and physiologically relevant tooth regeneration after implantation in animals and in humans. The discussion of this aspect will add to the knowledge of development-inspired tissue engineering strategies and will offer benefits to propel clinical organ regeneration.

Bite force of patients with tooth pain.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was twofold: (i) to measure the bite force of healthy adults and patients with tooth pain and (ii) to evaluate the influence of bite force and age on tooth pain and both genders. It is hypothesized that patients with tooth pain would have lesser bite forces as compared to healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two groups of participants were, the first group comprised 18 healthy adults (9 males, 9 females), while the second group comprised 18 patients with tooth pain (9 males, 9 females), recruited from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA. Their maximum bite forces were recorded using the Prescale system that consists of pressure-sensitive films and a precalibrated scanning device. Logistic regression models were used using bite force and age on dichotomous responses of tooth pain status and gender. RESULTS: The mean bite force of patients with tooth pain was 684.77 ± 501.13 N, which was lesser than 798.33 ± 492.16 N of the healthy adults. The reduced gender logistic regression model on gender with age was found to be statistically significant (p ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: Even though the mean bite force was smaller in the group with dental pain, this difference was not statistically significant.

Dental anatomy and replacement patterns in the early Permian stem amniote, Seymouria.

The exquisite preservation of maxillary and mandibular fragments of Seymouria has allowed us to examine for the first time in detail the dental anatomy and patterns of development in this stem amniote. The results obtained through histological examination show that Seymouria has pleurodont implantation with ankylosis of the tooth to the labial side of the jawbone. The dentary and maxillary teeth exhibit similar dental characteristics, such as the attachment bone (alveolar bone) and cementum rising above the jawbone on the base of the tooth, and smooth carinae extending lingually toward the tooth apex. Additionally, the clear presence of plicidentine, infolding of dentine into the pulp cavity, was found within the tooth root extending into the tooth crown. Lastly, the tooth replacement pattern is alternating, illustrating that Seymouria retains the classic primitive condition for tetrapods, a pattern that is continued in amniotes. Our results provide an important basis for comparison with other stem amniotes and with amniotes.

In vivo real-time temperature measurement on the surface of intact and gold-restored teeth during consumption of hot and cold drinks.

This study aimed to measure real-time temperature changes in gold-restored teeth compared with intact teeth during the intake of hot and cold drinks. Sixteen molars, including eight natural intact teeth and eight restored teeth with gold inlays, were selected from the participants. Custom-made thermocouple sensors were attached to the coronal third of the buccal surface of teeth. Participants consecutively consumed hot and cold drinks according to a standardized regimen. Resting, maximum, and minimum temperatures; time to reach peak temperatures; and heating and cooling velocities were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using independent two-sample t-test. Teeth with gold restorations showed a significantly higher maximum temperature (44.7 °C [SD 2.9]) than did natural teeth (40.5 °C [SD 1.2]) during hot water drinking and showed a lower minimum temperature (25.0 °C [SD 4.9]) than did natural teeth (31.5 °C [SD 3.1]) during cold water drinking. The heating and cooling rates for the teeth with gold restorations were two and three times higher than those of the natural teeth. Gold-restored teeth showed greater temperature change than intact teeth in terms of magnitude and velocity in response to temperature changes induced by hot and cold drinks.

Tactile sensation of natural teeth and dental implants in the somatosensory cortex.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the cortical response characteristics evoked by natural teeth and implants. METHODS: Five cats were subjected to intrinsic signal optical imaging to measure the cortical responses evoked by natural teeth and implants. The difference in tactile sensation between the implant and natural tooth was compared in detail at the cortical response level. RESULTS: Some similarities were observed between the implants and natural teeth. The stimulating-response curves of the implants and natural teeth were generally S-curves, and both implants and natural teeth preferred labial-lingual direction stimulation. The implants and natural teeth differed in terms of their tactile sensitivity: implants were weaker than natural teeth in terms of both static and dynamic sensitivity. However, after saturation, there was no significant difference in tactile strength between implants and natural teeth. CONCLUSION: Both natural teeth and implants are able to distinguish the tactile strength and stimulation direction. Although implants are less sensitive than the natural tooth, the maximal tactile function and directional preference of implants are similar to those of natural teeth.

A dental revolution: The association between occlusion and chewing behaviour.

Dentistry is confronted with the functional and aesthetic consequences that result from an increased prevalence of misaligned and discrepant dental occlusal relations in modern industrialised societies. Previous studies have indicated that a reduction in jaw size in response to softer and more heavily processed foods during and following the Industrial Revolution (1,700 CE to present) was an important factor in increased levels of poor dental occlusion. The functional demands placed on the masticatory system play a crucial role in jaw ontogenetic development; however, the way in which chewing behaviours changed in response to the consumption of softer foods during this period remains poorly understood. Here we show that eating more heavily processed food has radically transformed occlusal power stroke kinematics. Results of virtual 3D analysis of the dental macrowear patterns of molars in 104 individuals dating to the Industrial Revolution (1,700-1,900 CE), and 130 of their medieval and early post-medieval antecedents (1,100-1,700 CE) revealed changes in masticatory behaviour that occurred during the early stages of the transition towards eating more heavily processed foods. The industrial-era groups examined chewed with a reduced transverse component of jaw movement. These results show a diminished sequence of occlusal contacts indicating that a dental revolution has taken place in modern times, involving a dramatic shift in the way in which teeth occlude and wear during mastication. Molar macrowear suggests a close connection between progressive changes in chewing since the industrialization of food production and an increase in the prevalence of poor dental occlusion in modern societies.

Modern Approaches to Acellular Therapy in Bone and Dental Regeneration.

An approach called cell-free therapy has rapidly developed in regenerative medicine over the past decade. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the internal potential of tissue repair inspires the development of new strategies aimed at controlling and enhancing these processes during regeneration. The use of stem cell mobilization, or homing for regeneration based on endogenous healing mechanisms, prompted a new concept in regenerative medicine: endogenous regenerative medicine. The application of cell-free therapeutic agents leading to the recruitment/homing of endogenous stem cells has advantages in overcoming the limitations and risks associated with cell therapy. In this review, we discuss the potential of cell-free products such as the decellularized extracellular matrix, growth factors, extracellular vesicles and miRNAs in endogenous bone and dental regeneration.

Finite element analysis relating shape, material properties, and dimensions of taenioglossan radular teeth with trophic specialisations in Paludomidae (Gastropoda).

The radula, a chitinous membrane with embedded tooth rows, is the molluscan autapomorphy for feeding. The morphologies, arrangements and mechanical properties of teeth can vary between taxa, which is usually interpreted as adaptation to food. In previous studies, we proposed about trophic and other functional specialisations in taenioglossan radulae from species of African paludomid gastropods. These were based on the analysis of shape, material properties, force-resistance, and the mechanical behaviour of teeth, when interacting with an obstacle. The latter was previously simulated for one species (Spekia zonata) by the finite-element-analysis (FEA) and, for more species, observed in experiments. In the here presented work we test the previous hypotheses by applying the FEA on 3D modelled radulae, with incorporated material properties, from three additional paludomid species. These species forage either on algae attached to rocks (Lavigeria grandis), covering sand (Cleopatra johnstoni), or attached to plant surface and covering sand (Bridouxia grandidieriana). Since the analysed radulae vary greatly in their general size (e.g. width) and size of teeth between species, we additionally aimed at relating the simulated stress and strain distributions with the tooth sizes by altering the force/volume. For this purpose, we also included S. zonata again in the present study. Our FEA results show that smaller radulae are more affected by stress and strain than larger ones, when each tooth is loaded with the same force. However, the results are not fully in congruence with results from the previous breaking stress experiments, indicating that besides the parameter size, more mechanisms leading to reduced stress/strain must be present in radulae.

Multiple evolutionary origins and losses of tooth complexity in squamates.

Teeth act as tools for acquiring and processing food, thus holding a prominent role in vertebrate evolution. In mammals, dental-dietary adaptations rely on tooth complexity variations controlled by cusp number and pattern. Complexity increase through cusp addition has dominated the diversification of mammals. However, studies of Mammalia alone cannot reveal patterns of tooth complexity conserved throughout vertebrate evolution. Here, we use morphometric and phylogenetic comparative methods across fossil and extant squamates to show they also repeatedly evolved increasingly complex teeth, but with more flexibility than mammals. Since the Late Jurassic, multiple-cusped teeth evolved over 20 times independently from a single-cusped common ancestor. Squamates frequently lost cusps and evolved varied multiple-cusped morphologies at heterogeneous rates. Tooth complexity evolved in correlation with changes in plant consumption, resulting in several major increases in speciation. Complex teeth played a critical role in vertebrate evolution outside Mammalia, with squamates exemplifying a more labile system of dental-dietary evolution.

Tooth retention predicts good physical performance in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Oral health is closely related to both physical and psychological well-being, as it enables individuals to eat, speak, and socialize. The number of teeth is the most used indicator of oral health. Several reports document a relationship of dental status with a variety of indicators of general health but longitudinal studies employing standardized physical performance tests are infrequent in the scientific literature. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Italian elderly participating in the Pro.V.A. longitudinal Study (3099 subjects aged 65+ at baseline, 2196 at the 5-year follow-up 1 and 1641 at the 7-year follow- up 2) underwent detailed interview and extensive clinical and instrumental examination that included validated physical performance measures. Participants were classified into 4 groups according to the number of remaining teeth: 0, 1-7, 8-19, and 20+. To explore the association of the number of remaining teeth with physical function and disability, we performed logistic regression analyses with models progressively adjusted for a wide number of covariates, namely anthropometric (gender, age, BMI), comorbidity (cardio-vascular, osteoarticular, and neurological diseases including depression), muscle strength (assessed for upper and lower limbs), lifestyle (smoking status, alcohol use, leisure time activities) and socioeconomical status (education, income, marital status, loneliness). RESULTS: Dental status correlated with most comorbidities, lifestyle, and socio-economic variables at the univariate analysis at baseline and at follow-ups. A good dental status was significantly associated with better physical functioning and lower disability. The presence of 20+ teeth resulted significantly protective (reference group: 0 teeth) versus mobility-related disability (OR = 0.67), disability (OR = 0.54) and inability to perform heavy duties (OR = 0.62), at follow up 1 and low physical performance score (OR = 0.59) at follow up 2. Conversely, the detrimental effect of edentulism, explored in subjects with or without dentures, was present but not as straightforward. Conclusion. The assessment of a geriatric patient should include an oral evaluation as a good dental status is a crucial component of successful aging.

Investigating the role of gingiva in the tactile function of teeth at the cortical level.

The role of the gingiva in the tactile perception of teeth is unclear, and the physiological basis of tooth tactile function needs to be examined at the cortical response level. In the presented study, gingiva from the upper left canine was removed under local anesthesia from five cats. Intrinsic signal optical imaging was used to measure population response characteristics of the cat oral-related cortex when punctate mechanical stimuli were separately applied to the left gingiva-stripped canine and right intact canine. Then, their response characteristics were compared. There were no significant differences in the cortical response strength between the anesthetized and unanesthetized canines. Signal strength of the gingiva-stripped tooth was significantly weaker than that of the intact tooth at low stimulus strength. However, no significant differences between the gingiva-stripped tooth and intact tooth were found after saturation. Based on the evoked cortical responses, the gingiva is involved in low-intensity tactile perception of teeth, which could explain the reason why chronic gingivitis results in the paresthesia of natural teeth.

Development of bioinks for 3D printing microporous, sintered calcium phosphate scaffolds.

Beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP)-based bioinks were developed to support direct-ink 3D printing-based manufacturing of macroporous scaffolds. Binding of the gelatin:ß-TCP ink compositions was optimized by adding carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to maximize the ß-TCP content while maintaining printability. Post-sintering, the gelatin:ß-TCP:CMC inks resulted in uniform grain size, uniform shrinkage of the printed structure, and included microporosity within the ceramic. The mechanical properties of the inks improved with increasing ß-TCP content. The gelatin:ß-TCP:CMC ink (25:75 gelatin:ß-TCP and 3% CMC) optimized for mechanical strength was used to 3D print several architectures of macroporous scaffolds by varying the print nozzle tip diameter and pore spacing during the 3D printing process (compressive strength of 13.1 ± 2.51 MPa and elastic modulus of 696 ± 108 MPa was achieved). The sintered, macroporous ß-TCP scaffolds demonstrated both high porosity and pore size but retained mechanical strength and stiffness compared to macroporous, calcium phosphate ceramic scaffolds manufactured using alternative methods. The high interconnected porosity (45-60%) and fluid conductance (between 1.04 ×10-9 and 2.27 × 10-9 m4s/kg) of the ß-TCP scaffolds tested, and the ability to finely tune the architecture using 3D printing, resulted in the development of novel bioink formulations and made available a versatile manufacturing process with broad applicability in producing substrates suitable for biomedical applications.

Local application of Usag-1 siRNA can promote tooth regeneration in Runx2-deficient mice.

Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2)-deficient mice can be used to model congenital tooth agenesis in humans. Conversely, uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (Usag-1)-deficient mice exhibit supernumerary tooth formation. Arrested tooth formation can be restored by crossing both knockout-mouse strains; however, it remains unclear whether topical inhibition of Usag-1 expression can enable the recovery of tooth formation in Runx2-deficient mice. Here, we tested whether inhibiting the topical expression of Usag-1 can reverse arrested tooth formation after Runx2 abrogation. The results showed that local application of Usag-1 Stealth small interfering RNA (siRNA) promoted tooth development following Runx2 siRNA-induced agenesis. Additionally, renal capsule transplantation of siRNA-loaded cationized, gelatin-treated mouse mandibles confirmed that cationized gelatin can serve as an effective drug-delivery system. We then performed renal capsule transplantation of wild-type and Runx2-knockout (KO) mouse mandibles, treated with Usag-1 siRNA, revealing that hindered tooth formation was rescued by Usag-1 knockdown. Furthermore, topically applied Usag-1 siRNA partially rescued arrested tooth development in Runx2-KO mice, demonstrating its potential for regenerating teeth in Runx2-deficient mice. Our findings have implications for developing topical treatments for congenital tooth agenesis.

The Correlation between Dental Stages and Skeletal Maturity Stages.

INTRODUCTION: The determination of skeletal maturity stages is very important in orthodontic treatment planning, especially skeletal discrepancies in growing individuals. A hand-wrist radiograph is considered the most accurate approach for skeletal maturity detection. Dental calcification stages have been suggested as an alternative diagnostic method to decrease radiation exposure. The recent study is aimed at detecting the efficacy of dental calcification stages in assessing skeletal maturity during the prepubertal and pubertal growth periods. METHODS: Patients' records were collected from the Aleppo Orthodontic Center. Dental maturity stages were assessed from a panoramic radiograph using the Demirjian method, while skeletal maturity stages were determined using the Björk method. Four permanent left mandibular teeth were included (canine, 1st premolar, 2nd premolar, and 2nd molar) for the study. RESULTS: From 517 records, 295 records (145 males and 150 females) were included. The Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients between skeletal maturation and dental maturation were strong and statistically significant (ranging from 0.789 to 0.835). The highest correlation was between skeletal stages and the second molar (r = 0.829 and 0.88 in males and females, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC ) curve suggested a high validity of the sum of dental stages for the four teeth in identifying MP3= stage (sensitivity was 70%, specificity was 92.77%, and ROC area was 0.81) but not for MP3cap (sensitivity was 50.85%, specificity was 81.36%, and ROC area was 0.66). CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between the skeletal maturity stages and the dental calcification stages was high. The orthodontist can use the dental stages as a definite diagnostic tool for prepubertal growth period.

Intraoral scanners for capturing the palate and its relation to the dentition.

Proper superimposition of intraoral scan generated 3D models enables detailed assessment of soft and hard tissue surface changes. This requires accurate 3D models and stable structures as superimposition references. In the maxilla, different reference areas have been proposed, mostly located at the palatal region. In this in vivo study we evaluated the precision of two intraoral scanners (TRIOS 3, 3Shape and CS 3600, Carestream) at the maxilla, focusing on the palate itself and also on its spatial relation to the dentition, following palatal superimposition. Precision was tested through the superimposition of repeated scans on the palate and the dental arch. Overall, the median precision of both scanners was high (< 0.1 mm). Scanner precision was comparable when the palatal area was tested individually. However, TRIOS 3 showed higher precision regarding the assessment of the dental arch, following superimposition of repeated models on the palate (median difference: approximately 40 µm). In few cases, local areas of higher imprecision were present for both scanners, exceeding 0.3 mm. Thus, scanner precision seems to be high in small, but slightly reduced considering larger areas, with differences between scanners. However, the effect on individual tooth position relative to the palate was for both scanners limited.