Extraction vs nonextraction orthodontic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare four first premolar extraction and nonextraction treatment effects on intra-arch width, profile, treatment duration, occlusal outcomes, smile aesthetics and stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search of the literature to June 2, 2023 was conducted using health science databases, with additional search of gray literature, unpublished material, and hand searching, for studies reporting nonsurgical patients with fixed appliances regarding sixteen sub-outcomes. Data extraction used customized forms, quality assessed with ROBINS-I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions) and Cochrane RoB 2 (risk-of-bias) tool. GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) assessed certainty of evidence. RESULTS: Thirty (29 retrospective studies, 1 randomized controlled trial) studies were included. Random-effect meta-analysis (95% CI) demonstrated maxillary (MD: -2.03 mm; [-2.97, -1.09]; P < .0001) and mandibular inter-first molar width decrease (MD: -2.00 mm; [-2.71, -1.30]; P < .00001) with four first premolar extraction; mandibular intercanine width increase (MD: 0.68 mm; [0.36, 0.99]; P < .0001) and shorter treatment duration (MD: 0.36 years; [0.10, 0.62]; P = .007) in the nonextraction group. Narrative synthesis included three and five studies for upper and lower lip-E plane, respectively. For American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System and maxillary/mandibular anterior alignment (Little's irregularity index), each included two studies with inconclusive evidence. There were no eligible studies for UK Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) score. Class I subgroup/sensitivity analyses favored the same results. Prediction interval indicated no significant difference for all outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Four first premolar extraction results in maxillary and mandibular inter-first molar width decrease and retraction of upper/lower lips. Nonextraction treatment results in mandibular intercanine width increase and shorter treatment duration. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding maxillary intercanine width, US PAR score, and posttreatment smile esthetics. Further high-quality focused research is recommended.

Vertical effects of cervical headgear in growing patients with Class II malocclusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cervical headgear (cHG) has been shown to be effective in Class II correction both with dental and orthopaedic effects but has traditionally been associated with vertical adverse effects in terms of posterior mandibular rotation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the treatment effects of cHG treatment in the vertical dimension. SEARCH METHODS: Unrestricted literature search of five databases up to May 2023. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized/non-randomized clinical studies comparing cHG to untreated controls, high-pull headgear (hp-HG), cHG adjuncts, or other Class II treatment alternatives (functional appliances or distalisers). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: After duplicate study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment according to Cochrane, random-effects meta-analyses of mean differences (MD)/standardized mean diffences (SMD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were performed, followed by meta-regressions, sensitivity analyses, and assessment of certainty on existed evidence. RESULTS: Two randomized/16 non-randomized studies (12 retrospective/4 prospective) involving 1094 patients (mean age 10.9 years and 46% male) were included. Compared to natural growth, cHG treatment was not associated on average with increases in mandibular (eight studies; SMD 0.22; 95% CI -0.06, 0.49; P = 0.11) or maxillary plane angle (seven studies; SMD 0.81; 95% CI -0.34, 1.95; P=0.14). Observed changes translate to MDs of 0.48° (95% CI -0.13, 1.07°) and 1.22° (95% CI -0.51, 2.94°) in the SN-ML and SN-NL angles, respectively. No significant differences were seen in y-axis, facial axis angle, or posterior face height (P > 0.05). Similarly, no significant differences were found between cHG treatment and (i) addition of a lower utility arch, (ii) hp-HG treatment, and (iii) removable functional appliance treatment (P > 0.05 for all). Meta-regressions of patient age, sex, or duration and sensitivity analyses showed relative robustness, while our confidence in these estimates was low to very low due to the risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision. CONCLUSIONS: cHG on average is not consistently associated with posterior rotation of the jaws or a consistent increase in vertical facial dimensions among Class II patients. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration (CRD42022374603).

[Technical specification for orthodontic transmission straight wire technique].

Malocclusion is an oral disease with a high prevalence. The goal of orthodontic treatment is health, aesthetics, function and stability. The transmission straight wire appliance and technique is an innovative orthodontic system with independent intellectual property rights invented by Professor Jiuxiang Lin's team based on decades of clinical experience, which provides a new solution for the non-surgical correction of skeletal malocclusions, especially class Ⅲ malocclusion, and it is also a good carrier for the implementation of the concept of healthy orthodontics. Due to the lack of guidelines, how to implement standardized application of transmission straight wire technique remains a problem to be solved. This technical specification was formed by combining the guidance from Professor Jiuxiang Lin and joint revision by a number of authoritative experts from the Orthodontic Special Committee, Chinese Stomatological Association, with reference to relevant literatures, and combined with abundant clinical experience of many experts. This specification aims to provide reference to standardize the clinical application of transmission straight wire technique, so as to reduce the risk and complications, and finally to improve the clinical application level of this technique.

Manejo odontológico en paciente con síndrome de Cornelia de Lange / Dental treatment of a patient with Cornelia de Lange syndrome

El síndrome de Cornelia de Lange (SCdL) es un trastorno genético poco frecuente y se atribuye principalmente a mutaciones en los genes NIPBL, SMC3 y SMC1A. Sus principales características clínicas son múltiples anomalías congénitas, dimorfismo facial, hirsutismo, hipertricosis, retraso psicomotor, discapacidad intelectual, restricción del crecimiento prenatal y postnatal, anomalías de manos y pies, así como malformaciones congénitas que afectan a distintos órganos. En pacientes con SCdL es necesario hacer hincapié en la higiene oral debido a la discapacidad intelectual que puede presentarse y asegurarse de que se realiza una adecuada valoración y saneamiento dental de forma periódica con el fin de prevenir enfermedades bucodentales. El objetivo de este reporte de caso es describir el manejo odontológico de un paciente de 10 años con SCdL y revisar las características clínicas y hallazgos radiológicos presentes en la cavidad oral (AU)

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetic disorder and is principally attributed to mutations in the NIPBL, SMC3 and SMC1A genes. The main clinical characteristics are multiple congenital anomalies, facial dimorphism, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, psychomotor retardation, intellectual disability, prenatal and postnatal growth restriction, hand and foot anomalies, as well as congenital malformations affecting different organs. In patients with CDLS, it is necessary to focus on oral hygiene due to the intellectual disability that may be present and to ensure that adequate dental valuation and hygiene is routinely performed in order to prevent oral diseases. The aim of this case report is to describe the dental management of a 10-year-old patient with CDLS and review the clinical characteristics and radiological findings that are present in the oral cavity (AU)

Adult patient expectations and satisfaction: Can they be influenced by viewing the three-dimensional predicted outcome before fixed orthodontic treatment of dental crowding?

BACKGROUND: Investigating the possible changes in patients' expectations of and satisfaction with the orthodontic treatment outcomes when they were given the three-dimensional digital prediction of their teeth alignment before the beginning of treatment. METHODS: A prospective non-controlled single-group clinical trial was conducted on 28 (18 females, 10 males, mean age: 20.68 ± 1.91 years) patients with Class I malocclusion and moderate dental crowding who required a nonextraction orthodontic treatment. Patients were given the expectations questionnaire on their first visit (T0). Then, patients were shown a three-dimensional digital setup-created by Orthoanalyzer software (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark)-of the proposed treatment results before orthodontic treatment (T1) and received two questionnaires, the second expectations questionnaire and the satisfaction with the proposed changes questionnaire. Treatment was then initiated using the fixed appliances and completed. After debonding, a question about patients' satisfaction with the achieved changes was completed (T2). RESULTS: Patients' expectations level significantly increased after watching the predicted alignment of teeth compared with the initial levels in terms of chewing (x¯ = 5.54 and x¯= 6.71), speech (x‾ =5.93 and x¯= 6.93), and oral hygiene improvement (x‾= 7.93 and x¯=8.61 ± 1.06; at T0 and T1, respectively). The remaining items showed no significant differences between the two assessment times. Patients had a higher level of satisfaction at the end of treatment than after watching the proposed outcome. There were significant statistical differences in the items related to teeth appearance (x¯= 9.12 and x¯= 9.60 at T1 and T2, respectively), and teeth engagement (x¯= 8.92 and x¯= 9.40 at T1 and T2, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: Watching the predicted alignment outcome increased patients' expectations of chewing, speech, and oral hygiene improvement compared with the initially recorded levels. Patients were more satisfied with the final result than what was recorded after viewing the predicted plan. However, these results were not clinically significant.

Efficacy of an innovative Herbst appliance with TADs for patients with hyperdivergent class II malocclusion: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Class II treatment with mandibular retrusion often involves the Herbst appliance due to its efficiency and low requirement of cooperation. Despite its advantages, it causes side effects concerning the occlusal plane and pogonion in terms of clockwise rotation that hinder the desired mandibular advancement for hyperdivergent patients. In this study, we will use a newly designed Herbst appliance, and a protocol that is accompanied by TADs for vertical control to avoid maxillary clockwise rotation. We hypothesise that the effect of the Herbst appliance with the vertical control approach will be beneficial for maintaining or even decreasing the skeletal divergence in hyperdivergent class II patients compared with conventional Herbst treatment. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a randomised, parallel, prospective controlled trial that will study the efficacy of Herbst with or without vertical control in children with hyperdivergent skeletal class II malocclusion. A total of 44 patients will be enrolled and randomised in a ratio of 1:1 to either Herbst treatment or Herbst treatment with vertical control. Participants will be recruited at the Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Shanghai, China. The primary endpoint is the change in the angle indicating the occlusal plane and Sella-Nasion plane from baseline (T0) to the primary endpoint (T2) on cephalometric measurements by lateral X-ray examination. Important secondary outcomes include the root length of the anterior teeth, and the assessment score of the Visual Analogue Scale Questionnaire, etc. Safety endpoints will also be evaluated. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the ethics committee of the Shanghai Stomatological Hospital (Approval No. (2021) 012). Before enrolment, a qualified clinical research assistant will obtain written informed consent from both the participants and their guardians after full explanation of this study. The results will be presented at national or international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2100049860, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

Harmonização do sorriso: aliando ortodontia e estética / Smile harmonization: combining orthodontics and aesthetics

Atualmente é evidente a demanda contínua por padrões de beleza, cada vez mais impecáveis, um sorriso alinhado e harmônico com dentes brancos para se sorrir com confiança. O tratamento odontológico interdisciplinar tem como intuito proporcionar uma boa saúde periodontal, restabelecer a estética e a função do sistema estomatognático. Objetivo: apresentar um relato de caso clínico envolvendo harmonização do sorriso como cirurgia plástica periodontal para alinhamento da margem gengival na região anterior e restaurações diretas em resina composta após a finalização do tratamento ortodôntico, evidenciando a importância da abordagem conservadora e multidisciplinar no âmbito do tratamento estético. Relato de caso: Realizamos o tratamento ortodôntico com aparelho autoligado cerâmico para alinhamento do arco dental e intrusão do elemento 13, em sequência executamos um recorte gengival nos elementos 12 e 22, clareamento dental associado após 15 dias, subsequentemente, reanatomização dentária no elemento 44 para que o elemento 13 não voltasse a extruir pela falta de contato oclusal, e por fim, remodelação dental fazendo uso de resina composta nos elementos 12, 21 e 22 devido a manchas de hipocalcificação dental. Conclusão: Contudo, a estética bucal tem a capacidade de possibilitar a melhoria na autoestima, devolvendo à função, proporcionando satisfação e bem-estar ao indivíduo, enaltecendo o sorriso.

Currently, the continuous demand for increasingly impeccable beauty standards is evident, an aligned and harmonic smile with white teeth to smile with confidence. Interdisciplinary dental treatment aims to provide good periodontal health, restore the aesthetics and function of the stomatognathic system. Objective: to present a clinical case report involving smile harmonization as periodontal plastic surgery for aligning the gingival margin in the anterior region and direct composite resin restorations after completion of orthodontic treatment, highlighting the importance of a conservative and multidisciplinary approach in the field of aesthetic treatment . Case report: We performed orthodontic treatment with a self-ligating ceramic appliance for aligning the dental arch and intruding element 13, then performed a gingival cutout on elements 12 and 22, associated tooth whitening after 15 days, subsequently, dental reanatomization on element 44 to that element 13 would not extrude again due to the lack of occlusal contact, and finally, dental remodeling using composite resin in elements 12, 21 and 22 due to dental hypocalcification stains. Conclusion: However, oral aesthetics has the ability to improve self-esteem, returning to function, providing satisfaction and well-being to the individual, enhancing the smile.

The use of the Hanks Herbst vs Twin-block in Class II malocclusion: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: This 2-arm parallel study aimed to compare and evaluate the efficiency of Hanks Herbst (HH) and Twin-block (TB) functional appliances in treating adolescents with Class II malocclusion. METHODS: A parallel-group randomized controlled trial was undertaken in a single United Kingdom hospital. Eighty participants were recruited and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the HH or TB appliance. Eligibility criteria included children aged 10-14 years with an overjet of ≥7 mm without dental anomalies. The primary outcome was the time (in months) required to reduce overjet to normal limits (<4 mm). Secondary outcomes included treatment failure rates, complications and their impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL). Randomization was accomplished using electronic software with allocation concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque, and sealed envelopes. Blinding was only applicable for outcome assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analyses to detect between-group differences, including Cox regression for time to treatment success. RESULTS: HH was significantly faster than TB in reducing the overjet to within normal limits (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.00 to -0.03; P = 0.046). Mean overjet reduction was more efficient with the HH than the TB appliance (ß = 1.3; 95% CI, 0.04-2.40; P = 0.04). Fifteen (37.5%) of the participants in the TB group and 7 (17.5%) in the HH group failed to complete the treatment (hazard ratio = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32-0.91, P = 0.02). However, TB was associated with fewer routine (incidence rate ratio = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.7-0.9; P = 0.004) and emergency (incidence rate ratio = 0.1; 95% CI, 0.1-0.3; P = 0.001) visits. Chairside time was greater with the HH (ß = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.8-3.6, P = 0.001). Participants in both groups experienced complications with similar frequency. A greater deterioration in OHRQOL was found during treatment with the TB. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with HH resulted in more efficient and predictable overjet reduction than TB. More treatment discontinuation and greater deterioration in OHRQOL were observed with the TB. However, HH was associated with more routine and emergency visits. REGISTRATION: ISRCTN11717011. PROTOCOL: The protocol was not published before trial commencement. FUNDING: No specific external or internal funding was provided. Treatment for participants was provided as part of routine orthodontic treatment in the hospital.

Development of professional recommendations on orthodontic retention: short version / Développement de recommandations professionnelles sur la contention en orthodontie : version courte

Introduction: Retention is the set of means, processes or devices that contribute to maintain the teeth in the position and the arches in the shape given by the treatment as long as possible. Given the heterogeneity of practices, devices used and follow-up modalities, the French Society of Dentofacial Orthopedics, a scientific society, has proposed Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for orthodontic retention. This article presents the method used to develop the CPG full-text and the guidelines produced. Materials and Methods: A review of the literature was carried out after a bibliographic search of databases. The CPG full-text and guidelines were drafted, graded according to the level of evidence, then reread, discussed and validated by the experts of the workgroup. A second review by a group of external experts was then carried out before final validation of the CPG for publication. Results: Of 652 articles selected, 53 met the inclusion criteria and were used to prepare the CPG full-text to produce 41 grade C items and 23 expert agreements, constituting 40 guidelines. Discussion: There is still no consensus on the choice of materials. The literature remains poor on the functions. Some devices, more used in France, are poorly documented in the literature. Conclusion: The CPGs provide recommendations on the factors to consider before using a retainer, the effectiveness of the different devices, their failures and adverse effects, as well as the follow-up procedures.

Introduction: La contention est l'ensemble de moyens, de procédés ou de dispositifs contribuant à maintenir le plus longtemps possible les dents dans la position et les arcades dans la forme données, par le traitement. Compte tenu de l'hétérogénéité des pratiques, des dispositifs utilisés et des modalités de suivi, la Société Française d'Orthopédie Dento-Faciale, société savante, a proposé des recommandations de bonne pratique (RBP) sur la contention orthodontique. Cet article présente la méthode d'élaboration de l'argumentaire scientifique et les recommandations produites. Matériels et méthodes: Une revue de la littérature a été réalisée après recherche bibliographique dans les banques de données. Un argumentaire scientifique et des recommandations gradées en fonction du niveau de preuve ont été rédigés, puis relus, discutés et validés par les experts du groupe de travail. Une deuxième relecture par un groupe de lecture, composé d'experts externes, a ensuite été effectuée avant la validation finale des recommandations pour diffusion. Résultats: Sur 652 articles sélectionnés, 53 répondaient aux critères d'inclusion et ont permis de rédiger l'argumentaire scientifique pour en tirer 41 items de grade C et 23 accords d'expert constituant 40 RBP. Discussion: Le choix des matériaux ne fait pas encore consensus. La littérature reste pauvre sur les fonctions. Quelques dispositifs, davantage utilisés en France, sont peu documentés dans la littérature. Conclusion: Les RBP fournissent des recommandations sur les facteurs de choix préalables à la réalisation d'une contention, l'efficacité des différents dispositifs, les échecs et les effets indésirables de ceux-ci, ainsi que sur les modalités de suivi.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients towards orthodontic treatment.

BACKGROUND: Orthodontic treatment is a time-consuming and highly technique-sensitive clinical procedure. A patient's comprehension and compliance with oral hygiene instructions and appliance maintenance are critical to the success of orthodontic treatment. This study was performed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of patients seen at government orthodontic clinics in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya towards orthodontic treatment. METHODS: A validated, bilingual, self-administered questionnaire comprising fifteen questions across the domains of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice was used and responses were assessed with 3 responses; one correct, one incorrect and one reflecting uncertainty. 507 patients from five orthodontic centres participated in this study. Data was analysed using SPSS. Continuous data was summarised as mean and standard deviation or median and inter-quartile range, as appropriate. Categorical data was summarised as frequency and percentage, then univariable analysis was carried out with Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 22.5 years (SD ± 2.8). A majority of respondents were female (64.1%) and from the lowest income bracket or B40 group (71%). Overall, for the knowledge domain, a majority of the respondents got all questions correct. 69.4% of patients were aware that incomplete treatment could lead to worsening of their malocclusion. 80.9% of respondents were aware of the need for a retainer upon completion of their orthodontic treatment. For the attitude section, 64.7% felt that they had to wait a very long time to see the orthodontist. In the Practice domain, the majority only got two of the five questions correct. Only 39.8% of respondents made an effort to alter dietary habits all of the time. In general, females and those with tertiary education fared better for all three domains. CONCLUSIONS: The orthodontic patients in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya possess good knowledge about their treatment however their attitude and orthodontic related practices need to be improved.

Comparación del perfil labial según la necesidad de extracciones / Comparison of the lip profile according to the need for extractions

Introducción: La sonrisa es uno de los factores más importantes a considerardurante el tratamiento de ortodoncia, lacual se ve influenciada por los labios, asícomo el soporte dental.Objetivo: El objetivo de esta investigación es observar la relación que existeentre el perfil y protrusión labial con lanecesidad de realizar extracciones dedientes.Materiales y métodos: Para calcular lamuestra se utilizó un nivel de confianzadel 95%, la precisión del 3% y una proporción del 5%, el resultado fue un tamañode muestra de 168 radiografías. Previo atomar las medidas se revisó el diagnóstico y tratamiento para evaluar el patrónde extracciones. Para la toma de medidasdel perfil labial se midió la distancia entreel plano estético y el punto labial superiore inferior respectivamente, y se organizaron en 5 categorías. Además, se tomó lamedida del ángulo nasolabial.Resultados: Se encontraron diferenciasestadísticamente significativas al comparar los promedios de la distancia de lalínea E al labio superior (f 5.79 p<0.000)y labio inferior (f 8.66 p<0.000) entre lospacientes sin extracciones y los pacientes con diferentes patrones de extracciones. Sin embargo, los promedios delos ángulos nasolabiales en los diferentes patrones de extracción no presentaron diferencias estadísticas significativas (f 1.13 p<0.3384)... (AU)

Introduction: The smile is one of themost important factors to consider duringorthodontic treatment, which is influencedby the lips, as well as dental support.Objective: The objective of this researchis to observe the relationship that exists between the profile and labialprotrusion with the need to perform toothextractions. Materials and methods: To calculate the sample, a confidence level of 95% was used, precision of 3% and a proportion of 5%, the result was a sample size of 168 radiographs. Before taking the measurements, the diagnosis and treatment were reviewed to evaluate the pattern of extractions. To take measurements of the lip profile, the distance between the esthetic plane and the upper and lower lip points,respectively, was measured, and they were organized into 5 categories.In addition, the measurement of the nasolabial angle was taken.Results: Statistically significant differences were found when comparing the means of the distance from the Eline to the upper lip (f 5.79 p<0.000)and lower lip (f 8.66 p<0.000) between patients without extractions and patients with different patterns of extractions. However, the means of the nasolabial angles in the different extraction patterns...(AU)

Restoratively guided orthodontic treatment: The pre-orthodontic bonding concept.

OBJECTIVE: Communication between the orthodontist and the restorative dentist has always been difficult due to the inability of the orthodontist to achieve the desired orthodontic goals with just words in a referral note. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: A better method of communication is for the restorative dentist to create the ideal tooth anatomy either before or during orthodontic treatment to direct the orthodontic tooth movement. CONCLUSION: It is the purpose of this article to present a technique, which makes the pre-restorative orthodontic treatment both more accurate and more efficient. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: It is very difficult for the orthodontist to move teeth into their correct positions when the teeth are anatomically incorrect due to attrition/erosion or due to developmental malformation. When the restorative dentist makes the teeth anatomically correct with either pre-orthodontic or intermediate orthodontic bonding, the orthodontist has the benefit of ideal tooth anatomy to finalize the tooth positions. This then allows the restorative dentist to create final restorations, which are ideal, both functionally and esthetically.

Which orthodontic retention protocol should I implement? A critical assessment of a randomised controlled trial.

Trial design A single-centre two-arm parallel group randomised controlled trial.Objectives To assess differences in dental stability, patient perceptions and compliance and retainer failures in adolescents treated with vacuum-formed retainers (VFR) compared with those receiving bonded canine-to canine retainers after five years in retention.Methods In total, 104 eligible adolescents treated with fixed appliances in both jaws in a Swedish orthodontic clinic were randomised to two retention protocols. The intervention protocol consisted of a VFR covering all erupted teeth in the maxilla and a VFR in the mandible covering first premolar to first premolar. The controls received a VFR in the maxilla covering all erupted teeth and a bonded retainer wire to the lingual surfaces of the canines. The primary outcomes were various dental stability measures assessed at: debond (T1); six months (T2); 18 months (T3); and after five years (T4) in retention. Generalised estimating equations were used to quantify the effect of the different interventions on these outcome measures. One operator assessed all outcomes and participants could not be blinded. For the secondary outcomes, the perception and compliance with the retention protocols were assessed and the prevalence and rationale of retainer failure at T4. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03070444) and the research project was supported by the Centre for Research and Development, Region Gävleborg, Sweden.Results Of the 104 randomised patients, 30 were not available at T4, leaving 35 patients in the intervention and 39 in the comparator group. An intention-to-treat analysis was used to impute outcomes for the missing patients. Post-treatment changes at T4 were small in both jaws. In the maxilla, the Little's Irregularity Index (LII) increased similar in both retention groups (median difference: 0.3 mm). In the mandible, the median difference for the LLI in the bonded retainer group was 0.1 mm compared with 0.6 mm in VFR group. In both retention protocols, the overjet remained stable, the overbite increased and the arch lengths continued to decrease. Intercanine and intermolar width remained stable in the mandible. Intermolar width decreased significantly in the maxilla. No differences in satisfaction were found between retention protocols after five years. Also, 72% of patients had stopped or rarely wore the VFR appliances at T4. Besides some retainer failures in both groups, no serious adverse effects associated with the retainers were reported.Conclusions Most post-treatment changes in both retention protocols were small in both jaws, except for the anterior alignment in the mandible, which was more stable in the bonded retainer group. This difference is possibly not related to the retention technique but to the poor compliance with the VFRs and the inclusion of adolescents only. Satisfaction with both protocols was similar.

The development of a novel Orthodontic Alignment Index and its use to evaluate the effect of residual overjet on the stability of the alignment of the maxillary anterior dentition.

BACKGROUND: It is thought that achieving a normal overjet may help to stabilise the alignment of the maxillary anterior dentition. Little's Irregularity Index is limited in assessing discrete post-orthodontic changes, fails to account for reciprocal rotations and is not sensitive to dental changes in three planes. A more holistic tool for the assessment of post-treatment change is therefore required. AIM: To compare the post-treatment stability of maxillary anterior dental alignment in subjects treated either to a Class I incisor relationship or an increased overjet (> 4 mm) following fixed appliance-based orthodontics using a novel measurement tool. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Orthodontic Alignment Index (OAI) was developed and validated using a panel of 63 raters. The new index accounts for a range of weighted features including contact point displacement, spacing, reciprocal rotations, inclination, angulation and vertical discrepancy. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken at the Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. Recruitment took place over a 4-year period. All participants had removable retainers in the maxillary arch only. The stability of maxillary anterior teeth was assessed using Little's Irregularity Index (LII) and the OAI. Subjects were recruited at least 12 months following completion of dual-arch fixed appliance-based treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-two participants were included with a positive correlation observed between LII and OAI at the 12-month post-treatment review with a 1-mm increase in LII associated with a 2-point increase in the OAI (P < 0.001). Limited relapse was observed in both groups: normal overjet group (OAI = 1.28; LII = 0.52); residual overjet group (OAI = 0.88; LII = 0.47). Median regression analysis failed to identify a significant association between an increased overjet at debond and the alignment of the maxillary anterior segment when assessed with OAI (P = 0.389) and LII (P = 0.577). Furthermore, age, gender, extraction protocols and retention regime were not predictive of post-treatment change. CONCLUSIONS: Using a novel index (OAI) and LII, there was limited post-treatment relapse in alignment of the maxillary anterior dentition over a 12-month period. Based on this retrospective evaluation, achieving a normal overjet at the end of treatment may have little bearing on the post-treatment stability of maxillary anterior alignment at 12 months.

Assessment of orthodontic treatment efficacy of Clarity Aligners using the Peer Assessment Rating index and the American Board of Orthodontics Cast-Radiograph Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: 3M Oral Care Solutions (St Paul, Minn) has recently introduced Clarity Aligners into the market. This cohort study evaluated the orthodontic treatment efficacy of this clear aligner system using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index and the American Board of Orthodontics Cast-Radiograph Evaluation (CR-Eval). METHODS: Pretreatment and posttreatment dental models of 87 subjects who had undergone orthodontic treatment using Clarity Aligners in both arches to align their teeth to a target setup were independently evaluated by 4 examiners using the PAR index and the American Board of Orthodontics CR-Eval. Changes in CR-Eval and PAR scores from pretreatment to posttreatment were calculated, with PAR score reductions also expressed as percentages. RESULTS: Treatment with Clarity Aligners reduced the CR-Eval scores from 39.05 ± 14.98 to 30.34 ± 8.76, resulting in a statistically significant difference of 8.76 ± 11.45 between pretreatment and posttreatment scores. Similarly, aligner treatment reduced the weighted PAR scores from 13.40 ± 9.26 to 5.80 ± 4.84, resulting in a statistically significant difference of 7.50 ± 7.56 between pretreatment and posttreatment scores. The overall median PAR reduction was 53%, with 94% of the subjects having reduced PAR scores after treatment. Seventy-eight percent of subjects had >30% PAR reduction, 57% had >50% PAR reduction, and 33% had >70% PAR reduction. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Clarity Aligners may be an effective treatment modality in mild to moderate malocclusions.

[Timely and appropriately performing early orthodontic treatment].

In recent years, the early orthodontic treatment of malocclusion has become a hot issue in the field of orthodontics. Some new phenomena and new problems that have emerged require in-depth analysis and discussion, and need to be given correct guidance and norms. Malocclusion refers to the deformities of teeth, jaws, and craniofacial bones caused by genetic and environmental factors during growth and development. Based on the accurate judgment of the etiology and diagnosis, choosing the right time and suitable indications, with the advantage of growth and development, the most suitable appliance can be selected in the early stage of malocclusion to fix malocclusion, and to effectively prevent and block the formation and development of malocclusion. This article will discuss how to timely and appropriately carry out the early prevention and treatment of malocclusion with six aspects, including methods of performing early orthodontic treatment, the basis and guarantee of early orthodontic treatment, correctly understanding early orthodontic treatment, the issues that should be paid attention to in carrying out early orthodontic treatment, actively advocating multidisciplinary cooperation during early orthodontic treatment and understanding face management in a serious way.

The effect of orthodontic treatment on facial attractiveness: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Facial and smile attractiveness are significant motivating factor for patients to seek orthodontic treatment. Although there is a general belief that orthodontic treatment improves facial appearance, this has yet not been systematically evaluated. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the current evidence on the effect of orthodontic treatment on facial attractiveness. SEARCH METHODS: Systematic and unrestricted search of nine databases were performed up to January 2022. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies evaluating facial attractiveness before and after orthodontic treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Extracted data included study design and setting, sample size and demographics, malocclusion type, treatment modality, and method for outcome assessment. Risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies and with RoB-2 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Random-effects meta-analyses of mean differences and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were performed. RESULTS: Twenty studies were included in data synthesis; three randomized controlled clinical trials and 17 non-randomized clinical studies of retrospective or prospective design. One of the RCTs was found to have low risk of bias, one presented some concerns and the third showed a high risk of bias. All non-randomized studies showed either unclear or high risk of bias. Data syntheses showed that orthodontic treatment improved facial attractiveness ratings by 9% when compared with untreated controls (MD: 9.05/95% CI: 4.71; 13.39). A combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery also showed a positive effect of 5.5% (MD: 5.51/95% CI: 1.55; 9.47) when compared with orthodontic treatment alone. There was no difference in effect between extraction and non-extraction treatments (MD: -0.89/ 95% CI: -8.72; 6.94) or between different types of Class II correctors (MD: 2.21/95% CI: -16.51; 20.93). LIMITATIONS: With the exception of two RCTs, included studies were of unclear or low quality. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment has a clinically weak effect on facial attractiveness when compared to no treatment. The same is true when a combined orthodontic/surgical treatment is compared to orthodontics alone. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO #: CRD42020169904.

Association between initial complexity, frequency of refinements, treatment duration, and outcome in Invisalign orthodontic treatment.

INTRODUCTION: This study explored possible associations between treatment duration, initial complexity, outcomes in Invisalign therapy, and the number of refinements. METHODS: Three-dimensional models (initial, final, and refinements) of 355 Invisalign patients (114 males and 241 females; 33.8 ± 17.1 years) were analyzed using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index questionnaire tool in the Ortho Analyzer software (version 2.0; 3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark) to calculate the weighted total and individual PAR index scores for each component of the PAR index. Data related to demographics, treatment duration, and the number of refinements were collected. RESULTS: Treatment duration increased as the number of refinements increased. Percent of improvement was higher in PAR ≥22 group than PAR <22 with an increase in the number of refinements: 83.3% vs 73.8% for 2 refinements; 94.7% vs 91.2% for 3 refinements; and 100% vs 85.7% for ≥4 refinements. Those who achieved great improvement or improvement and those who did not were significantly different in treatment duration (P <0.001 and P = 0.027), number of refinements (≥3 refinements; P <0.001), initial occlusal severity (PAR ≥22; P <0.01 and P = 0.031). Most subjects achieved improvement after the first refinement (64.5% for PAR <22 and 78.5% for PAR ≥22). Few had ≥4 refinements, and if they did, none achieved improvement with additional refinements. CONCLUSIONS: Initial complexity for an Invisalign case is associated with treatment duration, achieved outcomes, and the number of refinements. Treatment duration increased with an increased number of refinements. Great improvement or improvement for the first time dropped to 0 if additional refinements were carried out after 3. Therefore, performing additional refinements does not necessarily mean better occlusal outcomes.

Prevalence of Orthodontic Malocclusions in Healthy Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding the prevalence of malocclusion and different orthodontic features in children and adolescents. METHODS: The digital databases PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Open Grey, and Web of Science were searched from inception to November 2021. Epidemiological studies, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, and comparative studies involving subjects ≤ 18 years old and focusing on the prevalence of malocclusion and different orthodontic features were selected. Articles written in English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese were included. Three authors independently assessed the eligibility, extracted the data from, and ascertained the quality of the studies. Since all of the included articles were non-randomized, the MINORS tool was used to score the risk of bias. RESULTS: The initial electronic database search identified a total of 6775 articles. After the removal of duplicates, 4646 articles were screened using the title and abstract. A total of 415 full-text articles were assessed, and 123 articles were finally included for qualitative analysis. The range of prevalence of Angle Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusion was very large, with a mean prevalence of 51.9% (SD 20.7), 23.8% (SD 14.6), and 6.5% (SD 6.5), respectively. As for the prevalence of overjet, reversed overjet, overbite, and open bite, no means were calculated due to the large variation in the definitions, measurements, methodologies, and cut-off points among the studies. The prevalence of anterior crossbite, posterior crossbite, and crossbite with functional shift were 7.8% (SD 6.5), 9.0% (SD 7.34), and 12.2% (SD 7.8), respectively. The prevalence of hypodontia and hyperdontia were reported to be 6.8% (SD 4.2) and 1.8% (SD 1.3), respectively. For impacted teeth, ectopic eruption, and transposition, means of 4.9% (SD 3.7), 5.4% (SD 3.8), and 0.5% (SD 0.5) were found, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to clearly define orthodontic features and malocclusion traits as well as to reach consensus on the protocols used to quantify them. The large variety in methodological approaches found in the literature makes the data regarding prevalence of malocclusion unreliable.

Effects of high-frequency near infrared laser irradiation on experimental tooth movement-induced pain in rats.

Discomfort and dull pain are known side effects of orthodontic treatment. Pain is expected to be reduced by near-infrared (NIR) lasers; however, the mechanism underlying effects of short-pulse NIR lasers in the oral and maxillofacial area remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects of high-frequency NIR diode laser irradiation on pain during experimental tooth movement (ETM) on 120 J. NIR laser with 910 nm wavelength, 45 W maximum output power, 300 mW average output power, and 200 ns pulse width (Lumix 2; (Lumix 2; Fisioline, Verduno CN, Italy) was used for the experiment. A nickel-titanium-closed coil was used to apply a 50-gf force between the maxillary left-side first molar and incisor in 7-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats (280-300 g) to induce ETM. We measured facial-grooming frequency and vacuous chewing movement (VCM) period between laser-irradiation and ETM groups. We performed immunofluorescent histochemistry analysis to quantify levels of Iba-1, astrocytes, and c-fos protein-like immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) in the trigeminal spinal nucleus caudalis (Vc). Compared with the ETM group, the laser irradiation group had significantly decreased facial-grooming frequency (P = 0.0036), VCM period (P = 0.043), Fos-IR (P = 0.0028), Iba-1 levels (P = 0.0069), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels (P = 0.0071). High-frequency NIR diode laser irradiation appears to have significant analgesic effects on ETM-induced pain, which involve inhibiting neuronal activity, microglia, and astrocytes, and it inhibits c-fos, Iba-1, and GFAP expression, reducing ETM-induced pain in rats. High-frequency NIR diode laser application could be applied to reduce pain during orthodontic tooth movement.