Optical fiber immunosensors based on surface plasmon resonance for the detection of Escherichia coli.

Every year, millions of people suffer some form of illness associated with the consumption of contaminated food. Escherichia coli (E. coli), found in the intestines of humans and other animals, is commonly associated with various diseases, due to the existence of pathogenic strains. Strict monitoring of food products for human consumption is essential to ensure public health, but traditional cell culture-based methods are associated with long waiting times and high costs. New approaches must be developed to achieve cheap, fast, and on-site monitoring. Thus, in this work, we developed optical fiber sensors based on surface plasmon resonance. Gold and cysteamine-coated fibers were functionalized with anti-E. coli antibody and tested using E. coli suspensions with concentrations ranging from 1 cell/mL to 105 cells/mL. An average logarithmic sensitivity of 0.21 ± 0.01 nm/log(cells/mL) was obtained for three independent assays. An additional assay revealed that including molybdenum disulfide resulted in an increase of approximately 50% in sensitivity. Specificity and selectivity were also evaluated, and the sensors were used to analyze contaminated water samples, which verified their promising applicability in the aquaculture field.

Mucoadhesive delivery systems for oral candidiasis treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical and mycological effectiveness of mucoadhesives as vehicles for drugs or natural products in the treatment of oral candidiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The search for articles was carried out in the Medline/PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and SciELO databases before August 2023. We selected the studies, extracted the data, evaluated the study quality, graded the evidence, performed the risk of bias, and carried out meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 389 potentially relevant articles were identified, and 11 studies (1869 participants) met the inclusion criteria of the systematic review. The overall risk of bias was considered low. The most common presentation of mucoadhesives was tablets, with miconazole being the most frequently drug used in the delivery system. Mucoadhesives demonstrated comparable efficacy with topical or systemic antifungal agents, with no significant differences between treatments in terms of clinical (RR = 0.907; 95CI = 0.3-1.297; p = 0.591; I2 = 64.648) or mycological (RR = 0.95; 95CI = 0.667-1.360; p = 0.789; I2 = 73.271) efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Mucoadhesives may be a suitable alternative to conventional treatments, with the advantage of reducing the frequency of application by up to 5 times and the daily dosage by up to 20 times.

Quantitative Assessment of Lip Morphology in Patients With and Without Cleft Lip and Palate Using 3-Dimensional Stereophotogrammetry.

This study aimed to assess and quantify the morphologic characteristics of the lips and the lower third of the face in cleft and noncleft patients, utilizing three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry. Sixty patients were included in the study, comprising 30 unilateral cleft lip and palate patients (G1, 24 female, 6 male; aged 20 to 60 y, mean age 44.0±12.0 y) and 30 noncleft patients (G2, 23 female, 7 male; aged 20 to 59 y, mean age 43.5±12.0 y). Anthropometric landmarks were identified on the facial surface. Three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry was employed to capture images. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the groups, with a significance level set at 0.05. The comparative analysis revealed statistically significant differences in 5 linear and 6 angular measurements. Linear measurements such as philtrum width, upper and lower cutaneous lip height, mandibular ramus length, and midfacial depth exhibited significant differences between cleft and noncleft patients. Similarly, angular measurements, including upper lip angle, Cupid's bow angle, lower/medium face convexity, lip seal, nasolabial angle, and left gonial angle, displayed statistically significant disparities. These findings underscore the ongoing surgical challenges in the comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with clefts, highlighting the critical need for continued advancements in treatment strategies.

Facial Analysis of Patients with Unilateral or Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Using 3D Stereophotogrammetry.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quantitative values of linear and angular facial anthropometrics in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and compare them with those of patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) using three-dimensional (3D) facial imaging. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational, and cross-sectional study. SETTING: Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies/USP (HRAC/USP). PATIENTS/ PARTICIPANTS: In total, 61 non-syndromic patients with CLP who underwent multidisciplinary treatment and rehabilitated with a prosthesis were enrolled and divided into those with UCLP (G1; n = 31) and those with BCLP (G2; n = 30). INTERVENTION: Facial images were captured using a 3D camera after landmarks were marked on each patient's face. The software evaluated linear and angular parameters. Statistical tests were applied. Significance was determined as P < 0.05. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Overall, 22 linear and 13 angular measurements were evaluated. RESULTS: The nasal length (P = 0.08), middle third of the face (P = 0.06), base nose width (P < 0.001), nasal root width (P < 0.001), nasal tip angle (P = 0.018), philtrum width (P < 0.001), lower face width (P = 0.039) and midfacial depth (P = 0.040) were significantly higher in G2; the upper cutaneous lip height was significantly higher in G1. Sexual dimorphism was observed except for linear measurements (linear distance between the labiale superius and labiale inferius landmarks, nasal root width, and upper cutaneous lip length) and angular measurements. CONCLUSIONS: G2 had a greater length and width of nose and nasal root, nasal tip angle, philtrum width, and lower face width, midfacial depth, and midface third than G1. These findings also revealed the presence of sexual dimorphism.

Investigation of Flaviviruses Emerging in Brazil as Etiology Factor in Nonsyndromic Orofacial Cleft.

Brazil has one of the largest forest areas on the planet and the potential for the emergence of new diseases. In turn, orofacial clefts, especially cleft lip and or palate (CL/P), are characterized as congenital malformations and may be associated with genetic and environmental factors. The present study aimed to investigate in silico the flavivirus's potential to emerge in Brazil as an etiology of CL/P. A scoring method was created based on literature and nucleotide similarity analysis. An integrative analysis of the literature was performed to answer the questions through the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar to have a more significant number of results. The software Basic Local Alignment Search Tool-BLAST 2.12.0, through the Genomic + Transcript Databases (Human Genomic plus Transcript Human G+T), was selected to find similarities with human sequences associated with CL/P. The viral sequences used were obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Virus-NCBI Virus, in which only complete and referential genomes were selected. The flavivirus that emerged in Brazil and presented a high potential to cause CL/P was the Iguape virus strain (species Aroa virus ), followed by the Cacipacore virus and the Rocio virus strain (species Ilheus virus ) with medium potential to cause CL/P. In conclusion, we suggest among the virus evaluated that the Iguape virus presented a high potential of causing CL/P. As prevention, the control of arthropods and the hospital diffusion on viral dynamics, mainly in the CL/P context and other congenital malformations, are indicated.

The Public Health Importance of Flaviviruses as an Etiological Environmental Factor in Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and/or Palate: In silico Study.

This in silico study aims to investigate flaviviruses as an environmental factor in the etiology of nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).A scoring method with 7 topics-disease, transplacental passage, tropism, cellular damage, reported case, analysis of genome similarity, and transcriptome between virus and host, was created based on literature and in silico experimentation. Viral genomes of NCBI virus were obtained and BLAST 2.12.0 was applied for the similarity analysis, adjusted to search for only human sequences related to CL/P with the statistical threshold defined for E-value ≤1.Flaviviruses with high potential to cause CL/P were: serotypes 2, 3, and 4 of the Dengue virus and lineage 2 of the West Nile virus, while the Yellow Fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, and Saint Louis encephalitis virus presented with medium potential to cause CL/P. As for the Zika virus, even strains associated with microcephaly showed only medium potential.Dengue virus and West Nile virus presented with high potential to act as environmental factors in the etiology of CL/P.

Arch Symmetry in Patients Without and With Cleft Lip and Palate After Orthodontic/Rehabilitative Treatment-A Stereophotogrammetry Study.

To evaluate and compare the dental arch symmetry of individuals with and without cleft lip and palate after orthodontic/rehabilitation treatment.Cross-sectional study.Tertiary cleft center in Brazil.Fifty-five participants aged between 18 and 30 years were divided into 3 groups according to treatment. Patients that received either a fixed partial denture (FPD) or implant-supported crown (ISC) in the cleft area or only orthodontic treatment, noncleft patients (NC).An analysis was performed using digitized dental casts scanned by laser and software. The following linear measurements were evaluated: incisor-canine; canine-molar; incisor-molar; surface and volume of the palatal region.Three-way ANOVA was used to compare the study factors: group (FPD/ISC/NC) and side (right/left) followed by the Tukey test to verify their interaction (α = .05).The results showed statistically significant differences among groups for the maxillary linear measurements canine-molar and incisor-molar, but not for incisor-canine. No statistically significant differences were found regarding the side for the maxillary measurements, while the factor interaction showed similarity only for incisor-canine. The mandibular measurements showed no statistical differences among groups, sides, or factor interactions. In surface and volume, all values in patients with cleft presented lesser than in without cleft patients.Regardless of the rehabilitation, arch symmetry can be achieved in the incisor-canine dimension in the cleft area.

Chromosomal characterization of three species of Serrasalmini (Serrasalmidae: Characiformes).

The tribe Serrasalmini is a diverse group with paraphyletic genera and taxonomic uncertainties. Several studies have been carried out in this group of fish in order to understand this problem, including the cytogenetic approach. In this study, three species of a clade of Serrasalmini were characterized cytogenetically - Pristobrycon striolatus, Catoprion absconditus and Pygopristis denticulatus. The three species presented diploid number (2n) equal to 62 chromosomes, of one and two arms, with karyotypic formulas and species-specific fundamental numbers. Heterochromatin is centromeric and terminal (bi-telomeric) in most chromosomes, with a conspicuous interstitial block at pair 1 (m) in all three species. The nucleolar organizer regions were multiple and C-band positive, and their location was confirmed via 18S ribosomal DNA mapping; however, with additional sites. The 5S rDNA was located in interstitial region of long arm of pair 1 (m), in the three species (homeologous). Moreover, we observed synteny between 18S and 5S in the species C. absconditus and P. denticulatus, which, according to fiber-FISH, are interspersed. Thus, the maintenance of 2n (62) evidences the diversification of chromosomal formulas within the clade by non-Robertsonian rearrangements and reflects the paraphyly of the related species.

Bone Substitutes Graft for Regeneration of the Anterior Maxillary Alveolar Process: A Systematic Review.

The objective of this systematic review was to identify the available scientific evidence on bone substitutes (BSs) compared with autogenous bone grafts (ABGs) for regeneration of horizontal bone resorption in the anterior maxillary alveolar process, aiming at rehabilitation with endosseous implants. This review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines (2020) and registered in the database PROSPERO (CRD: 42017070574). The databases searched were PUBMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, SCIENCE DIRECT, WEB OF SCIENCE, and CENTRAL COCHRANE, in the English language. The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool were used to assess the study's quality and risk of bias. A total of 524 papers were found. After the selection process, 6 studies were selected for review. A total of 182 patients were followed for a period of 6 to 48 months. The mean age of patients was 46.46 years, and 152 implants were installed in the anterior region. Two studies achieved a reduced graft and implant failure rate, whereas the remaining 4 studies had no losses. It may be concluded that the use of ABGs and some BSs is a viable alternative for the rehabilitation with implants in individuals with anterior horizontal bone loss. However, additional randomized controlled trials are warranted due to the limited number of papers.

3D morphometric evaluation of the dental arches in children with cleft lip and palate submitted to different surgical techniques.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare dimensional alterations of dental arches in children with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate before and after different techniques of primary plastic surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample was divided into two groups: group 1-cheiloplasty by Millard's technique and one-stage palatoplasty by von Langenbeck's technique; group 2-cheiloplasty by Millard's technique and two-stage palatoplasty: anterior palatoplasty by Hans Pichler's technique and posterior palatoplasty by Sommerlad's technique. Dental arches were evaluated before (T1), after the first phase (T2), and 1 year after the second phase (T3) of primary surgeries. Linear measurements and palatal area were assessed. To analyze the method's error, interclass correlation coefficient was applied. ANOVA (followed by Tukey test), dependent, and independent t-test were used (p < 0.05). RESULTS: At T1, the intertuberosity distance was statistically greater in G2 (p = 0.004). At T2, the anterior length of the dental arch was statistically greater in G2 (p = 0.025), while the area of the smaller palatal segment (p = 0.001), cleft area (p = 0.014), and total area (p = 0.002) were statistically smaller in G2. At T3, the intertuberosity distance was statistically greater in G2 (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that cheiloplasty and one-stage palatoplasty resulted in smaller growth of maxilla than cheiloplasty and two-stage palatoplasty in the linear measurements (T-T' and I-CC') and total area of the dental arches. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgical protocols need to be evaluated to verify their effects aiming at improving the clinical practice of the interdisciplinary team, determining new parameters for the rehabilitation of individuals with cleft lip and palate.

Digital Volumetric Monitoring of Palate Growth in Children With Cleft Lip and Palate.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate longitudinally the volume of the dental arches in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate before and after the rehabilitative plastic surgeries. This is a longitudinal retrospective study was composed by 102 digitized dental casts of children with unilateral complete cleft lip (G1) and cleft lip and palate (G2). The palate volume was evaluated at 3 periods: preoperative (T1), postoperative 1 (T2), and postoperative 2 (T3). The intra- and inter-examiner reliability was analyzed by Wilcoxon test/Dahlberg formula and interclass correlation coefficient, respectively. The intragroup comparison was analyzed by Wilcoxon test and Friedman test followed by post-hoc Dunn test. Mann-Whitney test was applied for the intergroup comparison (α = 5%). G1 had a significant growth at T2 (P = 0.031). G2 demonstrated a positive development at T2, but decreased at T3 (P = 0.003). The intergroup analysis revealed that G2 showed a greater volume at T1 and T2 (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0024, respectively). T2-T1 exhibited no statistically significant difference (P = 0.262). In conclusion, there was a volumetric increase in the dental arches after cheiloplasty followed by a reduction after palatoplasty. Further investigations are necessary to validate the preliminary results of the present study.

Stereophotogrammetry to evaluate young adults with and without cleft lip and palate after orthodontic and restorative treatment.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Patients with cleft lip and palate generally present with lateral incisor agenesis, which may be treated with an implant-supported prosthesis. However, whether implants can stabilize the dental arches in patients with cleft lip and palate is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective clinical study was to analyze the stability of the maxillary dental arch after orthodontic treatment and oral rehabilitation in the cleft area with an implant-supported prosthesis or a fixed partial denture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-five participants, 20 with unilateral cleft lip and palate rehabilitated with implants (CLPI), 15 with unilateral cleft lip and palate rehabilitated with fixed partial dentures (CLPFP), and 20 in the noncleft group (NCLP) and their gypsum casts (N=110) were digitized and evaluated through 3D stereophotogrammetry. Measurements were made on casts obtained immediately after the orthodontic treatment (T1); for the cleft lip and palate group, casts were made 1 year after implant-supported restoration placement (T2), and for the noncleft group, 1 year after the conclusion of the orthodontic treatment (T2). The dimensions of the dental arches were measured digitally. Formula Δ=T2-T1 evaluated the stability of dental arches for intercanine distances, intermolar distances, arch length, palate surface, and volume (3D). Stability (Δ) was compared through 1-way ANOVA in all groups (α=.05). RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found in the stability of the CLPI and CLPFP groups for intercanine measurement (P=.002). For the intermolar measurement, a statistically significant difference was detected between the CLPFP and NCLP groups (P=.002). From the 3D measurements, the stability was similar in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with clefts, a fixed partial denture may provide better stability of the orthodontic outcomes than an implant-supported prosthesis. However, greater instability occurred at the molar area.

Quantifying the facial proportions in edentulous individuals before and after rehabilitation with complete dentures compared with dentate individuals: A 3D stereophotogrammetry study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Facial collapse is associated with edentulism, and while the provision of complete dentures promotes masticatory function and esthetics, whether complete dentures restore facial proportions to the natural appearance found in dental individuals is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to assess the facial profiles of edentulous individuals before and after treatment with complete dentures and compare these profiles with those of dentate individuals matched by age as the control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty White participants were recruited as 2 groups: 30 edentulous participants provided with complete dentures in both arches and 30 participants with natural teeth and normal occlusion. Facial analysis was performed through 3D stereophotogrammetry. Linear, angular, surface, and perimeter facial measurements were made and statistically analyzed with paired and independent t tests (α=.05). RESULTS: The mean age ±standard deviation was 63.16 ±7.33 years for the edentulous participants and 60.43 ±5.34 years for the dentate controls, without statistical differences between ages (P=.105). The facial profiles of the edentulous group with and without complete dentures were statistically different (P<.05) in 6 linear and 5 angular measurements. After quantifying the facial collapse by comparing edentulous individuals without complete dentures and the control dentate group, the results showed that the majority of differences occurred in the middle and lower third of the face, evidencing shortening in these areas with differences in facial measures of around 2 to 5 mm less in the edentulous group. However, statistically significant differences between the participants with complete dentures and the control dentate group were found in only 2 linear measurements (the distance between the right and the left exocanthion to cheilion), in the sealed lip angle and the left gonial angle, and in the surface and perimeter (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tooth loss affected the facial proportions in the lower third of the face. The provision of complete dentures restored their facial appearance but not precisely to the facial proportions of individuals with a natural dentition, as considerable differences were detected in surface and perimeter measurements.

Fixed partial dentures in adult patients with cleft lip and palate and their relationship with the quality of life: A cross-sectional clinical study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Reports on the impact of fixed partial denture treatments on the quality of life of patients with cleft lip and palate are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this cross-sectional clinical study was to assess the impact of fixed partial dentures on the quality of life of adults with cleft lip and palate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 52 participants (23 women and 29 men) with cleft lip and palate, aged between 20 and 50 years old, and who required treatment with fixed partial dentures were enrolled in the study. They responded to the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 questionnaire before and 30 days after the fixed prosthodontic treatment. The final value from the OHIP-14 was generated by totaling the 14 answers, giving a range from 0 to 56, with higher values indicating a worse relationship between oral health and the quality of life. Nonparametric statistical analysis was performed with the Wilcoxon test (α=.05). RESULTS: Forty-six participants reported some negative experience before the fixed partial denture, and 48 indicated an improved quality of life 30 days after delivery. All domains assessed showed significant quality of life improvements between the periods compared (P≤.014). CONCLUSIONS: Oral treatment with fixed partial dentures improved the quality of life in adults with cleft lip and palate.

Nanoparticle-modified PMMA to prevent denture stomatitis: a systematic review.

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the antifungal effectiveness of polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) modified by nanoparticles (NPs) and to compare it with conventional acrylic resins for denture bases. The present study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Searches were performed using PubMed, SCOPUS, SciELO, EMBASE, and LILACS. Eligibility criteria were as recommended by PRISMA. The studies presented great variability regarding NP type, synthesis method, antifungal evaluation method, and antifungal effect. The most commonly used NPs were silver (AgNP) and zinc oxide (ZnONP), ranging in size from 10 to 100 nm. The incorporation methods were mechanical or agitated. Despite PMMA modification by ZnONP being shown in vitro to be a combination with the best antifungal effect, future studies are still needed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration for Candida spp. and assess its biocompatibility before the protocol is clinically tested.

Arch Asymmetry in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate After Rehabilitation Treatment Using Stereophotogrammetry.

ABSTRACT: Arch asymmetry in cleft patients is a current problem that interdisciplinary treatment aims to solve. This research proposed to analyze the final rehabilitation, according to the arch symmetry of these patients. Thirty-five patients aged between 18 and 30 years, rehabilitated with a fixed partial denture or implants in the cleft area. The analysis was performed using digitalized dental casts with a laser model scanner (R700TM; 3Shape A/S, Holmens Kanal 7, 1060, Copenhagen/Denmark), analyzed with a Vectra Analysis Module software program (VECTRA H1; Canfield Scientific, 4 Wood Hollow Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054). Three linear measurements were evaluated, incisal-canine, canine-molar, and incisal-molar distance. The Student t test was applied to test the significance (P = 0.05) of an observed sample by correlation coefficient test (r-value). Female patients showed a significant correlation in arch symmetry. According to the rehabilitation treatment, patients who received implants showed a high correlation and significant symmetry at all maxillary distances. Finally, according to the cleft side in the maxillary dimensions, even though the majority of patients had clefts on the left side, only patients with a cleft on the right side showed symmetry in this area. Patients rehabilitated with implants in the cleft area showed a more symmetrical maxillary arch than those restored with fixed partial dentures.

Prospective cohort 3D study of dental arches in children with bilateral orofacial cleft: Assessment of volume and superimposition.

BACKGROUND: Cohort studies have evaluated dental arches of children. AIM: To evaluate the volumetric, linear, palatal surface area, and the dental arch superimposition of participants with bilateral complete cleft lip (BCL) and bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) surgically treated in a specialized hospital. DESIGN: One hundred and thirty six digitized dental models evaluated before cheiloplasty (T1), after cheiloplasty (T2), and after palatoplasty (T3). The stereophotogrammetry software analysed the volume, palate superimposition, linear, and area measurements. RESULTS: In BCL group, at T2, C-C', T-T', area, and volume significantly increased (P = .000, P < .000, P = .010 e P = .003, respectively). In BCLP group, the comparison T3 × T1 showed that C-C' decreased, whereas T-T' and the area increased (P < .000, P < .000, P = .000). The volume increased at T2, but decreased at T3 (P < .000) in participants with BCLP. The intergroup analysis revealed that C-C', T-T', I-C', and I-C were significantly smaller in participants with BCLP (P < .000, P = .016, P = .001 e P = .020, respectively), whereas the volume, superimposition, and area were statistically similar between groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The comparison between bilateral orofacial clefts showed reduction in the transversal and anteroposterior linear measurements, but not in the area and volume, which was confirmed by the superimposition of the dental arches.

Association between painful temporomandibular disorders and sleep quality: A systematic review.

This review aimed to systematically evaluate the association between painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and sleep quality in adults. Observational case-control studies using either RDC/TMD or DC/TMD for TMD diagnostic and validated questionnaires for sleep quality were selected by two reviewers in a two-phase process. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Grey literature (ProQuest, Google Scholar and OpenGrey). To be eligible, studies had to include adults (>18 years old), with no language, gender or time of publication restrictions. The quality of the papers was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Eight case-control studies were included, with high (4) and moderate (4) quality assessment. Seven studies reported a significant association between the presence of painful TMD and sleep quality (P < .05), while the other found impaired sleep in participants with higher sensitivity to heat pain (P < .001). When pain levels were concerned, using different pain scales, six studies found differences when compared to control groups. One study showed that in non-painful TMD, the PSQI values were not different when compared to the control group. An association exists between painful TMD and sleep quality. The presence of pain seems to strongly impact the sleep quality in TMD patients.

Assessment of dental arch stability after orthodontic treatment and oral rehabilitation in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate and non-clefts patients using 3D stereophotogrammetry.

BACKGROUND: Although arch stability has been studied in patients without a cleft, evidence for patients with a cleft is sparse. Therefore, we compared the dimensions and stability of dental arches in cleft lip and palate patients and those without a cleft. METHODS: Forty participants, 20 with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate and 20 non-cleft patients aged from 18 to 30 years, with anterior and/or posterior crossbite and receiving orthodontic treatment were evaluated retrospectively. Eighty gypsum casts were digitized using a laser model scanner casts for both groups made immediately after the orthodontic treatment was completed (T1). Also, for the Cleft Lip and Palate group, casts were obtained and digitized 1 year after implant-supported rehabilitation (T2) and for the Non-Cleft Lip and Palate group, 1 year after the conclusion of the orthodontic treatment (T2). The formula: Δ = T2-T1 evaluated the stability of dental arches for inter-canine distances (C-C'), inter-molar distances (M-M'), arch length (I-M), palate surface and volume. The dimensions of the dental arches were measured digitally. The independent t test was used for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). RESULTS: A statistical difference was found in the stability of the groups for inter-canine (cleft area) measurement. At the times T1 and T2, a statistically significant difference was found in the arch length, surface and volume. CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that in the Cleft Lip and Palate group, the maxillary dimensions were not stabilized after 1 year of orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment (mainly for the inter-canine linear measurement) and that the transverse arch dimensions were smaller compared with those of non-cleft patients.

Nonmetal clasp dentures: What is the evidence about their use?

The aim was to discuss the indications, contraindications, advantages, and disadvantages of Nonmetal clasp dentures (NMCDs), as well as the most relevant properties of its constituent materials. A search was conducted using the keywords: "nonmetal clasp dentures," "thermoplastic resin," "flexible resin removable partial denture," "polyamide," and "nylon" in databases PubMed/Medline, Lilacs, SciELO, and textbooks between 1955 and 2020. Theses and texts without reliable sources of publication were excluded. Once the analysis instruments were determined, the data were analyzed and discussed. NMCDs present high flexibility, easy adaptation to the abutments, color compatibility and biocompatibility with the oral mucosa, and absence of visible metal clasps. However, they need laboratory relining, grinding, and polishing, do not have criteria for its planning, become rougher and stained over time, and are able to traumatize supporting tissues. The association with metal components seems to be an alternative to increase the success of NMCDs by combining esthetics and biomechanical principles of conventional removable partial dentures. The lack of long-term clinical studies makes the professionals to rely solely on previous experiences or on the manufacturers' recommendations. It suggested that NMCDs must be indicated with caution when not used temporarily.