Family Functions and Life Quality of Parents of Children With Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to identify variables affecting family functions and life quality of parents with cleft lip and/or palate children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Family Assesment Scale (FAS) and short form of World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF-TR) were used to measure family functions and life quality of parents. Questionnaire Forms were given to 146 parents: 74 having cleft lip and/or palate children (cleft-group), and the other 72 with healthy children (control-group). Parents were divided into 3 subgroups according to children's age as 0 to 6, 7 to 12, and 13 to 18 years. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to evaluate differences between the groups. RESULTS: Behavior of cleft patients' parents was found to be problematic in behavioral control, required attention and role areas at 0 to 6 years, required attention area at ages 7 to 12 and 13 to 18 years. When compared to control group, significant differences were detected in required attention at ages 0 to 6 years, problem-solving, and communication areas at 7 to 12 years. Findings of life quality were found to be over medium level in physical, social, psychological and environmental areas in cleft group at all age groups; however, life quality was found better in control group in physical, psychological, and social subtests at age 13 to 18 years. CONCLUSION: Cleft children influence family functions in behavioral control, required attention and role areas at early childhood, and continue to affect required attention through adolescence. Also social, physical, and psychological fields of life quality were found lower in cleft parents compared to control group at adolescence.

Effects of Angle class II correction with the Forsus fatigue resistant device on mandibular third molars : A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The goal was to evaluate the effects of Angle class II malocclusion treatment using the Forsus fatigue resistant device (FRD, 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA) on the position and angulation of mandibular third molars and retromolar space. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 58 class II patients (mean age 13.6 ± 1.8 years) treated with the FRD (FRD group) were compared with 51 class I patients (mean age 13.5 ± 1.6 years) who underwent orthodontic treatment (control group). A total of 109 mandibular third molars in the FRD group and 91 in the control group were evaluated. Changes in the retromolar space, angulation of the second (É£) and third molars (ß), and the angle between these teeth (α) were assessed with panoramic radiographs taken at the beginning and the end of the treatment. Data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, there were significant increases in É£ and ß in the FRD group and É£ in the control group (p < 0.05). The decrease in α in the FRD group and increase in the control group were not significant (p > 0.05); however, this change led to a small significant change between the groups (p < 0.05). The retromolar space significantly increased in the FRD group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between retromolar space and third molar uprighting in any of the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Class II correction with FRD led to mesialization of the lower arch which provided an increase in the retromolar space. Little improvement in the uprighting of the third molars occurred.

Treatment effects of the Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device used with miniscrew anchorage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dentofacial effects of the Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FRD) used with miniscrew anchorage (FRDMS) and compare them with those of conventional FRD and an untreated Class II control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 48 Class II subjects. Sixteen patients (13.68 ± 1.09 years of age) were treated with FRDMS, whereas 17 subjects (14.64 ± 1.56 years of age) were treated with only FRD. Also, a control sample of 15 untreated Class II subjects (14.13 ± 1.50 years of age) was constructed. Angular and linear measurements were made on 96 lateral cephalograms. Paired t, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Class I molar relationship and overjet correction were achieved in an average period of 6.5 ± 1.97 and 5.5 ± 1.80 months in the FRDMS and FRD groups, respectively. No skeletal effect was determined in both treatment groups. Greater overbite correction was found in the FRD group. Retrusion and extrusion of maxillary incisors, distalization of maxillary molars, and extrusion of mandibular molars were significant in both treatment groups. Labial tipping of mandibular incisors was significantly greater in the FRD group than in the FRDMS group. CONCLUSION: Overjet and molar correction was totally dentoalveolar. Unfavorable labial tipping of mandibular incisors was effectively minimized with the usage of miniscrews.