Angle Orthod. 2017 Jan;87(1):88-95. doi: 10.2319/020616-104.1. Epub 2016 Aug 10.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an objective assessment of the level of compliance in young patients prescribed various types of removable appliances and to determine the influence of device type, treatment duration, and patient age, gender, psychological maturity, and awareness of monitoring on compliance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients were fitted with either a class 2 (Frankel or bionator) or a class 3 (face mask) removable appliance, each bearing a compliance indicator chip, and they were instructed to wear them for 13 hours per day. Compliance was monitored by means of the sensor for an average of 8 months. Of the patients, 14 were informed that their appliance was fitted with a monitoring sensor, and 16 were not. The psychological maturity of all patients was assessed on the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale, and the effect on compliance of this score as well as the patient- and treatment-related variables considered were determined via statistical analysis Results: The mean compliance recorded by the chips was 8.6 ± 2.9 hours, far lower than the 13 hours prescribed, and younger patients showed significantly greater compliance than adolescents (P < .01). However, no significant differences in compliance were found between intra- and extraoral appliances, and neither gender, psychological scores, treatment duration, nor awareness of being monitored had any significant effect.

CONCLUSIONS: Compliance is generally very poor in young patients, regardless of their gender and psychological maturity. Although awareness of monitoring does not appear to boost compliance, such systems may be a valuable means of providing a dentist with objective information regarding their patients’ compliance.

PMID:27508935 | PMC:PMC8388593 | DOI:10.2319/020616-104.1

J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2016 Summer;30(3):249-54. doi: 10.11607/ofph.1616.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To determine whether there is a correlation between any psychological features and sleep bruxism (SB).

METHODS: A total of 36 healthy volunteers underwent an in-home evaluation with a portable device combining electromyographic (EMG) and electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings for the diagnosis of SB. They were administered questionnaires that assessed state and trait anxiety levels and coping strategies. The study hypothesis was that the SB index was significantly correlated with an individual’s anxiety and coping. Correlation between SB index and psychological features was assessed and a comparison between SB prevalences in subjects with different psychological scores was carried out.

RESULTS: Correlation analysis showed that the SB index was not correlated with any of the psychological scales; however, there were some significant correlations (r values range from 0.393 to 0.458) between the SB index and specific items from the trait anxiety and coping scales. Crosstabulations of subjects with SB and with high (overmedian) or low (undermedian) scores for the various psychological measures revealed significant correlations between the prevalence of SB in higher-scoring subjects for state anxiety scores (Phi coefficient = .456; P = .006), trait anxiety scores (Phi = 0.369; P = .027), and social support coping strategy (Phi = 0.387; P = .020).

CONCLUSION: These findings support the study hypothesis only in part and confirm the absence of a clear-cut relationship between SB and psychological features.

PMID:27472528 | DOI:10.11607/ofph.1616

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2016 Jul;150(1):105-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2015.12.021.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to confirm the efficacy of the Bolton index in a group of natural Class I white Italian patients with complete dentition, minimal crowding, and no previous orthodontic treatment, and to evaluate the mesiodistal tooth dimensions with multivariate cluster analysis.

METHODS: Tooth measurements were obtained from a sample of 56 patients with normal occlusion, with a normal Bolton index (22 men, 34 women; mean age, 27.8 years), without previous orthodontic treatment or prosthetic or Class II restorations. Maxillary and mandibular measurements were analyzed separately in the sexes. Clustering was performed using the partitioning around medoid algorithm and principal component analysis-based transformed data. Statistical analysis was conducted.

RESULTS: The multivariate analysis showed 3 distinct clusters of both maxillary and mandibular tooth measurements in the male and female subjects. Statistically significant differences were found between the sexes in terms of average tooth measurements, and there was significant proportionality between the maxillary and mandibular arch clusters.

CONCLUSION: Although the Bolton index is useful for identifying dentodental discrepancies in most patients, cluster analysis enabled the mandibular and maxillary tooth dimensions of the male and female subjects to be divided into 3 general classes (clusters) and the precise location of the discrepancies to be pinpointed.

PMID:27364212 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajodo.2015.12.021

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2017 Feb;151(2):237-238. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2016.11.013.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:28153147 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajodo.2016.11.013

J Orofac Orthop. 2017 May;78(3):253-258. doi: 10.1007/s00056-016-0079-4. Epub 2017 Jan 13.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the presence of asymmetric molar or canine Angle classes on the two sides and the presence of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants to the study were divided into two groups: TMD group (90 patients) or a control group (58 patients). In the TMD group, clinical assessment for TMD was performed according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) guidelines by the same two trained examiners. In both groups, all subjects underwent an assessment of dental occlusion, focusing on the assessment of bilateral canine and molar Angle class relationship. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Padova, and each participant gave written consent to take part in the investigation.

RESULTS: TMJ pain was diagnosed in 58, disk displacement in 96, arthrosis in 17, and muscle pain in 46 individuals. Molar Angle class was symmetrical in 86 individuals and asymmetrical in 62 subjects. Molar Angle class was not correlated with any of the TMD diagnoses. Canine Angle class was correlated with TMJ arthrosis. Correlation values with the other TMD diagnoses were low and were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: It can be suggested that an association between dental Angle class asymmetry and TMDs does not exist and that the role of dental asymmetries as a factor correlated with the presence of TMD signs and symptoms is minimal.

PMID:28084514 | DOI:10.1007/s00056-016-0079-4

J Clin Orthod. 2016 Oct;50(10):623-633.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:27888656

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2016 Nov;150(5):723. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2016.07.013.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:27871693 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajodo.2016.07.013

Prog Orthod. 2016 Dec;17(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s40510-016-0151-z. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanical properties of the screws used for rapid expansion of the upper jaw.

METHODS: Ten types of expansion screw were assessed, seven with four arms: Lancer Philosophy 1, Dentaurum Hyrax Click Medium, Forestadent Anatomic Expander type “S”, Forestadent Anatomic Expander type “S” for narrow palates, Forestadent Memory, Leone A 2620-10 with telescopic guide, and Leone A 0630-10 with orthogonal arms; and three with two arms: Dentaurum Variety S.P., Target Baby REP Veltri, and Leone A 362113. A test expander with the mean dimensions taken from measurements on a sample of 100 expanders was constructed for each screw. The test expanders were connected to the supports of an Instron 4467 (Instron Corp., USA) mechanical testing machine equipped with a 500 N load cell, and the compression force exerted after each activation was measured. The mean forces expressed by the two- and four-arm expanders were then compared.

RESULTS: After five activations, the forces expressed by the two-arm devices were double than those expressed by the four-arm devices on average (224 ± 59.9 N vs. 103 ± 32.9 N), and such values remained high after subsequent activations.

CONCLUSIONS: The expanders tested demonstrated stiffness characteristics compatible with opening of the palatine sutures in pre-adolescent patients. The stiffness of such devices can be further increased during the construction phase.

PMID:27747528 | PMC:PMC5124561 | DOI:10.1186/s40510-016-0151-z

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2018 Feb;153(2):262-268. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2017.06.022.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to describe the skeletal and dentoalveolar changes in a group of growing skeletal Class III patients treated with hybrid rapid palatal expansion and facemask.

METHODS: Twenty-eight growing patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion were treated using a rapid maxillary expander with hybrid anchorage according to the ALT-Ramec protocol (SKAR III; E.P.), followed by 4 months of facemask therapy. Palatal miniscrew placement was accomplished via digital planning and the construction of a high-precision, individualized surgical guide. Pretreatment and posttreatment cephalometric tracings were analyzed, comparing dental and skeletal measurements.

RESULTS: Point A advanced by a mean of 3.4 mm with respect to the reference plane Vert-T. The mandibular plane rotated clockwise, improving the ANB (+3.41°) and the Wits appraisal (+4.92 mm). The maxillary molar had slight extrusion (0.42 mm) and mesialization (0.87 mm).

CONCLUSIONS: The use of a hybrid-anchorage expander followed by 4 months of facemask treatment improves the skeletal Class III relationship with minimal dental effects, even in older patients (mean age, 11 years 4 months, ± 2.5 years).

PMID:29407504 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajodo.2017.06.022

Cranio. 2019 May;37(3):147-152. doi: 10.1080/08869634.2018.1431600. Epub 2018 Jan 29.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the association between possible sleep bruxism (SB) and awake bruxism (AB) with sleep characteristics and chronotype (i.e. circadian cycle preference).

METHODS: One-hundred-nineteen young adults filled out a self-reported questionnaire to assess SB and AB, a questionnaire about daily life aspects, as well as the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) to profile chronotype.

RESULTS: The frequency of self-reported SB and AB was 25.2% and 37.0%, respectively. Both SB and AB were significantly more frequent in females than males. Most participants had an intermediate chronotype profile (n = 85; 71.4%). Neither SB (p = 0.556) nor AB (p = 0.334) were associated with chronotype. Nightmares were more prevalent among individuals with possible SB (38.3%). Difficulty concentrating in daily activities was more frequently reported among individuals with AB (51.9%).

CONCLUSION: There was no association between possible SB and AB or the chronotype profiles among Italian dental students.

PMID:29376478 | DOI:10.1080/08869634.2018.1431600