Prog Orthod. 2017 Dec;18(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s40510-017-0178-9. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The orthodontics industry has paid great attention to the aesthetics of orthodontic appliances, seeking to make them as invisible as possible. There are several advantages to clear aligner systems, including aesthetics, comfort, chairside time reduction, and the fact that they can be removed for meals and oral hygiene procedures.

METHODS: Five patients were each given a series of F22 aligners, each to be worn for 14 days and nights, with the exception of meal and brushing times. Patients were instructed to clean each aligner using a prescribed strategy, and sections of the used aligners were observed under SEM. One grey-scale SEM image was saved per aligner in JPEG format with an 8-bit colour depth, and a total of 45 measurements on the grey scale (“Value” variable) were made. This dataset was analysed statistically via repeated measures ANOVA to determine the effect of each of the nine cleaning strategies in each of the five patients.

RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in the efficacy of the cleaning strategies was detected. Specifically, rinsing with water alone was significantly less efficacious, and a combination of cationic detergent solution and ultrasonication was significantly more efficacious than the other methods (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Of the nine cleaning strategies examined, only that involving 5 min of ultrasonication at 42 k Hz combined with a 0.3% germicidal cationic detergent was observed to be statistically effective at removing the bacterial biofilm from the surface of F22 aligners.

PMID:28782094 | PMC:PMC5592163 | DOI:10.1186/s40510-017-0178-9

J Clin Orthod. 2017 Apr;51(4):198-207.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:28652504

Prog Orthod. 2018 Sep 1;19(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s40510-018-0221-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To describe an esthetic orthodontic treatment using aligners in an adult patient with class II subdivision associated with crowding and dental crossbite. An 18-year-old hyperdivergent male patient with skeletal class II from mandibular retrusion presented for an orthodontic treatment. Occlusally, the patient presents class II subdivision, crossbite at tooth 4.4, an upper midline deviated towards the left with respect to the lower and facial midlines, and slight crowding in both arches. The patient refused conventional fixed multibracket treatment in favor of aligners. Pre- and post-treatment records as well as 1-year follow-up records are presented.

FINDINGS: Treatment objectives were achieved in 12 months, and the patient was satisfied with the functional and esthetic outcomes, which were stable at 1 year.

CONCLUSION: Combining aligners with appropriate auxiliaries is an efficacious means of resolving orthodontic issues such as class II, dental crossbite, and crowding in a time-frame comparable to that of conventional fixed orthodontics. Furthermore, this system is associated with optimal oral hygiene and excellent esthetics.

PMID:30171391 | PMC:PMC6119177 | DOI:10.1186/s40510-018-0221-5

Cranio. 2020 May;38(3):158-167. doi: 10.1080/08869634.2018.1507094. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the association between volumetric measurements of craniofacial morphology and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Methods: Computerized tomography (CT) scans of 20 individuals aged 18 to 40 with (TMD group) or without TMJ pain (control group) were gathered based on a case-control design. Three-dimensional reconstructions were performed to evaluate the gonial angle, condylar volume, and the distance between the posterior edge of the condyle and the sigmoid notch. Results: The gonial angle was significantly larger (8% difference) in the TMD group with respect to controls, whereas the condylar volume was significantly higher in the control group (15.2% difference). No significant difference was found in the linear distance. Conclusion: There is an association between the presence of TMJ pain and some features of craniofacial morphology. Individuals with TMJ pain have a lower condylar volume and a tendency towards hyperdivergent growth.

PMID:30105940 | DOI:10.1080/08869634.2018.1507094

Prog Orthod. 2018 Jul 23;19(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40510-018-0228-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate if invisible orthodontic retainers can affect sleep-time masticatory muscle activity (sMMA) over a short-term period in healthy individuals.

METHODS: Nineteen (N = 19) healthy subjects underwent an in-home evaluation with a portable device for electromyographic (EMG) assessment. The study protocol provided two baseline recording nights, a night off, and then two additional nights with passive customized orthodontic retainers in situ. For each recording night, the sleep bruxism (SB) index (i.e., average number of SB events/hour) and the overall number of masseter muscle contractions were assessed. Comparison between values gathered over the four recording nights was made with a parametric test, based on the null hypothesis that there was no difference between wearing or not wearing the retainers as far as the sMMA variables are concerned.

RESULTS: Average SB index of the first two nights without the retainers was 3.0 ± 1.5, whilst the average values with the retainers in situ was 3.6 ± 1.9. ANOVA test showed the absence of significant differences between the four nights. Similarly, no differences were shown between the four nights as for the total number of sMMA events. Based on that, the null hypothesis was not rejected.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest the absence of relevant effects of invisible orthodontic retainers on sMMA in healthy individuals during the short-term period.

PMID:30033479 | PMC:PMC6055222 | DOI:10.1186/s40510-018-0228-y

J Clin Orthod. 2018 May;52(5):284-296.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:29952765

Angle Orthod. 2018 Sep;88(5):649-664. doi: 10.2319/111617-790.1. Epub 2018 May 1.

ABSTRACT

This case report describes the use of a miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander and aligners to correct bilateral cross-bite and crowding in an adult patient with a Class III skeletal pattern. A digitally designed surgical guide was three-dimensionally printed and used to accurately insert four miniscrews into the palate; these were employed to anchor a novel miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander appliance without any dental anchorage. Cone-beam computed tomograms before and after miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander treatment demonstrated the orthopedic expansion of the maxilla without dental tipping. The patient was then fitted with aligners to correct crowding and malocclusion. This case report demonstrates the successful treatment of an adult patient with a narrow maxilla and bilateral cross-bite using a nonsurgical, conservative treatment.

PMID:29714067 | PMC:PMC8183134 | DOI:10.2319/111617-790.1

Eur J Orthod. 2019 Aug 8;41(4):434-443. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjy076.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Low-frequency vibrations have been proposed as a means of accelerating tooth movement and reducing orthodontic treatment times.

OBJECTIVE: To determine any differences in the accuracy of dental movement in patients treated with a low-frequency vibration aligner protocol and/or by reducing the aligner replacement interval with respect to a conventional protocol.

DESIGN: This trial was designed as a single-centre, randomized controlled clinical trial.

METHODS: Participants: Patients (aged 27.1 ± 9.0 years) who required orthodontic treatment with aligners. Randomization: Patients were randomly allocated to three arms as determined by a computer-randomization scheme. Group A were assigned a conventional protocol (aligners replaced every 14 days); group B also used a low-frequency vibration device for 20 minutes per day; group C followed the same vibration protocol but replaced their aligners every 7 days. Blinding: The operator who performed the set-up and the one who analysed the data were blinded to the group of the patients. Outcome: Pre- and post-treatment digital models were analysed using VAM software to identify the accuracy/imprecision of dental movements. One-way analysis of variance (P < 0.05) and the Bonferroni post hoc test were used to identify any statistically significant differences between the three arms in terms of the accuracy of tooth movement versus the prescription.

RESULTS: Numbers analysed: A total of 45 patients (15 for group) were analysed (i.e. 2286 dental movements). Outcome: No statistically significant differences emerged between groups A and C in the upper arch, or among groups A, B, and C in the lower. Group B displayed significantly greater accuracy with respect to group A in upper incisor rotation (P = 0.016), and to group C in vestibulolingual (P = 0.007) and mesiodistal tipping (P = 0.029) of the upper canines, and vestibulolingual tipping of the upper molars (P = 0.0001). Harms: No adverse events or side-effects were registered.

CONCLUSIONS: Considering all tooth and movement types of the 45 participants, the mean total imprecision was 2.1 ± 0.9 degrees, with respect to a mean prescription of 5.7 ± 2.2 degrees. There was no difference in accuracy between replacing the aligners accompanied by low-frequency vibration every 7 days and replacing them every 14 days without vibration. Moreover, low-frequency vibration seemed to improve the accuracy of a conventional protocol in terms of upper incisor rotation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The German Clinical Trials Register (DRK00015613).

PMID:30423130 | DOI:10.1093/ejo/cjy076

Angle Orthod. 2020 Mar;90(2):305-313. doi: 10.2319/080218-559.1. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

ABSTRACT

This case shows that using a rapid palatal expander (RPE) and then a pendulum appliance anchored to palatal miniscrews is an option for improving treatment management in a noncompliant patient requiring maxillary expansion and molar distalization in the late mixed dentition. First, an RPE was used to expand the maxillary arch. Then, a modified pendulum appliance was used to distalize the maxillary first permanent molars. Optimal positioning of two palatal miniscrews enabled both appliances to be supported by skeletal anchorage. Treatment was finished using multibracket fixed appliances, and after 2 years, skeletal Class I as well as dental Class I canine and molar relationships were achieved.

PMID:30860863 | PMC:PMC8051236 | DOI:10.2319/080218-559.1

J Clin Exp Dent. 2019 Jan 1;11(1):e97-e102. doi: 10.4317/jced.55399. eCollection 2019 Jan.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy of a multibracket appliance-Straight-wire Mirabella (SWM) prescription-in terms of achieving the ideal first-, second- and third-order values proposed by Andrews.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total sample of 46 Caucasian subjects was divided into two groups: 23 with class I malocclusion (Group 1), and 23 with class II malocclusion (Group 2). The treatment protocol involved fixed multibracket appliances-SWM prescription-for both groups, with the addition of class II elastics for Group 2. Values for ΔU1-PP, ΔIMPA, in-out, tip and torque were measured on digital scans, and the results obtained were compared with the ideal values proposed by Andrews.

RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were revealed between the entire sample and Andrews’ values for: in-out on upper lateral incisors and upper canines; tip on the upper first premolars, upper second premolars, upper first molars and upper canines; and torque on the lower central incisors, lower lateral incisors, lower canines and lower first premolars. However, comparison of Groups 1 and 2 revealed statistically significant differences only at the lower lateral incisors. The use of class II elastics influenced ΔIMPA values, but not ΔU1-PP.

CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of the multibracket appliance-SWM prescription-in expressing first- second- and, to a lesser extent, third-order information was demonstrated in both class I and class II malocclusions. Class II elastics only influenced the third-order expression on the lower lateral incisors and the ΔIMPA. Key words:Straight wire fixed appliances, prescription efficacy, Class I malocclusions, Class II malocclusions.

PMID:30697401 | PMC:PMC6343997 | DOI:10.4317/jced.55399