Visual acuity of dentists in their respective clinical conditions.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the impact of age and magnification on the near visual acuity of dentists in their private practice under simulated clinical conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Miniaturized visual tests were fixed in posterior teeth of a dental phantom head and brought to 31 dentists in their respective private practice. The visual acuity of these dentists (n = 19, ≥40 years; n = 12, <40 years) was measured in a clinical setting under the following conditions: (a) natural visual acuity, distance of 300 mm; (b) natural visual acuity, free choice of the distance; and (c) loupe and additional light source, if available. RESULTS The visual acuity under the different clinical conditions varied widely between individuals. The older group of dentists had a lower median visual acuity value under all clinical conditions. This difference was highly significant for natural visual acuity at a free choice of distance (p < 0.0001). For younger dentists (<40 years), visual acuity could be significantly improved by reducing the eye-object distance (p = 0.001) or by using loupes (p = 0.008). For older dentists (≥40 years), visual acuity could be significantly improved by using loupes (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS Visual performance decreased with increasing age under the specific clinical conditions of each dentist's private practice. Magnification aids can compensate for visual deficiencies. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The question of whether findings obtained under standardized conditions are valuable for the habitual setting of each dentist's private practice seems clinically relevant

Visual acuity of dentists under simulated clinical conditions

Objectives: This study examined the near visual acuity of dentists in relation to age and magnification under simulated clinical conditions. Materials and methods: Miniaturized visual tests were performed in posterior teeth of a dental phantom head in a simulated clinical setting (dental chair, operating lamp, dental mirror). The visual acuity of 40 dentists was measured under the following conditions: (1) natural visual acuity, distance of 300mm; (2) natural visual acuity, free choice of distance; (3) Galilean loupes, magnification of ×2.5; (4) Keplerian loupes, ×4.3; (5) operating microscope, ×4, integrated light; (6) operating microscope, ×6.4, integrated light. Results: The visual acuity varied widely between individuals and was significantly lower in the group ≥40years of age (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found between all tested conditions (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a correlation between visual acuity and age was found for all conditions. The performance with the microscope was better than with loupes even with comparable magnification factors. Some dentists had a better visual acuity without optical aids than others with Galilean loupes. Conclusions: Near visual acuity under simulated clinical conditions varies widely between individuals and decreases throughout life. Visual deficiencies can be compensated for with optical aids. Clinical relevance: Newly developed miniaturized vision tests have allowed, in a clinically relevant way, to evaluate the influence of magnification and age on the near visual acuity of dentist

Facial attractiveness of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate and of controls assessed by laypersons and professionals

SUMMARYOBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to identify differences in the aesthetic evaluation of profile and frontal photographs of (1) patients treated for complete left-sided cleft lip and palate and (2) control patients by laypeople and professionals. MATERIALS, SUBJECTS, AND METHODS: Left-side profile and frontal photographs of 20 adult patients treated for complete left-sided cleft lip and palate (10 men, 10 women, mean age: 20.5 years) and of 10 control patients with a class I occlusion (five men, five women, mean age: 22.1 years) were included in the study. The post-treatment photographs were evaluated by 15 adult laypeople, 14 orthodontists, and 10 maxillofacial surgeons. Each photograph was judged on a modified visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-10; 0 ‘very unattractive' to 10 ‘very attractive'). A four-level mixed model was fitted in which the VAS score was the dependent variable; cases, profession, view, and rater were independent variables. RESULTS: Compared with laypersons, orthodontists gave higher VAS scores (+0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.53, 0.84]; P < 0.001), followed by surgeons (+0.21, 95% CI [0.03, 0.38], P = 0.02). Controls were given significantly higher scores than patients with clefts for profile and frontal photographs (+1.97, 95% CI [1.60; 2.35], P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the scores for the frontal and lateral views (P = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: All the different rater panels were less satisfied with the facial aesthetics of patients with clefts compared with that of control patients. Further research should evaluate whether these findings correlate with patients' self-perception and to what extent it affects the patients' psychosocial well-bein

Visual acuity of dentists in their respective clinical conditions

Objectives: This study examined the impact of age and magnification on the near visual acuity of dentists in their private practice under simulated clinical conditions. Materials and methods: Miniaturized visual tests were fixed in posterior teeth of a dental phantom head and brought to 31 dentists in their respective private practice. The visual acuity of these dentists (n = 19, ≥40years; n = 12, <40years) was measured in a clinical setting under the following conditions: (a) natural visual acuity, distance of 300mm; (b) natural visual acuity, free choice of the distance; and (c) loupe and additional light source, if available. Results: The visual acuity under the different clinical conditions varied widely between individuals. The older group of dentists had a lower median visual acuity value under all clinical conditions. This difference was highly significant for natural visual acuity at a free choice of distance (p < 0.0001). For younger dentists (<40years), visual acuity could be significantly improved by reducing the eye-object distance (p = 0.001) or by using loupes (p = 0.008). For older dentists (≥40years), visual acuity could be significantly improved by using loupes (p = 0.0005). Conclusions: Visual performance decreased with increasing age under the specific clinical conditions of each dentist's private practice. Magnification aids can compensate for visual deficiencies. Clinical relevance: The question of whether findings obtained under standardized conditions are valuable for the habitual setting of each dentist's private practice seems clinically relevant

Final Posttreatment Occlusion in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Objective: To evaluate final posttreatment occlusion in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (cUCLP) by comparing (1) 3 treatment centers, (2) males and females, (3) cleft and noncleft sides, (4) right- and left-sided clefts, and (5) orthodontic treatment with/without orthognathic surgery (OS). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Patients: Blinded posttreatment dental casts of 56 patients (19.4 ± 1.4 years) with cUCLP from 3 centers in Switzerland. Main outcome measure: Occlusal assessment using the modified Huddart/Bodenham (MHB) index. Results: Our sample comprised 35 males and 21 females, 46 with left- and 10 with right-sided clefts, of which 32 had undergone OS. The final posttreatment occlusion showed a median MHB score of 0 (interquartile range: -1.0 to 2.0) in the total sample and did not seem to depend on treatment center, sex, or OS. The MHB scores for the anterior buccal and the buccal segments were more negative on the cleft than on the noncleft side (P = .002 and P = .006, respectively). When the cleft was on the left side, the MHB score tended to be more positive in the labial (P = .046) and anterior buccal segments (P = .034). Conclusions: This study shows a very satisfactory final posttreatment occlusion in patients with cUCLP. The more constricted buccal occlusion on the cleft side emphasizes the attention that should be given in correcting the more medially positioned lesser maxillary segment. The influence of cleft-sidedness should be analyzed further on a sample including more patients with right-sided clefts. Keywords: Treatment outcome; cleft lip and palate; crossbite; dental arch relationships; dental occlusion; final post-treatment; multicentre study

Visual acuity of dentists under simulated clinical conditions

OBJECTIVES This study examined the near visual acuity of dentists in relation to age and magnification under simulated clinical conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Miniaturized visual tests were performed in posterior teeth of a dental phantom head in a simulated clinical setting (dental chair, operating lamp, dental mirror). The visual acuity of 40 dentists was measured under the following conditions: (1) natural visual acuity, distance of 300 mm; (2) natural visual acuity, free choice of distance; (3) Galilean loupes, magnification of ×2.5; (4) Keplerian loupes, ×4.3; (5) operating microscope, ×4, integrated light; (6) operating microscope, ×6.4, integrated light. RESULTS The visual acuity varied widely between individuals and was significantly lower in the group ≥40 years of age (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found between all tested conditions (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a correlation between visual acuity and age was found for all conditions. The performance with the microscope was better than with loupes even with comparable magnification factors. Some dentists had a better visual acuity without optical aids than others with Galilean loupes. CONCLUSIONS Near visual acuity under simulated clinical conditions varies widely between individuals and decreases throughout life. Visual deficiencies can be compensated for with optical aids. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Newly developed miniaturized vision tests have allowed, in a clinically relevant way, to evaluate the influence of magnification and age on the near visual acuity of dentists

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its 'Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles', which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly

The impact of rapid palatal expansion on children’s general health: a literature review

Aim The original indication for rapid palatal expansion was to treat skeletal maxillary constriction. As positive effects were clinically proven, the number of indications for rapid palatal expansion has continuously grown. The purpose of the present article was to review the literature and to evaluate the effect of rapid palatal expansion on nose breathing, natural head position, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, nocturnal enuresis and conductive hearing loss. Conclusion It can be concluded that rapid palatal expansion is predominantly recommended in children with maxillary constriction. In those with normal occlusion, maxillary expansion can be considered as the really last choice of treatment when other treatment options in patients with nose breathing, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), nocturnal enuresis and conductive hearing loss (CHL) have failed. Therefore, collaboration between paediatricians, otolaryngologists, paediatric dentists and orthodontists will lead to the best treatment outcomes in the future

Enamel surface roughness after lingual bracket debonding: an In vitro study

The aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess changes in enamel roughness parameters before and after lingual bracket debonding. The lingual surface of 25 sound premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons was studied by 3D optical interferometric profilometry before and after debonding of lingual brackets following enamel finishing (with fine diamond) and polishing (with 12- and 20-fluted carbide burs). The roughness parameters tested were the amplitude parameters Sa and Sz, the hybrid parameter Sdr, and the functional parameters Sc and Sv. The parameter differences (after debonding-reference) were calculated, and statistical analysis was performed via a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Statistically significantly higher values were observed in all the surface roughness parameters of enamel surfaces after finishing and polishing, with the mostly affected parameter being the Sdr. Under the conditions of the present study, the finishing and polishing instruments used after debonding of lingual noncustomized brackets created a surface texture rougher than the control in all the tested roughness parameters