Accuracy of thermal microsensors embedded in orthodontic retainers of different material composition and thickness: An in vitro study

Objectives: The present research aimed to assess the accuracy and precision of the TheraMon® microsensor embedded in different thicknesses of Hawley retainers (HR) for comparison with vacuum formed retainers (VFR)

A quantitative three-dimensional comparative study of alveolar bone changes and apical root resorption between clear aligners and fixed orthodontic appliances.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the alveolar bone changes and to investigate the prevalence and severity of orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR) of maxillary incisors in patients who received treatment with clear aligners (CA) versus conventional fixed appliances (FA), using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). One hundred sixty maxillary incisors from 40 patients with similar baseline characteristics based on the American Board of Orthodontics discrepancy index scores were divided into the CA and FA groups. The dentoalveolar quantitative changes were analyzed using pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1) CBCT. The measured parameters included alveolar bone thickness (ABT), alveolar bone height (ABH), root length (OIIRR), and maxillary incisor inclinations. Post-treatment, the average palatal and total ABT significantly decreased in central and lateral incisors in the FA group. In contrast, the CA group's average labial ABT of the lateral incisors decreased considerably. Regarding the ABH, both groups showed significant labial and palatal marginal bone resorption. In both groups, root lengths significantly decreased after treatment (p < 0.005). The inter-group comparison revealed that ABT and root length had significantly decreased in the FA group compared to the CA group, while the ABH showed no significant difference between the two groups. The mean absolute reductions of ABT and OIIRR in the CA group were significantly less (- 0.01 ± 0.89 and 0.31 ± 0.42) than those in the FA group (0.20 ± 0.82 and 0.68 ± 0.97), respectively. CA and FA treatments appear to cause a significant ABT reduction and a statistically significant increased OIIRR in the maxillary incisor region, with a greater extent expected with FA treatment. However, the increased OIIRR values in the majority of both groups' cases were not clinically significant. Both treatment modalities resulted in a significant ABH reduction, with the highest found in the labial side of lateral incisors in the CA group

Impact of relaxing incisions on maxillofacial growth following Sommerlad–Furlow modified technique in patients with isolated cleft palate: a preliminary comparative study

Abstract Objective To estimate the impact of relaxing incisions on maxillofacial growth following Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique in patients with isolated cleft palate. Study design A Retrospective Cohort Study. Methods A total of 90 participants, 60 patients with non-syndromic isolated soft and hard cleft palate underwent primary palatoplasty (30 patients received the Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique without relaxing incision (S.F−RI group), and 30 received Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique with relaxing (S.F+RI group) with no significant difference found between them regarding the cleft type, cleft width, and age at repair. While the other 30 were healthy noncleft participants with skeletal class I pattern as a Control group. The control group (C group) was matched with the patient groups in number, age, and sex. All participants had lateral cephalometric radiographs at least 5 years old age. The lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken with the same equipment by the same experienced radiologist while the participants were in centric occlusion and a standardized upright position, with the transporionic axis and Frankfort horizontal plane parallel to the surface of the floor. A well-trained assessor (S. Elayah) used DOLPHIN Imaging Software to trace twice to eliminate measurement errors. All the study variables were measured using stable landmarks, including 12 linear and 10 angular variants. Results The mean age at collection of cephalograms was 6.03 ± 0.80 in the S.F+RI group, 5.96 ± 0.76 in the S.F−RI group, and 5.91 ± 0.87 in the C group. Regarding cranial base, the results showed no statistically significant differences between the three groups in S–N and S–N-Ba. While the S.F+R.I group had a significantly shortest S-Ba than the S.F−R.I & C groups (P = 0.01 & P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between S.F−R.I & C groups (P = 0.71). Regarding the skeletal maxilla, there was no significant difference between the S.F+R.I and S.F−R.I groups in all linear measurements (N-ANS and S-PM) except Co-A, the S.F+R.I group had significantly shorter Co-A than the S.F−R.I & C groups (P =  < 0.01). While the angular measurement, S.F+R.I group had significantly less SNA angle than the S.F−R.I & C groups (P =  < 0.01). Regarding mandibular bone, there were no statistically significant differences in all linear and angular mandibular measurements between the S.F+R.I and S.F−R.I.groups. Regarding intermaxillary relation, the S.F+R.I group had significant differences in Co-Gn—Co-A and ANB compared to the S.F−R.I & C groups (P =  < 0.01). While there was no statistically significant difference in PP-MP between the three groups. Conclusion As a preliminary report, the Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique without relaxing incisions was found to have a good maxillary positioning in the face and a satisfactory intermaxillary relationship compared to the Sommerlad-Furlow modified technique with relaxing incisions