Prevalence of Maxillary Permanent Canine Impaction in Relation to Anomalous Lateral Incisors

Objective:The aim of this study was to document the prevalence of maxillary permanent canine impaction in relation to anomalous adjacent lateral incisors in a Turkish population.Materials and MethodsPretreatment orthodontic records of 68 subjects (27 male, 41 female) with palatal or buccal impaction of one or both permanent maxillary canines were included in this study. Localization of the impacted permanent canines was determined by using cone-beam computed tomography images and classified as buccal or palatal impaction. Maxillary lateral incisors were recorded as normal, small, peg shaped, impacted, or missing using 3-dimensional digital models. The percentage of the total sample in each group was calculated, and the significance of the relationship between canine impaction and anomalous lateral incisors was examined with the Pearson v2 test at a significance level of 0.05.Results:The overall prevalence of peg-shaped maxillary permanent lateral incisors was found to be 18.3%. Impaction of the maxillary canine was 5.18 times more common in females than males, and palatal canine impaction was almost 1.27 times more common than the buccal impaction.Conclusion:Palatally impacted maxillary permanent canines were more common than buccally impacted canines and occurred more often in female subjects. Also, the prevalence of maxillary canine impaction in association with anomalous lateral incisors was different among Turkish males and females

Consistency of Treatment Planning Decisions in Class II Malocclusions Using Digital and Plaster Models

Aim:The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment-planning value of digital models compared with plaster models and determine the consistency of treatment decisions.Materials and Method:Twenty-eight models of Class II malocclusion subjects were used for treatment planning by 3 orthodontists. The orthodontists decided on a treatment plan using digital models at the first session and a plaster model in the second session. Treatment decisions were classified and recorded as extraction, distalization, functional appliance, or auxiliary treatments. McNemar test and kappa statistics were used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05.Results:No statistically significant difference was found between the treatment-plan decisions using digital or plaster models. Kappa statistics was fair for auxiliary (K=0.222), moderate for distalization (K=0.222), and substantial for extraction (K=0.634) and functional appliance (K=0.771) procedures.Conclusion:The results of this study revealed that digital models can be used for treatment planning as an alternative to plaster models

The Effects of Extraction and Nonextraction Treatment on RME Applied Patients

Aim:The aim of this study was to compare the dentoalveolar, skeletal and soft tissue effects of upper two premolar extraction or nonextraction treatments after Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME).Subjects and Methods:The sample of this study consisted of pre and posttreatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 21 patients characterized by narrow maxilla and treated with or without extraction following RME. In our study, RME applied patients were divided into two groups as extraction and nonextraction. After adequate expansion and retention period, two upper first premolars were extracted in extraction group and no teeth were extracted in nonextraction group. Thereafter, fixed orthodontic treatment was started in two groups.Results:At the end of treatment when extraction and nonex-traction groups were compared, significant differences in A1 inclination to A-Po angle (p < 0.01), A1 to A-Po plane (p < 0.05) and B1 to A-Po plane distance (p < 0.05) representing the dentoalveolar incisor position were detected. Also statistically no significant differences were found between parameters related to lips or soft tissues. Our results do not support the idea that more retrusive profile occurs as a result of upper extraction treatment.Conclusions:In the light of these results, it is possible to say that there is no esthetic difference between the RME appliances applied patients treated by either upper premolar extraction or nonextraction treatment

Handedness of orthodontists and its impact on practice

Objective: To assess the handedness prevelance of orthodontists and analyse the discomfort of left-handed orthodontists on practice.Materials and Methods: A questionnaire about the laterality of orthodontists and their discomfort was prepared and distributed to our orthodontic society members. 173 questionnaires were investigated.Results: Fifteen of the participants were left-handed individuals. Of all the 15 samples, only 1 practitioner had been educated with left hand manipulation while studying dentistry. One of the 7 private practioners preferred left-handed chair for his clinic. Regarding left-handed participants working with right-sided chair, 4 of them thought this situation depresses their treatment quality and 9 of them refused. Most of the left-handed participants complaint about the university education.Conclusion: Left-handed orthodontists afford to adapt themselves to a right-handed world. They could to be educated on left-handed dental chairs to display  a more skillful clinical performance

Tissue factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in detecting thromboembolic complications in diabetic atherosclerotic patients

BackgroundAtherosclerosis, which is one of the leading causes of death all over the world, can create major or minor thromboembolic complications with the exponentially increasing diabetic status. Despite all the studies, the mechanism by which endothelial damage in atherosclerosis is triggered in diabetic setting is still not fully understood. MethodsIn this study, tissue factor (TF), which is thought to act together in the formation of vasular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and coagulopathy in diabetic atherosclerotic patients, may be an important indicator in this regard, a total of 100 cases who were undergone off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) which were at same risk group examined by dividing into diabetic status. Early postoperative process and biochemical parameters analyzed in terms of TF and VEGF-A levels measured before and after the operation. ResultsTF and VEGF-A expression of the T1DM group were statistically high compared to non-diabetics. Significantly longer hospital stays with changes in TF and VEGF-A were found in patients in the diabetic group compared to pre- and postoperatively, respectively; TF (95% CI: 0.879-0.992; p = 0.025), VEGF-A (95% CI: 0.964-0.991; p = 0.001) and hospital stay (95% CI: 1.96-7.49; p = 0.0001). Preoperatively measured carotid intima-media thickness (CT) was higher in diabetics and was significantly associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), (r = 0.873). Surgical team and protocols were same and OPCAB procedures were routinely applied to all patients in our clinic. No minor or major events were observed in any of the cases. ConclusionTF and VEGF-A values in patients with diabetic atherosclerosis may be important in the early detection of thromboembolic complications

Impact of Buccal Corridors on Smile Esthetics

Aim:The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of buccal corridors on smile esthetics.Subjects and Methods:For this purpose, 10 individuals with following criteria were included to this study; to have an esthetic smile arc, no excessive gingival exposure, ages between 18 and 30 years and equal distribution of the sexes. These criteria and only the perioral photographs were used to limit the scope of the variables and to decrease the dilution of the results. A photo editing software was used to produce 5 varying sizes of buccal corridors and the pictures were classified as Narrow smile, Medium-narrow smile, Medium smile, Medium-broad smile and Broad smile. Altered five smile images of the individuals were showed to the panels consisted of orthodontists, prosthodontists, general dentists, lay people and drawing artists each numbered 10 juries. They were asked to rate that five images from 1 to 5. ANOVA and Tukey tests were used to make a statistical analysis.Results:All of the panels evaluated the smile images in the same manner. The broader the smile it is the more attractive. The most attractive smile was the broad smile and the least attractive was the narrow smile. All panel groups evaluated the smile images in the same manner and there were not statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusion:These results indicate that; to gain an esthetic smile after orthodontic treatment, clinician must avoid causing broad buccal corridors

Cone-beam computed tomography assessment of mandibular asymmetry in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients

Objective: To determine whether there is any difference between the cleft and non-cleft sides of the mandible in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients, or the right and left sides in control patients; and to determine if there is any difference between the mandibular asymmetry of UCLP patients and that of control patients. Methods: We examined cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 15 patients with UCLP and 15 age- and gender-matched control patients. We evaluated 8 linear, 3 surface, and 3 volumetric measurements and compared the cleft/non-cleft sides of UCLP patients and the right/left sides of controls. Results: There were no statistically significant gender differences in any linear, surface, or volumetric measurement. The single significant side-to-side difference in UCLP patients was a longer coronoid unit on the cleft side than on the non-cleft side (p = 0.046). Body volume was significantly lower in the UCLP group than in the control group (p = 0.008). Conclusions: In general, UCLP patients have symmetrical mandibles, although the coronoid unit length is significantly longer on the cleft side than on the non-cleft side. UCLP patients and controls differed only in body volume

Mandibular anterior bony support and incisor crowding: Is there a relationship?

.INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that increased irregularity of the mandibular incisors is associated with a reduction in the alveolar support on cone-beam computed tomographic sections. METHODS: From a sample of 1100 digital volumetric tomographs, 125 tomographs of subjects with Class I malocclusion (mean age, 21.6 ± 4.8 years) were selected for this study. An irregularity index was used to categorize these tomographs as having mild, moderate, or severe crowding. All tomographs were taken by using an iCAT (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, Pa) imaging device. The following parameters were measured on the sections corresponding to the 4 mandibular incisors with the iCAT software: height, thickness, and area of the entire symphysis; height, thickness, and area of the cancellous bone of the symphysis; and distance between the vestibular and lingual cortices. For the statistical evaluation, independent samples t test, analysis of variance, and the Tukey HSD test were used at an alpha level 0.05. The Pearson correlation coefficient and a simple linear regression were calculated to determine the relationship between mandibular anterior bony support and incisor crowding. RESULTS: Almost all mandibular anterior bone measurements were greater in the male subjects than in the female subjects (height of the mandibular symphysis, P <0.001; cancellous bone height, P <0.001). Female subjects with mild crowding had higher values for cancellous bone height (P = 0.025) and vestibular cancellous bone thickness (P = 0.004) than did those with severe crowding. However, no differences were detected in the male subjects. Additionally, significant correlations were determined between incisor crowding and thickness of the mandibular symphysis, cancellous bone thickness, and the vestibular part of cancellous bone thickness in female subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Significant relationships were found between the measures of mandibular incisor crowding and basal bone dimensions in female subjects. Except for the vestibular part of cancellous bone thickness, all mandibular incisor bone measurements were greater in the male subjects than in the female subjects

Mandibular asymmetry in unilateral and bilateral posterior crossbite patients using cone-beam computed tomography

Objective: To test the hypotheses that (1) there is no difference in mandibular asymmetry between the crossbite and normal side in a unilateral crossbite group (UCG) and between the right and left sides in a bilateral crossbite group (BCG) and a control group (CG); and (2) there is no significant difference in mandibular asymmetry among crossbite groups and control group. Materials and Methods: The cone-beam computed tomography scans of three groups were studied: (1) 15 patients (6 male, 9 female; mean age: 13.51 6 2.03 years) with unilateral posterior crossbite; (2) 15 patients (8 male, 7 female; mean age: 13.36 6 2.12 years) with bilateral posterior crossbite; and (3) 15 patients (8 male, 7 female; mean age: 13.46 6 1.53 years) as a control group. Fourteen parameters (eight linear, three surface, and three volumetric) were measured. Side comparisons were analyzed with paired samples t-test, and for the intergroup comparison, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey tests were used at the P , .05 level. Results: According to side comparisons, no statistically significant difference was found in the UCG. There were statistically significant differences in hemimandibular (P 5 .008) and ramal (P 5 .004) volumes for the BCG and in ramal height (P 5 .024) and body length (P 5 .021) for the CG. Intergroup comparisons revealed significant differences in hemimandibular (P 5 .002) and body volume (P , .001) for the normal side of the UCG and left sides of the other groups, and in angular unit length (P 5 .025) and condylar width (P 5 .007) for the crossbite side of the UCG and the right sides of the other groups. Conclusions: Contrary to UCG, CG and BCG were found to have side-specific asymmetry. Skeletal components of the mandible have significant asymmetry among the crossbite groups and the CG

Dehiscence and fenestration in patients with different vertical growth patterns assessed with cone-beam computed tomography

Objective: To test the null hypothesis that the presence of alveolar defects (dehiscence and fenestration) was not different among patients with different vertical growth patterns. Materials and Methods: A total of 1872 teeth in 26 hyper-divergent (mean age: 24.4 6 4.8 years), 27 hypo-divergent (mean age: 25.1 6 4.5 years), and 25 normo-divergent (mean age: 23.6 6 4.1 years) patients with no previous orthodontic treatment were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography. Axial and cross-sectional views were evaluated with regard to whether dehiscence and/or fenestration on buccal and lingual surfaces existed or not. For statistical analysis, the Pearson chi-square test was used at a P , .05 significance level. Results: According to the statistical analysis, the hypo-divergent group (6.56%) had lower dehiscence prevalence than the hyper-divergent (8.35%) and normo-divergent (8.18%) groups (P 5 .004). Higher prevalences of dehiscence and fenestration were found on buccal sides in all vertical growth patterns. While fenestration was a common finding for the maxillary alveolar region, dehiscence was a common finding in the mandible in all groups. Conclusion: The null hypothesis was rejected. Although the prevalence of fenestrations was not different, significant differences for dehiscences were found in patients with different vertical growth patterns