Rates of tooth movement and bone remodeling activity : self-ligating versus conventional brackets

Background: Bracket systems have been developed with the purpose of reducing frictional resistance between the archwire and accessories. The aim of this research was to compare rates of tooth movement and regions of cellular bone modeling activity along tooth root surfaces of teeth moved with conventional vs. self-ligating brackets. Material and Methods: The experiments were conducted in 20 male dogs. Bands were cemented in all intermediate incisors, with conventional brackets (Morelli) on the right side and hybrid self-ligating ones (T3-American Ortho-dontics) on the left side. A 0.019? x 0.025? stainless steel wire was inserted passively in the slot of these brackets with chain elastics (250 gf) to perform sliding mechanics. Clinical records of the orthodontic mechanics were made before and after 15 days of the tooth movement. The dental segments of the animals were prepared for light micros-copy. Statistical analysis of variance and the Tukey correction with a P value at 5% were used. Results: There were no significant differences in tooth movement rates between the two types of brackets but di-fferences, in the bone modeling activity, suggested that tooth movement with the self-ligating brackets resulted in more tipping and less translational movement than tooth movement with the conventional brackets. Conclusions: The rates of tooth movement were similar between the two systems. The histological evaluation of cellular bone modeling activity along tooth root surfaces showed more translation movement of teeth with the con-ventional brackets, and more tipping movement of teeth with self-ligating brackets

Are self-ligating brackets related to less formation of Streptococcus mutans colonies? A systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To verify, by means of a systematic review, whether the design of brackets (conventional or self-ligating) influences adhesion and formation of Streptococcus mutans colonies. METHODS: Search strategy: four databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid ALL EMB Reviews, PubMed and BIREME) were selected to search relevant articles covering the period from January 1965 to December 2012. Selection Criteria: in first consensus by reading the title and abstract. The full text was obtained from publications that met the inclusion criteria. Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers independently extracted data using the keywords: conventional, self-ligating, biofilm, Streptococcus mutans, and systematic review; and independently evaluated the quality of the studies. In case of divergence, the technique of consensus was adopted. RESULTS: The search strategy resulted in 1,401 articles. The classification of scientific relevance revealed the high quality of the 6 eligible articles of which outcomes were not unanimous in reporting not only the influence of the design of the brackets (conventional or self-ligating) over adhesion and formation of colonies of Streptococcus mutans, but also that other factors such as the quality of the bracket type, the level of individual oral hygiene, bonding and age may have greater influence. Statistical analysis was not feasible because of the heterogeneous methodological design. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that there is no evidence for a possible influence of the design of the brackets (conventional or self-ligating) over colony formation and adhesion of Streptococcus mutans

Effects induced after the use of maxillary protraction appliances: a literature review

OBJECTIVE: The present literature review, examined the effects of maxillary protraction in patients treated with different types of facial masks. METHODS: The review searched for relevant articles, including randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and uncontrolled trials. Comparisons were made between eight different types of facial masks: Delaire; Grummons; Petit; Turley; Batista; "Sky Hook"; Nanda and Türbinger. Following aspects were evaluated: a) the type of anchorage; the origin, direction and magnitude of forces and b) the relevant results of following skeletal and dental measurements: angular (SNA and SNB), linear (AFAI); vertical angles (SN.GoGn, FMA); dental (IMPA) and linear (1-NA, 1-NB). CONCLUSION: The results showed that there was no uniformity in the choice of anchorage type and form of application of forces between the facial masks examined, but there were similarities in skeletal and dental aspects: Anterior displacement of the maxillary complex (increase in SNA) ; anterior displacement of the upper anterior teeth (increase of 1-NA), the lingual inclination of mandibular incisors (decrease of 1-NB), down and back rotation of the mandible (increase AFAI, SN.GoGn, FMA, decrease in SNB)

The effect of electric spot-welding on the mechanical properties of different orthodontic wire alloys

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is a direct relationship between surface structure and tensile strength of orthodontic alloys submitted to different levels of welding current. Three types of alloys were assessed. One hundred and eight cross-sectional test specimens ("X") were made, 18 for each wire combination, and divided into 6 groups: SS (steel-steel); SN (steel-NiTi); SB (steel-Beta-Ti); NN (NiTi-NiTi); NB (NiTi-Beta-Ti) and BB (Beta-Ti-Beta-Ti), submitted to 6 spot-welding procedures at different levels of current (Super Micro Ponto 3000). Student-Newman-Keuls, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used (p < .05). Statistical difference was found between SN group and all the other alloy combinations (p < .05). Initial roughness of alloys ranged from .04 to .55 Ra, with statistical difference between groups (p < .001). The hypothesis was rejected and the tensile strength of Ti-alloys combinations Steel × Beta-Ti was significantly affected by the current level at P50, which changed the properties and structure of the wires