Craniofacial Morphology of Croatian Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Currently, there is no information available regarding craniofacial morphology of Croatian patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of the study was to determine the craniofacial characteristics of patients with OSA and to assess the association of cephalometric and anthropometric variables related to craniofacial morphology with the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). Anthropometric measurements and upright lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained from 20 male patients with OSA and 20 male controls. The 20 OSA patients were classified into two groups on the basis of body mass index (BMI) as obese and non-obese. Twenty three variables were identified and calculated for each cephalometric radiograph. OSA was defined as AHI ³ 5/hour. The OSA patients showed greater body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC) and cranial index (CI) and lower facial index (FI) compared to the controls (p<0.01). The patients with OSA showed significant cephalometric features as opposed to the controls: smaller linear distance between gonion and menton and anterior cranial base, greater linear distance from the hyoid bone to the mandibular plane, and from the posterior nasal spine to the tip of the soft palate. Furthermore, they showed reduced upper airway width at two levels: the nasopharynx, and the region of posterior airway space, smaller linear distance from the hyoid bone to the posterior wall of the nasopharynx and greater upper airway length. They also displayed significantly increased craniocervical angulation, larger angle between supramentale, menton and hyoid bone and larger angle between posterior nasal spine, supramentale and hyoid bone. The obese OSA patients showed greater neck circumference (NC) compared with the non-obese OSA. The obese OSA patients showed significant cephalometric features compared with the non-obese OSA patients: larger craniocervical angles larger angle between the third cervical vertebra, the centre of sella turcica and the posterior nasal spine, furthermore, greater linear distance between the hyoid bone and the third cervical vertebra and smaller linear distance from the hyoid bone to the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. In our study, AHI was significantly correlated with cephalometric measurements S-Go, S-H, H-C3 and S-PNS-C3

Importance of Interincisal Index for Predicting Mesiodistal Crown Diameters of Canines and Premolars

The aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of regression equation for prediction of the mesiodistal diameter (MDD) of the crowns of canines and premolars (C, P1, P2), and to determine whether an incisal indexs can serve as a reliable predictor. MDD and vestibulooral diameter (VOD) of the crowns of central and lateral incisors (I1, I2), C, both P1, and P2, and first permanent molars (M1) in both jaws were measured on the plaster casts of 150 subjects (75 boys and 75 girls) The obtainedmeasurements were compared and correlated with predicted values (by linear regression equation derived previously), with respect to gender, jaw side and value of the interincisal index. The correlation coefficients between measurements and predicted MDD of the C, P1, and P2 were calculated with respect to gender and jaw. The values varied from 0.62 to 0.81. It could be concluded that normal values of the interincisal index of the I1 and I2 are highly associated with measured and predicted MDD of the C, P1, and P2 crowns. Correlation coeffitients ranged from 0.84 to 0.99

Effect of a double dose of photobiomodulation therapy on orthodontic pain caused by elastomeric separators

BackgroundIt has been reported that 90 per cent of patients experience pain during orthodontic treatment. Laser photobiomodulation (PBM) is the application of light to pathology to encourage tissue regeneration, decrease inflammation and is wieldy used for pain relief. AimsThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of PBM in decreasing pain caused by elastomeric separators at the beginning of the orthodontic treatment.MethodsTwenty-two patients were recruited to participate in this single-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Four elastomeric separators were placed mesially and distally to the upper first molar on each side. The right side of the upper jaw was treated with a low-power diode laser, and the left side was given a placebo (the same treatment with the laser switched off). Two doses of PBM therapy (660nm, 90mW) were delivered 24 hours apart. The participants filled out a questionnaire immediately after the placement of the separators, before the 1st laser treatment (TO) and 12 hours (T1), 24 hours (T2), two days (T3) and three days after the 1st treatment (T4). At each evaluation period, the degree of pain was scored twice, once for each side.ResultsBoth sides perceived greater pain at 12 hours and maximum pain at 24 hours. Pain decreased on day 3 on both sides. A significant reduction in pain (p=0.01) was detected at 24 hours on the laser-treated side compared to the placebo side. No other significant difference between sides was observed.ConclusionBased on this study, we can conclude that PBM therapy significantly reduces pain 24 hours after separator placement, when the pain is at its peak. However, it does not affect the pain at other time intervals. These findings suggest promising effectiveness of PBM therapy

Importance of Interincisal Index for Predicting Mesiodistal Crown Diameters of Canines and Premolars

The aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of regression equation for prediction of the mesiodistal diameter (MDD) of the crowns of canines and premolars (C, P1, P2), and to determine whether an incisal indexs can serve as a reliable predictor. MDD and vestibulooral diameter (VOD) of the crowns of central and lateral incisors (I1, I2), C, both P1, and P2, and first permanent molars (M1) in both jaws were measured on the plaster casts of 150 subjects (75 boys and 75 girls) The obtainedmeasurements were compared and correlated with predicted values (by linear regression equation derived previously), with respect to gender, jaw side and value of the interincisal index. The correlation coefficients between measurements and predicted MDD of the C, P1, and P2 were calculated with respect to gender and jaw. The values varied from 0.62 to 0.81. It could be concluded that normal values of the interincisal index of the I1 and I2 are highly associated with measured and predicted MDD of the C, P1, and P2 crowns. Correlation coeffitients ranged from 0.84 to 0.99

Changes of bite force and occlusal contacts in the retention phase of orthodontic treatment: A controlled clinical trial

Introduction: We aimed to determine whether appliance type affects changes in maximum voluntary bite force (MVBF) and the number of occlusal contacts (NOC) during retention, controlling for sex, age, and body mass index. Methods: The sample comprised 176 examinees (70 male, 106 female) aged 14 to 20 years: 30 had maxillary and mandibular Essix retainers, 30 had wrap-around retainers, and 30 had a combination of fixed mandibular canine-to-canine retainers bonded on each tooth separately (double twisted, 0.254 mm in diameter, stainless steel ligature wire) and Essix retainer in the maxillary arch; 86 with normal occlusion were not treated. MVBF and the NOC were measured immediately after removal of preadjusted edgewise appliances (Roth prescription), 6 weeks after that, and after the next 4 weeks. Results: Increases in MVBF and the NOC were demonstrated, but subjects with 2 Essix retainers showed lower values than did the others. Changes were related to type of appliance, sex, and age (P < 0.05) but not to body mass index. The increase in NOC occurred faster than the increase of MVBF, more and sooner with the wrap-around retainer and in male subjects than with the Essix and in female subjects. MVBF and NOC nearly reached the values of the control subjects. Conclusions: Settling of the occlusion depends on appliance type: it takes longer in female patients and with Essix in both dental arches than with the other tested applianc