Facial Photographs and Study Models in Assessment of Orthodontic Treatment Needs: A Comparative Study

Aim: The purpose of the study was to compare and evaluate the examiner differences when assessing orthodontic treatment needs using facial photographs and study models.Materials and methods: Thirty subjects (9 males, 21 females) who displayed a definite, severe or very severe malocclusion as per dental esthetic index scores were considered for the study. The diagnostic study models and facial photographs were assessed for each patient by two consulting orthodontists and one postgraduate orthodontic student. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess. Separate assessment was made from study models and facial photographs by two orthodontists and one postgraduate student. The orthodontic treatment needs were higher from study models compared with facial photographs (p < 0.001) for all the three examiners. Results: A considerable variation in the intraexaminer andinterexaminer consistency from the assessment of orthodontic treatment needs from facial photographs was shown. There were higher for orthodontic treatment needs from study models than facial photographs. Reduced intraexaminer and interexaminer variability from assessment of orthodontic treatment needs from facial photographs may suggest a specific method to achieve a more uniform evaluation of orthodontic treatment needs.&nbsp

Correction of an adult Class II division 2 individual using fixed functional appliance: A noncompliance approach

This case report describes the application of fixed functional appliance in the treatment of an adult female having Class II division 2 malocclusion with retroclination of upper incisors. Fixed functional appliance was used to correct the overjet after the uprighting of upper incisors. Fixed functional appliance was fitted on a rigid rectangular arch wire. Application of fixed functional appliance achieved a good Class I molar relationship along with Class I canine relationship with normal overjet and overbite. Fixed functional appliance is effective in the treatment of Class II malocclusions, even in adult patients, and can serve as an alternate choice of treatment instead of orthognathic surgery. This is a case; wherein, fixed functional appliance was successfully used to relieve deep bite and overjet that was ensued after leveling and aligning. We demonstrate that fixed functional appliance can act as a “noncompliant corrector” and use of Class II elastics can be avoided

Orthodontic Therapeutic Biomarkers in Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid

Several biologically active substances representing the bone deposition and resorption processes are released following damage to periodontal tissue during orthodontic movement. Biomarkers are by definition objective, quantifiable characteristics of biological processes. The analysis of saliva/salivary fluid and Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) may be an accepted way to examine the ongoing biochemical processes associated with bone turnover during orthodontic tooth movement and fixed orthodontic treatment pain. Assessing the presence of these salivary physiological biomarkers would benefit the clinician in appropriate pain diagnosis and management objectively of various problems encountered during the orthodontic procedures and for better outcome of biomechanical therapy. Due to lack of standardized collection procedure, even though well accepted by patients, saliva is often neglected as a body fluid of diagnostic and prognostic value. A literature search was carried out in major databases such as PubMed, Medline, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus and EMBASE for relevant studies. Publication in English between 2000 to 2021 which estimated Saliva markers as indicators of orthodontic tooth movement was included. The list of biomarkers available to date was compiled and is presented in table format. Each biomarker is discussed separately based on the available and collected evidences. Several sensitive salivary and GCF biomarkers are available to detect the biomechanical changes occurring during orthodontic tooth movement and pain occurring during fixed orthodontic therapy. Further focussed research might help to analyze the sensitivity and reliability of these biomarkers or cytokines, which in turn can lead to the development of chairside tests to assess the pain experienced by patients during orthodontic therapy and finally the outcome of the fixed orthodontic therapy