The Change in Retentive Values of Locator Attachments and Hader Clips over Time

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine early changes in retentive values of implant overdenture attachments during multiple pulls.
Materials and Methods: Two implant attachment systems (Hader bar and clip, Locator system) were used in this study. The experimental groups were divided into yellow Hader clips, white Locator attachments, and green Locator attachments. Each group consisted of 21 matrix attachments. The attachments were placed into a custom-made acrylic resin block seated passively on another acrylic block containing a Hader bar or two Locator abutments with different angulations. Each attachment was subjected to 20 consecutive pulls using a universal testing machine. The peak load-to-dislodgement of the attachments after each pull was documented, and the percent reduction of the peak load-to-dislodgement was calculated. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's honestly significant difference test were used for data analyses. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: There was a significant difference in the percent reduction in peak load-to-dislodgement between the attachments after the first pull ( p = 0.005) and after the final pull ( p = 0.0001). The yellow Hader clips exhibited the least percent reduction in peak load-to-dislodgement (6.50 ± 3.59%) after the first pull, followed by the white Locator attachments (8.60 ± 4.42%); the green Locator attachments exhibited the greatest reduction (11.05 ± 4.94%).
Conclusion: The results of this in vitro study demonstrate that retentive values of the Locator attachments are reduced significantly after multiple pulls. Although this reduction might not be noticeable to the patient, it is recommended that the clinician place and remove the overdenture multiple times before delivery.     

The Accuracy of Six Impression Techniques for Osseointegrated Implants

Purpose Six impression techniques were evaluated using tapered and square impression copings. Materials and Methods The absolute distortion was measured using a cast metal impression tray with fiduciary reference points external to the impression material. Measurements of the x, y, z coordinates on the master cast and the impressions were directly made with a travelling digitizing microscope. The difference between the coordinates of each of six sites in the impression and the corresponding reference site were compared. Results There was no significant difference between the techniques for the square copings but that there was a significant loss of accuracy in the z-axis with the tapered copings. Conclusions No significant differences were noted.     

The effectiveness of protraction face mask therapy: A meta-analysis

This study examined the effectiveness of maxillary protraction with orthopedic appliances in Class III patients. A meta-analysis of relevant literature was performed to determine whether a consensus exists regarding controversial issues such as the timing of treatment and the use of adjunctive intraoral appliances. An initial search identified 440 articles relating to Class III malocclusion. Among those articles, 11 studies in English and 3 studies in foreign languages met the previously established selection criteria. Data from the selected studies were categorized by age and appliance groups for the meta-analysis. The sample sizes were comparable between the groups. The statistical synthesis of changes before and after treatment in selected cephalometric landmarks showed no distinct difference between the palatal expansion group and nonexpansion group except for 1 variable, upper incisor angulation, which increased to a greater degree in the nonexpansion group. This finding implies that more skeletal effect and less dental change are produced in the expansion appliance group. Examination of the effects of age revealed greater treatment changes in the younger group. Results indicate that protraction face mask therapy is effective in patients who are growing, but to a lesser degree in patients who are older than 10 years of age, and that protraction in combination with an initial period of expansion may provide more significant skeletal effects. Overall mean values and corresponding standard deviations for the studies selected can also be used to estimate mean treatment effects expected from the use of protraction face mask.     

Pfeiffer syndrome: oral healthcare management and description of new dental findings in a craniosynostosis

Pfeiffer syndrome is a rare fibroblast growth factor receptor‐related craniosynostosis with variable clinical presentations. We describe new dental findings of hypodontia, microdontia, dilacerations, and radicular dentin dysplasia in a 19‐year‐old girl, and discuss the oral health management.     

Temporomandibular disorder in a patient with pseudoxanthoma elasticum: a case report and review

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of elastic fibers and ectopic mineralization. Cutaneous manifestations are a hallmark of this disease and organs that may be affected by the disease process include cardiovascular, central nervous system, ocular and gastrointestinal systems. Oral manifestations of PXE have been previously reported as intramucosal nodules observed on various intraoral surfaces. We present a case of a 46‐year‐old female with PXE diagnosed with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with TMD coexisting with PXE in the scientific literature.