The Discoloring Effects of Food on the Color Stability of Esthetic Brackets – an In-vitro Study

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the discoloring effect of certain foods on the color stability of esthetic brackets made of different materials. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten specimens of six different tooth-colored brackets were immersed for 10 days at 37 degrees C in various solutions (de-ionized water, tea, coffee, red wine, orange juice, curry and cress) or exposed to accelerated photo-aging (150 KJ/ m(2), 340 nm). Using the Easyshade device, the brackets were analyzed at the beginning of the experiment and after ultrasound-cleaning daily thereafter for ten days according to CIELCh coordinates lightness, chroma and hue. Our results were evaluated using the SPSS-12.0 statistical program and subjected to the Kruskal-Wallis and/or Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The results can be divided into three types of reactions. The brackets exposed to UV light, cress or orange juice showed no visible discoloration. The measured color differences remained in the same range as the measurements for brackets in the control group. All brackets immersed in red wine, tea or coffee showed similar reactions, with a sharp increase in discoloration after 5 days (corresponding to high consumption). In the curry solution, the brackets made of polyoxymethylene became immediately discolored; all other bracket types showed no visible reaction. CONCLUSIONS: This in-vitro test can only simulate the actual intra-oral situation, but the results seem to demonstrate that the consumption of certain foods greatly influences to what extent the color of tooth-colored brackets changes.     

Endosseous titanium implants during and after orthodontic load ‐ an experimental study in the dog

An experiment was carried out to determine whether endosseous titanium implants (Brånemarks®) retain their clinical stability throughout a 26‐week period of continuously applied force (2 N) and what kind of marginal peri‐implant bone changes occur in the process. For this purpose 6 premolars (P3: mandible/maxilla and P4: mandible) were extracted from each of 2 foxhounds, and 12 implants (6 per dog) were positioned in the edentulous maxillary and mandibular areas after the alveolar healing period. Following a 25‐week implant healing period, 8 fixtures (P3 areas) were used as anchoring elements for distalization of the 2nd premolars over a period of 26 weeks: 4 implants served as a control group (P4areas of the mandible). There were no clinical or histological signs of implant dislocation after the load application period. In the presence of mild peri‐implant gingivitis, no increase was found in the incidence of marginal bone resorption adjacent to the loaded implants compared with the non‐loaded implants. In the absence of marginal resorption, subperiosteal bone apposition was detected especially around the test implants in the mandible. This suggests that endosseous titanium implants are suitable as anchoring units for longer‐term orthodontic tooth movements. The applied force may moreover induce marginal bone appositions adjacent I to the implants.     

Development of a questionnaire for assessment of the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics in young adults

The aim of this study was to develop a psychometric instrument for assessment of orthodontic-specific aspects of quality of life. The study subjects, 194 young adults aged 18-30 years, were interviewed using a pool of 23 items dealing with the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics. Self- and interviewer-rating of the dental aesthetic appearance of each subject were carried out using the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Additionally, the Perception of Occlusion Scale and a modification of the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) were applied. Factorial analyses identified four measures within the item pool, namely Dental Self-Confidence, Social Impact, Psychological Impact, and Aesthetic Concern. The factor structure was confirmed in an independent sample of 83 subjects aged 18-33 years. The reliabilities of the factor analysis-derived scales were between alpha (alpha) 0.85 and 0.91. They differed between respondents with varying severity of malocclusion, as assessed by subject and interviewer ratings. The results suggest that the proposed instrument, termed the 'Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire' (PIDAQ), meets the criteria of factorial stability across samples and criterion-related validity and reliability, and might be a promising tool for further research and clinical application in orthodontics.     

Perception of occlusion, psychological impact of dental esthetics, history of orthodontic treatment and their relation to oral health in naval recruits

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the oral health of young male adults was related to (1) the degree of self-perceived malocclusion, (2) the degree of experienced negative psychosocial impact of dental esthetics, and (3) the history of orthodontic treatment and its duration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 470 male naval recruits undergoing a routine dental health checkup. They answered the Perception of Occlusion Scale (POS) and Negative Impact of Dental Aesthetics Scale (NIDAS). The Approximal Plaque Index (API), the Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI), and the number of decayed teeth (DT) and missing teeth (MT) were examined by a staff dentist. Statistical procedures were one-way analyses of variance in the API and SBI and nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and chi(2) tests in DT and MT as dependent variables. RESULTS: (1) The subjects ranging within the upper POS quartile scored higher on the SBI (contrast: P = .003) and DT (P = .002) than did those in the lower POS quartiles. (2) In contrast to the subjects reporting minor negative impacts in the NIDAS, those with strong impacts had higher scores on the API and MT (each P < .001). (3) In the subjects with a history of orthodontic treatment lasting 30 months and longer, lower API (P < .05), SBI and DT (each P = .002), and MT (P = .007) scores were found than in the subjects without previous orthodontic treatment. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that self-perceived dental irregularity and negative impact of dental esthetics might affect oral health, whereas previous extensive orthodontic treatment may have favorable effects by improving dental health compliance.     

Kieferorthopädie

Timing of maxillofacial orthodontic measures

Orthodontic treatment of dentomaxillofacial dysgnathia can be performed during the whole lifetime. While interceptive orthodontic treatment at the age of 4–9 years eliminates functional disorders and growth inhibition, the major part of orthodontic treatment takes place after the age of 11 years.

The role of pediatricians

Pediatricians often play a decisive role in the early recognition and timely referral of patients to orthodontists for treatment.

Typical problems and therapy

In this article typical problems, such as dental crowding, open bite and deep overbite, increased overjet (class II), frontal crossbite (class III), lateral crossbite, condylar fractures and functional disturbances as well as typical orthodontic appliances will be presented and briefly explained.     

Impacted upper canines: examination and treatment proposal based on 3D versus 2D diagnosis

Aim

The purpose of this diagnostic cross-over study was to evaluate whether three-dimensional (3D) diagnostics (cone-beam computed tomography, CBCT) was superior to two-dimensional (2D) diagnostics (panoramic X-ray, OPG) in patients with impacted upper canines for assessing their position and the probability of their alignment.

Materials and methods

Panoramic X-rays, CBCTs, and study casts of 21?patients with a total of 29 impacted maxillary canines were analyzed. Patients with syndromes or tooth aplasias were excluded. A total of 26?dentists of various specialist disciplines rated different parameters, such as canine position and their probability of alignment as well as their relation to and resorption of adjacent teeth. 2D X-rays and study casts were rated first; then 3D images and casts were evaluated at least 2?weeks later. The actual level of displacement was defined by two trained examiners and labeled as the master finding, according to modified criteria established by Ericson and Kurol (1988).

Results

In 64% of all patients, canine position was assessed concordantly in 2D and 3D images. 2D assessments were in slight agreement (???=?0.374), while 3D ratings were in good agreement with the master findings (???=?0.714). Two-thirds of the canines?? apical regions were judged identifiable in 2D and 3D images; more than 1/4 of the canines?? apices were not identifiable in 2D images, but were identifiable in 3D images. The diagnosis of lateral incisor root resorption in the CBCT agreed well with the master finding (???=?0.634), but examiners overlooked slight resorption in 20% of the patients. In 82% of the patients teeth, treatment suggestions (orthodontic alignment or surgical removal) were the same for 2D and 3D images. Canine inclination visible in the panoramic X-rays was the most important factor influencing the treatment proposal.

Conclusion

Small volume CBCT may be justified as a supplement to a routine panoramic X-ray in the following cases: when canine inclination in the panoramic X-ray exceeds 30°, when root resorption of adjacent teeth is suspected, and/or when the canine apex is not clearly discernible in the panoramic X-ray, implying dilaceration of the canine root. We intend to validate the results of this study in a clinical trial.     

A combined prosthodontic and orthodontic treatment approach in a case of growth inhibition induced by dental implants: a case report

Functional and esthetic results can improve significantly when a combined prosthodontic-orthodontic treatment approach is employed in cases requiring extensive oral rehabilitation. The patient presented in this case report was treated in his late teens with dental implants as a replacement for his maxillary incisors. Ten years later, the entire maxillary anterior segment was in infraocclusion compared to the rest of the dentition and lip line. Since prosthodontic follow-up treatment alone could not achieve an optimal functional and esthetic outcome, the patient was treated orthodontically prior to renewing the restoration. A fixed appliance was used to intrude the mandibular anterior teeth as well as vertically align the infrapositioned maxillary lateral incisors.