Duration Of Orthodontic Treatment Research Articles

The minimal important difference in orthodontic treatment duration: a survey across adult patients.

The minimal important difference (MID) is defined as the smallest difference that the patient perceives as important. Furthermore, the smallest worthwhile effect (SWE) is the important change measured with the benefit-harm trade-off method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the MID in orthodontic treatment duration to inform the decision regarding seeking procedures to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement and reduce treatment duration. We constructed a survey eliciting views of the MID from adult participants from four countries undergoing orthodontic treatment. Ten questions addressed reduction in the treatment duration for both durations 12 and 24 months, and four questions were related to the reduction in treatment duration that the patients would require to undergo surgical or non-surgical adjunctive procedures. We applied a univariable random effects logistic regression model to examine the association between the participants' characteristics and the MID. Then, we fitted a multivariable logistic random effects regression including significant predictors. Four hundred and fifty adults, with a median age of 21 (interquartile range: 19-24), undergoing orthodontic treatment participated in the survey. Of the respondents, 60% considered 15 days as a trivial reduction from 12 months duration of therapy and 70% considered15 daysa trivial reduction from 24 months. Of the respondents, 48% considered the period of 2 months a moderate reduction from 12 months, and 60% considered 2 months a moderate reduction from 24 months. From these results, we inferred that patients considered reductions of approximately 1 month as the MID in the treatment duration for both 12 and 24 months. However, SWE was considerably more than the MID for most of the participants to decide undergoing surgical adjunctive procedures to reduce the time of therapy. The participants required smaller SWE to undergo non-surgical procedurescompared to surgical procedures. The MID in the treatment duration is one month for both treatment durations 12 and 24 months. Patients require a greater SWE than the MID to undergo adjunctive procedures to shorten the duration, particularly for surgical procedures.

Characteristics of Orthodontic Treatment in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review.

Background: Survival rates of cancer patients have increased globally and across age groups. Challenges arising from craniofacial growth-development disturbances and dental abnormalities might warrant modifications to standard orthodontic pathways of care. Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically summarize and critically assess the available literature regarding the characteristics of orthodontic treatment in cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in seven databases for studies on malignant tumor survivors having undergone orthodontic intervention with fixed appliances following cancer treatment up to August 2023. The outcomes of interest included quantitative data regarding various characteristics of orthodontic treatment and the post-treatment period. The risk of bias was assessed individually with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results: Out of 347 records, 4 cohort studies were eventually included in the qualitative synthesis. Leukemia was the most common malignancy type, with treatment involving mainly chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The duration of orthodontic treatment in cancer survivors varied. Occlusal results, quality of life, and satisfaction were comparable to healthy peers. However, in some survivors' groups, treatment was shorter and the final results were compromised. Root resorption and oral mucositis were reported among the treated cancer survivors. Reduced occlusal outcome stability during the retention period was also reported. Conclusions: Overall, the duration of orthodontic treatment varied among cancer survivors. The occlusal results achieved were similar to those of their healthy peers, though potentially less stable. Patient-reported outcomes did not differ significantly between cancer survivors and healthy individuals treated orthodontically.

Frequency of posterior teeth that presented with pulpal calcifications after orthodontic treatment; a retrospective radiographic assessment.

Objective: To assess the pulpal calcification that was presented on radiographs after the completion of orthodontic treatment. Study Design: Retrospective Observational study. Setting: Department of Orthodontic, Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. Period: October 2023 to November 2023. Methods: Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the current study was carried out on patients who had reported and registered for orthodontic intervention within the previous five years and had case records from the orthodontics department available. A total of 670 case records were assessed for selecting 191 cases as per sample size. Results: Among 191 patients, 30.4% were male and 69.6% were female. The highest percentage belonged to the 14-16 age group (32%), followed by 20-22 (28.3%), 17-19 (26.2%), and 23-25 (12.6%) age groups. Pre-treatment calcification was 17.8% (n=34), rising to 28.3% (n=54) post-treatment. Pulp calcification significantly increased after orthodontic treatment (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between gender and age groups regarding pulp calcification (p>0.05). However, a significant association existed between pulp calcification and treatment duration (p<0.05). The 25-30 months treatment duration had the highest occurrence (n=27), followed by 31-36 months (n=19). Mandibular teeth had a higher prevalence of pulp calcification (53.7%) than maxillary teeth (46.3%), with tooth number 36 having the highest prevalence (25.9%). A significant relationship was observed between the left and right sides of the dental arches, with the left side exhibiting greater tooth calcification (68.5%) than the right side (31.5%). Conclusions: The present study concluded that there was an increase in the frequency of pulpal calcifications in the observed posterior teeth after orthodontic treatment. Pulpal calcifications were significantly more prevalent in the posterior teeth of the mandibular arch compared to the maxillary arch. Moreover, the likelihood of pulpal calcification increased over the duration of orthodontic treatment.

Functional and morphological evaluation of the dentofacial system in patients with distal occlusion using ultrasonic diagnostic methods

Relevance. The integrity of the dentofacial system, significantly influenced by the functional condition of the masseter muscles (MM) and the morphological alterations in the alveolar bone, plays a crucial role in the outcome and duration of orthodontic treatment for distal occlusion. Ultrasonic diagnostic methods, due to their physiological compatibility, high information content, and ergonomic design, offer a preferable alternative for assessing and tracking these changes throughout orthodontic treatment.Materials and methods. This study included 55 individuals of both genders, aged 9-12, with either normal occlusions (NO) or distal occlusions (DO). Ultrasound examinations of the MM at rest and during maximum voluntary teeth clenching were conducted to evaluate MM thickness and echotexture. Ultrasonic densitometry measurements were conducted through the assessment of ultrasound transit velocity (UTV). This was carried out across the interalveolar bone with probes positioned on the buccal and oral sides between two neighboring teeth roots.Results. The findings indicated that DO patients had a notably thicker MM compared to their NO counterparts. Variations in MM echotexture were observed, with differences in the anechogenic and hyper echogenic zones. Recorded UTV values illustrated that the highest alveolar bone density in DO subjects was predominantly in the frontal regions of both jaws on the left side, whereas the lowest density was observed in the right lateral regions. For NO subjects, the highest density values were identified in the frontal region of the mandibular bone, with the lowest in the maxillary bone's lateral regions on both sides.Conclusion. The application of advanced ultrasonic diagnostic methods in this study facilitated a detailed functional and morphological analysis of the MM, as well as an evaluation of alveolar bone density in individuals with both distal and normal occlusions. The development of ultrasonic alveolar bone density chart from this research provides a valuable addition to dental examination protocols for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Duration of orthodontic treatment with clear aligners versus fixed appliances in crowding cases: a systematic review.

To critically appraise and assess the currently observed evidence about the difference in orthodontic treatment duration between clear aligners and fixed appliances in crowding cases. An electronic search without limitations was conducted from inception to June 2023 covering nine databases: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Trip, CINAHL via EBSCO, EMBASE via OVID and ProQuest. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and matched non-randomized studies were included in this systematic review. Risk of Bias was assessed via Cochrane's tool (RoB 2) for RCTs and ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was employed to evaluate the overall quality of evidence. Out of the 3537 articles initially identified, ten eligible studies were included in this systematic review; six were RCTs. Only one study offered extraction-based treatment, while the other nine adopted non-extraction treatments. According to the GRADE, there is low evidence that treatment duration in mild to moderate crowding cases with clear aligners is similar to that in fixed orthodontic appliances. Meta-analysis was not administered due to high inconsistency. Based on currently available information, there was no significant difference in the treatment duration between the CA and FA groups in mild to moderate crowding cases. Further well-performed RCTs, especially in severe cases, are required. Time efficiency is an essential outcome measure for clinical orthodontic practice. While the type of appliance used is a critical determinant of treatment duration, orthodontists should be aware of other factors that can significantly impact treatment time, such as patient and treatment-related factors.

Influence of Fixed Orthodontic Treatment Duration on the Prevalence and Severity of Gingival Enlargement

In patients undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy, favorable conditions for plaque stagnation as well as difficulty in performing usual oral hygiene measures have been associated with poorer periodontal health among orthodontic patients. So this study aims to assess the effect of the duration of fixed orthodontic treatment on presence of gingival enlargement in adolescents and young adults. This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the dental hospital of Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital. Patients under fixed orthodontic therapy for at least 3 months were examined for the presence of gingival enlargement (GE). Demographic variables and the details of duration of the fixed orthodontic therapy was recorded along with presence of gingival enlargement and its grading. The oral hygiene habits like frequency of brushing, use of interdental cleaning aids were recorded along with plaque index. Gingival enlargement was present in 204 (63.7%) out of total 320 patients taken, among which 124 patients (38.8%) had gingival enlargement of score 1 and 80 (25.0%) patients had gingival enlargement of score 2. Gingival enlargement was observed in 101 (73.2%) in 20-30 years old patients which was more prevalent in this age group. Oral hygiene habits like frequency of brushing and use of interdental aids also seem to affect the occurrence of gingival enlargement in patients. Among those who were undergoing orthodontic therapy for more than 2 years, 48 (82.8%) had presence of gingival enlargement. Mean of plaque index was seen to be statistically associated with presence of gingival enlargement. Thus, this study showed that the duration of orthodontic treatment duration significantly influenced the occurrence of GE. Therefore, oral hygiene instructions and motivations should be reinforced for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Outcome of Real Time Self-visualization of Rigid Cystoscopy Procedure on Procedural Pain in Male Patients

In patients undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy, favorable conditions for plaque stagnation as well as difficulty in performing usual oral hygiene measures have been associated with poorer periodontal health among orthodontic patients. So this study aims to assess the effect of the duration of fixed orthodontic treatment on presence of gingival enlargement in adolescents and young adults. This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the dental hospital of Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital. Patients under fixed orthodontic therapy for at least 3 months were examined for the presence of gingival enlargement (GE). Demographic variables and the details of duration of the fixed orthodontic therapy was recorded along with presence of gingival enlargement and its grading. The oral hygiene habits like frequency of brushing, use of interdental cleaning aids were recorded along with plaque index. Gingival enlargement was present in 204 (63.7%) out of total 320 patients taken, among which 124 patients (38.8%) had gingival enlargement of score 1 and 80 (25.0%) patients had gingival enlargement of score 2. Gingival enlargement was observed in 101 (73.2%) in 20-30 years old patients which was more prevalent in this age group. Oral hygiene habits like frequency of brushing and use of interdental aids also seem to affect the occurrence of gingival enlargement in patients. Among those who were undergoing orthodontic therapy for more than 2 years, 48 (82.8%) had presence of gingival enlargement. Mean of plaque index was seen to be statistically associated with presence of gingival enlargement. Thus, this study showed that the duration of orthodontic treatment duration significantly influenced the occurrence of GE. Therefore, oral hygiene instructions and motivations should be reinforced for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound reduces alveolar bone resorption during orthodontic treatment via Lamin A/C-Yes-associated protein axis in stem cells.

The bone remodeling during orthodontic treatment for malocclusion often requires a long duration of around two to three years, which also may lead to some complications such as alveolar bone resorption or tooth root resorption. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), a noninvasive physical therapy, has been shown to promote bone fracture healing. It is also reported that LIPUS could reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment; however, how LIPUS regulates the bone metabolism during the orthodontic treatment process is still unclear. To investigate the effects of LIPUS on bone remodeling in an orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) model and explore the underlying mechanisms. A rat model of OTM was established, and alveolar bone remodeling and tooth movement rate were evaluated via micro-computed tomography and staining of tissue sections. In vitro, human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) were isolated to detect their osteogenic differentiation potential under compression and LIPUS stimulation by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, and Alizarin red staining. The expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP1), the actin cytoskeleton, and the Lamin A/C nucleoskeleton were detected with or without YAP1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) application via immunofluorescence. The force treatment inhibited the osteogenic differentiation potential of hBMSCs; moreover, the expression of osteogenesis markers, such as type 1 collagen (COL1), runt-related transcription factor 2, ALP, and osteocalcin (OCN), decreased. LIPUS could rescue the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs with increased expression of osteogenic marker inhibited by force. Mechanically, the expression of LaminA/C, F-actin, and YAP1 was downregulated after force treatment, which could be rescued by LIPUS. Moreover, the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs increased by LIPUS could be attenuated by YAP siRNA treatment. Consistently, LIPUS increased alveolar bone density and decreased vertical bone absorption in vivo. The decreased expression of COL1, OCN, and YAP1 on the compression side of the alveolar bone was partially rescued by LIPUS. LIPUS can accelerate tooth movement and reduce alveolar bone resorption by modulating the cytoskeleton-Lamin A/C-YAP axis, which may be a promising strategy to reduce the orthodontic treatment process.

The Efficiency of Segmental Le Fort I Surgery in Clear Aligner Therapy of Skeletal Class III Deformity: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency of segmental Le Fort I osteotomy in clear aligner therapy of skeletal Class III deformities and to explore whether Le Fort I segmental osteotomy was effective for maxillary incisor axis correction and reduced the duration of perioperative orthodontics. Patients who had skeletal Class III deformities (ANB<0) treated with extraction of the maxillary first premolars, segmental Le Fort I osteotomy, and clear aligners therapy were included in this retrospective study. We measured the amount of tooth extraction space that was closed by surgery and recorded the preoperative orthodontic and total treatment duration. Lateral cephalograms were analyzed to measure changes of maxillary incisor inclination before treatment (T0), 1 week before surgery (T1), 1 week after surgery (T2), and after total orthodontic treatment (T3). Statistical analyses were performed, and the P value was set at 0.05. The sample was composed of 15 patients aged 19 to 30 (M=22.9) years. The average preoperative orthodontic treatment duration was 16.2±5.22mo, with 33.5 pairs of clear aligners. The gap at the extraction site decreased from 5.42±1.57mm to 0.80±0.62mm on average after surgery. U1-SN and U1-NA(deg) increased sparingly with preoperative decompensation, decreased in quantity after surgery, and then slightly increased with postoperative compensation (T2<T3<T0<T1; △ U1-SN, △ U1-NA: T1-T2, P <0.05; T0 - T1 and T2-T3, P >0.05). Le Fort I segmental osteotomy assisted decompensation of the upper anterior teeth and reduced the duration of preoperative orthodontics with clear aligners.

Effect of Lithium on Orthodontic Tooth Movement: a Systematic Review of Animal Studies.

This study aimed to systematically review the effect of lithium on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). The focus question was "does lithium have an effect on OTM?" A systematic search was conducted using indexed databases and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. The quality assessment of the selected studies was performed according to the systematic review center for laboratory animal experimentation. Five of the initially identified 656 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were selected for this review. The studies reported that lithium administration lowered the rate of OTM by inducing a reduction in the number of osteoclasts and possibly inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. These studies further showed an increase in bone density and bone volume by promoting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and osteoblastogenesis. It was also noted that lithium reduced orthodontically induced root resorption during experimental OTM. Further, standardized studies are warranted to understand the impact of lithium in OTM. Overall, the risk of bias for 3 studies was very high, high in 1 study, and moderate in 1 study. On an experimental level in animals, lithium decreased the rate of OTM during the active treatment phase by increasing bone density and bone volume and reducing root resorption. In addition, lithium may enhance alveolar bone formation during orthodontic retention. Clinically, this may impact the orthodontic treatment duration in patients receiving lithium, and further studies are needed to understand the true impact of lithium on OTM.

Nickel Accumulation in Saliva and Urine Post Orthodontic Fixed Appliance Treatment in Malay Population

Objective: Prolonged nickel exposure, even in low amounts, is cytotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic. The study aims to evaluate the salivary and urinary nickel levels post-orthodontic fixed appliance treatment. Materials and Methods: Saliva and urine samples of fourteen orthodontic patients were taken at debonding (T0), after one month (T1), and three months post-debonding (T2), and compared with the control group. Samples were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and IBM SPSS Version 27 was used for statistical analyses. Results: The mean (SD) of orthodontic treatment duration was 33.6 (9.6) months. In comparison to the control group, the mean (SD) nickel levels in saliva and urine were highest at debonding (T0) with 12.71 ppb (9.64) and 9.71 ppb (8.27), respectively. In the test group, there was a significant difference in nickel level in saliva between T0 and T1 (MD = 9.75, 95% CI: 3.71, 15.71; p &lt; 0.05) and in urine between T0 and T1 (MD = 6.46, 95% CI: 1.38, 11.55; p = 0.012). Conclusion: Our results clearly demonstrated that the nickel level in saliva and urine remained higher at the end of orthodontic treatment compared to the control group. Further studies with a longer duration of observation and larger samples are suggested. Furthermore, our study indicates it is essential to confirm the effects of long-duration of orthodontic treatment and its post-treatment nickel level. This study raised attention about the biocompatibility of mechanical orthodontic treatment vs sustainable general health.

Forced eruption in impacted teeth: analysis of failed cases and outcome of re-operation

BackgroundForced eruption of an impacted tooth usually requires surgical and orthodontic interventions to successfully bring the tooth into the dental arch. The clinical time required for a forced eruption is difficult to predict before treatment begins and success rates are affected by several factors before and after an eruption. This study was conducted to identify factors that affect the success of forced eruption, the duration of orthodontic treatment of impacted teeth, and the reasons for re-operation and forced eruption failure in a various teeth and cases.MethodsIn this retrospective study, the records regarding the forced eruption of 468 teeth in 371 patients from June 2006 to May 2020 at the Advanced General Dentistry Department of Yonsei University Dental Hospital were initially examined. The records of 214 teeth in 178 patients who completed orthodontic treatment were included in the analysis. Data on patient demographics, tooth characteristics, orthodontic treatment duration, re-operations, and failures were collected from electronic medical records.ResultsThere was a significant difference in age between the success and failure forced eruption. Factors significantly affecting treatment duration were apex formation, position, rotation, and re-operation. Re-operation had a 96% success rate. The average orthodontic treatment duration was 29.99 ± 16.93 months, but the average orthodontic treatment duration for teeth that undergone re-operation was 20.36 ± 11.05 months, which was approximately 9 months shorter. Additionally, there was an interaction effect between rotation and re-operation on the duration of orthodontic treatment. The causes for failure of forced eruption in 6 cases were ankyloses (3 cases), incomplete alignment with the normal dental arch (2 cases), and a significant deviation in the impacted tooth’s location (1 case).ConclusionsTo increase the success rate of forced eruption, age should be considered as a priority, and in order to predict the treatment period, the apex formation status, position in the arch, and rotation should be considered in addition to age. When determining re-operation, considering factors such as ankylosis, root curvature, and apex formation can help in the success of orthodontic treatment.

The Influence of Demographic Factors of Nigerian Dentists on their Satisfaction with Duration of Orthodontic Treatment and Knowledge of Accelerated Orthodontics

Background: The duration of orthodontic treatment and the knowledge of accelerated orthodontics are very important to the dental practitioner but there are limited information on the relationship between their satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment and knowledge of accelerated orthodontics.&#x0D; Aim: To assess the associations between the demographics of the Nigerian dental practitioners and their satisfactions with the duration of orthodontic treatment and their knowledge of accelerated orthodontics.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Electronic and physical methods of surveying the Nigerian dental practitioners were carried out between January and June 2023. The contents of the questionnaire involving satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment and the knowledge of accelerated orthodontics were analysed for associations with the participants’ demographics, using the IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, the ANOVA and independent t-test were used with the significance level set at P &lt; .05.&#x0D; Results: No statistically significant associations were found between the dentists’ satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment and their age, gender and years of practice as dentists (P &gt; .05). Also, no statistically significant associations were found between the dentists’ knowledge of the methods of accelerated orthodontics and age (P &gt; .05). Statistically significant associations were found between the male gender and knowledge of administration of biological substances and piezocision, while the highest number of methods of accelerated orthodontics was statistically significantly associated with the years of practice of dentistry (P &lt; .05).&#x0D; Conclusion: Although no significant associations were found between the participants’ demographics and satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment, gender gave significant associations with knowledge of two methods of accelerated orthodontics, while years of practice of dentistry revealed the most significant associations with knowledge of accelerated orthodontics.

Impact of Duration of Orthodontic Treatment on Periodontal Health and Treatment Needs of Patients

Malocclusion is highly prevalent and can also affect the general health of patients. Orthodontic treatment is required to treat malocclusion. This treatment often leads to a deterioration in periodontal and general oral health of patients. Objective: To assess the impact of duration of orthodontic treatment on periodontal health and treatment needs of patients. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was done on a total of 51 individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment. The data were collected from July 2021 to June 2023 after obtaining ethical clearance. All participants above the age of 12 years irrespective of their gender were included in the study. Participants who had mixed dentition or other systemic illness were not included. Data were collected using the Community Periodontal index for treatment needs (CPITN). Results: The difference in CPITN scores across orthodontic treatment groups with respect to duration (p=0.382) was not significant. All groups irrespective of their treatment duration required Basic oral hygiene instructions (TN1) while Complex treatment (TN3) was only required by patients undergoing treatment for more than a year. Conclusions: Basic oral hygiene instructions (TN1) were the treatment need of all patients from all groups irrespective of their treatment duration. An equal percentage of patients from all three treatment groups required (TN2) while (TN3) was only required by patients undergoing treatment for more than a year.

Satisfaction with Duration of Orthodontic Treatment, Knowledge and Perception of Accelerated Orthodontics by Nigerian Dental Practitioners: A Questionnaire Study

Background: The duration of orthodontic treatment with its attendant complications has been a subject of concern in the specialty of orthodontics, necessitating the need to quicken the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. Despite the growing acceptance of accelerated orthodontics, there is paucity of related information from Nigeria.&#x0D; Aim: To assess the satisfaction of Nigerian dental practitioners with the duration of orthodontic treatment and their knowledge and perception of accelerated orthodontics.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Both electronic and physical survey was conducted among Nigerian dental practitioners between January and June 2023 involving both those in Government employment and private practice. The questionnaire contained questions on satisfaction with duration of orthodontic treatment, knowledge and perception of accelerated orthodontics. The data was analysed using the IBM SPSS version 25. In addition to the descriptive statistics, the Chi-square statistics was used to test the hypotheses with the significance level set at P &lt; .05.&#x0D; Results: The response rate was 50%. The participants gave significant differences in their levels of satisfaction with the duration of orthodontic treatment but only 42.4% of them were satisfied. Some knowledge-deficit of accelerated orthodontics was observed among the participants with significantly correct responses in only four out the seven methods assessed (P &lt; .05), while their positive perception of accelerated orthodontics was generally significant (P &lt; .05).&#x0D; Conclusion: The participants were not significantly satisfied with the duration of orthodontic treatment; had knowledge-deficit of the methods of accelerated orthodontics but significant positive perception.

Dental Occlusion Characteristics for Treatment Decision-Making Regarding Surgery-First Approach in Orthodontics.

The surgery-first approach (SFA) is conducted to decrease the difficulty and duration of orthodontic treatment by correcting the skeletal discrepancy at the initial stage of treatment. However, the indication of the SFA has not been well defined yet. This study explored the dental occlusion characteristics for treatment decision-making regarding the SFA. A total of 200 skeletal Class III patients were consecutively collected and divided into two groups: the orthodontic-first approach (OFA) group and the SFA group. The pretreatment digital dental models and lateral cephalograms were measured. Logistic regression was completed and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained to predict the probability of the SFA. Results showed that the ROC model with L1-MP, upper and lower arch length discrepancy, overbite, and asymmetric tooth number as influencing factors revealed that the sensitivity and specificity for determining SFA were 83.0% and 65.0%, respectively; the accuracy of prediction was 75.0%. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the six measurements from digital dental models and lateral cephalograms can be effectively applied in treatment decision-making for the SFA with satisfactory accuracy.

A Novel Machine Learning Model for Predicting Orthodontic Treatment Duration.

In the field of orthodontics, providing patients with accurate treatment time estimates is of utmost importance. As orthodontic practices continue to evolve and embrace new advancements, incorporating machine learning (ML) methods becomes increasingly valuable in improving orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. This study aimed to develop a novel ML model capable of predicting the orthodontic treatment duration based on essential pre-treatment variables. Patients who completed comprehensive orthodontic treatment at the Indiana University School of Dentistry were included in this retrospective study. Fifty-seven pre-treatment variables were collected and used to train and test nine different ML models. The performance of each model was assessed using descriptive statistics, intraclass correlation coefficients, and one-way analysis of variance tests. Random Forest, Lasso, and Elastic Net were found to be the most accurate, with a mean absolute error of 7.27 months in predicting treatment duration. Extraction decision, COVID, intermaxillary relationship, lower incisor position, and additional appliances were identified as important predictors of treatment duration. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of ML in predicting orthodontic treatment duration using pre-treatment variables.

Functional Biomaterials for Local Control of Orthodontic Tooth Movement.

Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) occurs with the application of a controlled mechanical force and results in coordinated tissue resorption and formation in the surrounding bone and periodontal ligament. The turnover processes of the periodontal and bone tissue are associated with specific signaling factors, such as Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kappa-β Ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), etc., which can be regulated by different biomaterials, promoting or inhibiting bone remodeling during OTM. Different bone substitutes or bone regeneration materials have also been applied to repair alveolar bone defects followed by orthodontic treatment. Those bioengineered bone graft materials also change the local environment that may or may not affect OTM. This article aims to review functional biomaterials that were applied locally to accelerate OTM for a shorter duration of orthodontic treatment or impede OTM for retention purposes, as well as various alveolar bone graft materials which may affect OTM. This review article summarizes various types of biomaterials that can be locally applied to affect the process of OTM, along with their potential mechanisms of action and side effects. The functionalization of biomaterials can improve the solubility or intake of biomolecules, leading to better outcomes in terms of increasing or decreasing the speed of OTM. The ideal timing for initiating OTM is generally considered to be 8 weeks post-grafting. However, more evidence is needed from human studies to fully understand the effects of these biomaterials, including any potential adverse effects.

A Novel Method to Accelerate Orthodontic Tooth Movement Using Low-Intensity Direct Electrical Current in Patients Requiring en-Masse Retraction of the Upper Anterior Teeth: A Preliminary Clinical Report.

Shortening the duration of orthodontic treatment by speeding up the rate of tooth movement has become an essential goal for both orthodontists and patients. This preliminary report aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a new intraoral removable electrical device in accelerating the en-masse retraction of the upper anterior teeth using low-intensity direct electrical current. This prospective preliminary interventional clinical study was conducted at the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Syria, between March 2019 and February 2020. The sample consisted of six patients (four females and two males; mean age: 19.55 ± 0.89 years) whose initial diagnosis was class II division I malocclusion, and their treatment plansuggested the extraction of upper first premolars followed by en-masse retraction. The electrical stimulation was applied on the maxillary anterior region during the en-masse retraction phase using a specially fabricated removable device that was designed by two coauthors of this manuscript (RIS, MYH). Patients were asked to wear their own electrical devices inside their mouths for five hours daily. The primary outcomes were the en-masse retraction rate and duration. The secondary outcomes were safety and patient acceptance. The average total retraction rate during the treatment period was 0.97±0.06 mm/month. The total amount of retraction achieved during follow-up was 5.65 ± 0.85 mm, which was about 91.86% of the space resulting from the extraction of the upper first premolars. The mean treatment duration to complete the en-masse retraction was 5.66±0.81 months. No side effects of the electrical stimulation were found during the follow-up. Low-intensity direct electrical current could be an effective method to accelerate orthodontic movement. The electrical accelerating device used in this study effectively increased the en-masse retraction rate of the upper anterior teeth without any side effects and with high patient acceptance.

Effect of maxillary constriction orthodontic correction using a fixed appliance with a screw in teenagers during a growth spurt

Relevance. The research is relevant because of a high prevalence of anterior and posterior crowding in children with mixed and permanent dentition (from 42 to 86 %), for whom the correction of the dentition form and the size is recommended by fixed expanding appliances with a screw. After the teenage growth spurt, the growth and development of jaws end, steady pathological signs form, there are psychological problems in a face and smile selfperception, and the question of the orthodontic treatment duration arises.Purpose. To study the effectiveness of treatment of patients with maxillary premolar area constriction during growth spurt using two modifications of fixed Hyrax expander.Material and methods. We examined 22 male patients aged 10.6 to 13 y.o. (average age 11.2 ± 1.6 years old) with permanent dentition, constriction of the posterior teeth and crowding of incisors, treated with a fixed expander (Hyrax appliance) in the upper jaw during the growth spurt. The patients formed two groups. Group 1 (n = 11) had the Hyrax screw at the level of the upper first premolars, and Group 2 (n = 11) had the Hyrax lock located at the first permanent molars. The patients activated the expander independently by ¼ turn every other day for six months. Then the appliance remained in the mouth for three months. We studied the maxillary expansion results on plaster models before and after six months of the expander fixation using the Tonn, Pont, Korkhaus, Bolton method.Results. The study has established that orthodontic correction of transversal abnormalities with a fixed Hyrax expander affects the maxillary posterior teeth expansion, changes their parameters and improves their movement. At the same time, in Group 1, the width between the first premolars and the first molars reached the norm calculated from the sum of the mesiodistal dimensions of the upper incisors, and in Group 2, the width between the first permanent molars exceeded the normal, and inter-first-premolar distance did not reach the normal values for three months of activation.Conclusion. Fixed Hyrax expander showed the best results if the screw was at the level of first premolars during the teenage growth spurt.