Australian Orthodontic Journal

This paper questions the adequacy of orthodontists' full appreciation of the issues associated with the routine prescription of extra- oral radiography, particularly that related to a high risk of thyroid gland exposure to ionising radiation. There does not appear to be adequate application of the ALARA principle in the consileration of justifiable options to minimise the cumulative effects of radiation exposure in young patients.

INTRODUCTION: The validity, reliability and inter-method agreement of Peer Assessment Scores (PAR) from acrylic models and their digital analogues were assessed. METHOD: Ten models of different occlusions were digitised, using a 3 Shape R700 laser scanner (Copenhagen, Denmark). Each set of models was conventionally and digitally PAR-scored twice in random order by 10 examiners. The minimum time between repeat measurements was two weeks. The repeatability was assessed by applying Carstensen's analysis...

INTRODUCTION: Neural crest cells make up a transient migratory population of cells found in all vertebrate embryos. Great advances have been made over the past 20 years in clarifying the molecular basis of neural crest induction and, although much still remains unclear, it appears that it is a process involving several factors acting at different stages of embryogenesis. In the future, an understanding of the precise mechanisms involved in orofacial development, even at the earliest stages, may well be of use to all clinicians interested in the management of these tissues...

BACKGROUND: Titanium alloy mini-implants have become popular in recent times and have been extensively used and studied. Although corrosion resistance of orthodontic materials has always been of concern, this property has been the least explored. The present study aimed to assess the composition, surface characterisation and corrosion resistance of five commercially available mini-implants by assaying ion release in artificial saliva. METHODS: Ten mini-implants each from five companies were obtained: Group 1 - AbsoAnchor (Dentos Inc, South Korea); Group 2 - Microimplant Anchorage System (MIA, Biomaterials Korea); Group 3 - The Orthodontic Mini Anchorage System (TOMAS, Dentaurum, Germany); Group 4 - mini-implants (Denticon, Maharashtra, India); Group 5 - orthodontic mini-implants (lJ...

BACKGROUND: Appropriate screening and referral is important in delivering effective and timely orthodontic treatment. In New Zealand, dental therapists are usually the initial contact for oral health care (including the assessment of malocclusion) in child and adolescent patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the orthodontic screening and referral practices of dental therapists in New Zealand. METHODS: Ten registered dental therapists from Auckland and Dunedin were interviewed using a semi-structured approach...

BACKGROUND: A Class Il malocclusion is the most frequent sagittal skeletal disharmony presenting for orthodontic treatment. A transverse interarch discrepancy ITID) may be considered as a possible functional cause of a Class 11 relationship. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine transverse interarch width dimensions before and after orthodontic therapy and their possible relationship with increased mandibular projection following treatment...

AIM: Rapid maxillary expansion is performed to correct a skeletal transverse deficiency of the maxilla, which is a frequently- encountered orthodontic anomaly. Strontium ranelate (SrR) is a novel agent that has a dual action, involving anti-resorptive and bone-forming effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemically applied SrR on osteoblastic bone formation after maxillary expansion on the mid-palatal suture of rats using histological and immunohistochemical tests...

AIM: To compare the effects of the Herbst appliance and the Activator at the completion of two-phase treatment, with respect to the vertical facial pattern (VFP) and to identify possible predictors of treatment effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pretreatment, post-treatment and overall cephalometric change data were used to assess the dental and skeletal effects. Results for the change in mandibular length were also compared with changes reported for an untreated external control group...

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For some years there has been unrest in the statistical world regarding the use of the p-value. It has been indicated that the significance of p-values is open to question, which therefore reduces the ability to measure the strength of evidence. This paper examines the use and misuse of the p-value and recommends consideration in its application.

BACKGROUND: Hemimandibular hyperplasia (HH), also known as hemimandibular hypertrophy, is characterised by excessive unilateral three-dimensional growth of the mandible after birth. Vertical unilateral elongation of the mandible becomes clinically evident as a rare form of vertical facial asymmetry. Aberrant growth of the facial skeleton affects the developing dentition and the dental compensatory mechanism is usually unable to maintain optimal occlusal relationships. The resulting malocclusion is effectively managed by combined surgical-orthodontic care to address the facial, skeletal and dental problems that confront clinicians...

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to assess the skeletal, dental and soft tissue effects of a specific treatment protocol in consecutively treated patients who presented with a Class III malocclusion. Treatment involved the use of a Hybrid Hyrax (HH) in the maxilla, a Mentoplate in the mandible and the application of continuous intra-oral Class III elastics. METHOD: The treated group was comprised of seven males and seven females (mean pretreatment age 10...

AIM: To demonstrate the use of the Invisalign appliance in lower incisor extraction cases. METHOD: Twelve patients, consecutively treated by the removal of a single lower incisor and Invisalign appliances, were selected from the author's private practice. Pretreatment, treatment and post-treatment photographic records were obtained and are presented. RESULTS: All cases completed treatment, with a mean treatment time of 42 weeks. Fifty percent of the cases required a brief period of refinement (average six weeks) at the end of the initial projected treatment period...

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in mandibular position after the treatment of patients presenting with Class II division 2 malocclusions and to test the null hypothesis that there is posterior displacement of the mandible in these patients, in comparison with a control group of Class II division 1 subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The assessed data consisted of pre- and post-treatment cephalometric radiographs of 77 subjects identified with Class II division 1 and Class II division 2 malocclusions matched according to age, gender and treatment duration...

AIMS: To compare the analgesic effect of topical benzocaine (5%) and ketoprofen (1.60 mg/mL) after 2 mm activation of 7 mm long delta loops used for maxillary en-masse orthodontic space closure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (seven males, 13 females, 15-25 years of age, mean age of 19.5 years) participated in a randomised crossover, double-blind trial. After appliance activation, participants were instructed to use analgesic gels and record pain perception at 2, 6, 24 hours and 2, 3 and 7 days (at 18...

AIMS: To determine the effect of varying the transverse cant of the anterior teeth on orthodontists' and laypeople's perceptions of smile aesthetics, and the influence that smile height has on this perception. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 20-year-old Chinese female with an aesthetic smile and normal occlusion was chosen and agreed to participate. Digital pictures of her posed smile were taken and manipulated to create three smile height variations: low, medium, or high...

AIM: To assess the sagittal soft tissue morphology of patients with acromegaly in comparison with a healthy control group. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with acromegaly (11 male, 16 female; mean age 47.3 ± 11.5 years) and 30 healthy subjects (15 male, 15 female; mean age 42.2 ± 17.4 years) were included in the study. Linear and angular measurements were made on lateral cephalograms to evaluate soft tissue and skeletal characteristics. The intergroup comparisons were analysed with the Student's t-test...

BACKGROUND: Following the debonding of orthodontic brackets, the removal of residual adhesive from the enamel surface is required. Published adhesive removal protocols present conflicting advice. AIMS: The present study evaluated the surface roughness of enamel after debonding and instrumentation with non-traditional orthodontic polishing systems. METHODS: The facial aspects of 35 extracted human incisor teeth were scanned with a surface profilometer for surface roughness prior to the bonding of orthodontic brackets...

AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the cephalometric effects of a conventional Hyrax expansion screw and a memory screw on the skeletal and dentoalveolar structures and soft tissues of the face. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with a maxillary transverse deficiency were divided into two groups. A memory-screw group included 17 patients (nine females and eight males), while a Hyrax-screw group was comprised of 15 patients (eight females and seven males)...

AIM: To test the hypothesis that enamel surface deproteinisation with different concentrations of bromelain in association with 10% papain increases the shear bond strength (SBS) of brackets bonded with orthodontic composite and resin modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Orthodontic brackets were attached according to the following protocols to 195 bovine incisors, which were acquired and divided into 13 groups: 1) Transbond XT (TXT) according to the manufacturer's recommendations; 2) Deproteinisation with 3% bromelain (BD) plus 10% papain and TXT; 3) 6% BD plus 10% Papain and TXT; 4) RMGIC, without enamel deproteinisation and without acid etching; 5) RMGIC, with 3% BD plus 10% papain and without acid etching; 6) RMGIC, with 6% BD plus 10% papain and without acid etching; 7) attachment using RMGIC following etching with polyacrylic acid; 8) 3% BD plus 10% papain, attachment using RMGIC and etching with polyacrylic acid; 9) 6% BD plus 10% papain, and attachment using RMGIC following etching with polyacrylic acid; 10) etching with 37% phosphoric acid and attachment using RMGIC; 11) 3% BD plus 10% papain, etching with 37% phosphoric acid and attachment using RMGIC; 12) 6% BD plus 10% papain, etching with 37% phosphoric acid and attachment using RMGIC; 13) deproteinisation with 2...