Comparison of the bite force and occlusal contact area of the deviated and non-deviated sides after intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy in skeletal Class III patients with mandibular asymmetry: Two-year follow-up / 대한치과교정학회지

Objective@#The objectives of this study were to compare the time-dependent changes in occlusal contact area (OCA) and bite force (BF) of the deviated and non-deviated sides in mandibular prognathic patients with mandibular asymmetry before and after orthognathic surgery and investigate the factors associated with the changes in OCA and BF on each side. @*Methods@#The sample consisted of 67 patients (33 men and 34 women; age range 15-36 years) with facial asymmetry who underwent 2-jaw orthognathic surgery. OCA and BF were taken before presurgical orthodontic treatment, within 1 month before surgery, and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. OCA and BF were measured using the Dental Prescale System. @*Results@#The OCA and BF decreased gradually before surgery and increased after surgery on both sides. The OCA and BF were significantly greater on the deviated side than on the non-deviated side before surgery, and there was no difference after surgery. According to the linear mixed-effect model, only the changes in the mandibular plane angle had a significant effect on BF (p < 0.05). @*Conclusions@#There was a difference in the amount of the OCA and BF between the deviated and non-deviated sides before surgery. The change in mandibular plane angle affects the change, especially on the non-deviated side, during the observation period.

Observation of an extracted premolar 2.5 years after mineral trioxide aggregate apexification using micro-computed tomography

Although numerous studies have been conducted on apexification using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), direct observation of extracted human teeth after the procedure has been rarely reported. This case report describes a mandibular premolar treated 2.5 years ago and extracted recently for orthodontic treatment. The tubercle of the right mandibular premolar of a 12-year-old boy with dens evaginatus was fractured and the pulp was exposed. The tooth was diagnosed with pulp necrosis and asymptomatic periapical abscess. During the first visit, copious irrigation was performed with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite. Calcium hydroxide paste was placed as an intracanal medicament. The sinus tract had disappeared at the second visit after 3 weeks. MTA was applied on to the bleeding point as a 4-mm-thick layer, followed by a 3-mm-thick gutta-percha filling and resin core build-up. After 2.5 years, the tooth and three other premolars were extracted for orthodontic treatment. The right and left mandibular premolars were scanned with micro-computed tomography to determine the root shape and canal anatomy. Irregular root growth was observed and the root outline of the right mandibular premolar differed from that of the contralateral tooth. Apexification with MTA leads to the formation of roots with irregular morphology, without any pulpal space.

Effect of initial placement level and wall thickness on maintenance of the marginal bone level in implants with a conical implant-abutment interface: a 5-year retrospective study

PURPOSE: Implant wall thickness and the height of the implant-abutment interface are known as factors that affect the distribution of stress on the marginal bone around the implant. The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of supracrestal implant placement and implant wall thickness on maintenance of the marginal bone level. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 101 patients with a single implant were divided into the following 4 groups according to the thickness of the implant wall and the initial implant placement level immediately after surgery: 0.75 mm wall thickness, epicrestal position; 0.95 mm wall thickness, epicrestal position; 0.75 mm wall thickness, supracrestal position; 0.95 mm wall thickness, supracrestal position. The marginal bone level change was assessed 1 day after implant placement, immediately after functional loading, and 1 to 5 years after prosthesis delivery. To compare the marginal bone level change, repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate the statistical significance of differences within groups and between groups over time. Pearson correlation coefficients were also calculated to analyze the correlation between implant placement level and bone loss. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in bone loss among the 4 groups (P<0.01) and within each group over time (P<0.01) were observed. There was no significant difference between the groups with a wall thickness of 0.75 mm and 0.95 mm. In a multiple comparison, the groups with a supracrestal placement level showed greater bone loss than the epicrestal placement groups. In addition, a significant correlation between implant placement level and marginal bone loss was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of bone resorption was significantly higher for implants with a supracrestal placement compared to those with an epicrestal placement.

Dentofacial transverse development in Koreans according to skeletal maturation: A cross-sectional study / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE@#The aim of this study was to establish the normative data of dentofacial transverse dimensions according to the skeletal maturation stage in Korean adolescents with good occlusion, assess gender differences and determine correlations between transverse variables.@*METHODS@#A total of 577 Korean subjects between ages 7 to 19 years and exhibiting skeletal Class I occlusion were categorized by skeletal maturation index (SMI) of Fishman using hand-wrist radiographs. Dentofacial transverse dimensions were assessed using posteroanterior cephalograms. Independent two-sample t-tests were used to analyze differences between genders. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between transverse measurements.@*RESULTS@#Dentofacial transverse norms relevant to skeletal maturation stages were established. The average maxillomandibular width difference and ratio at growth completion was 22.16 mm and 77.01% for males; 23.70 mm and 74.06% for females, respectively. Males had greater facial, maxillary and mandibular widths compared to females at every SMI stage. The maxillary and mandibular intermolar widths showed the strongest correlation for both sexes (r = 0.826 for males, r = 0.725 for females).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Dentofacial transverse norms of Korean adolescents were established according to developmental stage. All dentofacial widths were greater in males at growth completion. Maxillary and mandibular intermolar widths were strongly correlated. This study may serve as a guideline for the assessment of dentofacial transverse growth according to skeletal maturation stage in Korean adolescents with good occlusion.

Skeletal myogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stromal cells isolated from orthodontically extracted premolars / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stem cell-like characteristics of human periodontal ligament (PDL) stromal cells outgrown from orthodontically extracted premolars and to evaluate the potential for myogenic differentiation. METHODS: PDL stromal cells were obtained from extracted premolars by using the outgrowth method. Cell morphological features, self-replication capability, and the presence of cell-surface markers, along with osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation, were confirmed. In addition, myogenic differentiation was induced by the use of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza) for DNA demethylation. RESULTS: PDL stromal cells showed growth patterns and morphological features similar to those of fibroblasts. In contrast, the proliferation rates of premolar PDL stromal cells were similar to those of bone marrow and adipogenic stem cells. PDL stromal cells expressed surface markers of human mesenchymal stem cells (i.e., CD90 and CD105), but not those of hematopoietic stem cells (i.e., CD31 and CD34). PDL stromal cells were differentiated into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Myotube structures were induced in PDL stromal cells after 5-Aza pretreatment, but not in the absence of 5-Aza pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: PDL stromal cells isolated from extracted premolars can potentially be a good source of postnatal stem cells for oromaxillofacial regeneration in bone and muscle.

The relationship between malocclusion and menarcheal age, and its secular trend for Korean women / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the mean age of menarche, its secular trend in Korean women, and the relationship between malocclusion and the rate of skeletal maturation, as defined by menarcheal age. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data on menarcheal age from 931 Korean women born during 1961 - 1997. Subjects were divided by the malocclusion type and birth-year decade into 3 and 4 groups, respectively. The mean menarcheal age for each group was determined, and one-way ANOVA was performed for intergroup comparison (p = 0.05). Two-way ANOVA was also performed to compare all the 12 subgroups (p = 0.05). RESULTS: The mean age of menarche was 12.82 years for Korean women born during 1961 - 1997. A distinct downward secular trend of menarcheal age was noticed (p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A positive secular trend towards earlier menarche exists among Korean women. Malocclusion does not show any significant relationship with the rate of skeletal maturation, as defined by menarcheal age.

The comparison of torque values in two types of miniscrews placed in rabbits: tapered and cylindrical shapes: Preliminary study / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the stability of cylindrical miniscrews (Cy, 7 mm in length) with that of tapered miniscrews (Ta, 5 mm in length), using torque values to determine if the healing time before loading affects the stability of the miniscrew and if the insertion torque is associated with the removal torque measured after a few weeks of healing. METHODS: Ta and Cy with different thread lengths were placed in the tibias of 12 female New Zealand white rabbits (body weight: 3.0 - 3.5 kg), and the maximum insertion torque values (ITV) were measured. No orthodontic forces were applied so as to allow us to determine the pure effects of the different shapes. After 3 different healing periods (2, 4, and 6 weeks), maximum removal torque values (RTV) were measured immediately before the rabbits were sacrificed. RESULTS: No miniscrews were loosened. There were no significant differences in ITV or RTV between the Ta and Cy nor were there any significant differences in the ITV and RTV between the 3 groups, which had different healing periods. There was a correlation between the ITV and RTV. CONCLUSIONS: Shorter Ta showed similar stability as Cy, as determined by torque values. This result strongly suggests that the tapered shape is more advantageous than the cylindrical shape. The RTV did not increase significantly over time. It is recommended that a miniscrew be loaded immediately; waiting a few weeks before loading should be avoided. The correlation between the ITV and RTV suggests that the ITV can be used to estimate a screw's future stability.

Comparisons of occlusal force according to occlusal relationship, skeletal pattern, age and gender in Koreans / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occlusal force and contact area and to find its associating factors in Koreans. METHODS: Occlusal force and contact area in maximum intercuspation were measured using the Dental Prescale(R) system in 651 subjects (15 with normal occlusion, 636 with various malocclusions divided into subgroups according to the skeletal pattern, Angle's molar relationship, age and gender). RESULTS: Occlusal force of the normal occlusion group (744.5 +/- 262.6 N) was significantly higher than those of the malocclusion group (439.0 +/- 229.9 N, p < 0.05). Occlusal force was similar regardless of differences in ANB angle or Angle's molar classification, however the increase in vertical dimension significantly reduced occlusal force (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Occlusal force was significantly lower in the malocclusion group compared to the normal occlusion group, and in females compared to males, but it was not affected by age, antero-posterior skeletal pattern or molar classification. Although a hyperdivergent facial pattern indicated lower occlusal force compared to a hypodivergent facial pattern, the differences in skeletal pattern were not the primary cause of its decrease, but a secondary result induced by the differences in occlusal contact area according to the facial pattern.