Midpalatal suture maturation assessment by individuals with different levels of academic degree using cone beam computed tomography

Objective: Our aim wasto analyze the reliability of midpalatal suture maturationassessment in females in the final growth period using cone-beam computedtomography (CBCT) by an undergraduate student in two time periods (intra-examiner) and compared to an orthodontist (inter-examiner). Methods: Fortypretreatment CBCT images of 14 to 19-year-old females were selected. Imageswere oriented in the InVivo Dental 5.1 software. Axial slices were selected either bya researcher (preselected slices ­ suture-PS) or by the examiners (free scanningand slice selection ­ suture-FS) and each image was classified according to itsmidpalatal suture maturation stage. The examiners analyzed all imagesindividually and twice, with a two-week interval between sessions. The weightedkappa coefficient according to Landis and Kock was used to assess intra- andinter-examiner agreement. Results: The Kappa intra-examiner of theundergraduate student was 0.824 for suture-PS and 0.692 for suture-FS, and theorthodontist was 0.919 and 0.695, respectively. Inter-observer agreement washigher for suture-PS (>0.479) than for suture-FS (>0.300). Conclusion: The intra-observer kappa coefficient was very good for the undergraduate student, similarto the orthodontist. However, inter-examiner agreement was not good, indicatinga need for development in the method training.

Objetivo: Avaliar a confiabilidade da classificação dos estágios de fusão da suturapalatina mediana em adolescentes do sexo feminino através de tomografiacomputadorizada cone beam (TCCB) por aluno da graduação em dois tempos(intraexaminador) e comparado a um ortodontista (interexaminador). Métodos:Foram selecionadas tomografias de 40 meninas na faixa etária de 14 a 19 anos feitaspreviamente ao tratamento ortodôntico. No software InVivo Dental 5.1 as imagens dacabeça foram orientadas de forma padronizada. Os cortes axiais desejados foramselecionados por um pesquisador ou por cada examinador e cada imagemresultante foi classificada quanto ao estágio de fusão da sutura palatina mediana.Os operadores realizaram todas as classificações duas vezes com intervalo de duassemanas entre as sessões, cada um individualmente. O coeficiente kappa ponderadode acordo com Landis e Kock foi utilizado para avaliar a concordânciaintraexaminador e interexaminador. Resultados: O kappa intraexaminador doaluno da graduação foi de 0,824 pra cortes pré-selecionados e 0,692 para osorientados por ele mesmo, e do ortodontista foi de 0,919 e 0,695, respectivamente.O coeficente kappa entre eles foi 0,479 e 0,300. Conclusão: Apesar do aluno degraduação ser mais inexperiente, sua concordância intraexaminador foi muitoboa, semelhante à do ortodontista. No entanto, a concordância entre eles não foiboa, demonstrando necessidade de aprimoramento no treinamento do método.

Duration of effectiveness of Botulinum toxin type A in excessive gingival display: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Botulinum toxin type A is effective in reducing excessive gingival display caused by hyperfunctional upper lip elevator muscles; however, this effect is transient. This study aimed to determine the duration of the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A on a gummy smile. A systematic search was conducted using Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases, from 1970 to March 2017 with no language restriction; the search included studies evaluating adult patients with excessive gingival display who were treated with botulinum toxin and were followed-up for at least 3 months. OpenGrey and Clinical Trial Registry were also consulted. Quality assessment was applied to determine the level of evidence and bias, and a meta-analysis was performed. Of 2181 full texts, 71 were obtained, with 3 prospective studies meeting the selection criteria. The gingival display was significantly reduced to baseline with 2, 4, and 8 weeks of treatment. The gingival display considerably reduced at the baseline-2-week comparison (-4.44 mm using raw data and-4.05 mm using the standard difference) and increased throughout the weeks of follow-up. There is scant evidence to determine the duration of the effectiveness of toxin type A on a gummy smile. The effect tends to be stable until at least 8 weeks of follow-up, and the gingival exposure may not return to baseline within 12 weeks of follow-up. Well-designed randomized clinical trials with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up are necessary to strengthen the evidence.