Quantitative Assessment of Dentine Sialophosphoprotein, Aspartate Aminotransferase and Lactate Dehydrogenase in Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Teeth with Root Resorption

ABSTRACT@#Root resorption is a shortening of root dentine which occurs physiologically in deciduous teeth. The present study aimed to quantify dentine sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) during the physiological process of root resorption of deciduous teeth. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 25 children aged between 4 and 10 years old. GCF was collected from the gingival sulcus using periopaper strips from the upper first deciduous molar (n = 45). The samples were divided equally into three groups, no resorption (R0), moderate resorption (RM) and severe resorption (RS), based on the existing radiographs taken. The GCF samples were then analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to determine the DSPP concentration levels and BioAssays System kit for AST and LDH. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the statistical differences between the means of the DSPP, AST and LDH concentration level in the three groups. A difference was considered significant when p < 0.05. High concentration levels of DSPP were significantly noted in RS (p < 0.05), compared to RM and R0. AST also portrayed significant high activity level (p < 0.05) similar to DSPP but LDH showed no significant changes between groups (p > 0.05). The high quantification of DSPP and AST levels in the severe and moderately resorbed roots indicated the potential use of this protein as a biomarker for detecting moderate-severe stages of root resorption.

Preliminary Result of Randomised Controlled Trial of Three Different Coated Archwires Part 1: Tooth Alignment and Coating Loss

@#Introduction: Coated archwires improve aesthetics during orthodontic treatment. However, little is known regarding their clinical benefit. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) compared the tooth alignment (TA), coating loss (CL), colour change (∆E*), and patient perception of coated archwires with their controls. Details of ∆E* and perception were reported in the second part of the articles. Methods: This RCT was done at three centres. Participants were randomised to receive one of four treatment interventions using 0.014” superelastic coated nickel-titanium archwires from Orthocare, RMO, G&H, and conventional uncoated 3M Unitek® archwires. These archwires were ligated during bonding and collected after eighth week and questionnaires were distributed to participants in the experimental groups only. After removal, TA and CL were measured using Little’s Irregularity Index and Autodesk® AutoCAD® software, respectively. At the time of this preliminary reporting, 84 participants had completed the trial. Two archwires fractured and were excluded. Therefore, 166 archwires (n = 166) were analysed. Results: Only non-extraction cases showed statistically significant differences in TA change between all groups (p = 0.005) and RMO showed significantly lowest mean of TA (1.5 mm). RMO and Orthocare showed significant TA change in the upper and lower arches (p = 0.037, 0.048). CL was found to be insignificant for both extraction and non-extraction cases (p >0.05). Comparison between upper and lower arches revealed no significant difference in TA and CL in all groups (p >0.05). Conclusion: From this preliminary analysis, Orthocare provides better TA in non-extraction cases despite highest percentage of coating loss.

Lasers for Prevention of White Spot Lesion: A Scoping Review

@#Lasers have been identified as one of the preventive tools that can be utilised to prevent white spot lesion in orthodontic practice. The aim of this scoping review was to evaluate the current scientific literature on the use of lasers specifically to prevent white spot lesion in orthodontic cases. Search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCO databases from the past ten years. The records obtained were peruse considering specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. From the total of 1123 studies that were evaluated, 68 papers were included for this review. A variety of laser types has been reported including Er;YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, Argon and CO2 lasers. CO2 laser has a good number of evidence of it’s positive result and can be suggested to be use in clinical practise. However, since most data for the other type of lasers were derived from in vitro studies, they must be interpreted with care. Randomised clinical trials would be beneficial to give more meaningful evidence for clinicians to adopt lasers in their practice.

Preliminary Result of Randomised Controlled Trial of Three Different Coated Archwires Part 2: Colour Change and Patient Perception

@#Introduction: Coated archwires improve aesthetics because of the tooth-coloured appearance. However, colour change of the coated archwires have been reported in vitro. Nonetheless, little is known to what extent this colour change occurs clinically. This second part of the multi-centre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial evaluated the colour change (∆E*) of three coated archwires with their controls and patient perception. Methods: 84 patients who received treatment with upper and lower fixed appliance treatment were invited. Consented patients were randomised to receive one of four treatment interventions using 0.014” superelastic nickel-titanium archwires from (1) Orthocare (2) RMO (3) G&H, and (4) 3M Unitek® uncoated. These archwires were ligated during bonding and collected after 8th week. After removal, the digital images of the archwires were assessed for colour change using Adobe® Photoshop® software, and the CIE L*a*b* system was used to calculate the ΔE* values. Patient perception was measured using oral aesthetic subjective impact scale (OASIS) questionnaire. Results: For colour change and patient perception assessment, 132 archwires from 66 participants who had been treated with aesthetic archwires were collected. Two fractured archwires were excluded. Initial analysis revealed all three aesthetic archwires groups showed significant mean of ∆E* with the highest was found in Orthocare (23.9), and the lowest is G&H (16.8). Post hoc comparison revealed statistically significant mean of ∆E* in Orthocare when compared with other groups (p <0.001). There was no statistically significant difference for patient perception between archwire groups. Conclusion: Preliminary results revealed that significant ∆E* in Orthocare group and patients showed positive perception following clinical use

The Importance of CBCT as Investigation for Impacted Canine: Case Reports

@#Panoramic radiograph is a routine investigation tool in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning however the limitation of two-dimensional image in assessing the position of impacted canine and surrounding tissues had cause unnecessary treatment options and complications during treatment. This report highlights the differences in investigation outcome and orthodontic treatment planning of two similar cases of patients with impacted upper canine, in which one only had panoramic radiograph and another case supplemented with Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). The case supported only by panoramic radiograph had changes in treatment planning during canine removal surgery as prevention from oro-antral fistula. This event could have been prevented if CBCT was taken where the canine can be assessed for proximity towards maxillary sinus. It is recommended for CBCT in orthodontic assessment for canine impaction especially for cases where canine is positioned higher than root apex of adjacent teeth and when root resorption is suspected.