Computer-based oral hygiene instruction versus verbal method in fixed orthodontic patients

Fixed orthodontic appliances in the oral cavity make tooth cleaning procedures more complicated

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of computerized oral hygiene instruction with verbal technique among fixed orthodontic patients referred to the evening clinic of Orthodontics of Shiraz Dental School

Materials and Methods: A single-blind study was performed in Orthodontic Department of Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran, from January to May 2015 following the demonstrated exclusion and inclusion criteria. The sample size was considered 60 patients with 30 subjects in each group. Bleeding on probing and plaque indices and dental knowledge were assessed in the subjects to determine pre-intervention status. A questionnaire was designed for dental knowledge evaluation. The patients were randomly assigned into the computerized and verbal groups. Three weeks after the oral hygiene instruction, indices of bleeding on probing and plaque index and the dental knowledge were evaluated to investigate post-intervention outcome. The two groups were compared by chi-square and student t tests. The pre- and post-intervention scores in each group were compared using paired t-test

Results: In the computerized group, the mean score for plaque index and bleeding on probing index was significantly decreased while dental health knowledge was significantly increased after oral hygiene instruction, in contrast to the verbal group

Conclusions: Within the limitations of the current study, computerized oral hygiene instruction is proposed to be more effective in providing optimal oral health status compared to the conventional method in fixed orthodontic patients

Comparison of wear resistance of hawley and vacuum formed retainers: an in-vitro study

Statement of Problem: As a physical property, wear resistance of the materials used in the fabrication of orthodontic retainers play a significant role in the stability and long term use of the appliances

Objectives: To evaluate the wear resistance of two commonly used materials for orthodontic retainers: Acropars OP, i.e. a polymethyl methacrylate based material, and 3A-GS060, i.e. a polyethylene based material

Materials and Methods: For each material, 30 orthodontic retainers were made according to the manufacturers' instructions and a 30×30×2 mm block was cut out from the mid- palatal area of each retainer. Each specimen underwent 1000 cycles of wear stimulation in a pin on disc machine. The depth of wear of each specimen was measured using a Nano Wizard II atomic force microscope in 3 random points of each specimen's wear trough. The average of these three measurements was calculated and considered as mean value wear depth of each specimen [micro m]

Results: The mean wear depth was 6.10micro m and 2.15micro m for 3A-GS060 and Acropars OP groups respectively. Independent t-test showed a significant difference between the two groups [p < 0.001]. The results show Polymethyl methacrylate base [Acropars] is more wear resistance than the polyethylene based material [3A-GS060]

Conclusions: As the higher wear resistance of the fabrication material can improve the retainers' survival time and its cost-effectiveness, VFRs should be avoided in situations that the appliance needs high wear resistance such as bite blocks opposing occlusal forces

Evaluation of perceived acceptability, beauty and value of different orthodontic brackets

Although different types of aesthetic brackets are introduced to orthodontic profession to reduce the complaints about the metallic braces, little studies have been done to assess patient's views regarding the attractiveness and acceptance of such brackets. The goal of this study was to evaluate the perceived acceptability, beauty and value of different orthodontic brackets.In a cross-sectional study, three groups of subjects consisting of dental school clinic patients, specialty clinic patients, and art students were interviewed. Sample size was decided 116 in each group. The photographic images of six types of brackets which were placed in an adult mouth were shown to the subjects and they were asked to answer the questions that evaluate attractiveness by visual analog scale [VAS], acceptability of different brackets, and willingness to pay [WTP] for an aesthetic bracket in comparison to a regular bracket. Reliability was measured by giving questionnaires to 20 respondents by a two-week interval. VAS rating was compared by ANOVA. Mann U Whitney and Chi-square tests were used to compare the acceptability between groups when necessary.The reliability measurement results performed by ICC were 0.86 for attractiveness, 0.6 for acceptability, and 0.93 for WTP questions. Lingual brackets had the highest attractiveness rating while metal brackets were considered the lowest aesthetic appliance by all groups of the study. The acceptability of ceramic bracket was highest in all groups. While most appliances evaluated had average acceptability, the large metallic brackets were rated very low. WTP for aesthetic braces was higher in art students than other groups.Lingual brackets were the most attractive but had very low acceptability rate. Small metal brackets had a good acceptability rate. Large metal brackets were the least attractive and had the lowest acceptability. Parents accepted aesthetic brackets for their children even when it cost more

Software designation to assess the proximity of different facial anatomic landmarks to midlines of the mouth and face

Recognition and determination of facial and dental midline is important in dentistry. Currently, there are no verifiable guidelines that direct the choice of specific anatomic landmarks to determine the midline of the face or mouth.The purpose of this study was to determine which of facial anatomic landmarks is closest to the midline of the face as well as that of the mouth.Frontal full-face digital images of 92 subjects [men and women age range: 20-30 years] in smile were taken under standardized conditions commonly used anatomic landmarks, nasion, tip of the nose, and tip of the philtrum were digitized on the images of subjects and aesthetic analyzer software used for midline analysis using Esthetic Frame. Deviations from the midlines of the face and mouth were measured for the 3 clinical landmarks; the existing dental midline was considered as the fourth landmark. The entire process of midline analysis was done by a single observer and repeated twice. Reliability analysis and 1-sample t- tests were conducted.The Intra-class correlation coefficients [ICCs] for reliability analysis of RFV and RCV measures made two times revealed that the reliabilities were all acceptable. The results indicated that each of the 4 landmarks deviated uniquely and significantly [P<.001] from the midlines of the face as well as mouth in both males and females.There was a significant difference between the mean ratios of the chosen anatomic landmarks and the midlines of the face and mouth. The hierarchy of anatomic landmarks closest to the midline of the face is: [1] midline of the commissures, [2] nasion, [3] tip of philtrum,[4]dental midline, and [5] tip ofthe nose. The closest anatomic landmarks to the mouth midline are: [1] tip of philtrum, [2] dental midline, [3] tip of nose, and [4] nasion

Introduction of aesthetic analyzer software: computer-aided linear and angular analysis of facial profile photographs

Statement of Problem: Evaluation of diagnostic records as a supplement to direct examination has an important role in treatment planning of orthodontic patients with aesthetic needs. Photogrammetry as a quantitative tool has recently attracted the attention of researchers again

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to design computer software to analyze orthodontic patients' facial profile photographic images and to estimate reliability and validity of its measurement

Materials and Method: Profile photographic images of 20 volunteered students were taken in the natural head position with standard technique. Manual linear and angular measurements were used as a gold standard and compared with the results obtained from Aesthetic analyzer Software [designed for that purpose]. Dahlberg's method error and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC] was used to estimate validity, reliability and inter-examiner errors

Results: Almost all the measurements showed a high correlation between the manual and computerized method [ICC>0.75]. The maximum method errors computed from Dahlberg's formula were 1.345 mm in linear and 3.294 degrees in angular measurements. At the highest levels, inter-examiner errors were 1.684 mm and 3.741 degrees in linear and angular measurements, respectively

Conclusion: Although a low budget has been allocated for the design of Aesthetic Analyzer software, its features are comparable with commercially available products. The software's capabilities can be increased. The results of the current study indicated that the software is accurate and repeatable in photographic analysis of orthodontic patients