Evaluation of condylar position in patients with malocclusion and changes in condylar position before and after orthodontic treatment using cone beam computed tomography / 口腔疾病防治

@#The functional health and stability of the oral and maxillofacial system is one of the basic goals of orthodontic treatment. Currently, it is believed that, in general, the condyle is located in the center of the joint fossa when the mandible is in an intercuspal position (ICP) in healthy normal people. At this time, the function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is stable. Due to orthodontic tooth movement and subsequent occlusal changes, patients with malocclusion may experience related remodeling of the temporomandibular joint, especially changes in the position of the condyle. The position of the mandibular condyle is traditionally evaluated using a condylar position indicator. However, this method lacks consistency in obtaining condylar position changes. In recent years, in the clinical application of orthodontic treatment, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has become the first choice for examination. CBCT can accurately measure the interarticular space and determine changes in condylar position. This article reviews the CBCT assessment of condylar position and related research on condylar position changes in patients with malocclusion before and after orthodontic treatment. The literature review results indicate that there are differences in the condylar position of patients with different malocclusions, and the condylar position may also change before and after orthodontic treatment. With a lower radiation dose, CBCT has higher accuracy in evaluating the condylar position in patients with malocclusion who undergo orthodontic treatment, thus promoting further study of the mechanism of condylar position changes in patients with malocclusion in the future and providing more accurate and personalized guidance for patient treatment.

Achieved intrusion amount of the maxillary incisors and the influencing factors in clear aligner extraction cases / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @#To investigate the achieved intrusion amount of the maxillary incisors and the influencing factors in clear aligner cases treated with extraction of premolars. @*Methods @#This study has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee, and informed consent has been obtained from patients. Thirty adult female patients who underwent extraction of the bilateral maxillary first premolars followed by clear aligner therapy were included. CBCT data before and after treatment were obtained, and three-dimensional reconstruction with registration alignment was performed. A spatial coordinate system was established, and the achieved intrusion amount was measured, followed by calculation of the intrusion efficacy. The factors related to the achieved intrusion amount were investigated through multiple linear regression analysis.@*Results @#The overall efficacy of maxillary incisor intrusion was 54%, with the maxillary central incisors (48%) lower than the lateral incisors (59%), which was statistically significant (P<0.001). Regression analysis showed that the designed intrusion amount and the stepwise intrusion design were positively correlated with the achieved intrusion amount. The designed retroclination amount and use of class Ⅱ intermaxillary elastics were negatively correlated with the achieved intrusion amount. The initial overbite, overjet, crowding, upper central incisor inclination, amount of the first series of aligners, canine attachment type, posterior teeth attachment type and bite ramps had no significant correlation with the achieved intrusion amount.@*Conclusion@# In maxillary first premolar extraction cases treated with clear aligners, the upper central incisors have lower efficacy of intrusion movement than the lateral incisors. The achieved intrusion amount of maxillary incisors was influenced by multiple factors, which should be considered comprehensively for better vertical control in such cases.

Influencing factors of functional orthopedic appliances on skeletal class Ⅱ malocclusion in adolescents / 口腔疾病防治

@#Functional orthodontics is one of the most important methods in the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusion in adolescents. A deep understanding of the many factors affecting the effect of functional orthopedics can improve the efficiency of correction and achieve good results. In this paper, from the two aspects of patients and appliances, we analyzed the factors that affect the curative effect of class II malocclusion functional orthopedics and deeply analyzed the therapeutic mechanism of functional appliances to guide clinical treatment. The results of the literature review show that the peak period of growth and development is the best period for the treatment of skeletal Class II malocclusion. For patients with a vertical growth type, it is recommended to use a high head cap traction appliance to prevent the lower jaw from rotating backward and downward, and functional appliances such as titanium plates or implant nail-assisted anchorage can effectively reduce the lip inclination of the lower anterior teeth. In addition, compared with the traditional functional appliance, digital and personalized transparent braces are not only more aesthetically pleasing, comfortable and beneficial to periodontal health but also have many orthopedic appliances advantages, such as two-stage fusion, better incisor torque and vertical control of the posterior teeth, and can solve the problems of anterior interference and lateral deficiency while leading. With the development of digital orthodontics, transparent appliances have become an important developmental direction for functional appliances, but there are few related studies, and more clinical studies are needed to confirm their efficacy.

Current situation and prospect for orthodontic thermoplastic materials / 华西口腔医学杂志

Aesthetic and comfortable transparent retainers and clear plastic appliances are becoming increasingly popular, and their components, especially thermoplastic materials, are gradually attracting widespread interest. Orthodontic thermoplastic materials are versatile polymers, and thus their properties, such as force delivery, force relaxation, and aging properties have been comprehensively studied. Meanwhile, blending modification technology has been applied for the acquisition of novel materials with enhanced characteristics. In this paper, we review the types and properties of thermoplastic materials, the development process they undergo, factors that influence their properties, and some development prospects.

Static compression regulates OPG expression in periodontal ligament cells via the CAMK II pathway

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential role of CAMK II pathway in the compression-regulated OPG expression in periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs). Material and Methods The PDL tissue model was developed by 3-D culturing human PDLCs in a thin sheet of poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffolds, which was subjected to static compression of 25 g/cm2 for 3, 6 and 12 h, with or without treatment of KN-93. After that, the expression of OPG, RANKL and NFATC2 was investigated through real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Results After static compression, the NFATC2 and RANKL expression was significantly up-regulated, while partially suppressed by KN-93 for 6 and 12 h respectively. The OPG expression was significantly down-regulated by compression in 3 h, started to elevate in 6 h, and significantly up-regulated in 12 h. The up-regulation after 12 h was significantly suppressed by KN-93. Conclusions Long-term static compression increases OPG expression in PDLCs, at least partially, via the CAMK II pathway.

High and specialty-related musculoskeletal disorders afflict dental professionals even since early training years

OBJECTIVE: To determine how early musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) develop in dental professionals and to explore the potential differences among distinct dental specialties. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 271 dental postgraduates majoring in five dental specialties were recruited, i.e., orthodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics and alveolar surgery. 254 age-matched non-dental postgraduates served as the control. The standardized Nordic questionnaire on MSDs and a self-report questionnaire regarding correlative factors (only for dental postgraduates) were answered through emails. Reliability of responses was assessed applying test-retest method. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient of participants' answers ranged from 0.89 to 0.96. Dental postgraduates had significantly higher prevalence of MSDs than the control group, especially at neck, upper back and lower back. In all dental specialties included, high prevalence of MSDs was reported at neck (47.5%-69.8%), shoulders (50.8%-65.1%), lower back (27.1%-51.2%) and upper back (25.6%-46.5%), with lower prevalence at elbows (5.1%-18.6%), hips (3.4%-16.3%) and ankles (5.1%-11.6%). Periodontics students reported the worst MSDs in most body regions except wrists and knees, which were more prevalent for prosthodontic and alveolar surgery students, respectively. Furthermore, year of clinical work, clinical hours per week and desk hours per week were found as risk factors for MSDs, whereas physical exercise and rest between patients as protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: High and specialty-related MSDs afflict dental professionals even since very early stage of careers. Prevention aimed at the specialty-related characteristics and the risk/protective factors revealed in this study should be introduced to dental personnel as early as possible. .

Comparison of superficial masseter muscle morphology between adult high-angle and low-angle facial skeletal types / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective: To study the differences of the superficial masseter muscle morphology characteristics between adult high-angle and low-angle facial skeletal types. Methods: The subjects consisted of 37 yellow race adults,17 of them with high-angle facial skeletal type and 20 with low-angle. Ultrasound scanning was used to measure the perimeter, area, width, thickness, and length of masseter muscle. All the items were measured under relaxed, maximal clenching and maximal protrusive mandibular position.Results:①In the various mandibular positions, the masseter muscle size of adults with high-angle facial skeletal type was smaller than that of those with low-angle.②Except for the changes of width from the relaxed to maximal clenching position and from the relaxed to maximal protrusive position(P0.05).③Stature and weight influenced the size of the masseter muscle.Conclusion:The masseter muscle size of adult with high-angle facial skeletal type is smaller than that of those with low-angle.