Orthodontic treatment need among young Saudis attending public versus private dental practices in Riyadh.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the severity of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need among young Saudis receiving free treatment at public dental practices versus those paying for treatment at private practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated the records of 300 patients (179 females, 121 males; age 13-21 years) treated at orthodontic clinics from 2013 through 2015. The public sample was selected from orthodontic clinics at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University (KSU); the private sample was selected from five private orthodontic clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The records were examined for the severity of malocclusion and for orthodontic treatment need using the Dental Health Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. The prevalence of each occlusal discrepancy and the Dental Health Component grade were recorded. The severity of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need were compared between practice types, age groups, and sexes with the chi-square test. RESULTS: Displacement, increased overjet, and Class II and III malocclusion were the most common orthodontic problems in this study. Patients attending public clinics at KSU generally had more severe malocclusion than the patients attending private clinics. Seventy-seven percent of orthodontically treated patients at KSU clinics were in great need of treatment, compared with 58.5% of patients treated at private clinics (P=0.003). Among the patients with great treatment need, approximately 62% of male patients and 70% of patients ≤16 years of age were treated at KSU clinics, compared with 38% and 48%, respectively, treated at private clinics (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Young Saudis receiving free orthodontic treatment at public clinics at KSU had more severe malocclusion with greater need of orthodontic treatment than the patients paying for treatment at private clinics.

Effect of different preventive agents on bracket shear bond strength: in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of fluoride and CPP-ACP before bracket bonding on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets have been reported with contradicting results. The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of different preventive agents namely; casein phosphopeptide-amorphous-calcium-phosphate (CPP-ACP), fluoride-containing-CPP-ACP (CPP-ACPF) and 5% sodium fluoride (5% NaF), on the enamel-bracket shear bond strength (SBS) and to compare their effects when applied before or after acid-etching. METHODS: Human premolar teeth were randomly divided into seven groups (16 teeth per group) as follows: the control group, where no preventive agent was applied on the enamel and 6 experimental groups. Teeth in groups 1a, 2a, and 3a were treated with CPP-ACP paste, CPP-ACPF paste, and 5% NaF, respectively before acid-etching. Teeth in groups 1b, 2b and 3b were treated using the same preventive agents after acid-etching. The brackets were then bonded and the teeth were thermocycled. The brackets' SBS was measured and the adhesive remnant was assessed using adhesive remnant index (ARI). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test were performed to compare the SBS among different groups. Chi-square test was used to evaluate differences in ARI scores between the groups. RESULTS: Enamel surface treatment with CPP-ACPF after acid-etching significantly increased SBS compared to the control and to its application before acid-etching (P < 0.05). Higher ARI index was recorded when the preventive agents were applied after acid-etching. CONCLUSION: Brackets' SBS significantly increased when fluoride-containing-CPP-ACP was applied after acid-etching.

Age at maximum growth spurt in body height for Saudi school children aged 9-18 years.

OBJECTIVE: To provide growth reference values in body height, to determine the specific age at peak height velocity for Saudi male and female adolescences aged 9-18 years and to evaluate the appropriateness of using the Centers for Disease Control/National Center for Health Statistics (CDC/NCHS) growth standards in body height for the assessment of Saudi adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional anthropometric survey was conducted in 1053 Saudi male and female school children living in Riyadh city. The study sample was collected in the year 2000 and data were completed and refined in the year 2002. Standing height measurements were recorded for each subject using standard measuring techniques. The 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th percentiles for body height were calculated separately for boys and girls in one year intervals. The median reference values were compared with the corresponding values in the CDC/NHCS and with other similar studies on Saudi population. RESULTS: The results revealed that the age at peak height velocity for Saudi boys is 13-14 years and for Saudi girls is 10-11 years. The median value for body height at 18 years old for male and female was comparable with other studies reported in similar ethnic group. CONCLUSION: The use of the CDC/NCHS growth standard for height does not appear appropriate for the assessment of growth of Saudi children aged 9-18 years.