Chrome cobalt mandibular advancement appliances for managing snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Snoring and sleep apnea are chronic conditions. This article describes the use of cobalt chrome mandibular advancement appliances as a long-term, robust addition to the appliances used to treat these conditions. The clinical indications, appliance design, construction stages and special features of using cast alloy bases are described.

Bonded retainers 'hands free'.

A simple technique is described to position and maintain a wire retained during direct bonding using a custom made acrylic carrier.

Simple orthodontic procedures can be safely performed on sick newborn babies.

The heart rate and transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions were monitored while palatal impressions were taken and dental plates fitted in thirteen sick new born babies. Twenty-four such procedures were uneventful and only one procedure gave rise to transient hypoxia.

An investigation of the features of the pre-term infant palate and the effect of prolonged orotracheal intubation with and without protective appliances.

The features of premature low birth weight infant palates were examined. Babies of less than 32 weeks gestation at birth were compared with 30 who had required orotracheal intubation for ten or more days. By random selection half of these babies were fitted with a protective supporting appliance during the intubation phase. Prolonged orotracheal intubation was shown to be associated with narrowing, deepening and some anterior elongation of the developing palate. The protective appliance was shown to reduce the extent of these changes and provided an additional means of orotracheal tube support.