A sparse principal component analysis of Class III malocclusions.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the most characteristic variables out of a large number of anatomic landmark variables on three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images. A modified principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify which anatomic structures would demonstrate the major variabilities that would most characterize the patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from 217 patients with severe skeletal Class III malocclusions who had undergone orthognathic surgery. The input variables were composed of a total of 740 variables consisting of three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates and their Euclidean distances of 104 soft tissue and 81 hard tissue landmarks identified on the CT images. A statistical method, a modified PCA based on the penalized matrix decomposition, was performed to extract the principal components. RESULTS: The first 10 (8 soft tissue, 2 hard tissue) principal components from the 740 input variables explained 63% of the total variance. The most conspicuous principal components indicated that groups of soft tissue variables on the nose, lips, and eyes explained more variability than skeletal variables did. In other words, these soft tissue components were most representative of the differences among the Class III patients. CONCLUSIONS: On three-dimensional images, soft tissues had more variability than the skeletal anatomic structures. In the assessment of three-dimensional facial variability, a limited number of anatomic landmarks being used today did not seem sufficient. Nevertheless, this modified PCA may be used to analyze orthodontic three-dimensional images in the future, but it may not fully express the variability of the patients.

Digital veneering system enhances microtensile bond strength at zirconia core-veneer interface.

This study investigated the effect of digital veneering system (DVS) on strengthening the bond between a zirconia core and ceramic veneer. Specimens for Groups 1 (negative control), 2 (positive control), 3, and 4 used conventional porcelain veneering technique on untreated, sandblasted, coloring agent-treated, and modifier-treated zirconia cores respectively. Group 5 used DVS, where glass ceramic veneers­produced by computer-aided milling­were fused to zirconia cores. Microtensile bond strengths (MTBS) at the interface were measured. MTBS results of Groups 1 to 5, expressed in mean (standard deviation), were 28.1 (7.3), 27.8 (6.3), 30.0 (10.2), 32.9 (8.1), and 37.8 (8.1) MPa. The DVS group had significantly higher MTBS than the negative and positive controls (p<0.05). Results showed that DVS enhanced the bond strength between zirconia core and ceramic veneer, indicating that this system could reduce adhesive failure-related complications that frequently occur at the zirconia core-veneer interface.

Investigation of anodized titanium implants coated with triterpenoids extracted from black cohosh: an animal study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate bone response to anodized titanium implants coated with the extract of black cohosh, Asarum Sieboldii, and pharbitis semen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: FORTY ANODIZED TITANIUM IMPLANTS WERE PREPARED AS FOLLOWS: group 1 was for control; group 2 were implants soaked in a solution containing triterpenoids extracted from black cohosh for 24 hours; group 3 were implants soaked in a solution containing extracts of black cohosh and Asarum Sieboldii for 24 hours; group 4 were implants soaked in a solution containing extracts of pharbitis semen for 24 hours. The implants from these groups were randomly and surgically implanted into the tibiae of ten rabbits. After 1, 2, and 4 weeks of healing, the nondecalcified ground sections were subjected to histological observation, and the percentage of bone-to-implant contact (BIC%) was calculated. RESULTS: All groups exhibited good bone healing with the bone tissue in direct contact with the surface of the implant. Group 2 (52.44 ± 10.98, 25.54 ± 5.56) showed a significantly greater BIC% compared to that of group 3 (45.34 ± 5.00, 22.24 ± 2.20) with respect to the four consecutive threads and total length, respectively. The BIC% of group 1 (25.22 ± 6.00) was significantly greater than that of group 3 (22.24 ± 2.20) only for total length. CONCLUSION: This study did not show any remarkable effects of the extract of black coshosh and the other natural products on osseointegration of anodized titanium implants as coating agents. Further studies about the application method of the natural products on to the surface of implants are required.

The effect of abutment screw length on screw loosening in dental implants with external abutment connections after thermocycling.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of abutment screw length on screw loosening after thermocycling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one grade 5 titanium (Ti) abutments were connected to grade 4 Ti implants with grade 5 Ti abutment screws. These implant/abutment screw/abutment assemblies were divided into seven groups according to the length of the abutment screw; each group included three assemblies. The screws were tightened to 30 Ncm and subjected to 2,000 thermocycles in water baths at 4°C and 60°C, with 60 seconds of immersion at each temperature. Removal torque values (RTVs) were measured before and after thermocycling, and differences in RTVs according to abutment screw length pre- and post-thermocycling were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Mean RTVs before and after thermocycling were as follows: 23.0±4.4 Ncm and 25.5±0.9 Ncm for 1.4-mm-long abutment screws, 26.7±2.5 and 24.5±2.6 Ncm for 1.8-mm screws, 26.0±1.3 and 25.0±1.8 for 2.2-mm screws, 25.0±2.0 and 25.3±0.8 for 2.6-mm screws, 22.5±4.4 and 22.5±0.5 for 3.0-mm screws, 26.5±2.3 and 25.2±1.3 for 3.4-mm screws, and 25.5±4.8 and 23.2±0.8 for 3.8-mm screws, respectively. As the screw length increased, no statistically significant differences were found in the mean RTVs among the groups before or after thermocycling. Additionally, none of the groups showed significant changes in RTVs after cyclic thermal stress. CONCLUSION: Abutment screw length had no significant effect on screw loosening under thermal stress. From the results of this study, daily temperature changes in the oral cavity may have no negative influence on the integrity of an implant-abutment joint when a minimum of three and a half threads of an abutment screw are engaged.