Extraction of the deciduous canine as an interceptive treatment in children with palatally displaced canines - part II: possible predictors of success and cut-off points for a spontaneous eruption.

AIM: To analyse factors affecting the success rate of palatally displaced canines (PDCs) and eruption time and to find cut-off points to predict when interceptive extraction is beneficial versus unnecessary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients, 40 girls, 27 boys (10-13 years) with uni- (45) or bilateral (22) PDCs, persisting deciduous canine and no previous orthodontic treatment were randomly allocated for extraction or non-extraction using the block randomization method. There were no dropped out after the randomization or during the trial. Clinical examination and cone beam computed tomography was performed at 0, 6, and 12 months. Blinded measurements were done on baseline images. RESULTS: Erupted PDCs had a significantly smaller mesioangular angle, shorter distance of canine cusp tip-dental arch plane, and larger distance of canine cusp tip-midline, and the patients were younger compared to the non-erupted group. Faster eruption was noted of PDCs in the extraction group. Spontaneous eruption was achieved without prior deciduous canine extraction with cut-off points: initial canine cusp tip-midline of 11mm, canine cusp tip-dental arch plane of 2.5mm, or a mesioangular angle of 103 degrees. PDCs with a less favourable position, i.e. an initial cusp tip-midline of 6mm, a canine cusp tip-dental arch plane of 5mm, or a mesioangular angle of 116 degrees, will need surgical exposure despite interceptive extraction of the deciduous canine. The canine cusp tip-midline had the best predictive measure for assessing the outcome. LIMITATIONS: Decision on where to place the cut-off points may differ from one operator to another, therefore results from several studies are needed to get average cut-off points. CONCLUSIONS: Deciduous canine extraction is the variable that affects the spontaneous eruption of the canine most. Canine cusp tip-midline, canine cusp tip-dental arch plane, and mesioangular angle might be useful for distinguishing when an interceptive extraction of the deciduous canine is beneficial or when exposure of the PDC should be implemented without previous interceptive treatment. REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in 'FoU i Sverige' (http://www.fou.nu/is/sverige), registration number: 40921. PROTOCOL: The protocol was not published before trial commencement.

Extraction of the deciduous canine as an interceptive treatment in children with palatal displaced canines - part I: shall we extract the deciduous canine or not?

OBJECTIVES: To analyse whether extraction of the deciduous canines facilitates eruption of the palatal displaced canines (PDCs), and to analyse root resorption in adjacent teeth caused by the PDCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligibility criteria for participants were as follows: children at age 10-13 years with either maxillary unilateral or bilateral PDC, persisting deciduous canine and no previous experience of orthodontic treatment. Sixty-seven patients (40 girls and 27 boys; age: mean ± standard deviation: 11.4±1.0) with unilateral (45) or bilateral (22) PDCs were consecutively recruited and randomly allocated using permuted block randomization method to extraction or non-extraction. No patients dropped out after the randomization or during the study. Patients underwent a clinical examination and cone beam computed tomography at baseline (T0), after 6 (T1) and 12 months (T2). The total observation time was 24 months. Outcome measures were eruption, positional changes, length of time until eruption, and root resorption of adjacent teeth. The baseline images were measured blinded while the 6- and 12-month control images were not, since it was not possible to blind the extracted canine. RESULTS: Significantly more spontaneous eruptions of the PDCs were seen in the extraction group (EG) than in the control group (CG), with rates of 69 and 39 per cent, respectively, with a mean eruption time of 15.6±5.6 months in the EG and 18.8±5.8 months in the CG. Significant differences in changes between the groups, in favour of the EG, were found for all variables except for the sagittal angle. In the EG, the changes in the distances of the canine cusp-tip were larger during the first 6 months, while the change of apex was larger between 6 and 12 months. There were no significant differences in resorption of adjacent teeth between the groups. LIMITATIONS: Imputation values were used for the PDCs who had erupted at T2, since no x-rays were taken for ethical reasons, which might have given uncertainty in the positional changes between T1 and T2. CONCLUSIONS: Extraction of the deciduous canine is an effective treatment in patients with PDCs. Significantly more positional changes and shorter mean eruption time were seen in the EG. Resorptions of lateral incisors were seen in both groups, but none exceeded grade 2 (resorption up to half of the dentine thickness to the pulp). REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in "FoU i Sverige" (http://www.fou.nu/is/sverige), registration number: 40921. PROTOCOL: The protocol was not published before trial commencement.

Pain, discomfort, and use of analgesics following the extraction of primary canines in children with palatally displaced canines.

BACKGROUND. Pain following the extraction of the primary canine in children with palatally displaced canines (PDC) as an interceptive treatment has not been investigated. AIMS. To describe pain, discomfort, dental anxiety, and use of analgesics following the extraction of primary canines in children with PDC. DESIGN. Forty-four children, aged 10-13 with PDC, were included. Pain intensity, discomfort, and analgesic consumption were rated the first evening and 1 week after the extraction of the primary canine. Dental anxiety was assessed pre-extraction, using the dental anxiety scale (DAS). A matched reference group also completed the DAS. RESULTS. No significant differences were found between the study and the reference group regarding the pre-extraction assessments. Post-extraction pain and discomfort was low. The experience of the injection was graded worse than the extraction, and more pain was rated at the evening post-extraction than during the extraction. Analgesics were used only the first evening. High correlation was detected between DAS and pain during injection and extraction. CONCLUSIONS. The experience of pain and discomfort during and after extraction of the primary canines is low, despite that 42% of the children used analgesics. Therefore, appropriate analgesics and recommendation doses pre- and post-extraction should be prescribed.

Concomitant hypodontia and hyperodontia: an analysis of nine patients.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital absence of tooth germs and presence of supernumerary teeth (CHH) are anomalies which are classified as embryologically determined disorders. Both disorders can occur together (CHH), but relatively rarely. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to present and analyze nine cases collected during the past 24 years, where congenitally missing teeth occurred with supernumerary teeth in the same patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental records, radiographs and casts of nine patients, six boys and three girls (aged 9-29 years, mean age: 19 years) were examined. All the family members of the patients were also investigated regarding the presence of tooth disorders. RESULTS: The boys showed hypo-hyperodontia twice as often as the girls (6:3). Congenital absence of tooth germs was more common than the presence of supernumerary teeth (25:11). CAP were not present in the other family members. CONCLUSIONS: The full diagnosis of hypo-hyperodontia is only possible on the basis of radiographic examination, because some teeth may remain unerupted or missing. The results of this study showed that concomitant hypo-hyperodontia is rare and sex-related, with predominance of hypodontia. The genetic influence seems unclear.

A systematic review of the interceptive treatment of palatally displaced maxillary canines.

The aim of this study was to assess whether interceptive treatment in the mixed dentition prevents impaction of palatally displaced canines (PDC) by systematically reviewing the literature. A literature search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library electronic databases, and Scopus was performed covering the period from January 1966 to May 2009. The inclusion criteria were mixed dentition with unilateral or bilateral PDC, randomized controlled trials (RCT), prospective and retrospective studies with untreated controls, and clinical trials comparing at least two treatment strategies. Three reviewers selected and extracted the data independently and evaluated the quality of the studies. Inter-examiner reliability was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The search strategy resulted in 686 articles, of which two met the inclusion criteria. Because of the unequivocal results and heterogeneity in the study methods, the scientific evidence was too weak to fully evaluate the effect that interceptive treatment might have on PDC and which treatment modalities are most effective. The quality of the studies was rated as low because of inadequate sample selection and deficient description of sample size, confounding factors, uncertainty of randominization, and no blinding in measurements. The ICC value for total scores was >0.80, e.g. perfect agreement. To obtain reliable scientific evidence as to whether interceptive treatment prevents impaction of PDC and which treatment modalities are the most effective, better controlled and well-designed RCTs are needed. Future studies should also include assessment of patient satisfaction and pain experience as well as analysis of the costs and side-effects of treatments.

Rapid maxillary expansion effects on nocturnal enuresis in children: a follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of 10-14 days of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on nocturnal enuresis (NE) in children who have long-standing resistance to medical therapy and to evaluate the long-term success rate after 10 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three children with NE, aged 6-15 years old (mean age = 10), who wet their bed almost every night and had never been dry were referred from pediatric specialists. Mean RME was 6.5 mm (range = 5-8), but only 7 of the 23 patients had lateral crossbites. Rhinomanometric measurements were taken before and after RME, and patients were interviewed 10 years after treatment. RESULTS: Positive effects of RME were observed in nearly 50% of the patients within 1 month of treatment: six were completely dry and five had notable improvements. Relapse in the overexpanded arches to a normal transversal occlusion was noted within 1 year. No correlation was found between success and improved airways, familial heritage, school performance, or other social factors. Younger children responded better to the treatment. Results were stable at the 10-year follow-up, and no adverse reactions were reported. CONCLUSION: Orthodontic RME is a new option for treating children with NE who are resistant to medical therapy; the treatment has no adverse side effects.

Location, complications and treatment of mesiodentes--a retrospective study in children.

Out of approximately 11 500 children, who had been referred to the Department of Paediatric Dentistry at the Institute for Postgraduate Education,Jönköping, Sweden, 97 individuals had a total of 123 mesiodentes. Their dental records and radiographs were analysed in order to study the clinical and radiographic features of the mesiodentes, to record the complications caused by them and to evaluate different forms of treatment. In the present study, the predominant location of the mesiodentes was palatally with 39 per cent in an inverted position. Arrest of the permanent incisors eruption, midline diastema and displacement or rotation of the incisors, were the most common complications found. On the contrary, no follicular cysts or resorption of either the mesiodens or the adjacent teeth were found. Fourty-three out of the 97 individuals were radiographically followed and no pathological findings were recorded. This study shows that the risk of complications caused by the mesiodentes seems to be very low and therefore a more restrictive attitude towards their surgical removal can be recommended.

Attitudes and satisfaction with dental appearance in young adults with and without malocclusion.

The aim of the study was to assess the quality of a Public Dental Service (PDS) system in Sweden with regard to the orthodontic care and to investigate the selection made for the consultation by the general practitioners (GPs) and by orthodontists of those patients with malocclusion. In the individuals leaving the PDS system, the residual need and demand for treatment due to malocclusions and satisfaction with and opinion of their teeth was assessed in orthodontically treated and untreated 19-year-olds. Altogether 121 19-year-olds were clinically investigated with respect to six defined malocclusion traits and given a questionnaire. The following results were found: Ten per cent of the 19-year-olds that had not had an orthodontic consultation showed a residual treatment need. One third of the individuals judged by the orthodontist not to need treatment and one third that had been treated by the GP showed a marked orthodontic treatment need at the age of 19 years. Twenty-two per cent of all 19-year-olds left the PDS with an orthodontic treatment need. Ninety-four per cent were satisfied with their teeth irrespective of malocclusion or not. Every second individual considered their teeth important for their self-esteem. It was concluded that 19-year-olds in general were satisfied with their dental appearance. Half of the registered residual need and demand for orthodontic treatment was not related to measurable malocclusions.

Outcome of orthodontic care in 19-year-olds attending the Public Dental Service in Sweden: residual need and demand for treatment.

The study analyses residual need and demand for orthodontic treatment in 19-year-olds attending the Swedish Public Dental Service (PDS). The general practitioners (GPs) had selected individuals for orthodontic specialist consultation and some were treated by GPs or specialists or not considered to be in need for treatment. Altogether 164 individuals were called for clinical investigation at the age of 19 years and also given a questionnaire asking for residual orthodontic treatment demand and satisfaction with information and orthodontic care. Ninety-one per cent of the individuals who had had an orthodontic consultation and 53 per cent of those who had not seen an orthodontist took part in the investigation. The study revealed that half of the 19-year-olds at the PDS clinic had received orthodontic consultations and one third had received orthodontic appliance treatment. Seven percent of the investigated individuals had a residual subjective demand for treatment. Several individuals with removable appliance treatment had overjet and deep bite and laterally forced cross-bite, but with little remaining subjective demand for treatment. Individuals with fixed appliance treatment showed few malocclusions. Nineteen-year-olds in general were uncertain about their present need for orthodontic treatment. The following conclusions were drawn: the total amount of orthodontic treatment in different areas in Sweden is comparable but the distribution between GP and specialist treatment differs. Interceptive treatment to reduce overjets seemed not successful. Fixed appliances seemed to reduce the majority of the malocclusion traits. The information given in connection with orthodontic consultation or treatment was clearly inadequate.

Long-term results of orthodontic treatment of impacted maxillary canines.

A total of 61 children who had 83 maxillary canines impacted were followed up for a mean of 3.5 years (range 1.1-10.9 years) after treatment to evaluate the long-term results of the treatments. In most of the children, the impacted maxillary canines had been surgically exposed and treated with fixed orthodontic appliances. In 11 cases, lateral incisors had been extracted because of extensive root resorption. The esthetic results as well as functional and periodontal conditions were evaluated. Only four of the 61 children were not satisfied with the esthetic result, whereas orthodontists judged only 56% of the results as esthetically acceptable on clinical evaluation and 57% as esthetically acceptable on color slides. The periodontal conditions and the occlusal function on sides with previously impacted canines and on sides with normally erupted canines, on the whole, were similar. Exceptions were pocket depths of the left lateral incisors and left canines, but these variables were significantly different mainly because of one patient. In lateral movements of the mandible, however, significant differences in contact pattern were found between sides with normally erupted canines and sides with impacted canines. Canine rise occurred more often on working sides with normally erupted canines than with impacted canines.

A critical view of treatment priority indices in orthodontics.

Indices for orthodontic treatment prioritization are usually based on morphological and sometimes functional deviations from a concept of an ideal occlusion. However, such morphological variation from a constructed norm only reflects normal biological variation and should never serve as a basis for treatment decisions. Evaluation of treatment need must instead be based on consequences of malocclusion for the subject. Existing indices for orthodontic treatment need focus either more generally on malocclusion or specifically on aesthetics. Aesthetic indices are usually based on some kind of public concensus. In this study, two groups of patients each containing four subjects were selected. Four represented subjects estimated to have malocclusions of average severity (level A), close to a level where selections are usually made. The other four subjects (level B) represented more severe malocclusions reflecting cut-off levels in a system with a more limited budget. The different indices used turned out to offer very little help in the selection of patients and did not reflect the stated ranking of treatment need by seven groups of orthodontists and postgraduate students, all in all 40 persons. Apart from being based on very questionable treatment--motivating factors, these indices cannot serve the basic purpose of creating relevant cut-off points for treatment need.

To what extent do deviations from an ideal occlusion constitute a health risk?

Selection of patients for orthodontic treatment should be based on a thorough analysis of the consequences of malocclusions for the individual. The mere presence of deviations from the concept of the ideal occlusion should have no influence on orthodontic treatment decisions. According to available studies, the influence of malocclusion on periodontal health, speech and chewing is fairly minor. Neither can orthodontic treatment be justified as an effective means of preventing TMD but it may be indicated to reduce existing signs and symptoms of TMD in certain carefully selected cases. Interceptive or preventive orthodontic treatment may be indicated to reduce the negative influence on growth and occlusal development of functional malocclusions (anterior or lateral forced bite) or ectopic tooth eruption. Similarly, early correction of large overjet may be valuable in order to reduce the risk of traumatic injuries. Such treatment is usually motivated during the primary or mixed dentition periods. From the teenage period and onwards, psychosocial or aesthetic reasons for orthodontic treatment are dominating. Decisions to start orthodontic treatment in order to improve aesthetics should usually not be taken before the child has reached sufficient maturity for these decisions, normally after the age of 12 years. Special consideration needs to be given to subjects with craniofacial syndromes or handicap in order to develop effective treatment methods to promote as normal growth and occlusal development as possible.

Ectopic eruption of maxillary first permanent molars in children with cleft lip / Erupção ectopica do maxilar permanente primeiro molar em criança com labio fissurado

The propose of this study was to determine the incidence of ectopic eruption of the maxillary first permanent molars in cleft patients. Panoramic radiographs of 70 Brazilian Caucasian children, 6 to 8 years old and with complete unilateral cleft lip and alveolus, were assessed. Fourteen of 70 patients (20 percent) presented with ectopic eruption of one or both maxillary first permanent molars. Sixteen of 19 ectopically erupted molars (85 percent) were of a reversible type of ectopic eruption and 3 (15 percent) were irreversible. No significant differences were found between sexes or between cleft sides