Skeletal components of class III malocclusions and compensation mechanisms.

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the skeletal characteristics of sagittal maxillary and mandibular discrepancies resulting in class III malocclusions and compensation mechanisms in one Caucasian European population (Croatian). The study sample included 107 patients (63 females and 44 males), aged between 11 and 18 years of age (mean age 14.6 +/- 2.2), with a class III malocclusion. Forty-three angular and linear measurements were assessed from the pre-treatment lateral cephalographs of each subject. anova, Tukey post hoc and t-test were used for statistical analysis. The most common differential skeletal type was mandibular prognathism with a normal maxilla (43%), followed by maxillary retrognathism with a normal mandibular position (19.6%), while the combination of maxillary retrognathism and mandibular prognathism was found to be rare (<5%). Subjects with maxillary retrognathia, appeared to also have a vertical facial pattern, suggesting a tendency towards vertical growth as a possible compensation mechanism. Those with mandibular prognathia tended to exhibit a horizontal facial growth pattern and typically included more pronounced dento-alveolar compensation, that is, proclination of maxillary and retroclination of mandibular incisors. There were no differences observed in gender, overjet or soft tissue profiles between different sagittal skeletal types. Dominant protrusive mandible in Croatians can be related to European Caucasian ancestry, where this entity is historically described as 'Habsburg jaw'.

Interferometry in the assessment of biomechanical features of the masticatory system hard segments.

Biomechanical studies have found wide application and solved many problems in dental medicine. An interdisciplinary approach has allowed an ever-faster progress in the field. The aim of this study was to point out the advantages of holographic interferometry. With the use of this method, the study object is observed as a whole rather than as a substrate, thus providing a three-dimensional holographic image visualizing the load transmission from one jaw to another, tooth pressure against the alveolus, and strain of Sharpey's fibers, and yielding precise data on deformities, dislocations and force distribution.

Trends in dental caries in 12-year old children in Croatia.

In this epidemiological study the caries status of 12-year-old children was compared over time for the years 1968, 1973, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1991 and 1999. The mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) decreased from 7.0 in 1968 to 2.6 in 1991. From 1991 to 1999 and increase of DMFT 2.6 in 1991, to 3.5 in 1999) has been seen which is result of war in Croatia and reorganisation of health care delivery system. With the expected continuing decline in the prevalence and severity of oral diseases, one of the main problems in the future seems to be the transition of the oral health care delivery system from a disease-oriented system to a health-oriented one.

Chronology, dynamics and period of permanent tooth eruption in Zagreb children (Part II).

The aim of the present paper is to determine the beginning, order, median time, termination, dynamics, continuity and intensity of the permanent tooth eruption, as well as its calendar, in a sample of Zagreb children. The study included 2768 children (1398 boys and 1370 girls). All subjects were classified in one-year age groups. The continuity of tooth eruption occurs from 5.1 years to 14.97 years, i.e., for a period of 9.87 years. Each particular tooth has its own dynamics of eruption (V5-V95) which on the average amounts to 4.25 years. The continuity of eruption is 10.1 years in boys and 9.8 years in girls. The dynamics of eruption is 4.15 years in boys and 4.35 years in girls. A certain asymmetry in eruption has been described.

Preventive sealing of dental fissures with Heliosil: a two-year follow-up.

Due to their shape and configuration of dental crown, especially its biting surface with numerous pits and fissures permanent molars are suitable sites for retaining food remnants and bacteria. For this reason, preventive efforts and early prophylactic procedures should prevent the development of caries at these critical sites. Deciduous and permanent teeth of 300 children aged 6-7 years with healthy parallel teeth were included in the study. Fissure sealing was performed on one side, whereas contralateral teeth served as controls. During a two-year period, control examinations with finding recording were performed every six months. During the two-year follow-up period, the sealed teeth remained free of caries as long as the coating persisted. In deciduous teeth, the sealant was first observed to be missing at 18 months in 5%, and at 24 months in 8% of the teeth. None of these teeth was affected by caries, suggesting that a part of the sealant was retained in the fissures. In permanent teeth, caries developed in 18% of the sealed teeth at 24 months.

Computer analyses of two active plate modifications.

The aim of this study was to determine tooth movements in the upper dental arch using a simulated original model during the time of activation of two active plates modifications, symmetrically and asymmetrically cut plates. The changes of the dental arch dimensions and precise evaluation of the distribution of the forces produced by appliance were analysed by recording tooth movements. In order to register tooth movements more precisely two referral points were notched on each tooth thus creating 38 variables which defined weight and lengths of the dental arch. The symmetrically cut active plates used to obtain transversal expansion affect equally both sides and cause symmetrical movements of premolars, less of molars and canines, whereas they have no effect on incisors. The asymmetrically cut active plates used to obtain transversal expansion affect more the side of smaller active part of the plate. Movements are larger at the premolars than at molars and canines, and minimal at incisors. The results of this study confirm the data from the literature and a logical interdependence of the force and movements thus emphasising the importance of anchorage in orthodontic therapy.

Chronology, dynamics and period of primary tooth eruption in children from Zagreb, Croatia.

The aim of the present paper is to determine the beginning, order, median time, termination, dynamics, continuity and intensity of the primary tooth eruption, as well as its calendar, in a sample of children from Zagreb, Croatia. The study included 1288 children. All subjects were classified in one-year age groups. In the examined group, the continuity of tooth eruption occurs from 4.2 months to 41.5 months, i.e., for a period of 37.3 months. Each particular tooth has its own dynamics of eruption (V5-V95) which on the average amounts to 14.35 months (14.92 months in boys and 13.79 months in girls). The continuity of eruption is 35.6 months in boys and 38.9 months in girls. The dynamics of eruption is 14.82 months in boys and 13.79 in girls. The termination of tooth eruption is similar for both sexes.

Taurodontism in Down's syndrome.

Forty-three pantograms of the subjects with Down's syndrome were examined for the diagnosis of taurodontic teeth, grade of taurodontism, sex distribution and individual tooth involvement. Taurodontic teeth were found in 55.8% of the subjects, 32.6% females and 23.2% males. Second molars were most frequently affected (53.2%), followed by first molars (40%) and third molars (6.5%). The mesotaurodontic form was the most frequent form of the anomalia (72.5%). Hyypotaurodontic teeth were observed in 9.7% and pyramidal teeth in 17.7% of the cases. Hypertaurodontic teeth were not found.

Hypodontia in patients with Down's syndrome.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypodontia in subjects with Down's syndrome. A group of 112 subjects with cytogenetically confirmed diagnosis of Down's syndrome, aged 12-36 years were examined. Hypodontia of the permanent teeth has been established on the basis of dental examination and orthopantomogram analysis in all cases. Hypodontia was present in 38.6% patients. Upper lateral incisors were most commonly missing. In patients with Angle class I, hypodontia most frequently referred to upper left lateral incisors, upper left first premolars and lower left second premolars. In patients with Angle class II, lower second premolars and upper incisors were most commonly affected by hypodontia. In patients with Angle class III, hypodontic findings more frequently referred to the maxilla as compared to mandible.

Overturning involuntary commitments at a psychiatric hospital in New York State: implications for the societal reaction model.

The revised commitment laws in the United States in general and in New York State in particular are reviewed to show that dangerousness is not the paramount criterion for commitment and that expanded discretion granted to admitting officials is the essence of the new laws. A qualitative portrait of psychiatric admission in the context of the new laws is offered followed by a discussion of implications for the societal reaction model.

A sociological conceptualization of trauma.

The epistemological difficulties with the model of 'stressful life events' are reviewed and contrasted with the epistemologies of the pioneers of stress research: Cannon, Selye, Durkheim, Freud, Bernard and Dubos. The paper focuses on the question 'What is an event?' as opposed to a fact and on the neo-Humean difficulties of relying upon explanations of events. It is demonstrated that the pioneers of stress research avoided event-explanations and relied instead (sometimes implicitly) on the notion of 'trauma'. A trauma is not just an event. The concept of trauma is linked to the ideas of arrangements and derangements of collective representations in the context of society conceived of as a cybernetic system.

A durkheimian hypothesis on stress.

Commonalities among the events that appear on life events lists and among the types of social supports which have been found to reduce the likelihood of illness are reviewed in the life events literature in an attempt to find a context within sociological theory. Social integration seems to underlie the stress-illness process. In seeking a tradition from which to understand these facts, we selected Durkheim's works in the context of the homo duplex concept wherein social integration involves the interplay of individualism and social forces. After presenting a specific hypothesis for the stress literature, the paper concludes with implications and suggestions for empirical research.