Sleep medicine content in dental hygiene education.

According to the National Research Council, 70 million Americans chronically suffer from approximately 60 medically recognized sleep disorders. With most clinicians unaware of these disorders, many individuals remain undiagnosed. To effectively address this issue, health care professionals must work collaboratively to educate, identify, and treat patients with sleep disorders. However, medical and dental clinicians do not receive adequate education in sleep medicine. On the frontline regarding prevention and counseling, dental hygienists play an important role in patient education, screening, and management of sleep disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the amount of sleep medicine content in U.S. dental hygiene programs. An electronic survey was emailed to all 334 accredited U.S. dental hygiene programs. The 18-question survey assessed the sleep medicine content presented during the 2012-13 academic year. A total of 35.3% (n=118) of the programs responded. The mean number of hours devoted to sleep medicine in their curricula was 1.55 hours (SD=1.37). Although 69% (n=79) of the responding programs reported spending time on sleep bruxism (mean=1.38 hours, SD=0.85), only 28% (n=32) reported spending time on other topics such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (mean=1.39 hours, SD=0.72). These results suggest that sleep medicine is included in the majority of U.S. dental hygiene programs, but the content is limited and focused on sleep bruxism. This level of training is inadequate to prepare dental hygienists for their potential role in patient education, screening, and management of sleep-related breathing disorders.

Transverse displacement of the proximal segment after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy advancement and its effect on relapse.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the transverse displacement of the proximal segment and its association with horizontal relapse post-treatment. METHODS: Retrospective study of 25 patients (10 males, 15 females) who underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) advancement and Le Fort I osteotomy with rigid internal fixation (RIF) using bicortical lag screws. Posteroanterior and lateral cephalograms obtained preoperatively (T1), early postoperatively (T2), and after orthodontic treatment completion (T3) were used to assess: the angulation of each proximal segment relative to the upper orbital margin line and obtain the sum of both angles (total angle), mandibular intergonial width (IGW), mandibular length (Ar-B), B point position, and condylion position. Paired t tests were used to determine statistically significant (P < .05) changes within the variables between various time points (T2-T1; T3-T2; T3-T1). Correlations between variables were estimated by calculating Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: T2-T1 findings: all 25 patients showed an increase in IGW with a mean of 6.5 +/- 2.5 mm and the angulations of the proximal segments increased 3.2 +/- 2.6 degrees (total angle change). Ar-B increased 3.8 +/- 3.4 mm. B point moved anteriorly 4.8 +/- 2.9 mm. T3-T2 findings: IGW decreased 1.8 +/- 1.5 mm; angulation of the right and left proximal segments decreased 1.2 +/- 2.8 degrees (total angle change). Condylion moved superiorly 1.5 +/- 2.0. CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant changes occurred in transverse width and angulation of proximal segments of patients who underwent BSSO advancement with Le Fort I osteotomy. No clinically significant associations were found between transverse displacement of the proximal segments and horizontal relapse.

Palatal displacement of canines and maxillary skeletal width.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a clinically significant association exists between maxillary skeletal width and palatal canine impaction, also known as palatally displaced canine (PDC). METHODS: Seventy-nine patients with PDC were matched for age, sex, and malocclusion to 79 controls. Maxillary and mandibular skeletal widths and nasal cavity widths were measured on posteroanterior cephalograms; maxillary and mandibular intermolar widths were measured on dental casts; and maxillary interalveolar arch widths at 3 levels (canine, premolar, and first molar) were measured on occlusograms. RESULTS: Only maxillary alveolar arch width at the canine level was significantly different between the 2 groups. However, further analysis showed that the presence of erupted deciduous or permanent canines, rather than their absence in the canine area (whether due to extraction, exfoliation, impaction, or not yet having erupted), was strongly associated with maxillary intercanine alveolar arch width. CONCLUSIONS: The additional finding in this study that the eruptive status of canines significantly affects maxillary alveolar arch width in this area suggests that maxillary intercanine alveolar arch width as measured in this or other studies is not a good predictor of PDC.

The effect of argon laser irradiation on demineralization resistance of human enamel adjacent to orthodontic brackets: an in vitro study.

Argon lasers, because of their significant timesavings over conventional curing lights, have been investigated for use in bonding orthodontic brackets. They are also being investigated for their ability to confer demineralization resistance on enamel, which is of great interest in orthodontics. A two-part in vitro study on 86 human posterior teeth was conducted to determine the effects of a five-second argon laser exposure on shear bond strength and to evaluate the effects of a five- and 10-second argon laser exposure (250 mW) on demineralization of enamel surrounding orthodontic brackets after exposure to an artificial caries bath. Brackets cured with the argon laser for five seconds yielded mean bond strengths similar to those attained with a 40-second conventional light-cured control (n = 13 per group, 20.4 vs 17.8 MPa). Brackets cured with the argon laser for 10 seconds resulted in significantly lower mean lesion depth when compared with a visible light control (n = 20 per group, 107.8 vs 137.2 microm, P = .038). There were no statistically significant differences in lesion depth between the five-second argon laser and the visible light control groups. Overall, there was a 15% and 22% reduction in lesion depths for the five- and 10-second group, respectively. Poor correlations were found between the clinical appearance of decalcifications and their lesion depth. Argon lasers used for bonding orthodontic brackets would save a significant amount of chair time while possibly conferring demineralization resistance upon the enamel.