Severe skeletal Class II Division 1 malocclusion in postpubertal girl treated using Forsus with miniplate anchorage.

This case report outlines the treatment of a 17-year-old female with Class II Division 1 malocclusion with mandibular retrusion, deep bite, and convex facial profile. The Forsus fatigue resistance device with miniplate was used for this patient and it was very affecting tool in correcting both skeletal and dental parameters. The total active treatment time was 19 months. This method can serve as an alternate choice of treatment, especially those who refuse orthognathic surgery. Hence, Forsus with miniplate might be useful in both growing and postpubertal patients.

Clinician Corner- A Simple and Efficient Modified Goshgarian Arch ("T" Arch) Appliance for Correcting Single Tooth Scissor Bite.

Scissor bite is a rare form of malocclusion that is often accompanied by varying degrees of facial asymmetry. Correction and treatment of scissor bite in posterior teeth is a challenging job for an orthodontist. There are several treatment options for correction of scissor bite in posterior teeth but some have their own ill-effects on the dentition thus contributing further to the problem and some require patient compliance which compromises the outcome of the treatment. Therefore to overcome these drawbacks we have designed a new appliance to correct the molar scissor bite.

A Speedy Yet Simple Tip to Align Imbricated Anterior Teeth.

Correction of dental crowding can be achieved with several orthodontic procedures like extraction of teeth, proximal stripping etc. In contemporary orthodontic practice, resolution of incisor crowding is most commonly achieved by the use of canine lacebacks. This method takes time, requires frequent activations and taxes anchorage since it involves the "PULL" mechanics. In order to overcome these disadvantages, mostly the time factor, we devised a method of using open coil NiTi spring on 0.016" SS wire piggy backed on the 0.014" heat activated NiTi base arch wire ligated only at the canines. This method, resolved the incisor crowding in almost one third of the time taken with the use of canine lacebacks. Moreover, the result was more physiologic since light continuous force was applied with the spring and it essentially eliminated the anchorage loss since it involved "PUSH" mechanics.

Effect of Various Finishing Procedures on the Reflectivity (Shine) of Tooth Enamel - An In-vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: Reflectivity of an object is a good parameter for surface finish. As the patient evaluates finishing as a function of gloss/reflectivity/shine an attempt is made here to evaluate changes in surface finish with custom made reflectometer. AIM: The aim of the present study was to study the effect of various procedures during orthodontic treatment on the shine of enamel, using a custom made reflectometer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty one extracted premolars were collected and each tooth was mounted on acrylic block. Reflectivity of the teeth was measured as compared to standard before any procedure. One tooth was kept as standard throughout the study. Sixty teeth were acid etched. Reflectivity was measured on custom made reflectometer and readings recorded. Same procedure was repeated after debonding. Then 60 samples were divided into three groups: Group 1 - Tungsten Carbide, Group 2 - Astropol, Group 3- Sof-Lex disc depending upon the finishing method after debonding and reflectivity was measured. RESULTS: The mean percentage of reflectivity after acid etching was 31.4%, debonding 45.5%, Tungsten carbide bur finishing (Group 1) was 58.3%, Astropol (Group 2) 72.8%, and Sof-Lex disc (Group 3) 84.4% as that to the standard. There was statistically very highly significant (p<0.001) difference in reflectivity restored by the three finishing materials in the study. Thus, the light reflection was better in Group 3> Group 2> Group 1. CONCLUSION: The primary goal was to restore the enamel to its original state after orthodontic treatment. The methods tested in this study could not restore the original enamel reflectivity.

Friction between Archwire of Different Sizes, Cross Section, Alloy and Brackets Ligated with Different Brands of Low Friction Elastic Ligatures- An Invitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: Friction in orthodontic treatment does exist and is thought to reduce the efficiency of orthodontic appliances during sliding mechanics. During sliding mechanics, a friction force is produced at the bracket archwire-ligature unit which tends to counteract the applied force and in turn resists the desired movement. AIM: The aim of this invitro study was to determine the friction between archwire of different sizes, cross section, alloy and brackets ligated with different brands of low friction elastic ligatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An 0.022-in slot, 10 stainless steel brackets and various orthodontic archwires which were ligated with low-friction ligatures and subjected to evaluate frictional resistance i.e. static friction and dynamic friction. The archwires of 0.014″ and 0.016″ nickel titanium (NiTi), 0.016 × 0.022″ stainless steel (SS), 0.017 × 0.025″ NiTi, 0.017 × 0.025″ SS, 0.017 × 0.025″ titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA), 0.019 × 0.025″ SS were used. Each bracket/archwire combination was evaluated 10 times at room temperature of 27 ± 2°C. The study groups included Group I of conventional round shape module with reduced friction coating i.e. super slick and synergy and Group II contained figure of "8" shape module i.e. Octavia ties and Slide ligature. RESULT: The mean static friction force and dynamic friction force for all 7 types of wires was lower in Group II (C, D) combined compared to Group I (A, B) and the difference was statistically very highly significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Super slick and synergy can be used in the initial and final phase of treatment when full engagement of archwire in the bracket slot is necessary for proper tip and torque expression. Slide and Octavia ties modules can be used in the premolar brackets during en mass retraction when using friction mechanics.

Evaluation of surface roughness of the bracket slot floor--a 3D perspective study.

BACKGROUND: An important constituent of an orthodontic appliance is orthodontic brackets. It is either the bracket or the archwire that slides through the bracket slot, during sliding mechanics. Overcoming the friction between the two surfaces demands an important consideration in an appliance design. The present study investigated the surface roughness of four different commercially available stainless steel brackets. METHODS: All tests were carried out to analyse quantitatively the morphological surface of the bracket slot floor with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM) machine and to qualitatively analyse the average surface roughness (Sa) of the bracket slot floor with the help of a three-dimensional (3D) non-contact optical surface profilometer machine. RESULTS: The SEM microphotographs were evaluated with the help of visual analogue scale, the surface roughness for group A = 0-very rough surface, group C = 1--rough surface, group B = 2--smooth surface, and group D = 3-very smooth surface. Surface roughness evaluation with the 3D non-contact optical surface profilometer machine was highest for group A, followed by group C, group B and group D. Groups B and D provided smooth surface roughness; however, group D had the very smooth surface with values 0.74 and 0.75 for mesial and distal slots, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of surface roughness of the bracket slot floor with both SEM and profilometer machine led to the conclusion that the average surface roughness was highest for group A, followed by group C, group B and group D.

A New Device to Place Elastic Separators.

Separation of teeth is an important and integral aspect of orthodontic treatment. Elastomeric separators are the most common devices used today which require special instrument to place them. The purpose of this study was to design a separator placing instrument of dental probe/explorer which can be used as an alternative to the special instrument required. The materials required were two dental probes/explorers, a light wire plier and elastomeric separators. The modified instrument made is easy to fabricate, inexpensive and can partially or completely replace the special separator placing plier.

Antiadherent and antibacterial properties of stainless steel and NiTi orthodontic wires coated with silver against Lactobacillus acidophilus--an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study is to assess the antiadherent and antibacterial properties of surface-modified stainless steel and NiTi orthodontic wires with silver against Lactobacillus acidophilus. METHODS: This study was done on 80 specimens of stainless steel and NiTi orthodontic wires. The specimens were divided into eight test groups. Each group consisted of 10 specimens. Groups containing uncoated wires acted as a control group for their respective experimental group containing coated wires. Surface modification of wires was carried out by the thermal vacuum evaporation method with silver. Wires were then subjected to microbiological tests for assessment of the antiadherent and antibacterial properties of silver coating against L. acidophilus. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the colony-forming units (CFUs) in control and test groups; and Student's t test (two-tailed, dependent) was used to find the significance of study parameters on a continuous scale within each group. RESULTS: Orthodontic wires coated with silver showed an antiadherent effect against L. acidophilus compared with uncoated wires. Uncoated stainless steel and NiTi wires respectively showed 35.4 and 20.5 % increase in weight which was statistically significant (P < 0.001), whereas surface-modified wires showed only 4.08 and 4.4 % increase in weight (statistically insignificant P > 0.001). The groups containing surface-modified wires showed statistically significant decrease in the survival rate of L. acidophilus expressed as CFU and as log of colony count when compared to groups containing uncoated wires. It was 836.60 ± 48.97 CFU in the case of uncoated stainless steel whereas it was 220.90 ± 30.73 CFU for silver-modified stainless steel, 748.90 ± 35.64 CFU for uncoated NiTi, and 203.20 ± 41.94 CFU for surface-modified NiTi. CONCLUSIONS: Surface modification of orthodontic wires with silver can be used to prevent the accumulation of dental plaque and the development of dental caries during orthodontic treatment.

Economical, Efficient, Simple Device for Controlled Annealing NiTi Archwire.

In fixed orthodontic treatment, for the cinch back purpose, there is need of annealing of distal end of NiTi arch wire. During this procedure the area or length to be annealed is difficult to control. This inappropriate heating leads to deleterious effect on property of the wire. To prevent this problem a simple economical and efficient device was prepared that prevents annealing of excessive length of wire and thus prevents the deterioration of wire required for appropriate action.

Distalization of maxillary arch and correction of Class II with mini-implants: A report of two cases.

This article reports the successful use of mini-screws in the maxilla to treat two patients of age 21-year and 17-year-old girls. Both the patients had a skeletal Class II malocclusion with protrusive maxillary teeth and angels Class II mal-occlusion. Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) in the posterior dental region between maxillary second premolar and maxillary first molar teeth on both sides were used as anchorage for the retraction and intrusion of her maxillary anterior teeth. Those appliances, combined with a compensatory curved maxillary archwire, eliminated spacing, deep bite, forwardly placed and proclined upper front teeth and the protrusive profile, corrected the molar relationship from Class II to Class I. With no extra TADs in the anterior region for intrusion, the treatment was workable and simple. The patient received a satisfactory occlusion and an attractive smile. This technique requires minimal compliance and is particularly useful for correcting Class II patients with protrusive maxillary front teeth and dental deep bite.