Application of the diode laser for soft-tissue surgery in orthodontics: Case series.

Referral to an oral surgeon for soft-tissue surgery before, during or after orthodontic treatment is not uncommon. This process may delay treatment and could potentially increase the risk of complications. In addition, seeing multiple specialties in different environments may demotivate paediatric or anxious patients from pursuing orthodontic treatment and could also adversely affect patient compliance and satisfaction. The development of laser technology provides a safe and effective alternative, allowing the orthodontic clinician to perform soft-tissue surgery. To date, there are no laser exposure protocols or UK guidelines regarding the use of laser surgery in orthodontics. This case series reports four clinical cases that demonstrate potential advantages of using a diode laser for the management of soft tissue in the field of orthodontics.

Information retention of orthodontic patients and parents: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: A randomized controlled trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy of 3 methods of delivering information on short- and long-term recall of information in orthodontic patients and parents. METHODS: Participants who received an audiovisual presentation on orthodontic treatment were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 written information groups (leaflets, generic mind map, or participant's customized mind map). A questionnaire was used to assess short- and long-term retention of information (maximum score 30). RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients (94.6%) and 77 parents (86.5%) completed the study. The average knowledge scores at baseline for the patient groups were 17.71 95 CI 16.28-19.14), 16.58 (14.67-18.49), and 17.37 (15.92-18.81), respectively. The parents' knowledge scores for the 3 groups were 19.06 (17.51-20.62), 19.39 (17.44-21.35), and 18.76 (17.19-20.33), respectively. The short- and long-term knowledge scores improved over baseline in all 3 groups (P <0.0001). The parents achieved higher scores than the patients (P = 0.002) and their rate of forgetting information was less. The knowledge scores of the mind map groups were higher than that of the leaflet group for all cohorts (P = 0.025). No statistical difference was found between the type of mind map. The correlation between patient and parent knowledge scores was significant (P <0.0001) at all 3 time points. CONCLUSIONS: Provision of an audiovisual presentation supplemented with 1 of 3 written information methods is an effective way of delivering information. There was a significant improvement in the retention of information with the use of mind maps compared with leaflets. The generic mind map is equally as effective, more consistent in information delivered, and less labor intensive than the individual customized mind map and therefore would be our recommendation. Participation of parents is important because they comprehend and retain information better. In this study, 100% of parents shared information with their children, perhaps improving the patients' recall.

New developments in tooth whitening. The current status of external bleaching in orthodontics.

This article provides a contemporary view of external tooth whitening procedures currently available, with particular reference to bleaching. The various techniques and products are described, with their advantages, disadvantages, mode of action and the current legal stand-point discussed. The results of a British Orthodontic Society survey of Specialist and Practitioner Groups regarding current usage patterns of tooth whitening products are presented.

An unusual complication encountered during orthodontic treatment using a twin block appliance.

A case report is presented of a child who developed an unusual complication--lower centerline discrepancy--during Twin Block Appliance treatment due to posturing on the acrylic blocks.

Choosing a pre-adjusted orthodontic appliance prescription for anterior teeth.

A common orthodontic task is to correct anterior tooth position using brackets whose torque, tip and in-out are pre-adjusted. Bracket prescription greatly influences final aesthetics and function. Pre-adjusted orthodontic brackets have in-built prescriptions of torque, tip and in-out which are optimized for average cases. Refinement of tooth position can be achieved by archwire adjustment or archwire auxiliaries. Modifications to bracket position such as inversion can also help achieve individual tooth movements. Planning bracket position must be considered at the outset of treatment to achieve the maximum benefit. A number of clinical scenarios will be discussed including: a Class II division 1 malocclusion with lateral incisors palatally displaced, and another case with absent lateral incisors for space closure. Also, Class III malocclusions with consideration given to: canine angulation; a palatally displaced canine requiring labial movement; absent upper central incisors (space closure), and finally, a Class III case where incisor inclination requires consideration. By using a typodont to illustrate some of the points, this article aims to (1) show how three pre-adjusted orthodontic bracket systems (Andrews, Roth and MBT) vary significantly in their ability to influence tooth position and appearance; (2) inform clinicians how modified bracket position can influence tooth position.

Using written material to support recall of orthodontic information: a comparison of three methods.

The objective was to determine the effect of three different methods of presenting information on the recall of information in orthodontic patients in the short and long term. Thirty orthodontic patients at the commencement of their treatment were allocated randomly to groups receiving supporting written information in one of the three formats: mind map, acronym, and information leaflet. Short-term retention was assessed by administration of a nine-item questionnaire 10 to 15 minutes after receiving the information, and long-term retention was assessed after six weeks by repeating the same questionnaire without repetition of the information. Correct answers to the questions were compared across the three groups at short-term recall and long-term recall. A total knowledge score was determined by summing the number of correct answers across all nine items, and an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to determine the effect of the method of information on long-term retention of the information. There were significant differences in recall between the three methods of presentation at both time 1 and time 2 (Fshort-term = 5.97, P < .01; Flong-term = 3.19, P < .05). Participants who were given a written information leaflet recalled less information on both occasions of testing. ANCOVA revealed that the three methods did not differ in the rate of forgetting of the material (F = 1.96, nonsignificant). Mind maps and acronyms convey a small but significant advantage in patient recall of information over written information leaflets.