The Effect of Immediate Versus Delayed Addition of the Nasal Stent to the Nasoalveolar Molding Plate on Nostrils Shape and Cleft Width in Infants With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of immediate versus delayed addition of the nasal stent to the nasoalveolar molding plate on the nose shape and alveolar cleft area in unilateral cleft lip and palate infants. METHOD: Twenty nonsyndromic newborn infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate were scanned 3 dimensionally using Proface software. In the experimental group, the nasal stent was added on the day the molding plate arrived, and in the control group when the alveolar gap reached 5 mm. Two months after adding nasal stents in each group patients' faces were scanned again and some parameters were measured. In addition, immediately after treatment, 1 month later and at the end of investigation, impressions were taken, and stone casts were scanned by cone-beam computed tomography and the alveolar gap was measured. Fisher exact test, paired t test, and ANOVA were used for data analyses. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: In this study, changes in the parameters showed significant differences between the case and controls for the columellar angle, nostril width on the cleft side, nostril height on the cleft side, soft tissue cleft width, and nasal surface area. However, the nostril's width and height in the noncleft side, intercommissural distance, nasal surface area on the noncleft side, nostril area between the cleft and noncleft side after treatment, and the alveolar gap did not show significant differences between the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Early use of nasal stents showed more desirable results in decreasing the width of the nostrils and increasing its height and correcting the angle of the columella without any adverse effects on the nostrils after treatment.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Morphology, Volume, and Density of the Mandible and Dentofacial Vertical Dimension Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the relationship between mandibular shape, mandibular bone density, cortical bone thickness, and condylar volume and facial height using a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and Methods: Fifteen female patients (16-25 years old) were included in this study. The following measurements were performed on CBCT radiographs; inter-canine and inter-molar width of the mandible at three vertical points (alveolar crest, apex and basal bone), mandibular cortical bone thickness in disto molar and canine sections, bone density of the mandibular body and condylar volume. Afterward, subjects were divided into short face, normal and long face groups according to the Frankfort-mandibular plane angle (FMA) measured on lateral cephalograms obtained from CBCTs. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and post-hoc analysis Results: The inter-canine width of the mandible at the apical point in long face subjects was greater than in the other groups. Likewise, the cortical bone thickness was significantly higher in long face patients compared to the short face and normal subjects. There was no statistically significant difference in mandibular density or condylar volume between patients with various vertical heights (p>0.1) Conclusion: Vertical growth pattern is correlated with mandibular morphology to some extent.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Digital Waters' and Caldwell's Radiographic Views for Evaluation of Sinonasal Area.

OBJECTIVES: New digital two-dimensional imaging systems are considered as an easily accessible modality for sinonasal evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of digital Waters' and Caldwell's radiographic views for evaluation of sinonasal area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 273 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this descriptive-analytical study. Complete opacification or mucosal thickening of frontal, ethmoidal and maxillary sinuses and nasal septum deviation were assessed on digital Waters and Caldwell images. Considering cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as the gold standard, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were obtained for the plain films. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of complete opacification were 89.47% and 95.66% (for frontal sinus), 100% and 97.59% (for ethmoidal air cells), and 100% and 96.42% (for maxillary sinuses), respectively. Regarding mucosal thickening, the sensitivity and specificity were 51.43% and 90.70% (for frontal sinus), 60.84% and 84.80% (for ethmoidal air cells) and 81% and 74.74% (for maxillary sinuses), respectively. The sensitivity of Waters and Caldwell images for detecting nasal septum deviation was 84.31% and 87.25%, respectively; whereas, their specificity was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Digital Caldwell image performs well in detecting frontal and ethmoidal opacification and nasal septum deviation. It has moderate efficacy in assessing frontal and ethmoidal mucosal thickening while it has superior performance for detection of healthy cases. Digital Waters' view is a reliable modality for maxillary sinus evaluation.

Severe osteolysis of the mandibular angle and total condylolysis in progressive systemic sclerosis.

Progressive systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by gradual deposition of abnormal collagen which causes fibrous changes of the skin and visceral organs such as lung, heart, and kidney, which lead to serious complication. Microangiopathy and firm skin cause extrinsic pressure and obliteration of the vessels that lead to ischemia and destruction of the underlying bone. Salivary gland fibrosis causes xerostomia that increases risk of dental caries. Therefore, oral hygiene instruction (OHI) and preventive dentistry are recommended for these patients. We present a 36-year-old female that suffers from systemic sclerosis with total lysis of the mandibular condyle.