Microbial contamination profile on esthetic elastomeric ligatures through the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique : A randomized split-mouth study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the microbial contamination of three different brands of esthetic elastomeric ligatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different brands of esthetic ligatures (Unistick Pearl [American Orthodontics, Sheboygan, WI, USA], Power Sticks Pearl [Ortho Technology, Tampa, FL, USA], and Ease [Obscure, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA]) were randomly assigned to permanent canines of 25 patients (aged 11-18 years) undergoing corrective orthodontic treatment. After 30 days, the ligatures were removed, processed, and the biofilm composition was analyzed by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization for 40 bacterial species. The microbiological data were analyzed using a nonparametric mixed model. RESULTS: The ligatures presented intense microbial contamination after 30 days, but no statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups (p > 0.05). The levels of the evaluated individual species and proportions of the microbial complexes showed no statistically significant differences among the ligature groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Esthetic elastomeric ligatures became multicolonized by several bacterial species after 30 days of exposure to the oral cavity. However, no relevant differences were observed among the biofilm composition formed on the different ligature brands.

Impact of genetic variations in the WNT family members and RUNX2 on dental and skeletal maturation: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated if genetic variations in the WNT family members and RUNX2 are associated with craniofacial maturation, investigating dental and skeletal maturity in children and teenagers. METHODS: Radiographs from pre-orthodontic treatment of Brazilian patients (7 to 17 years-old) were used to assess dental (panoramic radiographs) and skeletal maturity (cephalometric radiographs). The chronological age (CA) was calculated based on the date of birth and the time the radiographs were performed. For the dental maturity analysis, the Demirjian (1973) method was used and a delta [dental age - chronological age (DA-CA)] was calculated. For the skeletal maturity analysis, the Baccetti et al. (2005) method was used and the patients were classified as "delayed skeletal maturation", "advanced skeletal maturation" or "normal skeletal maturation". DNA isolated from buccal cells was used for genotyping of two genetic variations in WNT family genes: rs708111 (G > A) in WNT3A and rs1533767 (G > A) in WNT11; and two genetic variations in RUNX2: rs1200425 (G > A) and rs59983488 (G > T). A statistical analysis was performed and values of p < 0.05 indicated a significant difference. RESULTS: There were no associations between dental maturity and genotypes (p > 0.05). In the skeletal maturity analysis, the allele A in the rs708111 (WNT3A) was statistically more frequent in patients with delayed skeletal maturation (Prevalence Ratio = 1.6; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.00 to 2.54; p-value = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: The rs708111 in the WNT3A gene impacts on skeletal maturation.

Adolescents' perception of malocclusion, their motivations, and expectations concerning the orthodontic treatment. Is it all about attractiveness? A qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: In addition to essential clinical parameters, orthodontic treatment outcomes should also consider patients' opinions and perceptions, which could be comprehensively clarified with a qualitative scientific approach. Considering that the information on younger patients' views is scarce, the objective of this study was to investigate how adolescent orthodontic patients perceive malocclusion, and their motivations and expectations concerning orthodontic corrective treatment. METHODS: In this descriptive qualitative study, 12 adolescents aged 12 to 14 years and of both genders, covering a heterogeneous collection of malocclusions, were recruited from the waiting list of an Orthodontics Graduate Course. They were individually interviewed before the appliance insertion by an experienced researcher using an interview guide and photographic records to stimulate patients' self-perception of their oral condition. The interviews proceeded simultaneously with transcription analyses until saturation. After the transcription evaluation, the framework analysis technique was performed. RESULTS: Data derived from the transcription analyses were grouped into 3 major themes: perceptions concerning the concepts of normality and abnormality regarding oral health; self-perceptions regarding malocclusion and other discrepancies; and motivations for seeking orthodontic treatment and expectations related to the results. CONCLUSIONS: Attractiveness was exceptionally relevant among adolescent patients. Most interviewees seemed to focus their attention on esthetically upsetting dentofacial traits, which they expected to be corrected by orthodontic treatment. In addition to self-oriented appearance-driven motivations, parents, other health professionals, friends, and peers also influenced adolescents' perception of their need for treatment. The achievement of a normal dentofacial status seems to be closely attached to social and individual aspirations.

Left-right asymmetry in palatal rugae is associated with genetic variants in WNT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the association between genetic variants in WNT3A and WNT11, and palatal rugae phenotypes. DESIGN: Eighty-five biological unrelated orthodontic patients were included. Dental casts were assessed and data regarding the length, shape, direction and unification of rugae were recorded. The individuals were subsequently classified for each of the following rugae traits: total amount of rugae; bilateral symmetry in the amount, length and shape of the rugae; presence of secondary or fragmentary rugae; presence of unifications; predominant shape; and, direction of the rugae. Genetic variants in WNT3A (rs708111) and WNT11 (rs1533767) were genotyped by real-time PCR. Genotype and allele distributions were compared with an established alpha of 5 %. RESULTS: The wavy and curve rugae were the most common. Genotype/phenotype analyses identified that the presence of the rs708111 A allele (OR = 2.2, 95 % CI: 1.1-4.4, p = 0.01) and the rs1533767 G allele (OR = 2.3, 95 % CI: 1.0-5.3, p = 0.05) increased in more than two times the chance of having bilateral asymmetry in the amount of the rugae. In the recessive model, individuals carrying two risk alleles (AA) of WNT3A rs708111 had a higher risk of presenting this phenotype. SNP-SNP interaction analysis revealed that individuals carrying one rs708111 A allele and rs1533767 G allele showed even a higher chance of having bilateral asymmetry in the amount of rugae (OR = 5.6, 95 % CI: 1.1-28.8, p = 0.03). No associations were identified for other rugae phenotype (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Genetic variants in WNT3A and WNT11 were associated with the left-right asymmetry in the amount of palatal rugae.