Frequency of awake bruxism behaviour in orthodontic patients: Randomised clinical trial: Awake bruxism behaviour in orthodontic patients.

INTRODUCTION: The influence of aligners on the activity of the masticatory muscles is still controversial, especially regarding the behaviour associated with awake bruxism (AB). OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of AB behaviours between patients treated with aligners and fixed appliances. METHODS: The sample comprised 38 Class I patients (mean age 22.08 years), divided by simple randomisation into two groups: OA group; orthodontic aligners (n 19) and FA group; fixed appliance (n 19). The frequency of AB was investigated by the ecological momentary assessment using an online device (mentimeter), during 7 following days at different timepoints, before and after appliance placement and in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th months of orthodontic treatment. These variables were also evaluated: level of anxiety by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, stress by the Perceived Stress Scale, catastrophising related to pain and degree of hypervigilance by the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire, and the presence of facial pain evaluated by the DC/TMD. RESULTS: There was no difference between groups in the frequency of AB behaviours, with mean of 53.5% for group OA and 51.3% for FA. The most frequent behaviour was slightly touching the teeth, and in FA group, there was a significant reduction in this behaviour soon after appliance placement. The groups did not differ concerning the degree of anxiety, stress, catastrophising, hypervigilance and facial pain. CONCLUSION: The orthodontic treatment performed with aligners or fixed appliances did not influence the frequency of AB during the 6 months of treatment. REGISTRY OF CLINICAL TRIALS: (REBEC): RBR-9zytwf.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography-based Evaluation of the Anterior Teeth Position Changes obtained by Passive Self-ligating Brackets.

AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the anterior teeth position changes obtained by passive self-ligating brackets using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with a mean age of 16.5 years, class I malocclusion, constricted maxillary arch, and teeth crowding above 5 mm were enrolled in this study, and treated by passive orthodontic self-ligating brackets. A sequence of stainless steel thermoset wire was implemented with ending wire of 0.019" × 0.025". The CBCT and dental casts were obtained prior to the installation of orthodontic appliances (T1), and 30 days after rectangular steel wire 0.019" × 0.025" installation (T2). The measurements in CBCT were performed with the Anatomage software, and the dental casts were evaluated with a digital caliper rule with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. RESULTS: The CBCT data demonstrated mean buccal inclination of the upper and lower central incisors ranging from 6.55° to 7.24° respectively. The upper and lower lateral incisors ranged from 4.90° to 8.72° respectively. The lower canines showed an average increase of 3.88° in the buccal inclination and 1.96 mm in the transverse intercuspal distance. The upper canines showed a negative inclination with mean average of -0.36°, and an average increase of 0.82 mm in the transverse distance, with negative correlation with the initial crowding. CONCLUSION: Treatment with passive self-ligating brackets without obtaining spaces increases buccal inclination of the upper and lower incisors with no correlation with the amount of initial teeth crowding. The intercanine distance tends to a small increase showing different inclinations between the arches. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: When taking into account the self-ligating brackets, the amount of initial dental crowding is not a limitation factor that could increase the buccal inclination of the anterior teeth.

Anterior open bite treated with a palatal crib and high-pull chin cup therapy. A prospective randomized study.

The aim of this prospective randomized clinical study was to cephalometrically investigate the dentoalveolar and soft tissue changes produced by a removable appliance with a palatal crib associated with high-pull chin cup therapy in children with an Angle Class I anterior open bite (AOB) malocclusion. Thirty children (8 males and 22 females) with an initial mean age of 8.3 years and a mean AOB of 4.1 mm were treated with a removable appliance composed of a palatal crib associated with chin cup therapy for 12 months. A control group of 30 individuals (7 males and 23 females) closely matched for age, initial mean age 8.6 years, gender, and ethnicity with a mean AOB of 4.6 mm was followed without treatment. The measurements (means and standard deviations) were statistically analysed using a paired t-test. The results showed no significant differences in the level of molar eruption or in lower anterior face height, suggesting that the vertical control expected from the chin cup therapy did not occur. Dentoalveolar changes at the anterior region were evident, with statistically significant extrusion, retrusion, and lingual tipping of the maxillary and mandibular incisors (P < or = 0.05). However, these hard tissue changes did not imply soft tissue changes and the variables related to the soft profile were not statistically significantly different between the groups. The dentoalveolar changes at the anterior region of the dental arches were mainly responsible for closure of the AOB in patients treated in the mixed dentition.

Treatment effects produced by the Bionator appliance. Comparison with an untreated Class II sample.

The purpose of this retrospective investigation was to evaluate the dentoalveolar and skeletal cephalometric changes of the Bionator appliance on individuals with a Class II division 1 malocclusion. Lateral cephalograms of 44 patients were divided into two equal groups. The control group comprised 22 untreated Class II children (11 males, 11 females), with an initial mean age of 8 years 7 months who were followed without treatment for a period of 13 months. The Bionator group (11 males, 11 females) had an initial mean age of 10 years 8 months, and were treated for a mean period of 16 months. Lateral cephalometric headfilms were obtained of each patient and control at the beginning and end of treatment. The results showed that there were no changes in forward growth of the maxilla in the experimental group compared with the control group. However, the Bionator treatment produced a statistically significant increase in mandibular protrusion, and in total mandibular and body lengths. There were no statistically significant differences in craniofacial growth direction between the Bionator group and the control group, although the treated patients demonstrated a greater increase in posterior face height. The Bionator appliance produced labial tipping of the lower incisors and lingual inclination of the upper incisors, as well as a significant increase (P < 0.01) in mandibular posterior dentoalveolar height. The major effects of the Bionator appliance were dentoalveolar, with a smaller significant skeletal effect. The results indicate that the correction of a Class II division 1 malocclusion with the Bionator appliance is achieved not only by a combination of mandibular skeletal effects, but also by significant dentoalveolar changes.