Comparison of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Treated and Non-Treated Orthodontic Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Malocclusion as an oral disorder can cause negative impact on individuals oral conditions, social interactions and self-esteem. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) of patients who had received fixed orthodontic treatment and patients who had not received fixed orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from 178 participants attended at professional dental office (mean age 22.71 years) in two groups (experimental and control). The experimental group comprised of 90 subjects who were in the retention phase, after their orthodontic treatment, and the control group comprised of 88 untreated subjects. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to assess the patients oral health related quality of life (OHQoL). RESULTS: The control group had significantly higher OHIP-14 scores than experimental group (p < 0.001). Participants with treatment need reported a significantly greater negative impact on the overall OHRQoL score. CONCLUSION: Subjects with no history of orthodontic treatment had more negative oral health related quality (OHRQoL), than subjects who had completed orthodontic treatment. Dental malocclusion has significant negative impact on OHRQoL.

Comparison of Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets Using Direct and Indirect Bonding Methods in Vitro and in Vivo.

AIM: Aim of article was to compare the shear bond strength of indirectly and directly bonded orthodontic brackets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental in vitro study included 60 maxillary and mandibular premolars. Teeth were mounted on cold-cure acrylic blocks for each tooth separately and divided into two groups: directly bonded brackets (30 teeth) and indirectly bonded brackets (30 teeth). Brackets (Discovery, Roth 0.022", Dentaurum, Ispringen, Germany) were bonded using Transbond XT (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) in direct method, while in indirect technique, a combination of Transbond XT and Sondhi Rapid Set (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) was used. The shear bond strength and adhesive remnant index (ARI) were evaluated. The in vivo study included 30 subjects - 15 with indirectly bonded brackets and 15 with directly bonded brackets. Survival rate was assessed during the period of 6 months. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference in the shear bond strength was found in direct (7.48±1.61 MPa) and indirect labial bonding methods (7.8.2±1.61 MPa). Both methods produced very similar amount of adhesive remnant on tooth surface (median = 1; interquartile range 1-2). There were no significant differences in bracket survival rate between methods. CONCLUSION: Regarding the shear bond strength, adhesive remnant on tooth surface, and survival rate, both indirect and direct methods of orthodontic bracket bonding seem to be equally valuable methods in clinical practice.