Survey of Oral Hygiene Habits and Knowledge among School Children: a cross-sectional study from Italy.

AIM: This study is aimed to investigate the oral hygiene practice, knowledge and attitude of young adults, assessing their awareness about the impact of a certain "risk" behaviour on their oral and dental health. MATERIALS: This is a cross-sectional survey study conducted on 829 students (350 males and 479 females, mean age 13-20 years) attending high school in Milan and surrounding areas. They were asked to complete anonymous questionnaire during the first semester of the 2019-2020 school year, under the supervision of a teacher and/or an assigned interviewer. The questionnaire was created by "Laboratorio Adolescenza", in collaboration with the International Alliance of Responsible Drinking (IARD) Research Institute and the University of Milan. All of the data was compiled into table or graph form and analysed. CONCLUSION: There is a general awareness among Italian school children about the risks of bad oral habits, however, there is a need to improve the oral health knowledge, attitude and practices in the target population with emphasis on improvement of oral hygiene practices.

Scoping review on the role and interactions of hydroxytyrosol and alpha-cyclodextrin in lipid-raft-mediated endocytosis of SARS-CoV-2 and bioinformatic molecular docking studies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to show the effect that two naturally occurring compounds, a cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol, can have on the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into human cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed database was searched to retrieve studies published from 2000 to 2020, satisfying the inclusion criteria. The search keywords were: SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, lipid raft, endocytosis, hydroxytyrosol, cyclodextrin. Modeling of alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol were done using UCSF Chimera 1.14. RESULTS: The search results indicated that cyclodextrins can reduce the efficiency of viral endocytosis and that hydroxytyrosol has antiviral properties. Bioinformatic docking studies showed that alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxytyrosol, alone or in combination, interact with the viral spike protein and its host cell receptor ACE2, thereby potentially influencing the endocytosis process. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxytyrosol and alpha-cyclodextrin can be useful against the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Complex odontoma at the upper right maxilla: Surgical management and histomorphological profile.

BACKGROUND: Odontomas are hamartomatous developmental malformations of the dental tissues. Usually asymptomatic, their presence is often revealed on routine radiographs. The study aimed to establish the efficacy of this conventional approach in treating odontomas, analysing clinical outcome, follow-up, and histomorphological profile. CASE REPORT: A case is presented with a review of the international literature. The patient, aged 8 years, had a complex odontoma localised on the front upper jaw. She was treated following the conventional surgical procedure. Post-operative course and healing were uneventful. Orthodontic treatment was necessary to realign the teeth. At the 12-month follow-up there was no recurrence or failure. Healing was excellent. CONCLUSION: Variations in normal tooth eruption are a common finding, but significant deviations from established norms should alert the clinician to further investigate the patient's health and development.

Relationship between molar deciduous teeth infraocclusion and mandibular growth: A case-control study.

AIM: As the effects of infraocclusion on mandibular growth could have a significant impact on the treatment planning made by the orthodontist, the aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between infraocclusion and mandibular growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study design: A total of 42 healthy Caucasian patients with no history of dental trauma or orthodontic treatment were selected for this study from the same paediatric dentistry department. These patients were divided in two groups based on the presence or absence of infraocclusion: Group A, 22 patients (12 males and 10 females) suffering from infraocclusion of at least one inferior deciduous molar, and Group B, 20 patients (9 males and 11 females) who did not suffer from infraocclusion but had to be treated for dental overcrowding. Each patient was examined through an orthopantomography scan and lateral cephalogram. All measurements were made before the start of the treatment, and they were analysed in order to show cephalometric correlation between the skeletal class, the vertical dimension and cranio-maxillo-mandibular divergence. RESULTS: According to Student's t-test, the only measurements which had a statistically significant difference between Group A and Group B were the SNB angle (p-value <0.01), the ANB angle (p-value <0.05) and the PC-GO-GN angle (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSION: From the data collected in this study, it is possible to conclude that patients suffering from infraocclusion of the mandibular deciduous molars show mandibular post-rotation and an increased total Gonial angle, compared to patients who do not suffer from infraocclusion. Despite the absence of a longer-term evaluation of these patients, thanks to this data it is possible to state that early diagnosis of infraocclusion is fundamental in order to apply a well-planned and thought-out orthodontic treatment.

Hyrax versus transverse sagittal maxillary expander: An assessment of arch changes on dental casts. A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare arch changes before and after maxillary expansion with Transverse Maxillary Sagittal Expander (TSME) and Hyrax Palatal Expander (HPE), in growing patients with diagnosis of maxillary hypoplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 40 patients' records (20 males 20 females mean age 9.2 ±â€¯2.6 years) were selected from the archive of the Orthodontic Department of the University of Milan, Italy. Patients were randomly divided in two groups: patients in group 1 were treated with HPE as they presented only transverse deficiency of the maxilla and in group 2 were treated with TSME. Plaster models have been measured with a Verniere caliper to evaluate the differences in maxillary expansion of the two devices. Measurements were performed on casts poured from impressions taken before appliance bonding (T0), immediately after appliance debonding (T1) and at 6 months follow-up (T2). The variations in the following distances have been considered: inter-molar distance, inter-canine distance, palatal depth, palatal length and arch circumference. Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to assess normality distribution. ANOVA for repeated measures with multiple paired t-test for pairwise comparisons and its non-parametric equivalent Friedman's test with multiple Wilcoxon tests for pairwise comparisons were performed to evaluate changes in time of each variable in each group. Between groups comparisons were performed for each variable at each observing time using independent t-test or Mann-Whitney test. Significance level was set at p < 0,05. RESULTS: Both the Friedman test and the rm-ANOVA test and their respective post-hoc show that within both groups the respective variables have a statistically significant increase between T0 and T1 (p < 0,05) and a slight decrease between T1 and T2 (p < 0,05) that is not clinically relevant remaining always T2 greater than T0 in a statistically and clinically relevant way (p < 0,05). The analysis between the differences of the measurements at different timing measured by the Mann-Whitney test shows that for all the variables there is no statistically significant difference between the 2 devices (p < 0,05), except for the perimeter of the arch and the length of the palate; in this case it appeared that the TSME is better statistically (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIONS: The study has shown that RPE and TSME can achieve similar results in transversal palatal expansion. Differences have been found in the palatal length and in the arch perimeter where TSME seems to be more efficient.

Rapid Maxillary Expander and Eruption Guidance Appliance therapy in skeletal Class II: cephalometric considerations.

AIM: The use of rapid maxillary expander (RME) combined with eruption guidance appliances (EGA) represents a valid method in the treatment of skeletal Class II deep bite patients. In this paper a retrospective cephalometric study of the effects of RME and EGA therapy in Class II deep bite patients is described and compared with the treatment effects of patients with the same malocclusion treated only by RME. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre and post treatment cephalometric radiographs of 47 Class II division 1 deep bite growing patients treated with RME followed by EGA (mean age 9.65 years) (Group 1) were compared with those obtained from a control group (Group 2) of 44 patients (mean age 9.34 years) treated with RME only. The following cephalometric values were analized: SNA; SNB; ANB; SN-PNS.ANS; SN-Go.GN; N-Me; S-Go. RESULTS: Improvement in maxillo-mandibular relationship was observed in both groups with significantly higher decrease of SNA and ANB in group 1. The cranio-maxillary relation shows a tendency to grow downward and backward in both groups. Both anterior and posterior total facial heights showed a significant increase in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: RME followed by EGA therapy in Class II skeletal deep bite patients has shown better results compared with RME therapy without functional appliance.

Lymphangioma of the tongue associated with open bite: case report.

BACKGROUND: Lymphangioma of the tongue is a rare condition related to congenital malformations of the lymphatic system. It may have different implications such as macroglossia. This condition could exacerbate in aesthetic abnormalities and functional problems such as maxillofacial structural deformities, dysphagia, airway obstruction and speech difficulties. The aim of this paper is to describe this disease by means of a case report. CASE REPORT: A 4-year-old patient was referred to our department presenting macroglossia, functional difficulty during swallowing and mastication, speech disturbances, airway obstruction, and deformities of the maxillofacial structures. Diagnosis of lymphangioma was confirmed by biopsy. After surgical removal of the lesion, the patient was treated with rapid palatal expansion, functional appliance with lingual grid and fixed multibracket appliance. After treatment, improvement in function, indicated by the gradual increase in occlusal force, could be taken as a positive sign of stability. CONCLUSION: The 3-step treatment protocol described in this article proves to be effective in controlling the malocclusion in the three planes of the space in a patient affected by lymphangioma of the tongue.

RME: effects on the nasal septum. A CBCT evaluation.

AIM: Three-dimensional images have been evaluated to study the changes that occur on the maxillary complex and the nasal septum, following rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in growing children. METHODS: The records of 39 consecutively treated patients (20 male, 19 female), aged between 6.2 and 12.3 years (mean 8.6 years, S.D. 1.5), presenting a septal deviation of more than 1 mm, were analysed. Each patient was scanned at two distinct periods. The first image (T0) was obtained before treatment and hence represented the patient's baseline condition prior to expansion. The second time point (T1) was set after removal of the expander. The skeletal modifications induced by RME have been evaluated via cephalometric tracings obtained at T0 and at T1. The time lapse between T0 and T1 was 12 months. RESULTS: The nasal septum has been modified in its length more significantly in its lower rather than its upper tract. The width of the piriform aperture increased of 1.58 mm with an increase in the lateral walls and a downward movement of the nasal floor (consequent to an increase in septal length). There was also a reduction of septal deviation. The control group measurements did not vary during the considered period. CONCLUSION: Evidences of this study suggest that RME procedures can result in: a potentially positive effect on the nasal septum asymmetry during childhood; an increase of the nasal cavity volume due to a downward and forward movement; a lateral inclination of the nasal cavity reducing air resistance and improving breathing pattern; an increase of the length of the septum in its lower third improving its possible deviations and growth disturbances; favourable effects on the growth of the entire maxillary complex.

Class II division 1 malocclusions: comparisons between one- and two-step treatment.

AIM: The aim of this study consists in comparing the two-step treatment with that performed in a single-step in adolescent patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study design: This paper is a critical review of the literature with a systematic approach. The search for scientific articles was performed on the US National Library of Medicine database using the PubMed service. Keywords set: "Early treatment Class II OR 1-phase orthodontics OR orthodontic timing Class II". From the initial screening 20 articles were selected of which the full text has been researched and evaluated. RESULTS: The selected articles were reviewed and evaluated by two independent operators, who both excluded two papers. Ultimately 13 articles were selected that refer to four major working groups, respectively from Manchester, North Carolina, Florida and Queen Mary University of London. CONCLUSION: We can assume that both the one- and two-step treatment are effective in correcting Class II malocclusion, with no significant difference of outcome, except for the incidence of incisor trauma, which was significantly lower for the early treatment group.

Comparison of linear transverse measures between plaster and resin printed digital models.

The aim of this study was to test for dimensional variations between plaster models recorded with alginate impression and printed 3D physical replicas from an .stl file digitized with an intra-oral scanner. Eighty arches (maxillary and mandibular) from 40 different patients were analyzed. Classic alginate impressions and digital recordings with an intraoral scanner were taken on the same day, for both arches of each patient. Digital recordings were then printed into resin models. The linear intercanine (IC) and intermolar (IM) distances were measured with a manual electronic caliper and then compared. The measurements were repeated twice for each distance to verify repeatability with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The Student’s t test for paired data was used to compare the two sets of impressions. The repeatability of the measures was assessed as ICC values were higher than 0.98. The values of the IC and IM lengths showed a statistically significant difference, but not clinically significant as it was less than 0.1 mm, between the two techniques.