A family-centered orthodontic screening approach using a machine learning-based mobile application.

Background/purpose: Skeletal orthodontic deformities can have functional and aesthetic consequences, making early detection critical. This study aimed to address the issue of parents bringing their children for routine orthodontic checkups after the ideal treatment age has passed. To address this, we developed a mobile application that uses machine-learning to make a preliminary diagnosis of skeletal malocclusion using just one photograph. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 524 pre-pubertal children, aged between 5 and 12 years, to evaluate the accuracy of the machine learning based mobile application. The application detects multiple points in photographs taken from the mobile camera and generates a signal indicating the diagnosis of skeletal malocclusion. Results: The final accuracy of the Class III vs not Class III model deployed to the mobile application was above 81%, indicating its ability to accurately identify skeletal malocclusion. On a separate validation dataset of 145 patients diagnosed by 5 different clinicians, the accuracy of Class II vs Class I model was 69%; And pg 4, ln 61: as Class II vs Class I with 69% accuracy. Conclusion: The application provides parents with important information about the orthodontic problem, age of treatment, and various treatment options. This enables parents to seek further advice from an orthodontist at an earlier stage and make informed decisions. However, the diagnosis should still be confirmed by an orthodontist. This approach has the potential to improve access to orthodontic care, especially in underserved communities.

The Effect of Bimaxillary Surgery on the Airway Morphology in Class III Patients: Taking Into Account the Head Posture During Walking.

OBJECTIVES: To assess changes in head and neck posture, airway, hyoid, tongue, and soft palate in skeletal class III individuals whose cephalograms were taken using dynamic natural head positioning method with an inclinometer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 20 class III patients operated with double jaw surgery. Natural head positions were determined before and 6 months after the surgery. Craniocervical, pharyngeal airway, tongue, and hyoid positions were measured. In the analysis of the data, paired t test, independent sample t test and correlation tests were used. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant change in the craniocervical measurements with the operation and the head position was further extended (P < 0.05). Significant changes were observed in the soft palate angles upon surgery (P < 0.026) and the increase in oropharyngeal airway area was statistically significant (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in tongue length (TL) and distance from vertical reference plane to tongue tip (TTi/VRP) measurements (P < 0.001 and P < 0.012, respectively). There was a statistically significant decrease in distance from horizontal reference plane to tongue tip (TTi/HRP) and tongue dorsum (TD/HRP) measurements (P < 0.033 and P < 0.003, respectively). The only significant change among the hyoid bone position-related measurements was distance between hyoidale and epiglottis (P < 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Hyoid bone location, tongue measurements, and posterior pharyngeal airway were found to be related to each other and they have been found to be effective on the head and neck posture. Head position will be affected by possible surgical alternatives.

Effects of Surgical and Nonsurgical Rapid Maxillary Expansion on Palatal Structures.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of surgical and nonsurgical rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in skeletally mature patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) was used in 18 patients (2 males, 16 females) with a mean age of 19.90 years. Two nonsurgical RME groups were constructed to compare the expansion changes of SARME. Eighteen patients in maximum pubertal peak (12 males, 6 females) with a mean age of 13.04 years comprised the growing RME group, while the nongrowing RME (NG-RME) group consisted of 18 skeletally mature patients (1 male, 17 females) with a mean age of 16.41 years. Thirteen linear and 2 angular measurements were made on the study models taken before expansion (T0) and after 3 months of retention period (T1). Intragroup differences were evaluated with paired t test and the intergroup differences were analyzed with 1-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: All groups showed significant transversal skeletal and dental expansion. The palatal width changes at gingival and midpalate levels were the highest in the NG-RME group (6.85 and 5.84 mm, respectively). The most molar tipping was in the NG-RME group (15.00°) and the palatal vault angle showed the most increase in the SARME group (9.77°). The greatest expansion at the base of palatal vault was in the SARME group (4.42 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of expansion was rotation of the maxillary halves for SARME and lateral displacement of the dentoalveolar structures for NG-RME. Patients with severe skeletal discrepancy or increased age are good candidates for SARME.

Effects of surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion with and without pterygomaxillary disjunction on dental and skeletal structures: a retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare dental and skeletal changes in surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) patients with (+PP) and without (-PP) pterygomaxillary disjunction. STUDY DESIGN: The study casts of 18 maxillary constriction patients indicated for SARPE formed the sample of this retrospective review. The sample was divided into 2 groups. Twenty linear and 2 angular measurements were performed on the study models. RESULTS: All transversal measurements increased after expansion in both the +PP and -PP groups. The -PP group showed greater expansion at the midpalatal and gingival levels, while the +PP group exhibited a greater increase of 0.78 mm at the apical base level and 11.25° less tipping in the molar teeth. A greater expansion of nearly 0.7 mm was measured in the premolar region of the +PP group. CONCLUSIONS: Both SARPE techniques resulted in significant maxillary expansion.

Maxillary canine-first premolar transposition in the permanent dentition.

Maxillary canine premolar transposition is the most frequently reported transposition type, which many orthodontists face. Although correcting the transposed tooth order is not advised after the eruption of the permanent tooth, several articles published in the last decade demonstrated nonextraction treatment of transposition using fixed mechanics. This article describes the nonextraction treatment of a complete transposition between a maxillary left canine and a first premolar, using similar mechanics as suggested earlier. The correct tooth order was established with a functional Class I canine and molar relationship at the end of treatment. Although triangular cortical bone resorption at the vestibule of the canine root was detected on computed tomography at the end of treatment, spontaneous regeneration of bone tissue at the resorption area was present on the postretention computed tomography scan.

Extraoral nasal molding in a newborn with unilateral cleft lip and palate: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case report is to introduce an extraoral nasal molding appliance (ENMA) and treatment approach for presurgical nasoalveolar molding in newborns with unilateral cleft lip and palate. METHODS: A 15-day-old girl presented with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. A circumferential headband supported the actual nasoalveolar molding device, which consisted of a nasal stent made from a 0.8-mm stainless steel helical spring. The spring was activated at 2-week intervals. DISCUSSION: The shape of the cartilaginous septum, alar cartilage tip, medial and lateral crus and alveolar segments were molded to resemble the normal shape of these structures. ENMA can be helpful in any patient with unilateral cleft lip and palate because it is easy to fabricate, practical to activate, and comfortable to wear and use.

Anti-HCV and HCV-RNA prevalence and clinical correlations in cases with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family. It displays lymphotropism in addition to hepatotropism and extrahepatic manifestations are very well known. There are many studies showing an association between HCV infection and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). In this study the evidence for HCV infection was studied in cases with NHL. To this end, anti-HCV antibody and HCV-RNA were screened in serum samples of cases with NHL using third-generation ELISA and RT-PCR. Anti-HCV antibody was studied in 223 patients and was found to be positive in 18 cases (8.1%). Anti-HCV antibody positivity was compared with our blood bank/blood donor population. There was an important increased risk of HCV infection--the common odds ratio was 34.56 and corrected odds ratio was 19.07. HCV-RNA was studied in 67 of 223 serum samples. HCV-RNA was found to be positive in 21 of 67 samples (31.3%). When compared with clinico-demographic parameters for anti-HCV and HCV-RNA, including age, nodal status, and grade (in evaluable cases), except age in cases with or without HCV-RNA, we did not find an important correlation with HCV status and clinical findings (P=0.155; 0.442; 0.288 for anti-HCV and 0.027; 0,558; 0.126, respectively). These results suggest that HCV infection may be an important risk factor for lymphomagenesis and HCV-RNA is more useful for the detection of HCV infection in these immunosuppressed cases. Simultaneous detection of anti-HCV and HCV-RNA will be more informative in this population.