Predictive Equation for Construction of Anatomic Porion with Machine Porion as Reference Point.

AIM: The aim of the study was to find a relationship between anatomic porion (PoA) and machine porion (PoM) and to construct PoA with the help of machine porion. METHODOLOGY: About 200 pretreatment lateral roentgenic cephalograms were used for the study. Perpendicular distances of PoA and PoM were measured from Sella-Nasion (SN) plane and SN perpendicular plane. The results were tabulated. With the help of statistical analysis, predictive equation was derived to construct PoA and PoM. p-value was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Anatomic porion distance from SN was 24.35 ± 3.96 and from SN perpendicular was 12.89 ± 4.56. Distance of PoM from SN was 22.46 ± 4.20 and from SN perpendicular was 16.76 ± 4.89. Sexual dimorphism was also seen. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between the PoM and PoA, thus, PoA, which is more reliable, can be constructed with the help of PoM, which is easy to reproduce. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: To overcome the inherent limitations of PoA and PoM, the present study aimed to find a relationship between the two so as to easily construct PoA that is more reliable while taking advantage of the ease of reproducibility of PoM.

SIDS plane: A simple and innovative alternative to Frankfurt horizontal plane.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To derive a new horizontal plane which can be a suitable alternative to Frankfurt horizontal plane (FH plane). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 200 pre-treatment lateral roentogenic cephalograms from patient records in the department of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics were traced. The landmarks were identified and marked and the measurements were carried out. Patients with all skeletal relationships were included in the study. The angle formed between the lines connecting anatomic porion, orbitale and machine porion was measured and tabulated. Dimorphism between the genders if any was also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean angulation between the planes from the anatomic porion to orbitale to machine porion (PoA-Or-PoM) in our sample is 3.14 ± 2.17°. PoA to Or to PoM angulation for males is 2.57° and for females is 3.4°. CONCLUSIONS: SIDS plane also called as derived FH plane given here is a reliable and easily reproducible alternative to the FH plane.

Effectiveness of Different Bristle Designs of Toothbrushes and Periodontal Status among Fixed Orthodontic Patients: A Double-blind Crossover Design.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different bristle designs of toothbrushes and the periodontal status among patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) consisted of 45 adolescents (comprising 20 males and 25 females) undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. The study participants were randomly allocated to three groups, each group being assigned a locally available toothbrush with a particular design of toothbrush bristle. In the first test phase, group I study participants were allocated to toothbrush with flat bristles, group II study subjects were allocated to toothbrush with zigzag bristles, and group III study participants were allocated to toothbrush with crisscross bristles. The study participants were recalled after 4 weeks to check the effectiveness of the allocated toothbrushes. A washout period of 1 week was maintained to ensure that there was no carryover effect of the different bristle designs. In the second test phase, each patient used the opposite toothbrush bristle design (group I: toothbrush with zigzag bristles, group II: toothbrush with crisscross bristles, and group III: toothbrush with flat bristles). Plaque scores were measured using Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman modification of Quigley-Hein plaque index (PI). RESULTS: In both phase 1 and 2 of this RCT, toothbrush with crisscross bristles exhibited maximum plaque reduction among the three different bristle design toothbrushes following 30 days (p = 0.312 ± 0.102 and 0.280 ± 0.110, respectively), which was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that all the three designs of toothbrushes were effective in removing plaque in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. But among the three different toothbrushes, toothbrush with crisscross bristles showed the highest mean plaque reduction. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Plaque accumulation around the orthodontic brackets and gingival margins is quite common among the fixed orthodontic patients, who encounter difficulty in maintaining good oral hygiene. Specially designed toothbrushes are very essential for effective plaque removal among the patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.