[Mixed dentition space analysis in a eastern Sicilian population]. / Analisi dello spazio medio delle arcate dentarie in un campione di soggetti della Sicilia Orientale.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study are: 1) predicting the sum of mesio-distal crown diameters of unerupted canines, first and second premolars, using the sum of mesio-distal diameters of lower permanent incisors, in a sample of Eastern Sicily population; 2) estimating the differences between our predictions and the ones developed by Tanaka & Johnston, by Moyers and by Ballard & Wylie. METHODS: We selected 150 plaster casts of permanent dentition of patients - 82 females and 68 males - examined at the School of Orthodontics of the University of Catania. The width of canines, first and second premolars and lower incisors were taken by means of a bow-compass and a sliding digital caliper on the selected plaster casts. RESULTS: We calculated the following linear regression equations, with statistical method, to predict the sum of mesio-distal dimensions of canines, first and second premolars (Y) using the width of the lower incisors (X): Yfs = 11.40 + 0.42X for females in the upper arch; Yfi = 11.34 + 0.41X for females in the lower arch; Yms = 12.84 + 0.39X for males in the upper arch and Ymi =11.38 + 0.44X for males in the lower arch. CONCLUSIONS: The results in our sample indicate that the sum of mesio-distal crown diameters of canines, first and second premolars is smaller in females than in males; besides those results suggest that the North-American authors' predictions overestimate the mesio-distal dimension of canines, first and second premolars in both sexes.

[Conservative treatment of upper anterior dental discrepancy during orthodontic therapy]. / Trattamento conservativo delle discrepanze dento-dentali anteriori superiori in corso di terapia ortognatodontica.

The orthodontic therapeutic sequence used in cases with dento-dental discrepancy for reduced mesiodistal size and congenital absent lateral upper incisors, is described. The importance of correct conoid tooth replacement in the programmed space between the other teeth and its restorative treatment in order to obtain the best biomechanical control is stressed. The contemporaneous presence of the form and volume anomaly of the 12th and the missing 22nd due to agenesia demanded an interdisciplinary approach. For the restoration of the conoid tooth the authors used a microhybrid composite for the alloy properties with the grain size of the inorganic particles. In fact this type of composite responds well to mechanical stress and has a high shining capacity and good aesthetical rendering. Meanwhile the temporary dental prothesis solution of the 22nd in this case has suggested the application of the artificial element on the superior Hawley holding plaque.

[Skeletal growth of young thalassemia major patients treated with intensive transfusion]. / Considerazioni sull'accrescimento scheletrico di giovani soggetti affetti da talassemia major trattati con trasfusioni intensive.

The AA. have carried out an investigation on skeletal maturation of children and adolescent with thalassemia major. The data collected in this investigation seem to indicate that skeletal age is quite similar to cronological age in the subjects studied. Furthermore any difference statistically significant as far as growth has been observed between males and of females in our sample.

[Epidemiological survey of craniomandibular dysfunction in young thalassemia major patients]. / Indagine epidemiologica sulle disfunzioni cranio-mandibolari in giovani soggetti affetti da talassemia maior.

40 patients with talassemia major treated with blood transfusions were studied by the Authors. The aim of this study was to evaluate tmj signs and symptoms, according to Helkimo questionnaire. From the data collected in this investigation it comes out that clinical signs are more frequent in older subjects, in fact 27% of young patients aged from 9 to 13 years showed at least one clinical sign of dysfunction; on the other hand in the younger patients (aged from 6 to 9 years) dysfunctions were found only in 16% of subjects.

[Dental age evaluation in young subjects with Cooley's disease]. / Valutazione dell'età dentale in giovani soggetti affetti da morbo di Cooley.

The AA. have evaluated dental age in growing subjects with Cooley's anemia. 34 patients aged from 4 to 11.8 years were clinically examined as far as the number of teeth erupted. Dental arches x-rays were taken for each patients to evaluate dental age according to dental development. From the data collected in our investigation it comes out that there were no difference between dental age and chronological age.

[Epidemiological survey of the prevalence of dental caries in young thalassemia major patients]. / Indagine epidemiologica sulla prevalenza della carie dentale in giovani soggetti affetti da talassemia major.

47 patients with thalassemia major treated with blood transfusions were studied by the authors. The aim was to carry out an investigation on caries incidence. From the data collected in this investigation it was found that 90% of males and 66% of females showed caries, then there was a difference in percentage of caries between males and females. On the other hand the dmf and the DMF index showed quite the same values in males and in females.

[Tensile test evaluation of some properties of orthodontic wires]. / Valutazione mediante test tensile di alcune caratteristiche dei fili ortodontici.

Six orthodontic wires were compared by uniaxial tensile testing. Among all the wires compared, Nitinol showed the lowest elastic modulus followed by the TMA wires.

[Cephalometric study of a group of grown subjects with normal static and dynamic occlusion]. / Indagine cefalometrica su un campione di soggetti a fine crescita con occlusione statica e dinamica normale.

The Authors have leaded a cephalometric study on a sample of eleven subjects at the end of the growth with normal static and dynamic occlusion. They have employed cephalometric Giannì's, Cagliari's Ricketts' analysis integrated with the evaluation of the soft tissues according to Holdaway. The eleven subjects of the sample, selected according to a normal static and dynamic occlusion, presented a sagittal skeletal harmony and a tendency to brachyfacial biotypology and a light concave profile.

[Head posture in orthodontics: physiopathology and clinical aspects 2]. / Considerazioni sulla postura del capo in ortognatodonzia: fisiopatologia ed aspetti clinici. Nota II.

The Authors review in orthodontic respects present knowledges about head posture involvement in craniofacial morphogenesis and pathology. Relationships between craniofacial morphology, craniocervical posture, craniomandibular posture, cervical spine curvature, hyoid bone position and posture of whole body in space are shown, in attempt to explain conditions such as "forward head posture", mouth breathing and some occlusal disorders. Main methods to evaluate craniocervical relations on lateral skull radiographs are analysed. Pathogenesis of pain syndromes associated with abnormal craniocervical and craniomandibular mechanics are also briefly treated.

[Frequency of clinical orthognathodontic changes found in a group of grown subjects in oriental Sicily]. / Frequenza delle alterazioni ortognatodontiche clinicamente rilevabili in un campione di soggetti a fine crescita della Sicilia orientale.

The authors have leaded an epidemiologic study in a group of 305 young adults males and females in order to value the frequency of static and dynamic malocclusion and symptoms of the A.T.M. dysfunctions.

[Evaluation of lateral norms of facial biotype in a group of young patients with hypodontia]. / Valutazione in norma lateralis dei biotipi facciali in un gruppo di giovani pazienti affetti da ipodontia.

In a group of 620 patients prevalence of tooth agenesis correlated to jaw relationship was studied. Skeletal patterns of the patients with the tooth agenesis were diagnosed by means of lateral cephalograms according to Ricketts, Jarabak, Riedel and Cagliari School analysis. The prevalence of Class Ist skeletal relationship and skeletal deep-bite appeared to be significantly more frequent in patients with hypodontia.