A Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Skeletal and Dentoalveolar Changes in Growing Class II Patients after Functional Appliance Therapy: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Background: The aim was to assess three-dimensionally mandibular and maxillary changes in growing Class II patients treated with removable functional appliances followed by fixed appliances. Methods: Twenty-four Class II patients (age range: 9 to 14, mean: 12.1 ± 1.1 years) treated with removable functional appliances followed by fixed appliances (functional appliance group-FAG) were retrospectively selected and compared to an age-matched control group (CG) treated with fixed appliances only. To be included in the study, pre- and post-treatment CBCT scans had to be available. The CBCTs were used to analyze, in 3D, the changes following treatment and growth. Results: Before treatment, overjet (FAG: 9 mm ± 2.8 (mean ± standard deviation); CG: 4 mm ± 1.7), ANB (FAG: 5.7° ± 2.0; CG: 3.2° ± 1.4), and effective mandibular length (FAG: 113.0 mm ± 4.1; CG: 116.6 mm ± 5.9) were statistically significantly different between the two groups. After treatment, overjet (FAG: -6.8 mm ± 2.8; CG: -1.8 mm ± 1.8) and effective mandibular length (FAG: 6.3 mm ± 2.6; CG: 3.9 mm ± 2.6) statistically significantly changed. There was a significant difference in the treatment effect between the FAG and the CG in overjet, ANB, and effective mandibular length. Conclusions: The results indicate that functional appliances are effective in correcting Class II malocclusions. The growth modification in the FAG resulted in an increase in mandibular length. Yet, the final length of the mandible in the FAG was smaller when compared to the CG.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the sleep-related breathing disorder scale of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire into Danish language.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common but often underestimated in children. The gold standard for assessing SDB is polysomnography, but it is expensive and time-consuming. The Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ/SRDB) is a validated screening tool for SDB, which represents an efficient and alternative tool for screening SDB among children. However, a translated and validated Danish version of the PSQ/SRDB is not available yet. Our aim was to cross-culturally translate the PSQ/SRDB into Danish language for use in clinical and research settings. PATIENTS/METHODS: The translation was carried out through forward-backward translation techniques performed by a panel of experts, and the cross-cultural adaptation was achieved by pretesting of the pre-final version. Internal consistency of the Danish PSQ/SRDB version was measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficients, while Cohen's kappa was used to evaluate test-retest reliability. Construct validity was assessed by factor analysis of the principal components. RESULTS: The Danish PSQ/SRDB was administered to the caregivers of 348 children. An overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.72 was found, confirming the survey's consistency, with the results for the domains ranging 0.52-0.70. The Danish PSQ/SRDB showed moderate to perfect reliability for all items, except for one question (C14). Factor analysis performed on the Danish PSQ/SRDB showed that the predetermined four factors were similar with the original version of the PSQ/SRDB. CONCLUSIONS: The Danish version of the PSQ/SRDB has been successfully translated and cross-culturally adapted, suggesting that it can be used as an appropriate paediatric screening tool for SDB in Denmark.

3D landmarks of Craniofacial Imaging and subsequent considerations on superimpositions in orthodontics-The Aarhus perspective.

OBJECTIVE: (a) To evaluate intra- and inter-observer reliability in landmarks placement along the three planes of space on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data sets; (b) To evaluate whether the reliability of each landmark differs in CBCT scans characterized by two different voxel dimension and quality. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: A total of 84 scans were used in this study: 49 scans were taken with the NewTom 3G, and 35 scans were taken with the NewTom 5G. The scans were characterized by an isotropic voxel dimension of 0.36 and 0.30 mm for the NewTom 3G and the NewTom 5G, respectively. METHODS: A total of 13 landmarks were placed according to the corresponding definitions in 3D, also presented in this study: Foramen Spinosum (R/L), Nasion, Sella, Gonion (R/L), Pogonion, Menton, A point, Anterior nasal spine, Posterior nasal spine, Basion, Cribriform Plate (CR). Intra- and inter-observer reliability and Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) ICC for landmarks identification were assessed. Five reference and registration planes based on the above-mentioned landmarks were also presented. RESULTS: ICC both for the intra- and inter-observer measurements had a score larger than 0.9 in all directions, except in the sagittal direction for CR. Regarding intra- and inter-observer reliability, only N, S, and Ba scored well in all directions. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the landmarks analysed displayed a high reliability along at least 2 directions. The choice of landmarks to define registration and superimposition planes must be carefully selected, as the reliability of these planes is inherited from the one of the landmarks defining them.