Correlation Between Sleep-Time Masseter Muscle Activity and Tooth Wear: An Electromyographic Study.

Aims: To assess the correlation between tooth wear and sleep-time masseter muscle activity (sMMA) in a group of healthy young adults who underwent home electromyographic/electrocardiographic (EMG/ECG) recordings with a portable device.

Methods: A total of 41 healthy volunteers (23 women, 18 men; mean age 28.8 years, range 25 to 40) with good natural dentition underwent a 2-night in-home evaluation with a portable device that allowed a simultaneous sleep-time recording of EMG signals from both masseter muscles and heart rate.

Does low-frequency vibration have an effect on aligner treatment? A single-centre, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Low-frequency vibrations have been proposed as a means of accelerating tooth movement and reducing orthodontic treatment times.

Objective: To determine any differences in the accuracy of dental movement in patients treated with a low-frequency vibration aligner protocol and/or by reducing the aligner replacement interval with respect to a conventional protocol.

Design: This trial was designed as a single-centre, randomized controlled clinical trial.

Effects of invisible orthodontic retainers on masticatory muscles activity during sleep: a controlled trial.

Background: This study aims to evaluate if invisible orthodontic retainers can affect sleep-time masticatory muscle activity (sMMA) over a short-term period in healthy individuals.

Methods: Nineteen (N = 19) healthy subjects underwent an in-home evaluation with a portable device for electromyographic (EMG) assessment. The study protocol provided two baseline recording nights, a night off, and then two additional nights with passive customized orthodontic retainers in situ.

Unexpected artefacts and occult pathologies under CBCT.

Purpose: To present the most frequent occult pathologies unexpectedly encountered via cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), with particular reference to the diagnostic role of the dentist and that of the radiographer, with a view to clarifying where the diagnostic responsibility lies.

Material And Methods: A narrative literature review on the most diffused occult pathologies under CBCT was conducted, with iconographical guide as an example for each category.

Results: The most frequent forms of unexpected pathologies encountered are: the presence of foreign bodies, airway anomaly, and the presence of radio-opacity or -transparency in the maxillofacial district.

Skeletal and dentoalveolar effects of hybrid rapid palatal expansion and facemask treatment in growing skeletal Class III patients.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe the skeletal and dentoalveolar changes in a group of growing skeletal Class III patients treated with hybrid rapid palatal expansion and facemask.

Methods: Twenty-eight growing patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion were treated using a rapid maxillary expander with hybrid anchorage according to the ALT-Ramec protocol (SKAR III; E.P.

Predictability of orthodontic movement with orthodontic aligners: a retrospective study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictability of F22 aligners (Sweden & Martina, Due Carrare, Italy) in guiding teeth into the positions planned using digital orthodontic setup.

Methods: Sixteen adult patients (6 males and 10 females, mean age 28 years 7 months) were selected, and a total of 345 teeth were analysed. Pre-treatment, ideal post-treatment-as planned on digital setup-and real post-treatment models were analysed using VAM software (Vectra, Canfield Scientific, Fairfield, NJ, USA).

Objective assessment of compliance with intra- and extraoral removable appliances.

Objective: To conduct an objective assessment of the level of compliance in young patients prescribed various types of removable appliances and to determine the influence of device type, treatment duration, and patient age, gender, psychological maturity, and awareness of monitoring on compliance.

Materials And Methods: A total of 30 patients were fitted with either a class 2 (Frankel or bionator) or a class 3 (face mask) removable appliance, each bearing a compliance indicator chip, and they were instructed to wear them for 13 hours per day. Compliance was monitored by means of the sensor for an average of 8 months.

Stress relaxation properties of four orthodontic aligner materials: A 24-hour in vitro study.

Objective: To investigate the stress release properties of four thermoplastic materials used to make orthodontic aligners when subjected to 24 consecutive hours of deflection.

Materials And Methods: Four types of aligner materials (two single and two double layered) were selected. After initial yield strength testing to characterize the materials, each sample was subjected to a constant load for 24 hours in a moist, temperature-regulated environment, and the stress release over time was measured.

Assessment of Anxiety and Coping Features in Bruxers: A Portable Electromyographic and Electrocardiographic Study.

Aims: To determine whether there is a correlation between any psychological features and sleep bruxism (SB).

Methods: A total of 36 healthy volunteers underwent an in-home evaluation with a portable device combining electromyographic (EMG) and electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings for the diagnosis of SB. They were administered questionnaires that assessed state and trait anxiety levels and coping strategies.

Caries prevention during orthodontic treatment: In-vivo assessment of high-fluoride varnish to prevent white spot lesions.

Introduction: Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a fluoridated varnish in preventing white spot lesions in patients with fixed appliances. A laser-induced fluorescence device was used to determine any correlations between the degree of demineralization and the length of the observation period, the arch sector, the frequency of varnish application, and the specific tooth site.

Methods: A split-mouth study design was used for 24 orthodontic patients, allocated randomly to 2 subgroups with differing frequencies of Duraphat varnish (Colgate-Palmolive, New York, NY) application.

Load deflection characteristics of square and rectangular archwires.

Aims: To determine and compare the relative stiffness of a large selection of commonly-used square and rectangular steel, super-tempered steel, NiTi, and TMA orthodontic archwires of various cross-sections, in order to provide the clinician with a useful, easy-to-consult guide to archwire sequence selection.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four archwires of different cross-section shape, size and material were selected. Each type was subjected to a modified three-point bending test, performed in triplicate using an Instron 4467 dynamometer.

Optical properties of orthodontic aligners--spectrophotometry analysis of three types before and after aging.

Background: The aim was to assess and compare absorbance and transmittance values of three types of clear orthodontic aligners before and after two cycles of in vitro aging.

Methods: Nine samples of orthodontic aligners from three different manufacturers (Invisalign, Align Technology, Santa Clara, CA, USA; All-In, Micerium, Avegno, GE, Italy; F22 Aligner, Sweden & Martina, Due Carrare, PD, Italy) were selected, and each sample was subjected to spectrophotometry analysis of both its transmittance and absorbance a total of 27 times. Samples were subsequently aged in vitro at a constant temperature in artificial saliva supplemented with food colouring for two cycles of 14 days each.

Three-dimensional assessment of teeth first-, second- and third-order position in Caucasian and African subjects with ideal occlusion.

Background: The aim of this study was to provide an updated version of Andrews' seminal study by exploiting 3D software to analyse the tip, torque and in-out values of two groups of different racial and ethnic background.

Methods: The analysis was conducted on one Caucasian group (30 individuals) and one of African origin (29). All subjects were adult, in normal occlusion and had no previous history of orthodontic treatment.

Comparative analysis of real and ideal wire-slot play in square and rectangular archwires.

Objective: To evaluate the degree to which the height, width, and cross-section of rectangular and square orthodontic archwires affect the play between the archwires and the bracket slot.

Materials And Methods: The stated measurements (height and width) of 43 archwires from six different manufacturers were compared with real values obtained using a digital gauge. The curvature (radius) of the edge bevels was also measured to calculate the play within the slot, and this measurement was compared with the ideal value.

Torque expression capacity of 0.018 and 0.022 bracket slots by changing archwire material and cross section.

Background: The aim of this study is to calculate and compare the play and torque expression of 0.018 and 0.022 bracket slots when engaged with archwires of different size, cross section and material.

3D FEM comparison of lingual and labial orthodontics in en masse retraction.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare displacements and stress after en masse retraction of mandibular dentition with lingual and labial orthodontics using three-dimensional (3D) finite element models (FEM).

Methods: A 3D FEM of each lower tooth was constructed and located as appropriate to Roth's prescription. The 0.

Respiratory disorders in paediatric age: orthodontic diagnosis and treatment in dysmetabolic obese children and allergic slim children.

Aim: Obesity and allergic susceptibility are worsening problems in the most industrialised countries. With different mechanisms, they both lead to a deterioration of children's life quality because they affect the respiratory system, leading to asthma and respiratory disorders such as mouth breathing and obstructive sleep apnoea. The latter are related to specific types of malocclusions that require an early diagnosis and specific multidisciplinary treatment.

Wire load-deflection characteristics relative to different types of brackets.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the dimension of the bracket, both in labial and in lingual orthodontics, is a relevant parameter to determine the forces acting on the teeth, and that some wires commonly used in labial orthodontics (0.016"-diameter SS, TMA and Nitinol) are not suitable for the first phase of lingual treatment.

Materials And Methods: An ideal dental cast was bonded with eight different brackets (Damon 3MX, Ovation, Time 2, Innovation and Smart Clip Clarity on the vestibular face; STB, Adenta Time and Innovation-L on the lingual).

Communication through telemedicine: home teleassistance in orthodontics.

Aim: The aim of the study is codify both a methodological and communication standard based on teleassistance, and the emergencies that can be treated from a remote location along with the related clinical applications, limitations, medicolegal considerations and the patients' opinion on this new opportunity of assistance.

Materials And Methods: To codify a distance communication method, ten young patients aged 10-16 years, equipped with a mobile videophone and after clear instructions, asked the advice of the orthodontic specialist to deal with minor orthodontic emergencies. Upon completion of the treatment they filled out a questionnaire on satisfaction level and difficulties encountered with the use of this technology.

A randomised controlled trial of ursodeoxycholic acid and S-adenosyl-l-methionine in the treatment of gestational cholestasis.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of S-adenosyl-l-methionine and ursodeoxycholic acid in improving serum biochemical abnormalities in gestational cholestasis.

Design: Randomised clinical trial.

Setting: University hospital.

Prognostic value of uterine artery Doppler velocimetry in growth-restricted fetuses delivered near term.

Objective: We have investigated the use of uterine artery Doppler waveform analysis in growth restricted fetuses delivered at > or =34 weeks.

Study Design: Included in the study were all consecutive euploid non-malformed singleton fetuses with accurate dating diagnosed as growth restricted (sonographic abdominal circumference <10th percentile) between January 1995 and December 1998 and who were delivered at > or =34 weeks. Delivery was expedited for biophysical profile 6 or less with nonreactive nonstress test, preeclampsia, oligohydramnios, absent fetal growth over 2 weeks, absent or reversed diastolic flow in the umbilical artery (UA), or UA pulsatility index (PI) greater than the 95th percentile after 37 weeks.

Obstetric cholestasis: outcome with active management.

Objective: Conservative management of intrahepatic obstetric cholestasis is associated with a high stillbirth rate despite monitoring of fetal well-being with non-stress test and amniotic fluid volume assessment. Most cases of stillbirth are associated with meconium passage. We prospectively evaluated the effect of a management protocol inclusive of surveillance for presence of meconium and induction of labor at 37 weeks.

[Treatment of maternal hyperthyroidism and fetal goiter].

A fetal goitre is a potentially dangerous phenomenon because of mechanical obstruction and possible fetal thyroid function disorders. During pregnancy women with a history of Graves' disease under treatment with propylthiouracil (PTU) have an increased risk for fetal goitre. In this report a patient with Graves' disease diagnosed in early pregnancy and treated with PTU which resulted in a fetal goitre is described.