[Analysis of morphological variations of the maxilla in unilateral complete cleft lip and palate after presurgical orthopedic treatment by a functional obturating plate].

Background: The authors' aim is to show, through a morphological analysis, how the use of a passive functional plate in hard acrylic resin can guide the growth of the maxillary segments in babies born with cleft lip and palate.

Methods: The authors have obtained, with a scanner gray scales, bidimensional monochromatic images of nine babies' dental casts with cleft lip and palate at birth and at the time of the first cheilo-rhinoplastic surgery. A graphic analysis on these images was made comparing the charts drawn by Bolter's points identified on the maxillary alveolar arch.

[Modified technique of Waters for retrograde intubation. Apropos of a case of difficult intubation].

The authors describe a case of impossible intubation by classical means in an obese 37-yr old woman, affected with encephalopathy, hydrocephalus and severe psychomotor retardation. After failure of intubation by classical methods using a flexible introducer, the patient was intubated by Waters retrograde technique using an epidural catheter passed through the thyrocricoid membrane and recovered in the mouth. Following this guide the endotracheal tube passed the glottis fairly easily with the help of a flexible "mouse tail-ended" introducer (C-Mettro, Cook, 19.

[Our experience in the correction of a short frenulum labialis by Z-plasty].

The authors report their experience of the reconstruction by z-plasty in cases of shortness of the lip frenum. Amongst several techniques they used for this correction they got best results utilizing a z-plasty, with wide flaps, planned so that after the transposition of the flaps the medial branch of the z-plasty falls horizontally into the deeper vestibular fornix. In all cases treated by that z-plasty the A.

[The functional and surgical rehabilitative treatment of cleft lip and cleft palate in a case of the syndrome of the deletion of the long arm of chromosome 18 diagnosed in utero].

Following an introductory illustration of the clinical characteristics of the 18q syndrome (De Grouchy syndrome), the paper describes the treatment carried out in a young patient with harelip and cleft palate in addition to chromosomopathy. Although the facial malformation and the karyotype with the deletion of a portion of the long arm of chromosome 18 were diagnosed in utero, the parents, having been correctly informed of the mental retardation usually associated with this syndrome and the possibility of surgical correction of the facial malformation, decided not to abort. The case offers an occasion for analysing the various stages and results obtained to date using a multi-specialised diagnostic approach and functional and surgical treatment of the harelip and cleft palate which have enabled much of the congenital handicap to be corrected.

[A case report of a true median cleft of the upper lip with a pedunculated median skin-mucosa mass].

The Authors report an unusual case of median cleft of the upper lip with pedunculated skin and muscle contracting mass. About one hundred cases of true median cleft lip have been reported, only six showing a median pedunculated mass. As the embryogenesis of this malformation is still not completely clear, we think that any case with this characteristic has to be described.

[The creation of a functional obturator plate by a direct method in the neonatal orthodontic treatment of cheilopalatoschisis].

The paper describes a simple direct method for the preparation of a functional filling plate in the neonatal orthopedic treatment of cleft palate harelip. This method allows the corrective plate to be realised so as to reproduce the complex deformed anatomical structure in the smallest detail, thus avoiding the major problems of acceptance, function and load distribution on the delicate neonatal mucosa.

[A comparative experimental study on the bonding resistance to horizontal traction under progressive loading between a self-polymerizing composite (Right-On) and a photopolymerizing composite (Transbond)].

The paper examines the bond resistance between the orthodontic clamp and tooth enamel using two different compounds: an autopolymerizing type (Right-On), already widely used in orthodontal practice, and a photopolymerizing type (Transbond) which has been recently introduced into the market. The bond was tested by applying horizontal traction with a progressively increasing weight. The results obtained were compared for statistical significance (Student's t test).

[The incidence of dental caries in the school population of the Province of Trieste].

The results of an epidemiological investigation on the prevalence of dental caries in the school population of the province of Trieste carried out on a sample of 2954 children aged 6, 10 and 12 years are reported. The results were evaluated using the dmf and DMF epidemiological indices suggested by the WHO. Certain "intervention indices" were also calculated.

[A proposal for a protocol for the registration of data on cases of cleft lip and jaw].

The Authors describe a standardized registration system applied to gnathoplasty and its follow-up. That allows both longitudinal growth study and clinical evaluations on the surgical method. If similar standardized registration systems could be adopted by several clinical teams, a comparison between different gnathoplasty methods should be possible and obviously useful.

[The incidence of malocclusion in the school population of the the Province of Trieste].

The results of an epidemiological investigation on the prevalence of malocclusions in the school population of the Province of Trieste carried out on a sample of 2099 subjects aged 10 and 12 are reported. Subjects were classified according to Angle classes. Other malocclusion parameters such as overjet, overbite, median line deviation, crossbite and upper and/or lower crowding have also been investigated.

[A simple method for proposing several profiles to patients undergoing rhinoplasty or profileplasty].

The authors describe a simple mean to visualize the several profiles which is possible to perform in the patient who is undergoing rhinoplasty or profiloplasty procedure. Failure in giving a clear opportunity of choice of a profile may lead to misunderstanding between surgeon and patient.

[Significance of the "caries experience" at the age of 6].

The significance of the "caries experience" in a personal series of 215 6-year-old patients is examined on the basis of a specific method of mathematical/statistical analysis. The result is briefly compared with that obtained by other workers who have applied the same method to another series of similar dimensions.