Smile dimensions in adult African American and Caucasian females and males.

Objectives: To test smile dimension variations in adult African American and Caucasian females and males.

Setting And Sample Population: The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and Hospital. Three hundred and ninety-four participants were recruited; African American females and males distributed over five age groups: 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60 and older than 60.

Effects of FGFR Signaling on Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of Apert Dental Cells.

The Apert syndrome is a rare congenital disorder most often arising from S252W or P253R mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR2). Numerous studies have focused on the regulatory role of Apert FGFR2 signaling in bone formation, whereas its functional role in tooth development is largely unknown. To investigate the role of FGFR signaling in cell proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of human dental cells in vitro, we isolated dental pulp and enamel organ epithelia (EOE) tissues from an Apert patient carrying the S252W FGFR2 mutation.

Interactions of hard tissues, soft tissues, and growth over time, and their impact on orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

The approach to orthodontic diagnosis has changed gradually but steadily over the past 2 decades. The shift away from diagnosis based entirely on hard tissue evaluations has been a result of a broadened recognition of the importance of facial and smile appearance to our patients, and how they change over time. The purpose of this article is to describe and illustrate the integration of the new soft tissue paradigm into long-term treatment planning, with a focus on the esthetic goals of treatment.

Enameloplasty and esthetic finishing in orthodontics-differential diagnosis of incisor proclination-the importance of appropriate visualization and records part 2.

The purpose of this paper is to briefly review some of the principals of ideal tooth shape and morphology and demonstrate how to use tooth reshaping through enameloplasty to treat and finish orthodontic cases to much more esthetic conclusions. This paper demonstrates the significant improvement to a smile orthodontists can achieve if they understand the principles of dental esthetics. In assessing smile design, the patient must be evaluated in three dimensions, and both dental and skeletal components must be considered.

Enameloplasty and esthetic finishing in orthodontics-identification and treatment of microesthetic features in orthodontics part 1.

Interdisciplinary treatment also has expanded to include not only soft tissue assessment of the periodontal components of the dentition and smile, but of the face as well. The next level of esthetic enhancement certainly will include facial proportionality as a key component in our patient evaluation. This paper expands the diagnostic vision of the dentist to include facial proportions and relationships of hard and soft tissues to improve diagnosis and treatment of dental and facial esthetics.

Growth maturation aging: how the dental team enhances facial and dental esthetics for a lifetime.

As the body of research regarding facial esthetics increases, dentists are gaining a deeper understanding of their broadening roles in defining facial characteristics. Dentists are required to advance their repertoire of diagnostic skills in order to meet patients' esthetic needs and demands. The focus has been shifting from treatment plans being based entirely on the occlusal relationships to the balance of the teeth and smile presentation as well as soft-tissue support and facial appearance.

Interview with an Insignia doctor: David M. Sarver.

Insignia (Ormco, Orange, Calif) offers custom-designed orthodontic appliances via fully interactive software. It is a precise, start-to-finish process that works with Damon, Inspire ICE, and conventional appliances. Insignia software incorporates the clinician's treatment plan into a virtual 3-dimensional model of each patient's ideal occlusion and delivers a complete custom solution: patient-specific brackets, precision (computer-assisted) bracket placement, and custom wires to eliminate time-consuming adjustments in all phases of treatment.

Soft tissue images from cephalograms compared with those from a 3D surface acquisition system.

Objective: To assess whether 2D cephalometrics is comparable with 3D imaging devices and whether 3D technology could replace traditional 2D image capture in posttreatment evaluation.

Materials And Methods: The study is a prospective evaluation of superimposition techniques obtained from a cohort of 40 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery in a private practice environment. Surgical records were obtained from lateral cephalometric radiographs taken by a Kodak 8000C machine, and the 3D images were obtained from the 3dMD stereo photogrammetric camera capture system.

Pitch, roll, and yaw: describing the spatial orientation of dentofacial traits.

The value of systematically enhancing the Angle classification by including transverse and vertical characteristics in addition to anteroposterior relationships for the face and the dentition is universally accepted. Three aeronautical rotational descriptors (pitch, roll, and yaw) are used here to supplement the planar terms (anteroposterior, transverse, and vertical) in describing the orientation of the line of occlusion and the esthetic line of the dentition. Each of the latter traits affects the modern clinical practice of orthodontics because of its greater focus on dentofacial traits beyond the correction of malocclusion.

Use of the 810 nm diode laser: soft tissue management and orthodontic applications of innovative technology.

Innovative technologies such as the diode laser have provided considerable benefit to dental patients and professionals. Facilitating efficient cutting of tissue and subsequent coagulation, the soft tissue laser enhances tissue healing and can reduce postsurgical complications. Due to the conservative nature of treatment accomplished with the laser this technology is very useful in orthodontic procedures.

Long-term efficacy of reverse pull headgear therapy.

Objective: To add to the data for long-term reverse pull headgear (RPHG) outcomes and further explore possible variables that could be predictors of long-term failure.

Materials And Methods: Cephalometric radiographs of 41 Class III malocclusion children treated with RPHG (face mask) were evaluated before and immediately after treatment; at 5 years posttreatment; and, for 18 patients, at 10 years posttreatment. Patients were assigned to success or failure groups according to positive or negative overjet at the longest available recall.

Dynamic smile visualization and quantification: Part 2. Smile analysis and treatment strategies.

The "art of the smile" lies in the clinician's ability to recognize the positive elements of beauty in each patient and then create a strategy to enhance the attributes that fall outside the parameters of the prevailing esthetic concept. New technologies have enhanced our ability to see our patients more dynamically and facilitated the quantification and communication of newer concepts of function and appearance. In a 2-part article, we present a comprehensive methodology for recording, assessing, and planning treatment of the smile in 4 dimensions.