What are the advantages of living in a community? A microbial biofilm perspective!

Biofilm formation is the preferred mode of growth lifestyle for many microorganisms, including bacterial and fungal human pathogens. Biofilm is a strong and dynamic structure that confers a broad range of advantages to its members, such as adhesion/cohesion capabilities, mechanical properties, nutritional sources, metabolite exchange platform, cellular communication, protection and resistance to drugs (e.g.

Rapid maxillary expansion effects: an alternative assessment method by means of cone-beam tomography.

Introduction: This study aims to develop a method to assess the changes in palatal and lingual cross-sectional areas in patients submitted to rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

Methods: The sample comprised 31 Class I malocclusion individuals submitted to RME and divided into two groups treated with Haas (17 patients) and Hyrax (14 patients) expanders. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were acquired at T0 (before expansion ) and T1 (six months after screw stabilization).

Immediate changes in condylar position after rapid maxillary expansion.

Introduction: Although the dentoalveolar and skeletal effects of rapid maxillary expansion are well documented, the condylar response to this procedure is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to test the following null hypothesis: rapid maxillary expansion promotes immediate changes of the position of the condyles in patients with Class I malocclusion.

Methods: Thirty-four subjects with Class I malocclusion underwent rapid maxillary expansion.