Skeletal Stability and Airway Changes After Maxillary Advancement Using a Rigid External Distraction System in Non-Growing Cleft Patients.

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a highly effective technique for correction of severe maxillary hypoplasia, especially in patients with orofacial clefts and craniofacial syndromes. The purpose of this retrospective, longitudinal study was to assess long-term airway alterations after maxillary advancement using a rigid external distraction system (RED) in non growing cleft patients. Fifteen cleft patients (8 males and 7 females) aged from 14 to 25 years were included in this study.

Corrosion behavior of self-ligating and conventional metal brackets.

Objective: To test the null hypothesis that the aging process in self-ligating brackets is not higher than in conventional brackets.

Methods: Twenty-five conventional (GN-3M/Unitek; GE-GAC; VE-Aditek) and 25 self-ligating (SCs-3M/Unitek; INs-GAC; ECs-Aditek) metal brackets from three manufacturers (n = 150) were submitted to aging process in 0.9% NaCl solution at a constant temperature of 37 ± 1°C for 21 days.