The effect of micro-osteoperforations on the rate of maxillary incisors' retraction in orthodontic space closure: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: This single-centered randomized controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of micro-osteoperforations (MOPs) in accelerating the orthodontic retraction of maxillary incisors.

Methods: Forty-two patients aged 16-40 were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups, one which underwent MOPs (MOPG) in the buccal and palatal region of all maxillary incisors immediately before the start of retraction and one which did not (CG). Eligibility criteria included the orthodontic need for maxillary first premolars extraction and space closure in two phases.

Craniofacial morphology of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate at two stages of skeletal maturation.

The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional investigation was to perform a 3D analysis of craniofacial morphology of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) at two stages of skeletal maturation. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 52 UCLP patients (34 prepubertal; 18 pubertal) were collected from an outpatient referral center for the treatment of craniofacial deformities. In total 15 multiplanar craniofacial landmarks were identified, 3D virtual surface models were created, and 13 variables were measured to assess the 3D Euclidean distances between landmarks and spatial position of the landmarks in the projected X, Y and Z components.

Information and Communications Technology in Dentistry: an informative and educational approach for patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.

Objective: To develop and make available, at no cost to the user, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools for Dentistry, providing dental information and advice geared toward patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.

Material And Methods: A Dentistry-based content that contemplated information and advice concerning orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances was elaborated. The materials, which included instructions on oral hygiene and treatment strategies when faced with possible complications, were evaluated and validated by specialists, whose assessments reached a 85% approval.

Genetic polymorphism of MUC7 in individuals with aggressive or chronic periodontitis.

Individuals with periodontitis exhibit differential expression of mucin-glycoprotein-2 (MG2), a protein encoded by the MUC7 gene. It is well known that MG2 exerts bactericidal activity as well as exhibiting genetic polymorphism involving a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR). In the present study, we assessed the distribution of allelic variants of the MUC7 gene in 22 individuals with aggressive periodonitis, 68 with chronic periodonitis, and 87 without periodonitis.

An unusual glycoform of human salivary mucin MG2.

Since in a previous study we encountered a subject with an unusual split MG2 banding pattern, the aim of this study was to investigate the molecular basis of this observation. Submandibular/sublingual secretion was collected under resting and stimulated conditions and examined on Western blots probed with anti-MG2 antibodies or on gels stained with periodic acid-Schiff reagent. Genomic DNA was isolated and the N-, tandem repeat (TR), and C-terminal regions of MUC7 were amplified by PCR since MG2 is known to display a genetic polymorphism.