Reproducibility of the index of orthognathic functional treatment need scores derived from plaster study casts and their three-dimensional digital equivalents: a pilot study.

Objective: To determine the reproducibility of Index of Orthognathic Functional Treatment Need (IOFTN) scores derived from plaster casts and their three-dimensional (3D) digital equivalents.

Design: Pilot study, prospective analytical.

Setting: UK hospital orthodontic department.

The application of the Index of Orthognathic Functional Treatment Need (IOFTN): service evaluation and impact.

Objectives: (1) To undertake a service evaluation of the Index of Orthognathic Functional Treatment Need (IOFTN). (2) To determine its suitability to replace the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) in the assessment of patients with dentofacial deformity.

Design: Laboratory- and questionnaire-based study.

Light energy attenuation through orthodontic ceramic brackets at different irradiation times.

Objective: To evaluate the total light energy (TLE) transmission through three types of ceramic brackets with, bracket alone and with the addition of orthodontic adhesive, at different exposure durations, and to compare the microhardness of the cured adhesive.

Materials And Methods: Three different makes of ceramic brackets, Pure Sapphire(M), Clarity™ ADVANCED(P) and Dual Ceramic(P) were used. Eighteen specimens of each make were prepared and allocated to three groups (n = 6).

Fixed functional appliances show definite skeletal and dental changes in the short term.

A meta-analysis of the literature on fixed functional appliances found nine unique data sets (n= 418 patients, mean age = 13.2 years) that fulfilled the criteria. Small but statistically significant changes in SNA, SNB, and ANB occurred, with larger changes in the incisor angulations.

Degree of conversion of resin-based orthodontic bonding materials cured with single-wave or dual-wave LED light-curing units.

Aim: To evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) of orthodontic adhesives (RBOAs) cured with dual peak or single peak light-emitting diode (LED) light-curing units (LCUs).

Materials And Methods: Standardized samples of RBOAs, APCPlus, Opal® Bond® and LightBond(TM) were prepared (n = 3) and cured with one of two dual peak LCUs (bluephase® G2-Ivoclar-Vivadent or Valo-Ultradent) or a single peak control (bluephase® Ivoclar-Vivadent). The DC was determined using micro-Raman spectroscopy.

Long-term occlusal and soft-tissue profile outcomes after treatment of Class II Division 1 malocclusion with fixed appliances.

Introduction: Our objective was to determine which factors were predictive of good long-term outcomes after fixed appliance treatment of Class II Division 1 malocclusion.

Methods: Two hundred seven patients with Class II Division 1 malocclusion were examined in early adulthood at a mean of 4.6 years after treatment with fixed appliances.

Orthodontic evolution: an update for the general dental practitioner. Part 2: psychosocial aspects of orthodontic treatment, stability of treatment, and the TMJ-orthodontic relationship.

As a result of recent innovations and improvements, orthodontic treatment has become easier and more efficient to carry out, allowing greater numbers of patients to receive treatment. The main result of orthodontic treatment is improved dental alignment and aesthetics. Treatment has no effect on caries or periodontal disease, and the dental health gain is modest, apart from a very small percentage of destructive malocclusions.

Orthodontic evolution: an update for the general dental practitioner. Part 1: recent advances, treatment need and demand, and benefits of treatment.

Like all specialties of dentistry, orthodontics has undergone considerable development and improvement in treatment techniques over the past four decades. The two articles in this series aim to inform the general dental practitioner about these developments, together with an update on orthodontics' relationship to dental health, TMJ dysfunction and other aspects.

The orthodontic workforce in Ireland: a report by the Orthodontic Society of Ireland.

There are currently 110 specialist orthodontists in the Republic of Ireland. The response rate to this survey was 95 (85%); one-third of the orthodontic workforce are women; there are 49 (45%) orthodontists employed in the hospital service (including consultants) and 60 (55%) working in private practice; half (50%) of the orthodontists in hospital settings are female; only nine (18%) of those in private practice are female; two-thirds (66%) of the orthodontists in Ireland are under the age of 45; a little over one-quarter (28%) are under the age of 35; of those in the 25-35 age bracket, almost 80% are employed in the HSE. With increasing age, more orthodontists work in private practice; adult patients comprise 28% of the reported caseload in private practice compared to 12% in hospital settings; non-extraction patients account for 37% of the caseload in hospital settings compared with 57% in private practice; and almost one-quarter (24%) of those in hospital practice stated that they intended to change their working practice in the future.

Changes in natural head position observed immediately and one year after rapid maxillary expansion.

Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) has been shown to increase nasal permeability and reduce nasal airway resistance. A number of studies have examined the relationship between RME and the change in airway resistance, or the relationship between airway resistance and natural head position (NHP). Few studies, to date, have examined the relationship between RME and the change in NHP resulting from the consequent change in airway resistance.

A comparative study of the efficacy of Aphtheal in the management of recurrent minor aphthous ulceration.

Background: Recurrent minor aphthous ulceration (RAU) is a common condition which is multifactorial in origin.

Methods: This study, firstly, aimed to treat the prodromal stage of RAU with Aphtheal (5% amlexanox paste) to determine if ulcer development could be prevented. A second arm of the study investigated treatment of RAU with Aphtheal once ulceration had developed.