Orthodontic treatment considerations for a patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an inherited blood disorder in which formation of the heme group of hemoglobin is defective. Specifically, a deficiency of the enzyme ferrochelatase leads to the accumulation of protoporphyrin, resulting in often painful photosensitivity of the skin and tissues. The prevalence of EPP is estimated at 1:75,000 to 1:200,000.

The aponeurotic tension model of craniofacial growth in man.

Craniofacial growth is a scientific crossroad for the fundamental mechanisms of musculoskeletal physiology. Better understanding of growth and development will provide new insights into repair, regeneration and adaptation to applied loads. Traditional craniofacial growth concepts are insufficient to explain the dynamics of airway/vocal tract development, cranial rotation, basicranial flexion and the role of the cranial base in expression of facial proportions.

Comparison of the Bolton Standards to longitudinal cephalograms superimposed on the occipital condyle (I-point).

Objective: To compare traditional superimposition on sella turcica and the anterior cranial base (SACB) to superimposition referenced at the occipital condyle (I-point) for demonstrating craniofacial growth and development.

Materials And Methods: Tracings for ages 8, 10, 12, 15 and 18 were chosen from the Bolton Standards of Dentofacial Developmental Growth to compare superimposition with the traditional longitudinal reference at SACB (anterior curvature of sella turcica and anterior cranial base) to reference at I-point on the antero-inferior contour of the occipital condyles in norma lateralis. The serial tracings were superimposed using both the sagittal and postero-anterior (PA) tracings.