Long-term stability of miniscrew anchored maxillary molar distalization in Class II treatment.

Objective: To investigate treatment stability of miniscrew-anchored maxillary distalization in Class II malocclusion.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included a distalization (n = 19) and a control (n = 19) group; a patient group with minor corrections served the control. Lateral cephalograms of 38 adult patients were taken before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 3-4 years after (T2) treatment.

The Roles of Indian Hedgehog Signaling in TMJ Formation.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an intricate structure composed of the mandibular condyle, articular disc, and glenoid fossa in the temporal bone. Apical condylar cartilage is classified as a secondary cartilage, is fibrocartilaginous in nature, and is structurally distinct from growth plate and articular cartilage in long bones. Condylar cartilage is organized in distinct cellular layers that include a superficial layer that produces lubricants, a polymorphic/progenitor layer that contains stem/progenitor cells, and underlying layers of flattened and hypertrophic chondrocytes.

Condylar head remodeling compensating for condylar head displacement by orthognathic surgery.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between kind of condylar displacement due to orthognathic surgery and the subsequent adaptive condylar head remodeling. The sample in this retrospective cohort study consisted of 30 patients (12 female and 18 male; mean age 22.7 y) with skeletal Class III malocclusion who underwent bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO).

Roles of Ihh signaling in chondroprogenitor function in postnatal condylar cartilage.

Condylar articular cartilage in mouse temporomandibular joint develops from progenitor cells near the articulating surface that proliferate, undergo chondrogenesis and mature into hypertrophic chondrocytes. However, it remains unclear how these processes are regulated, particularly postnatally. Here we focused on the apical polymorphic layer rich in progenitors and asked whether the phenotype and fate of the cells require signaling by Indian hedgehog (Ihh) previously studied in developing long bones.

[The Use of a Microsensor in Therapy of Amblyopia].

Amblyopia is one of the most common visual disorders in children. Current therapy of amblyopia is an occlusion therapy of the stronger eye with an occlusion patch until the best corrected visual acuity is achieved. The success of occlusion therapy essentially depends on the compliance of the children and their parents.

Biomechanical properties of murine TMJ articular disc and condyle cartilage via AFM-nanoindentation.

This study aims to quantify the biomechanical properties of murine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) articular disc and condyle cartilage using AFM-nanoindentation. For skeletally mature, 3-month old mice, the surface of condyle cartilage was found to be significantly stiffer (306±84kPa, mean±95% CI) than those of the superior (85±23kPa) and inferior (45±12kPa) sides of the articular disc. On the disc surface, significant heterogeneity was also detected across multiple anatomical sites, with the posterior end being the stiffest and central region being the softest.

Unsuspected osteochondroma-like outgrowths in the cranial base of Hereditary Multiple Exostoses patients and modeling and treatment with a BMP antagonist in mice.

Hereditary Multiple Exostoses (HME) is a rare pediatric disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding the heparan sulfate (HS)-synthesizing enzymes EXT1 or EXT2. HME is characterized by formation of cartilaginous outgrowths-called osteochondromas- next to the growth plates of many axial and appendicular skeletal elements. Surprisingly, it is not known whether such tumors also form in endochondral elements of the craniofacial skeleton.

Limitations of the TheraMon -microsensor in monitoring occlusion therapy.

Purpose: A proof of principle study showed that the TheraMon -microsensor can reliably measure wearing times of glasses and occlusion patches while having no discomfort for the bearer. The goal of this study was to identify specific temperature profiles in a larger patient group wearing the microsensor with an occlusion patch on the eye, the forehead or in the trouser pocket.

Methods: Temperature measurements with microsensors were performed at the orbital rim of the eye, at the forehead and in a trousers pocket of 20 healthy adults.

Osteophyte formation and matrix mineralization in a TMJ osteoarthritis mouse model are associated with ectopic hedgehog signaling.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a diarthrodial joint that relies on lubricants for frictionless movement and long-term function. It remains unclear what temporal and causal relationships may exist between compromised lubrication and onset and progression of TMJ disease. Here we report that Proteoglycan 4 (Prg4)-null TMJs exhibit irreversible osteoarthritis-like changes over time and are linked to formation of ectopic mineralized tissues and osteophytes in articular disc, mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa.

Measuring wearing times of glasses and ocular patches using a thermosensor device from orthodontics.

Purpose: Amblyopia is one of the most common visual disorders in children. The risk of severe visual impairment on the healthy eye is doubled in patients with amblyopia. If detected early enough, the chances of visual rehabilitation are good.

Effect of cephalograms on decisions for early orthodontic treatment.

Objective: To assess the extent to which cephalograms modify therapeutic decisions related to early orthodontic treatment.

Materials And Methods: Diagnostic records of six patients requiring early treatment were digitized for this purpose. A total of 234 orthodontists were then asked to select therapeutic measures on a treatment-planning sheet at two different times (T1 and T2).

Influence of peri-implant artifacts on bone morphometric analysis with micro-computed tomography.

Purpose: To determine the optimal dilation pixel size distance from the mini-implant interface needed to compensate for the metal artifact on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for bone morphometric analysis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 72 self-drilling mini-implants were placed into the buccal alveolar bone of six male beagle dogs. After 12 weeks of orthodontic loading, specimens were harvested and scanned with micro-CT (Skyscan 1076) at a resolution of 9 μm.

Correlation between occlusal abnormalities and parameters investigated by three-dimensional facial photography.

Objective: To clarify, by three-dimensional (3D) facial scans, if 4- to 6-year-old children with intraoral sagittal discrepancies and open-bite occlusion show differences in facial morphology when compared to children without anomalies.

Materials And Methods: Scans of 290 children presenting with occlusal abnormalities were compared to 1772 face scans of age-matched individuals photographed with a faceSCAN II® 3D data acquisition system. From these, three study groups were formed comprising 188 children with distal occlusion/increased overjet (Class II), 37 with mesial occlusion/inverse overjet (Class III), and 65 with open-bite occlusion.

Distalization pattern of the maxillary arch depending on the number of orthodontic miniscrews.

Objective: To determine the effects of linear force vector(s) from interradicular miniscrews on the distalization pattern of the maxillary arch in adult Class II patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five adult patients with mild to moderate Class II dentition and minimal crowding were collected. Either single (group A, n  =  12) or dual (group B, n  =  13) miniscrews were inserted on the posterior interradicular area to deliver a distalizing force to the main archwire.

Periodontal and gingival incisor findings in patients with anterior open bite in the mixed dentition.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate any association between anterior open bite and periodontal health of the front teeth during mixed dentition. We investigated the periodontal and gingival status of the teeth with dysfunctional and/or subfunctional loading in the open-bite area in 9- to 12-year-old children.

Subjects And Methods: We examined 36 subjects with anterior open bite between the ages of 9 and 12 years who had presented for the first time at the Department of Orthodontics, University of Tübingen.