Validity assessment and determination of the cutoff value for the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need among 12-13 year-olds in Southern Chinese.

To validate the use of the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON) in assessing orthodontic treatment need among 12-13 year-olds in southern China, we determined the threshold value of ICON based on Chinese orthodontists' judgments. The samples consisted of 335 students in grade 7 from 16 randomly selected middle schools in Chengdu, China. Three associate professors provided ICON scores for each participant and the results were compared with the gold standard judgments from 25 experts on treatment needs.

[Analysis of clinical features and mutation associated with oligodontia].

Objective: To investigate the mutation characteristics of paired box homeotic gene 9 (PAX9) and muscle segment homeobox gene 1 (MSX1) of patients with congenital oligodontia.

Methods: Clinical manifestations were recorded by taking complete oral examinations in patients with congenital nonsyndromic oligodontia and some of his normal family members. Pedigree information was confirmed by extended interviews and a pedigree was constructed.

[Facial profile preference among four panels].

Objective: To determine the facial profile preference among four groups of persons and the influence of vertical proportion and skeletal anteroposterior relation on facial profile esthetics.

Methods: One hundred and twenty persons, comprising of adult patients, adolescents' parents, laypersons and orthodontists, participated this study. The subjects were asked to rate 27 silhouettes which represented the male facial profiles with various vertical proportion and anteroposterior relation.