This article presents the evolution of dentistry and in particular orthodontics, in India. We have come a long way since dental education was first introduced to us Indians, the wave of change brought about by the most esteemed and respectable pioneers of our profession, have led us to form a strong dental community in this world of tough competition. This article also presents the work of the great achievers of orthodontia, who have helped us raise the level of 'Indian Orthodontics' and have enabled us to soar to greater heights.

The increasing demand for a more esthetic metal bonded appliance has led to a reduction in the size of the brackets and their bases. The reduction of bracket size improves esthetics and produces a more easily cleansed appliance. This reduction results in less base surface area available for bonding with the concomitant clinical reality of increased debonding rates. Objectives: To compare the shear bond strength and to evaluate and compare the surface design characteristics (mesh type, mesh wire size) of different commercially available direct bonding metal brackets. Materials and methods: Maxillary first premolar brackets of six different manufacturing companies were bonded on freshly extracted human premolars preserved in artificial saliva, with the same adhesive and then debonded using a universal testing machine. The bracket bases were also examined under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: The bond strength obtained with different commercially available bracket bases was stastically variable. The size of bracket bases influenced the shear bond strength values. The mesh size and its configuration also affect the bond strength. Conclusion: Gemini brackets provided the best bond strengths clinically, followed by Mini Diagonali, Nu-Edge, Mini Twin, Mini Diamond and the Sapphire brackets in decreasing order as measured using the Weibull analysis.

Objective: The influence of craniofacial morphology on the variation of the depth of curve of Spee includes multiple factors. This plays an important role in the leveling of the curve which is required for retention of achieved results. The study evaluates relationship between the varying depths of curve of Spee and dentoskeletal features. Materials and methods: 120 diagnostic casts and lateral head cephalograms of selected subjects on the basis of depths of curve of Spee as measured on the mandibular casts were selected. The subjects were divided into three Groups (Group-I- 0-2 mm, Group -II >2-4 mm and Group-III >4 mm of curve of Spee), and further into subgroups according to sex. Cephalometric and study cast variables were measured and subjected to statistical analysis with curve of Spee as the dependent variable and others as independent variables. Results: SNB, APDI, OM, Md5 - MP (mm), OJ and mandibular arch length were negatively correlated and ANB, Md6 to MP, ODI, overbite and overjet were positively correlated with depth of curve of Spee in both males and females. Conclusion: The curve of Spee is related to various dentoskeletal variables. Thus, the determination of this relationship is useful to assess the feasibility of leveling the curve of Spee by orthodontic treatment.

Aim : The purpose of this study was to assess whether minor change in distance of the light cure tip to the bonding surface produce any significant effect on shear bond strength of composites and resin-modified glass ionomer cement used for bonding brackets. Materials and methods: Ninety therapeutically extracted human premolar teeth were randomly allocated to six groups of 15 specimens each. Resin-modified glass ionomer (GC Fuji Ortho LC) was used to bond brackets to the teeth in three groups with curing light held at three distances from the bracket: 2, 4 and 6 mm. For the other three groups light cured composite resin (TransbondTM XT) was used to bond brackets with curing light held at three distances from the bracket: 2, 4 and 6 mm. After bonding, all samples were stored in distilled water at room temperature for 24 hours and subsequently tested for shear bond strength. Results and conclusion: (1) Light tip distance of 2 or 4 mm does not affect the shear bond strength of composites significantly; however increase in the distance to 6 mm significantly reduces the shear bond strength, (2) There was a significant decrease in the shear bond strength, with the progressive increase in distance of the light source from 2 to 4 and 6 mm in case of resin-modified glass ionomer cement, (3) The mean shear bond strength of light cure composites is higher than resin-modified glass ionomer cement at all the three light source distances compared, i.e. 2 or 4 or 6 mm.

Various intra and extracranial cephalometric horizontal reference planes have been used to formulate diagnosis and plan individualized treatment for an integrated correction of the malocclusion. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate variability of intracranial reference planes, i.e sella-nasion, basion-nasion, Frankfurt horizontal, functional occlusal, mandibular and maxillary-mandibular bisector planes, in relation to the true horizontal plane in natural head position and their relationship to each other. Materials and methods: For the present study, 100 subjects (50 males and 50 females) were selected between the age group of 17 and 25 years having pleasing profile with competent lips with Angle's Class I molar relationship and normal overjet and overbite with no history of taking any form of orthodontic treatment. Results: The data collected was statistically analyzed. Pearson's correlation coefficient to quantify the strength of association between the pairs of angular variables was calculated. Their significance, i.e. p-value was set at p < 0.001. Reproducibility for natural head position over a 2-month period was quantified by measuring the difference between the variable Frankfurt horizontal/ true horizontal at initial (T1) and second (T2) recordings of the randomly selected subjects (n = 10). Significance for statistical test was set at p < 0.05. The results inferred on studying the data for intraindividual natural head position reproducibility was that the reproducibility was less variable (more reliable) than the interindividual variability of craniofacial reference planes related to horizontal plane. Conclusion: Among all the reference planes studied, the Frankfurt horizontal plane was closest to the true horizontal and thus could be recommended as a reference plane, when radiographs were not recorded in natural head position.

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the shear bond strength of brackets bonded with the conventional technique, transillumination technique and the combination of both the techniques; the effect of curing time on the bond strength of the brackets bonded with the transillumination method; and the amount of light passing through different thickness of teeth. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in vitro on 175 extracted human teeth (50 incisors and 125 premolars). In the first part of the study, the amount of light passing through different thickness of teeth was studied and, for second part, brackets were bonded with transillumination method and conventional method followed by shear bond strength testing using an instron machine. Results: The amount of light passing through the tooth depends on the thickness of the tooth. Only a small fraction of the original light intensity passes through the tooth but this is adequate to achieve clinically acceptable bond strengths. The bond strength achieved with transillumination method is comparable to the conventional light cure technique. Ten seconds of transillumination followed by conventional curing leads to an increase in bond strength and this increase is clinically significant. Conclusion: Transillumination technique is a viable method for bonding orthodontic attachments.

Objective : To investigate the effects of different surface conditioning methods on shear bond strength (SBS) of metal brackets bonded to porcelain surfaces and the influence of silane coupling agent in altering the bond strength. Materials and methods: A total of 80 feldspathic porcelain specimens were used. They were divided into eight different groups based on different surface conditioning methods and combinations: Sandblasting (SAB), hydrofluoric acid (HFA), diamond bur (DB) and air abrasion (AA). Silane coupling agent was used in five groups. Metal brackets were bonded and subjected to SBS testing. The efficiencies between the five individual methods used were analyzed. ARI scoring was done after debonding. Results: The SBS range was between 3.19 and 14.38 (MPa) with a mean of 8.89 ± 3.25 (MPa). The difference between mean SBS between different groups was significant (p < 0.001). As compared to DB-based group (10.46 ± 0.69 MPa) the non-DB based group were lower (8.66 ± 3.40 MPa) but the difference was not significant (p > 0.001). When compared to AA group (9.03 ± 0.59 MPa) the non-AA group were lower (8.87 ± 3.46 MPa) but again the difference was not significant (p > 0.001). ARI score 0 was observed in 47 instances (58.8%), score 1 was observed in 25 instances (31.2%). Conclusion: The results indicated that surface conditioning alone without silanation produced significantly low SBS. Air abrasion followed by silanation produced favorable bond strength and might have the potential to replace alternative methods.

Class III malocclusion has been the subject of interest in many investigations because of the challenges in its treatment. The skeletal manifestation can be due to mandibular anterior positioning (prognathism) or growth excess (macrognathia), maxillary posterior positioning (retrognathism) or growth deficiency (micrognathia), or a combination of mandibular and maxillary discrepancies. A 15-year-old Asian with a skeletal Class III malocclusion and a severe anterior crossbite was treated with Alt-RAMEC protocol designed to loosen the sutures that connect the maxilla to the surrounding bones via rapid expansion and contraction on an alternating weekly basis and facemask therapy. An Angle Class I molar relationship was achieved with canine protected occlusion and incisal guidance. A wrap-around retainer was placed on the maxillary arch and a lingual bonded retainer on the mandibular arch. Treatment time was 30 months.

Binder's syndrome or maxillonasal dysplasia is a rare clinical entity characterized by abnormal development (dysplasia) of nasomaxillary region. Management of the syndrome varies with the severity of facial anomalies present and association with other anomalies. Interdisciplinary team management of this malformation is essential. This case report describes a patient with Binder's syndrome and the treatment aspects in detail.

Orthodontists are perpetually challenged with gaining space. In lingual orthodontics, correction of crowding and rotations is even more challenging compared to labial orthodontics because of the decreased interbracket span. In the present article, the fabrication of a bi-helix spring is described which can be prepared easily, chairside and effectively creates space in crowded lingual orthodontic cases. The clinical application is demonstrated in two cases.

Aligner therapy originally developed as an esthetic alternative to conventional fixed mechanotherapy is being increasingly used in contemporary practise. Initially used to treat mild malocclusions, it is now being used in increasingly difficult cases involving extraction mechanics. Herein, we describe a technique for creating an illusion pontic (I-pontic) within the aligner, so as to maintain esthetics in patients undergoing extraction aligner therapy.