Objective: To assess the antiadherent and antibacterial properties of surface-modified stainless steel and nickel titanium orthodontic wires with photocatalytic titanium oxide against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Materials and methods: This study was done on 80 specimens of orthodontic wires each of 5 cm in length. The specimens were divided into eight test groups, four groups were used for antiadherent test, and other four groups were used for antibacterial test. Each group consisted of 10 specimens. The groups containing uncoated stainless steel and uncoated nickel titanium wires acted as control group for their respective experimental group, containing coated stainless steel and nickel titanium wires. Surface modification of both stainless steel and nickel titanium orthodontic wires with photocatalytic titanium oxide was carried out by sol gel thin film dip coating method. Orthodontic wires were then subjected to microbiological tests for assessment of the antiadherent and antibacterial properties of photocatalytic titanium oxide coating against S. mutans. Results: Photocatalytic TiO₂ coating on the wires prevented the adhesion of S. mutans to the orthodontic wires, hence demonstrating antiadherent property against S. mutans. Also, photocatalytic TiO₂ coating on the surface of orthodontic wires demonstrated antibacterial effect against S. mutans. Conclusion: Surface modification of orthodontic wires with photocatalytic titanium oxide was found to have antiadherent and antibacterial properties against S. mutans.

Introduction: Practitioners in the field of dental sciences are still overwhelmingly male. The limited amount of available data compounds the difficulty of assessing the impact of the ongoing sex shift in orthodontics. Women are redefining dental practice options to better integrate a professional career with parenting responsibilities. Nevertheless, the relationships among family roles, professional work ethic, and productivity have not been well-studied. Aim and objectives: This study was aimed to identify the current perspectives of the urban Indian professional women orthodontists toward the speciality, their practice patterns and its determinants, disadvantages of this career and difficulties encountered during training period, and thereafter. Materials and methods: Questionnaires were prepared for group of respondents, that is, the practitioners. Responses were collected using Monkey 7, (Austin, TX) on a secure web site. Groups were analyzed using SPSS software (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) version 14 provided by IBM Corporation. Conclusion: It was concluded that there are around 139 female orthodontists practicing in the metropolis. A total of 40% of the practicing orthodontists, out of 86 who returned their surveys, worked 6 days a week and 20% worked 5 days and 4 days each. The most important determinant to opt for orthodontics was financial security 42%, followed by challenging speciality 36%, prestige and lifestyle 10%, family member in the same speciality 6%, did not like general dentistry 4%, and others 2%.

Newer materials have been introduced in the field of orthodontics to improve clinical efficacy as well as to simplify the technique. In an effort to reduce the time and steps to bond orthodontic attachments, adhesive precoated (APC) brackets were introduced. In this study, an attempt is made to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) and debonding behavior of APC brackets compared with uncoated ceramic brackets. A total of 60 human premolar teeth were divided into two groups of 30 each, bonded with APC ceramic brackets and uncoated ceramic brackets. Group I bonded with APC brackets as prescribed by the manufacturers and group II was bonded with conventional bonding using Turbobond. After bonding, sthe samples were kept in distilled water at 37°C for 24 hours and a universal testing mechine was used to apply an occlusal shear force at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. The shear bond strength of the groups was compared using Student t-test and the debonding behavior were compared using Mann-Whitney's U test. Mean shear bond strength and standard deviation of the groups were group I - 9.09 ± 2.5 MPa and group II - 12.95 ± 2.81 MPa. There were significant differences in bond strength observed between the two groups. The debonding behavior showed an adhesive remnant index score of 0.90 ± 0.08 for group I and 1.10 ± 0.04 for group II, which indicates there is significant difference between each other. When considering the values required for optimum bond strength, APC brackets in this study showed adequate bond strength and could be used for routine clinical use.

Background/objectives/aims: Controversy exists regarding maxillary bone changes in nongrowing adults. However, previous studies have relied on two-dimensional (2D) cephalometric analyses, which may be unable to capture three-dimensional (3D) phenomena. In this study, we investigated 2D and 3D parameters to test the null hypothesis that maxillary bone volume cannot be changed in nongrowing adults that had been diagnosed with midfacial underdevelopment. Methods: After obtaining informed consent, we undertook 3D cone beam computed tomography scans of 11 consecutive, adult patients prior to and after biomimetic, oral appliance therapy. The mean treatment time was 18.4 months ± 2.5 using the DNA appliance® system. The intramolar width and 3D volume of the midface was calculated prior to and after the midfacial redevelopment protocol. The findings were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The mean intramolar increased from 33.5 mm ± 3.4 prior to treatment to 35.8 mm ± 2.9 after appliance therapy (p = 0.0003). Similarly, the mean midfacial bone volume was 17.4 cm3 ± 3.9 prior to treatment and increased to 19.1 cm3 ± 2.6 after appliance therapy (p = 0.0091). Conclusion: These data support the notion that maxillary bone width and volume can be changed in nongrowing adults. Furthermore, midfacial redevelopment may provide a potentially-useful method of managing adults diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, using biomimetic, oral appliances.

Introduction: White spot lesions are a major problem in orthodontic patients as they compromise esthetics. They are the result of decalcification of enamel that occurs around brackets. This in vivo study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three different forms of topical fluoride on enamel demineralization adjacent to bonded brackets. Materials and methods: A total of 24 patients who needed extraction of at least two premolars for orthodontic reasons were selected. In each patient, one premolar was the test tooth and the other was the control. Brackets were bonded but only the test teeth received topical fluoride, that is, Transbond PLUS Color Change Adhesive, bifluoride12, GC Tooth Mousse Plus. The premolars were extracted after 80 to 90 days, and buccolingual sections 50 to 70 μm in thickness were evaluated with polarized light microscopy. The mean depth of demineralization in each lesion was measured using the software Image Pro Plus. Results: The difference between the values of the depth of demineralization in the experimental and control samples of all groups was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was a 43.3% reduction in the lesion depth in the transbond plus group. There was a 67.4% reduction in the lesion depth in the GC tooth mousse group. There was a 70% reduction in the lesion depth in the bifluoride varnish group. Conclusion: Enamel demineralization around brackets is significantly reduced by all the three materials used in this study. The highest amount of lesion depth reduction was seen in the Bifluoride varnish group. Transbond plus, was the least effective among the three materials used.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the alterations in the pharyngeal airway dimensions after mandibular advancement surgery and to assess its postsurgical stability. Materials and methods: A total of 40 adult patients with skeletal class II jaw relation, treated by mandibular advancement surgery, were included in the study. Lateral cephalogram was obtained before surgery (T0), 1 month after surgery (T1), and 6 months postsurgery (T2). The cephalograms obtained were hand traced; various soft and hard tissue points identified, and linear and angular measurements were carried out to evaluate the changes postsurgery. The results thus obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The hyoid bone adapted to a more anterior (AH-C3 Hor) and superior position (AH-s Ver, AH-FH Ver, AH-ML Ver and AH-C3 Ver), the head assumed a more upright position (NSL/CVT and NSL/OPT) and there was a significant widening of the posterior airway space at all levels (pm-UPW, U-MPW, V-LPW, and PASmin) postmandibular advancement surgery. Conclusion: The study concludes that mandibular advancement surgeries bring about significant widening of the posterior airway space and also long-term changes in hyoid bone position and head posture and, therefore, it could be used in the treatment of selected cases of obstructive sleep apnea.

The tooth-borne distractor gained popularity for anterior maxillary distraction because of the effective treatment outcome, no need for external fixation, noninvasive, less chewing difficulty, social tolerance and economical. Tooth-borne distractor device needs modification in terms of maxillary deficiency, tooth position, retained deciduous tooth, and fistula. Hence, we recommend the following modifications in certain circumstances for the successful treatment outcome.

Bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion is common in Asian population. In this patient with procumbent upper and lower lips, excessive lip strain, proclined and protruded maxillary and mandibular incisors with vertical growth pattern, an acceptable treatment result, was achieved with 4-first-premolar extractions. This case report is presented with the aim, to describe the treatment approach for bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion using miniscrew implants for anchorage in upper arch and periodontal ligament distraction for canine retraction in lower arch and then retraction of incisors into the newly formed bone distal to lateral incisor. Treatment was completed in 18 months. The patient profile was improved, with reduction in lip procumbency, decrease in lip eversion and protrusion, and decrease mentalis strain. Dentally, the interincisal angulation improved significantly because both the maxillary and mandibular incisors were uprighted after space closer.

Introduction: Esthetics has become an essential criterion of the overall treatment plan in dentistry that comprises of a healthy and beautiful smile at any age. Multidisciplinary approach involving orthodontics and periodontics results in the maintenance of a beautiful smile and a healthy periodontium. The continuous endeavor for innovation of newer interdisciplinary treatment modalities has resulted in the use of a passive object like the orthodontic button being used to provide the initial stabilization in cases of root coverage using a Coronally advanced flap (CAF). Objective: The objective of this case report is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new treatment approach which consists of coronally advanced flap (CAF) procedure combined with orthodontic button application for the treatment of Miller's class III recession defects. Methodology: After the application of orthodontic buttons in middle third of tooth surface, a split-full split flap was raised from tooth #22 to #24 and the flap was sutured 3 to 4 mm coronal to cementoenamel junction and the central part of flap was suspended with sutures to the orthodontic button to maximize the stabilization of the immediate postoperative flap location. Clinical parameters were recorded at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Results: Complete root coverage was achieved when evaluated from baseline to 3 months along with gain in clinical attachment level and keratinized tissue. The final esthetics, both color match and tissue contours, were highly acceptable.

Transverse maxilla-mandibular discrepancies are a major component of several malocclusions. Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) is a common treatment modality for older patients in the correction of a maxillary transverse deficiency. In such cases, retention of the appliance plays an important role and this becomes a problem in patients having enamel hypoplasia. Therefore, the design was modified of a tooth-borne rapid maxillary expansion appliance with provision for miniscrew skeletal anchorage in a Class II malocclusion case having anterior open bite with bilateral posterior crossbite and enamel hypoplasia.

Anterior dental crossbite is a common problem in which maxillary anterior teeth are locked behind the mandibular anteriors. Orthodontic treatment of anterior teeth crossbite need unlocking of upper anterior teeth. Several methods are used to raise the bite for anterior teeth crossbite correction. Posterior acrylic bite blocks are commonly used to raise the bite. Here, in this article, a new method is described to retain the posterior bite block for anterior crossbite correction.

An easy, fast, and effective method to cinch NiTi wire is suggested.