A grande variedade de fios ortodônticos presente no mercado pode gerar dúvidas quanto à melhor escolha para situações clínicas. Assim, o conhecimento das propriedades mecânicas dos mesmos facilita a escolha para aplicação do movimento ortodôntico na dependência da fase em que o tratamento se encontra. A evolução da tecnologia de manufatura dos fios e a elaboração de novas técnicas ortodônticas geraram a busca por uma melhor qualidade das ligas, a fim de torná-los biologicamente mais efetivos no que diz respeito aos dentes e tecidos de suporte. O presente artigo resume as principais características dos fios utilizados em Ortodontia, em relação ao histórico, propriedades mecânicas e aplicação clínica, de acordo com fases específicas de tratamento.

The use of a standardized terminology in the medical sciences is essential for both clinical practice and scientific research. In addition to facilitating communication between professionals, it enhances the reliability of comparisons made between studies from different areas, thereby contributing to a higher level of scientific evidence. Examples of attempts made to standardize the terminology in other areas dedicated to the study of craniofacial morphology can be found in the literature. On the other hand, one can find in the orthodontic literature a variety of terms that render the consensus and communication between orthodontists and other researchers even more problematic. As an example, one could cite the use of the terms brachyfacial, mesofacial and dolichofacial, which form part of a cranial index terminology used to describe facial types. Thus, a reflection on the origin and differences of the terms used to describe the human facial phenotype may pave the way toward a consensus regarding the meaning that best represents the craniofacial patterns.Keywords: Face. Terminology. Classification. » The authors report no commercial, proprietary or financial interest in the products or companies described in this article. A padronização da nomenclatura utilizada nas ciências médicas é fundamental tanto para a prática clínica quanto para a pesquisa científica. Além de facilitar a comunicação entre os profissionais, aumenta a confiabilidade da comparação entre trabalhos de diferentes áreas, favorecendo um melhor nível de evidência científica. Exemplos de esforços, em áreas também voltadas ao estudo da morfologia craniofacial, no sentido de uniformização da terminologia podem ser encontrados na literatura médica. Por outro lado, observa-se na literatura ortodôntica uma diversidade de termos que torna mais difícil o consenso e a comunicação entre ortodontistas e demais pesquisadores. Como exemplo, pode-se citar o uso dos termos braquifacial, mesofacial e dolicofacial, terminologia relativa ao índice craniano utilizada para descrever o tipo facial. Sendo assim, a reflexão sobre a origem e diferenças dos termos utilizados para descrever o fenó-tipo facial humano pode ser útil ao consenso do significado que melhor representa o padrão craniofacial.Palavras-chave: Face. Terminologia. Classificação.

ObjectiveThis research aimed at comparing the qualitative chemical compositions and the surface morphology of fracture regions of eight types of Nickel (Ni) Titanium (Ti) conventional wires, superelastic and heat-activated (GAC, TP, Ormco, Masel, Morelli and Unitek), to the wires with addition of copper (CuNiTi 27ºC and 35ºC, Ormco) after traction test. MethodsThe analyses were performed in a scanning electronic microscope (JEOL, model JSM-5800 LV) with EDS system of microanalysis (energy dispersive spectroscopy). ResultsThe results showed that NiTi wires presented Ni and Ti as the main elements of the alloy with minimum differences in their composition. The CuNiTi wires, however, presented Ni and Ti with a significant percentage of copper (Cu). As for surface morphology, the wires that presented the lowest wire-surface roughness were the superelastic ones by Masel and Morelli, while those that presented the greatest wire-surface roughness were the CuNiTi 27ºC and 35ºC ones by Ormco, due to presence of microcavity formed as a result of pulling out some particles, possibly of NiTi.4 The fracture surfaces presented characteristics of ductile fracture, with presence of microcavities. The superelastic wires by GAC and the CuNiTi 27ºC and the heat-activated ones by Unitek presented the smallest microcavities and the lowest wire-surface roughness with regard to fracture, while the CuNiTi 35ºC wires presented inadequate wire-surface roughness in the fracture region. ConclusionCuNiTi 35ºC wires did not present better morphologic characteristics in comparison to the other wires with regard to surfaces and fracture region.

The NiTi and multistranded steel wires showed greater aligning capacity when compared with stainless steel wires.

Obst ructive sleep apnea and hipoapnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a disorder that affects about 4% of the adult population, and besides the social problems associated to snoring and extreme day time sleepiness, it is preoccupying since it may cause pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure. Review and discussion -Through a literature review, we discuss the use of oral appliances to treat this condition, in regards of therapy effectiveness and limitations, main clinical symptoms, major occlusal side effects, rate of improvement and patient satisfaction. Conclusions -We concluded that the use of oral appliances should be a first choice treatment for mild to moderate OSAHS, being dental, joint and muscular discomforts, hypersalivation and xerostomia, the most frequent clinical symptoms, with light occlusal side effects that normally do not bother the patients, with a good degree of improvement and high satisfaction index.