Objective To evaluate if a remote digital monitoring system added at the end of orthodontic treatment could positively influence the retention phase by reducing the occurrence of misfit of removable appliances, number of emergency appointments (EA), and orthodontic relapse. Methods Twenty-seven patients who completed active orthodontic treatment were divided into the study and control groups. In addition to the standard chairside follow-up appointments at month 1 (T1), month 3 (T2), month 6 (T3), the study group patients were monitored using Dental Monitoring ® with monthly intra-oral scans. Occurrence of misfit of removable retainers, number of EAs, and intercanine width change were recorded for both groups. Differences in EAs and retainer fit were assessed using the chi-square test. Intra-group and inter-group differences in the intercanine width were assessed with Friedman test and Mann–Whitney U test, respectively (α = 0.05). Results The study group showed a significantly lower occurrence of misfit of removable retainers ( p = 0.027) compared to the control group. No significant inter- and intra-group difference was found in the EAs and intercanine width change at each time-point. Conclusions Integrating remote monitoring systems, such as Dental Monitoring ® , to the retention phase of the orthodontic treatment may lower the occurrence of misfit of removable retainers. However, a small sample size and a short observation period limit the strength of this evidence. These preliminary results tentatively suggest that remote monitoring technologies may be beneficial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the regularity of in-office visits might be disrupted.

Objectives To use both absolute anteroposterior maxillary complex length (APMCL) and relative APMCL to investigate the relationship between the maxillary complex, its individual bony segments, and their association to the anterior cranial base. In addition, the relationship between length and position of the maxillary complex was analyzed. Materials and Methods Sixty human skulls were analyzed using cone beam computed tomography. The maxillary complex length was measured between anterior and posterior nasal spine (ans-pns), and the average was used as the cut-off to identify a high- and a low-length group based on absolute APMCL. The length ratio between the maxillary complex and the anterior cranial base (ans-pns/SN) was used to identify the two groups based on relative APMCL. The anterior cranial base length and the lengths of the maxillary complex bones were compared between the high- and low-length groups. Results Based on absolute APMCL, individuals with shorter maxillary complex had shorter anterior cranial base (P = .003), representing normal proportions. Based on relative APMCL, individuals with shorter maxillary complex had longer anterior cranial base and vice versa (P = .014), indicating disproportions. Individuals with shorter maxillary complex exhibited shorter maxilla (Δ = −1.5 mm, P = .014). Conclusions When skeletal deformity of the midface is suspected, individual disproportions in the anteroposterior length of the maxillary complex in relation to the anterior cranial base (relative measurements) should be assessed through radiological imaging. A shorter maxillary complex may be associated with a shorter maxilla, and not with a shorter premaxilla or palatine bone.

The risk of developing white spot lesions (WSLs) after orthodontic treatment with lingual brackets is generally considered lower than with labial ones, even if plaque accumulation is frequently higher due to the increased difficulty level in oral hygiene maintenance. In this prospective clinical study, selective enamel etching technique effectiveness in reducing plaque accumulation and WSLs was tested. Thirty patients were bonded with a split-mouth approach: two randomly selected opposite quadrants were used as the test sides, using customized plastic etching guides, and the other two as control sides, applying traditional direct etching methods. The plaque presence around the braces was recorded after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months according to a lingual plaque accumulation index (LPAI), as was the presence of WSLs. PAI measured values were significantly higher in the control sides during the observation period. Test and control sides differed significantly for new WSL onset only after 12 months of treatment. Therefore, the present research demonstrated that this guided enamel etching technique allowed for significant reduction in plaque accumulation around the lingual brackets and reduced onset of white spots after one year of treatment.