Objective To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on the alveolar bone thickness and density in patients undergoing leveling and alignment of crowded lower anterior teeth. Methods This controlled clinical trial involved 17 smokers and 17 nonsmokers with mild to moderate crowding of the anterior mandibular teeth. Two cone-beam computed tomography images of the mandible were taken before and after treatment. The length of each tooth root was calculated in each T0 image, and the root was divided into three equal regions. Three lines were drawn parallel to the line of the cementoenamel junction at these three regions of the root, and the previously drawn lines were used to measure bone thickness and bone density. Results The mean changes in cortical bone thickness and bone density were significantly smaller in smokers than nonsmokers. Cortical bone thickness and bone density were significantly lower after than before treatment in both smokers and nonsmokers. Conclusion In addition to all of its known dangers, cigarette smoking may also harm the alveolar bone by decreasing the bone thickness and density during orthodontic treatment in heavy smokers.

Background This study investigated the facial angles and proportions affecting facial aesthetics in patients with skeletal class II division 1 malocclusion between those labeled the most attractive and least attractive in each gender. Methodology The study sample included pretreatment extraoral photographs of 60 patients (30 males and 30 females) with skeletal class II division 1 malocclusion according to the ANB angle aged between 18 and 21 years. A panel of 240 laypersons (aged 20-25 years; the average age of 22.5 ± 0.37 years; 120 males and 120 females) scored the aesthetic evaluation of photographs using the visual analog scale (VAS). Two groups were created according to the mean aesthetic scores of each photograph, namely, the most attractive group with the highest aesthetic scores, and the least attractive group with the least aesthetic scores. A total of 12 patients in each group were selected. Subsequently, their angular and proportional measurements on the frontal and lateral photographs were calculated. Independent-sample t-tests were used to determine if there were significant differences in these measurements between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference in frontal variables between the most attractive and least attractive groups in each gender. The angle NPog-FH was significantly greater in the most attractive males than in the least attractive males, while there was no significant difference between the most attractive and least attractive females regarding any of the profile variables. Conclusions The most attractive females with class II division 1 were similar to the least attractive on evaluating the frontal and profile variables. In contrast, the most attractive males with class II division 1 malocclusion had more protrusion in the chin than the least attractive male patients, with no differences in other profile and frontal variables. These findings suggest considering the chin position during the diagnosis and treatment planning of class II division 1 malocclusion patients.

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Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effects of applying a gel of combined glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area in patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion treated by removable functional appliances in terms of TMJ internal proportions, levels of pain, and tension. Materials and Methods: The study included 36 patients aged 10-13 years with skeletal Class II malocclusion due to retrusion of the mandible characterized by: 4-8 degrees of the sagittal skeletal discrepancy (ANB) angle, 4-7 mm of overjet, 72-76 degrees of the sagittal mandibular positioning (SNB) angle, and a bone maturity stage located at pubertal growth spurt. Patients were distributed to the experimental group (Twin-Block appliance + Jointance® gel) or the control group (conventional treatment with the Twin-Block appliance). An allocation ratio of 1:1 was employed. Pre- and post-treatment digital lateral cephalometric radiograms were taken, and the TMJ joint spaces were measured using the Viewbox software (dHAL Software, Kifissia, Greece). The pain and discomfort levels were evaluated using a questionnaire with a four-point Likert scale at three assessment times. Results: The anterior and posterior glenoid and anterior condylar distances to the pterygoid vertical (PTV) reference plane significantly decreased after treatment (p<.001), and the anterior joint space decreased significantly (p<.001). In contrast, the superior distance of the condyle to the Frankfort horizontal reference plane increased significantly after treatment, and the same results were found for the posterior and superior joint spaces (p<.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the evaluated linear variables. No significant differences were found when comparing pain and tension levels between the two groups at each assessment time. A gradual decrease in pain and tension levels was observed between the three evaluation times in both groups. Conclusions: A combination of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate did not affect the temporomandibular joint spaces, pain, and tension levels in patients with skeletal Class II malocclusions treated by removable functional appliances.