Objective: To examine the effects of face mask therapy in adolescent and young adult female subjects with skeletal Class III malocclusion characterized by maxillary retrognathism. Materials and Methods: The material consisted of pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 28 subjects with Class III malocclusions treated with a face mask. Twenty-eight patients age 10 to 16 years were divided into two groups: the adolescent group (15 female patients) and the young adult group (13 female patients). Within group and between group comparisons were made by paired t-test and Student's t-test, respectively. Results: Forward displacement of the maxilla and clockwise rotation of the mandible occurred in both the adolescent and young adult groups. Maxillary-mandibular relationship exhibited an increase in the ANB angle and Wits appraisal, and the soft-tissue changes resulted in a more convex profile. The maxillary incisors moved forward while the mandibular incisors moved backward. Conclusions: Face mask therapy improves skeletal Class III malocclusions by a combination of skeletal and dental changes. Although early treatment may be most effective, face mask treatment can provide a viable option for older children as well. (Angle Orthod. 2009;79:842-848.)

Objective:The objective of the following study is to investigate the mandibular vertical asymmetry in a group of patients with early unilateral mandibular first molar extractions.Materials and Methods:Mandibular asymmetry index measurements (condylar, ramal and condylar-plus-ramal) were performed on the panoramic radiographs of a study group including 51 patients (mean age: 18.60 ± 1.11 years) and a control group of 51 patients (mean age: 18.53 ± 1.29 years). Group I included patients with a unilateral mandibular first molar extracted before the age of 12 years. Group II included patients with no extractions and had excellent Class I relationships, no missing teeth and slight or moderate anterior crowding. A paired t-test was used to determine possible statistically significant differences between the sides for the measurements. Student's t-test was used for the comparison of asymmetry index values between the groups and genders.Results:No group showed statistically significant sex-or side-specific differences for posterior vertical height measurements. Condylar asymmetry index and ramal asymmetry index measurements were not statistically different between the groups, while condylar-plus-ramal asymmetry index (CRAI) measurements were statistically different between the groups (P = 0.019).Conclusions:A slight difference for CRAI value was found in patients with early unilateral mandibular first molar extractions.

To date, no information about prevalence of P1Ms extraction among Turkish adolescents and young adults is documented. In addition, the present study has a larger population and complementary information about 3Ms development than previous studies.

No abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate patients treated for impacted mandibular canines through a combined surgical and orthodontic approach. Study Design: The cases which were made button operations of impacted mandibular canines were selected from 5100 panoramic radiographs taken from patients who made use of our oral and maxillofacial surgery services between January 1998 to April 2006. All of these selected patients were assessed radiographically. Pertinent information such as sex, age at the time of surgery, site of the unerupted tooth, space availability and any other associated pathoses were also recorded. These patients were called again, and the condition of the mandibular canines was evaluated with panoramic radiographs. If the tooth erupted in the right position and it was functional and asymptomatic, we assumed the treatment to be successful clinically. Results: In the present study, from 5100 patients, 69 patients had impacted mandibular canines and only 21 patients' teeth (a total of 23 teeth) were treated orthodontically. Sixteen impacted mandibular canine teeth of 14 patients erupted successfully. Two impacted canine were extracted, and only one canine tooth was transplanted to the normal position. Four patients ended the treatment because of failure of eruption. Conclusion: If a mandibular canine tooth is impacted, not only is surgical exposure sufficient but also traction force must be applied orthodontically after the surgical exposure. In addition, age influences the success of the treatment on impacted mandibular canine teeth more than the position and impaction level of the teeth.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) with a memory palatal split screw on the morphology of the maxillary dental arch and nasal airway resistance (NAR). The material consisted of the rhinomanometric records and study models of 15 patients (8 females and 7 males) with mean age of 12.89 ± 1.20 years. Data were collected before expansion (T1), immediately after expansion (T2), and after a retention period of 6 months (T3). Maxillary expansion was completed within 8 days in all subjects. The data were analysed by analysis of variance. The least significant difference test was also used to determine between which periods the changes in the measurements were significant. Statistical analyses showed that NAR decreased (P < 0.01) and intermolar and interpremolar distances increased (P < 0.001) significantly at all observation periods, except between T2 and T3. RME using a memory palatal split screw is effective for improvement of nasal respiration via a widening effect on the nasal cavity.

This article investigates the effects of early bilateral mandibular molar teeth extraction that has never been investigated in the literature. The present study showed that the lengths of the condylar, ramal, and condylar plus ramal height were less in the study group than in a well-matched control group of without extraction.

Forward movement of the maxilla can be obtained in young adults after face mask treatment. However, there was no difference in this phenomenon between the FM and RME+FM groups.