The consequences of xerostomia on oral health have been studied for decades; however, the actual prevalence of this disorder on the general population remains controversial. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of xerostomia in population-based samples. Electronic databases were screened for relevant articles and reference lists of pertinent articles were also hand-searched. Thirteen articles meeting the final inclusion criteria were identified. Based on the definition of xerostomia used in this review, only publications including a subjective diagnosis of the disorder were included. All of the self-reported diagnoses were achieved through a questionnaire either by mail, telephone, interview or self-administered by the patient. There was a variation across papers regarding number and content of the questions as well as guidelines for the diagnosis of xerostomia (i.e. answer yes to one or more than one question). The prevalence of xerostomia in the selected articles ranged from 0.9% to 64.8%. The majority of these studies were performed in Scandinavia. In 9 of the articles, the studied samples were 50 years and older. None of the studies evaluated the prevalence xerostomia among individuals younger than 18 years. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that there is a need for population-based studies on prevalence of xerostomia in regions other than Scandinavia. A standardized protocol to diagnose xerostomia needs to be developed. Patient-perceived treatment needs and impact on quality of life should be included to have a complete picture of public health implications of the disease.

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Objective: This study seeks to review current and relevant literature on global Angle class III malocclusion prevalence. Materials and Methods: The electronic databases PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review were searched using specific inclusion criteria to obtain applicable articles. All pertinent references were also examined for acceptability. Results: A total of 20 articles were identified using the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of Angle class III malocclusion ranged from 0% to 26.7% in different populations reported in the literature examined. Meta-regression analysis showed no statistically significant association between prevalence rates and the method of assessment, age group and year of the study. However, much of the study-to-study variation (approximately 40%) could be explained by population. Conclusion: These results suggest that the prevalence of Angle class III malocclusion varies greatly within different races and geographic regions. Chinese and Malaysian populations have a higher prevalence of Angle class III malocclusion compared to other racial groups, while Indian populations have a lower prevalence than all other racial groups examined.

Introduction: In the present time, there is rapid development in the application of 3D printing technology in surgery. One of the challenges encountered by the surgeon is the sterilization of these 3D-printed objects for use in the operating room. Materials and Methods: Forty-two identical cutting guides used for genioplasty were 3D-printed: twenty-one in Polylactic acid (PLA) and twenty-one in Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). The guides were CT scanned after printing. They were then sterilized with the low-temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma technique (Sterrad®). A CT scan of the guides was also performed at T1 (after printing) and T2 (after sterilization). A software (Cloudcompare ®) was then used to accurately compare the volume of each guide at T0 (the initial computer-aided designed guide) vs T1 and T1 vs T2. Statistical analysis was then performed. Results: Although there are differences that are statistically significant for each series between T0 and T2 and T1 and T2 for both PLA and PETG, this had no impact on the clinical use of sterilized objects using hydrogen peroxide sterilization technique because these morphological differences were minimal at less than 0.2mm. Conclusion: Morphological deformations induced by the hydrogen peroxide sterilization are sub-millimeter and acceptable for surgical use. The hydrogen peroxide sterilization is, therefore, an alternative to avoid the deformation of 3D-printed objects made from PLA and PETG during conventional steam sterilization (autoclave). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study regarding the morphologic deformation of 3D-printed objects in PLA and PETG after sterilization for medical use.

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Background: The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the current state of the art of making genioplasties using 3D printing technology. Material and Methods: A multi-database single-reviewer systematic review identified sixteen papers that fulfilled the selection criteria. There were mainly case series and case reports available (Level IV of the Oxford Evidence-based medicine scale); only two prospective study (Level III) evaluated this subject. These articles are analyzed in details and summarized in this review. Results: The realization of genioplasties with surgical guide using 3D-printing technology could improve predictability and accuracy. It protects anatomical structures in the environment of the surgery, reducing by this way the morbidity and providing safer results. The type of printer and material used as well as the sterilization techniques should be further developed by the authors. The use of open-access software should also be further explored to allow the use of these new technologies by the largest number of surgeons. Conclusions: Finally, prospective multi-center studies with larger samples should be performed to definitively conclude the benefits of this new technology and allow for its routine use. This article is the first systematic review on this topic.

The objective of this study was to assess the current state of predoctoral orthodontic education in the United States. We hypothesized that there are signiicant differences in the teaching methods, course content, and assessment methods in current predoctoral orthodontic curricula in U.S. dental schools. To test this hypothesis, predoctoral orthodontic directors at ifty-ive dental schools were invited to complete an anonymous online survey during the months of June and July 2010. Twenty-nine program directors (53 percent) completed the survey. Our data showed that the mean number of full-time and part-time equivalent faculty members teaching predoctoral orthodontics is 2.12 and 2.5, respectively. Students are presented with orthodontic material as early as the irst year in some dental schools; however, the majority of schools present the most orthodontic material in the third year. The number of curriculum hours devoted to teaching orthodontics during the predoctoral years varies greatly between schools, and many programs teach students a variety of orthodontic techniques. Less than half (48.15 percent) of the responding programs require students to treat orthodontic patients. The majority of the responding programs require students to observe residents (65.38 percent), while those requiring students to assist in graduate orthodontics clinic are in the minority (34.62 percent). Two-thirds of the responding programs consider the current time allotted for predoctoral orthodontic clinical education at their institutions to be adequate. Our results suggest that there are, indeed, large variations in teaching methods, curriculum content, and methods of assessment in predoctoral orthodontic programs.Ms.

The BET adsorption method could be a valuable tool in enhancing our understanding of enamel characteristics. Our findings indicate that distinct quantitative changes in enamel pore architecture are evident after etching. Further testing with a larger sample size would have to be carried out for more definitive conclusions to be made.