No abstract

In most cases, maxilla moved forward at distraction and started to move backward until 1 year after distraction, but remained forward, as compared with predistraction position. Maxilla also moved downward during distraction and upward in 6 months, but started descending in 1 year. There also was no further forward growth of the maxilla after distraction in growing children with clefts.

The current outbreak of the highly contagious, animal origin SARS-CoV-2 virus causes the disease COVID-19. The disease is globally pandemic and as per World Health Organization (WHO) has spread to 235 countries. There is global lockdown for containment of the virus transmission. Testing of symptomatic patients, healthcare workers and suspected individuals and mass screening is vital. WHO recommends nasopharyngeal (NP) and oropharyngeal (OP) swab for the quantitative assessment of SARS-CoV-2 RNA level through real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). The virus is shown to be consistently present in saliva and rRTPCR of saliva specimens and have advantages over NP and OP swabs such as self-collection of saliva, avoidance of healthcare workers for specimen collection, cost-effectiveness, etc. This article explores the current literature and suggests saliva as an emerging potential diagnostic specimen for COVID-19 testing.

No abstract

Orthodontic fixed appliance therapy is the commonest mode of treatment for most types of malocclusions (teeth irregularities). However, these materials are liable for microbial adhesion, which predisposes the wearer to increased microbial burden. The present study aims to evaluate, microbial adhesion and growth on commonly used orthodontic ligating materials (Teflon coated wire, stainless steel wire, elastic rings) under in vitro condition. Furthermore, the role of saliva on adhesion and microbial colonization on said materials was also assessed. Experiments were conducted with three different orthodontic ligating materials each in 6 numbers. Growth OD, metabolic activity and cell viability were the experimental variables in addition to SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) analysis performed. Results revealed irespective of the nature of the ligating materials, microbial adhesion and growth were observed in all the materials and suggested that the chosen materials promotes microbial adhesion. Nevertheless, stainless steel ligatures were less prone to adhesion compared to Teflon coated and elastic ligatures. Presence of saliva accelerates adhesion and growth.

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from Wuhan, China in December 2019 leads to the present coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The various symptoms identified for COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, sore throat, dyspnea, fatigue, myalgia, and headache. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions are emerging as a new symptom more in the European patients. Taste disturbances are common in various oral and systemic diseases. Varying severity and onset of taste disturbances are reported in COVID-19 positive patients in this pandemic. But a sudden onset of taste disturbances without an established and recognized cause should raise suspicion of COVID-19. This article will analyze the various studies focusing on taste disturbances as a reliable early symptom for COVID-19 screening.

No abstract

The craniofacial skeleton is designed to withstand the functional forces during mastication. Distribution of these forces is along the stress trajectories that can vary in a cleft skull compared with a normal skull. In this study, the authors constructed finite element models of cleft and normal skull and subjected them for occlusal loading in the posterior teeth. The results showed variation in the trajectories between the models and between the cleft and noncleft sides within the cleft model.