Objective: To compare the surface roughness of different orthodontic archwires. Materials and Methods: Four nickel-titanium wires (SentalloyH, SentalloyH High Aesthetic, Titanium Memory ThermaTi LiteH, and Titanium Memory EstheticH), three b-titanium wires (TMAH, Colored TMAH, and Beta TitaniumH), and one stainless-steel wire (Stainless SteelH) were considered for this study. Three samples for each wire were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Three-dimensional images were processed using Gwiddion software, and the roughness average (Ra), the root mean square (Rms), and the maximum height (Mh) values of the scanned surface profile were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post hoc test (P , .05). Results: The Ra, Rms, and Mh values were expressed as the mean 6 standard deviation. Among as-received archwires, the Stainless Steel (Ra 5 36.6 6 5.8; Rms 5 48 6 7.7; Mh 5 328.1 6 64) archwire was less rough than the others (ANOVA, P , .05). The Sentalloy High Aesthetic was the roughest (Ra 5 133.5 6 10.8; Rms 5 165.8 6 9.8; Mh 5 949.6 6 192.1) of the archwires. Conclusions: The surface quality of the wires investigated differed significantly. Ion implantation effectively reduced the roughness of TMA. Moreover, TeflonH-coated Titanium Memory Esthetic was less rough than was ion-implanted Sentalloy High Aesthetic. (Angle Orthod. 2012;82:922-928.)

The BJA can effectively correct class II malocclusions by a combination of dentoalveolar and skeletal effects. The long-term stability of the correction needs to be evaluated.

Background The prevalence of malocclusion, temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and oral parafunctions is highly debated in children population. Objectives To investigate the prevalence of malocclusion, self‐reported oral parafunctions and TMD‐pain in Italian schoolchildren and to assess the association between the examined factors. Methods A total of 700 children aged 9‐11 years were selected among six public schools in Campania region (Italy). Molar relationship, overjet, overbite and cross‐bite were assessed through a clinical examination. Furthermore, the subjects were demanded to fill in a validated questionnaire for TMD‐pain screening and the short form of the Oral Behaviours Checklist. Descriptive statistics were used to report the frequencies. The associations between occlusal traits, oral parafunctions and TMD‐pain were analysed with a Pearson chi‐square test, as expressed by odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Results Molar Class I was the most frequently encountered molar relationship, followed by molar Class II, subdivision and molar Class III. Increased overjet was more common than negative overjet. Posterior cross‐bite was observed in 12% of children. TMD‐pain was recorded in 14.7% of subjects. High frequency of oral parafunctions was reported in 21.3% of subjects. A significant association was found between TMD‐pain and negative overbite. Cross‐bite and high frequency of oral parafunctions were associated with TMD‐pain. Conclusion The current results show that malocclusion, self‐reported oral parafunctions and TMD‐pain are frequent findings among Italian schoolchildren and that some occlusal factors and high frequency of oral parafunctions might be associated with TMD‐pain.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of intraoral aging on surface properties of esthetic and conventional nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires. Materials and Methods: Five NiTi wires were considered for this study (Sentalloy, Sentalloy High Aesthetic, Superelastic Titanium Memory Wire, Esthetic Superelastic Titanium Memory Wire, and EverWhite). For each type of wire, four samples were analyzed as received and after 1 month of clinical use by an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a scanning electronic microscope (SEM). To evaluate sliding resistance, two stainless steel plates with three metallic or three monocrystalline brackets, bonded in passive configuration, were manufactured; four as-received and retrieved samples for every wire were pulled five times at 5 mm/min for 1 minute by means of an Instron 5566, recording the greatest friction value (N). Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and by Student's t-test. Results: After clinical use, surface roughness increased considerably. The SEM images showed homogeneity for the as-received control wires; however, after clinical use esthetic wires exhibited a heterogeneous surface with craters and bumps. The lowest levels of friction were observed with the as-received Superelastic Titanium Memory Wire on metallic brackets. When tested on ceramic brackets, all the wires exhibited an increase in friction (t-test; P , .05). Furthermore, all the wires, except Sentalloy, showed a statistically significant increase in friction between the as-received and retrieved groups (t-test; P , .05). Conclusion: Clinical use of the orthodontic wires increases their surface roughness and the level of friction. (Angle Orthod. 2014;84:665-672.)

The aim was to assess the quality and to summarise the findings of the Systematic Reviews (SRs) and Meta-Analyses (MAs) on the dental and skeletal effects of maxillary expansion. Electronic and manual searches have been independently conducted by two investigators, up to February 2015. SRs and MAs on the dentoalveolar and skeletal effects of fixed expanders were included. The methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews). The design of the primary studies included in each SR/MA was assessed with the LRD (Level of Research Design scoring). The evidence for each outcome was rated applying a pre-determined scale. Twelve SRs/MAs were included. The AMSTAR scores ranged from 4 to 10. Two SRs/MAs included only RCTs. The current findings from SRs/MAs support with high evidence a significant increase in the short-term of maxillary dentoalveolar transversal dimensions after Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME). The same effect is reported with moderate evidence after Slow Maxillary Expansion (SME). However, there is moderate evidence of a non-significant difference between the two expansion modalities concerning the short-term dentoalveolar effects. With both RME and SME, significant increase of skeletal transversal dimension in the short-term is reported, and the skeletal expansion is always smaller than the dentoalveolar. Even though dental relapse to some extent is present, long-term results of the dentoalveolar effects show an increase of the transversal dimension, supported by moderate evidence for RME and low evidence for SME. Skeletal long-term effects are reported only with RME, supported by very low evidence.

This study aimed to evaluate the periodontal health of orthodontic patients with supportive periodontal therapy in a 3 month follow-up. The sample comprised 20 patients (mean age 20.6 ± 8.1 years) in treatment with multibracket fixed appliances (fixed group—FG) and 20 patients (mean age 34.7 ± 12.5 years) in treatment with clear aligners (clear aligners group—CAG). At baseline (T0) and after 3 months (T1), probing depth (PD), plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and gingival recession (REC) were measured. Patients were trained to perform an individualized tooth brushing technique, and every 2 weeks they were re-called to reinforce the oral hygiene instructions. The intra-group comparisons (T1 vs. T0) were calculated with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, while a linear regression model was used for the inter-group comparisons (FG vs. CAG). The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Statistically significant decrease in both groups was found for PD (FG: Δ, −9.2 inter-quartile range (IQR), −22.5, −5.5; CAG: Δ, −12.6 IQR, −25.4, −4.8), BOP (FG: Δ, −53.5 IQR, −70.5, −37; CAG: Δ, −37.5 IQR, −54.5, −23), and PI (FG: Δ, −17.5 IQR, −62.5, 14.5; CAG: Δ, −24 IQR, −49.5, −5). The result of the linear regression models suggested that the type of appliance did not have any effects on the improvement of periodontal variables. Therefore, patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and clear aligners did not show differences in gingival health when followed by a dental hygienist.

Objectives: To investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of different thermoplastic materials for clear aligners on human primary gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Materials and Methods: Four materials for clear aligners were considered in this study: Duran (Scheu-Dental GmbH, Iserlohn, Germany), Biolon (Dreve Dentamid GmbH, Unna, Germany), Zendura (Bay Materials LLC, Fremont, CA, USA), and SmartTrack (Align Technology, San Jose, CA, USA). Three out of four materials (Duran, Biolon, Zendura) were assessed as thermoformed and nonthermoformed, whereas the SmartTrack was assessed only as thermoformed. The samples were placed at 37°C in airtight test tubes containing Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM; 0.1 mg/mL) for 14 days. The cell viability of HGFs cultured with this medium was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Data were analyzed by means of one-way and two-way analysis of variance and post hoc tests (α = 0.05). Results: Each material exhibited a slight cytotoxic effect after 14 days. The highest cytotoxicity level on HGFs was achieved by Biolon (64.6% ± 3.3 of cell viability), followed by Zendura (74.4% ± 2.3 of cell viability), SmartTrack (78.8% ± 6.3 of cell viability), and finally Duran (84.6% ± 4 of cell viability), which was the least cytotoxic. In the comparison between nonthermoformed and thermoformed materials for Duran, Biolon, and Zendura, the thermoformed materials showed the highest level of cytotoxicity (P &lt; .001). Conclusions: Under the experimental conditions of this study, all the materials for clear aligners presented a slight cytotoxicity. Biolon was the most cytotoxic and the thermoforming process increased the cytotoxicity of the materials.

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