The aims of this investigation were to determine whether stabilization of maximum voluntary bite force (MVBF) occurs between 15 and 18 years of age in subjects with a normal occlusion, and to assess the influence of gender, body mass index (BMI), morphological occlusion, and jaw function measured by the number of occlusal contacts, overjet, overbite, maximal mouth opening, mandibular deflection during opening, sagittal slide between the retruded contact position and the intercuspal position, and number of dental restorations. The sample comprised 60 Caucasian subjects aged 15 (15 males and 15 females) and 18 (14 males and 16 females) years with a neutral occlusion, balanced facial profile, and absence of a previous orthodontic history. Bite force measurements were undertaken using a portable occlusal force gauge on both the left and the right sides of the jaw in the first molar region during maximal clenching. Two independent samples t-tests and multiple regression were used for statistical analysis. MVBFs were age and gender related (P<0.05). Males showed a significant increase in bite force between 15 and 18 years of age (P=0.002), but gender differences were significant only in the 18-year-olds (P=0.003). In subjects with a neutral occlusion, MVBF could best be predicted using multiple regression from age and gender. The regression model accounted for 31.3 percent of the variance in MVBF (P=0.031), with gender contributing 17.9 percent and age 7.9 percent. Morphological occlusion, jaw function, and BMI explained the remaining 5.5 percent of variance. While controlling for all other parameters, the independent contribution of gender to the prediction of MVBF was 16.2 percent, age 6 percent, number of occlusal contacts 3.2 percent, and BMI 1.3 percent.

The Croatian version of the PIDAQ demonstrated good psychometric properties, similar to those of the original.

Dental students have generally positive attitudes towards e-learning. Teachers should adopt strategies to change negative attitudes by introducing more e-learning courses in lower study years and should encourage students to use the Internet in their education and communication with teachers and colleagues.

Pleasant smile aesthetics is an important contributory factor to psychosocial well-being. The aim of this study was to determine the psychosocial influence of smile aesthetics. The study was cross-sectional on a convenient sample that included patients, pupils, students and faculty staff. A total of 155 subjects (36% male) aged 12-39 (mean age 21, interquartile range 19-23) were included. Occlusal characteristics were recorded by the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need, and smiling frontal view photographs were obtained. Fourteen variables were measured using photogrammetric analysis: smile width, visibility of buccal corridors, maximum teeth exposure, total gingival display, lip thickness, degree of occlusal cant and deviation from golden proportion of the teeth in maxillary intercanine sector. Psychometric instruments included the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Statistical analysis comprised multiple linear regressions. Malocclusion severity is the most important predictor of psychosocial influence of smile aesthetics and self-esteem, the unique contribution of which accounts for a total of 4-27% of variability. Female gender is associated with higher psychological influence of dental aesthetics while male gender and older age with self-esteem. Malocclusions have higher psychosocial impact than parameters of mini- and micro-aesthetics of smile related to visibility of buccal corridors, amount of teeth exposure, gingival display, lip thickness, presence of occlusal cant and deviation from golden proportion of the teeth. It appears that people are not as focused on details of their smile as they are on distinctive malposition of teeth.

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Patients' and parents' perception of malocclusion are important in determining orthodontic treatment demand, motivation, and cooperation. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in perception of treatment need in currently orthodontically treated, previously treated, and untreated subjects. The sample comprised 3196 children and adolescents (1593 males and 1603 females) aged 8-19 years (mean age 13.0 +/- 3.6 years) from 24 randomly selected public schools in Zagreb, Croatia. Objective treatment need was assessed clinically using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Subjective treatment need was estimated separately by an orthodontic resident, the child/adolescent and his/her parent using the Standardized Continuum of Aesthetic Need (SCAN) procedure. The children/adolescents completed a questionnaire that had five questions with five-point Likert-type scale answers concerning satisfaction with dental appearance, importance of teeth for facial appearance, and malocclusion-related quality of life. Spearman correlation and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Associations between objective and subjective orthodontic treatment need were weak but statistically significant (Rho from 0.20 to 0.50; P < 0.05). Malocclusion-related quality of life was poorly associated with treatment need. Satisfaction with tooth appearance showed the most frequent statistically significant correlation (Rho from -0.14 to -0.35; P < 0.05), while importance of aligned teeth for facial appearance and social contacts had the weakest correlation with treatment need. Perception of treatment need was greater in previously treated subjects. Parents' perception had a low predictive value. The findings of this study show that malocclusion has more impact on emotional well-being than on function or social contacts.