Objective: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a reliable method of assessing the oral cavity and upper airways. We conducted this study to examine the changes introduced by rapid maxillary expansion in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and oropharynx as seen with images obtained by CBCT. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 15 patients with maxillary width deficiency treated with RME. Patients were subjected to CBCT at the beginning of RME and after the retention period of 4 months. Results: The nasal cavity presented a significant transverse increase in the lower third, in the anterior (1.08 mm 6 0.15), medium (1.28 mm 6 0.15), and posterior regions (0.77 mm 6 0.12). No significant change occurred in the nasopharynx in volume (P 5 .11), median sagittal area (P 5 .33), or lower axial area (P 5 .29) resulting from the RME. A significant change was noted in the oropharynx in volume (P 5 .05), median sagittal area (P 5 .01), and lower axial area (P 5 .04) before and immediately after the RME. Conclusions: RME is able to increase the transverse width of the nasal cavity, but it does not have the same effect in the nasopharynx. Changes noted in the oropharynx may be due to the lack of a standardized position of the head and tongue at the time of image acquisition. (Angle Orthod. 2012;82:458-463.)

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INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the shape and dimension of dental arches from a lingual perspective, and determine shape and size of a straight archwire used for lingual Orthodontics. METHODS: The study sample comprised 70 Caucasian Brazilian individuals with normal occlusion and at least four of Andrew's six keys. Maxillary and mandibular dental casts were digitized (3D) and the images were analyzed by Delcam Power SHAPET 2010 software. Landmarks on the lingual surface of teeth were selected and 14 measurements were calculated to determine the shape and size of dental arches. RESULTS: Shapiro-Wilk test determined small arch shape by means of 25th percentile (P25%) - an average percentile for the medium arch; and a large one determined by means of 75th percentile (P75%). T-test revealed differences between males and females in the size of 12 dental arches. CONCLUSION: The straight-wire arch shape used in the lingual straight wire technique is a parabolic-shaped arch, slightly flattened on its anterior portion. Due to similarity among dental arch sizes shown by males and females, a more simplified diagram chart was designed.

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This study aimed to investigate the olfactory fossa according to the Keros classification using cone beam computed tomography. This cross-sectional study analysed cone beam computed tomography images selected from a database belonging to a radiology centre. The scans of 174 healthy patients were analysed by using the Xoran software. Gender, age, and side were correlated with the Keros classification. The mean age of the 174 patients was 45.3 years. The most prevalent Keros classification was type II (65.52%), followed by type III (20.69%) and type I (13.79%). No significant differences were found between Keros classification and the variables age, right side (pvalue = 0.4620), and left side (pvalue = 0.5709). There were also no significant differences between gender and the variables right side (pvalue = 0.1421) and left side (pvalue = 0.2136). Based on these results, we suggest that cone beam computed tomography can be recommended for analysis of the anterior skull base. Keros type II was the most prevalent type in our sample.

O tratamento do câncer de cabeça e pescoço depende da idade do paciente, presença de comorbidades, tamanho do tumor, localização, grau, estágio, presença de linfonodos afetados e de metástases, e inclui cirurgia, radioterapia e quimioterapia, combinadas ou separadamente. As complicações bucais da radio­terapia em região de cabeça e pescoço são amplamente conhecidas, tais como, mucosite, xerostomia, dis­geusia, trismo, cárie de radiação e osteorradionecrose. A prevenção ou redução da incidência e severidade dessas complicações são fundamentais para a manutenção da saúde bucal, tendo o dentista um papel primordial antes, durante e após a radioterapia. Dessa forma, este relato de caso visa discutir o atendi­mento odontológico de uma paciente irradiada em região de cabeça e pescoço, salientando as principais complicações bucais, manejo odontológico e a importância da Odontologia na equipe multidisciplinar no tratamento do câncer bucal.

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This study evaluated dentoalveolar skeletal changes promoted by the Forsus appliance, associated to fixed orthodontic appliance, in the correction of Class II, division 1 malocclusion, from Computed Tomography (CT). Methods: sample consisted of 10 youngsters (7 males and 3 females), with a mean age of 13.86 years. Two Forsus ® models were installed after the alignment and leveling phase of the teeth. Two tomographic images of each patient, T1 and T2 (initial and immediately after removal of Forsus ® appliance) were done to perform the anatomical tracings and obtain the variables of interest. The data were described by means and standard deviations. For the comparison between the initial and final phases, the paired "t" test was used and a significance level of 5% was considered (p < 0.05). Results: small skeletal changes were observed, such as posterior maxillary displacement and a slight mandibular growth. Larger dentoalveolar changes occurred as extrusion, retrusion and lingualization of upper incisors; Intrusion, protrusion and vestibularization of the lower incisors; Mesialization and extrusion of lower molars. Conclusion:Considering the patients evaluated in this study, Forsus ® presented similar results to other mandibular propulsion appliances, with dentoalveolar effects that favored Class II correction, however, with very slight skeletal modifications.