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A case is presented that shows Begg appliance management of an Angle Class II division 2 malocclusion. The judicious use of anchorage bends and Class II elastics enabled the successful treatment of the poor posterior and anterior relationships, at the same time addressing the chief complaint of crooked front teeth.

Mandibular advancement splints (MAS) are a recognised and popular treatment option for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) due to their simplicity, tolerance and non-invasiveness.

To survey Australian-based orthodontists regarding their opinions on their extraction practices.

The present systematic review assesses the literature which identifies an association between surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating tooth movement (SAPATM) during orthodontic therapy and orthodontically induced external root resorption (OIERR). By determining the level of association, the results may provide clinical evidence for minimising the deleterious effects of orthodontic tooth movement.

The alternative use of Orthodontic Miniscrew Implants (OMIs), traditionally used for skeletal anchorage, to facilitate micro-osteoperforations (MOPs) for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement has been reported in previous studies. The objective of the present in vitro study was to compare the microdamage generated by OMIs and MOP-purposed screws of similar dimensions in porcine cortical bone.

Healthcare providers are increasingly using social media websites such as Facebook to advertise their services. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency guidance on the advertising of healthcare is based on the National Law in Australia and prohibits advertising that is contrary to the patient’s best interests.

The clinical success of orthodontic miniscrew implants may be improved after pre-drilling a pilot hole. However, the amount of microdamage to the bone surface produced by the pilot hole is largely unknown. The present study aimed to quantify the damage to cortical bone after the creation of a pilot hole.

To survey retention and retainer practices of orthodontists in Australia.

To evaluate the treatment risks and the quality of information contained within the websites of specialist orthodontists in Australia.

Valid patient consent is a legal and ethical principle that is fundamental to healthcare provision. Oral health practitioners (OHPs) must understand the principles that need to be addressed to ensure that the consent given by a patient is valid. Failure to obtain consent may result in a negligence claim or a complaint of professional misconduct against the OHP. Orthodontic treatment is mostly elective but is not without risk to the patient. Obtaining and maintaining valid consent for orthodontic treatment presents additional challenges in comparison with other dental procedures as the treatment lasts over a longer time and is most commonly performed in adolescents. In addition, prospective patients need to be informed regarding ‘lifelong’ management in the retention phase to minimise the risk of relapse. The present paper outlines the principles of valid consent with particular regard to orthodontic treatment in the adolescent patient. OHPs must ensure that they are satisfied that the competent patient has the capacity to voluntarily consent. Clinicians must also recognise that valid consent is not a one-off ‘tick the box’ procedural exercise but an ongoing process of effective information sharing in light of changing laws and an ever-changing scientific evidence base within a patient-centred model of healthcare.

To evaluate the current practice of interceptive orthodontics undertaken by general dental practitioners and identify influencing factors.

The aim of the present study was to assess sexual dimorphism related to occlusal variables recorded from dental casts of Australian twins and to compare trends across primary (T1), mixed (T2) and permanent (T3) dentitions in the same individuals.

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG), as an osteoclast antagonist, limits mineralised tissue resorption under physiological conditions. Previous work investigating OPG in a rat periodontal ligament (PDL) ankylosis model found no inhibitory effect on osteoclasts when OPG was administered at a dosage of 2.5mg/kg. Aims: The object of this study was to determine whether dosages higher than 2.5 mg/kg of OPG were required to limit osteoclastic activity in an aseptic inflammatory model in rats. Materials and Methods: Dry ice was applied for 15 minutes to the upper right first molar crown of eighteen, 8-week-old, male Sprague-Dawley rats. Three groups of 3 were injected with OPG at dosages of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg of body weight immediately following the thermal insult. After 7 days, the rats were sacrificed and each maxilla processed for histological examination and stained for osteoclastic activity using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). Osteoclast population numbers were estimated via light microscopy and results were analysed using a comparative mixed model statistical analysis. Results: Results showed OPG inhibited osteoclastic activity in a dose-dependent manner. From 2.5 mg/kg to 7.5 mg/kg, osteoclast populations were linearly reduced by 39.78% (p < 0.05). OPG did not appear to affect the inflammatory process and had varied efficacy in different regions of individual teeth. Conclusion: Although osteoclastic activity reduced, it was not completely eliminated, perhaps because dosages were still inadequate, or additional factors might influence OPG and osteoclast activation in the aseptic inflammatory model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral cephalograms and orthopantomograms (OPGs) are often taken prior to the commencement of orthodontic treatment to assist in diagnosis and treatment planning. Further radiographs may be taken during treatment to monitor progress. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to carefully and thoroughly assess all aspects of the radiographs, both orthodontic and non-orthodontic. In the case presented, a radiolucency in the right mandible was identified in a mid-treatment OPG. Following referral to an oral maxillofacial surgeon for opinion and management, the lesion was biopsied and a specimen sent for histological examination. This case highlights the need for the orthodontic clinician to assess not only the state of orthodontic treatment, but also the overall clinical presentation and any radiographs that may be taken.

Introduction: There has been a revival of interest in the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) by inducing injury to dentoalveolar cortical bone. Termed corticotomy, the procedure offers an advantage to adult patients whose bone metabolism is such that any reduction in treatment time would be welcomed. The procedure has been refined for over 100 years and recent research indicates treatment duration may be reduced often by as much as a third, but it is not clear how widely the method is applied in practice. For the procedure to be successful, careful interdisciplinary management by orthodontists and periodontists is required. However, information regarding the attitude and knowledge of practitioners and the frequency of the procedure performed in Australia and New Zealand is lacking.

Introduction: Previous studies have found ankylosis occurs as a part of the inflammatory process of aseptic root resorption initiated in a rat model.1 The physiologic mechanisms behind the development of dentoalveolar ankylosis and healing response are still unclear. While receptor activator of nuclear factor-κβ ligand (RANKL), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κβ (RANK) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) have gained momentum in the understanding of resorption, no study to date has investigated their role in dentoalveolar ankylosis.

A dental hard tissue resorptive model was used to determine the periodontal ligament (PDL) distribution of lysosomal membrane antibody ED1 to cells of the macrophage-phagocyte lineage. Immunolabel was identified in mononuclear cells around inflammatory sites in the PDL, while multinu-clear cells were labelled in resorption bays present in both bone and dentine. As repair of the tissues occurred, the label became less obvious. The presence of strong ED1 label in alveolar bone marrow provided evidence supporting the haemopoietic origin of the similarly labelled PDL cells. Also, evidence confirming the current theory that multinucleated resorptive cells differentiate along a monocyte-macrophage pathway was provided. It was concluded that ED1 is a positive PDL marker for mononuclear and multinuclear cells involved in the inflammatory and resorptive processes.

The morphology of microvascular beds in dental tissues is poorly documented at the ultrastructural level. SEM stereo-pair imaging of microcorrosion casts reveals the markedly contrasting vascular architecture and capillary anastomoses within the nasopalatine foramen, soft palate and gingival regions of the marmoset. This primate was studied as an analogue for man to further our knowledge of periodontal anatomy and function.

JOE is a computerised cephalometric programme produced and promoted by Rocky Mountain Orthodontics. It is simple to use and prints a static cephalometric case description for diagnostic purposes. Although not greatly endowed with features, it provides a relatively painless and cost effective introduction to computerised cephalometrics.