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Introduction/Objective. Hypodontia is a common dental anomaly that occurs either in a non-syndromic form or as a part of various syndromes. It is considered a multifactorial condition with genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences, the interplay of which can lead to various anomalies in tooth size and number. The aim of this study was to assess mesiodistal tooth dimensions in Serbian hypodontia orthodontic patients and compare them to healthy controls using digital study models. Methods. Fifty subjects (30 females, 20 males) divided into two groups – 25 with hypodontia (15 females, 10 males) and 25 sex-matched controls (15 females, 10 males) – were included in the study. Alginate impressions were taken and plaster models poured, digitized, and imported into software where mesiodistal dimensions were obtained. Results. Intra-operator reliability was high. All teeth in the hypodontia group had smaller mesiodistal dimensions compared to controls. Statistical significance was noted for all teeth except for upper canines. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females in neither the hypodontia nor the control group, except for lower canines, which were significantly smaller in both hypodontia and control females. The most commonly missing teeth were upper lateral incisors, and lower and upper premolars. Conclusion. Hypodontia group presented with smaller mesiodistal dimensions compared to controls. The greatest difference in mesiodistal dimensions was found in upper lateral incisors and lower first molars. Lower canines were significantly larger in males compared to females in both groups.

Introduction/Objective. This study aimed to translate the original disease-specific Malocclusion Impact Questionnaire (MIQ) into Serbian and validate the new version in the cohort of young Serbian orthodontic patients. Methods. At the university clinic, 154 patients filled out the MIQ in Serbian before the start of the orthodontic treatment; 112 participants filled out the same questionnaire four weeks later. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need – Dental Health Component (IOTN-DHC) and Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) pretreatment scores were recorded. Descriptive statistic, Cronbach’s α, Spearman’s ρ, and exploratory factor analysis, followed by parallel analysis for factor reduction, were calculated and analyzed. Results. One hundred forty-eight patients with no missing responses (51 male, 97 female), of the average age of 13.3 ± 2 years, had MIQ total scores mean of 10.14 ± 7.451. Internal reliability (α = 0.913), external reliability (ρ = 0.906; p = 0.000), construct validity tested by MIQ total scores and two global question scores’ correlations (ρ = 0.682; p = 0.000 and ρ = 0.366; p = 0.000), as well as clinical validity tested by correlations of MIQ total scores with PAR pretreatment scores (ρ = 0.181; p < 0.05), and IOTN-DHC scores (ρ = 0.192; p < 0.05) were positive and statistically significant. One item factor was extracted and it explained a large part of the cumulative variance. Conclusion. Reliability and validity of the translated and cross-culturally adapted MIQ in Serbian is satisfactory. It could be used for malocclusion-related quality of life assessments in young Serbian orthodontic patients.

Introduction. Forces generated in orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances create tension and compression zones in the periodontal ligament resulting in a painful experience for patients. In the first phase of orthodontic treatment, when leveling of teeth is needed, nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires can be completely engaged in brackets, even in the cases of extreme crowding, exerting small forces. There is a great individual variation in the pain perception related to the application of orthodontic forces. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the pain perception among patients with dental crowding after insertion of six different NiTi orthodontic archwires as a part of fixed appliances in the first stage of orthodontic treatment. Methods. The study was conducted on a sample of 189 orthodontic patients receiving one of six different either superelastic or heat activated NiTi archwires, in the first phase of orthodontic treatment. Pain perception was evaluated in groups of patients with different degree of crowding. The modified McGill Pain Questionnaire with Visual Analogue Scale was used to evaluate the quality and intensity of pain. Statistical analysis was performed using simple descriptive statistics, and Pearson`s chi-square test with statistical significance of p

Introduction. Dentofacial deformity, a deviation from normal facial proportions and dental relationships, is corrected by jaw repositioning in all three spatial planes, which changes the position and tension of the surrounding tissues, bones and muscles. These changes may also affect the dimensions of the pharyngeal airways (PA). Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare three-dimensional PA changes in patients treated by a combination mandibular set-back/maxillary advancement versus patients that had bimaxillary advancement with genioplasty. Methods. The sample consisted of 7 patients treated by combined mandibular set-back/maxillary advancement and 7 patients treated with bimaxillary advancement surgery. Nasopharyngeal (NP) volume, oropharyngeal (OP) volume and the area of maximum constriction (AMC) in the OP were measured on CBCT scans (2 mA/120 kV/12’’ FOV) taken before (T1) and 3 months after surgery (T2). Paired samples t-test was used for analyzing statistical significance of changes (p≤0.05). Results. OP volume and AMC increase after bimaxillary advancement was statistically significant, while for the mandibular set-back group the increase was non-significant. NP volume was not reduced in any of the two groups. No significant differences in PA dimensions were found between groups at neither T1 nor T2 time points. Conclusion. Results suggest that the combination of mandibular set-back/maxillary advancement did not reduce airway dimensions, while bimaxillary advancement surgery led to a statistically significant increase in the OP dimensions.

Introduction. Anthropological studies show craniofacial changes with a reduction in teeth size during evolution of the human population. Objective. The objective was to measure and compare the sizes of teeth in the population of the Mesolithic-Neolithic sites in the Iron Gate Gorge and the population from the Early Bronze Age site of Mokrin. Methods. The study included teeth without advanced wear near the pulp. The material was divided according to the site of the skeletal population in two groups. Group 1 comprised 107 teeth from the Mesolithic-Neolithic sites Lepenski Vir and Vlasac. Group 2 included 158 teeth from the Mokrin graveyard dated in the Early Bronze Age. The mesio-distal diameter was measured in all teeth, while the vestibulo-oral diameter was measured in the molars only. Using the two-factor analysis of variance, the influence of sex, site and their interaction on the size of the teeth were investigated. Results. The vestibulo-oral diameter of the upper third molar was significantly higher in males compared to females. The comparison between the groups showed that the vestibulooral diameter of the lower first molar was significantly higher in group 1. Conclusion. The present difference in teeth size indicates the existence of reduction during the prehistoric times. However, the time period between the populations studied is probably too short to be manifested on a large number of teeth.

Introduction. Therapy with fixed orthodontic appliances starts with bracket bonding and ends with debonding of brackets, leaving enamel surface varied. Objective. The aim of this pilot study was to examine enamel surface before and after debonding of orthodontic brackets by the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Methods. Epoxy replicas of four patients’ premolars indicated for therapy with fixed orthodontic appliances were made and brackets were bonded to their teeth with a different adhesives (Enlight, No-mix, Fuji Ortho LC and Heliosit Orthodontic) (n=4). Two months later, brackets on premolars were debonded and amounts of adhesive left on the tooth surfaces and the bracket bases were evaluated with the adhesive remnant index (ARI). After resin removal, epoxy replicas were made and the surface of premolars was evaluated with the enamel surface index (ESI). All replicas of premolars (n=32) were prepared for SEM examination and compared under different magnifications. Tooth damage was estimated based on correlation between ARItooth and ESI. Results. Pearson’s χ2 test showed no significant differences between ARItooth and ARIbracket of four materials used. Nonparametric correlations showed significant differences between ARItooth and ARIbracket, ESI and ARItooth, and between ESI and ARIbracket. Increasing of ARItooth is followed with the descent of ARIbracket and the ascent of ESI. Multivariate regression analysis showed a significant correlation between ESI and ARItooth. Conclusion. Most bond failures took place at enamel-adhesive interface. ARItooth was a predictor to enamel surface damage. The type of material did not affect enamel surface damage.