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Objective To assess the impact of clear aligner treatment on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) compared to fixed appliance treatment. Trial design Two-arm parallel group single-centre randomized controlled trial. Methods Forty-four adult patients (8 males, 36 females) were randomly and equally assigned to either the fixed appliances group (FA) or the clear aligners group (CA). Randomization with an allocation ratio of 1:1 was performed by a researcher who is not involved in the study using a random sample table. Non-extraction cases were included in this study. Outcome measures were the OHRQoL of patients and the duration of orthodontic treatment. The OHRQoL of patients was assessed by the short-form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) at the following assessment times: before the start of treatment (T0), 1 week (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4) after the start of orthodontic treatment and post-treatment (T5). The assessor was blinded during outcomes assessment and statistical analysis. Results Two hundred and eighteen patients were evaluated for eligibility, 44 of them fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were randomly allocated to treatment groups. None of the patients was lost to follow-up. Accordingly, the results of 44 patients were statically analysed. The total OHIP-14 score was not statistically different between the FA and the CA groups at T0 (P  = 0.91) and T5 (P  = 0.16), whereas it was significantly lower in the CA group as compared to the FA group at T1 (mean difference [MD] = 11.04, 95% CI 8.7 to 13.42, P  < 0.001), T2 (MD = 6.00, 95% CI: 4.3 to 7.7, P  < 0.001), T3 (MD = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.5 to 5, P  < 0.01), and T4 (MD = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.7 to 4.9, P  < 0.001). Treatment duration in the CA group was significantly shorter than in the FA group (MD = 4.18, 95% CI: 2.8 to 5.5, P  < 0.001). No harms were observed. Limitations The results were limited to the non-extraction treatment of mild to moderate crowding cases. Conclusions Patients treated with clear aligners reported higher OHRQoL and shorter treatment duration as compared to those treated with fixed appliances. Trial registration Retrospectively registered (DRKS-ID: DRKS00023977). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of en masse retraction with temporary skeletal anchorage devices (TSADs) versus two-step retraction with conventional anchorage (CA) in terms of the skeletal, dental, and soft-tissue variables, as well as the duration of retraction or overall orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: An electronic search of PubMed and nine other major databases for prospective, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials (CCTs) was carried out between January 1990 and April 2018. The bibliography in each identified article was checked out. In addition, manual searching was performed in the same time frame in five major orthodontic journals. Adult patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment with extraction of maxillary premolars followed by an en masse retraction in the experimental group and two-step retraction of upper anterior teeth in the control group. Methodological index for nonrandomized studies for CCTs and Cochrane's risk of bias tool for RCTs were applied. Results: Four articles (two RCTs and two CCTs) were included in this review and all articles were appropriate for the quantitative synthesis. There was no significant difference between the en masse retraction and two-step retraction groups in terms of SNA, SNB, ANB, and MP-SN angles. Using TSADs gave significantly better results in terms of posterior anchorage and incisors inclination, and greater anterior teeth retraction in comparison with CA (standardized mean difference [SMD] = –3.03 mm, P < 0.001; SMD = 0.74°, P = 0.003; SMD = –0.46 mm, P = 0.03, respectively). En masse/TSAD combination caused a significantly greater increase in nasolabial angle, higher decrease in facial convexity angle, and greater lower lip retraction in comparison with two-step/CA combination (weighted mean difference = 4.73°, P = 0.007; P = 0.0435; SMD = –0.95 mm, P = 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: There is weak-to-moderate evidence that using either en masse/TSAD combination or two-step/CA combination would lead to similar skeletal improvement. There is a very weak-to-moderate evidence that using TSADs with en masse retraction would cause better posterior anchorage and incisors inclination, and greater anterior teeth retraction than using CA with two-step retraction. There is weak-to-moderate evidence that using en masse/TSAD combination would lead to a better improvement in the facial profile. According to the quality of evidence, we confirm the need for more well-conducted RCTs in the en masse retraction field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have become increasingly important in orthodontic treatment as they reflect patients' perceptions of treatment outcomes. Understanding patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment is crucial for improving healthcare delivery and patient-centered care. This systematic review aimed to critically appraise the evidence regarding patient satisfaction after orthodontic treatment, exploring the effects of different treatment types, patient demographics, and other factors on satisfaction levels. Eight electronic bibliographic databases were searched without publication time or language restrictions, including PubMed®, Scopus®, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science™, Embase®, Google™ Scholar, Trip, and OpenGrey. A manual search was conducted on the references in the included papers. Eligibility criteria were established based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study (PICOS) framework. Studies were included if they reported patient satisfaction levels following orthodontic treatment using standardized questionnaires. Two reviewers independently collected and analyzed the data. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool (RoB2) for randomized clinical trials, and the methodologic quality for cohort and cross-sectional studies was assessed using the modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Fourteen studies employed various questionnaires and timings to gauge post-orthodontic treatment satisfaction. Patient satisfaction levels were generally high, with most studies reporting satisfaction rates above 91%. Fixed orthodontic appliances were associated with higher satisfaction levels compared to removable appliances. While age and gender did not significantly influence satisfaction, the quality of care and doctor-patient relationships were crucial factors in patient satisfaction. This systematic review proves that patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment is generally high, with fixed appliances and positive doctor-patient relationships contributing to higher satisfaction levels. However, the quality of the evidence was moderate to low, highlighting the need for further high-quality clinical studies in this area., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Almasri et al.)

This review aimed to evaluate the currently available evidence regarding the best method of correcting deep bites in growing patients. In September 2023, a search was conducted electronically across the following databases: PubMed®, Web of Science™, Scopus®, Embase®, Google™ Scholar, and Cochrane Library. In this systematic review, randomized control trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and cohort studies of growing patients with deep bite malocclusion who received treatment with the primary objective of treating the deep bite were included. Risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using two different tools; one tool was applied for RCTs and the other one for the CCTs and cohort studies. One RCT, one CCT, and one cohort study were included (85 patients). The flat fixed acrylic bite plane was superior in terms of duration of treatment when compared to the inclined fixed acrylic bite plane and the utility arch with posterior intermaxillary elastics. Limited evidence indicates that the inclined fixed acrylic bite plane causes a significant increase in the lower incisor inclination and a significant increase in the angle between the mandible and the anterior cranial base (SNB). However, limited evidence indicates that the utility arch with posterior intermaxillary elastics causes a significant decrease in the angle between the maxilla and the anterior cranial base (SNA). Regarding the vertical skeletal changes, it was found that the three methods were comparable; in each case, the vertical dimension of the face increased because of a significant increase in the lower first molar height. There is a need for further studies to strengthen the evidence of the treatment efficacy of the employed methods, with more RCTs to be conducted in this regard., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Rasol et al.)

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of accelerated and non-accelerated methods of en-masse retraction of the upper anterior teeth in terms of skeletal, dental, and soft-tissue variables, as well as the duration of retraction or overall orthodontic treatment., Materials and Methods: An electronic search of PubMed and nine other major databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials (CCTs) was performed between January 1990 and April 2018. The bibliography in each identified article was reviewed. In addition, manual searching was performed in the same time frame in five major orthodontic journals.The participants were patients over 14 years old undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment with extraction of maxillary or bimaxillary premolars followed by en-masse retraction of maxillary anterior teeth in both groups. Cochrane's risk of bias tool for RCTs and methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) for CCTs were used., Results: Eight articles (six RCTs and two CCTs) were included in this review, and only five articles were suitable for quantitative synthesis. The en-masse retraction caused a decrease in the SNA and ANB angles with no significant differences between the different en-masse retraction methods. Using temporary skeletal anchorage devices (TSADs) gave significantly better results in terms of posterior anchorage in comparison with conventional anchorage(standardized mean difference (SMD) = -3.03 mm, p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between en-masse/flapless corticotomy and en-masse/control groups in terms of anterior teeth retraction ( p = 0.661); while there was a significantly greater anterior teeth retraction in corticotomy with flap elevation group compared to control group ( p < 0.001)., Conclusion: There is a weak to moderate evidence that using accelerated and non-accelerated methods would improve the facial profile and lead to similar skeletal corrections. There is weak to moderate evidence that using TSADs would lead to better posterior anchorage than using conventional anchor-age.Moderate evidence was found regarding the benefit of using piezosurgery in achieving good incisors' inclination. Contradictory results were found regarding the amount of achieved anterior retraction and the retraction time in the studies that evaluated acceleration methods versus the traditional methods of retraction. According to the quality of evidence, there is a need for more well-conducted RCTs, and more work to be oriented towards en-masse retraction with the use of other acceleration methods., Clinical Significance: The correction of the maxillary or bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion by en-masse retraction of the upper anterior teeth with/without acceleration is accompanied by aesthetic results in the facial soft tissues as well as in the underlying skeletal and dental structures. The traditional corticotomy-assisted retraction is expected to reduce the retraction time significantly. However, the strength of evidence is not strong and requires additional research work.

Introduction: Few studies utilized cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to evaluate soft tissue dimensions in malocclusion patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the three-dimensional (3D) soft tissue relationships of adult patients according to their gender and skeletal sagittal class using CBCT Materials and methods: The study sample consisted of 96 CBCT images of patients of both genders; aged 18 to 25 years with a normal vertical skeletal pattern. Patients were segregated into three groups according to their skeletal sagittal class: Class I (2 < ANB < 4), class II (ANB > 4), and class III (ANB < 2). The soft tissue measurements were analyzed in both the sagittal views and frontal volumetric rendered views using 3D-OnDemand software., Results: In males, the measurements (U1-stom, nasal width, mouth width) were greater in class I than in class II group. Lower lip thickness was greater in class I than in class III group (p < 0.05). In females, both labiomental fold thickness and upper lip height measurements showed greater mean values in class II than in class I group. In contrast, lower lip height was greater in class I than in class III group. Ls-Pr, U1-stom, and face width at Cheilion revealed greater values in class III patients than in class II patients. On the other hand, the lower lip thickness, upper lip height, and lower lip height measurements showed greater values in class II than in class III group (p < 0.05). Soft tissue thicknesses and measurements were greater in males than in females. However, statistically significant differences between the two sexes were not detected for all of the variables measured in each skeletal class., Conclusion: The current study indicates the presence of differences in soft tissue thicknesses and facial soft tissue dimensions among skeletal classes and between the two sexes., Clinical Significance: Cone beam computed tomography imaging is a very valuable tool to analyze 3D soft tissue characteristics of patients with different skeletal patterns of malocclusion.

Objectives: To evaluate the bone thickness and density in the lower incisors' region in orthodontically untreated adults, and to examine any possible relationship between thickness and density in different skeletal patterns using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Materials and Methods: The CBCT records of 48 patients were obtained from the archive of orthodontic department comprising three groups of malocclusion (class I, II and III) with 16 patients in each group. Using OnDemand 3D software, sagittal sections were made for each lower incisor. Thicknesses and densities were measured at three levels of the root (cervical, middle and apical regions) from the labial and lingual sides. Accuracy and reliability tests were undertaken to assess the intraobserver reliability and to detect systematic error. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to detect significant differences among the three groups of skeletal malocclusion., Results: Apical buccal thickness (ABT) in the four incisors was higher in class II and I patients than in class III patients (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between buccal and lingual surfaces at the apical and middle regions only in class II and III patients. Statistical differences were found between class I and II patients for the cervical buccal density (CBD) and between class II and III patients for apical buccal density (ABD). Relationship between bone thickness and density values ranged from strong at the cervical regions to weak at the apical regions., Conclusions: Sagittal skeletal patterns affect apical bone thickness and density at buccal surfaces of the four lower incisors' roots. Alveolar bone thickness and density increased from the cervical to the apical regions.