Search

Purpose: The objective of the present article was to evaluate the ımpact of dental midline angulation in asymmetrical faces. Materials and Methods: A full‐portrait image was used to create a set of digitally modified images with a different degree of facial asymmetry, towards the right and the left side of the face respectively. Half of the images were designed with an equivalent angulation of the dental midline in respect to the curve of the lower third of the face and half of them without. Through a web survey, 250 laypeople and 250 orthodontists were asked to assess the attractiveness of each image separately. Results: As the asymmetry of the face was increased, facial attractiveness was further decreased both for laypersons and orthodontists. For each one of the modified images, when the dental midline was following the curve that was formed from the inclination of the simulated asymmetry of the face, the smile attractiveness scores were significantly higher compared to a straight dental midline. Conclusion: Facial asymmetries derived from the inclination of the nose, the chin and the commissural line of the lips can significantly affect the smile attractiveness. An orientation of the dental midline towards the facial asymmetry in order to follow the facial curve, can be beneficial for the smile attractiveness compared to a perpendicular to the face dental midline. During the design of a smile, clinicians have to take into consideration deviations in facial midline, in order their restorations to be in harmony with the rest of the face. Clinical Significance: During the design of a smile, clinicians have to take into consideration deviations in the facial midline, in order their restorations to be in harmony with the rest of the face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the axial and dimensional changes of the condylar head after orthognathic surgery, including Le Fort I and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomies, and to assess condylar remodeling through three-dimensional (3D) surface superimposition. Twenty-four patients (15 females, 9 males; mean age: 32.22 ± 6.92 years) with skeletal Class III deformity were included in the study. Cone-beam computed tomography data obtained in the preoperative (T0) and postoperative (T1) periods were examined using Mimics and 3-Matic software. The height, depth, and width of the condylar head and its angular changes were measured. The volumes of the 3D reconstructed models were calculated, and remodeling amounts were evaluated through regional surface superimposition. Statistical significance was set at P <.05. Following the surgery, there was a significant decrease in the size of condyles (P <.05). An inward rotation of the condyles was found in the axial plane (T0: 79.60 ± 6.01°, T1: 76.6 ± 6.48°, P <.05). The maximum resorption, maximum apposition, mean remodeling, and mean absolute remodeling were −2.63 ± 1.23 mm, 1.15 ± 0.4 mm, −0.30 ± 0.34 mm, and 0.73 ± 0.43 mm, respectively. No correlation was found between the angular changes and remodeling parameters or linear and volumetric changes of the condylar head (P >.05). Condyles undergo a remodeling process with a resorptive character following orthognathic surgery, without clinically significant effects in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: One of the biggest problems in publicly funded dental clinics is the patient waiting list. The appropriate referral plays a key role in avoiding an increase in the number of patients on this waiting list. This study aimed to assess general dentists' diagnostic skills and approaches for different malocclusions. Methods: A questionnaire was prepared using photos of 8 patients previously treated for different malocclusions. One hundred twenty general dentists (83 female, mean age: 24 ± 1.18 years; 37 male, mean age: 24 ± 1.95 years) participated in the survey and were asked to decide whether the patient needed orthodontic treatment or orthognathic surgery, and to provide the reason for surgery (irregular teeth, or both unesthetic profile and irregular teeth), and the cause of the unesthetic profile (mandibular protrusion, mandibular retrusion, maxillary protrusion, maxillary retrusion). Results: The answers suggesting the need for orthodontic treatment were significantly higher for all malocclusions except for the Class II camouflage case. Of the Class III cases, the general dentists chose orthognathic surgery for both surgery and facemask cases (93.1%, 66.4% respectively). For the severe open bite case, orthognathic surgery was chosen with a ratio of 81.2%, and orthognathic surgery was decided as not necessary for the mild open bite case (74.8%). Among the surgery cases, mandibular retrusion for the Class II case (94.6%), mandibular protrusion for Class III case (95.4%), and maxillary retrusion for the severe open bite case (44.6%) were the maximum reported reasons. Conclusion: The distinction between camouflage and surgical treatment was better made by dentists in Class II and open bite cases than in Class III cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A new viral disease called Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) affected the whole world because of its characteristics of spreading rapidly via respiratory droplets and aerosol. As one of the most aerosol-generating occupations, dentists are at high risk and are recommended to treat emergency cases only. We aimed to assess the general knowledge, emergencies, personal precautions, and avoided behaviors among the orthodontists and also their anxiety levels, during COVID-19. Methods: A survey research, including demographic information, general knowledge about COVID-19, treatment strategies, protective measures, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) 7 test, was conducted via a web-based questionnaire (1 open-ended and 26 closed-ended questions). A total of 215 orthodontists older than 20 years of age and practicing in different regions of Turkey were included in this study. The answers received within the first 10 days were included. Results: Most of the orthodontists were aware of COVID-19 symptoms and transmission routes (n=159 and n=183, respectively). Almost all of them treated only emergency cases (n=209). Orthodontic emergencies were reported mostly as injury due to band/bracket failure, soft/hard tissue trauma, and problems in retention appliances (n=197, n=186, and n=81, respectively). The participants also avoided aerosol-generating procedures and used transmission-based protective equipment. The prevalence of GAD was 16.7% during COVID-19, and there was no statistically significant difference when it was stratified by gender, age, city, and COVID-19 related questions (p>0.05). Conclusion: The orthodontists followed the guidelines and took protective measures during COVID-19, and the majority had subthreshold anxiety levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]