Search

The Small Hive Beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida, is an invasive pest of honey bee colonies that causes significant damage to the beekeeping sector. SHB was detected in southern Italy (EU) in 2014 and despite adopted eradication measures, is still present there. After three years of observations of SHB in Calabria (2014-2016), we provide here some practical tips for improving control measures. A new time-saving colony examination method, including the use of an internal divider reduced the time needed for hive inspections by 31.86 % on average. Prioritizating the inspection of pollen and honey combs rather than brood combs is advised. Sentinel apiaries with no more than five colonies without supers are suggested for each beekeeping location in order to attract and to monitor the early appearance of SHB. The use of these methods will enable early detection and prompt control measures application before this destructive pest can spread in the region.

Introduction: The use of lingual spurs has been described as one efficient option, with great stability of results, but with scarce information of toleration for use in the mixed and permanent dentition phases., Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of lingual spurs on the oral health-related quality of life of children and/or adolescents during anterior open bite treatment., Methods: The review was recorded in the PROSPERO database. Eight electronic databases and partial gray literature were searched, without restrictions until march 2022. A manual search was also performed in the references of the included articles. Studies assessing the impact of lingual spurs on the oral health-related quality of life were included. Risk of bias was assessed using JBI or ROBINS-I tool, according to the study design. The level of evidence was assessed through GRADE., Results: Five studies met the eligibility criteria. Two non-randomized clinical trials had a serious risk of bias. Of the case-series studies, two had a low risk of bias and the other, a moderate risk of bias. The certainty of the evidence was classified as very low for all the evaluated results. In general, the studies reported an initial negative impact with the use of lingual spurs, however this was transitory in nature. A quantitative analysis was not performed due to the great heterogeneity between the studies., Conclusion: Current evidence, although limited, suggests that lingual spurs have an initial transient negative impact during interceptive treatment. Additional well-conducted randomized clinical trials are needed.

Advanced dental education programs in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics require an extensive and comprehensive evidence-based experience, which must be representative of the current didactic and technical advancements. Over the past 25 years, the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) has placed emphasis in the support for the recognized orthodontic specialty training programs in every region of the world. In its early years, the WFO developed general principles for specialty education that culminated in the first comprehensive curriculum recommendations, i.e., the WFO Guidelines for Postgraduate Orthodontic Education, which was published in February 2009. In view of the significant changes in the specialty of orthodontics, the WFO has revised and updated its previous document to reflect the expanded scope and demands of current orthodontic education and practice. The members of the task force participated in a thorough revision of the guidelines and created a new document that takes into consideration the didactic, clinical, and the appropriate physical facilities to provide clinical care, study, and research areas. Although it is recognized that there will be variations in teaching and faculty assets, as well as facilities, access to materials, and equipment, the aim of the WFO Educational Guidelines is to provide the minimum program requirements necessary to provide orthodontic specialty residents the educational experience that prepares them to deliver the best level of orthodontic treatment for their patients. It is recommended that these guidelines be used universally by orthodontic specialty program educators and related educational, scientific, and administrative institutions to evaluate and compare their curriculum to a world standard., (Copyright © 2023 World Federation of Orthodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The literature reports the association of external root resorption (ERR) with orthodontic movement. In cases of premolars extractions, orthodontic movement of anterior teeth is usually quite expressive, which are precisely the most susceptible teeth to suffer from ERR., Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the root morphology of maxillary canines and incisors in patients submitted to four premolar extraction and orthodontic retraction of the anterior teeth, by means of 3D surface models superimposition and mapping., Methods: The sample consisted of six adult patients, five female and one male, with a mean age of 23.5 ± 6.5 years, who underwent orthodontic treatment. All patients presented bimaxillary dental protrusion, with indication of maxillary and mandibular first premolar extractions, followed by the retraction of anterior teeth and space closure. Cone beam CT scans were performed before the beginning of the treatment (T0) and right after space closure (T1). 3D models were built at both times and superimposed to identify the root changes for the given period., Results: All average differences were close to zero and, even when evaluating the extreme values, the observed changes were always smaller than the accuracy of the CBCT., Conclusion: A mild resorption trend was observed, although it was not clinically significant, with values lower than the tomography accuracy.

Background: To compare dentoskeletal changes produced by the maxillary splint headgear and cervical headgear appliance during the early phase of Class II treatment, specially the initial overjet and upper incisors position., Subjects and Methods: In this retrospective study, 28 Class II patients treated with the maxillary splint headgear (MSG, mean age 10.1 ± 1.9 years) and 28 Class II patients treated with cervical headgear (CHG, mean age 9.5 ± 1.9 years) were evaluated before and after treatment. Statistical comparisons between the two groups for cephalometric measurements at T1 and for T2-T1 changes were performed by means of independent sample t tests., Results: The MSG showed a significantly greater reduction of the overjet in comparison to the CHG (- 2.4 mm and - 0.7 mm, respectively) and a significantly greater maxillary incisor uprighting (- 1.8 mm and 0.4 mm, respectively). In the MSG, overjet correction was due mainly to mandibular advancement (3.5 mm), while the correction of molar relationship (3.9 mm) was 64% skeletal and 36% dentoalveolar. In the CHG, the overjet correction was also more skeletal, due to mandibular growth (1.8 mm), while correction of molar relationship (3.5 mm) was 63% dentoalveolar and 37% skeletal., Conclusions: Both groups showed favorable skeletal mandibular changes, which was more significant in the MSG. Regarding tooth movement, the maxillary splint headgear was more effective in uprighting upper incisors and reducing the overjet than cervical headgear appliance.

Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility of digital tray transfer fit on digital indirect bonding by analyzing the differences in bracket positions., Materials and Methods: Digital indirect bonding was performed by positioning brackets on digital models superimposed by tomography using Ortho Analyzer (3Shape) software. Thirty-three orthodontists performed indirect bonding on prototyped models of the same malocclusion using prototyped transfer trays for two types of brackets (MiniSprint Roth and BioQuick self-ligating). The models with brackets were scanned using an intraoral scanner (Trios, 3Shape). Superimpositions were made between the digital models obtained after indirect bonding and those from the original virtual setup. To analyze the differences in bracket positions, three planes were examined for each bracket: vertical, horizontal, and angulation. Three orthodontists repeated indirect bonding after 15 days, and Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate inter- and intraevaluator reproducibility and reliability, respectively. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the differences between bracket positions, and multivariate ANOVA was used to evaluate the influence of orthodontists' experience on the results., Results: Differences between bracket positions were not statistically significant, except mesial-distal discrepancies in the BioQuick group ( P = .016). However, differences were not clinically significant (horizontal varied from 0.04 to 0.13 mm; angulation, 0.45° to 2.03°). There was no significant influence of orthodontist experience and years of clinical practice on bracket positions ( P = .314 and P = .158). The reproducibility among orthodontists was confirmed., Conclusions: The reproducibility of digital indirect bonding was confirmed in terms of bracket positions using three-dimensional printed transfer trays.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the changes in the palate area after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) with the Hyrax expander in growing subjects, using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Methods: Fourteen patients (9 girls and 5 boys; mean age = 11.7 ± 2.4 years) who required RME as part of their orthodontic treatment were included in this study. CBCT records had been taken before RME treatment (T0), at the end of active expansion (T1) and after a 6-month retention period (T2). The CBCT scans were manipulated with Dolphin Imaging® version 11.7 Premium software, in which landmarks were positioned and measured in relation to sagittal, coronal and axial planes, to verify the palate surface area. In addition, linear measurements of the palatal depth and width were assessed. These measurements were compared by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. A p-value smaller than 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: The palatal surface area and width significantly increased from T0 to T1, respectively by 9.27% and 9.71%, and both decreased in a non-significant manner from T1 to T2. The palatal depth had non-significant differences at T0, T1 and T2., Conclusions: RME promotes a significant gain in the surface area of the palate and an increase in intermolar width. The Hyrax appliance was effective for the treatment of maxillary atresia in growing patients. There was no vertical alteration of the palate. After a 6-month retention period, the maxilla transverse dimension and the surface area of the palate remained stable.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of oral/maxillofacial surgeons (OMFSs) and orthodontists to predict third molar eruption by examining a simple panoramic radiograph in cases where full spontaneous eruption occurred., Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 17 patients, 13-16 years of age, were obtained just after orthodontic treatment (T1), when the third molars were intraosseous. The radiographs at T1 were presented to 28 OMFSs and 28 orthodontists-who were asked to give a prognosis for the lower third molars on both sides (n = 34). The full spontaneous eruption of all third molars was clinically observed when patients were older than 18 years (T2). These teeth were clinically asymptomatic at T1 and T2., Results: OMFSs decided by extractions in 49.6 % of cases while orthodontists in 37.8 % (p < 0.001), when the radiographs were examined at T1. Agreement between OMFSs and orthodontists was excellent (Kappa = 0.76, p < 0.0001), as well as intragroup agreement for both OMFSs (Kappa = 0.83) and orthodontists (Kappa = 0.96)., Conclusions: Despite a remarkable agreement for third molar prognosis, orthodontists and OMFSs were unable to predict lower third molar eruption by examining a simple panoramic radiograph. Both indicated extractions of a considerable number of spontaneously erupted asymptomatic teeth.

Introduction: A wide variety of orthodontic wires made of different alloys is available to be used in orthodontic practice and may produce different clinical responses during tooth movement., Objective: This research evaluated the alignment and leveling of lower dental arches after the use of three types of orthodontic wires., Methods: A sample of 36 patients was randomly divided into 3 groups: stainless steel, multistranded steel and superelastic nickel-titanium, according to the first leveling arches used. In order to observe differences in tooth position and axial inclination of the lower incisors, all patients had lateral cephalometric radiographs taken before the insertion of the first arches and 2 months later. The irregularity index and the curve of Spee were measured, compared between groups and considered influential on the proclination of incisors during the initial phase of alignment and leveling. The Reflex microscope was used to measure the irregularity index, whereas the ANOVA analysis of variance was used to verify differences between groups with regard to the degree of dental alignment and leveling., Results: There were significant differences between groups only at T2 for the irregularity index., Conclusions: The NiTi and multistranded steel wires showed greater aligning capacity when compared with stainless steel wires.

Introduction: The shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets bonded to micro-hybrid and micro-particulate resins under different surface treatment methods was assessed., Methods: Two hundred and eighty test samples were divided into 28 groups (n = 10), where 140 specimens were filled with Durafill micro-particulate resin and 140 with Charisma composite. In 140 samples, a coupling agent (silane) was applied. The surface treatment methods were: Phosphoric and hydrofluoric acid etching, sodium bicarbonate and aluminum oxide blasting, stone and burs. A Universal Instron Machine was used to apply an occlusal shear force directly to the resin composite bracket surface at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. The means were compared using analysis of variance and multivariate regression to assess the interaction between composites and surface treatment methods., Results: Means and standard deviations for the groups were: Sodium bicarbonate jet 11.27 ± 2.78; burs 9.26 ± 3.01; stone 7.95 ± 3.67; aluminum oxide blasting 7.04 ± 3.21; phosphoric acid 5.82 ± 1.90; hydrofluoric acid 4.54 ± 2.87, and without treatment 2.75 ± 1.49. An increase of 1.94 MPa in shear bond strength was seen in Charisma groups. Silane agent application reduced the Charisma shear bond strength by 0.68 Mpa, but increased Durafill means for bicarbonate blasting (0.83), burs (0.98) and stone drilling (0.46)., Conclusions: The sodium bicarbonate blasting, burs and stone drilling methods produced adequate shear bond strength and may be suitable for clinical use. The Charisma micro hybrid resin composite showed higher shear bond means than Durafill micro particle composite.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to study the treatment outcomes and the accuracy of digital prediction and the actual postoperative outcome with Dolphin program on subjects presenting Class II malocclusions., Methods: Forty patients underwent surgical mandibular advancement (Group 1) and 40 underwent combined surgery of mandibular advancement and maxillary impaction (Group 2). The available pre surgical (t₁) and a minimum of 12 months post surgical (t₂) cephalometric radiographs were digitized. Predictive cephalograms (t₃) for both groups were traced., Results: At all times evaluated, Group 1 displayed a shorter mandibular length and Group 2 had a longer lower face. In both groups the surgical interventions (t₂) were greater than initially predicted. There was no significant difference between groups with regards to overjet, overbite and soft tissue measurements., Conclusions: In both groups surgeries were more extensive than planned. Facial convexity and the distance of the lips to cranial base presented similar values between t₂ (post surgical) and t₃ (predicted)., (Copyright © 2012 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the force extension relaxation of different manufacturers and diameters of latex elastics subjected to static tensile testing under dry and wet conditions., Materials and Methods: Sample sizes of 15 elastics from American Orthodontics (AO) (Sheboygan, Wis), TP (La Porte, Ind), and Morelli Orthodontics (Sorocaba SP, Brazil) were used. Equivalent medium force products were tested--3/16, 1/4, and 5/16 inch lumen size from each manufacturer--making a total of 1080 specimens. An apparatus was designed to simulate oral environments during elastics stretching. Forces were read after 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hour periods using the Emic Testing Machine (Emic Co., Sao Paulo, Brazil) with 30 mm/min cross-head speed and load cell of 20 N (Emic Co). Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests were used to identify statistical significance., Results: Statistical differences between AO and the other brands were noted for all testing times. Significant variation in mechanical properties was observed in latex elastics from Morelli. Relationships among loads at the 0 hour time period were as follows: Morelli>AO>TP for 3/16 elastics (P = .0016), 1/4 elastics (P = .0016), and 5/16 elastics (P = .0087)., Conclusion: Significant differences in force extension relaxation were noted for elastics from these manufacturers. Force relaxation over the 24 hour time period was AO>Morelli>TP for 3/16 elastics, AO>TP>Morelli for 1/4 elastics, and TP>AO>Morelli for 5/16 elastics. The force decay pattern showed a notable drop-off of forces during 0 to 3 hours, a slight increase in force values from 3 to 6 hours, and a progressive force reduction over 6 to 24 hours.

The purposes of this study were to confirm that premolar extraction treatment is associated with mesial movement of the molars concomitant with an increase in the eruption space for the third molars and to test the hypothesis that such treatment reduces the frequency of third molar impaction. Lateral cephalograms, panoramic or periapical radiographs, and study models made before (T1) and after (T2) treatment and a minimum of 10 years postretention (T3) of 157 patients were selected from the postretention sample at the Department of Orthodontics of the University of Washington, Seattle. Treatment for 105 patients included the extraction of 4 premolars; the other 53 were treated nonextraction. These patients represented all the extraction and nonextraction patients in the sample who had at least 1 third molar at T1 or T2 and who showed evidence of full eruption or closure of the root apex at T2 or T3. Student t tests showed higher scores for third molar impaction (P <.01), less mesial movement of the molars from T1 to T2 (P <.01), and smaller retromolar space at T2 (P <.001) in both arches of the nonex patients than in the ex patients. Similarly, molar movement was more mesial from T1 to T2 in the maxilla (P <.01) and in the mandible (P <.05), and the retromolar space was larger in both arches (P <.001) of the patients with eruption than in those with impaction of the third molars. Our results suggest that premolar extraction therapy reduces the frequency of third molar impaction because of increased eruption space concomitant with mesial movement of the molars during space closure.

Despite a number of previous biomechanical studies on the zygomatic arch, unanswered questions remain about its three-dimensional loading and growth. Using young miniature swine, we have for the first time recorded strains from both the medial and lateral aspects of the squamosal bone during mastication and masseter muscle stimulation. Strains from the zygomatic bone flange and zygomatic arch growth data were also obtained from the same animals. A second study on a younger group of animals examined the growth of the zygomatic flange following partial removal of the masseter. Strain data indicated that the squamosal bone is bent out-of-plane and that this pattern of loading is quite different from that of the adjacent zygomatic bone, which experiences much lower strains with little evidence of out-of-plane bending. Surprisingly, strains were higher in the zygomatic flange during contralateral chews and contralateral masseter stimulations than during ipsilateral chews/stimulations. These strains proved to arise from movement of the condyle, explaining why partial removal of the masseter had little effect on the growth of the flange. Other growth results indicated an approximately threefold greater rate of subperiosteal deposition on the lateral surface of the squamosal bone than on the zygomatic bone. This difference in growth rate is attributed to the presence of sutures that contribute to the lateral displacement of the zygomatic bone but not the squamosal bone. This explanation does not exclude the possibility that the rapid apposition on the lateral squamosal surface is regulated by the high surface strains that result from out-of-plane bending.