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Background and Aim: Some studies suggested an association between Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) and psychosocial status, but most of them are focused on samples of patients looking for treatment or present limits of sample representativeness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychosocial status in a large sample of adult population, further than to assess its association to TMD symptoms, oral behaviours, and self-reported facial trauma., Results: the study sample included 4299 subjects older than 18 years randomly recruited from general population in public spaces during their daily life (1700 Males, 2599 Females mean ± SD age = 40.4 ± 18.1). Psychosocial status and pain-related disability were assessed by means of Patient Health Questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4) and Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS). TMD symptoms were assessed by RDC/TMD and validated screening tools for TMD pain. Oral Behaviours Checklist was used to investigate on oral behaviours. Logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association of the psychosocial status, TMD symptoms, trauma, and oral behaviours. The association was tested using both univariate and multivariate models. The PHQ4 evaluation showed a severe impairment in 4.6% of our sample, moderate in 18.8% and mild in 32.5%. We found a Characteristic Pain Intensity (CPI) level and Interference Score greater that 30 respectively in 36.2% and 22.2% of the study sample. The GCPS status revealed a high disability with severe limitation in 2.5% of the sample, high disability with moderate limitation in 7.0%, low disability high pain intensity in 7.4% and low disability low pain intensity in 37.8%. Anxiety and depression's levels were significantly associated with gender, TMD pain, coexistence of TMD Pain and sound, and oral behaviours. GCPS status was significantly associated with age, TMD Pain, coexistence of TMD pain and sound, trauma, and oral behaviours., Conclusions: In the general population, psychosocial impairment is associated to TMD pain, female gender, and report of oral behaviours. Hence, in adults with TMD accompanied by pain, psychosocial status should also be evaluated., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: To achieve a successful result, the orthodontist must use a systematic approach to plan the orthodontic treatment. Defining the correct position of the upper and lower incisors and evaluating their relationship with intermaxillary discrepancy and facial divergence have been recognized as the starting point for the diagnostic decision regarding extractions and anchorage requirements. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship between intermaxillary discrepancy (ANPg^), mandibular inclination (SN^GoGn), lip incompetence, and the positioning of the upper and lower incisors (UIPs and LIPs) in a group of orthodontic patients. This retrospective study included 290 lateral cephalograms in 122 males (42.1%) and 168 females (57.9%) aged 8 to 53 years (median 14; interquartile range IQR 12-17). Data were analyzed by means of one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and linear regression analysis., Results: This study showed a statistically significant increase in LIP values in patients with lip incompetence ( p < 0.001). Moreover, the distribution of LIPs in groups with various SN^GoGn and ANPg^ angles was significantly different ( p < 0.001). The regression analysis also showed a positive association between the LIP and SN^GoGn and between the LIP and ANPg^., Conclusion: The LIP presented a statistically significant difference in patients with and without lip incompetence, which varied significantly in subjects with different sagittal malocclusions and vertical face patterns.

Aim: This study aimed to identify pretreatment cephalometric variables as possible predictors of the mandibular length increase in Class II patients with mandibular retrusion, treated by means of the Bite Jumping Appliance (BJA)., Materials and Methods: Forty-three subjects (22 males and 21 females) with Class II malocclusion, treated with a BJA, were selected on the basis of the following inclusion criteria: full Class II molar relationship, Overjet (OVJ) ≥ 6 mm and a skeletal Class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion at the start of the treatment (T0); cervical vertebral maturation stage 2 or 3 at time 0 (T0). The following mandibular structural features were measured on lateral cephalograms at time 0 and time 1 (15 months of treatment): the width and height of the mandibular symphysis and its width/height ratio, the width and height of the mandibular ramus and its width/height ratio, the antegonial notch depth and the Condilion-Gonion-Menton (Co-Go-Me) angle. Post-treatment changes were assessed by Pancherz's cephalometric analysis, evaluating the increases in mandibular length. A regression statistical model was used to test the association between morphologic variables and mandibular length changes., Results: At T1, a significant increase in mandibular length (7.1 + 3.4 mm, p < .001) was measured. A significant negative association between the pretreatment Co-Go-Me angle and mandibular length change was found (p < .05). IMPA angle was negatively associated with mandibular length change. All the others morphological feature were not statistically related to mandibular length change., Conclusion: Co-Go-Me angle and IMPA angle at T0 can be used as predictors for mandibular response to the treatment with BJA., (© 2024 The Author(s). Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: The goal of the study was to analyze the eruption time of the maxillary impacted canines treated with the "canine first technique" and evaluate the success rate., Materials and Methods: A total of 103 patients with 131 impacted canines were treated. Alpha angle, Erickson-Kurol sectors, and age were studied to assess the difficulty of canine eruption. All the canines were treated with the "canine first" approach. The median follow-up time was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier inverse procedure. The primary outcome (canine eruption time) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. The curve comparison between the different known risk factors was made using the log-rank test. The median eruption time (95% confidence interval) was calculated for each result., Results: The majority of the canines (66.4%) were placed palatally and positioned in sector 3 (30.16%). The median alpha angle was 38.7°. In 88.9% of cases, canines erupted and the median time of eruption was 4.2 months. A statistically significant difference in alpha angle >/<22° able to influence the eruption time was assessed. The variation of the alpha angle (>/<22°) has found to be statistically significative when compared to the eruption time variation., Conclusion: The canine first technique is effective for the eruption of impacted canines, and an alpha angle <22° can be considered a favorable prognostic factor., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Perrotta, Bocchino, Amato, Michelotti, Simeon, D'Antò, Piombino, Carraturo, Vollaro and Valletta.)

Background: Early orthopaedic treatment with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) associated with facemask (FM) has been shown to be effective in correcting Class III malocclusions in children. Treatment with pushing splints 3 (PS3) has shown to correct skeletal discrepancies in Class III growing patients. However, the effects of orthopaedic treatment on the upper airways in children with Class III malocclusion is controversial., Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cephalometric changes in the airways of PS3 compared to the RME/FM protocol., Materials and Methods: In this study, 48 patients with Class III malocclusion (age range 5.5-8.5 years old) were selected for this study, and 24 were treated with PS3 appliance and 24 with RME/FM therapy. Lateral cephalograms before (T0) and at the end of the treatment (T1) were analysed to compare pharyngeal spaces. Paired and unpaired t tests were used for data analysis (P < .05)., Results: A total of 41 patients (21 patients for the PS3 group, 11 males and 10 females, mean age 7.0 ± 1.2 years; 20 patients for the RME/FM group, 10 males and 10 females, mean age 7.2 ± 1.3 years) were included. The results showed a statistically significant (P < .05) increase in the nasopharyngeal space after both therapies. However, the effects were similar considering that there were no differences between groups for the assessed variables at T0-T1., Conclusions: Early treatment of Class III malocclusion with PS3 does not induce a statistically significant increase in the sagittal airway space compared to RME/FM. The absence of untreated group could not define the role of growth in the increase of space., (© 2024 The Authors. Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Clear aligners are employed daily for the treatment of several malocclusions. Previous clinical studies indicated low accuracy for the correction of tooth rotations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictability of tooth rotations with clear aligners. The sample comprised 390 teeth (190 mandibular; 200 maxillary), measured from the virtual models of 45 participants (21 men, 24 women; mean age: 29.2 ± 6.6 years old). For each patient, pre-treatment (T0) digital dental models (STL files), virtual plan (T1) and post-treatment digital dental models (T2) of both the mandibular and maxillary arches were imported onto Geomagic Control X, a 3D metrology software which allows angular measurements. Rotations were calculated by defining reproducible vectors for all teeth in each STL file and superimposing both T0 with T1 to determine the prescribed rotation, and T0 with T2 to determine the achieved rotation. Prescribed and achieved rotations were compared to assess movement's accuracy. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired t-test were used to assess differences between the prescribed and achieved movements (P < 0.05). The overall predictability of rotational movement was 78.6% for the mandibular arch and 75.0% for the maxillary arch. Second molar accuracy was the lowest in both arches. Clear aligners were not able to achieve 100% of the planned movements., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Preformed elastodontic appliances (EAs) have been described as safe, cost-effective, and easy-to-use devices for interceptive orthodontic treatment in growing patients. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and the attitude of dentists toward the use of EAs and to compare the behaviors of orthodontists (Os) with those of general dental practitioners (GDPs)., Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed among dentists through social media. Twenty-two items were divided as follows: characteristics of respondents; general knowledge about EAs; section for EA-users; and section for EA non-users. Chi-squared tests were used to analyze differences in responses between groups., Results: Participants included 226 Os and 168 GDPs. The majority in both groups reported having adequate knowledge about EAs and utilizing them in their practice. GDPs usually use EAs to treat children during the early phase of growth, while Os also use EAs to address orthodontic problems in different stages of dentition, experiencing a chair time reduction compared with traditional appliances. Regarding EA non-users, GDPs seem not to find an application among their patients, whereas Os reported not having enough patient compliance during treatment., Conclusions: Although treatment with EAs is common among all dentists, differences exist between Os and GDPs in the awareness and application, as well as in the reasons provided for not using EAs.