Search

The aim was to explore the predictive value of objective treatment need, impaired quality of life, and parental influence on orthodontic treatment demand in preadolescents and adolescents. A secondary goal was to validate 16-item Child Perceptions Questionnaire for the 11-14 year age group (CPQ11-14): item-impact and stepwise-regression short-forms. A convenience sample of 287 participants (55% female) was used for validation. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity were evaluated. Predictors of treatment demand were explored in 197 orthodontic patients: 93 preadolescents (51% females), 104 adolescents (55% females). Hierarchical linear regression and multilevel logistic regression models were used to explore the predictive power of age, gender, objective treatment need, impaired quality of life and parental influence on treatment demand. CPQ11-14 regression short-form had acceptable psychometric properties. Significant linear predictors of treatment demand were impaired emotional well-being (EW) (β = 0.335, p = 0.002), parental influence (β = 0.221, p = 0.002), and malocclusion severity (β = 0.152, p = 0.025). In logistic regression, parental influence was revealed as the most important predictor of treatment demand in preadolescents, OR = 7.7 (95% confidence interval CI 2.4-25.1; p = 0.001); objective treatment need in adolescents, OR = 4.5 (95% CI 1.5-12.9; p = 0.006). The increase of impairment in EW by one scalar point increased treatment demand by 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.9; p = 0.017) in preadolescents; 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.7; p = 0.021) in adolescents. Greater parental agreement and motivation for treatment could result in higher preadolescents' cooperation. Orthodontic treatment in adolescents might be more effective with the patient-oriented approach.

The purpose of this study was to estimate unmet orthodontic treatment needs of adolescents in Zagreb, Croatia, compare normative and self-perceived need and investigate factors influencing the reason why untreated subjects with severe malocclusions have not been treated before. One thousand and forty-two non-orthodontically treated subjects in age groups of 12 and 18 years, from sixteen randomly selected public schools in Zagreb, Croatia were examined. The Dental Aesthetic Index, Aesthetic Component of Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and a questionnaire concerning self-perceived orthodontic treatment need, perception of aesthetics, function, behaviors and socioeconomic status were used. Around one third of untreated adolescent population had an objective need, less than 20 percent had aesthetic need, and self-perceived need was reported in one third of population. Associations and agreements between objective, aesthetic and self-perceived need were weak (r = 0.27-0.48; p < 0.001 and κ in range from 0.05 (p > 0.05) to 0.32 (p < 0.05), respectively). Satisfaction with personal dental appearance and awareness of malocclusion were better related in persons with no treatment need or minor need (r = 0.53-0.59) than in those with major need (r = 0.31-0.40). Multiple logistic regression analyses confirmed that objective, aesthetic and self-perceived needs were better related between themselves than to socio-economic status of subjects, function, activities of daily living and oral health-related behaviors. It appears that self-perceived treatment need has low role in predicting objective need, but relation between satisfaction and awareness of malocclusion could be one of basic factors in process of making decision to go for treatment and maybe could serve in predicting patient's compliance.

Introduction: The form and the size of a dental arch are products of the configuration and the naturally established balance of the jaw, alveolar bone, and muscles. We investigated which arch dimensions mostly discriminate particular dentoalveolar classes and sexes., Methods: Plaster dental casts were collected from 137 white adolescent subjects (71 girls, 66 boys) aged between 15 and 18 years (mean, 16.0 ± 1.2 years) with Class I (43 subjects: 24 girls, 19 boys), Class II (50 subjects: 28 girls, 22 boys), and Class III (44 subjects: 19 girls, 25 boys) malocclusions. Casts were scanned with the ATOS II SO (small objects) scanner (GOM mbH, Braunschweig, Germany) and measured with ATOS Viewer software (version 6.0.2; GOM mbH)., Results: The major discriminating factors of the particular dentoalveolar classes are the mandibular canine width/depth ratio and the maxillary molar width/depth ratio, which explain 82.8% of the total variability (P <0.001). Class III subjects with the widest and shallowest frontal segment of the mandibular arch and the posterior segment of maxillary arch are clearly distinguished from Class II subjects whose abovementioned segments are the deepest and narrowest. Class I subjects are more similar to Class II than to Class III subjects. The most homogenous are Class III subjects, with 61.1% of them correctly classified, followed by Class II (57.8%) and Class I (52.4%). Sex differences are significant in linear measurements, but not in ratios., Conclusions: Variability of dental arch dimensions and forms is a common characteristic of all dentoalveolar classes. Maxillary arch form is more distinguishing in the posterior segment, and mandibular arch form is more distinguishing in the anterior segment. Class III patients have the most detectable arch form, and Class I the least detectable arch form., (Copyright © 2011 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present study was to determine the dental and occlusal features that could contribute to the aetiology of palatally displaced canines (PDCs). The material consisted of pre-treatment dental casts of 50 patients (36 females and 14 males) with unilateral and bilateral PDCs aged 14-16 years (mean 15.6 +/- 1.6 years). These were compared with a control group of 50 treated subjects (25 males and 25 females) of the same age with normally erupted maxillary canines. The following parameters were measured on the dental casts: the mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual (BL) width of each maxillary tooth, the maxillary interpremolar and intermolar widths, overjet and overbite, dentoalveolar arch relationship (based on incisor classification), and missing or anomalous teeth. The differences between the PDC group and controls were determined using a Student's t-test. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. PDCs occurred most frequently in subjects with a Class I occlusion. Sixteen per cent of the PDC subjects had congenital absence or peg-shaped lateral incisors or congenital absence of the second premolar, demonstrating a clear association between palatal impaction of the maxillary canine and anomalous or congenital tooth absence. The overjet was significantly smaller in the PDC female subjects, especially in those with unilateral impaction (P < 0.05). Overbite was significantly greater in PDC male subjects compared with the controls, especially in bilateral impaction cases. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to the maxillary transverse dimensions, maxillary MD widths, or palatal height for either gender.

The aim of this study was to assess the differences in eruption of permanent teeth (C, P1, P2 and M2) in a group of children with and without malocclusion. A sample of 1758 children (921 boys and 837 girls), aged 8-13 was randomly selected. The subjects were grouped by chronological age (11 groups) and by presence of malocclusion. Statistically significant differences were found for both, upper and lower canines in the age group 11 (p<0.01). Statistically significant difference was found in the age group 8.5 for upper first (p<0.05), upper second premolars (p<0.01) in the age group 10, and the lower second premolars in the age group 11 (p<0.05). Premature loss of deciduous teeth caused early eruption of succedaneus permanent teeth, possibly leading to development of a malocclusion.

This paper presents a preliminary orofacial analysis of a subadult population of Hvar, a Croatian island in the Adriatic. Its population represents one of the last genetic isolates in Europe and has therefore been the object of intensive crossdisciplinary research over the last 30 years. We focussed on the coefficient of endogamy on the one hand and malocclusal-related caries on the other hand, and expected differences in the latter between subgroups of the population. We analyzed 224 dental casts from children all over the island and found multiple caries in approximal surfaces in 55 percent of the children, but no significant differences between the subpopulations. Instead, significantly more caries affection was found in the boys than in the girls. The percentage of general caries affection is fairly high, even when compared to other isolated populations; it may be due to environmental influence. This would be consistent with the other results, which have putatively been caused by complex environmental influences and not solely by genetic components.

Correlation between the cranial base flexure with the sagital and vertical positions of both jaws has been analysed on 180 radiographs of eugnathic probands and 256 radiographs of patients with various malocclusion forms. Radiographs were analysed by conventional cephalometric procedures determining maxillar rotation, mandibular rotation, sagittal position of the maxilla, sagittal position of the mandible, and cranial base flexure. A significant correlation between the degree of cranial base flexure and facial prognathism was found. The correlation coefficients were higher in eugnathic probands than in those with malocclusions. Regression analysis defined three basic types of sagittal bimaxillar relations: orthognatism, retrognatism and prognatism.

Actuality of gnathometric measurements by means of plaster casts persisting to the present days is stressed and the major research of the kind in twins mentioned. The study included 96 pairs of twins of both sexes (36 monozygotic and 60 dizygotic). Both qualitative and quantitative variables were evaluated and the results computer-processed. For most parameters evaluated, statistical processing revealed a markedly higher compatibility in monozygotes than in dizygotes. This held particularly true for types and severity of anomalies as well as for all qualitative variables, with the exception of over bite, overjet, class and class severity. The maxilla-related variables were shown to be highly genetically determined, which might be explained by the dynamics of mandibular movements and, possibly, a stronger effect of external factors on its growth and development.

The examination of the dynamics of the changes in sagittal, vertical and transversal occlusal relationship has been carried out on the sample of the 66 examinees of the both sexes. The children were examined for the first time at the age of 3.7 years, the again three times repeatedly (within a year) during the first period of the change of teeth. The occlusal changes were registered on the plaster models using the regular standard equipment. The results of the examination of the 4 gnathometric variables (class, overjet, overbite and the transversal occlusal relationship) have demonstrated the following: in 50% examinees the class remained unchanged; the total number of the examinees with class II as well as with uneven occlusal relationship, in the right and left quadrant have increased visibly; the early findings of class II have demonstrated very high stability; the inclination toward the increase of the overjet has been higher in the relation to the reduction; somewhat greater number has been recorded in the group on the overjet above 3 mm; overbite in the major part of the examinees has become deeper; the change from the open, tete a tete, minimal bite to the normal and deep bite has been recorded; the transversal occlusal relationship have remained unchanged in 60% of the cases; the frequency of the new transversal disarrangement in the mixed dentition has been three times higher in the relation to the earlier findings; also the cases of the spontaneous correction of the transversal disarrangement in the deciduous dentition have been recorded.

The longitudinal sample of children of both sexes (31 without crowding and 39 with crowding) has been investigated to examine the influence of clinically estimated findings in the deciduous dentition in the volume of jaw growth as well as in the occurrence of some malocclusions in the mixed dentition. The children were examined for the first time at the age of 4.5 and again 3 years later. The results have pointed out the following: there was no essential difference in the volume of transversal and sagittal jaw growth in reference to early findings; in both groups the significant enlargement of transversal and sagittal dimensions was recorded; mean of the width of the upper dental arch are significantly higher in the group without crowding in primary dentition; mean of the length of the upper dental arch are somewhat higher in the examinees with early findings of crowding at the first examination, namely in the examinees without early finding of crowding at the second examination; mean of the overjet are somewhat higher in the group with early finding of crowding; distribution of the examinees in the mixed dentition according the orthodontic diagnosis does not show essential differences in regard to early finding; the largest number of the examinees in the mixed dentition shows the symptoms of the primary crowding regardless of the earlier findings; only 29.1% examinees without early finding of crowding, maintain the same characteristic in the mixed dentition; in the 26.4% examinees with early finding of crowding, there comes to the spontaneous loss of the primary symptoms during the change of teeth namely to the transfer to the group with no crowding.

Objectives: The observational study investigated whether women's perception of the facial profile is related to changes in sex hormones during the menstrual cycle and under the influence of personality traits.Setting and Sample Population: Participants were heterosexual Caucasian normally menstruating women not using oral contraceptives (N = 30, aged 20-44 years).Material and Methods: The profile attractiveness was assessed by grading of thirteen men's and women's Caucasian profile distortions by a visual analogue scale (0 = least to 100 = most attractive) in the non-ovulating phase and ovulating phase of the menstrual cycle. Male profiles were graded twice-in social and emotional contexts. Personality traits were assessed by Big Five Inventory.Results: The most attractive male profiles in both phases and contexts were a straight profile or mild lip retrusion. According to cluster analysis, non-ovulating females distinguish skeletal from dentoalveolar alterations; however, maxillary retrognathism was considered to be closer to an attractive profile, which were resulting from dentoalveolar manipulations only. Ovulating females, when considering emotional relationship, exhibit lowest preference for males with convex profiles and extreme concave profile, while they consider males with slightly prominent chins due to maxillary retrognathism, mandibular prognathism or pronounced lip retrusion closer to the most attractive males. No clear patterns of influence of personality traits were detected. Moderate lip protrusion was the most attractive female profile in ovulating and straight profile in non-ovulating phase.Conclusion: The favorable profiles, on average, are the same regardless of the female hormonal status and personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the skeletal characteristics of sagittal maxillary and mandibular discrepancies resulting in class III malocclusions and compensation mechanisms in one Caucasian European population (Croatian). The study sample included 107 patients (63 females and 44 males), aged between 11 and 18 years of age (mean age 14·6 ± 2·2), with a class III malocclusion. Forty-three angular and linear measurements were assessed from the pre-treatment lateral cephalographs of each subject.anova, Tukey post hoc and t-test were used for statistical analysis. The most common differential skeletal type was mandibular prognathism with a normal maxilla (43%), followed by maxillary retrognathism with a normal mandibular position (19·6%), while the combination of maxillary retrognathism and mandibular prognathism was found to be rare (<5%). Subjects with maxillary retrognathia, appeared to also have a vertical facial pattern, suggesting a tendency towards vertical growth as a possible compensation mechanism. Those with mandibular prognathia tended to exhibit a horizontal facial growth pattern and typically included more pronounced dento-alveolar compensation, that is, proclination of maxillary and retroclination of mandibular incisors. There were no differences observed in gender, overjet or soft tissue profiles between different sagittal skeletal types. Dominant protrusive mandible in Croatians can be related to European Caucasian ancestry, where this entity is historically described as ‘Habsburg jaw’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]