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Based on observations of longitudinal changes in dental arch dimensions, it has been stated that an individuality of arch form and an integrity of this form exists. However, longitudinal studies evaluating arch form changes have rarely been reported in the literature. The purpose of this investigation was to use a computer-assisted method for the description and analysis of maxillary and mandibular arch form in a sample of normal occlusion subjects, and to evaluate the long-term stability in dental arch form from the age of 13-31 years. The study was carried out on 30 subjects of Scandinavian origin with normal occlusion, recorded at a mean age of 13.6 years and at follow-up at 31.1 years. Arch form analysis was based on a standardized photographic procedure, digitization of morphological landmarks, and a computerized form analysis in which arch form was described using eccentricity values of conics. No specific arch form could be found to represent the sample. Age changes occurred in arch form, although with large individual variations. For the mandible, a significant change to a more rounded arch form with age was found, which in males was accompanied by a significant increase in inter-molar distance and reduction in arch depth. There was also a significant correlation between change in mandibular arch form and increased irregularity of the lower incisors. These findings of lack of stability in arch form in normal occlusion subjects, when passing from adolescence into adulthood, further question the possibility of achieving stability post-orthodontically.

Objective: To study if it was possible to move, by orthodontic means, a tooth into an area of the jaw that had been augmented with Bio-Oss., Material and Methods: 5 beagle dogs were used. The 1st, 2nd, and 4th mandibular premolars on each side were removed. The defect at the left 4th premolar site was filled with a biomaterial (Bio-Oss) while the corresponding defect in the right side was left for spontaneous healing. 3 months later, an orthodontic device was inserted in each side of the mandible. The device was designed to allow distal, bodily movement of the 3rd premolars. When the experimental teeth had been moved into the extraction sites of the 4th premolars, the animals were sacrificed and biopsies of the premolar-molar regions of the mandible sampled. The tissues were prepared for histological analysis using standard procedures. In the sections, 3 zones were identified: zone A=the bone tissue within the distal portion of the previous extraction site (4th premolar), zone B=the pressure side of the 3rd premolar, zone C=the tension side of the 3rd premolar. The area occupied by mineralized bone, Bio-Oss particles and bone marrow was determined by a point counting procedure. The width of the periodontal ligament as well as the percentage of the root surface (in zone B) that exhibited resorption was determined., Results: The findings demonstrated that it was possible to move a tooth into an area of an alveolar ridge that 3 months previously had been augmented with a biomaterial. It was also demonstrated that 12 months after grafting, Bio-Oss particles remained as inactive filler material in the not utilized part of zone A. The biomaterial was not present in zone C but present in small amounts in zone B., Conclusion: During the orthodontic tooth movement the graft material (Bio-Oss) was degraded and eliminated from the part of the alveolar ridge that was utilized for the experiment. In the non-utilized part of the ridge the biomaterial, however, remained as a seemingly inactive filler material.

The aim of the study was to find out if implant-supported crowns in the upper incisor region run the risk of coming into an infraoccluded position later in life. Ten adolescents with 15 implant-supported crowns were included in the study. The age of the patients at the implant surgery ranged between 14 and 19 years. They were followed up during an 8-year period. No implant loss was observed. A good or acceptable aesthetic appearance at the last observation was found in most subjects. In some of them a change in the vertical position of the implant-supported crown, resulting in infraocclusion, could be registered, especially in subjects with no incisor contact. Throughout the follow-up period, only minor loss of marginal bone support was observed at the implants. At the teeth adjacent to the implant, a reduction of the marginal bone level was observed in some patients. Of importance to consider in single implant therapy is that a fixed chronological age is no guidance for implant placement, due to a slight continuous eruption of the adjacent teeth post adolescence. An orthodontic treatment should be performed not only in order to gain space in the implant area, but also to attain good incisor stability to reduce the risk of infraocclusion of the implant-supported crown. Furthermore, 3 cases will exemplify that infraocclusion also may occur in patients who had received single implants at adult ages.

The prevalence of breathing obstruction was determined in a cohort of 4-year-old children. Craniofacial morphology was studied in obstructed children and compared with data from a control group of 4-year-old children with ideal occlusion. Dental arch morphology was compared in obstructed and non-obstructed children in the group. Parents of 95.5 per cent of the study base of 644 children answered a questionnaire concerning their child's nocturnal behaviour and related questions. The 48 children who, based on parental report, snored every night or stopped breathing when snoring (the 'snoring group'), showed a higher rate of disturbed sleep, mouth-breathing, and a history of throat infections as compared with the rest of the cohort. These children were examined by both an orthodontist and an otorhinolaryngologist and, when indicated, they were also monitored in a sleep laboratory. Twenty-eight of the children were diagnosed as having a breathing obstruction (4.3 per cent of the cohort) and six children (0.9 per cent) had sleep apnoea (mean apnoea-hypopnoea index of 17.3), using the same definition as that for adults. Cephalometric values among the obstructed children differed from those of a Swedish sample of the same age with ideal occlusion. Thy had a smaller cranial base angle and a lower ratio of posterior/anterior total face height. Small, but not significant differences were seen for NSL-ML and NL-ML. Compared with 48 asymptomatic children from the same cohort, the obstructed children had a narrower maxilla, a deeper palatal height, and a shorter lower dental arch. In addition, the prevalence of lateral crossbite was significantly higher among the obstructed children.

The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of functional alterations on the size of the mandibular condyle and to elucidate in detail, by means of histomorphometric analysis, the effect of changing the consistency of the diet on different portions of the condylar cartilage in growing rats. Forty growing rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received the normal hard diet for rats; the other group received a standardized soft diet. The experimental period was 28 days. Ten animals from each group were used for gross morphometric analysis; the other 10 animals were used for histologic analysis of the condyle. The morphometric analysis of the condylar cartilage was based on the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the mediolateral sections of the condyles. The sections were divided into 3 parts: the anterior, intermediate, and posterior part; 4 measurements were performed in each. Significant differences were found in the condylar length and width between the groups, the soft diet group having a smaller condyle. The histomorphometric analysis of cartilage thickness showed significant differences between the 2 groups, being thinner in the anterior part and thicker in the posterior part of the condyle in the soft diet group. These routine histologic findings cannot explain the gross morphologic differences in the condylar size between the groups; this means that increased condylar cartilage thickness is not necessarily evidence of increased condylar growth. The results from this study indicate that a low masticatory function leads to decreased growth of the condyle and changes in the thickness of the cartilage. This may be the effect of an alteration in the stress distribution in the temporomandibular joint area, because of the absence of large masticatory forces.

Seven glass-ionomer cements were tested and compared with a composite resin in order to find the glass-ionomer cement with the highest bond strength to enamel with normal anatomy and composition (not ground). Five types of surface treatment were used. The results show that Aqua Cem and Ketac Cem, both water-hardening, present the highest bond strength, followed by the conventional glass-ionomer cement Fuji IIF. Surface treatment according to the manufacturers' instructions and surface treatment with polyacrylic acid were found to give rise to the highest bond strength for all of the seven cements. However, none of the glass-ionomer cements reached the values for the composite resin Concise. The testing instrument designed for ex vivo purposes measured with high precision and accuracy and with a low methodological error.

Levels of mutans streptococci in plaque adjacent to orthodontic brackets retained with a glass ionomer cement (GIC) (Ketac-Cem) and a resin-based composite (CR) (Concise) were investigated, using the split mouth technique in 11 patients who, before treatment, had more than 10(5) CFU of these microorganisms. After full-term orthodontic treatment (mean 9.5 months), the percentage of mutans streptococci of total CFU count in plaque was lower adjacent to GIC-retained brackets (mean 3.9) than adjacent to CR-retained brackets (6.7), but the difference was not statistically significant. Two subjects harbored S. sobrinus. These subjects were the only ones who developed incipient caries during the orthodontic treatment. Incipient lesion formation occurred only adjacent to CR-retained brackets. This suggests that in patients who have relatively high salivary levels of mutans streptococci before treatment and especially in those who harbor S. sobrinus, the use of GIC for bonding may prevent incipient caries formation during orthodontic treatment.

The aim of the present study was to describe some histopathologic features of tissues collected from root resorption areas of maxillary canines after transalveolar transplantation surgery. In 8 of 101 transplanted canines, complications including cervical root resorption occurred between 6 and 11 years after treatment. The resorptive processes were located at the supra-alveolar portions of the distal and/or mesial aspects of the teeth and were scheduled for treatment involving surgical exploration. The resorption cavities, which extended from the cementoenamel junction to a position immediately below the bone crest, were filled with a granulation tissue. In four of the diagnosed complication cases, this granulation tissue was carefully excised concomitant with the adjacent gingival tissue after flap elevation and placed in a buffered fixative. After proper soft-tissue healing, the cavities were filled with a glass-ionomer material. The collected biopsy specimens were, after fixation and, in one case, decalcification in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, dehydrated and embedded in Epon. Sections 3 microns thick were produced, stained in periodic acid-Schiff and toluidine blue, and used for histometric and morphometric analyses. The histologic analysis showed that the dissected tissue harbored well-encapsulated areas of inflammatory infiltrates. The lesions comprised a relatively low volume of collagen and a large number of inflammatory cells, predominantly lymphocytes.

Regular discussions between the Departments of Oral Surgery and Orthodontics at Göteborg University have resulted in a modified operative technique for impacted maxillary canines, called transalveolar transplantation. After exposure of the operation field, large amounts of bone are removed, avoiding damage to the surface of the cementum and the periodontal membrane. Throughout the surgical procedure the tooth is kept in the alveolar process and then finally gently moved to its desired position. Orthodontic fixation is used to stabilize, not to immobilize, the tooth. So far 101 maxillary canines have been autotransplanted in 85 patients (11-76 years old) with an observation period of 1-17 years. Transalveolar transplantation is considered a good alternative for impacted maxillary canines, provided that the treatment planning is discussed by an orthodontist and an oral surgeon together and the treatment is performed with meticulous surgical techniques and adequately functioning orthodontic fixation and used in patients with proper oral hygiene.

Experimental animal studies have shown that orthodontic movement of teeth into infrabony pockets may be detrimental to the periodontal attachment. After elimination of subgingival plaque infection in the experimental animals, no additional loss of connective tissue attachment occurred. An experimental model has shown that a tooth with normal periodontal support can be orthodontically moved into an area of reduced bone height with maintenance of height of connective tissue attachment level and alveolar bone support. The results from these experimental studies have been tested clinically.

The changes in craniofacial growth and development of dental occlusion were studied in children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), and treatment with functional orthodontic appliances (activators) was tested in both JCA and healthy children with distal occlusion. Fifteen JCA children with Angle Class I occlusion and 15 JCA children with Angle Class II malocclusion were followed longitudinally and compared with 23 healthy children with Angle Class II malocclusion. The facial growth of the JCA children without need of orthodontic treatment mainly followed the normal pattern while the JCA children with Angle Class II malocclusion had a deviating facial morphology, which became more abnormal during growth. During the orthodontic treatment period a slight improvement was seen in mandibular positions in the sagittal and vertical planes in both treated groups, but the changes were more marked in the healthy children. None of the treated groups attained completely normal facial morphology, but in most children the occlusion improved and could be classified as normal. The morphology achieved by treatment largely remained the same during the follow-up period and relapse was seen only in a few children. JCA children with minor skeletal discrepancies can be satisfactorily treated during growth with functional orthodontic appliances, possibly in combination with fixed appliances. Even if skeletal changes in response to orthodontic treatment are rather limited, these changes combined with the improvement in dental occlusion obtained through treatment may result in better dentofacial aesthetics. Furthermore, jaw functions are likely to improve which also might benefit the patient from a psychosocial point of view.

In 15 adolescents (age 13.2 to 19.4 years) in the late dental stage implants (n = 27) were chosen to replace missing teeth due to congenital absence or trauma. The patients were followed for at least 3 years. No fixture losses occurred. Only minor loss of bone support at the fixture was observed, while adjacent tooth surfaces showed some loss. Infra-occlusion of the implant restorations was noticed in patients with residual craniofacial growth. Thus, the dental and skeletal maturation, and not the chronological age, must be taken into account to avoid infra-occlusion. Furthermore it is important to gain enough space for the fixture in the mesio-distal direction in order to avoid the risk of marginal bone loss at teeth adjacent to the implants.

Bone growth is controlled by growth areas, not active growth centers as stated earlier. Conversion of cartilage, sutural deposition, and periosteal remodeling are the basic phenomena involved in growth mechanisms. The principles of bone growth will result in changes in the size and shape of the mandible and the nasomaxillary complex in the three dimensions. The growth rate varies at different times during the development of the child. The processes of facial growth and changes in the dental arches continue to a much later age than had previously been realized. Although our knowledge of craniofacial growth has increased during recent times, it is still incomplete with regard to the explanation for the regulation of craniofacial growth.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of condylar destruction on the craniofacial growth of children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and to compare their craniofacial structure with that of healthy children with ideal or postnormal occlusion. Thirty-five children (7 to 16 years) affected by JCA were compared with 136 children (7 to 16 years) with normal facial structure and occlusion (ideal group) and 62 children (7 to 12 years) with postnormal occlusion (postnormal group). Panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms were taken to detect condylar lesions and analyze facial structure. Multiple regression analysis was applied to test the possible relationships between the groups. The present study largely confirms earlier findings that the JCA group has a characteristic craniofacial structure. Their structure differed not only from the facial characteristics of children with ideal, but also to some extent, from children with postnormal occlusion. Furthermore, the craniofacial structure of children with JCA varied greatly, and radiographs showed that the most extreme craniofacial changes, particularly the mandibular structure, were associated with condylar lesions. In conclusion, the arthritic condylar lesions seem to be the main etiologic reason for the altered facial structure and changes in the occlusion in children with JCA. Influences of other factors, such as masticatory muscular function, are also discussed.

In nine partially edentulous adult patients, mean age 47 years (range 17-64 years) 23 osseointegrated implants were used as orthodontic anchorage to perform the following types of orthodontic tooth movements: tipping, torquing, rotation, intrusion, extrusion, and those associated with bodily movements. The total orthodontic treatment period varied between 4 and 33 months (x = 17 months). Pre-operatively, at the start and end of orthodontic treatment, and at the annual controls, clinical as well as biometric and radiographic (panoramic, lateral cephalograms and periapical radiographs) recordings were performed. The osseointegrated anchorage units were used as reference points for measurements of two- and three-dimensional tooth movements with a co-ordinate machine. The 2-D tooth movements varied between 0.2 and 6.2 mm, whereas movements in the third dimension, extrusion and intrusion, ranged from 0.0 to 13.5 mm. The movement in space for the individual tooth was observed to be, as a mean, 3.9 mm (range 0.6-18.7 mm). However, the osseointegrated titanium implants (fixtures) used as orthodontic anchorage remained in position when orthodontically loaded for the various tooth movements. After completion of the orthodontic treatment the fixtures served as abutments for permanent prosthetic constructions.

In 15 adolescents (13 years 2 months-19 years 4 months) in the late dental stage, Brånemark implants (n = 27) were chosen to replace missing teeth due to congenital absence or trauma. The patients were followed for at least 3 years, at yearly intervals, biometrically and radiographically. No fixture losses occurred. Only minor loss of bone support at the fixtures was observed, while adjacent tooth surfaces showed some loss in some cases. Infra-occlusion of the implant restorations was noticed in patients with residual craniofacial growth. Thus, the dental and skeletal maturation, and not the chronological age of the patient, must be taken into consideration to avoid infra-occlusion of the fixture crown. Furthermore, it is important to gain enough space for the fixture in the mesio-distal direction, to avoid the risk of marginal bone loss at teeth that are adjacent to it.

The aim of this study was to develop and apply a reliable method of measuring the effects of condylar lesions quantitatively on panoramic radiographs. Three different types of machines were tested. Two dry skulls were exposed in six positions in each machine, and the relative size of the condyle in relation to ramus height was calculated. The results showed good validity for the reference points used. The head position did not contribute to the variation in the measurements, but the type of panoramic machine had some influence. It was concluded that the method may be applied when calculating condylar ratios, provided that the same panoramic machine is used. The relative height of the condyle in relation to ramus height was measured bilaterally in three groups of children, with either normal or postnormal occlusion or with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), to detect possible asymmetries and define differences in the relative condylar height. The JCA group had a significantly shorter relative condylar height, and asymmetries were commoner than in the other two groups.

In this investigation, the tissue reactions towards titanium implants inserted in growing jaws of pigs were studied by means of histology. At the age of 12 weeks, 5 test pigs each received 4 Brånemark System titanium implants (fixtures). The fixtures were inserted immediately after extraction of the mesial root of the second deciduous premolar (P2) and the deciduous canine (C) on one side of the mandible and the mesial root of the first deciduous premolar (P1) on the other side. The fourth implant was placed after extraction of the deciduous lateral incisor (L) on one side in the upper jaw. Furthermore, 1 pig in which no extractions or fixture installations were performed served as a control. All pigs were followed for 165 days with clinical, radiographic and biometric examinations, the results of which have been previously presented. In this study, 10-microns-thick ground sections were produced for histology after the jaws had been fixed by immersion in formalin and further processed and embedded in plastic resin. Six of the fixtures originally inserted were lost during the experimental period, and the remaining implants were found to be involved with mineralized bone to varying degrees. Regarding the fixture-to-teeth relationship, it was found that, in the premolar region of the lower jaw, the teeth were positioned superior to and buccally angulated in relation to the fixtures. In the upper jaw, the implants were positioned below the adjacent teeth but centrally in the alveolar process. Tooth germs adjacent to the fixture had a displaced eruption path, buccally or lingually to the fixture. If the bud developed in close contact with the fixture, a changed morphology of the germ could be observed.

The present study was performed in order to test the hypothesis that the height of supporting bone and connective tissue attachment will be maintained around teeth bodily moved into areas of reduced bone height. During a pre-experimental period, areas with markedly reduced bone height were produced in the mandible of 4 beagle dogs through extraction of the 4th premolars and subsequent surgical reduction of the bone height in the extracted sites to a level corresponding to half the root length of the 3rd premolar. Following healing, one of the third premolars was bodily moved in a distal direction into the area of reduced bone height, while the contralateral premolar served as a non-moved control. After 6 months of active tooth movement, the teeth were retained in their new position for a further 2 months before biopsies of test and control tooth sites were sampled. Radiographic evaluation showed that a bodily movement had been achieved with no or only minimal vertical displacement of the teeth. The histological analysis revealed that none of the teeth, orthodontically moved or not, had experienced loss of connective tissue attachment. Although a greater distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the bone crest was found on the pressure side of the orthodontically moved test teeth in comparison to the contralateral, non-moved control teeth, the bone level at all test teeth was more coronally positioned than the original, reduced bone level in the area into which the test teeth had been moved. Hence, these findings indicate that a tooth with a normal height of periodontal support can be orthodontically moved into an area of markedly reduced bone height with maintained height of the supporting apparatus.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of orthodontic tooth movement on the level of the connective tissue attachment in sites with infrabony pockets. The experiment was carried out in four beagle dogs. The second and fourth premolars were extracted. After healing, angular bony defects were prepared at the mesial aspect of the third premolars. The exposed root surface was scaled and planed, and a notch was prepared at the bottom of the defect. Plaque-collecting cotton floss ligatures were placed around the neck of the teeth and maintained in situ for 3 weeks, followed by an additional 2 months of plaque accumulation before the orthodontic tooth movement was initiated. In each dog, one premolar was moved away from the angular bony defect and one premolar into and through the angular bony defect. The maxillary third premolars served as control teeth and were not subjected to orthodontic tooth movement. After orthodontic treatment (5 to 6 months), the teeth were stabilized for a period of 2 months before biopsy sampling. Clinical, radiographic, and histologic evaluations revealed that it was possible to establish and maintain an infrabony pocket with a subcrestal, plaque-induced inflammatory lesion during the entire course of the study. While the control teeth had maintained their attachment levels, all but one of the orthodontically moved teeth showed additional loss of attachment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The aim was to study if osseointegrated implants behave like teeth in the growing jaw. Six young pigs were used, one of them randomly selected as a control. The test pigs received four fixtures each in regions with various dento-alveolar development. The biometric and radiographic findings, after an experimental period of 165 days, showed that the osseointegrated implants do not become secondarily displaced in sagittal and transversal dimensions and, thus, do not behave like normal teeth. Consequently, the osseointegration technique is not to be recommended in the lateral regions in young children.

The purpose of the present study was to reexamine a group of children and adolescents with respect to signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders (CMD) and to evaluate whether any differences could be found between persons who had received orthodontic treatment earlier and those who had not. A total of 402 children in three age groups (7, 11, and 15 years) had participated in a cross-sectional study on the relationship between malocclusion and signs and symptoms of CMD. Ten years later they were asked to answer a questionnaire. In the youngest age groups (now 17 and 21 years old) 190 (76%) subjects answered the questionnaire. In the oldest age group (now 25 years old) completed questionnaires were received from 103 (84%) subjects, and 83 (62%) of those subjects appeared for a clinical examination. Subjects with a history of orthodontic treatment had a lower prevalence of subjective symptoms of CMD (TMJ sounds included) than those without any experience of orthodontics. Although the differences were small, it was more evident for the oldest age group. The clinical examination has shown that persons who had undergone orthodontic treatment had a significantly lower clinical dysfunction index than those who had not.

Chinese NiTi wire was compared with Nitinol and stainless steel wires in a combined laboratory and clinical examination. In the laboratory test, the loading and unloading-deflection properties of the wires were determined in a three-point bending test and their surface properties were studied in a scanning electron microscope. This test attempts to simulate a common clinical situation. The NiTi material showed a non-linear force-deflection relationship. The increase in force from 1 mm deflection and onwards was very slow and the force delivered during unloading from large deflections was almost constant. This behaviour was somewhat different for smaller downward deflections of NiTi wires. Plastic deformation was insignificant. The clinical study confirmed the laboratory results obtained, characterizing a wire material much superior to stainless steel and even superior to Nitinol for alignment purposes. In clinical use, however, the rate of fractures of NiTi wires turned out to be unsatisfactorily high. This disadvantage was not predicted by the three-point bending test. Scanning electron microscopy revealed surface defects and non-metallic inclusions in fractured NiTi wires. A combination of a bending test simulating a clinical situation and surface examination is recommended when new wire materials are to be tested.

In an attempt to study the effect of osseointegrated implants on vertical dentoalveolar development, six growing pigs of the Pigham strain were used, one of them randomly selected as a control. The test pigs received four fixtures each, three in the lower jaw and one in the upper. The fixtures were placed in areas where different patterns of the dento-alveolar development were expected. The clinical and radiographic findings have clearly shown that the implants do not behave like normal erupting teeth during the development of the dentition. Neither do the fixtures move together with the adjacent teeth, but behave more like ankylosed teeth.

Orthodontic tooth extrusion is used at crown lengthening procedures or in conjunction with periodontal therapy aimed at eliminating or reducing angular bone defects. A technique for orthodontic extrusion combined with resection of the supracrestal attachment fibers (fiberotomy) was recently proposed as an adjunct to certain restorative procedures. The aim of the present investigation was to analyze reactions of the periodontal tissues to orthodontic extrusion when combined with fiberotomy. In 5 beagle dogs, the mesial roots of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th hemisected mandibular premolar were used as target roots while the distal roots served as reference units. After a baseline examination, an orthodontic extrusion device (stent) was installed and reactivated at 2-week intervals during an 8-week period of active tooth movement. Immediately following the installation of the stent and once every 2nd week, the target roots were exposed to fiberotomy. After the active period, the teeth were retained in their new position for a period of 8 weeks. Clinical, radiographical and histological measurements were performed. The results from the investigation demonstrated that orthodontic extrusion combined with supracrestal fiberotomy resulted in a coronal displacement of the tooth and was associated with pronounced recession of the gingival margin and extensive loss of connective tissue attachment. The degree of gingival recession and the amount of loss of connective tissue attachment were, however, less extensive than the amount of tooth extrusion. Thus, repeated fiberotomy obviously failed to entirely prevent coronal migration of the attachment apparatus. It was also observed that undesired attachment loss had occurred at the reference roots.

During an excavation of the Carmelite monastery in New Varberg, 178 skeletons were found. Many of the skulls were in a bad condition. Thus, the material in the present study consists of 12 complete and 47 partial skulls (maxilla and/or mandible) of 22 monks and 37 ordinary inhabitants. The information collected involved direct inspection of the skulls, segments of the jaws and radiographic examination of the complete skulls. Malocclusion, attrition, temporomandibular joints and arch dimensions were analysed. From the results it is tempting to assume that lack of forceful masticatory function and consequent absence of evenly distributed attrition and observed differences in craniofacial morphology can be a major explanation to the high prevalence of severe malocclusion in modern man.

A retrospective study was made on 30 patients born between 1958 and 1969 with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (C-UCLP) and operated on at the Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon. The results are based on data from records at 5, 10, 16 and 20 years of age. The facial morphology of the cleft children at 5 years of age was rather close to that of the normal children. During growth the faces became retrognathic, more visibly so in the maxilla resulting in straight or concave profiles. This was more evident among the boys. There were no differences regarding maxillary growth between children bone grafted at 10 to 16 years of age and those bone grafted after 16 years of age or not at all. Although surgical procedures and orthodontic treatment varied, 70% had less than 3 teeth in crossbite relationships at 20 years of age. An important factor to take into consideration is the fact that in addition to the influence that the cleft morphology and treatment have on the dentofacial growth, other dentofacial growth patterns also exist among the cleft patients. Generally the groups of patients reported are rather small and therefore conditions like these can have a strong influence on the results.

Two-hundred-and-thirty-eight subjects in three different age-groups (7, 11, and 15 years) were followed over a period of 4-5 years in respect of morphological malocclusions, and signs and symptoms of functional disturbances. About half of the 7-year-olds had at least one of the morphological malocclusions registered while the corresponding figure was 38 per cent at the age of 20. Some subjects had received corrective orthodontic treatment. When compared with subjects without such treatment, there were no differences in prevalences of occlusal interferences, nor in signs or symptoms of craniomandibular disorders (CMD). The associations between CMD and different morphological malocclusions were low. Nevertheless, some malocclusions were found to be more important than others. In a long-term perspective cross-bite, both uni- and bilateral, anterior open bite, post-, and prenormal occlusion had some association with the development of CMD.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of repelling magnets on the treatment of anterior open bite and compare them with the effects of acrylic posterior bite-blocks. Twenty patients, aged 9-16 years with skeletal anterior open bite, were randomly divided into two groups. In one group the patients wore posterior repelling magnet splints and in the other they wore acrylic posterior bite-blocks of the same thickness as the magnet splints. The patients were instructed to use their appliance as much as possible (the minimum accepted being 18 hours daily) during a 6-month period. Dental casts, intra-oral photos, and lateral cephalograms were taken before and after treatment, and the patients were also examined regularly to identify the development of any craniomandibular disorders. In the first group, the dental and skeletal vertical relation responded quickly to the magnet treatment. The open bite was generally closed in just under 4 months, especially in patients in early mixed dentition. Spacing in the labial segments decreased in some cases, while slight crowding was induced in others. Transverse problems, i.e. unilateral cross-bite, sometimes followed by scissor-bite on the opposite side, was observed in those patients who were in the early mixed dentition and had used the magnets intensively. The patients who wore acrylic posterior bite-blocks also showed improvement in the dental and skeletal vertical relationships, especially during the first months. This was followed by a 'plateau' period. No transverse problems were found in these patients.

This follow-up study on transalveolar transplantation includes 56 maxillary impacted canines in 47 patients, with a post-operative control period of 2-10 years (mean 4.7 years). The prognosis of the transplanted teeth is still very good; only two canines have been lost, due to poor oral hygiene or fracture of the tooth. These positive follow-up results indicate that transalveolar transplantation will offer greater flexibility in the treatment of impacted maxillary canines in adults.

The relationship between force and degradation activity after application of orthodontic force is still obscure. Of particular clinical interest are the etiologic factors behind excessive root resorptions appearing in connection with orthodontic movement of teeth that has been proposed to be influenced by systemic factors regulating the tissue-degrading activity in periodontal tissues. Thus, the aim was, by histologic and new biochemical methods, to investigate the effect of orthodontic forces on the periodontal tissues in the normal and the hypocalcemic situation with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Root resorptions were induced in upper incisors of normal and hypocalcemic rats by subjecting the teeth to a moderate orthodontic force. In both groups the resorption of the roots occurred consistently in the vicinity of reorganizing areas of the periodontal ligament (PDL) with ongoing degradative activities and alveolar bone resorption. Furthermore, specific cell metabolic changes in alveolar bone and PDL in tension and pressure zones were detected and quantified by biochemical determination of alkaline phosphatase activity. This biochemical quantification of the metabolic changes together with the morphologic observations gave the clinically valuable information that the observed increase in occurrence and severity of root resorptions in moderate hypocalcemia was related to an increase in alveolar bone turnover. This study has shown that root resorptions were clearly related to the degradation process occurring in the vicinity of the hyaline zone and that in the hypocalcemic situation, the increase in root resorptions was related to an enhanced alveolar bone resorption. Thus, factors that minimize the time for resorptive/degradative activity should be discussed in this context rather than force per se.

The purpose of this report is to compare a Swedish so-called normal material (Thilander et al.1983) with previously presented normal materials of Scandinavian origin and with standards for parameters in some frequently used roentgencephalometric systems. The material comprises Swedish children and young adults who fulfil special criteria of normal occlusion and harmonius skeletal relations and in whom roentgencephalometric data were collected. Parts of the material here reported are designated the 10-, 13- and 16-year-old groups. Comparison of the cephalometric data for the age-group 10 years in our material and a previously presented Norwegian normal material (Humerfelt 1970) showed remarkably good agreement for both angular and linear measurements in both sexes. Good agreement was also found between angular measurements in the 16-year-old group and those presented by Werner(1954) for Swedish 13-16-year-old children, but there seem to be differences for certain mandibular parameters. Comparison with data for 12-year-old Swedish boys with varying occlusion, presented by Björk(1947), reveals differences for several angular mandibular measurements. The highly significant differences between the linear measurements in the two materials are probably partly explained by age differences but also tend to corroborate the indications of differences in skeletal pattern suggested by the angular measurements, which are due to the selection criteria. Finally, comparison with the Bergen norms for the straight face (Hasund 1973) shows that the agreement is generally acceptable for angular measurements and the standards may be considered sufficiently reliable for use in clinical orthodontics. They should be supplemental with the age-related variations, however.

Subjective and clinical symptoms of mandibular dysfunction and cuspal interferences were studied in 389 Swedish men (median age 32 years). Impaired chewing function was noted in about 10%, different types of parafunction in 26%, frequent headaches in 5%, TMJ or muscle pain in 3% and difficulties in mouth opening in 10% of the men. Locking or luxation of the mandible was the most prevalent clinical symptom (24%), followed by reduced movement capacity and deviation on opening of the mandible, TMJ-sounds and muscle tenderness. Sixty per cent of the men had one or more clinical symptoms of dysfunction. Subjective symptoms of dysfunction were positively correlated with reduced movement capacity of the mandible and tenderness of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints upon palpation. Positive correlations were found between subjective symptoms of dysfunction and non-working side interference as well as single tooth contact on the working side. Locking or luxation of the mandible and TMJ-sounds were positively correlated with single tooth contact on the working side and TMJ-sounds and muscle tenderness with interferences in the retruded position of the mandible.

Infraocclusion of deciduous molars that also lack a permanent successor is found to progress more than where a successor is present, while exfoliation is severely retarded. The aplasia is the most important factor in treatment planning and timing.

Temporomandibular joints from 61 humans, aged 2 days to 27 years, were examined histologically. Four layers of the condyle were studied in detail. The outermost layer was richly vascularised in new-borns but by 3 years of age it had become avascular and contained few cells. In neonates the cartilage layer constituted a large part of the condyle but soon decreased in thickness and by 5-6 years of age it constituted only a thin zone of the top of the condyle. In the proliferative zone, mitoses occurred up to 13-15 years of age. This zone then decreased in thickness; the number of cells decreased, while the amount of intercellular substance increased. At birth, the temporal component was flat and was lined by vascularised connective tissue which became richer in collagen with increasing age. The cartilage layer was lacking in the fossa but was present on the tuberculum. A proliferative zone in this cartilage could be seen up to the age of 17-18 years and cartilage having only few cells was found in adults. Remodelling processes were seen in all components of the joints. The significance of the remodelling seen in the fossa and on the mandibular neck is discussed with relation to condylar and periosteal growth of the mandible.