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The benefits of the Herbst thermoformed advancement splint in the treatment of obstructive breathing disorders during sleep have been assessed in numerous studies. Unfortunately, like all other mandibular advancement devices, patients fail to wear it regularly in the long-term. Injuries, discomfort or pain caused by errors in manufacture or adjustment are generally blamed for this. After a critical review of the literature, some solutions are proposed to improve production of the orthesis and patient management., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The first condition required for carrying out a successful orthodontic treatment involves patient cooperation. Yet, for a long time, orthodontic research has minimized the importance of nontechnical factors: until a recent period practitioners had to content themselves with mere impressions, feelings and other beliefs, rather than a qualitative control of knowledge and behaviors. Thanks to data processing, testing one's choices, decisions and therapeutic strategies has been made possible to obtain a better cooperation. At the beginning of this third millennium, this new concept of the orthodontist's role is moreover in keeping with a general trend in medical and dental therapeutics: any biotechnological innovation is nowadays presented with a concern for the patient's information, education and relation, taking into account his/her social and cultural background.

Functioning as an artificial labiolingual duct, the IPE device provides excellent guidance for dental eruption during intermediate finishing or retention treatment. The IPE device can be relined with flexible, transparent elastomer of good mechanical quality, thereby making the appliance individually adaptable to any clinical setting, via study casts or directly in the mouth.

The Golden Number, expressing in numbers what the ancient Greeks called the "Divine Proportion" has a value of 1.618. This number is found in numerous natural phenomena, geometrical propositions and human architectural constructions. These proportions are worth comparing to those of the human face. The author shows that this "golden proportion" is found in many cephalometric measurements and in various stages of facial growth.

Among the therapeutic aims of orthodontics, that of increasing the changes of long-term durability of results requires thorough knowledge of the dental and facial changes brought about by aging. The highlights are given about two research methods regarding this issue, i.e. cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, and their prospects are examined.

Initially used to make simple splints, thermoforming has led to the development of a new means of application of orthopedic forces. Here we have presented splints which allow the treatment of Class III, Class II and cases of endomaxillitis.

The Golden Number, expressing in numbers what ancient Greeks called the "Divine Proportion", has a value of 1.618. This number is found in numerous natural phenomena, geometrical propositions and human architectural constructions. These proportions are worth being compared to those of the human face. The author shows that this "golden proportion" is found in many cephalometric measurements and in the comparison of the various stages of facial growth.