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AimTo assess, from a United States (US) payer's perspective, the cost-effectiveness of gels designed to separate the endometrial surfaces (intrauterine spacers) placed following intrauterine surgery.Materials and methodsA decision tree model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of intrauterine spacers used to facilitate endometrial repair and prevent the formation (primary prevention) and reformation (secondary prevention) of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) and associated pregnancy- and birth-related adverse outcomes. Event rates and costs were extrapolated from data available in the existing literature. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to corroborate the base case results.ResultsIn this model, using intrauterine spacers for adhesion prevention led to net cost savings for US payers of $2,905 per patient over a 3.5-year time horizon. These savings were driven by the direct benefit of preventing procedures associated with IUA formation ($2,162 net savings) and the indirect benefit of preventing pregnancy-related complications often associated with IUA formation ($3,002). These factors offset the incremental cost of intrauterine spacer use of $1,539 based on an assumed price of $1,800 and the related increase in normal deliveries of $931. Model outcomes were sensitive to the probability of preterm and normal deliveries. Budget impact analyses show overall cost savings of $19.96 per initial member within a US healthcare plan, translating to $20 million over a 5-year time horizon for a one-million-member plan.LimitationsThere are no available data on the effects of intrauterine spacers or IUAs on patients' quality of life. Resultingly, the model could not evaluate patients' utility related to treatment with or without intrauterine spacers and instead focused on costs and events avoided.ConclusionThis analysis robustly demonstrated that intrauterine spacers would be cost-saving to healthcare payers, including both per-patient and per-plan member, through a reduction in IUAs and improvements to patients' pregnancy-related outcomes.

Background: Several classifications have previously been described to assess dental arch relationships of cleft patients and therefore the surgical outcome. The most commonly used method for evaluation of surgical outcome is Goslon Yardstick. Another scoring system that can be used is the modified Huddart/Bodenham scoring system. Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the dental arch relationships of subjects with repaired unilateral and cleft lip and palate who come at an orthodontic center by means of Goslon and modified Huddart/Bodenham scoring system and to find a correlation between the two systems. Methodology: The study models of 16 patients (9 males, 7 females) with an average age of 14.2 years (range 11-23 years) were evaluated for arch constriction by four observers which included two orthodontists and two postgraduate students. Results: The analysis of dental arch relationship using Goslon Yardstick revealed that 63% of patients ranked between Goslon 3 and 5. The mean modified Huddart/Bodenham score was -16.13. Conclusion: The study revealed that modified Huddart/Bodenham scoring system provided better interobserver agreement than Goslon Yardstick by untrained observers. There was a good inverse correlation between two scoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simple orthodontic procedure such as separator placement can be associated with the occurrence of transient bacteraemia. Use of clorhexidine before separator placement has been recommended as a measure to decrease the bacteraemia. Aim: The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of transient bacteremia after separator placement following use of 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash. Methodology: The study group consisted of 27 adult patients who reported for orthodontic treatment (18 males and 9 females). The patients were asked to rinse their mouth for 60 sec with 15 mL of 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash before the separator placement. An aseptic technique was used to draw out 5 ml of blood was from either the left or right antecubital fossa immediately before orthodontic separator placement (as control group), and the second 5 ml sample was taken 1-2 min after the placement of separators mesial and distal to all the first molars. All the blood samples were inoculated into culture bottles containing Brain Heart Infusion and incubated aerobically for 7 days. Media used for bacterial growth is chocolate agar and MacConkey agar. Results: From a total of 27 patients and 54 samples, none of the sample was found positive for bacteremia. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is no bacteremia after the placement of separators following the use of chlorhexidine mouthwash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study that discusses the nonsurgical treatment for a 19-year-old female suffering from severe dentoalveolar open bite. It relates that clinical examination revealed a thick right thumb caused by digit-sucking habit of the patient. Authors identify the three major categories of open bite etiology which include, digit-sucking habits, abnormal size of the tongue, and a vertical growth pattern which can either congenital or environmental in origin.

Background and aim. Class II malocclusions are most commonly seen in orthodontic practice and in the recent times Twin Block appliance has been the most popular and widely used among removable functional appliances for the correction of Class II malocclusion in growing patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the dentoskeletal effects produced by the Twin Block appliance for the correction of Class II division 1 malocclusion with retrognathic mandible. Methods. Pre-treatment (T1) and post-treatment (T2) lateral cephalograms of 30 patients treated with Twin Block appliance (mean age = 10.8 ± 1.2 years) for the correction of class II division 1 malocclusion were compared with the 30 untreated class II control patients (mean age 11.2 ± 0.8 years) who did not undergo any treatment during this period. Both the groups were evaluated for the dentoskeletal changes using 24 angular and linear cephalometric measurements. The differences between the pre and post-treatment were calculated using a paired t-test. Results. The cephalometric analysis revealed that the Twin Block appliance stimulated mandibular growth and statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. Twin Block patients showed a statistically very high significant (p<0.001) increase in mandibular length (6.02 mm) compared with the control group (0.3 mm). "Headgear effect" on the maxilla, increase in lower anterior facial height, significant reduction of overjet, overbite and Class I molar relationship were achieved in the Twin Block group. However, no significant changes appeared in the control group. Conclusion. The results of the present study conclude that the Twin Block appliance is effective in the treatment of Class II malocclusion and this is due to a combination of skeletal and dentoalveolar changes in both the arches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]