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Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the diachronicity of factors that produce malocclusion from the 18th century to the present., Materials: A total of 74 adult individuals Radom (Poland) of both sexes were examined (males: 46, females: 28)., Methods: The skulls were grouped according to the type of malocclusion found: i) anterio-posterior (skeletal Class I/II/III), ii) transverse (cross bite/scissor bite), and iii) vertical (open bite/deep bite)., Results: Normal bites were recorded in 14 % (10/74) of the study group. Malocclusion was observed in the remaining cases (64/74, 86 %). Class I was diagnosed most often (53 %), and Class III (8 %) was the least common in the study group., Conclusions: The observed order of frequency of Angle's Classes (I > II > III) in the population from Radom indicates malocclusion was similar to that of the contemporary population. In the population from Radom, similar to other contemporary European populations, Class II defects were found at a higher frequency than Class III defects., Significance: The research demonstrates the diachronic nature of the factors that produce different types of malocclusion in Polish populations over the past four centuries, even if these factors cannot be identified., Limitation: The main limitation of this research is the relatively small sample size., Suggestions for Further Research: Future studies should evaluate malocclusion in older populations from Radom and other areas of Poland and Europe., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aims of this study were to reconstruct and analyze dental occlusion and skeletal jaw relationship in samples from Mesolithic-Neolithic, Bronze Age, Roman and Medieval times in Serbia, to compare results and to determine possible direction of the occlusal changes. Anatomically preserved skulls with mandibles and most of the posterior teeth were included in the investigation. Dental occlusion was reconstructed using the position of centric occlusion and centric relation and analyzed according to Angle's classification. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were traced manually. Site differences were tested by one-way ANOVA, while sex, age and site impacts were analyzed by UNIANOVA. Most of the individuals in all groups had Class I occlusion. Half-cusp distal occlusion was also present in all groups, but there were no significant differences between the groups. Cephalometric analysis showed no differences in the sagittal measurements, almost all individuals had skeletal Class I jaw relationship. Vertical traits analysis revealed markedly decreased basal plane angle and also decreased posterior facial height and sum of the posterior angles in the oldest group in comparison to the later groups. These results indicate that in the Serbian skeletal sample from the Mesolithic-Neolithic to the Medieval times, malocclusions were present in the form of dentoalveolar Class II occlusion. Skeletal deep bite was found in the oldest group, while horizontal growth pattern decreased from prehistoric to the Medieval times. Samples were too small to confirm environmental impact on the vertical skeletal discrepancies.

Occlusal characteristics, fundamental to assess the presence of malocclusion, have been often unexplored in bioarchaeological analyses. This is largely due to the fragmented condition of the skeletal remains. By applying a method that considers dental and maxillary features useful to evaluate occlusion in ancient fragmentary material, the purpose of this work is to define the occlusal features and explore the causes of malocclusion in a mediaeval population from Mallorca. The findings of this study suggest that normocclusion was present in ca. 60% of the individuals (N=31), and that some characteristics, such as molar relationship, were slightly different from those of modern populations. The analysis of the occlusal features revealed for example that open-bite was absent in 85% of the sample, posterior open-bite was completely absent and overbite and overjet were normal in around 90% of the individuals. Statistically significant correlations between canine and molar relationships and between molar relationship and dental wear of the superior and inferior canines and incisors were observed. In addition, wear could affect the curve of Spee. All these findings strengthen the hypothesis that in ancient times malocclusion was not as generalized as in modern times. Although the factors that lead to malocclusion throughout centuries could have several causes, we suggest that in this population dental wear, which is strongly associated with the diet, was the fundamental causing factor., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The first national survey of children's dental health in England and Wales was carried out in 1973. Subsequent surveys, in 1983, 1993 and 2003, included all United Kingdom health departments. The 2013 survey involved England, Wales and Northern Ireland., Aim: To consider all five surveys, from 1973 to 2013, so as to summarise trends in the dental health of children in the UK over the last 40 years., Materials and Method: The 2013 survey was commissioned by the Health &Social Care Information Centre and all surveys used data collected during dental examinations conducted in schools on a random sample of children by NHS dentists, together with a questionnaire to parents of those children. In 2013, a pupil questionnaire for 12- and 15-year-olds was introduced, to complement information received from parents and carers., Results: A total of 69,318 children, aged 5-15 years, were involved, from 1973-2013. Caries prevalence has reduced from 72% to 41% in 5-year-olds, and from 97% to 46% in 15-year-olds in 40 years. Changes in periodontal disease, orthodontic treatment, accidental damage to anterior teeth, tooth surface loss and enamel defects, are also summarised. Behavioural and attitudinal characteristics observed in the 2013 report are listed., Conclusions: Caries is now concentrated in a minority of children. The prevalence of gingivitis has not changed a great deal in 40 years. About half of those children assessed 'in orthodontic need' receive treatment.

This paper reviews the development of human facial anatomy in H Erectus, Neanderthal and modern man. Modern orthodontic measurements are used to compare different jaw size and relationships.

Background: Reports of occlusal variation in ancient populations consistently show a low prevalence of malocclusion coupled with heavy attritive wear., Materials and Methods: The dentitions of 28 individual remains from a pre-contact native North American population were examined and the extent and nature of occlusal variation recorded., Results: The prevalence of malocclusion was low (mean IOTN = 2.14) and where crowding existed, was limited to intraarch variability as opposed to inter-arch discrepancies. Increased overbites, overjets and other classical features of Class II malocclusions were almost entirely absent. These findings suggest that the ideal mutually protected Class I occlusion occurs only as a transient juvenile arrangement in nature, where, due to rapid attrition fo lowing establishment of the occlusion, there is an increasing tendency towards mild Class Ill, edge-to-edge incisor and buccal segment relationships., Conclusion: Whilst of limited therapeutic benefit, an understanding of the anthropology of malocclusion provides an insightful perspective, and suggests that function may be of more importance than heredity in its aetiology. It is suggested that future occlusal studies in ancestral populations would benefit from the use of a standard methodology.

Objective: Malocclusions are relative infrequently analysed in bioarchaeological investigations and if investigated the samples are very small. This research provides analysis of orthodontic anomalies of even 1118 individuals from the Late Antique (LA) and Early Mediaeval (EM) period. Aims were to describe the prevalence of orthodontic anomalies in this historical period and to analyse which orthodontic anomalies are best suitable for bioarchaeological investigations., Methods: 1118 skulls were examined for anomalies of tooth number, tooth displacement (rotation, malposition, diastema and crowding) as well as for malocclusions., Results: The prevalence of hypodontia in the LA was 41.02% and 30.61% in the EM sample. Tooth displacement was noticed in 15.63% individuals from the LA and in 12.42% individuals from EM. About 26% of the LA sample and 7.19% of the EM sample were affected with tooth crowding and the difference was statistically significant., Conclusion: Orthodontic anomalies affecting only one tooth or group of teeth are more suitable for examination in bioarchaeological investigations than orthodontic features requiring presence of both jaws and all or almost all teeth. Clinical investigation protocols and methodology should be adopted for bioarchaeological researches and international standards and recommendations should be established for this kind of investigation on skeletal remains., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Occlusion is important in each unit of dentistry. The authors describe not only the meaning of normal occlusion and dysgnathy but also the historical background focusing on the most important orthodontists, their achievements and literary works. This article gives an overview of the development of orthodontics from the very beginning (ancient times) to nowadays. The most important figures of these periods are: P. Fauchard, F. C. Kneisel, E. H. Angle, C. Case (dark ages); C. F. Ballard, P. R. Begg, C. H. Tweed (golden ages); L. F. Andrews and R. H. Roth (contemporary period). Along these three eras development and changing of the extraction-principles are shown. Nowadays the orthodontists still use Angle's classification and orthodontic treatment with extraction is also accepted. However it is not a separate treatment method, but only used as complement treatment. The authors stress on the importance of normal occlusion, which should be result of every orthodontic, but also prothetic and gnathological treatment.

Background: The prevalence of malocclusion in modern population is higher than that in the excavated samples from the ancient times. Presently, the prevalence of juvenile malocclusion in the early stage of permanent teeth is as high as 72.92% in China. This study aimed to observe and evaluate the prevalence and severity of malocclusions in a sample of Xia Dynasty in China, and to compare these findings with the modern Chinese population., Methods: The material consisted of 38 male and 18 female protohistoric skulls of Xia Dynasty 4000 years ago. Of 86 dental arches, 29 cases had the jaw relationships. Tooth crowding, diastema, individual tooth malposition and malocclusion were studied., Results: Of the samples, 23.3% showed tooth alignment problems including crowding (8.1%), diastema (9.3%), and individual tooth malposition (5.8%). The prevalence of malocclusion was 27.6%, mainly presented as Angle Class I., Conclusions: It is indicated that over thousands of years from Neolithic Age (6000 - 7000 years ago) to Xia Dynasty (4000 years ago), the prevalence of malocclusion did not change significantly. The prevalence of malocclusion of Xia Dynasty samples was much lower than that of modern population.

The study of ancient Egyptian skeletons from Amarna, Egypt reveals extensive tooth wear but very little dental crowding, unlike in modern Americans. In the early 20th century, Percy Raymond Begg focused his research on extreme tooth wear coincident with traditional diets to justify teeth removal during orthodontic treatment. Anthropologists studying skeletons that were excavated along the Nile Valley in Egypt and the Sudan have demonstrated reductions in tooth size and changes in the face, including decreased robustness associated with the development of agriculture, but without any increase in the frequency of dental crowding and malocclusion. For thousands of years, facial and dental reduction stayed in step, more or less. These analyses suggest it was not the reduction in tooth wear that increased crowding and malocclusion, but rather the tremendous reduction in the forces of mastication, which produced this extreme tooth wear and the subsequent reduced jaw involvement. Thus, as modern food preparation techniques spread throughout the world during the 19th century, so did dental crowding. This research provides support for the development of orthodontic therapies that increase jaw dimensions rather than the use of tooth removal to relieve crowding.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that there are no differences in the shape of the cranial complex between two samples from the same restricted geographical area and separated by almost 150 years., Materials and Methods: A group of 35 skulls from the 19th century were selected and compared with a modern sample composed of 43 young adult subjects by means of lateral cephalograms and using a morphometric analysis. The peculiarity of this work is the uniformity of the two samples involving adults coming from the same restricted birthplace and with homogeneity for the orthodontic classification., Results: Although the time spans are short, significant differences were found between the two samples. Shape changes included maxillary elongation toward the posterior region and a marked change in shape configuration in the mandible's points that shows a posterior rotation of the mandibular body. The global result of this cranial base point's movements symbolizes a tiny tendency toward closure of the cranial base angle., Conclusions: The hypothesis is rejected. Changes were evident, and environmental influences can be responsible for these changes.

Introduction: The prevalence of malocclusion in modern populations is higher than in excavated samples from ancient times. Presently, more than 30% of children and adolescents in the Scandinavian countries receive orthodontic treatment. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence and severity of malocclusions in a sample of medieval Norwegians, to evaluate the need for treatment by using the Norwegian need for orthodontic treatment index (NOTI), and to compare these findings with a modern sample already analyzed with the same index., Methods: The material consisted of 85 male and 61 female medieval skulls from abandoned and later excavated graveyards of 16th century Oslo that were evaluated with the NOTI., Results: Only 36% of the medieval group showed objective assessed needs for orthodontic treatment, compared with 65% of the present-day sample. Among the skulls, the objective needs for treatment were 27% for the males and 49% for the females. No sex differences related to severity or prevalence of malocclusion were found in the modern sample. The medieval sample arranged according to severity was great need (B), 7%; obvious need (C), 29%; and little/no need (D/E), 64%. The findings in the modern sample were B, 20%; C, 44%; and D/E, 35%. The female skulls showed greater severity and prevalence than the male skulls. No skull had very great need (A)., Conclusions: This study indicates a significant increase in both the prevalence and the severity of malocclusions during the last 400 to 700 years in Oslo, Norway. Furthermore, although no sex differences were found in the modern sample, females had both a higher prevalence of malocclusions and more severe malocclusions than did males in the past.

Anthropological studies reporting odontometric asymmetry values or dental enamel hypoplasia frequencies use these markers as a record of physiological perturbations occurring during dental development. While both markers indirectly suggest the amount of relative stress a population might have experienced, a relationship between the two has been explored only recently in the literature. In this study, we address the possibility of such a relationship in two ways. First, Kendall's tau B correlations test the degree of relationship on the level of the individual between hypoplasia presence/absence (P/A) and severity of hypoplasia appearance (PS) data for the anterior dentition and directional (DA) and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) data for concurrently developing molars pairs. Second, an F-test explores between-group (ranked hypoplastic individuals and non-hypoplastic individuals) variance about the mean, expecting the hypoplastic individuals to be more variable. The sample consists of 72 individuals from the Isola Sacra necropolis, which is associated with Portus, the port city of ancient Rome. Results indicated only a very weak predictive relationship between some variables and few significant differences in variation. However, variance follows trends in published literature. Possible explanations for the lack of interaction on the level of the individual include both etiological and genetic susceptibility factors that are significant in and of themselves as they suggest a more complex reading of the hard tissue evidence for stress in archaeological populations., (Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc)

The aims of this study were to investigate dental crowding from the Copper Age and examine the extent and patterns of wear. Crowding was estimated in 43 adult mandibles using Little's irregularity index. Dental wear, dental diameters, arch width and the presence of third molars were also studied as possible aetiological factors for crowding. The remains were found at the archaeological site of Roaix, located in the south of France. Radiocarbon dating indicated that the lower layer was from 2150 +/- 140 years BC (date +/- 1 standard deviation) and the upper level from 2090 +/- 140 years. The graves were estimated to contain the remains of 150 adults and 50 children. Forty-three intact mandibles were used for this study. All of the mandibles presented incisor crowding with a majority of minimal and moderate irregularities, but in seven cases there were extreme irregularities and in two canine impaction was observed. These results are in contrast with the literature where it is reported that malocclusions were rare in prehistoric populations. The findings of this study suggest that crowding may be of a genetic origin and might not be caused by excessive tooth size or changes in environmental factors (masticatory activity).

Development: The history of the correction of the jaw deformities began in the US more than 100 years ago with a bilateral osteotomy in a case of mandibular prognathism performed by Vilray Blair. This operation was the starting point for Blair's interest in jaw surgery. In 1907 he already described three different operative techniques for the correction of malpositions of the lower jaw. Between the First and the Second World War no major progress in corrective jaw surgery occurred, until in the fifties of the 20th century a rapid development started off. Mainly in Germany and in Austria new operative techniques not only for the mandible, but also for maxilla and midface were established. Finally, this development reached its height in the simultaneous total osteotomy of upper and lower jaw that was published by Obwegeser in 1970., Outlook: Innovations first of all in regard to technical improvements especially in four fields could be realized within the past 20 years. For planning of a procedure mostly computer-assisted systems combined with video- or laser technique were utilized. The improvement of resorbable materials such as plates and screws can be considered as a major progress. With regard to new operative techniques not only first results with navigation systems but also the introduction of endoscopic osteotomies were reported. Distraction osteogenesis was successfully performed on developmental deformities of the mandible, the maxilla, and the midface, while technical devices are being improved continuously. As in all fields mentioned above development is not yet completed further improvements can be expected.

Secular changes in the mixed dentition were studied. Permanent tooth size and dental arch dimensions were examined in Norwegian children born in the 1960s and 1980s, Swedish children born in the 1960s and 1980s, Norwegian Sami children born in the 1980s, and a sample of Norwegian skulls dating from the 14th to the 19th century. The Norwegian Sami children were nomadic in the summertime. A sample of pigs was studied before and after a maceration process to determine what dimensional changes might occur in such a process. A shrinkage of 0.3%-1.7% was found. This information was used when the skulls were compared with the modern groups. Lateral dental arch lengths were shorter in the children born in the 1960s compared with the children born in the 1980s. This was a result of the higher prevalence of caries in the second deciduous molars in the 1960s groups. Children who had lost a deciduous canine prematurely were found to have smaller dental arch perimeters. When compared with other data, this was blamed on a pre-existing crowding. Permanent tooth size was smaller in the skulls compared with the modern groups. Improved nutrition is considered to be the main reason for the difference. Relative dental arch space differed in the group born in the 1960s from that in the other groups, indicating a greater prevalence of crowding in the former. Relative dental arch space in the skulls and in the group born in the 1980s was similar. A more traditional way of living, as practised by the Sami group in this thesis, was not favorable for relative dental arch space. The transverse intermaxillary relation in boys changed from the 1960s to the 1980s, which indicated that the 1980s group ran a greater risk of developing a posterior cross-bite. Before the same conclusion could be made in the girls, the mesial drift of the first permanent molars had to be corrected for, because of a higher prevalence of caries in the 1960s group. The sex-pooled analysis of the skulls and the contemporary groups revealed that the risk for developing a posterior cross-bite in the 1980s group was greater than in the skulls. The skulls had smaller arch depths than the modern groups.

Worn, flat occlusal surfaces and anterior edge-to-edge occlusion are ubiquitous among the dentitions of prehistoric humans. The concept of attritional occlusion was proposed in the 1950s as a hypothesis to explain these characteristics. The main aspects of this hypothesis are: 1) the dentitions of ancient populations in heavy-wear environments were continuously and dynamically changing owing to life-long attritional tooth reduction and compensatory tooth migration, 2) all contemporary humans inherit these compensatory mechanisms, and recent reduction in wear severity has resulted in failure to develop attritional occlusion, and 3) this failure leads to an increased frequency of various dental problems in modern societies. Because of the potential significance of this concept, we review and synthesize relevant works and discuss attritional occlusion in the light of current knowledge. Available evidence, on balance, supports the first and second points of the hypothesis. As noted by many workers, the human dentition is basically "designed" on the premise that extensive wear will occur, a conclusion that seems reasonable when one realizes that humans evolved in heavy-wear environments until relatively recently. Some dental problems in contemporary societies appear to reflect the disparity between the original design of our dentition and our present environment, in which extensive wear no longer occurs, but this possibility still needs further investigation., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

In 1970 there was a conservation of Goethe's skeleton, housed in the Fürstengruft in Weimar. This procedure was kept secret until 1999. The restoration of the sarcophagus and the conservation of the skeleton have been documented together with many photos in the so-called "Sonderakte Mazeration Goethe" (special file mazeration Goethe). In this special file there are also photos of Goethe's skull and skeleton which will be published here for the first time and analysed under anthropological and palaeopathological aspects. A short description of the skull will be given. The dentition of Goethe at the time of his death and the question of progenia in Goethe's family are discussed in detail. Data on Goethe's stature obtained from the skeleton qualify statements of Goethe's contemporaries. Among the few documented pathological changes the ankylosis of eight thoracal vertebrae (T 5-12) and five right ribs are of special interest, caused by the loss of the intervertebral discs, spondylosis deformans and Morbus Forestier. A connection between this ankylosis and the known stiff posture and stiff gait of Goethe is obviously and possibly dates back to Goethe's fortieth years of age.

Secular changes in transverse dental arch dimensions and dental arch depth were studied. Four cohorts with mixed dentitions were selected. The skull group comprised 48 skulls dating from the 14th to the 19th century and belonging to The Schreiner Collection at the Department of Anatomy, University of Oslo. The 1980s Sami group was comprised of 39 boys and 34 girls born in 1987 and living in the northern part of Norway. The 1960s Oslo group was comprised of 31 boys and 30 girls born in 1963 and living in the southern part of Norway. The 1980s Oslo group was comprised of 32 boys and 26 girls born in 1983 and living in the same area in southern Norway as the previous Oslo group. Sex was unknown in the skeletal sample, and the groups were analyzed with the sexes pooled; separate descriptive values are presented for the modern groups. The mandibular intercanine distance was smaller in the skulls compared with the modern groups. The transverse intermaxillary difference between the molars was larger in the skull group than in the 1980s Oslo group. The difference between the maxillary and mandibular intercanine distances was larger in the skulls compared with the modern groups, although the small number of measurements in the skull group impeded further analysis. The arch depth was smaller in the skull group compared with the modern groups; the 1960s Oslo group deviated because of a higher prevalence of caries in the second deciduous molars. The overjet was smaller among the skulls. The arch form measured as the angle between the left and right molar tooth rows was more acute in the skulls than in the modern groups. It was concluded that smaller arch depths are found in skeletal samples at early ages and that attrition does not explain the more upright incisors found in skeletal samples. A secular trend was found in the intermaxillary relation, which indicated that children in the 1980s Oslo group were at greater risk of developing a posterior cross-bite than children born in the 14th to 19th centuries.

Bone distraction has been used increasingly since McCarthy and associates showed in their clinical investigation new osseous formation in the elongated area while performing mandibular distraction in 1992. However, at the craniofacial skeletal level, the initial description of the classic technique of distraction osteogenesis should be credited to German craniofacial surgeons Rosenthal (for bone lengthening of the mandible in a microgenia patient around 1927) and Wassmund (for the clinical advancement of a maxilla in a patient with hypoplasia of the upper jaw in 1926). Both procedures are described, and their original schedules and cases are presented.

Two groups living in southeast France several centuries apart were compared to assess changes in occlusion from medieval times to the present day. The present-day sample included 82 people, and the medieval sample included the skulls of 58 people who lived between the 8th and the 17th centuries. Variations in tooth contacts were examined in accordance with Angle classification. A decrease in Class III occlusion (mesioclusion) was noted from medieval to present-day populations. The rate of Class II occlusion (distoclusion) has increased progressively and has became a general feature in the present-day population (34%). Although the rate of Class I occlusion has generally decreased from proto-historic and medieval times to the present day, it is still the highest percentage (45%) and thus the "normal" reference in European populations. This study highlights distoclusion in human teeth and allowed us to ask questions about functional, genetic, psychological, and environmental factors that cause this malocclusion as opposed to the global harmony that Angle described.

This study compared the correlation between the buccolingual inclination and the wear score of the mandibular teeth in Jomon (one of the ancestors of modern Japanese who lived from 5000 to 300 BC) and modern Japanese. Data were obtained from 40 modern male Japanese and 39 male Jomon skulls housed in the University Museum of the University of Tokyo and National Science Museum, Tokyo. For each specimen, three computed tomograms of coronal sections of the mandibular body were available. The second premolar, first molar and second molar of Jomon stood more vertically than those of modern Japanese. There were significant correlations between tooth wear and the buccolingual inclination of mandibular molars. When ancient and modern populations were compared, tooth wear was significantly greater and buccolingual tooth inclination was more vertical in the ancient people, who probably applied stronger masticatory forces than modern people. The results suggest that the mandibular molar orientation is more buccal and there is greater tooth wear in the first and second molars of people with strong masticatory function.

Maxillofacial surgery is a relatively young speciality of medicine and it was not established as an organized specialty until the second half of the 20th century. At first it was supported by general surgeons with particular interest in this field, and also by inspired, extremely talented dentists. During the past few years modern techniques have brought decisive progress also in maxillofacial surgery, leading to rapid further development of diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. The development of our specialty in the past century is discussed on the four main points of our scope, traumatology, orthognathic, cleft and tumour surgery. Considering the future prospects of our specialty one should realize that in the near future maxillofacial surgery will also be influenced by further medical-technical progress in the field of micro-robots, by percutaneous endoscopic techniques and by minimal invasive or laser surgery. Basic research will also cause a more profound change in our specialty, especially in the field of tumour therapy. Molecular biological research shows some good signs, which could already be transmitted to the prevention, diagnosis and also the therapy of tumours. In the field of tissue transplantation it is no longer utopia that autogenous tissue sampling can be almost completely be avoided. By further developing 'tissue engineering' it will be possible to cultivate bones as well as soft tissue with the aid of gene technology and transplant them into the face using relevant carrier substances. Altogether, the complexity of maxillofacial surgery in the coming century will increase, necessitating the best and widely trained maxillofacial surgeons for successful accomplishment.

The article reviews the history of orthognathic surgery from the middle of the last century up to the present. Initially, mandibular osteotomies were only performed in cases of severe malformations. But during the last century a precise and standardized procedure for correction of the mandible was established. Multiple modifications allowed control of small fragments, functionally stable osteosynthesis, and finally a precise positioning of the condyle. In 1955 Obwegeser and Trauner introduced the sagittal split osteotomy by an intraoral approach. It was the final breakthrough for orthognathic surgery as a standard treatment for corrections of the mandible. Surgery of the maxilla dates back to the nineteenth century. B. von Langenbeck from Berlin is said to have performed the first Le Fort I osteotomy in 1859. After minor changes, Wassmund corrected a posttraumatic malocclusion by a Le Fort I osteotomy in 1927. But it was Axhausen who risked the total mobilization of the maxilla in 1934. By additional modifications and further refinements, Obwegeser paved the way for this approach to become a standard procedure in maxillofacial surgery. Tessier mobilized the whole midface by a Le Fort III osteotomy and showed new perspectives in the correction of severe malformations of the facial bones, creating the basis of modern craniofacial surgery. While the last 150 years were distinguished by the creation and standardization of surgical methods, the present focus lies on precise treatment planning and the consideration of functional aspects of the whole stomatognathic system. To date, 3D visualization by CT scans, stereolithographic models, and computer-aided treatment planning and simulation allow surgery of complex cases and accurate predictions of soft tissue changes.

50 years of practice in orthodontics! The calling-up of the past raises old conceptions of orthodontics, full of illusions on its real possibilities and placed under the dictatorship of Pont's index. Some years later, the american technics were brought to France, and progressively took advantage on functional methods. From 1981, a series of studies conducted by Little shows the frequency of relapses after excellent treatments. It is clear that orthodontics could not survive if it was confirmed that it has only a temporarily effect. Different causes of relapses are examined: some particular effects of facial growth, the use of over-correction and pre-formed materials, the lack of occlusal equilibration by reshaping, the neglecting of periodontal reactions, the incorrect application of rules of contention. But the fundamental cause of instability of treatments observed by Little, is it not that these treatments have been performed in agreement with the concepts of the years 1950-1960, that is to say more determined by a geometrical representation of the face, and a mechanical conception of the treatment, rather than been guided by a good comprehension of the physiology of the patient?

A comparison between occlusal deviations in the permanent dentition in the skulls of 94 19th century and 157 present-day Austrian males was made by means of the PAR Index. It was found that the contemporary dentitions showed significantly higher malocclusion scores than the 19th century sample (weighted PAR Index 11.79 and 6.62, respectively). The results show that secular changes in malocclusion have occurred during the last 100 years.

Tooth rotation and periodontal breakdown has not been thoroughly studied due to lack of quantitative tools. The purpose of the present study was to examine this correlation, with respect to alveolar bone loss, from direct observation of 17 skulls. A photograph of the mandibular occlusal plane was taken from a fixed reference point, and the midcentral fossa and the extreme mesial and distal points of each tooth were marked on the photograph. A computer program established the arch form of each mandibular from the midtooth landmarks. The angle between individual teeth and the arch (at any given point) was calculated. Bone loss, indicated by the distance of the bone crest from the cementoenamel junction, was measured at six reference points around each tooth with a caliper. A positive correlation, through weak, was found between increased tooth rotation and greater bone loss. Mean bone loss of teeth with rotation of 20 degrees and greater was 4.03 mm, while that of teeth with less than 20 degrees of rotation was 3.49 mm.

The dentitions of 23 skulls, mostly excavated from a 'plague pit' dating from 1348, were investigated using a Reflex Metrograph. The measurements obtained were compared with those from a modern control sample. It was found that in the medieval dentitions the arch widths were significantly wider, arch lengths and tooth lengths smaller, and the degree of irregularity of the teeth was greater than a modern group.