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Objectives To compare the efficacy of traditional and digital communication strategies in improving compliance with fixed orthodontic therapy and to investigate the effect of gender, baseline oral hygiene habits, socioeconomics, and parents' education on orthodontic compliance. Materials and Methods Orthodontic patients were randomly allocated to three groups. Group 1 received traditional communication including verbal and written instructions, whereas group 2 and group 3 received, in addition to traditional communication, weekly text messages or e-mails with audiovisual links, respectively. Baseline demographics (age, gender, baseline oral hygiene habits, socioeconomics, and parents' education) as well as compliance indicators (treatment duration, failed appointments, incidence and total number of appliance breakages) were recorded. For statistical analysis, Pearson chi-square, independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were used (P < .05). Results Of 120 patients (aged 12 to 18 years) recruited, 108 completed the trial (G1 = 37, G2 = 35, G3 = 36). Weekly text messages failed to improve patient compliance. On the other hand, sending weekly e-mails with audiovisual links significantly (P = .014) reduced the incidence of appliance breakage as compared with the control group. Females had a significantly lower incidence of breakage (P = .041) and a fewer total number of breakages (P = .021). Patients from households with high income had significantly better compliance (P < .05). A higher level of parents' education was significantly associated with a lower incidence and total number of breakages (P < .01). Conclusions Communication with patients using link-rich e-mails and reminders could improve patient compliance with fixed orthodontic treatment. Female patients, high household income, and high parent education are associated with better compliance with fixed orthodontic treatment.

Background: Little prevalence studies relating to molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) exist for Middle East populations in general and among Jordanian children in particular. Aim: To assess the prevalence and severity of MIH in a group of 3rd year class school children resident in Amman, Jordan as well as to describe its distribution in first permanent molars and incisors. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a representative sample was used. A simple random sampling technique produced 1412 school children aged 8-9- years. All children were examined by a single calibrated examiner. The first permanent molars and incisors were examined for molar incisor hypomineralization using the chart of Ghanim et al. based on the criteria of European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD). Analysis of data was performed with a p value set at 0.05. Results: Of a total of 1412 schoolchildren 186 (13.17%) were diagnosed with MIH. Maxillary teeth were more commonly affected than the mandibular but the difference was not significant (p>0.05) and the maxillary molar was the most affected. Demarcated creamy white opacities were most frequently encountered followed by post eruptive breakdown. Atypical restorations and caries because of MIH were uncommon. More than the half of teeth was diagnosed with severe form of MIH. The severity increases with the increase of number of affected molars. Conclusion: Molar incisor hypomineralization was high among the children examined. Demarcated opacities were more frequent than breakdown. The severity of the lesions increased with the number of affected teeth.

Background The popularity of implant dentistry is increasing dramatically, but the success of implant treatment depends on a patient’s knowledge and expectations. Methods This study aimed to assess dental implant knowledge among refugees as a treatment option (n = 565), using face-to-face interviews. The frequency distribution of the responses in general and according to age, gender and education was calculated. Results 81.8% of the interviewees had missing teeth, however, only 26.2% replaced them. 16.6% of participants had never/hardly heard about implants. Females who never heard of implants were more than males (P Conclusions The surveyed sample revealed limited knowledge about dental implants with high cost being a major obstacle, warranting more strategies to increase awareness and to make implants more affordable for this population.

The aim of this study was to compare the pattern and prevalence of associated dental anomalies between maxillary and mandibular tooth agenesis (hypodontia).A sample of 3315 dental patients, aged 8.6 to 25.4 years, was surveyed for tooth agenesis (excluding third molars): 106 subjects were diagnosed with maxillary hypodontia (group 1) and 70 with mandibular hypodontia (group 2). Both groups were examined for the following dental anomalies: retained deciduous molars, infraocclusion of deciduous molars, impaction, microdontia of maxillary lateral incisors, supernumerary teeth, transposition, transmigration, and ectopic eruption of the permanent molars. For statistical testing, the chi-square test (P0.05) was used to compare the occurrences of these anomalies among the groups.We found that 77.5% of the patients in the mandibular hypodontia group had at least 1 dental anomaly compared with 49.5% in the maxillary hypodontia group (P0.0001). The only dental anomaly with a significantly increased prevalence in the maxillary hypodontia group compared with the mandibular hypodontia group was microdontia of the maxillary lateral incisors (groups 1, 46.7%; group 2, 12.9%; P0.0001). On the other hand, the prevalences of retained deciduous molars (group 1, 9.4%; group 2, 60.0%), infraoccluded deciduous molars (group 1, 0.9%; group 2, 7.1%), and impacted teeth (group 1, 22.6%; group 2, 38.6%) were significantly higher in the mandibular hypodontia group. The prevalences of supernumerary teeth, transposition, transmigration, and ectopic eruption of permanent molars were low and not significantly different between the groups.Tooth agenesis isolated to the maxilla is frequently associated with microdontia of the maxillary lateral incisors, whereas tooth agenesis isolated to the mandible is frequently associated with retained deciduous molars, infraoccluded deciduous molars, and impacted teeth. The results of this study may provide additional evidence supporting the field-specific genetic control theory for dental development in both jaws.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) changes following third molar surgery, and investigate demographic and clinical variables’ effect on (OHRQOL) in the first postoperative week. Methods: 45 subjects had surgical removal of lower third molar/s by one surgeonat Jordan University hospital from March 2011 to November 2011, following a standardized protocol. Patients’ demographics and clinical data were recorded. (OHRQOL) was evaluated before surgery using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14. On postoperative days (PD) 1, 3, 5 and 7, patients completed the (OHIP)-14 & the condition-specific (HRQOL) instrument. Results: A significant deterioration in OHRQOL was seen on (PD)1(P=0.000), and (PD)3 (P=0.000), except for psychological discomfort and disability domains. On (PD)5, no difference was found, however, females had significantly lower OHRQOL levels than males on (OHIP)-14 (P=0.008) and the domains: physical (P=0.048), psychological (P=0.016) and social disability(P=0.018). Conclusions: Third molar surgery was associated with deterioration in patients’ OHRQOL on the first three postoperative days. Females had a slower recovery, with no effect of other factors on patients’ recovery pattern.

Introduction: Our aims in this study were to (1) develop a method of measuring 3-dimensional (3D) tooth movement using a 3D surface laser scanner, (2) test the accuracy of this method, and (3) compare the measurements with those from cephalometric radiographs. Methods: A method of superimposing pretreatment and posttreatment models on the palatal rugae was developed, and an experimental model was prepared to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the laser scanner. Records were obtained from a prospective longitudinal randomized clinical trial evaluating anchorage loss with headgears and midpalatal osseointegrated implants as a source of anchorage in Chesterfield, United Kingdom. The pretreatment and posttreatment study models were analyzed by using a 3D laser scanner to measure the 3D tooth movement. Results: The laser scanner was accurate to 0.0235 mm for anteroposterior measurements and 0.0071 mm for buccolingual movements for every 0.5 mm of movement. The study model analysis showed that mesial molar movements were 1.38 mm on the right side and 1.11 mm on the left side for the implant group, and 2.24 mm on right side and 1.63 mm on left side for the headgear group, with no statistically significant difference between the groups. The results for vertical movement of molars showed extrusion on both sides in both groups but no statistically significant difference between the groups. In the transverse plane, the results were not statistically significantly different between the groups. The results from superimposition of lateral cephalograms were similar to those obtained from the scanner. Conclusions: The 3D laser scanner provides accurate and reliable measurements of tooth displacement and can be considered an alternative to cephalometric radiographs. © 2009 American Association of Orthodontists.