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Forty-four patients who required combined orthodontic-surgical procedures were psychologically assessed in relation to stress, self-esteem, introspectiveness, and body satisfaction. Thirty patients accepted the surgical procedures, and 14 refused surgery. These two groups of patients were compared with respect to their psychologic profiles; statistical analysis detected no significant differences.

Objective: To assess if a 4-point, radiographically based scale could be used between operators to reliably assess the success of secondary alveolar bone grafting., Design: The study was retrospective with the clinicians blind to patient identity. Radiographs were examined twice by two clinicians with 1 week between assessments., Setting: The research was carried out in a hospital-based orthodontic/oral and maxillofacial unit., Patients: All patients who had secondary alveolar bone grafting in this unit between February 1992 and March 1995 were included in this study. There were 38 patients with a total of 48 grafted sites., Interventions: The bone graft site was radiographed following orthodontic expansion prior to grafting. The radiograph was repeated postoperatively at a mean of 4 months after surgery., Main Outcome Measure: The degree of bony fill in the cleft area was assessed using a 4-point scale: Grade 1 > 75% bony fill; Grade 2 50-75% bony fill; Grade 3 < 50% bony fill; Grade 4 no complete bony bridge., Results: Overall, 50% of grafts achieved grade 1, 23% were grade 2, 22% grade 3, and 5% grade 4. Levels of intra- and inter-observer agreement were highly variable (.33 to .72 kappa statistic)., Conclusions: The 4-point scale described could be used to assess the success of autogenous secondary alveolar bone grafting. It showed moderate to substantial intra-observer agreement, and fair-to-moderate inter-observer agreement.

A case of bilateral posterior open bite, treated using the 'straight wire' appliance, is reported. The diagnostic problems, associated with this type of malocclusion, are discussed.

A retrospective cephalometric study of 50 consecutively completed Class II Division I malocclusion cases was carried out in order to analyse the resultant data for craniofacial features which might act as predictors for successful overjet reduction. All the patients had clinically measured overjets of between 10 mm and 15 mm at the start of treatment. The sample was subsequently divided into two groups depending on whether or not the overjet had been reduced to 4 mm or less at the end of treatment. No firm predictors were found, but the most favourable results were achieved with the Begg appliance.

This paper deals with dental centre line discrepancies and the treatment mechanics for their correction when using an edgewise appliance.