Journal of Orthodontics

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) has been used as an indicator of growth hormone levels and hence can also be used as a marker of growth. The main objective of the study was to quantify salivary IGF-I levels and its secretion rate at different quantitative cervical maturation (QCVM) stages and evaluate a possible role for salivary IGF-I in evaluating skeletal growth.

Forty-five subjects (24 female, 21 male) between the ages of 7 and 23 years were included in the study. Each subject had personal information, a lateral cephalogram, and a parotid saliva sample collected on the same day.

Salivary IGF-I levels and salivary secretion rates were lowest at QCVM skeletal stages previously associated with the acceleration phase of mandibular growth. Highest levels were found at the high velocity stage. After this there was gradual drop in salivary IGF-I levels and secretion rate at deceleration and completing velocity stages. Relatively high levels in the decelerating velocity stage may be an indication of residual skeletal growth. There was a negative correlation between patient age and levels of IGF-I and its secretion rate, once growth velocity decreased.

Salivary IGF-I levels or its secretion rate can be used as an indicator of skeletal growth but longitudinal data are necessary to confirm salivary IGF-I as a marker for skeletal growth prediction and residual mandibular growth.

To determine the influence on shear bond strength and bond failure location of four cleaning methods for orthodontic bracket custom bases.

In vitro laboratory study.

Eighty bovine teeth were divided at random into four groups. The bracket custom bases were cleaned with different methods: group 1 with methyl methacrylate monomer, group 2 with acetone, group 3 with 50 μm aluminium oxide particles and group 4 with detergent. The brackets were indirectly bonded onto the teeth with the Sondhi Rapid-Set self-curing adhesive. The maximum required shear bond strength to debond the brackets was recorded. The bond failure location was evaluated using the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis (P<0·05) was used to detect significant differences in the bond strength. Kaplan–Meier survival plots and log-rank test were done to compare the survival distribution between the groups. The Kruskal–Wallis test (P<0·05) was used to evaluate the differences in the ARI scores.

The mean bond strengths in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 23·7±5·0, 25·3±5·1, 25·6±3·7 and 25·7±4·2 MPa, respectively. There were no significant statistically differences in either the bond strength or the ARI score between the groups.

The four custom base-cleaning methods presented the same efficiencies on indirect bond of the brackets; thus, practitioners can choose the method that works best for them.

To evaluate adolescents oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in the first 4 months of fixed orthodontic appliance treatment using parents and caregivers as proxies.

Descriptive study.

Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

A sample of parents and caregivers of 95 adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance.

Participants were required to answer the Brazilian version of the Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) before adolescent's treatment (T1) and 4 months after bonding of the fixed appliance (T2). Statistical analysis was carried out using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Bonferroni correction for the domains of P-CPQ.

Among the 95 participants, there were 73 mothers, 18 fathers and 4 were other relations. There was a statistically significant improvement in the overall score as well as in both emotional and social wellbeing subscales (P<0·001).

Parents and caregivers report an improvement on their adolescent's OHRQoL in the first 4 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance.

Torque is applied to orthodontic brackets in order to alter the buccal–lingual angulation of a tooth. One factor that can affect torque is the ligation mode used to retain the archwire in the bracket slot. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of stainless steel ligation on torque expression and bracket deformation.

This study utilized 60 upper right central incisor Damon Q brackets and 60 Ormco Orthos Twin brackets. The brackets used in this study were subdivided into four groups: (1) Damon Q ligated with SS ligature; (2) Damon Q with the sliding bracket door; (3) Orthos Twin bracket ligated with SS wire; and (4) Orthos Twin ligated with elastic ties. All brackets were tested using an orthodontic torque simulating device that applied archwire rotation from 0° to 45°.

All brackets ligated with stainless steel ties exhibited greater torque expression and less deformation than brackets without stainless steel ties. As well, Damon Q brackets exhibit less bracket deformation than Orthos Twin brackets.

Stainless steel ties can reduce the amount of plastic deformation for both types of brackets used in this study.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of four enamel preparation techniques on shear bond strength (SBS) of brackets bonded with a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC). Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) and enamel surface roughness (Ra) were also investigated after cement removal.

One hundred and forty-four human premolars were divided into four groups (n = 36 in each group) as follows: Group 1, 37% phosphoric acid (i.e. conventional); Group 2, sandblasting; Group 3, sodium hypochlorite and 37% phosphoric acid; and Group 4, sodium hypochlorite and sandblasting. Twenty-four hours after bonding, the brackets were debonded with an Instron machine using a crosshead speed of 1·0 mm/min; the ARI was evaluated by an image analyser system; the Ra was measured by profilometry; and the morphology of the tooth enamel surface was observed by scanning electron microscope evaluation. Data were submitted to ANOVA and the Kruskal–Wallis test (α = 0·05).

Mean SBS values for Groups 1–4 were 13·86, 9·08, 17 and 9·63 MPa, respectively. Mean ARI for Groups 1–4 were 11·16, 2·06, 20·66 and 3·73%. The SBS and ARI showed statistically significant differences between the four groups (P<0·001). The Ra (μm) showed no significant differences between groups.

Bracket bonding using RMGIC showed adequate adhesion for clinical use, and the type of enamel preparation had a significant influence.

To assess interviewers’ and interviewees’ perceptions of the National Recruitment for Orthodontic Specialty Registrars in 2012.

Cross-sectional survey.

Interviewers and interviewees completed an anonymous questionnaire comprising of 25 and 16 questions, respectively. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and frequency distributions.

All interviewees (83/83) and 88% (36/41) of interviewers completed the questionnaires. Of the interviewees, 61% were female; their mean age was 28·9 years (95% CI: 28·2–29·6). The mean time since bachelor of dental science (BDS) was 5·6 years (95% CI: 4·9–6·3) with 78% qualifying from a UK university. The interviewees preferred the multi-station interview (MSI) format, considered the questions easy to understand and thought that MSI was fairer than traditional interviews. Of the interviewers, 56% were male; their mean age was 45·5 years (95% CI: 43·0–48·0). The mean time that they had been a consultant was 11·4 years (95% CI: 8·7–13·1). The interviewers thought that the interviews were fair, tested an appropriate range of competences, selected the best candidates to be appointed and would appoint the same people if repeated.

Interviewees were very positive about the organization and perceived fairness of the MSI format. Interviewers were positive about the selection of candidates, fairness and conduct of the MSI format.