This case report describes the treatment of a 23-year, 8-month-old female patient with a Class II malocclusion who showed severe bidentoalveolar protrusion and anterior crowding. The treatment plan consisted of extracting all the first premolars, decrowding and en masse retraction of the upper six anterior teeth and lower anteriors. The upper C-plate placed in the midpalatal area combined with lingual sheath fixtures were used as substitutes for posterior anchorage teeth during upper anterior retraction. Preadjusted brackets (0.022-inch) were used for upper anterior decrowding. A 0.9 mm diameter stainless steel lever-arm soldered to the main arch wire facilitated controlled retraction of upper anteriors. The upper and lower dentition was detailed using a tooth positioner during the finishing stage. Correct overbite and overjet were obtained by decrowding and retraction of the upper six anterior teeth into their proper positions. Use of the C-plate and lingual appliances provided ideal anchorage to enhance the improvement in facial balance. The active treatment period was 19 months. The treatment result was stable 13 months after debonding.
Bicuspid ; Crowding ; Dentition ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Malocclusion ; Overbite ; Stainless Steel ; Tooth

During orthodontic treatment of impacted teeth, use of appropriate anchorage against the traction force is important. Tooth anchorage with multi-bracket appliances is commonly used but sometimes it causes unwanted movements of adjacent teeth. Skeletal anchorage devices are therefore considered to minimize such side effects. Still their survival rate and positioning are highly limited according to the bone density and the interradicular space. This case report presents a case of two impacted teeth, one of which is dilacerated and horizontally angulated. Using the microplate with short screws and a bendable neck, negative effects on adjacent teeth were minimized and impacted teeth were repositioned with good stability.

In the correction of dental Class III molar relationship in skeletal Class II patients, uprighting of the mandibular posterior segments without opening the mandible is an important treatment objective. In the case reported herein, a C-tube miniplate fixed to the lower labial symphysis and connected with a nickel-titanium reverse-curved archwire provided effective uprighting of the lower molars, without the need of orthodontic appliances on the mandibular anteriors. Using this approach, an appropriate magnitude of force is exerted on the molars while avoiding any negative effect on the mandibular anteriors.
Biomechanics ; Humans ; Mandible ; Molar ; Open Bite ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Recurrence

The popularity of clear overlay retainers (CORs) has increased recently because of their advantages such as better esthetics, cost effectiveness, easy fabrication, and good compliance. However, a deficiency in posterior occlusal settling is a reported limitation of CORs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the posterior occlusal contact changes in a new type of clear orthodontic retainer called Oral-treaper (OTP), which consists of three layers and has stronger mechanical characteristics than do conventional retainers. Three patients who completed fixed orthodontic treatment received OTP as a removable retainer. Cast models were fabricated after the removal of fixed appliances (T1) and after 4 to 11 months of using the retainers (T2). We evaluated all the cast models to compare the post-orthodontic settling pattern during the use of the OTPs. The depth of occlusal contacts was evaluated using color maps. The OTP did not prevent vertical settling in all patients but resulted in an improvement in posterior occlusal contact points.
Compliance ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Orthodontic Retainers

This paper describes the case of a 50-year-old female with a Class II malocclusion who presented with severe bimaxillary protrusion and generalized alveolar bone loss due to adult periodontitis. The treatment plan consisted of extracting both upper and lower first premolars and periodontal treatment. Anterior segmental osteotomy (ASO) of the mandible and upper anterior segment retraction using compression osteogenesis after peri-segmental corticotomy (Speedy orthodontics) was performed. Correct overbite and overjet, facial balance, and improvement of lip protrusion were obtained. However, a slight root resorption tendency was observed on the lower anterior dentition. The active treatment period was 9 months and the results were stable for 27 months after debonding. This new type of treatment mechanics can be an effective alternative to orthognathic surgery.
Adult ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; Bicuspid ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dentition ; Female ; Humans ; Lip ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Mechanics ; Middle Aged ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteogenesis ; Osteotomy ; Overbite ; Root Resorption

Objective: To identify the most favorable sites that optimize the initial stability and survival rate of orthodontic mini-implants, this study measured hard and soft tissue thicknesses in the median and paramedian regions of the palate using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and determined possible sexand age-related differences in these thicknesses. Methods: The study sample comprised CBCT images of 189 healthy subjects. The sample was divided into four groups according to age. A grid area was set for the measurement of hard and soft tissue thicknesses in the palate. Vertical lines were marked at intervals of 0, 1.5, and 3.0 mm lateral to the midpalatal suture, while horizontal lines were marked at 2-mm intervals up to 24 mm from the posterior margin of the incisive foramen. Measurements were made at 65 points of intersection between the horizontal and vertical lines. Results: The palatal hard tissue thickness decreased from the anterior to the posterior region, with a decrease in the medial-to-lateral direction in the middle and posterior regions. While the soft tissue was rather thick around the lateral aspects of the palatal arch, it formed a constant layer that was only 1–2-mm thick throughout the palate. Statistically significant differences were observed according to sex and age. Conclusions The anterolateral palate as well as the midpalatal suture seem to be the most favorable sites for insertion of orthodontic mini-implants. The thickness of the palate differed by age and sex; these differences should be considered while planning the placement of orthodontic mini-implants.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of a multi-stage convolutional neural network (CNN) model-based automated identification system for posteroanterior (PA) cephalometric landmarks. Methods: The multi-stage CNN model was implemented with a personal computer. A total of 430 PA-cephalograms synthesized from cone-beam computed tomography scans (CBCT-PA) were selected as samples. Twenty-three landmarks used for Tweemac analysis were manually identified on all CBCT-PA images by a single examiner. Intra-examiner reproducibility was confirmed by repeating the identification on 85 randomly selected images, which were subsequently set as test data, with a two-week interval before training. For initial learning stage of the multi-stage CNN model, the data from 345 of 430 CBCT-PA images were used, after which the multi-stage CNN model was tested with previous 85 images. The first manual identification on these 85 images was set as a truth ground. The mean radial error (MRE) and successful detection rate (SDR) were calculated to evaluate the errors in manual identification and artificial intelligence (AI) prediction. Results: The AI showed an average MRE of 2.23 ± 2.02 mm with an SDR of 60.88% for errors of 2 mm or lower. However, in a comparison of the repetitive task, the AI predicted landmarks at the same position, while the MRE for the repeated manual identification was 1.31 ± 0.94 mm. Conclusions Automated identification for CBCT-synthesized PA cephalometric landmarks did not sufficiently achieve the clinically favorable error range of less than 2 mm. However, AI landmark identification on PA cephalograms showed better consistency than manual identification.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of a one-piece bracket jig system fabricated using computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) by employing three-dimensional (3D) digital superimposition. Methods: This in vitro study included 226 anterior teeth selected from 20 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Bracket position errors from each of the 40 arches were analyzed quantitatively via 3D digital superimposition (best-fit algorithm) of the virtual bracket and actual bracket after indirect bonding, after accounting for possible variables that may affect accuracy, such as crowding and presence of the resin base. Results: The device could transfer the bracket accurately to the desired position of the patient’s dentition within a clinically acceptable range of ± 0.05 mm and 2.0° for linear and angular measurements, respectively. The average linear measurements ranged from 0.029 to 0.101 mm. Among the angular measurements, rotation values showed the least deviation and ranged from 0.396° to 0.623°. Directional bias was pronounced in the vertical direction, and many brackets were bonded toward the occlusal surface. However, no statistical difference was found for the three angular measurement values (torque, angulation, and rotation) in any of the groups classified according to crowding. When the teeth were moderately crowded, the mesio-distal, bucco-lingual, and rotation measurement values were affected by the presence of the resin base. Conclusions The characteristics of the CAD/CAM one-piece jig system were demonstrated according to the influencing factors, and the transfer accuracy was verified to be within a clinically acceptable level for the indirect bracket bonding of anterior teeth.

Objective: To identify the most favorable sites that optimize the initial stability and survival rate of orthodontic mini-implants, this study measured hard and soft tissue thicknesses in the median and paramedian regions of the palate using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and determined possible sexand age-related differences in these thicknesses. Methods: The study sample comprised CBCT images of 189 healthy subjects. The sample was divided into four groups according to age. A grid area was set for the measurement of hard and soft tissue thicknesses in the palate. Vertical lines were marked at intervals of 0, 1.5, and 3.0 mm lateral to the midpalatal suture, while horizontal lines were marked at 2-mm intervals up to 24 mm from the posterior margin of the incisive foramen. Measurements were made at 65 points of intersection between the horizontal and vertical lines. Results: The palatal hard tissue thickness decreased from the anterior to the posterior region, with a decrease in the medial-to-lateral direction in the middle and posterior regions. While the soft tissue was rather thick around the lateral aspects of the palatal arch, it formed a constant layer that was only 1–2-mm thick throughout the palate. Statistically significant differences were observed according to sex and age. Conclusions The anterolateral palate as well as the midpalatal suture seem to be the most favorable sites for insertion of orthodontic mini-implants. The thickness of the palate differed by age and sex; these differences should be considered while planning the placement of orthodontic mini-implants.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of a multi-stage convolutional neural network (CNN) model-based automated identification system for posteroanterior (PA) cephalometric landmarks. Methods: The multi-stage CNN model was implemented with a personal computer. A total of 430 PA-cephalograms synthesized from cone-beam computed tomography scans (CBCT-PA) were selected as samples. Twenty-three landmarks used for Tweemac analysis were manually identified on all CBCT-PA images by a single examiner. Intra-examiner reproducibility was confirmed by repeating the identification on 85 randomly selected images, which were subsequently set as test data, with a two-week interval before training. For initial learning stage of the multi-stage CNN model, the data from 345 of 430 CBCT-PA images were used, after which the multi-stage CNN model was tested with previous 85 images. The first manual identification on these 85 images was set as a truth ground. The mean radial error (MRE) and successful detection rate (SDR) were calculated to evaluate the errors in manual identification and artificial intelligence (AI) prediction. Results: The AI showed an average MRE of 2.23 ± 2.02 mm with an SDR of 60.88% for errors of 2 mm or lower. However, in a comparison of the repetitive task, the AI predicted landmarks at the same position, while the MRE for the repeated manual identification was 1.31 ± 0.94 mm. Conclusions Automated identification for CBCT-synthesized PA cephalometric landmarks did not sufficiently achieve the clinically favorable error range of less than 2 mm. However, AI landmark identification on PA cephalograms showed better consistency than manual identification.