Objective: To investigate the potential correlation between fixed orthodontic retention failure and several patient- and treatment-related factors. Methods: Patients finishing treatment with fixed appliances between 2016 and 2017 were retrospectively included in this study. Those not showing fixed retention failure were considered as control group. Patients with fixed retention failure were considered as the experimental group. Additionally, patients with failure of fixed retainers in the period of June 2019 to March 2021 were prospectively identified and included in the experimental group. The location of the first retention failure, sex, pretreatment dental occlusion, facial characteristics, posttreatment dental occlusion, treatment approach and presence of oral habits were compared between groups before and after treatment separately by using a Fisher exact test and a Mann–Whitney U test. Results: 206 patients with fixed retention failure were included, 169 in the mandibular and 74 in the maxillary jaws. Significant correlations were observed between retention failure in the mandibular jaws and mandibular arch length discrepancy (P = 0.010), post-treatment growth pattern (P = 0.041), nail biting (P < 0.001) and abnormal tongue function (P = 0.002). Retention failure in the maxillary jaws was more frequent in patients with IPR in the mandibular jaws (P = 0.005) and abnormal tongue function (P = 0.021). Conclusions This study suggests a correlation between fixed retention failure and parafunctional habits, such as nail biting and abnormal tongue function. Prospective studies with larger study populations could further confirm these results.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess the reproducibility of identifying the sella turcica landmark in a threedimensional (3D) model by using a new sella-specific landmark reference system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two cone-beam computed tomographic scans (3D Accuitomo(R) 170, J. Morita, Kyoto, Japan) were retrospectively collected. The 3D data were exported into the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine standard and then imported into the Maxilim(R) software (Medicim NV, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium) to create 3D surface models. Five observers identified four osseous landmarks in order to create the reference frame and then identified two sella landmarks. The x, y, and z coordinates of each landmark were exported. The observations were repeated after four weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using the multiple paired t-test with Bonferroni correction (intraobserver precision: p<0.005, interobserver precision: p<0.0011). RESULTS: The intraobserver mean precision of all landmarks was <1 mm. Significant differences were found when comparing the intraobserver precision of each observer (p<0.005). For the sella landmarks, the intraobserver mean precision ranged from 0.43+/-0.34 mm to 0.51+/-0.46 mm. The intraobserver reproducibility was generally good. The overall interobserver mean precision was <1 mm. Significant differences between each pair of observers for all anatomical landmarks were found (p<0.0011). The interobserver reproducibility of sella landmarks was good, with >50% precision in locating the landmark within 1 mm. CONCLUSION: A newly developed reference system offers high precision and reproducibility for sella turcica identification in a 3D model without being based on two-dimensional images derived from 3D data.
Cephalometry ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Orthodontics ; Retrospective Studies ; Sella Turcica*