The purpose of this article was to evaluate the effects of a new upper molar distalization system, the Frog Appliance, on dentofacial structures in a Class II, division 1 patient. An 11-year-old girl was referred to our clinic for orthodontic treatment. She had a mild skeletal Class II malocclusion with Class II molar and canine relationship on both sides. The treatment plan included distalization of the upper first molars bilaterally followed by full fixed appliance therapy. For the upper molar distalization, a new system, the Frog Appliance, was constructed and applied. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were used to evaluate the treatment results. Distalization of the upper first molars was achieved in four months successfully, and Class I molar relationship was obtained. Total treatment time was 16 months. According to the results of the cephalometric evaluation, a nearly bodily distal molar movement with a slight anchorage loss was attained. In conclusion, the Frog Appliance was found to be a simple, effective, non-invasive, and compliance-free intraoral distalization appliance for achieving bilateral molar distalization.
Child ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Molar

The aim of this report is to present an intraoral upper molar distalization system supported with zygomatic anchorage plates (Zygoma-gear Appliance, ZGA). This system was used for a 16-year-old female patient with a Class II molar relationship requiring molar distalization. The system consisted of bilateral zygomatic anchorage plates, an inner-bow and heavy intraoral elastics. Distalization of the upper molars was achieved in 3 months and the treatment results were evaluated from lateral cephalometric radiographs. According to the results of the cephalometric analysis, the maxillary first molars showed a distalization of 4 mm, associated with a distal axial inclination of 4.5degrees. The results of this study show that an effective upper molar distalization without anchorage loss can be achieved in a short time using the ZGA. We suggest that this new system may be used in cases requiring molar distalization in place of extraoral appliances.
Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Molar ; Ophthalmoplegia

OBJECTIVE: To test the null hypothesis that SmartClip self-ligating brackets are more effective than conventional brackets for initial mandibular alignment and identify influential factors. METHODS: Fifty patients were randomly allocated to two equal treatment groups by using an online randomization program: self-ligating group (SmartClip brackets) and conventional group (Gemini brackets). The archwire sequence was standardized. Changes in anterior irregularity index, intercanine width, and intermolar width were assessed on plaster models at 8th and 16th weeks. Changes in incisor position and inclination were assessed on lateral cephalometric radiographs at 16 weeks. Intragroup and intergroup comparisons were performed with paired t-test and Student's t-test, respectively. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify variables affecting improvement in anterior ambiguity. RESULTS: Data of 46 patients were analyzed; those missing an appointment (n = 2) or showing bracket breakage (n = 2) were excluded. Incisor inclination (p < 0.05), intercanine width (p < 0.05), and intermolar width (p > 0.05) increased at 8 and 16 weeks in both the groups; no significant intergroup differences were noted (p > 0.05). Initial anterior irregularity index and intercanine width change were significantly associated with improvement in anterior irregularity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The null hypothesis was rejected. Bracket type has little effect on improvement in anterior ambiguity during initial mandibular alignment.
Humans ; Incisor ; Linear Models ; Prospective Studies* ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVE: To test the null hypothesis that SmartClip self-ligating brackets are more effective than conventional brackets for initial mandibular alignment and identify influential factors. METHODS: Fifty patients were randomly allocated to two equal treatment groups by using an online randomization program: self-ligating group (SmartClip brackets) and conventional group (Gemini brackets). The archwire sequence was standardized. Changes in anterior irregularity index, intercanine width, and intermolar width were assessed on plaster models at 8th and 16th weeks. Changes in incisor position and inclination were assessed on lateral cephalometric radiographs at 16 weeks. Intragroup and intergroup comparisons were performed with paired t-test and Student's t-test, respectively. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify variables affecting improvement in anterior ambiguity. RESULTS: Data of 46 patients were analyzed; those missing an appointment (n = 2) or showing bracket breakage (n = 2) were excluded. Incisor inclination (p < 0.05), intercanine width (p < 0.05), and intermolar width (p > 0.05) increased at 8 and 16 weeks in both the groups; no significant intergroup differences were noted (p > 0.05). Initial anterior irregularity index and intercanine width change were significantly associated with improvement in anterior irregularity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The null hypothesis was rejected. Bracket type has little effect on improvement in anterior ambiguity during initial mandibular alignment.
Humans ; Incisor ; Linear Models ; Prospective Studies* ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the shear bond strength (SBS) and failure-mode of orthodontic buttons bonded to erupted and unerupted teeth with conventional and self-etching adhesive systems. METHODS: Eighty-four erupted and 84 unerupted, human third-molar teeth were used. For both groups, the buccal surfaces of each tooth were assigned one of the following type of adhesive systems (n = 12). A, Conventional systems: 1, Transbond XT (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA); 2, Prime & Bond NT (Dentsply/Caulk, Milford, USA); 3, Single Bond (3M ESPE, Minnesota, USA); and B, Self-etching adhesives; 4, Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray, Okayama, Japan); 5, Transbond Plus (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA); 6, Clearfil S3 (Kuraray, Tokyo, Japan); 7, G Bond (GC, Tokyo, Japan). The SBSs of the attachments and the adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores were recorded. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent-sample t-test and chi-square tests. RESULTS: When the SBSs of erupted and unerupted teeth were compared, only the Clearfil-SE Bond and G-Bond were significantly different. Bond strengths of all adhesive systems were higher in unerupted teeth than erupted teeth, except the Single-Bond system. CONCLUSIONS: When using conventional adhesives, bonding to erupted and unerupted teeth may not be significantly different. However, clinicians need to take into consideration the types of self-etching systems before usage.
Adhesives ; Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate ; Humans ; Methacrylates ; Minnesota ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; Resin Cements ; Tokyo ; Tooth ; Tooth, Unerupted

OBJECTIVES: We explored whether wideband tympanometry (WBT) could be used as a screening test for superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD), and obtained new WBT data (given that the test is not yet in common clinical use) on patients with SSCD. METHODS: We compared the WBT data of patients clinically and radiologically diagnosed with SSCD in our hospital between 2013 and 2018 to those of healthy volunteers. We compared the resonance frequency (RF), maximum absorbance frequency (MAF), and maximum absorbance ratio (MAR). The t-test was used for statistical analysis with the significance level set to P<0.05. In addition, we used receiver operating characteristic analysis to derive cutoff values for SSCD diagnosis in terms of sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (four with bilateral and 13 with unilateral disease; 17 ears) diagnosed with SSCD and 27 healthy volunteers (47 ears) were included. The mean RFs of the SSCD patients and healthy subjects were 548.7 Hz (range, 243 to 853 Hz) and 935.1 Hz (range, 239 to 1,875 Hz), respectively (P<0.001). The mean MARs of the SSCD patients and healthy subjects were 89.4% (range, 62% to 100%) and 82.4% (range, 63% to 99%), respectively (P=0.005). The mean MAFs of the SSCD patients and healthy subjects were 1,706.3 Hz (range, 613 to 3,816 Hz) and 2,668 Hz (range, 876 to 4,387 Hz), respectively (P<0.001). In terms of SSCD diagnosis, a MAR above 86% afforded 81% sensitivity and 77% specificity; an RF below 728 Hz, 86% sensitivity and 81% specificity; and an MAF below 1,835 Hz, 79% sensitivity and 67% specificity. CONCLUSION: WBT may be a useful clinical screening test for SSCD. The RF and MAF were lower, and the MAR higher, in SSCD patients than in normal controls.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Diagnosis ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Mars ; Mass Screening ; ROC Curve ; Semicircular Canals ; Sensitivity and Specificity