OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the retention characteristics of Essix and Hawley retainers. METHODS: Adolescents undergoing fixed appliance treatment at 2 centers were recruited for this study. Twenty-two patients (16 women and 6 men) wore Essix retainers (Essix group) while 20 (14 women and 6 men) wore Hawley retainers (Hawley group). The mean retention time was 1 year, and the mean follow-up recall time for both groups was 2 years. Two qualified dental examiners evaluated the blind patient data. Maxillary and mandibular dental casts and lateral cephalograms were analyzed at 4 stages: pretreatment (T1), post-treatment (T2), post-retention (T3), and follow-up (T4). RESULTS: The results revealed that Essix appliances were more efficient in retaining the anterior teeth in the mandible during a 1-year retention period. The irregularity index increased in both arches in both groups after a 2-year post-retention period. The mandibular arch lengths increased during treatment and tended to return to their original value after retention in both groups; however, these changes were statistically significant only in the Hawley group. Cephalometric variables did not show any significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The retention characteristics of both Essix and Hawley retainers are similar.
Adolescent ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mandible ; Recurrence ; Retention (Psychology) ; Tooth

OBJECTIVE: Intraoral noncompliance upper molar distalization techniques have gained in popularity and have subsequently found to be successful in Class II correction. The aim of the present study was to introduce a screw supported intraoral distalization appliance and investigate its efficiency. METHODS: Twenty-one subjects (11 females, 10 males; average age of 14.9 years) with Angle Class II malocclusion participated in this study. Two screws were inserted behind the incisive foramen and immediately loaded to distalize the upper first molars. An intraoral screw supported distalization appliance was used to distalize the upper molars in order to achieve a Class I molar relationship. Skeletal and dental changes were evaluated using cephalometric and three-dimensional (3D) model analysis. RESULTS: Upper molars were distalized 3.95 mm on average and a Class I molar relationship was achieved without any anchorage loss. The upper molars were tipped only 1.49degrees and the upper right and left molars were rotated only 0.54degrees and 0.74degrees respectively which were statistically non-significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The newly designed screw supported noncompliance distalization appliance was found to be an effective device for achieving bodily molar distalization without any anchorage loss.
Female ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; Molar

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of brackets and microleakage of a tooth-adhesive-bracket complex bonded with a direct and an indirect bonding technique after thermocycling. METHODS: Fifty non-carious human premolars were divided into two equal groups. In the direct bonding group a light-cured adhesive and a primer (Transbond XT) was used. In the indirect-bonding group, a light-cured adhesive (Transbond XT) and chemical-cured primer (Sondhi Rapid Set) were used. After polymerization, the teeth were kept in distilled water for 24 hours and thereafter subjected to thermal cycling (500 cycles). For the microleakage evaluation, 10 teeth from each group were further sealed with nail varnish, stained with 0.5% basic fuchsin for 24 hours, and examined under a stereomicroscope. Fifteen teeth from each group were used for SBS testing with the universal testing machine and adhesive remnant index (ARI) evaluation. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences on SBS and microleakage between the two bonding techniques. The indirect bonding group had a significantly lower ARI score. Bracket failures were obtained between enamel-resin interfaces. CONCLUSIONS: The type of bonding technique did not significantly affect the amount of microleakage and SBS.
Adhesives ; Bicuspid ; Collodion ; Humans ; Nails ; Paint ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Rosaniline Dyes ; Tooth ; Water

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of measurements obtained after the superimposition of three-dimensional (3D) digital models by comparing them with those obtained from lateral cephalometric radiographs and photocopies of plaster models for the evaluation of upper molar distalization. METHODS: Data were collected from plaster models and lateral cephalometric radiographs of 20 Class II patients whose maxillary first molars were distalized with an intraoral distalizer. The posterior movements of the maxillary first molars were evaluated using lateral cephalometric radiographs (group CP), photocopies of plaster models (group PH), and digitized 3D models (group TD). Additionally, distalization and expansion of the other teeth and the degrees of molar rotation were measured in group PH and group TD and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed regarding the amount of molar distalization among the three groups. A comparison of the aforementioned parameters between group PH and group TD did not reveal any significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: 3D digital models are reliable to assess the results of upper molar distalization and can be considered a valid alternative to conventional measurement methods.
Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molar* ; Tooth

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of measurements obtained after the superimposition of three-dimensional (3D) digital models by comparing them with those obtained from lateral cephalometric radiographs and photocopies of plaster models for the evaluation of upper molar distalization. METHODS: Data were collected from plaster models and lateral cephalometric radiographs of 20 Class II patients whose maxillary first molars were distalized with an intraoral distalizer. The posterior movements of the maxillary first molars were evaluated using lateral cephalometric radiographs (group CP), photocopies of plaster models (group PH), and digitized 3D models (group TD). Additionally, distalization and expansion of the other teeth and the degrees of molar rotation were measured in group PH and group TD and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed regarding the amount of molar distalization among the three groups. A comparison of the aforementioned parameters between group PH and group TD did not reveal any significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: 3D digital models are reliable to assess the results of upper molar distalization and can be considered a valid alternative to conventional measurement methods.
Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molar* ; Tooth