Objective: To investigate the effect of using mobile applications active reminders to improve oral hygiene in comparison to verbal oral hygiene instructions. Design: Two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial. Setting: orthodontic clinics at two branches of a university hospitals of the college of dentistry of Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants: Forty-four 12-year-old and older subjects. Method: Subjects undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances were randomly assigned to one of two groups using simple randomisation. Group I: subjects received a mobile application that sends active reminders of oral hygiene three times a day (n = 22). Group II: subjects received verbal oral hygiene instructions verbally during their routine orthodontic visits (n = 22). Two primary outcomes were assessed using plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) for Ramfjord teeth to evaluate the level of oral hygiene at baseline and after 4 weeks. Results: Mean differences for PI and GI for group I were reduced from T1 to T2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.05) but did not significantly change for group II (P > 0.05, P > 0.05). Both PI and GI significantly reduced for group I compared to group II between T1 and T2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Conclusions: PI and GI all significantly decreased after 4 weeks of using active reminders of oral hygiene instructions on mobile application compared to verbal oral hygiene instructions. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov with number: NCT03109769.

Objective To evaluate the stain resistance and color stability of four Clear aligners (CA) brands against various beverages at different intervals, along with assessing the elaboration of cleaning agents. Methods In a strictly controlled lab environment, 48 CAs from four different companies (Invisalign, EON, Clear Cap, and K clear) were immersed for seven days in six different beverages based on their pH (Pepsi, orange juice, milk, coffee, and black tea), as well as a control solution (distilled water). The VITA Easy-Shade compact colorimeter used the Commission International lightening L*a*b* color scheme to evaluate the color change of the aligners at four intervals. T0: before immersing in the solution; T1: twelve hours after immersion; T2: seven days after immersion; and T3/T4: fifteen minutes after exposure to two cleaning agents. The color values were then converted into National Bureau of Standards System (NBS) units. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS. A one-way ANOVA test was used to compare the mean color change values of all aligners and staining agents. Results A significant color change in aligners was observed after immersion in the stated solutions (p = 0.01). Additionally, there is a difference when washing with Invisalign foam and M3 cleaners (p < 0.001). Similarly, there were significant color variations between twelve hours and seven days after soaking (p = 0.01). Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in discoloration among the CAs’ manufacturing materials. Conclusions CAs’ staining ability at different time intervals after immersion in various solutions was clearly visible. Aligner cleanser use has a substantial influence on reducing acquired pigmentation. However, there were minimal differences in discoloration across CA brands.

The present study has reviewed and put insights on the reports and recent literatures confined to the effects of bisphosphonate (BP) medication on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Pharmacological anchorage control plays a vital role in orthodontic treatment planning to the required patients. BPs inhibit bone resorption by involving increased activity of mineral adsorption on the bone surfaces where BPs tend to target osteoclasts. The present study reviewed on the latest report and examined cases relating to the impact of BPs in OTM. Clinical implication, chemical formulation, and mode of action of BPs have been discussed. This reviewspecifically focused on various kinds of BPs used in medication for bone adsorption in OTM therapy. Furthermore, it tries to explore the rare adverse and side effects of BPs observed based on the literatures. A systematic literature search was attempted in the Medline database (PubMed) using appropriate keywords, such as orthodontic tooth movement, bisphosphonates, and manual hand look was more overdone. On the basis of reports examined, BP treatments in OTM have posed an increased trend toward the benefit and interfere with osteoclastic resorption. In many cases, they may be advantageous for mooring strategies and encourage long-term planned randomized controlled trials to evaluate conceivable benefits and antagonistic impacts of BP treatments for OTM, before initiating remedial use.

AIMS: To assess and compare the changes in body weight, dietary habits, and pain perception of patient’s undergoing orthodontic treatment at the initial stage.MATERIAL & METHODS: This was an observational prospective cohort study to assess patient’s changes in body weight, dietary habits, and pain perception undergoing orthodontic treatment at the initial stage. Thirty patients who received orthodontic treatment “for the first time” and those who will get comprehensive orthodontic treatment within the age group of 18-30 years old including both genders were included in the study. The weight as well as dietary habits of patients were measured at the initial visit, “prior reserving of any the orthodontic treatment” as (T0). Re-evaluation of patient’s weight, dietary habits, and pain perception were re-assessed on the next visit” after fixed orthodontic appliance bonding” as (T1) one month later. The pain, discomfort, and dietary habits changes were evaluated using a validated questionnaire.RESULTS: The mean (SD) patient weight at first and second visit of orthodontic treatment was 67.43 (24.42) and 64.98 (22.7) kg respectively. The difference in the patient weight between first and second visit was statistically significant. Patients with discomfort and patients who used medication to relieve pain were reported to have more weight loss.CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the initial loss of weight, pain and discomfort among patients who undergo orthodontic treatments. The findings of this study are of importance among the orthodontic centres and practitioners highlighting the importance of their guidance in structured diet planning and advice after treatment.

Objective: The purpose of this review is to systematically assess the existing literature and summarize the evidence regarding the effect of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser on enamel surface roughness and pulp health compared with the conventional orthodontic debonding techniques. Materials and methods: Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) statement, the electronic database, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google scholar, and Saudi Digital Library were searched for relevant published records. Data were collected following specific keywords: “debonding” “Er:YAG laser” etc. In vitro studies, and clinical randomized- and nonrandomized-controlled studies limited to the English language and published in peer-reviewed journals were included. Results: A total of 564 articles were identified as relevant to the topic. Duplicates were excluded resulting in 382 articles, out of which 374 articles were discarded upon screening titles and abstracts. The remaining eight articles were read to their entirety and included in the current qualitative review after fulfilling the eligibility criteria. In all the included studies, a total of 480 sound posterior teeth were used to evaluate the effect of Er:YAG laser on debonding of orthodontic brackets from the enamel surface. Conclusions: Er:YAG laser debonding has demonstrated a reduced risk of enamel damage (fracture or cracks) but resulted in increased enamel surface roughness and was time-consuming for adhesive removal procedures compared with the conventional debonding methods. Further, within the applied laser settings, Er:YAG lasers have found to exhibit low thermal exhaustion in relation to the pulp. The laser source with a wavelength of 2940 nm has been used with different setting ranges (power of 2.5–5 W, energy 125–600 mJ, frequency 4–30 Hz, and pulse duration 50–350 μsec) for debonding of orthodontic brackets.