Caries is an undesirable side-effect of treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how orthodontic treatment and different fluoride regimens affect caries risk and individual risk factors. To evaluate the effects of orthodontic treatment and different fluoride regimens on caries risk and caries risk factors, including cariogenic bacteria. Three-armed, parallel group, randomized, controlled trial. Patients referred to the Specialist Clinic of Orthodontics, Mölndal Hospital, Sweden, were distributed randomly into the following groups: group I (Control group), 1450 ppm fluoride (F) toothpaste; group II, 1450 ppm F toothpaste plus 0.2 per cent sodium fluoride (NaF) mouth rinse; and group III, 5000 ppm F toothpaste. The inclusion criteria were: age 12–20 years; and bimaxillary treatment with fixed appliances. The primary outcome variables were: caries risk; and the numbers of cariogenic bacteria. Radiographs were taken before treatment to determine the caries status. Data were collected before treatment and after 1 year with a fixed appliance. The variables were compiled into a Cariogram to assess the caries risk. Comparisons were made over time within and between the groups. The generation of randomization sequence was performed in blocks of 30. Blinding was employed during the data analysis and the caries registration. The clinical study duration was from October 2010 to December 2012. Overall, 270 patients were randomized, of which 15 were excluded from the study. Therefore, 255 patients were included in the analyses. The caries risk increased significantly during orthodontic treatment in group I (P < 0.0001), whereas groups II and III had unchanged caries risks. All the groups showed statistically significant increases in the numbers of cariogenic bacteria. No harms were reported during the trial. To avoid an increased risk of caries during orthodontic treatment, everyday use of high-fluoride toothpaste (5000 ppm F) or mouth rinse (0.2% NaF) in combination with ordinary toothpaste is recommended. The trial was not registered.

Summary: Background: In long-term studies of orthodontic, orthognathic, and prosthodontic treatments, control subjects are needed for comparison. Objectives: To study the craniofacial (skeletal, soft tissue, and dental) changes that occur in untreated subjects with normal occlusion between 13 and 62 years of age. Materials/Methods: Thirty subjects with a Class I normal occlusion and harmonious facial profile were studied. X-ray examinations were performed at 13 (T1), 16 (T2), 31 (T3), and 62 (T4) years of age, and data were obtained from cephalograms. In total, 53 angular and linear parameters were measured using superimposition-based and conventional cephalometric methods to describe the craniofacial changes. Results: The jaws showed significant anterior growth from T1 to T2, and significant retrognathism from T3 to T4. The anterior face height and jaw dimensions increased significantly until T3. Significant posterior rotation of the mandible and opening of the vertical jaw relation, in addition to significant retroclination of the incisors and straightening of the facial profile, were found from T3 to T4. Limitations: Given the small sample size at T4, it was not possible to analyse the gender dimension. Conclusions/Implications: Craniofacial changes continue up to the sixth decade of life. These changes are consistent, albeit to a lesser extent, with the adolescent growth patterns for most of the studied parameters, with the exceptions of incisor inclination, sagittal jaw position, vertical jaw relation and inclination, and posterior face height.

Ectopic eruption and/or impaction of maxillary permanent canines is a frequent problem in clinical dentistry. Previous studies aimed to identify potential associated factors and predictors for impacted maxillary canines have only used conventional univariate statistics, which does not allow the analysis of the interaction between and within variables. Multivariate data analysis (MVDA) is a better and more powerful tool for the integration and interpretation of complex datasets. The aim of this study was to validate previously explored predictors of permanent maxillary canine impaction using MVDA. This cohort study included all the patients referred during 2011 to Mölndal Hospital, Sweden for surgical exposure of impacted canines (N = 45). Age- and gender-matched orthodontic patients (N = 45) with normally erupting canines comprised the control group. The age range for both groups was 11–17 years. The positions of the canine teeth (orthopantograms), the skeletal variables (profile radiographs), and dentoalveolar traits (casts) were evaluated as potential predictive factors for impaction. None of the parameters evaluated with either profile radiography or casts were positively correlated with impacted maxillary canines, with the exception of the location of the already impacted canines, as identified by orthopantogram. No correlation between clinical variables and impaction was found using MVDA. Therefore, these variables could not be used as predictors of canine impaction. Other types of parameters, such as inheritance and molecular factors that regulate the biological mechanisms of the eruption process, need to be further investigated.

Objective: To compare the reliability of digital occlusal contacts quantification and the validity of digital occlusal contacts quantification with traditional methods used for occlusal contact determination. Subjects and Methods: Thirty participants, all of whom were students at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg in Gothenburg, Sweden, were included in the study. Three different methods were used to evaluate occlusal contacts: (I) a digital examination of the patients’ casts, using the Ortho 3D Models (O3DM) software and measuring the total occlusal contact area in square millimeters (DE); (II) an examination involving the measurement of the total number of occlusal contacts on stone casts mounted in an articulator (AE); and (III) a clinical examination with the measurement of the total number of occlusal contacts with 8 μm-thick articulating foil (CE). Results: The repeated digital measurements (same casts scanned multiple times) showed a significant correlation of 0.85 (p < 0.01), which shows a diagnostic consistency. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the results obtained with the DE method and the AE of 0.41 (p < 0.05), and between those acquired with the AE method and the CE of 0.37 (p < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was found between the DE method and the CE method with a correlation coefficient of 0.10 (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Digital casts can be used for quantification of the total occlusal contact area (in mm²) owing to the high reliability of repeated measurements and the strong validity of the method compared to traditionally employed stone cast measurements.