Aim: To estimate the differences in the maxillary arch morphology in buccal and palatal canine impaction in an Asian population of Gujarati origin. Methodology: An institutional ethics committee’s approval was acquired before the commencement of this study. Sixty subjects were enrolled in the study. Thirty subjects (20 females and 10 males) had a maxillary impacted canine either buccal or palatal and thirty control group participants were selected aged 13 to 18 years who sought orthodontic treatment at the tertiary health care center in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in western India. Routine pre-treatment radiographs and dental plaster models with good anatomic details were recorded. Measurements of the inter-molar width, palatal depth, arch length, sum of the mesio-distal width of the upper incisors, and available arch space were recorded from prepared orthodontic study models using digital vernier calipers with an accuracy of 0.01 mm and brass wire. The ratio of palatal depth to inter-molar width (Ratio 1), arch length to inter-molar width (Ratio 2), and width of the maxillary incisors to available arch space (Ratio 3) were also secondarily calculated. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21, IBM Inc. The normality of the data was assessed by the Shapiro–Wilk test. As the data was found to be normally distributed, bivariate analyses were also performed (one-way ANOVA test, Bonferroni post hoc correction). The level of statistical significance was set at a p-value less than 0.05. Results: The comparison of the inter-molar width, palatal depth, arch length, sum of the mesio-distal width of the upper incisors, available arch space, Ratio 1, Ratio 2, and Ratio 3 among controls and subjects with buccal and palatal canine impaction showed overall significant differences in the inter-molar width, palatal depth, arch length, sum of the mesio-distal width of the upper incisors, and available arch space when compared using one-way ANOVA as p < 0.05. Ratios 1, 2, and 3 also showed significant differences between the buccal and palatal canine impaction. Conclusion: An inadequate arch length (p < 0.0001) and a higher degree of crowding with reduced available arch space (p < 0.0001) may be considered as early risk factors for buccal maxillary canine impaction. An inadequate inter-molar width (p < 0.0001), and an increased palatal depth (p < 0.0001) with a clinically reduced mesiodistal width of the sum of maxillary incisors may be considered as risk factors for palatal maxillary canine impaction in an Asian population of Gujarati origin.

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to strengthen the credibility of primary research results by combining open-source scientific material, namely a comparison of craniofacial features (Cfc) between Crouzon's syndrome (CS) patients and non-CS populations. All articles published up to October 7, 2021, were included in the search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, and Web of Science. The PRISMA guidelines were followed to conduct this study. PECO framework was applied in the following ways: Those who have CS are denoted by the letter P, those who have been diagnosed with CS via clinical or genetic means by the letter E, those who do not have CS by the letter C, and those who have a Cfc of CS by the letter O. Independent reviewers collected the data and ranked the publications based on their adherence to the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. A total of six case-control studies were reviewed for this meta-analysis. Due to the large variation in cephalometric measures, only those published in at least two previous studies were included. This analysis found that CS patients had a smaller skull and mandible volumes than those without CS.in terms of SNA° (MD = −2.33, p = <0.001, I²= 83.6%) and ANB°(MD = −1.89, p = <0.005, I²= 93.1%)), as well as ANS (MD = −1.87, p = 0.001, I²= 96.5%)) and SN/PP (MD = −1.99, p = 0.036, I²= 77.3%)). In comparison to the general population, people with CS tend to have shorter and flatter cranial bases, smaller orbital volumes, and cleft palates. They differ from the general population in having a shorter skull base and more V-shaped maxillary arches.

The oro-facial morphology is greatly affected in neonates with a cleft lip and palate. The initial evaluation of neonate’s body and maxillary arch dimensions is important for treatment planning and predicting growth in cleft patients. The objective of this study was comparative evaluation of the anthropometric and physiologic parameters of cleft and non-cleft neonates in a hospital-based set up. This cross sectional study was conducted on 88 cleft and non-cleft neonates (n = 44 in each group) aged between 0 and 30 days after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee and positive written informed consent from their parents. Neonates’ body weight, body length, head length, head circumference, and maxillary arch dimensions were measured. Maxillary arch dimensions were measured on dental casts with digital sliding calipers. Statistical analyses performed using the independent t-test and one-way ANOVA analysis were followed by Bonferroni correction for post-hoc comparison. The results showed statistically significant differences in birth weight (p < 0.0001), head length (p < 0.01), head circumference (p < 0.007), and maxillary arch dimensions (p < 0.0001) between cleft and non-cleft neonates. These findings suggest that cleft neonates had significant anthropometric and physiologic variations than non-cleft neonates.

Dermatoglyphics - the scientific study of epidermal ridge patterns - develops during the same embryonic period as the oral-craniofacial complex and remains unchanged throughout life. Because of this developmental parallelism, dermatoglyphic traits have been explored as potential non-invasive associations of oral diseases in children. This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022322563), evaluated associations between dermatoglyphic features and three pediatric oral conditions: dental caries, malocclusion, and nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P). Electronic searches across Medline, Ovid, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar (January 1990-August 2025) identified cross-sectional and case-control studies with ≥ 200 participants assessing qualitative (loops, whorls, arches) and quantitative (atd angle, ridge counts) traits. Fifteen studies comprising approximately 7,300 children were included; 12 contributed to quantitative synthesis and nine to meta-analysis. In dental caries cohorts, pooled percentage-point differences showed that whorls were more frequent in affected children (mean difference (MD): 6.86; 95% CI: 6.67-7.05; p < 0.01; I² = 90), whereas loops were less frequent (MD: -6.41; 95% CI: -6.56 to -6.26; p < 0.01; I² = 98); arches showed smaller but significant variation (MD: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.49 to -0.04; p = 0.04). In NSCL/P studies, lower total ridge count, higher a-b ridge counts, and greater fluctuating asymmetry were observed (p < 0.001). Malocclusion investigations demonstrated class-specific pattern shifts with inconsistent significance. Substantial heterogeneity (I² ≈ 78-98%) and moderate methodological quality were observed. Collectively, dermatoglyphic traits - particularly whorls, loops, and atd angles - show possible associations with pediatric oral conditions. Although not diagnostic, these traits may serve as low-cost indicators warranting validation through large, multicenter, and longitudinal studies while considering potential publication bias, limited representativeness, and geographic concentration of existing evidence.

Currently, wide arrays of fixed functional appliances are available for the correction of Class II malocclusion. The orthodontist must choose from these appliances depending on the mechanics, efficiency, and cost of the appliance. Fixed functional appliances may reduce the individual visits and hence the cost as compared to the removable appliances. Additionally, it may save the clinician’s chair time. This report discussed the in‐house laboratory fabrication and clinical procedure of customized fixed functional appliances by utilizing the readily available dental materials in the orthodontic clinical setting.