The aim was to assess the impact of thermocycling and brushing on the surface roughness and mass of PETG material—the most commonly used for orthodontic retainers. A total of 96 specimens were exposed to thermocycling and brushing with three different kinds of toothbrushes depending on the number and thickness of the bristles. Surface roughness and mass were evaluated three times: initially, after thermocycling, and after brushing. In all four brands, both thermocycling and brushing increased surface roughness significantly (p < 0.001), with Biolon having the lowest and Track A having the highest. In terms of brushing, only Biolon samples showed statistically significant increased roughness after brushing with all three types of brushes, in comparison to Erkodur A1, where differences were not statistically significant. Thermocycling increased the mass of all samples, but a statistically significant difference was found only in Biolon (p = 0.0203), while after brushing, decreased mass was found in all specimens, statistically significant only in Essix C+ (CS 1560: p = 0.016). PETG material showed instability when exposed to external influences- thermocycling produced an increase in roughness and mass, and brushing mostly caused an increase in roughness and decrease in mass. Erkodur A1 demonstrated the greatest stability, whereas Biolon demonstrated the lowest.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the color stability of esthetic ceramic brackets and adhesive samples after immersion in most commonly consumed beverages. A hundred ceramic brackets from five different manufacturers (Forestadent^®, G&H^®, GC, DynaFlex^®, and American Orthodontics) and 120 samples of adhesives (3M™Transbond™ XT and American Orthodontics BracePaste^® color change adhesive and BracePaste^® adhesive) were immersed into four different solutions: coffee, Coca-Cola^®, the vitamin drink Cedevita^®, and artificial saliva (control group). The samples were kept in an incubator at 37 °C. Color readings were evaluated before (T0), at 24 h (T1), 72 h (T3), 7 days (T4), and 14 days (T5) after initial immersion using a spectrophotometer according to the L*a*b* color scale. All the examined brackets showed a statistically significant difference in discoloration (p = 0.001). 20/40™ Brackets (American Orthodontics) showed the best color stability, while the greatest color modification was recognized in QuicKlear^® III (Forestadent^®) brackets. Regarding adhesives, the greatest staining was observed in the BracePaste^® color change adhesive and the least in the Transbond™ XT samples. In conclusion, color change occurs in all solutions, including control groups, and coffee has the greatest impact on color stability.

Thermoplastic materials are sensitive to humidity, temperature variations, enzyme activities, and cyclic loading. All these factors can cause changes to the mechanical properties of the material. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different cleaning protocols on the surface roughness of orthodontic retainers. Samples of two brands of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) material were exposed to four cleaning protocols: Corega (alkaline peroxide tablets), Toothbrush, Corega + toothbrush, Toothbrush + toothpaste, and Control. Measurement of the surface roughness of the sample on both the top and bottom side was carried out before and after cleaning. There was no statistical difference between the final values of the measured parameters. However, looking at the extent of the change in surface roughness, there was a statistically significant difference in the upper side of the Corega + toothbrush group between Materials A and B. This suggests that there was a greater change in the roughness of material A (Erkodur), given that the mean change in roughness of Material A was Ra 0.047, whereas the mean change in roughness of Material B was Ra 0.022. Almost all the tested cleaning procedures significantly increased the surface roughness of the PET-G retainer material. Of all the methods, the Corega tablets had the lowest influence on surface roughness.

Lip inflammation may manifest as mainly reversible cheilitis, mainly irreversible, or cheilitis connected to dermatoses or systemic diseases. Therefore, knowing a patient’s medical history is important, especially whether their lip lesions are temporary, recurrent, or persistent. Sometimes temporary contributing factors, such as climate and weather conditions, can be identified and avoided—exposure to extreme weather conditions (e.g., dry, hot, or windy climates) may cause or trigger lip inflammation. Emotional and psychological stress are also mentioned in the etiology of some lip inflammations (e.g., exfoliative cheilitis) and may be associated with nervous habits such as lip licking. To better manage cheilitis, it is also helpful to look for potential concomitant comorbidities and the presence of related diseases/conditions. Some forms of cheilitis accompany dermatologic or systemic diseases (lichen, pemphigus or pemphigoid, erythema multiforme, lupus, angioedema, xerostomia, etc.) that should be uncovered. Occasionally, lip lesions are persistent and involve histological changes: actinic cheilitis, granulomatous cheilitis, glandular cheilitis, and plasmacellular cheilitis. Perioral skin inflammation with simultaneous perioral dermatitis can have various causes: the use of corticosteroids and cosmetics, dysfunction of the skin’s epidermal barrier, a contact reaction to allergens or irritants (e.g., toothpaste, dental fillings), microorganisms (e.g., Demodex spp., Candida albicans, fusiform bacteria), hormonal changes, or an atopic predisposition. Epidermal barrier dysfunction can worsen perioral dermatitis lesions and can also be related to secondary vitamin or mineral deficiencies (e.g., zinc deficiency), occlusive emollient use, sunscreen use, or excessive exposure to environmental factors such as heat, wind, and ultraviolet light. Current trends in research are uncovering valuable information concerning the skin microbiome and disruption of the epidermal barrier of persons suffering from perioral dermatitis. Ultimately, an effective approach to patient management must take all these factors and new research into account.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the force degradation of elastomeric chains submerged in commonly used mouthrinses. Methods: One hundred samples of elastomeric orthodontic chains from five different brands (Ormco, GC, RMO, Forestandent, and 3M Unitek) were initially activated on double length, and the force was measured with a universal mechanical testing machine. Then, elastomeric modules were thermocycled and immersed into four different mouthrinses: Octenident, Vitis Orthodontic, Perio Plus+, and Listerine through a total number of three cycles which simulated 30 days of intraoral exposure. Force decay was measured after each cycle. Results: All specimens showed statistically significant force degradation over the tested period (p < 0.001). After thermocycling and immersion in oral antiseptics, the lowest measured force was found in Forestadent EOC in Listerine with a median of 70 cN (70–75 cN) and Vitis orthodontic with a median of 70 cN (70–80 cN). On the contrary, the least prone to force reduction was the control group of Ormco 280 cN (275–285 cN) and RMO 280 cN (270–280 cN). Conclusions: Elastomeric chains’ force degradation could be exacerbated by the use of mouth rinses. These data could be beneficial in choosing the appropriate combination of elastomeric chain and mouthrinse for optimal results of orthodontic therapy.

Objective: To investigate the impact of written instructions, about post-bonding pain, on patients’ pain perception and analgesic consumption and to evaluate the correlation of pain with personality types. Design: Two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial. Setting: University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. Methods: Participants included adolescents in the permanent dentition with mild or moderate crowding. Randomisation: The participants were randomly allocated, using computer-generated random list, into two groups. Interventions: After bonding and archwire insertion, all participants received oral instructions on potential pain occurrence and pain control. Participants in the study group also received written information on post-bonding pain. Outcomes: Pain intensity was evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale immediately after (T0), 2 days (T1) and 7 days (T2) after the placement of the fixed orthodontic appliance. Analgesic consumption was assessed as yes or no, and personality traits were assessed using the Big Five Inventory. Operators who scored pain intensity and recorded analgesic consumption and personality traits were blinded to the group allocation. Statistical analyses included the t -test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman correlations and stepwise regression analysis. Results: The highest rate of pain was recorded at T1 ( P < 0.001). No statistically significant difference in pain perception between groups was observed. There was no statistically significant difference in analgesic consumption between the two groups ( P = 0.81). The correlations between personality traits and pain perception were not significant. Conclusion: The additional written information had little impact on pain perception, and it had no relationship to personality types. The perception of pain and analgesic consumption were not affected by the provision of additional written information ( P = 0.81). Participants’ personality types did not affect the impact of the information given.