Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing cephalometric diagnosis in orthodontics, streamlining the patient assessments. This study aimed to assess the reliability, accuracy, and time consumption of artificial intelligence (AI)-based software compared to a conventional digital cephalometric analysis method on 2D lateral cephalogram. 408 lateral cephalometries were analysed using three methods: manual landmark localization, automatic localization, and semi-automatic localization with AI-based software. On each lateral cephalogram, 15 variables were selected, including skeletal, dental, and soft tissue measurements. The difference between the two AI-based software options (automatic and semi-automatic) was compared with the conventional digital technique. The time required to produce a complete cephalometric tracing was evaluated for each method using Student’s t-test. Statistically significant differences in the accuracy of landmark positioning were detected among the three different techniques (p < 0,01). However, it is noteworthy that almost all of these differences were not clinically significant. There was a small difference in accuracy between the semi-automatic AI-based option and conventional digital techniques. Regarding the time used for each technique, the automatic version was the fastest, followed by the semi-automatic option and the conventional digital technique. (p < 0,000). The study showed a statistical difference in accuracy between the conventional digital technique and two AI-based software alternatives, but these differences were not clinically significant except for specific measurements. The semi-automatic option was more accurate than the automatic one and faster than conventional tracing. Further research is needed to confirm AI’s accuracy in cephalometric tracing.

Invisalign® attachments are divided into two main groups: the conventional group and the optimized group, which is also known as the SmartForce™. The aim of this study is to compare the movements produced by an optimized crescent-shaped attachment in superior incisor teeth with the movements produced by a conventional rectangular attachment (vertical and horizontal) in the same teeth. This retrospective study examined the movement table of the initial ClinCheck® and the first refinement of 95 patients (mean age 44.18 ± 4.125, 40 males and 55 females). It represented 147 upper incisors divided into two groups: 87 with rectangular attachment and 60 with optimized attachment. Applying Kravitz’s accuracy formula for each movement and each tooth of interest (with attachments of interest), we underlined the effectiveness of each attachment. Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis. The accuracies of rotation, mesio-distal angulation and vestibulo-lingual inclination are highly significantly related to the type of attachment used on the upper lateral incisor. The optimized attachment presented greater accuracy in the rotation of the lateral incisors than the conventional attachment. However, conventional vertical attachment showed a higher accuracy (p<.01) in the mesio-distal angulation and horizontal attachments showed a higher accuracy (p<.01) in the vestibulo-lingual inclination in the same group of teeth. Optimized attachments rotate better lateral incisors; conventional vertical attachments are more efficient to improve mesio-distal angulation; and horizontal attachments serve best for torque movements. Key words:Orthodontics, clear aligners, orthodontic tooth movements, attachments.

Background: This study evaluates the particle dispersion involved in dental procedures carried out during orthodontic treatments. Variants such as temperature and relative humidity in the dental cabinet were considered. Methods: Using a particle counter, a pilot study was conducted, in which 98 consecutive recordings were made during appointments of patients undergoing orthodontic treatments. Temperature, relative humidity and particles present at the beginning (AR) and during the appointment (BR) were recorded. A control record (CR) of temperature, relative humidity and particles present was made before the start of the clinical activity. In addition to conventional statistics, differential descriptive procedures were used to analyse results, and the influence of relative humidity on particle concentration was analysed by statistical modelling with regression equations. Results: The number of particles present, regardless of their size, was much higher in AR than in CR (p < .001). The same was true for relative humidity and ambient temperature. The relationship between relative humidity and particle number was determined to be exponential. Limitations of the study: The limitations are associated with sample size, environmental conditions of the room and lack of discrimination among the procedures performed. Conclusions: This pilot study shows that from the moment a patient enters a dental office, a large number of additional particles are generated. During treatment, the number of particles of 0.3 microns—which have a high capacity to penetrate the respiratory tract-increases. Moreover, a relationship between relative humidity and particle formation is observed. Further studies are needed.

The aim of this study is to understand the perceptions of young non-dental professionals and orthodontists on the aesthetics of facial profile. Perceptions were assessed using seven types of profile for both sexes, which represented different relations of the maxilla and mandible. In total, 50 young laypeople and 20 orthodontists were randomly selected to evaluate the aesthetics of each profile using numbers 1 to 10 to rank them in order of attractiveness. Aesthetics score was considered as a quantitative variable and comparison between groups was done with an ANOVA, and age and orthodontic treatment history of the evaluators from the young non-dental population was used as covariates to assess its possible effect. The following female profiles were rated as most aesthetic: protruding jaw (p<.001; R2:21.9%) and retruded jaw (p<.001; R2:22.1%). The following male profiles were rated as most aesthetic: retruded maxilla (p=.001; R2:14.7%), bi-protruding maxilla and mandible (p<.001; R2: 54.4%) and straight maxilla and mandible (p<.05; R2:8.7%). Based on the sex of the evaluator, only significant differences were observed in these two male profiles. The straight profile showed significant differences (p<.10) with a moderate effect (4.3%), and the bi-retruded profile (p<.05) also had a moderate effect (8.5%); these were rated higher by men. Insufficient statistical evidence was found to admit that a history of orthodontic treatment influences aesthetic perception of male or female profiles. For all the variables, evaluators from the young population scored higher than orthodontists for both male and female profiles. The straight profile was considered more aesthetic for both sexes. Differences in aesthetic perception depending on sex and previous clinical history of orthodontic treatment were minimal. It can be concluded that the young lay population is less demanding in its evaluations than orthodontists. Key words:Orthodontics, facial profile, aesthetic, aesthetic perception.

To identify the use of social media as an influencing factor of the orthodontic patient’s preferences regarding the lip profile protrusion. A two-part cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed to orthodontic patients in Spain and The Netherlands. The first part collected general data and frequency of use of different social media. The second part consisted of a series of modified female and male silhouettes presenting different lip profile positions. Each participant was required to choose both the (male and female) most attractive silhouette and the least attractive one. Student t-test, one-way ANOVA and Chi-square test were performed. Effect sizes were calculated to express the magnitude of differences between samples. The Spanish sample resulted in a moderate higher tendency (R² = 0.060) to choose protrusive lips as the most attractive lip profile for females, on subjects with more frequent use of social media. A medium tendency (R²⁼0,26) was observed as result of low users of social media choosing and ideal lip profile for men. The Dutch sample showed that high users of social media tended to choose as attractive a more protrusive female lip profile versus low users (p < .01). This was also observed (p < .05) on male attractive lip profiles. Results suggest that frequent users of social media platforms tend to prefer more protruded lips than their less frequent counterparts. This information is valuable to be considered when formulating a treatment plan to satisfy the patient’s expectations.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the prevalence of tooth transposition within an orthodontic population and explore its correlation with facial biotype, skeletal class and sex. Material and methods: This study examined a sample of 2,500 initial orthodontic records from consecutive orthodontic patients who received treatment at the Master Universitario de Orthodontia (Madrid, Spain) between 2014 and 2023. Patients exhibiting incomplete or poor-quality medical re-cords were excluded from the study. The chi-square test was used to assess variations in distribution based on facial biotype, skeletal class and sex. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study findings revealed a tooth transposition prevalence rate of 0.28%. No significant differences in prevalence were observed based on sex or facial biotype, but the prevalence of transposition was found to be higher among class I patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of tooth transposition among orthodontic patients is relatively low (0.28%). However, it is more com-monly observed among patients with skeletal class I malocclusion.