Background/Objectives: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including obstructive sleep apnea, is common in children and is associated with mouth breathing, snoring, and neurobehavioral disturbances. In pediatric orthodontic patients, oral habits and craniofacial imbalances may contribute to airway dysfunction, making orthodontic evaluation a potential setting for early identification of SDB. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of SDB and to evaluate its associations with parent-reported behavioral symptom profiles in a cohort of pediatric orthodontic patients. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 186 children aged 7–13 years attending orthodontic clinics in Oradea and Târgu Mureș, Romania. Parents completed a structured questionnaire on oral habits, the 22-item Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ), with SDB defined as 8 or more positive responses, and a parent-reported behavioral screening form assessing ADHD symptom subtypes, oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder, and anxiety/depression. These behavioral outcomes were based on screening measures and were not intended as clinical psychiatric diagnoses. Associations were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed adjusting for age, sex, and weight status. Results: Mouth breathing was reported in 61.8% of participants, snoring in 26.9%, and SDB in 13.4%. Positive screens for ADHD-inattentive (p < 0.001), ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive (p < 0.001), ADHD-combined (p < 0.001), ODD (p < 0.001), and anxiety/depression (p < 0.001) were significantly more frequent among children with SDB. In multivariable analysis, SDB remained independently associated with ADHD-combined subtype (OR = 6.22), ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive symptoms (OR = 5.84), oppositional-defiant disorder (OR = 4.91), and anxiety/depression (OR = 4.38). Conclusions: SDB was identified in a meaningful proportion of pediatric orthodontic patients and was significantly associated with multiple screening-defined behavioral symptom domains. These findings support consideration of brief airway- and sleep-oriented screening during orthodontic assessment, particularly in school-aged children presenting with mouth breathing, snoring, or behavioral concerns. Given the cross-sectional and questionnaire-based design, the findings should be interpreted as associative and warrant confirmation in prospective studies using objective sleep measures.

Background and Objectives: Conventional stainless-steel orthodontic molar bands may exhibit limited anatomical adaptation, favoring plaque retention and periodontal inflammation. This study aimed to compare the periodontal outcomes of standard bands and CAD/CAM-customized molar bands in adolescents. Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized controlled clinical study was conducted in 180 adolescents (mean age: 11.9 years) undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy. Participants were allocated to CAD/CAM-customized bands (n = 90) or standard stainless-steel bands (n = 90). Periodontal parameters—Plaque Control Record (PCR), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), and Periodontal Probing Depth (PPD)—were assessed at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months. Data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.05). Results: Baseline values were comparable between groups (p > 0.05). During follow-up, the CAD/CAM group showed significantly lower PCR, BOP, and PPD values. At 6 months, PCR was 21 ± 8% vs. 42 ± 12%, BOP was 17 ± 6% vs. 40 ± 10%, and PPD was 2.5 ± 0.5 mm vs. 3.1 ± 0.6 mm (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: CAD/CAM-customized molar bands demonstrated superior periodontal performance compared with conventional bands. Improved anatomical adaptation may reduce plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation during orthodontic treatment.

Background and objectives: White spot lesions (WSLs) represent a common enamel demineralization complication associated with fixed orthodontic treatment. Resin infiltration is widely used as a minimally invasive approach to arrest lesion progression and improve esthetics; however, the influence of lesion severity on treatment effectiveness remains insufficiently understood. This in vitro study aimed to investigate how different severities of white spot lesions influence the structural, optical, and mechanical outcomes of resin infiltration. Materials and Methods: Ninety extracted human premolars were subjected to controlled acidic demineralization to produce mild, moderate, and severe lesions. All specimens were treated using a standardized resin infiltration protocol. Lesion depth, resin penetration, optical masking effect (ΔE), and surface microhardness were evaluated using confocal microscopy, spectrophotometry, and Vickers hardness testing. Results: Lesion depth increased significantly with demineralization duration (p < 0.001). Resin penetration showed a strong positive correlation with lesion depth (r = 0.81), while infiltration efficiency was highest in moderate lesions. Optical masking effectiveness decreased significantly with increasing lesion severity (p < 0.01). Surface microhardness improved significantly after infiltration in all groups, with the greatest recovery observed in moderate lesions. Conclusions: Lesion severity significantly influences the structural, optical, and mechanical outcomes of resin infiltration. Early and moderately developed WSLs respond more favorably to infiltration treatment, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention during orthodontic therapy. The integrated evaluation of penetration depth, color masking, and microhardness recovery provides a comprehensive understanding of how lesion severity influences the performance of resin infiltration.

Background/Objectives: The performance of the adhesive system used for bonding fundamentally influences the success of fixed orthodontic treatment. To withstand masticatory forces and prevent bracket debonding, it is critical to achieve optimal shear bond strength (SBS), improving treatment time. The aim of this study was to compare the shear bond strength and adhesive remnant index (ARI) of orthodontic brackets bonded using LED light-curing units with intensities of 3200 mW/cm² at two different exposure times, evaluated after 24 h and 14 days. Methods: Eighty extracted permanent premolars were randomly divided into four experimental groups. Brackets were bonded using Transbond XT adhesive and cured with a VALO™ Ortho Cordless unit (3200 mW/cm²) for 3 or 6 s. SBS was measured using a universal testing machine, and the ARI was assessed under a stereomicroscope at 40× magnification. Results: Increased light intensity and longer curing time significantly improved SBS values. The highest bond strengths were observed in groups cured with 3200 mW/cm² for 6 s, after 14 days. ARI scores showed that longer curing reduced adhesive remnants on the enamel. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences among groups. Conclusions: Therefore, clinicians may achieve better bonding performance and easier enamel clean-up by using high-intensity lights with adequate curing duration.