INTRODUCTION The aim of this prospective, longitudinal, case-series study was to analyze the effect of orthodontic treatment by means of an activator appliance on the temporomandibular joint disc-condyle complex. METHODS The sample included 27 consecutively treated subjects with Class II Division 1 malocclussions (21 boys, 6 girls) who underwent orthodontic therapy with activators. The averag...

Moses describes an appliance termed a "passivator" which supports the mandible in an anterior and slightly open bite yet neither allows nor causes undesirable orthodontic tooth movements. This appliance is reported to support the patient’s mandible during sleep, prevent collapse of the pharyngeal musculature, allow greater volume of space for tongue activity and prevent incorrect swallowing and...

The history of the functional appliance can be traced back to 1879, when Norman Kingsley introduced the "bite-jumping" appliance. In the early 1900s, parallel development began in the United States and Europe in fixed and functional techniques, respectively, but the Atlantic Ocean was a geographic barrier that restricted the sharing of knowledge and experience in these philosophies. The only ex...

OBJECTIVE Several appliances have been used for palatal expansion for treatment of posterior cross bite. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stress induced in the apical and crestal alveolar bone and the pattern of tooth displacement following expansion via removable expansion plates or fixed-banded palatal expander using the finite element method (FEM) analysis. MATERIALS AND METHO...

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to compare the effects of several Class II malocclusion treatments on condylar growth and positioning of the mandible. METHODS The material comprised series of lateral cephalograms obtained at the start, after about 6 months, and after about 12 months of treatment from 3 groups of consecutively treated patients who used a headgear-activator with stepwise...

Situations where orthodontic appliances may cause pain or discomfort include: • A long wire that is located distal to the terminal bracket (i.e., a distal end) is irritating the mucosa (Fig. 1) • A bracket that has debonded, come loose and is irritating the mucosa • Orthodontic wire irritating the inner mucosa (Fig. 2) • A !xed orthodontic appliance that has come loose (e.g., a single band or a...

This case report presents a patient who is undergoing orthodontic treatment with upper and lower fixed appliance. An interesting point on this case is that the patient only uses Miswak as her oral hygiene tool due to her religious belief. The oral hygiene protocol was allowed and her oral health was closely monitored throughout her orthodontic treatment.

Mandibular incisor extraction for orthodontic treatment is considered an unusual treatment option because of the limited number of patients that meet the criteria for such treatment. Accurate diagnosis and treatment planning is essential to achieve the desired results. Adult orthodontic patients are increasingly motivated by esthetic considerations and reject the idea of conventional fixed appl...

Sickle cell anemia is a common hereditary hematologic disease. It affects many systems and tissues in the body, including the mouth. Delayed tooth eruption, an uncommon degree of periodontitis, alterations in the cells of the tongue surface, hypomaturation and hypomineralization in enamel and dentin, pulp calcifications, hypercementosis, and bone alterations resulting in maxillary protrusion an...