Three years ago, a sublime editorial1 praised the audacious growth of Brazilian dental scientific production. At that time, our former editor dared to foresee the position Brazil would occupy in 2015: the most productive country in terms of dental scientific knowledge. The author was based on data from Scopus which, at that point, did not include Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics (DPJO). This database currently provides data as far as 2012, with DPJO having the highest number of...

The early treatment of Class III malocclusion is a challenge for orthodontists around the world. The challenges imposed by Biology are associated with the difficulty to obtain patient’s adhesion to traditional methods of treatment: maxillary disjunction followed by maxillary protraction with facial masks. The search for alternatives to conventional treatment methods suggests that this malocclusion be corrected with intermaxillary elastics supported by skeletal anchoring plates. Despite...

Mini-implant loss is often associated with physical and mechanical aspects that result from choosing an inappropriate placement site. It is worth highlighting that: a) Interdental alveolar bone crests are flexible and deformable. For this reason, they may not offer the ideal absolute anchorage. The more cervical the structures, the more delicate they are, thus offering less physical support for mini-implant placement; b) Alveolar bone crests of triangular shape are more deformable, whereas...

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of evaluating the error of the method in Orthodontic scientific studies. Special emphasis will be given to the scientific importance and the different types of the error of the method (systematic and casual), the statistical tests most commonly used to quantify these errors and the clinical meaning of the error of the method for the interpretation of results obtained from orthodontic treatment.

Dr. Marissa Keesler attended dental school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and in 1987 received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree with high honors. In 1989, she graduated from Marquette University with a Certificate and Master of Science degree in Orthodontics. Dr. Keesler has been an Adjunct Professor in the Marquette Graduate Orthodontic Department since 1990 and has been a guest speaker at several universities and orthodontic groups nationally and internationally. She has...

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the transverse effect of rapid maxillary expansion in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate while comparing the Haas and Hyrax appliances. Methods: The sample consisted of 48 patients divided into two groups: Group I – 25 patients treated with modified Haas appliance (mean age: 10 years 8 months); and Group II – 23 patients treated with Hyrax appliance (mean age: 10 years 6 months). Casts were taken during...

Objective: To investigate whether there is scientific evidence to support the hypothesis that the presence of orthodontic fixed appliances influences the oral microbiota. Methods: The search for articles was conducted in PubMed; ISI Web of Knowledge and Ovid databases, including articles published in English until May 17th, 2012. They should report human observational studies presenting the following keywords: “fixed orthodontic appliance” AND “microbiological colonization”; OR...

Objective: This study aimed at describing the profiles of Brazilian and international studies published in orthodontic journals. Methods: The sample comprised 635 articles selected from two scientific journals, i.e., Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics and American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, which were analyzed at three different intervals over a 10-year period (1999 – 2004 – 2009). Articles were described in terms of knowledge domain, study design, and country...

Objective: To identify which linear, angular and proportionality measures could influence a profile to be considered esthetically pleasant or unpleasant, and to assess sexual dimorphism. Methods: 150 standardized facial profile photographs of dental students of both sexes were obtained and printed on photographic paper. Ten plastic surgeons, ten orthodontists and ten layperson answered a questionnaire characterizing each profile as pleasant, acceptable or unpleasant. With the use of a score...

Objective: To compare the acceptability and effectiveness of topical and infiltration anesthesia for placement of miniimplants used as temporary anchorage devices. Methods: The sample comprised 40 patients, 17 males and 23 females, whose mean age was 26 years old and who were all undergoing orthodontic treatment and in need for anchorage reinforcement. Mini-implants were bilaterally placed in the maxilla of all individuals, with infiltration anesthesia on one side and topical anesthesia on...

Objective: To analyze the reliability and reproducibility of a simplified method for analysis of dental angulation using digital photos of plaster dental casts. Methods: Digital and standardized photographs of plaster casts were performed and posteriorly imported to an angle reading graphic program in order to have measurements obtained. Such procedures were repeated to evaluate the random error and to analyze reproducibility through intraclass correlation. The sample consisted of 12...

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate a method used to assess dental asymmetry, in relation to the skeletal midline, by means of CBCT. Methods: Ten patients who had CBCT scans taken were randomly selected for this study. Five different observers repeated 10 landmarks (x, y and z variables for each) and 12 linear measurements within 10 days. Measurements were taken in both arches to evaluate symmetry of first molars, canines and dental midline in relation to the skeletal midline....

Introduction: Nicotine is harmful to angiogenesis, osteogenesis and synthesis of collagen. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nicotine on bone remodeling during orthodontic movement in rats. Methods: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group C (control), group CM (with orthodontic movement) and group NM (nicotine with orthodontic movement) groups. The animals comprising groups C and CM received 0.9% saline solution while group NM...

Objective: To test the null hypothesis that the aging process in self-ligating brackets is not higher than in conventional brackets. Methods: Twenty-five conventional (GN-3M/Unitek; GE-GAC; VE-Aditek) and 25 self-ligating (SCs-3M/Unitek; INs-GAC; ECs-Aditek) metal brackets from three manufacturers (n = 150) were submitted to aging process in 0.9% NaCl solution at a constant temperature of 37 ± 1°C for 21 days. The content of nickel, chromium and iron ions in the solution collected at...

This article reports the orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning carried out with a 14-year and 5-monthold female patient with esthetic and functional complaints. She presented an Angle Class I malocclusion, anterior crossbite and severe crowding in both maxillary and mandibular arches, in addition to a lightly concave straight facial profile. Orthodontic treatment did not require extraction. Crossbite was corrected by protrusion of upper teeth, which contributed to alignment and leveling...

This study aims at revising the biomechanical principles of the segmented archwire technique as well as describing the clinical conditions in which the rational use of scientific biomechanics is essential to optimize orthodontic treatment and reduce the side effects produced by the straight wire technique.