Laila Baidas

Background: The current study aimed to evaluate the severity and treatment difficulty of impacted maxillary canines and their relationship with gender, age group, and bucco-palatal position. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 2017 to 2021. Patients’ data and panoramic radiography were obtained from the orthodontic clinic at King Saud University’s Dental University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The severity factors and treatment difficulty index were used to assess the impacted maxillary canines. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing a chi-square test for categorical variables and an independent t-test for numerical variables, and a p-value of ≤0.05. Results: There were 171 impacted maxillary canines in total, with a female-to-male subject ratio (11:8) and a mean age (18.7 years). Overall, 77.2% of impacted upper canines were found to be palatal. The severity of canine impaction parameters showed no significant sex or age group predilection....

<jats:p>Introduction: The evaluation of changes in orthodontic practice over the years, is essential for defining treatment efficacy. Accordingly, shedding light on the profile of orthodontic practice in Saudi Arabia is crucial. Aim: To investigate current trends in orthodontic practice in Saudi Arabia and the factors affecting choices regarding materials and techniques among orthodontists. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to December 2019 at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An electronic survey of 29 objective questions was sent to 1,500 orthodontic members of the Saudi Orthodontic Society. The survey collected demographic data, diagnostic records and information on the fixed orthodontic appliances used by the respondents. Frequency and percentages were calculated for all variables. Chi-square test was used to determine the effects of factors, including years of experience and place of work, on the choice of diagnosis protocol and fixed appliance material, with the significance set at p-value ≤0.05. Results: Two hundred and nine respondents completed the survey. The respondents reported a highly significant use of computers for digitising cephalometric analysis, with the traditional method of obtaining study models reported as highly significant (p<0.001). Orthodontists routinely used the MBT preadjusted bracket system (52.6%) and performed direct bonding of the bracket (91.4%). Bonding of the first molars was preferred by 36.4% of the clinicians. Glass ionomer cement was the most frequently used band cement (55.5%), and the most popular archwire material was nickel–titanium shape memory. Clinicians with less than five years of experience used significantly more postcephalometric radiographs (p=0.006) and postorthodontic treatment models (p=0.028). Senior orthodontists (10-15 years of experience) had a higher use of indirect bonding techniques (p=0.05). Conclusion: This study provides information on the relevant aspects of orthodontists in Saudi Arabia in terms of their individuality, training and techniques used. The findings can be used as a reference for future national surveys to evaluate changes in orthodontic practice in Saudi Arabia.</jats:p>

Introduction: Acid regurgitation caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease can lead to decreases in intraoral pH below the critical pH for orthodontic appliances. Exposure of brackets and archwires to such acidic environments causes changes in the surface properties that affect the frictional forces generated during orthodontic sliding mechanics and reduce the clinical efficacy of the wires. Aim: This in vitro study aimed to determine the effects of simulated gastric acid with pH 1.2 and pH 4 on the surface topography, surface roughness, and frictional resistance properties of different types of orthodontic archwires. Materials and Methods: A comparative in vitro study evaluated a total of 135 samples of three commercially available archwires: Stainless Steel (SS), nickel titanium, and beta-titanium (n=45/group). Each archwire was divided into three subgroups (n=15) according to different pH solutions: distilled water (control; pH 6.7), pH 4, and pH 1.2. The samples in the two aci...

Sucking reflex in infants and young children satisfies their physiological need for nutrients. Normallydeveloped infants have an inherent biological drive for sucking.1 The need for sucking can be satisfied through nutritive sucking such as during breastand bottlefeeding, and non-nutritive sucking such as digit sucking, pacifiers or sucking on toys.2 Non-nutritive sucking habit are common among young children in various populations. Several studies have investigated the prevalence of non-nutritive sucking habits and found that they vary significantly from population to population (Table 1).3-11

Aims: Our study aimed to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) changes during the initial stage of fixed orthodontic appliance therapy and determined the impact of various orthodontic therapy needs on the OHRQoL of Saudi patients seeking orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients aged 14–24 years (69% females) were recruited from the orthodontic clinics. OHRQoL was quantified by a self-administered short version of oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire used before treatment (T0) and following bonding of fixed appliance on days 1 (T1), 7 (T2), 14 (T3), and 30 (T4). The higher the OHIP-14 score, the poorer the OHRQoL. The dental health component (DHC) of the index of orthodontic treatment needs (IOTN) was used to assess malocclusion severity. The missing, overjet, crossbite, displacement, overbite (MOCDO) hierarchical scale was used to categorize the most severe feature in each patient and determine the grade of orthodontic treatment need. Changes of OHRQoL over time were compared using the Friedman test. Result: Overall OHIP-14 score significantly increased following orthodontic appliance bonding at T1 and T2 compared to T0 (P < 0.001). The functional limitation domains in OHIP-14 pain and discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, and psychological discomfort were affected at T1 compared to T0 (P < 0.05). Grade 4 IOTN-DHC (definite treatment needs) significantly influenced most OHIP-14 domains compared to other grades. Conclusion: With the growing therapeutic and cosmetic demands of orthodontic treatment and the focus on OHRQoL, the study findings can be used to enhance patients' cooperation, expectation, and adherence to orthodontic treatment.

apillon-Lefevre Syndrome (PLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder.1 It was first discovered in 1924 by French physicians Papillon and Lefevre. It is characterized by a palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, and early onset of periodontitis in the deciduous and permanent dentitions.2 Reviews of the literature have focused on the syndrome's genetic basis,3,4 as well as its periodontal management.5-6 It has been reported that consanguineous offspring have greater frequency of occurrence of the syndrome due to genetic predisposition. The prevalence of PLS is 1-4 cases per million people with no racial or sex predominance, and the carrier frequency appears to be 2-4 per thousand population.7 The identified genetic defect in PLS is located on chromosome 11q14.14.3 as a mutation of the cathepsin C gene.8 Previous studies showed that a 90% reduction of the cathepsin C gene causes a deficiency of cathepsin C enzymatic activity, resulting in reduced immunity and host response against bacteria.9...

The aim of this study was to describe occlusion characteristics of primary dentition by age in a sample of Saudi children aged 3–5 years. By using standardized and validated recording criteria, a single operator measured (the primary molar and canine relationships, overjet, overbite, anterior open bite, and anterior and/or posterior crossbites), in 323 Kindergarten children (49.7% boys and 50.3% girls). Descriptive and comparative (Chi-square, t-test) statistics, were used to investigate the occlusal relationship by age of the children. In terms of the molar relationship; flush terminal plane was present in 75% of the children followed by mesial step (13.9%) and distal step (11.1%). The canine relationship was Class I in 90.1% of the sample, followed by Class III (7.4%), and Class II (2.5%) relationship. Fifty seven percent of the children had normal overbite, with significantly higher percentage in older children. Open bite tendency was greater in younger children. Fifty two percen...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between head posture and anteroposterior skeletal patterns in female adult patients. METHODS The study included 75 lateral cephalograms of orthodontic patients in the age range of 18-25 years. The study was conducted from May 2012 to January 2013 at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The lateral cephalograms were divided into 3 groups based on the anterior-posterior skeletal relationship angle: skeletal class I, II, and III. Twenty-three craniofacial morphological variables were identified and used. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine significant differences among the 3 skeletal classifications. The Spearman correlation coefficient between the cervical lordosis angle and the cervical curvature with the postural variables were estimated. Significance was set at the p<0.05 level. RESULTS Significant differences were observed in the mandibular plane inclination between...

Aims The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of using the developmental stages of the canines and third molars to predict the timing of skeletal maturity in the Saudi population. Material and methods The lateral cephalometric radiographs and orthopantograms of 239 Saudi patients, 106 males and 133 females, aged 9 to 21 years, were collected from several dental centers. Orthopantograms were used to assess the developmental stages of the upper and lower canine teeth and third molars using two popular methods: that of Nolla and that of Demirjian. Cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stage was assessed on the lateral cephalometric images according to the method of Baccetti et al. Trained observers with no knowledge of patient age or gender performed assessments. Data were analyzed with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient at a significance level of P ≤ .05. Result Skeletal CVM stages III and IV had a stronger correlation with mandibular left canine developmental stage than with maxillary canine developmental stage in the two methods used (correlation with Nolla stage 10 and Demirjian stage H: root completely formed with apex closed), especially for male patients (r = 0.700, P < .001). In contrast, the maxillary third molars at Nolla stages 5 and 7 (crown completed to 1/3 of the root formed) showed an association with CVM stages III and IV (r = 0.540 for females and r = 0.639 for males, P ≤ .001 for both) and with Demirjian stages D, E, and F. Males had slightly higher correlation values than females (r = 0.578 and 0.5010, respectively; P ≤ .001) at CVM stages III and IV. Interestingly, canine teeth showed a stronger correlation than third molars with skeletal maturation in Saudi children. Conclusion Dental developmental stages were highly correlated with CVM stages III and IV among Saudi subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the changes in pharyngeal airway space dimensions following orthodontic treatment of skeletal class II and class III facial deformities with premolar extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty pre and posttreatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients who underwent fixed orthodontic treatment with premolar extraction were collected. The sample was divided into two groups – 32 patients with skeletal class II and 28 patients with skeletal class III malocclusion. Both groups were subdivided into growing patients (<16 years old) and adults (>16 years old). Nasopharyngeal, palatopharyngeal, and glossopharyngeal airway space dimensions were measured in the pretreatment (T0) and posttreatment (T1) cephalometric radiographs using Dolphin Imaging 11.7 software. Two-way, repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess the in-treatment changes. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal airway dimension showed similar significant increase in class II (P = 0.042) and class III (P = 0.049) patients from T0 to T1, whereas palatopharyngeal and glossopharyngeal dimensions were insignificantly decreased in both groups. However, both malocclusions followed the same pattern of changes in relation to airway dimensions. In addition, no significant statistical difference was found in the airway spaces between growing and adult patients. CONCLUSIONS: Extraction of premolars did not affect the pharyngeal dimensions except those of the nasopharynx, which showed a significant increase after extraction in both groups.