BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of tooth agenesis, microdontia, and tooth malformation among non-syndromic oral cleft patients and their potential association with cleft type and gender.MethodsIntraoral records and radiographs of 154 patients (97 males and 57 females) were examined. The variables assessed were tooth agenesis, microdontia, dental malformations, and cleft types. The statistics included chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests as well as logistic regression to assess any mutual effects of gender and cleft type on the dental variables.ResultsTooth agenesis occurred in 50% of the sample and microdontia in 18%. Non-statistically significant odds ratios for the association of gender and cleft type with tooth agenesis were obtained. Tooth agenesis was substantially higher at the unilateral right CL + P and the bilateral CL + P in quadrant 1 and at the unilateral left CL + P and bilateral CL + P in quadrant 2. It was also higher, at the isolated cleft palate (CP) in quadrants 3 and 4. These results were attributed to teeth 22 (31.8%) and 12 (21.6%) in the maxilla and to teeth 35 (6.1%) and 45 (5.4%) in the mandible. In unilateral CL + P patients, the cleft quadrant that presented tooth agenesis was associated with the side of the cleft.ConclusionsInterdisciplinary treatment of the oral cleft patients should take into consideration the high prevalence of tooth agenesis and their association with the different cleft types. The most frequently affected teeth by cleft are by far the upper lateral incisors. Results indicate that tooth agenesis appears to be a genetically controlled anomaly related to the orofacial cleft development through various genetic links and not caused by the cleft disruptive process.

The aim of the present study was to characterise the chemical and mechanical properties of contemporary thermoplastic orthodontic materials. Materials and methods: Four thermoplastic materials were tested: Clear Aligner (Scheu-Dental), ACE and A+ (Dentsply), and Invisalign (Align Technology). Eight appliances were fabricated from each material and a small portion from each was analysed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The appliances were cut and, following metallographic grinding and polishing, were subjected to instrumented indentation testing (IIT) employing a Vickers indenter. Martens Hardness (HM), Indentation Modulus (E IT ), Elastic to Total Work Ratio (elastic index (η IT )) and Indentation Creep (C IT ) were determined according to ISO 14577-1. The mean values of the mechanical properties were statistically analysed by one way ANOVA and Tukey Kramer multiple comparison test at a = 0.05. Results: ATR-FTIR analysis identified that Invisalign was a polyurethane-based material, whereas the others were based on polyester, polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PETG). Invisalign showed higher hardness and modulus values, a slightly higher brittleness and lesser creep resistance compared with the PETG-based products. Conclusions: The materials tested showed significant differences in their chemical structure and mechanical properties and therefore differences in their clinical behaviour are anticipated.

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Background: Background:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs of 19-22 nucleotides that participate in gene expression regulation. Many studies have focused on circulating miRNAs which might be potential biomarkers. In Multiple Myeloma (MM) they are involved in bone marrow microenvironment, methylation, immune regulation, genomic instability, and drug resistance. Their exact role has not been fully explored yet.