Pleasant smile aesthetics is an important contributory factor to psychosocial well-being. The aim of this study was to determine the psychosocial influence of smile aesthetics. The study was cross-sectional on a convenient sample that included patients, pupils, students and faculty staff. A total of 155 subjects (36% male) aged 12-39 (mean age 21, interquartile range 19-23) were included. Occlusal characteristics were recorded by the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need, and smiling frontal view photographs were obtained. Fourteen variables were measured using photogrammetric analysis: smile width, visibility of buccal corridors, maximum teeth exposure, total gingival display, lip thickness, degree of occlusal cant and deviation from golden proportion of the teeth in maxillary intercanine sector. Psychometric instruments included the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Statistical analysis comprised multiple linear regressions. Malocclusion severity is the most important predictor of psychosocial influence of smile aesthetics and self-esteem, the unique contribution of which accounts for a total of 4-27% of variability. Female gender is associated with higher psychological influence of dental aesthetics while male gender and older age with self-esteem. Malocclusions have higher psychosocial impact than parameters of mini- and micro-aesthetics of smile related to visibility of buccal corridors, amount of teeth exposure, gingival display, lip thickness, presence of occlusal cant and deviation from golden proportion of the teeth. It appears that people are not as focused on details of their smile as they are on distinctive malposition of teeth.

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The purpose was to compare the treatment effects of functional appliances activator-headgear (AH) and Twin Block (TB) on skeletal, dental, and soft-tissue structures in class II division 1 malocclusion with normal growth changes in untreated subjects. The sample included 50 subjects (56% females) aged 8–13 years with class II division 1 malocclusion treated with either AH (n = 25) or TB (n = 25) appliances. Pre- and posttreatment lateral cephalograms were evaluated and compared to 50 untreated class II division 1 cases matched by age, gender, ANB angle, and skeletal maturity. A paired sample, independent samples tests and discriminant analysis were performed for intra- and intergroup analysis. Treatment with both appliances resulted in significant reduction of skeletal and soft-tissue facial convexity, the overjet, and the prominence of the upper lip in comparison to untreated individuals (p < 0.001). Retroclination of maxillary incisors and proclination of mandibular incisors were seen, the latter being significantly more evident in the TB group (p < 0.05). Increase of effective mandibular length was more pronounced in the TB group. In conclusion, both AH and TB appliances contributed successfully to the correction of class II division 1 malocclusion when compared to the untreated subjects with predominantly dentoalveolar changes.

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The effect of oral antiseptics on the corrosion of nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloys with various coating was investigated. Uncoated, titanium nitride-coated and rhodium-coated NiTi archwires (0.020 × 0.020″) were tested in interaction with artificial saliva pH 4.8 and oral antiseptics based on hyaluronic acid (Gengigel), chlorhexidine (Curasept) and essential oils in alcohol base (Listerine). The dynamics of nickel and titanium ions release were recorded during 28 days. Springback ratio and modulus of resilience were assessed by three-point bending test. The results showed that corrosion of NiTi is related to type of antiseptic mouth rinse and coating formulations. Exposure to an artificial saliva and antiseptics tend to reduce flexibility and resilience of NiTi archwires. The influence of the media is more significant than the influence of the type of the alloys coating. The largest release of nickel ions is in the first 3 days. Antiseptics do not cause further deterioration of the elastic properties in uncoated NiTi compared to saliva. As a result of exposure of nitrified NiTi wires in Listerine, there is bigger release of nickel ions, decrease in elastic properties and lower force delivery in unload. Listerine tends to reduce elastic properties of rhodium-coated wires also. In conclusion, except for Listerine, changes of mechanical characteristics induced by antiseptics are small and would not have a clinically important impact. Generally, Curasept would be the most suitable option.