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Background: Oral mucosa indentations can be signs of awake bruxism (AB) in adults, but this association has not yet been verified in adolescents. Objectives:To evaluate the frequency of AB in adolescents and determine whether there is an association between AB and oral mucosa indentation.Methods: This study enrolled 66 high school students, mean age of 16.9 (±0.54) years. Clinical inspection was performed to assess the presence or absence of tongue, cheek and lip mucosa indentation. AB was assessed by the Ecological Momentary Assessment method using the WhatsApp mobile app. Messages were sent 15 times a day, 7 days, between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM at random times to choose one of the five oral behaviours: teeth contact, teeth clenching, teeth grinding, mandible bracing and relaxed jaw muscles. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test for independent samples, Friedman test for paired samples, Friedman pairwise multiple comparisons non-parametric test, Pearson's chi-squared tests, and z-test of comparisons between two proportions were performed (p < .05). Results:During the week the frequency of AB behaviours was 56.20%, teeth contact was the most frequent (37.68% ± 22.26%), significantly more frequent than other AB behaviours; there was a greater frequency of cheek indentation (27.27%) and no difference between genders in oral behaviours and indentations (p > .05). A higher frequency of AB behaviours was observed in individuals with a greater frequency of cheek indentation (p < .05). Conclusions:Teeth contact and cheek indentation were the most frequent conditions among adolescents and AB behaviours are associated with this indentation.

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Objective: To evaluate the initial forces generated by two types of palatal expansion appliances, through fiber optic sensors, in elastomeric models. Materials and Methods: An elastomeric model simulating the upper dental arch was fabricated. The sensors were placed adjacent to the first premolars and the first molars roots (apical, cervical, vestibular, palatal). Hyrax and Haas palatal expanders were fitted onto the dental arch. Activation of the screw was performed 4 times. The variations in wavelengths of each sensor during the activations were recorded. ANOVA and Games-Howell were used (P <.05). Results: In the first premolars, the force generated by Hyrax was higher than that generated by Haas in the cervical and apical regions of the palatal and vestibular surfaces, respectively; in the first molars, the force was higher in the cervical vestibular region than that in the cervical palatal region for both the appliances; in Hyrax, the force was higher in the apical vestibular than in the apical palatine in tooth 14 (P <.05). There was no difference between the devices for each activation; the total force generated by Hyrax was equal to that of Haas (P <.05). Conclusions: The fiber optic sensors were effective in measuring the initial forces generated by the studied palatal expanders. Hyrax and Haas palatal expanders produced similar forces. Greater force was recorded on the vestibular surfaces.

Angle Class III malocclusion results in aesthetic and functional concerns, thus it is essential that this malocclusion is treated as early as possible, so that dentocraniofacial development occurs properly. A 7-year-old male patient with Asperger's syndrome had a Class III subdivision right malocclusion, anterior and posterior crossbite. To gain the patient's trust and collaboration, we used the behavioral management technique tell-show-do, in addition to the behavioral analysis method.  Orthodontic treatment started using the Hyrax palatal expander, but the patient was not able to adapt to it. Correction of the crossbite was achieved using a removable expander with digital springs, which was better accepted by the patient and provided aesthetic and functional improvement.