No abstract

Dental age was studied in a sample of 261 Norwegian children by using the maturity standards of Demirjian & Goldstein (1976) to examine the applicability of these standards as a reference for overall dental maturity in a Norwegian population. The sample comprised 128 boys and 133 girls included in 'the Oslo Growth Material', from whom orthopantomograms (total, 783) had been longitudinally obtained, with intervals of about 3 years and covering 3 age spans (5.5-6.5 years, 8.5-9.5 years, and 11.5-12.5 years), each divided into 3 half-year age groups. Reliability was analyzed by repeated assessments of 134 of the radiographs, and the overall mean difference between duplicate dental age determinations was 0.5 months for intra- and 1.8 months for inter-examiner comparisons. The Norwegian children were generally somewhat advanced in dental maturity compared with the French-Canadian reference sample. Among the boys the mean difference between dental age and chronologic age varied in the different age groups from 1.5 to 4.0 months. Among the girls the difference increased with age, varying from 0 to 3.5 months in the younger age groups (5.5 to 9.0 years) and from 4.5 to 7.5 months in the age groups 9.5 years and above. The variability in individual dental age was marked and increased with age. For the older age groups 95% of the individual age estimates were within +/-2 years of the real age. The applied standards appear to be adequate for studying dental age in groups of children from a Norwegian population. Given the considerable individual variation in dental maturity, estimation of chronologic age in individual children should be supplemented by other indicators of biologic maturity.

No abstract

In Norway, bonded retainers alone were reported to be most commonly used in the mandible, while bonded retainers used in combination with a removable retainer appear to be the most commonly used appliances in the maxilla. This is similar to the most frequently used retainers in other countries, but there are disparities in duration and follow-up protocols. Most female orthodontists desire common retention guidelines.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of a scheme for provision of orthognathic surgery by examining whether patients' expectations were fulfilled as well as their opinions about the result of treatment and side-effects. Data were obtained during a pre-planned 3-year follow-up clinical examination which included the administration of patient questionnaires. Of 583 subjects (281 females, 235 males; mean age 27.2 years) who underwent surgery during the period 1994-2002, 516 attended (89 per cent). Differences between subgroups and associations between variables were analysed by chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The most frequent motives for treatment were improvement of dental appearance and chewing ability, indicated by 83 and 81 per cent of the patients, respectively. The expectations were fulfilled for most patients, and satisfaction with the treatment result was reported by 92 per cent. Dissatisfaction was significantly related to gender, skeletal malocclusion, and surgical procedure (P = 0.001). Of all patients, 36.8 per cent reported impaired sensory function, the most frequent side effect. Sensory impairment and concern due to disturbed sensation were significantly related to age at surgery (P = 0.001 and P = 0.041, respectively). The treatment outcome as perceived by the patients was generally favourable. Even if sensory disturbance was frequently observed, most patients, especially in the younger age groups, seemed to adapt. Certain patient characteristics and surgical procedures were associated with an increased risk of dissatisfaction. These observations are relevant in the guidance of prospective orthognathic patients.