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The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Turkish university students' awareness of malocclusion, their satisfaction with their personal dental appearance, and the severity of their occlusal irregularities. The sample consisted of 841 randomly selected university students, 522 (62.1 per cent) males and 319 (37.9 per cent) females, aged 17-26 years (mean age, 21.91+/-1.92 years). A pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess the subjects' awareness of malocclusion and satisfaction with their personal dental appearance; the actual severity of malocclusion was determined using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Statistical analysis was carried out using chi-square for gender differences and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients for awareness of malocclusion, satisfaction with personal dental appearance, and DAI scores. Analysis of variance and univariate analysis, with age and gender as the independent variables, were further used to analyse the data. Weak but statistically significant, negative, correlations were found between awareness of malocclusion and satisfaction at the following DAI scores: or= 36 (r= -0.477, P<0.001), and a statistically insignificant, negative correlation at a score of 31-35 (r= -0.102, P>0.05). A statistically significant association was found between DAI and awareness of malocclusion (r= -0.305) and satisfaction with dental appearance (r=0.234). There were no significant associations between the department in which the individuals studied and the investigated variables (P>0.05). DAI scores were significantly higher for females. Generally, no statistically significant gender differences were found in relation to DAI scores, awareness, or satisfaction (P>0.05). The findings of this study showed that age had a significant effect on satisfaction and gender on DAI score variation. Females had a greater need for normative treatment except in the 20- to 22-year-olds, and satisfaction decreased with age.

The aim of this study was to identify the levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and IL-8 around miniscrews used for anchorage during canine distalization. Sixteen patients (eight males and eight females; mean age, 16.6 ± 2.4 years) who were treated with bilateral upper first premolar extractions were included in the study. Thirty-two maxillary miniscrew implants were placed bilaterally in the alveolar bone between the maxillary second premolars and first molars as anchorage units for maxillary canine distalization. Three groups were constructed. The treatment, miniscrew, and control groups consisted of upper canines, miniscrew implants, and upper second premolars, respectively. Peri-miniscrew implant crevicular fluid and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were obtained at baseline (T1) and at 1 (T2), 24 (T3), and 48 (T4) hours, 7 (T5) and 21 (T6) days, and 3 months (T7) after force application. Paired sample t-tests were used to determine within-group changes and Dunnett's t and Tukey's honestly significant difference tests for between-group multiple comparisons. During the 3 month period, IL-2 levels significantly increased (P < 0.01) but only in the treatment group after 24 hours. IL-6 levels were unchanged at all times points in the three groups. IL-8 levels increased significantly at 1 (P < 0.05), 24 (P < 0.01), and 48 (P < 0.01) hours in the treatment group and at 24 (P < 0.05) and 48 (P < 0.01) hours in the miniscrew group. It appears that miniscrews can be used for anchorage in orthodontics when correct physiological forces are applied.

The aim of this study was to investigate the shear bond strength of bonding to enamel following laser etching with the Er:YAG or Er,Cr:YSGG laser using different irradiation distances. Of 99 extracted human premolar teeth, 90 were divided equally into nine groups. In the control group (group A) the teeth were etched with 38% phosphoric acid. In the laser groups (groups B-I) the enamel surface of the teeth was laser-irradiated, groups B-E with the Er:YAG laser and groups F-I with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser at distances of 1, 2, 4 and 6 mm, respectively. The shear bond strengths were tested using a universal testing machine. The shear bond strengths associated with the Er:YAG laser at 4 and 6 mm and the Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 2, 4 and 6 mm were significantly less than the strengths obtained with the other irradiation distances (p<0.001). The Er:YAG laser at 1 mm and the Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 1 mm etched enamel in the same manner (p>0.05). This finding was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy examination. Irradiation distance did influence the strength of adhesion to enamel. The mean shear bond strengths and enamel surface etching obtained with the Er:YAG laser at 1 and 2 mm and the Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 1 mm were comparable to that obtained with acid etching.

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