INTRODUCTION: The use of flowable composites as an orthodontic bonding adhesive merits great attention because of their adequate bond strength, ease of clinical handling and reduced number of steps in bonding. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this Randomized Controlled Trial was to comparatively evaluate over a 6-month period the bond failure rate of a flowable composite (Heliosit Orthodontic, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Schaan) and a conventional orthodontic bonding adhesive (Transbond XT, 3M Unitek).METHODS: 53 consecutive patients (23 males and 30 females) who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. A total of 891 brackets were analyzed, where 444 brackets were bonded using Heliosit Orthodontic and 447 brackets were bonded using Transbond XT. The survival rates of brackets were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Bracket survival distributions for bonding adhesives, tooth location and dental arch were compared with the log-rank test.RESULTS: The failure rates of the Transbond XT and the Heliosit Orthodontic groups were 8.1% and 6% respectively. No significant differences in the survival rates were observed between them (p= 0.242). There was no statistically significant difference in the bond failure rates when the clinical performance of the maxillary versus the mandibular arches and the anterior versus the posterior segments were compared.CONCLUSIONS: Both systems had clinically acceptable bond failure rates and are adequate for orthodontic bonding needs.

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Introduction: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is currently being universally utilized for orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, and various research projects. However, there have been varied opinions regarding the appropriate use of CBCTs in the field of orthodontics. The knowledge and awareness about using CBCT in circumstantial diagnoses are not clearly understood and certain situations are still debatable, hence this study was performed to rank the knowledge among practitioners and graduate students across India. Materials and Methods: A nation-based, cross-sectional, and descriptive survey was conducted on 559 orthodontist and orthodontic postgraduate students and 18 questions were put forward to assess the knowledge and awareness. All of the 18 questions were then critically analyzed individually and descriptively concluded with appropriate references. Result and Conclusion: The survey showed that there were varying levels of awareness and it could be concluded that orthodontist needs to constantly update their knowledge and skills in interpreting and utilizing a CBCT. Furthermore, the need for bringing out a scientific and evidence-based national guideline for the appropriate use of CBCT is recommended.

Malocclusion can be corrected by fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. However, ‌the‌ ‌complex‌ ‌appliance design‌‌ ‌and ‌‌the‌ ‌material‌ surface ‌characteristics of the appliance make mechanical debriding difficult, enabling biofilm formation. This‌ ‌study‌ ‌was performed‌ ‌to‌ investigate‌ the‌ ‌microbial‌ ‌load‌ ‌in‌ ‌‌plaque‌ at‌ ‌different‌ time ‌periods‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌orthodontic‌ ‌therapy in participants with professionally well-maintained oral hygiene.‌ ‌This‌ ‌prospective‌ ‌study‌ was ‌conducted‌ ‌among‌ ‌12‌ ‌adult‌ ‌‌male‌ ‌participants. Six control (C batch) and six under orthodontic treatment (T batches). Simplified oral hygiene index OHI (S), Plaque index (PlI) and Russell’s Periodontal index (PI) scoring was performed for all subjects prior to sample collection. Plaque‌ ‌samples‌ ‌were‌ ‌collected‌ from both batch T,.and C at similar multiple intervals, corresponding with the sequential archwires for group T in regular use. ‌Six‌ ‌bacterial‌ ‌phyla‌‌ and‌ one‌ ‌fungal‌ ‌phyla ‌examined by subculture.‌ ‌Index scoring revealed that hygiene was maintained throughout study in both the control and treatment batches. A general increase in the microorganisms‌ was noticed,‌ in treatment group ‌reaching‌ ‌a‌ ‌peak‌ ‌at‌ ‌18th ‌month‌ ‌of‌ ‌treatment at T4 and reduced to pretreatment‌ ‌levels on debonding. Though, the microorganisms count increased during treatment, it was not exponential and can be considered favourable flora which matched with the good clinical oral health.