In orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics, a thorough knowledge of growth and development is essential in order to understand various factors that contribute as to how a particular type of growth takes place. When planning of orthodontic treatment for a malocclusion, one has to take into account the growth pattern, because it would considerably affect the success of the treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare antegonial notch depth, symphysis morphology, and ramus morphology in different growth patterns in skeletal class I and class II subjects. In this study, a total of 60 cephalograms were taken which comprised 30 cephalograms in skeletal class I and 30 cephalograms of skeletal class II patients. The groups were further divided into three groups, namely average, horizontal, and vertical growth patterns based on Jarabak’s ratio. Antegonial notch depth, symphysis width and symphysis angle, and ramus height were measured and compared between the growth patterns and between class I and class II skeletal patterns. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was performed to determine the comparison between groups for all these variables in both skeletal class I and class II. Independent 't' test was done to determine the comparison between skeletal class I and class II subjects for all variables. Mean and SD values for all variables were determined for all the groups. Depth of antegonial notch was found to be greater in vertical growth patterns compared to horizontal and average growth patterns. Large symphysis angle and symphysis width were noted in a horizontal growth pattern. Increased ramus height was noted in horizontal and average growth patterns. There was no significant difference between skeletal class I and class II malocclusion for all parameters.

Fixed functional appliances correct class II malocclusion by bringing the mandible forward into a new position. Patients using Fixed Functional Appliances complain of difficulty in oral hygiene, soft-tissue irritation, appliance breakage, and difficulty in mastication. Hence, the aim of this study was to conduct a survey evaluating patients’ acceptance of various fixed functional appliances in a university set up. This questionnaire-based study was a university-based setting which consisted of 10 closed-ended and open-ended questions out of which 2 were open-ended questions and 8 were close-ended. It covered discomfort, difficulty in speech, brushing, mastication, oral hygiene and fracture of the appliance. Descriptive statistics were performed. Chi-square test was used to determine the discomfort experienced due to the duration of wear. The significance level for the p-value was set at 0.05. Chi-square test reported that statistically, the insignificant association observed between duration of wear and level of discomfort (p>0.31).  All functional appliances have their own disadvantages and discomfort, which is dependent on the intricate fabrication as well as their implementation. Within the limits of the study, it was observed that discomfort was more in the initial few days but reduced over a period of time as the patients got adapted to the appliance.

No abstract

Biomedical Waste Management practice in Dentistry is an important issue. Therefore, it is of interest to document awareness on such issues among clinical practitioners, academicians and students. A survey was completed using a questionnaire from 355 dentists consisting of 201 students, 39 academicians and 115 clinicians in India. Analysis of the survey data shows that majority of students, practitioners, and academicians are aware of laws binding with such issues. However, the Biomedical Waste Management practice among them is not satisfactory. Therefore, education on such issues among clinical practitioners, academicians and students is critical in this part of the globe.

Mandibular growth pattern (MGP) prediction plays an important role in orthodontic treatment planning. This study sought to assess the mandibular symphyseal width in adolescents with different mandibular growth patterns (MGPs) so as to see whether a correlation exists. This study was conducted on 90 lateral cephalograms of patients aged between 10 and 16 years. The subjects were divided into normo-divergent, hypodivergent and hyperdivergent subgroups based on the gonial angle. The symphyseal measurement included width or depth of the mandibular symphysis according to Akietal study. He suggested that a mandible with anterior growth direction was associated with a large depth of the symphysis. In contrast, a mandible with a posterior growth direction was associated with a small depth of symphysis. To assess the correlation between mandibular symphyseal width and mandibular growth pattern, Pearson’s correlation test was done. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2 tailed). A P-value which is less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mandibular symphyseal width was found to be strongly associated with the MGP. It can be inferred from the results that in vertical growth pattern, as the gonial angle increases, symphyseal width decreases and in horizontal growth pattern, as the gonial angle decreases, symphyseal width increases. Also, in vertical growth pattern subjects, the mandibular symphyseal width is narrower. In contrast, in horizontal growth pattern subjects, the mandibular symphyseal width is wider.