Carl-Magnus Forsberg

A longitudinal laser fluorescence study of white spot lesions in orthodontic patients.

Orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances increases the caries risk in young persons. The aim of this study was to apply a new caries diagnostic method, quantitative laser fluorescence, for longitudinal in vivo quantification of changes in incipient enamel lesions related to fixed orthodontic appliances. Seven young patients with active caries lesions disclosed at removal of the orthodontic brackets and bands were enrolled in the study. Caries preventive measures were intensified, including dietary advice, oral hygiene instructions, and the regular use of a fluoride dentifrice. The caries lesions were monitored with the quantitative laser fluorescence method after removal of the brackets and once a month thereafter. For each lesion, three quantities were measured: lesion area (mm2), mean fluorescence loss (%) over the lesion, and maximum loss of fluorescence (%) in the lesion. During a 1-year follow-up period, the areas of the lesions decreased and the enamel fluorescence lost was partly regained indicating that a remineralization process had occurred. It was concluded that quantitative laser fluorescence seems suitable for in vivo monitoring of mineral changes in incipient enamel lesions, and useful for the evaluation of preventive measures in caries prone persons, such as orthodontic patients.

Tooth size, spacing, and crowding in relation to eruption or impaction of third molars

A study was conducted for the purpose of comparing mesiodistal tooth diameters, sum of tooth widths, and the degree of spacing or crowding in the dentitions of two groups of young adults. The subjects in the first group had complete dentitions including third molars (M3s). In the second group, all M3s had been extracted for failure to erupt. Tooth size and consequently the sum of mesiodistal tooth widths were found to be greater in the extraction group than in the group with complete dentitions. The relationship between tooth size and M3 impaction was most pronounced in female subjects. The sum of mesiodistal tooth widths is apparently one factor of importance in the cause of M3 impaction in women. The results suggest that tooth size in girls could be used at preadolescent age as one predictive variable for third molar eruption. The sexual dimorphism demonstrated regarding the relationship between tooth size and M3 impaction implies that studies in the field of M3 development and eruption should be performed on male and female subjects separately. The dental arches in the extraction group tended to be more crowded than in the group with complete dentitions. However, the differences were small and significant only as they related to the upper arches in males.

In vitro quantification of white spot enamel lesions adjacent to fixed orthodontic appliances using quantitative light‐induced fluorescence and DIAGNOdent

The aims of this in vitro study were 2‐fold: 1) to evaluate two fluorescence methods (DIAGNOdent and QLF (quantitative light‐induced fluorescence)) for quantification of white spot lesions adjacent to fixed orthodontic appliances; and 2) to determine the inter‐observer agreement of the DIAGNOdent and QLF methods for quantification of incipient enamel lesions adjacent to fixed orthodontic appliances. Forty‐one premolar teeth with visually sound smooth surfaces or visually white spot enamel lesions were included in the study. Orthodontic brackets were fixed adjacent to the lesions, thus simulating the position of fixed appliances during orthodontic treatment. All teeth were measured using both the DIAGNOdent and QLF methods. Of the 41 teeth, 20 smooth surfaces were randomly selected and analyzed by 4 operators using both DIAGNOdent and QLF. The teeth were sectioned into 300‐μm‐thick slices using a water‐cooled diamond saw and the slices manually ground to 80–100 μm thickness. Histopathology and transverse microradiography were performed to provide the gold standards for verification of lesion depth and mineral loss, respectively. The Spearman rank correlation coefficients between lesion depth determined by histopathology and the DIAGNOdent and QLF were 0.76 and 0.82, respectively, whereas the Pearson correlation coefficients between mineral loss and the two methods were 0.64 and 0.84, respectively. Inter‐observer agreement was found to be 0.80 and 0.93 for DIAGNOdent and QLF, respectively. In conclusion, QLF may be a suitable method for quantifying incipient carious lesions adjacent to fixed orthodontic appliances.

Histologic changes in dental morphology induced by high dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation

Disturbances in dental development were studied with the use of radiography and histology in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who was treated with induction chemotherapy at 2.3 years of age and bone marrow transplantation at 4.3 years of age. The follow-up 9.5 years after bone marrow transplantation showed evidence of short tapered roots, enamel hypoplasia, microdontia, and aplasia. A histologic examination of two extracted permanent teeth showed that the crown of the maxillary lateral incisor exhibited numerous incremental lines that corresponded closely to the treatment periods with cytotoxic drugs. The maxillary second premolar exhibited regularly spaced incremental lines in the enamel and dentine. A gross hypoplasia was seen in the cervical part of the crown corresponding to the time of administration of 10 Gy total body irradiation. The results indicate that chemotherapy mainly induces qualitative disturbances in dentine and enamel, whereas total body irradiation induces both qualitative and quantitative changes.

A proportional analysis of the soft tissue facial profile in young adults with normal occlusion

A proportional soft tissue profile analysis is presented, based on natural head position (NHP) and an extracranial vertical reference line through Porion. Twelve linear soft tissue variables and norms for 11 indices expressing vertical and horizontal soft tissue proportions of the face were obtained from lateral skull radiographs of 40 Swedish adults (20 males, and 20 females) with good occlusion. Sexual dimorphism, with larger dimensions in men than in women, was most pronounced in the vertical plane. With regard to facial soft tissue proportions, significant differences between men and women were found only for those indices which involved measurements of lower jaw prominence and facial height. The means and standard deviations for six indices in the female group were compared with corresponding data obtained from the Peck and Peck sample, which had been selected on esthetic grounds. The results showed a close match between the groups. The proportional soft tissue analysis is recommended for the treatment planning of patients scheduled for orthognathic surgery.

Shear Bond Strength of Ceramic Brackets with Chemical or Mechanical Retention

The study was undertaken to measure and compare the shear bond strengths of a ceramic bracket with chemical retention, a ceramic bracket with a new type of textured base providing mechanical retention, and a metal bracket with foil-mesh base. The tests were performed on 51 extracted human premolars which were randomly divided into three equally large groups (n = 17)—one group for each type of bracket. After debonding, the site of failure was noted and the enamel surface inspected with scanning electron microscopy. The ceramic bracket with chemical retention exhibited significantly higher bond strength than the corresponding bracket with textured base. In comparison with the metal bracket significantly higher bond strengths were recorded for both types of ceramic brackets. The ceramic bracket with mechanical retention and the metal bracket were comparable as regards the site of bond failure. In some cases the chemical bond provided very high values of bond strength. Enamel failure were recorded in three teeth which had been bonded with this type of ceramic bracket.

Craniomandibular dysfunction in children treated with total-body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation

The prevalence of pain and dysfunction in the stomatognathic system was studied in a group of 19 long-term survivors after pediatric bone marrow transplantation (BMT), conditioned with total-body irradiation (TBI). Compared with the control group, the children and adolescents in the BMT group had a significantly reduced mouth opening capacity. A reduced translation movement of the condyles was diagnosed in 53% of children treated with TBI, compared with 5% in the control group. Signs of craniomandibular dysfunction were found in 84% of children in the BMT group, compared with 58% in the control group. Both irradiation and chemotherapy induce long-term alterations in connective and muscle tissues resulting in inflammation and eventually fibrosis. These changes in tissue homeostasis and concomitant growth retardation may lead to the observed malocclusion and reduced mobility of the temporomandibular joint, with subsequent muscle pain and headaches, which were found in this study.

Craniofacial morphology in obese adolescents

Overweight and obesity are growing problems in the world today. A recent survey shows that about 30% of the adolescent and adult Swedish population is overweight or obese. The etiology is a combination of many factors, the most important of which are physical inactivity and high caloric diet. Obese children have a normal to accelerated growth rate despite low growth hormone (GH) levels. The aim of our study was to investigate whether craniofacial morphology differs between obese adolescents and normal weight adolescents. Lateral cephalograms from 39 adolescents with obesity, aged 14-16 years, were analysed and compared with lateral cephalograms from an equal number of sex- and aged-matched controls. Compared to the controls, the subjects in the obesity group showed increased mandibular length, prognathic jaws and a reduced upper anterior face height. Despite low GH levels, obese children have normal levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Since we found an advanced craniofacial growth in obese adolescents with low GH and high IGF-1 serum levels, craniofacial growth may be more dependent on free circulating IGF-1 than on the locally produced portion.

Salivary clearance of sugar before and after insertion of fixed orthodontic appliances.

This study was conducted for the purpose of establishing the possible influence of orthodontic therapy with fixed appliances on salivary clearance of sugar. Fifteen consecutive patients between the ages 12 and 17 years took part in the investigation. Unstimulated salivary flow rate, residual volume of saliva in the mouth after swallowing (RESID), and salivary clearance of sugar was determined on two occasions, before treatment commenced and after a minimum of 3 weeks of appliance wear. Analysis of the data showed that both RESID and salivary flow rate exhibited significantly increased levels during orthodontic therapy. The insertion of fixed appliances did not seem to have any effect on the rate of salivary clearance of sugar. It was assumed that this finding could be a consequence of the combined effects of the changes in salivary flow rate and RESID.

Changes in craniofacial development induced by growth hormone therapy in children treated with bone marrow transplantation

The effect of growth hormone (GH) treatment on craniofacial development was studied in nine children exhibiting low growth velocity after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Comparisons were made with seven BMT children who had not received GH. Two groups of age‐ and sex‐matched healthy children served as controls for the respective patient groups. After an average observation period of 3.5 years, the BMT children not treated with GH exhibited significantly reduced mandibular length and alveolar height (p < 0.01). The increase in mandibular length was only 30% of that found in healthy controls. Maxillary growth was less affected by BMT treatment. In the GH treated group, no significant differences were found in craniofacial growth increments compared with controls. Although exogenous GH therapy in this group of children did not induce a catch‐up growth, it appears to have prevented further loss in growth potential.