Francisco Fernandes do Vale

Therapies for White Spot Lesions—A Systematic Review

Introduction The first sign of dental caries is denoted by white spot lesions (WSLs) which can be defined as a demineralization of the enamel surface and subsurface, although these lesions can be reversed and do not form cavities. The aim of this systematic review was investigate which remineralization agents are effective for the treatment of WSLs. Materials and Methods For this systematic review a literature search was conducted on Pubmed, Cochrane Library and ScienceDirect. Results The initial search resulted in 273 references. After elimination of duplicate articles, 236 references remained. After reading titles and abstracts, all non‐relevant results were excluded, resulting in 45 potentially relevant studies. After reading the full text, 13 references were included. Conclusion More studies are required for scientific evidence in order to reach a conclusion of the most suitable therapeutic method for the treatment of surface and subsurface demineralization of the enamel.

Efficacy of Rapid Maxillary Expansion in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in the treatment of OSAS in children and adolescents. Methods Five electronic databases were searched systematically: PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS, Embase and Cochrane Library. Selection Criteria Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and systematic reviews published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese between January 2000 and December 2016, performed on children and adolescents younger than 18 years with OSAS who underwent RME, and assessing RME efficacy as measured by the Apnea‐Hypopnea Index (AHI) normalization were included. Qualitative assessment of the selected studies was performed using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists. Statistical evaluation included 2 meta‐analyses and was based on a random‐effects model and Cochrans Q test and I2 statistics to assess heterogeneity across the publications. Electronic searches identified 84 publications. Five publications were considered valid and included in this systematic review. Results Results from the meta‐analysis show an overall reduction in AHI after RME therapy. Conclusions Increasingly the evidence indicates that RME devices reduce AHI in children with OSAS, making RME therapy an appropriate alternative treatment option for these patients.

In Vitro Zinc-Air Battery Evaluation for Use in Intraoral Medical Devices

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possibility of using zinc-air batteries in intraoral medical devices. We analyzed the electrical behavior of zinc-air batteries when submitted to different levels of temperature, humidity, and limited quantities of air. The experimental setup was divided in three different parts. Firstly, a set of batteries were tested within a climatic chamber and subjected to discharging tests similar to those recommended by the manufacturer. The climatic chamber allowed an accurate variation of humidity and temperature. Secondly, the batteries were placed in a small prototype of intraoral medical device and tested in the absence of air. Lastly, we used a robot arm to repeatedly immerse the prototype in artificial saliva. The results obtained demonstrated the viability of zinc-air batteries as a power solution for intraoral medical devices, as they tolerate high levels of humidity and are capable of working with limited quantities of air. In addition, this kind of battery presents a volume to electrical capacity ratio more than three times higher than lithium batteries, which may open important improvement for powered medical devices.

Aesthetic analysis of the face

Article history: Received 10 May 2016 Accepted 24 November 2016 Available online 30 March 2017 Objective: Using well-characterized sample of an european caucasian population, this study seeks to create lateral cephalometric information, based on the Natural Head Position within the assessed european population groups, to analyze sexual dimorphism and to study the comparison with similar work done in an american caucasian group. Methods: Fifty-five subjects (20 men and 35 women) were selected with the following criteria: caucasian descent, over 18 years old and presenting good facial aesthetics; Angle class I occlusion with no crowding and without temporomandibular disfunction; no previous history of orthodontic treatment or surgical interventions in the maxillofacial area. The following records were collected: (1) clinical data; (2) alginate impressions to obtain the study models; (3) four pictures in the Natural Head Position (NHP); (4) lateral cephalometric radiographs in centric occlusion and in the NHP. The american caucasian sample, 20 men and 26 women, were selected on the basis of the same criteria. Results: The thickness of the skin tissues that cover the face is larger in men than in women and there are no major ethnic differences. The total face height is significantly higher in men than in women, and is higher in european women compared to North-american women. The midface is further back sagittally in men than in women and is further back in the ideal european population versus the ideal american population. Conclusion: In a cephalometric analysis, we must consider the gender, age and etnic background of the patient in order to obtain correct clinical information.