G. William Arnett

Facial keys to orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Part I

The purpose of this article is twofold (1) to present an organized, comprehensive clinical facial analysis and (2) to discuss the soft tissue changes associated with orthodontic and surgical treatments of malocclusion. Facial examination leads to avoidance of potential orthodontic and surgical facial balance decline and enhances diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, and quality of results. Patients are examined in natural head position, centric relation, and relaxed lip posture. Nineteen key facial traits are analyzed. By examining the patient in this format, reliable facial-skeletal traits can be recorded that enhance all aspects of care. Orthodontics and surgery used to correct the bite alter facial traits; alteration should reverse negative traits and maintain positive traits. This cannot be achieved without a complete understanding of the face before treatment. Tooth movement (orthodontic or surgical) used to correct the bite can negatively impact facial esthetics, especially if pretreatment esthetics are not defined before treatment. Treating the bite based on model analysis or on osseous cephalometric standards without examination of the face is not adequate. Three questions are asked regarding the 19 facial traits before treatment: (1) What is the quality of the existing facial traits? (2) How will orthodontic tooth movement to correct the bite affect the existing traits (positively or negatively)? (3) How will surgical bone movement to correct the bite affect the existing traits (positively or negatively)? This article is for orthodontists, and yet, much surgical information is included. This is intentional. We only treat what we are educated to see. The more we see, the better the treatment we render our patients.

Pathophysiology and Pharmacologic Control of Osseous Mandibular Condylar Resorption

PURPOSE When osseous mandibular condylar resorption occurs there can be many different diagnoses: inflammatory arthritis, TMJ compression, trauma, hormone imbalances, and others. While each diagnosis has its own original inciting event, the pathophysiological pathway for articular bone loss is the same. The aim of this article is to review the relevant literature on condylar resorption and the use of pharmacotherapy to control arthritic erosions and resorption. MATERIALS AND METHODS The literature search was performed using PubMed database with various combinations of related keywords. Preference was given to clinical trials when reviewing articles. RESULTS The literature reveals that common cellular level events associated with articular resorption include the activation of osteoblasts by cytokines, free radicals, hormone imbalances and/or potent phospholipid catabolites. The osteoblast then activates the recruitment of osteoclasts and promotes the release of matrix degrading enzymes from the osteoclast. Research into articular erosions has focused on elucidating the important steps in the bone destructive pathways and interfering with them by pharmacological means. The use of antioxidants, tetracyclines, omega-3 fatty acids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and inflammatory cytokine inhibitors to aid in preventing and controlling articular bone loss including osseous mandibular condylar resorption has been successful. CONCLUSION By understanding the known pathways that lead to condylar resorption and the individual patients susceptibilities, targeted pharmacotherapy might be able to disturb these pathways and prevent further condylar resorption. Basic clinical investigations and randomized clinical trials are still required, but the present science is encouraging.

Oral contraceptive pill use and abnormal menstrual cycles in women with severe condylar resorption: A case for low serum 17β-estradiol as a major factor in progressive condylar resorption

INTRODUCTION Progressive condylar resorption has been described for many years. Because condylar resorption favors women over men, many have thought that a prominent systemic factor for the pathogenesis of this disease might be related to sex hormones. METHODS Over a 3-year period, 27 women without autoimmune disease came to our office for orthognathic surgical correction of their skeletal deformity secondary to severe condylar resorption. They all showed radiographic evidence of severe condylar resorption. Sex hormone dysfunction was evaluated, and midcycle serum levels of 17beta-estradiol were measured. Use of exogenous hormones was also documented. RESULTS Twenty-six of the 27 women with severe condylar resorption had either laboratory findings of low 17beta-estradiol or a history of extremely irregular menstrual cycles. Of the 27 women, 25 showed abnormally low levels of serum 17beta-estradiol at midcycle. Two subsets were identified in the group with low 17beta-estradiol. The first did not produce estrogen naturally (8 of 27), and the second had low 17beta-estradiol levels secondary to oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use (19 of 27). Of the 19 OCP users, all 19 reported that chin regression and open bite changes occurred after starting OCP use. Nine of the 19 reported these condylar resorption symptoms within the first 6 months of starting the OCP. CONCLUSIONS Whether induced by ethinyl estradiol birth control or by premature ovarian failure, low circulating 17beta-estradiol makes it impossible for the natural reparative capacity of the condyle to take place in the face of local inflammatory factors. This leads to cortical and medullary condylar lysis.

THE TREATMENT MOTIVATION SURVEY : DEFINING PATIENT MOTIVATION FOR TREATMENT

The Treatment Motivation Survey questionnaire is presented as a treatment planning tool designed to assist the patient and doctor in defining treatment expectations. With the Treatment Motivation Survey, motivation and expectations are mutually understood, and the treatment plan is successfully designed. Responses to the Treatment Motivation Survey questionnaire can also reveal patients whose expectations are unrealistic.