Gianluigi Frongia

Cone-beam computed tomography: accuracy of three-dimensional cephalometry analysis and influence of patient scanning position.

Abstract The aim of this research was to analyze the influence of the position of the skull during cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan and if the three-dimensional cephalometric measurements are influenced by skull orientation during CBCT scan. The study consisted of 5 CBCT scanning (KODAK 9500 Cone Beam 3D System unit) in 5 different positions of a dry skull. The data were imported in SIMPLANT OMS Software version 13.0. Fifteen three-dimensional cephalometric measurements were calculated; moreover, the mean, the SD, the maximum/minimum &Dgr;, and the maximum/minimum &Dgr; percentage were calculated. The statistical analysis was performed by an independent-samples t-test to evaluate differences between the 5 scans. No difference was found in all the three-dimensional analysis. Twelve of 15 measurements have a &Dgr; greater than 1.5, and 7 of 15 measurements have a &Dgr; greater than 2. Nine of 15 have a &Dgr; percentage greater than 5%. The preliminary results suggest that the three-dimensional cephalometric analysis is influenced by patient scanning position.

Reverse cycle chewing before and after orthodontic-surgical correction in class III patients

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of reverse-sequence chewing cycles in skeletal class III patients before and after orthodontic-surgical therapy to evaluate whether the occlusal and skeletal correction is followed by a functional improvement. STUDY DESIGN Twenty skeletal class III patients (11 males and 9 females, 22.7 ± 3.0 years old) were recruited for this study. All patients received orthodontic and surgical treatment. Chewing cycles were recorded with a kinesiograph before (T0) and after (T1) therapy. RESULTS A significant decrease in the number of reverse chewing cycles after surgical correction was exhibited in all recordings, when chewing either soft or hard boluses, on both the right and the left side. CONCLUSIONS Evaluation of the prevalence of reverse chewing cycles could be considered an indicator of functional adaptation after therapy and a method for the early detection of nonresponding patients who may require further consideration using a different approach.

Hemispheric prevalence during chewing in normal right-handed and left-handed subjects: a functional magnetic resonance imaging preliminary study.

Abstract This study evaluated the activation of different cortical areas during nondeliberate chewing of soft and hard boluses in five right-handed and five left-handed subjects with normal occlusion, to determine different hemispheric prevalences. The study was conducted with a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (1.5 T Magnetom Vision - Siemens Medical, Germany) using a head coil. The results showed that the most frequently activated areas were Brodmann’s areas four and six in the primary motor and premotor cortex, the insula and Broca’s area and, overall, showed greater activity of the cortical mastication area (CMA) in the right hemisphere for right-handed and in the left hemisphere for left-handed subjects.

Changes in electric activity of masseter and anterior temporalis muscles before and after orthognathic surgery in skeletal class III patients

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate, through clinical and electromyographic (EMG) assessments, the electric activity of masseter muscle and anterior temporalis muscles during clenching, before and after orthodontic treatment and mandibular setback, with or without LeFort I osteotomy, for correction of mandibular excess. STUDY DESIGN Seventeen adult patients (10 males, 7 females, mean age: 22.5 ± 2.4 years) were recruited for this study. All patients received orthodontic treatment and surgical corrections. EMG recordings were obtained from 4 channels of the 8-channel electromyograph FREELY (DeGoetzen spa, Olgiate Olona, VA, Italy). RESULTS A significant difference was found in the value of activity index at T0-T1 (33% T0, 1% T1) (P < .05), of asymmetry index at T0-T1 (21% T0, 4% T1) (P < .05), and of torque index at T0-T1 (24% T0, 5% T1) (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS The evaluation of EMG activity after surgery may be considered a sign of good adaptation of the neuromuscular system to the new occlusal condition and a good method for detecting nonresponding patients who might require further treatment.

Clinical and Instrumental Evaluation of the Temporomandibular Joint Before and After Surgical Correction of Asymptomatic Skeletal Class III Patients

Abstract The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) morphology, the disk position, and the TMJ symptoms before and after surgical-orthodontic correction of skeletal class III malocclusion. Eleven adult patients were recruited to participate in this longitudinal study. Each patient received presurgical and postsurgical orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Six patients were corrected exclusively through mandibular setback, whereas 5 received combined mandibular setback and maxillary advancement. All patients were investigated before and 2 years after treatment through (1) clinical examination, (2) magnetic resonance imaging, and (3) Computerized axiography (CA). The incidence of clinical signs and symptoms was reduced 2 years after surgical-orthodontic treatment, the condyle-disk relationship and TMJ appearance at magnetic resonance imaging were unchanged, and CA showed a significant improvement of TMJ border movements. Mandibular setback surgery does not appear to alter the condyle-disk relationship, whereas correction of class III malocclusion seems to improve clinical and CA signs of TMJ function. Further controls and more long-term evaluation of these patients are necessary to assess the maintenance of these improvements in time.

Slow or rapid palatal expansion for early treatment of unilateral posterior crossbite? Evaluation of the reverse chewing cycles correction.

OBJECTIVES It is well established that patients with a unilateral posterior crossbite, when chewing on the affected side, show an increased frequency of reverse chewing cycles. It was hypothesized that the correction of reverse cycles may be due to the characteristics of the therapy. The aim was to investigate the prevalence of reverse chewing patterns in children with unilateral posterior crossbite before and after treatment with Function Generating Bite (FGB). MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty children, (9 boys, 11 girls; age, mean ± SD, 7.5 ± 1.1), 10 with a right and 10 with a left posterior unilateral crossbite were selected. Mandibular movements during chewing soft and hard boluses were measured with a kinesiograph (K7 -I, Myotronics Inc. Tukwila, Washington, USA). RESULTS The results showed a significant difference when comparing the percentage of reverse chewing patterns, before and after therapy with FGB, during chewing on the crossbite side both with soft and hard bolus (p<0.0001). No significant differences were observed during chewing on the non-crossbite side. DISCUSSION The results of this study confirmed that FGB corrects both the dental and functional asymmetries. Knowing that the rapid palatal expansion does not correct the masticatory function, it is of clinical relevance, for the orthodontists, the knowledge and the understanding of the functional outcomes with different therapies. CONCLUSIONS The type of treatment and the biomechanics of the appliance used are of great importance for the correction of the reverse chewing cycles and for rebalancing the functional asymmetry of children with unilateral posterior crossbite.

Three-dimensional cephalometry: a method for the identification and for the orientation of the skull after cone-bean computed tomographic scan.

AbstractThe aims of this work were (1) to describe a method to identify new skeletal landmarks useful to define the reference system to orient the skull in a new position after cone-bean computed tomographic scan and (2) to demonstrate the reliability of this new method.Ten orthognathic patients (5 male, 5 female; mean [SD] age, 18.9 [1.2] years) underwent the cone-bean computed tomographic scan before surgery. Seven 3-dimensional skeletal measurements derived from 4 skeletal point of construction (C) (right, left, and median orbital C, and sella C) have been used for this study. Reliability has been calculated using Pearson correlation coefficient tests.Intraobserver reliability was 0.9999 for operator A (T1–T2) and 0.9999 for operator B (T1–T2); interobserver reliability was 0.9999 between the first (T1–T1) measurement and 0.9999 between the second (T2–T2).The original method is able to reduce the variability of landmark identification due to the variability of the human anatomy and the influence of the human error in cephalometric analysis. The innovation of this new method is the real possibility to use the anatomical structures in a 3-dimensional way, enhancing the reliability of the reference points.