Robert L. Vanarsdall

Transverse dimension and long-term stability

This article emphasizes the critical importance of the skeletal differential between the width of the maxilla and the width of the mandible. Undiagnosed transverse discrepancy leads to adverse periodontal response, unstable dental camouflage, and less than optimal dentofacial esthetics. Hundreds of adult retreatment patients corrected for significant maxillary transverse deficiency using surgically assisted maxillary expansion (similar to osseous distraction) has produced excellent stability. Eliciting tooth movement for children (orthopedics, lip bumper, Cetlin plate) in all three planes of space by muscles, eruption, and growth, develops the broader arch form (without the mechanical forces of fixed or removable appliances) and has also demonstrated impressive long term stability.

Comparison of the accuracy of bracket placement between direct and indirect bonding techniques.

An in vitro study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of bracket placement for direct and indirect bonding techniques. Nineteen sets of duplicated Class II malocclusion models were divided into three groups: (1) one set for ideal bracket placement, (2) nine sets for direct bonding on mannequins, and (3) nine sets for indirect bonding. Both direct and indirect bonding were performed on all teeth except molars by nine faculty members from the Department of Orthodontics, University of Pennsylvania. The position of each bonded bracket from these two bonding groups was compared with that of the same tooth from the ideal group and to each other in terms of bracket height, mesiodistal position, and angulation. Our results indicated that both direct and indirect bonding techniques failed to execute ideal bracket placement. On individual teeth, there was no statistically significant difference in the accuracy of bracket placement between these two bonding techniques except for upper right second premolar and lower left central incisor, where indirect bonding yielded better results in bracket height (P < .05), and for lower left central incisor where indirect bonding was better in mesiodistal position (P < .05), and for upper right lateral incisor where direct bonding was closer to the ideal in angulation (P < .05). Overall, indirect bonding showed better bracket placement in bracket height (P < .05), whereas, no statistically significant difference was found between them regarding the angulation and mesiodistal position.

Cephalometric study of slow maxillary expansion in adults

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the dentoskeletal changes after slow maxillary expansion in adults. METHODS Three kinds of maxillary expanders (Haas [Dyna Flex, Laboratory, St Louis, Mo], MAX-2000 [Dyna Flex], and DMAX-2000 [Dyna Flex]) were used randomly in 3 study groups of 65 adults treated with nonsurgical slow maxillary expansion, followed by full straight-wire appliance therapy. A control group of 22 adults, meeting the same inclusion criteria, were treated only with full straight-wire appliance therapy without expansion. Posteroanterior and lateral cephalometric records were taken before the start of treatment (T1) and after fixed orthodontic treatment (T2). The data were analyzed statistically by using paired t tests and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. RESULTS From T1 to T2, there was no significant change in nasal width, maxillary width, and mandibular width in the 3 groups. The sella-nasion-mandibular plane angle increased 0.97 degrees (P <0.05) in the DMAX-2000 group. The mandibular incisor-mandibular place angle in the Haas, MAX-2000, DMAX-2000, and control groups had mean increases of 4.90 degrees, 4.42 degrees, 4.55 degrees, and 5.20 degrees (P <0.05 for each), respectively. The maxillary incisor-nasion-A-point angle increased 3.04 degrees (P = 0.05), and the distal root of the maxillary first molar-nasion perpendicular decreased 1.48 mm (P <0.05) in the control group. The distal facet of the maxillary first molar-nasion perpendicular decreased 3.57 mm (P <0.05), and the distal root of the maxillary first molar-nasion perpendicular decreased 2.50 mm (P <0.05) in the MAX-2000 group. CONCLUSIONS After expansion treatment, there were no evident transverse or significant sagittal and vertical skeletal maxillary changes in the 3 groups.