Thomas M. Graber

Determinants controlling iatrogenic external root resorption and repair during and after palatal expansion

The mechanisms controlling iatrogenic external root resorption (ERR) and repair were studied on 8 Macaca fascicularis monkeys. The animals were divided into short-term and long-term groups, and were treated with jackscrew, magnetic and sham palatal expansion appliances. Scanning electron microscopy morphometric analysis found major evidence of ERR in the tooth-borne jackscrew appliance, in the long-term group, in the maxillary premolars, on the buccal and furcation root surfaces, on the mesiobuccal root, and in the apical zone. Correspondingly, the ERR mechanism is controlled by the impulse (F. delta t) and the critical barrier of the periodontal ligament as primary determinants and by the environmental density as a secondary determinant. ERR is initially regulated by the force component of the impulse and, with increased duration, by the time component of the impulse. The impairment/repair dynamics were found to be regulated by three principles: ERR level of irreversibility, delayed resorption response and jiggling.

Functional orthopedic magnetic appliance (FOMA) III—Modus operandi

An intraoral intermaxillary appliance has been developed for the treatment of Class III malocclusions that exhibit midface sagittal deficiency with or without mandibular excess. The functional orthopedic magnetic appliance (FOMA) III consists of upper and lower acrylic plates with a permanent magnet incorporated into each plate. The upper magnet is linked to a retraction screw. The upper magnet is retracted periodically (e.g., monthly) to stimulate maxillary advancement and mandibular retardation. The attractive mode neodymium magnets used in this study produced a horizontal force of 98 gm and a vertical force of 371 gm. Six female Macaca fascicularis monkeys were treated with FOMA IIIs. An additional three animals were treated with sham appliances. After 4 months of treatment, the following results were found: the growth pattern of the cranial base (saddle angle) was not altered; midfacial protraction did occur along a recumbent hyperbolic curve with a horizontal maxillary displacement and an anterosuperior premaxillary rotation; the cumulative protraction of the maxillary complex was initiated at the pterygomaxillary fissure with an additional contribution provided by other circummaxillary sutures (zygomaticomaxillary s., transverse s., premaxillary s.); and inhibition of mandibular length was minimal, but a tendency toward a vertical condylar growth pattern was observed. The interaction between sutural and condylar growth sites appeared biphasic, characterized by an immediate and rapid excitation of the circummaxillary sutures followed by a delayed and slow suppression of the condylar cartilage. Long-term animal and clinical FOMA III studies are recommended.

Rare earth magnets and impaction

Aberration in the eruption process was found to be a prime etiologic factor in inducing impaction. Thus an ideal treatment approach should attempt to mimic the normal eruption modus. However, conventional traction methods have been found to be associated with gingiva inflammation, bone recession, reduced attached gingiva, periodontal pockets, exposed cementoenamel junction, and root resorption of the impacted and adjacent teeth. These side effects are the result of premature exposure of the impacted tooth to the oral cavity through a nonself-cleansing pathway and an uncontrolled force system. The present study introduces a new, magnetic attraction system, with a magnetic bracket bonded to an impacted tooth and an intraoral magnet linked to a Hawley type retainer. Vertical and horizontal magnetic brackets were designed, with the magnetic axis magnetized parallel and perpendicular to the base of the bracket, respectively. The vertical type is used for impacted incisors and canines, and the horizontal magnetic bracket is applied for impacted premolars and molars. A three-dimensional analysis of the magnetic force system, by means of the OMSS apparatus, found the small magnetic bracket combined with a large pole surface area of the intraoral magnet to exhibit the most efficient convergent guidance. For this report the magnetic eruption device was examined on one animal subject and four patients. The Nd2Fe14B magnets were coated with parylene and/or encapsulated in stainless steel housings. In deep impaction, the magnetic bracket was cold-sterilized before surgery, and the surgical mucoperiosteal flap was then sutured over the bonded magnetic bracket. Attraction was initiated 1 to 2 weeks after healing. Thus tooth emergence into the oral cavity replicated normal eruption conditioning. The system operated at an attractive force level of 0.2 to 0.5 N. Adjustment was accomplished by temporarily interposing a magnetic spacer between the two magnetic units. No side effects were observed in this restricted number of treated cases, and treatment time was reduced. The study recommends the application of magnets in the treatment of impaction on the grounds of less invasive surgical procedure, effective attractive forces at short distances, and controlled spatial guidance.

Magnetic versus mechanical expansion with different force thresholds and points of force application

The effects of force magnitude (high versus low) and point of force application (teeth versus direct palatal endosseous pins) on palatal expansion treatment were studied on four juvenile female Macaca fascicularis monkeys. Three subjects received one of the following appliances: (1) conventional type jackscrew maxillary plate bonded to the posterior teeth with a high force magnitude of 2033 g, (2) a similar tooth-borne appliance but with rare earth repulsive magnets having a low force of 258 g, or (3) a specially designed palatal acrylic appliance pinned directly to the palatal shelves also utilizing rare earth repulsive magnets with a low force of 258 g. A fourth animal, the control, received a passive sham appliance bonded to the abutment teeth. Spatial changes of dental markers and facial implants were studied radiographically. In the low force, magnetically induced appliances, treatment was longer (95 days for the palatally pinned appliance and 135 days for the bonded tooth-borne appliance). The force radiated superolaterally, dissipating in the zygomaticofrontal suture, and the overjet significantly increased because of the marked widening of the incisive and transverse sutures. With the conventional jackscrew high-force appliance bonded to the teeth, the treatment lasted 33 days. A diastema developed between the incisors and the force was transmitted superolaterally and then transmedially, thus causing fractures in the nasal complex and other iatrogenic sequelae. The palatally pinned magnetic appliance induced bodily tooth movement, the greatest increase in intermolar distance, and a superior repositioning of the maxillopalatine region. The latter two effects were caused by selective excitation of the transverse suture over the premaxillary suture. Symmetry decreased with remoteness from the point of application. These results suggest reduction of the conventional force by up to eightfold--a level supplied by the rare earth magnets. Extrapolating from these results, the slow palatal expansion regimen for the treatment of Class III malocclusions with maxillary transverse deficiency is preferred at an early age (not more than 6 years). In the event of a suture disorder, the use of direct forces to the palate might be considered.

Growth Modification of the Rabbit Mandible Using Therapeutic Ultrasound: Is it Possible to Enhance Functional Appliance Results?

Previous studies have shown that functional appliances can enhance mandibular growth when applied during the active growth period. However, besides patient compliance problems with bulky appliances and prolonged treatment demands, there is contradictory evidence that functional appliances have a significant long-term effect. Is there a method to enhance the growth response and improve the long-term success of functional appliances? Previous studies have also found that therapeutic ultrasound (US) can stimulate cartilage and bone growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of therapeutic US on condylar and mandibular growth in the rabbit model. Eight growing New Zealand male rabbits were chosen for this study. They received therapeutic US on one side of the mandible for 20 minutes/day for four weeks. Anthropometrical and histological evaluations revealed that US enhances mandibular growth by condylar endochondreal bone growth and consequently mandibular ramus growth. The significant results of this study support conducting a long-term study to evaluate the ultimate stability of the results obtained. Also, they suggest an extended research with a larger sample size and investigating the molecular basis of this stimulatory effect, together with forward posturing splints for optimal macroscopic and microscopic responses.

Postmortems in posttreatment adjustment

Proper mechanotherapy is important, but it is not the magic wand that produces ideal occlusions forever more.23 This headlong rush with efficient tooth-moving appliances and mass-extraction techniques to complete orthodontic correction in less and less time may be taking us in the wrong direction. I am confident that, with our dependence on pattern and growth and development, we must turn to a longer period of orthodontic management in many cases. This has been one of our faults. We just do not see these patients long enough. The concept of treating the malocclusion once and then considering it finished is unphysiologic. Other abnormalities of the body are seldom handled in this manner. Thus, the philosophy of a longer period of orthodontic management and responsibility, with two or three shorter periods of orthodontic mechanotherapy, makes sense to me. This seems particularly true when one considers that we are concerned with the dominance of the morphogenetic pattern, the general health picture, the endocrine balance, the growth and developmental pattern, treatment timing, and the role of muscle function and habits, both normal and abnormal. There is one inescapable conclusion from this “reveling in realism”: Unless we recognize and discuss the problems and limitations of orthodontic treatment among ourselves, unless we present the limitations and disadvantages of a particular technique as well as the recommendations for its use, and unless we keep our patients under observation longer and observe the status of the stomatognathic system in its biologic continuum, we cannot expect a realistic and objective appreciation of our efforts by the public or by most general dentists.

Reaction of the pterygomaxillary fissure and the condylar cartilage to intermaxillary Class III magnetic mechanics

The skeletal reaction to Class III intermaxillary magnetic mechanics was previously found to affect two target areas, the pterygomaxillary fissure (PMF) and the condylar cartilage. The objectives of this study were to analyze, radiographically and histologically, the response of these tissues to Class III intermaxillary functional orthopedic magnetic appliance (FOMA III), and to postulate possible models of their dichotomous biomechanism. Nine Macaca fascicularis monkeys received periodic administration of vital bone procion dye and were treated for 4 months with FOMA III (6 subjects) and sham appliance (3 subjects). The PMF (the target area of the midfacial complex) demonstrated a decreased skeletal reaction in inferosuperior and lateromedial directions. Cephalometrically, the lowermost PMF point was displaced inferiorly 1.98 +/- 1.74 mm and 0.42 +/- 0.38 mm and anteriorly 1.42 +/- 0.96 mm and 0.58 +/- 0.38 mm in the treated and control groups, respectively. The displacement of the uppermost PMF point, compared with the lowermost point, was three to five times lower. Histologically, two modes of response were found; first, a sutural response (disarticulation and osteogenesis) of the palatomaxillary and pterygopalatine sutures, which was distinctive of the lateral PMF aspect, and second, a dentosutural response, which was characteristic of the medial PMF aspect (bony microfractures between the third molar germ and the maxillary tuberosity in conjunction with mild sutural response). In the mandible, a discrepancy was found between the histologic and the cephalometric findings. Radiographically, mandibular length was unaffected after 4 months of treatment, and the distance condylion-pogonion was equally increased in the treated (0.75 +/- 0.78 mm) and the control animals (0.77 +/- 0.32 mm). Histologically, however, the condylar cartilage demonstrated increased osteoclastic activity at the zone of endochondral ossification and a decreased apposition rate at the adjacent bony trabeculae. Conceivably, the two target areas (PMF sutures versus condylar cartilage) demonstrate two diverse time-related responses that are either unrelated or interrelated to each other. An unrelated tissue response suggests that tissue stimulation (sutural) is always superior to tissue suppression (condylar). Another possible unrelated tissue reaction implies diverse response velocity (high sutural, low condylar). An interrelated mechanism suggests that an applied force will dissipate initially at the less resistant target area (sutures), and will subsequently affect the more resistant target area (condyle) once the sutural resistance exceeds a certain threshold. The fact that no pathologic change was found in the condylar cartilage encourages a long-term use of the FOMA III appliance, initiating treatment at an early skeletal age.